Happiness, Answers, and Going out to Dinner

The search for Happiness often results in self-reflection and contemplation in an attempt at deciphering what it is we truly want and how we plan on getting it.

The search for Answers often leads to uncovering the unwanted, experiencing the unexpected, and meeting people who change us along the way. Whether your search lands you in a bohemian café sipping bubble tea in Barcelona or at a Parisian restaurant sipping red wine in Paris, it seems that in our quest for understanding we often find ourselves that much more confused…So where do we go from here?

Well…I usually go out to dinner…with people I love, who make me laugh, and who like to drink red wine (or white, but then they know we won’t be sharing a bottle). For me it’s never been about the food but more about the night, the company, and the conversation that arises through drinks, appetizers, entrees, and dessert. Regardless of city, country, or background going out to dinner is a common custom, universally practiced by people of all cultures.

The search for the perfect restaurant ended at the corner of an unnamed intersection with outdoor heaters and a menu completely in French. On our last night in Paris with Bus2alps, the 7 of us unanimously decided the search was over (after I made sure there were no pictures on the menu).

We found ourselves accidentally drunk after bottles of wine and indulging in food we probably couldn’t afford. But between the cheese plate and the chocolate cake I learned that first impressions are often wrong, that headbands can be fashionably worn by both genders, where to get my next haircut, proper wine lingo, and in the midst of all this that I really did love my job.

Paris is an amazing city but I love it more for the experiences I’ve had there, the people I’ve met, and the conversations I’ve had over Nutella crepes, bread and cheese, and delicious seafood.

It is epiphanies like this that make me love going out to dinner, not only for the company and the conversation but also for myself and how solutions seem to arise after a little red wine and scallop risotto. So on your quest to find the perfect job, the perfect shoes, and the perfect answer, make time for dinner, for wine, and maybe just a little dessert too…

On your quest search for Answers here…

1) La Flauta

 C/ Aribau, 23, Barcelona

2) Samsara

C/ Terol, 6, Barcelona 

3) Bo de B

C/ Fusteria 14/Merce 35, Barcelona

4) Princesa 23

C/ Princesa, 23, Barcelona

5) Kuo Taberna Japonesa 


Madrazo 135, Barcelona


live. love. travel.

Un beso.

Croatia, canned Tuna, and good Wine……

“When I heard you were going with Bus2alps to Croatia I thought ‘war zone’…who would ever want to got there?”

“Well,” I responded, “48 students from Rome and Florence did.” And then there was me…the one from Barcelona.

Although often remembered for its conflict and violence the country of Croatia has successfully grown and developed into a European must see for those who appreciate good seafood and the natural beauty of coastline towns. Having grown up valuing both, I was sold.

The bus arrived to Split early in morning. Although tired from the 16 hour journey, filled with nutella, peanut butter sandwiches, and empty candy wrappers, I grabbed my almost “not acceptable carry on” (according to Ryanair) and realized wow, I’m actually in Croatia.  The port bustled with activity as fishermen brought in their morning catch….and I wondered if they ever dared eat canned tuna.

I’m not sure when it happened. Maybe while sleeping within the walls of Diocletian’s palace or while running to the top of Marjan Hill. It could have been rafting down the emerald green Cetina River or during my wine and fish dinner in Trogir. As much as I love the amazing cities I visit, I realized it’s the people I meet that make the trip memorable.

Maybe it is the student who offers their laptop to you as a “civic duty” when made aware just how “cinema deprived” you are or the girls who invite you to dine with them in Trogir and share a bottle of wine. Or it could be the conversation with the rafting instructor but nevertheless it is these moments that make the trip special and what truly made me fall in love with traveling.

“There’s only one thing in life that truly changes you….having a child.” It’s these kinds of conversations that arise on a 4 hour rafting trip down the Cetina. Coming from a young river rafting Olympian who turned his passion into a profitable business, we all listened to Stefan’s theories about life, love, happiness, and good wine. Simple, yet profound:

1)   If you can tailor something you love into a career and still be happy then you’ve truly found success.

2)    Be you. I met my wife at a dive bar because we both were fans of the band playing that night. You can’t plan for destiny.

3)    Let yourself be changed by those experiences strong enough to do so. In the end that’s all that matters.

4)    Don’t drink beer in Croatia, the wine is far better.

In the end, despite its war torn past Croatia has a lot to offer. I will never again eat canned tuna, I won’t drink beer in Croatia, and at the end of the day I hope to always find success in knowing that my passion and career are one in the same. live. love. travel.

Un beso.

Culture Shock, Starbucks & Peanut Butter

Misunderstanding often results in emotional turmoil. Feelings of doubt and fear frequently arise during these times of uncertainty, fostering a sense of loss and insecurity, but it is these times that ultimately cultivate strength in mind, person, and most importantly, heart.

Coming from the girl whose broken Spanish landed her in small town Salamanca, Spain, culture shock can happen to the best of us. Upon entrance into apartment 3C I found myself living with three strangers who spoke no English, had never tried peanut butter, and always wore slippers. Naked feet were never accepted.

Initially embracing these cultural differences with fascination and excitement for new discovery and adventure, I eventually found myself feeling disconnected, longing for comfort, and ultimately homesick. Turning to my parents for support, I surprising found inspiration in my Dad’s attempt at consolation: “Well you are there for 4 months, so practice your Spanish and get over it”.

Although initially a harsh response, it is this tough love that I needed. Ultimately, adaption is a personal choice and mine was to adapt. My Spanish was horrible, I missed my friends, my Starbucks, and of course my peanut butter but I decided to “get over it”. I committed to learning the language, socializing with the locals, and taking every opportunity to experience the culture. 4 months later, packing to return home, it was the best choice I’ve ever made. Crying and hugging the three former strangers I now considered family, I decided it was worth 4 months of no Starbucks…..and maybe even 4 months of no peanut butter.

So from one chica to another here are some tips to get over culture shock:

#1 Get coffee with a friend. Recognize what you’re feeling, talk about it, and then make a plan to overcome it.

#2 Keep busy. Free time, boredom, and being alone create opportunity for these natural emotions to overwhelm you.

#3 Surround yourself with positive people. “Toxic friends” and their tendency to complain are often draining and prove to be negative influences on personal happiness, health, and well-being.

#4 Commit to learning the language. Even if just one word every day. Communication fosters connection, essential to adaptation.

#5 Don’t compare. Everyone’s program is different and your time abroad is unique. You’re experience will be what you decide it to be.

#6 Travel to places YOU want to see. Even if you have to go without people you formerly know. Bus2alps makes this easy, running trips all over Europe, so even if you book your trip alone, you are never traveling alone.

#7 Keep in touch with friends and family from home. It is important to remain connected with the people you care about, regardless of where on the globe they may be.

#8 Realize you have a departure date. This experience will end. Make friends. Make goals. Accomplish them. Leave satisfied.

#9 Step out of your comfort zone. Even if you came abroad with a group of friends, make every effort to meet new people and experience new things.

#10 Appreciate differences. Learn to appreciate cultural differences rather than feel animosity towards them. Fully embrace these differences and the opportunities they offer. Live. Leave with no regrets.

Because soon enough you will be home with your Starbucks and your peanut butter…live. love. travel.

Un beso.

¿Que quieres?

Study abroad…. exciting, rewarding, and yet occasionally challenging. While numerous students embrace this opportunity some will still look back wishing things had been done differently. And so I ask, what ultimately do you hope to gain from your time here?

Although new friends and exciting nightlife are thrilling and temporarily satisfying, New York City could have fulfilled these aspirations.  So why did you fly across the Atlantic and what do you hope to gain after these short few months? …..Besides a new wardrobe of course.

While getting acquainted with the metro, contemplating why a “café americano” still does not taste like your morning usual at Starbucks, and learning to navigate your way through the Chinese Bazaars, remember these tips:

#1 Plan your trips and flights early to get the best deals but always leave room in your schedule for a last minute adventure….you are abroad after all.

#2 Experience the local culture. Take time for tapas, cafes, paella, and of course some wine.

#3 Don’t wear headphones EVER if you are trying to learn the local language. Take every opportunity to hear people speak. They may even start up a conversation with you!

#4 Pack light when you travel. After making Ryanair 375 euros richer, I decided I over packed only to not wear half of the clothes I had previously deemed essential.  

#5 Always set 2 alarms. Study abroad programs have strict attendance policies. Use your allowed absences to travel with Bus2alps! And not nursing a champagne hangover.

#6 Take lots of pictures. Remember your travels. Studies reveal that looking back on pictures of fond memories release the same chemicals in the brain as when running, positive endorphins enhancing your mood.

#7 Skype home once a week. Keeping in touch with family and friends is important and keeps you grounded.

#8 Spend your money on experiences rather than things. At the end of the semester the trips you’ve taken and the memories you have will far surpass any material goods.

#9 Travel Smart….and travel with Bus2alps for great deals, great fun, and obviously great staff.

#10 Do you. This is the one time it’s okay to be selfish. Live. Take full advantage of every opportunity. Don’t hold back. Grow. Change. Discover. Be present. At the end of the day who we are is a result of where we’ve been, so where will you go? live. love. travel.

Un beso.

About Me

“I wish I had….” is a phrase I try to eliminate from my vocabulary. The fear of regret is something that has always driven me to turn those “wishes” into realities, to pursue those things I am most passionate about, and to look back with no regrets…except of course not taking enough pictures.

22 years old I am now living in Barcelona, one of the greatest cities in the world. Always having loved travel and the cultural enlightenment that often follows, I decided to put law school on hold to pursue an opportunity that would allow me to experience both, and now find myself as an intern for Bus2alps, a European student travel agency.

I was once told that the “lucky” ones were those whose passion was their profession and so I guess I am lucky.  Life throws a lot at us but at the end of the day it’s how we choose to live that makes all the difference. live. love. travel.

un poco de todo…. is really just that, a little bit of everything. Sometimes it’s difficult to be the American girl overseas when your converter blows out your straightener or when you’re in dire need of a haircut and secretly know your bar Spanish is not going to make it too far in a hair salon. I’ve got you covered. Tips, advice, some Barcelona favorites, and really just un poco de todo all so that you can embrace the mantra. live. love. travel. 

Un beso.