FALL!

I can't believe we're almost halfway through the semester! I've truly enjoyed our time so far getting to know each one of you. I had so much fun at our class zoo trip/dinner and am planning some more fun activities for us outside of class. Perhaps an optional movie night? or class workout session at Strom? I'll ask y'alls opinion in class and see! As a senior, its definitely been a reality check in terms of figuring out what I want to do next year! Time to apply for some jobs, ahhh! It's really exciting to think about starting my career, but scary at the same time- mostly because I'm not quite sure where I want to be- Miami, Charlotte, Atlanta, Spain, there's so many options! 

I'm also loving the fall Carolina weather- definitely beats fall up north. I do miss the pretty colors of the New England fall leaves, but I most certainly do not miss the temperatures... It's already reaching 50's and 40's there probably by now. Every time the seasons change, I pat myself on the back for choosing to coming to school in the South. 

Georgia Weekend!! :)

I had such an amazing time this weekend celebrating USC's win against the Bulldogs with my best friend from home! My best friend Mollie goes to University of Delaware drove down here on Friday night with her two friends (who I know from visiting her at school during my fall break sophomore year). We had dinner at Salty Nut Cafe and then I had some friends over later that night so I could introduce them. They had an amazing weekend, but they were not fans of the muggy Carolina weather.....(but honestly who is?). This was their first experience in the South and they were so impressed by how nice every one was. Mollie's friend literally said "Wow, I was just so confused when that boy held the door for me....I'm used to UDEL boys letting it slam on my face." I thought this was hilarious and a feeling many northerners probably experience when they come down here. I took them to Chick-fil-a breakfast because they had never had it before and they loved it. I wish they could come back and visit again this weekend! It was so great to be reconnected with a friend from home :) The only sad part is that I can't believe my last Georgia weekend as an undergrad is over....I definitely plan on returning to USC for big games as an alumni.

Last First Semester

 It's unbelievable that my first semester of senior year has already started and in full swing! I've had a excellent start to the semester- lots of fun with friends at the pool, lake, the first football game, and an AWESOME U101 class :) It's a lot of fun working with the first-year students and Elizabeth....it feels like it was just last week I was sitting in my U101 class in Capstone. As for the rest of my classes, my teachers seem great so far! When I selected my classes had to compensate good schedule timing (my classes are at the worst times) in order to get the teachers with the best ratings on rate my professor. I've used the Rate My Professor website since freshman year and it has never failed me. It's so important to have a good professor because that will definitely make or break your class experience.

Unfortunately, as my senior year classes kick into full gear, the leisurely days will become few and far between :( Right now on I'm sitting in my room trying to complete all my work so I can enjoy the last day of this beautiful three-day weekend. I attempted to convince my friends for a day trip in Charleston, but no one wants to drive there because of the labor day traffic, so I think today will be a pretty relaxed day maybe at the pool or the river. I had an amazing time at the Drake concert in Charlotte on Saturday night with my friends. And I'm already counting down the days to the ECU game next weekend! The gamecocks better win this weekend! 

Summer Fun

This past weekend I went on a camping trip with my best friends from high school up to Saco River, Maine. There were probably about 20 of us. It was a wonderful time and the first EVER camping trip I have gone on in my life where it hasn't rained!! And I've camped every year since I was about 2 years old so that is saying a lot.

However, the camping trip ended with a some bad vibes when my two guy friends got in a car accident on the way home because one of them fell asleep at the wheel. Thankfully they were both okay but the car was absolutely totaled! The EMS said if they had not been in a large SUV they would have most likely been killed. So I can't stress the importance enough about tired driving, it is just as bad as drunk driving! If you are too exhausted, ask a friend to drive or pull over somewhere to rest/nap for a little bit because it is just not worth it. I hate to lecture people but I thought this was important.

This summer has been great so far, learning new things at my new job, and spending time with my friends and family (although I miss Madrid too much). I went on a weekend trip to the Cape with my dad where we relaxed at the beach and rode bikes on the sand dune trails in Provincetown. 

Sunday, we went to the Beachcomber in Wellfleet where we watched Germany win the World Cup! (my Dad's side of the family is German so we were excited about this). I had several German friends in Spain and I really wish I could have seen their reaction.

This upcoming weekend is my last weekend at home. We will be celebrating two of my best friends birthdays so I'm extra excited. Then next Friday I head back down to Columbia to begin my senior year! My roommate is from New Hampshire so she's picking me up in Mass. and then we're making the 15 hour road trip down to SC. I can't believe it's finally here. I don't want college to be over! Take me back to freshman year. 

  

First post!

I wish I had started this blog since months ago during to document the details of my experience studying abroad in Madrid, Spain. I have countless photos but I really do wish I had blogged during my travels. Pictures are fun to look at but the blog would remind me with the little stories that I will probably forget as time goes on. Anyone who studies abroad I highly recommend that you do some sort of journal, or blog so you can go back and read it when your older!

I am currently starting my third week at my internship with ZOLL Medical, an international company that engineers and distributes medical devices such as AEDS. It has been a great learning experience so far working on marketing research and website translation editing. I am helping my boss plan for the International Marketing Communications Meeting in October (which unfortunately I will not be able to attend because it will require me to miss an entire week of class). Last week I met several of Zolls' most important employees from various parts of the world (The Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Latin America, ect.) at their quarterly business review. I was most interested in meeting the director of Latin American distribution- I hope to work with either Spain or the Spanish-speaking Latin American countries in the future. It's tooo interesting, I know.

Anyhow, since study abroad was the highlight of my year (and basically my life…) I thought I would post some of my study abroad pictures to make this blog entry a little more interesting to y'all.

                                            Skiing in the Swiss Alps in Chamonix, France 

The beautiful city of Asilah in Morocco

Parque del Retiro in Madrid (it was right next my apartment)

                                                            Camel friends in Morocco :)

                                                               
                                     The beautiful island of La Graciosa, in the Canary Islands
                                         ....and the water was actually this color in real life.

                                                                    Porto, Portugal

                                                       A Real Madrid Game vs. Granada... 
       and Real Madrid proceeded to win the Champions League Final game against Atlético

                                      El Museo de Artes y Ciencias in Valencia, Spain