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Month: January 2014

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By meaggymurphy

In the midst of exam study time, I would like to step back and take a moment to make a brief list of all of the things that I have been lucky for so far in my time in Pamplona (Also, this can serve as this year's Thanksgiving "What I am Thankful For" speech that never was). It's nice, every once in awhile, to remind myself of some of the ways that the universe has treated me well/how I have luckily dodged bullets over the past few months.

1. Choosing to study in Pamplona: I got lucky picking "Pamps" (as I affectionately call it) over another city in Spain because it it the perfect place for study abroad; it's not too big or overwhelming, it's got rich history/traditions, it's very authentically "Spanish" (no Starbucks here!), and it's surrounded by beautiful scenery. I gambled a little coming here, but in the end it was a bet that paid off.

2. My housing situation: I feel so lucky that I ended up rooming with three really great girls who are fun, understanding, helpful, and genuinely friendly roommates. I can't imagine how my experience would have been had they been any different.

3. My professors: Although taking classes in Spanish can sometimes be intimidating (presentations and class participation in a foreign language, or any language for that matter, is intimidating!), I definitely feel that I have a great group of understanding professors. Luckily, they all seem to have in mind that I'm here to learn the language and the culture in addition to the textbook material, so they have been very accommodating and always available to answer questions.

4. My health: Apart from one case of food poisoning (never again will I look at Salmon Pizza the same), I have been very fortunate (knock on wood- I've still got over a week to go) to not contract any dire illnesses or break any bones. This is lucky because a)no one likes feeling sick while away from home and b)going to the doctor is an experience I'd rather not have. I guess a pincho a day keeps the doctor away!

5. Spanish culture: One of my favorite parts of this experience has been the opportunity to feel a part of Spanish culture. I've gotten to stop and smell the roses, and I think that this is something that should not be underestimated in importance or impact. I decided to come to Spain for a lot of reasons, but one of the best and most surprising things I've gotten out of study abroad is a different life view that I am lucky to take home with me. I owe Spain a huge thank you for that.

6. My friends: This is last but most certainly not least. Actually, I could write endlessly about them, but I'll keep it short and sweet. I think there must be something in the water here; Pamplona seems to have a high concentration of people with great personalities who have appeared in my life specifically to be their awesome selves and teach me a lot. I've been blown away by how quickly and effortlessly people have welcomed me into their lives, as well as how easily they have become a part of mine. I've gotten to have classes, conversations, experiences, and travels with some of the best people on planet Earth during my time here. They get the biggest shout-out of them all!

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By nlgyon

This year was the first time I spent Thanksgiving with people other my my family members. We wake up and run Parkersburg's annual 5k Turkey Trot. My hometown is one of those nice places where everyone knows everyone so the finish line turns into a social gathering, after which we return to our house in the woods and begin preparing our Thanksgiving feast, and it just so happens that my preparations comes in the form of a post-race nap. You don't want too many cook sin the kitchen, ya know? My family is relatively* small, so the day is relaxing, spent in good conversation over the sound of the television, which switches between dog shows and football games.

My experience here was completely different. Instead of Turkey Trotting, I spent my morning half following along to a business conference in Arabic, aimed at addressing challenges facing Jordan's transportation sector. There were two other Americans in attendance who jokingly cursed me for holding this conference on Thanksgiving.  After the conclusion of the meeting I traveled, still in full business attire, to the UJ campus to attend a CIEE-sponsored Thanksgiving luncheon, at which I was to deliver a short speech about what Thanksgiving means to me, in Arabic. The delivery was mediocre, honestly, but hopefully someone got something out of it. I was just happy to do something new. I'd never spoken in Arabic to a group of more than or 8 or 9 classmates. Afterwards, my friend hosted just about all the kids (there were about 15 people there) in my program for a homemade Thanksgiving dinner, which was delicious despite the scarcity of options for traditional holiday dishes. While we all felt strange being away from out families on the holiday, we made sure that no one felt sad. It was a delightfully raucous occasion. At one point during the feast we each said what we were thankful for, but with each small toast everyone had a joke or comment or story to add so the activity lasted a comically long time. It was a great atmosphere. Everyone was energetic and loud and happy, which I peg as a result of reflecting on the multitude of blessings we all had. After dinner my roommate busted out his guitar and we all sang and talked into the late hours of the night. I have to say though that one culturally-relevant moment is the one moment that will stand out the most from this Thanksgiving. One of my Jordanian friends attended the party, and it was his first Thanksgiving. Just before leaving, he got everyone's attention and said something along the lines of, "I just want you all to know that hearing you all talk about your families, and everything you're thankful for makes me really appreciate being here in Jordan, and I'm really glad I met you all." I was so happy to see someone open his mind to my culture and gain something from it. While I had experienced first had how taking in foreign cultures can be rewarding, I had never thought about it going the other way.

 

*HA. See what I did there?

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DSC_0263
Mansaf lamb enjoys a boiled onion.

Fortunately, but unintentionally, I spent this weekend literally swimming in mansaf. Okay not literally swimming, but you know, it was pretty close.

What is mansaf, you ask? It's a traditional cuisine that Jordanians proudly consider their national dish.  While styles of mansaf vary from region to region, it is generally a big ol' plate with a base of flatbread, topped with large-grain rice, sometimes mixed with almonds or pine nuts, which serves as a nest for the most important part--the meat, which is usually lamb or chicken. This mountain of meaty goodness is then doused in a fermented yogurt sauce that is far more delicious than it sounds. Because it is slow-cooked in broth, the meat is ultra tender and slides right off the bone, which come in handy, because traditionally it is eaten without utensils (Get it? Handy. Did you see what I did there?)  The name of the dish comes from the Arabic word that literally (actually literally) means "large dish" or "large tray."

The meal is served on special occasions like weddings or birthdays, or in my case to honor guests. This weekend, the members of my program (Diplomacy and Policy Studies) was invited to our director's hometown of Ajloun to tour an ancient castle there, tour her old school, and attempt to play soccer against some of her family members, who also served us mansaf. The following day I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to volunteer at a local primary school. Some other CIEE participants and I helped to repair the wall surrounding the school and spruced up the faded exterior with some bright yellow, blue and green paint. At the end of the end, we were served mansaf in appreciation for our work. Yesterday, my Arabic professor, excited to spread an important part of his Bedouin culture, came to our apartment building and cooked mansaf for our class. The latter was served in a more traditional fashion, with the cooked head of the lamb placed in the center of the dish, jaw open and tongue out. Many were peer pressured into eating eyeballs, brains, lips, tongues. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough to go around for me. Darn.

Mansaf is a part of this culture you definitely need to experience before leaving, but this advice goes without saying because it is--wait for it--literally impossible to be a guest here without being offered mansaf at least once before leaving.

 

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By nmbutler3

The end has finally come…Most of my fellow abroad students have made their way back to the States by now. I cannot look at Facebook without seeing statuses about leaving various countries and returning home for Christmas, and I cannot help but be reminded that I only have a week left before I too have to make my way back across the pond. It sounds incredibly cliché, but the thought of returning home is an immensely bittersweet feeling. On the one hand knowing that I’ll be coming home to a warm Christmas-y welcome from family and friends that I have not seen or really talked to in ages, is a nice thought and I cannot help but look forward to it. It also means I’ll finally be able to catch up with friends that have also been abroad and hear all about their stories and adventures. On the other hand though, going home means leaving Edinburgh, and to be entirely honest, I don’t quite think I am ready to do that yet. Leaving means saying goodbye to good friends and fond memories, challenges and struggles, adventures and exciting experiences. It means I have to say goodbye to a new life I’ve established and return to the familiar grind of regular life.

Coming here was in many ways, like starting college all over again. I knew no one, had no idea how the system worked, but thought I knew myself and understood at least my own outlook on life. And just like freshman year, I am leaving behind wonderful new friends and taking with me a much refined perspective on the world around me, along with a much improved understanding of myself. Knowing no one and not having a program of fellow American students to fall back on for support forced me to reach out of my comfort zone and open up to new people almost immediately, which is admittedly not one of my strong suits, but I eventually managed and in addition to making close friendships with people from all over the world, I was reminded how to relate to people, especially people who come from very different backgrounds from what I am normally accustomed to. In reflection, this was probably my biggest challenge while abroad. The similarities of British and Scottish cultures to American culture, as well has my personality, made most other adjustments relatively easy, especially compared to the adjustments other study abroad students had to make; however, remembering how to make new friends and relate to diverse individuals, with whom you often have to navigate between the cultural similarities and differences, can be incredibly difficult. That being said, it can also be incredibly telling of yourself and a, albeit slightly forced, perfect opportunity to connect and relate to others.

More importantly though, studying abroad, flipped and twisted and confused, a lot of what I thought I knew about the world and myself. Living in Edinburgh reminded me how beautiful and exciting cities could be, an appreciation I had started to lose in DC, and traveling throughout the UK and Europe rehydrated my thirst for adventure and taught me to not be a traveler, rather than a tourist. Actually taking challenging classes outside of my usual focal areas led me to new academic interests and made me reconsider my future academic and career plans. Most importantly though, studying abroad has taught me to see everything as an adventure, to see even the familiar through the eyes of someone who is experiencing it for the very first time, to allow life to unfold before you rather than set expectations that constrain and limit your future, and to appreciate even the small details as something wonderful. When I think of my fondest memories here, most are of experiences I had set no expectations for or had not anticipated. From the Scottish national anthem at the national rugby matches to adventures in Belgium to traditional Swedish Christmas carols sung by friends as a St. Lucia Day surprise this past weekend, the unexpected unprecedented moments have been among the best. This is probably because when you approach a situation, not with expectations, but instead with an open mind, everything comes as a pleasant surprise and you can actually genuinely experience and engage with what’s going on around you. Looking at the world in such a way, also taught me to appreciate the smaller details. Back in DC, I walk past famous monuments, national agencies, and international institutions on a daily basis and rarely bat an eye. In Edinburgh though, since everything is this new, exciting experience abroad, every little statue, street sign, painted door and bird are each unique and beautiful details that you cannot help but notice. I have learned to look at the world around me, not has this static imposition of concrete and stone around me, but as a dynamic integration of color, history, culture and art that flow together to create an ever changing, multidimensional picture. I’ve been reminded how to see the beauty in what’s around me and not just see that beauty with my eyes but as an actual tangible experience. I suppose it can’t get much cheesier than that, but then again, that might be the point. I’ve learning this past semester, that when you are traveling, whether it be across the world, or just around the corner to the store, if you are open to the experience, the world has to much more to offer than you could possibly imagine to expect. And with that, I bid adieu to Edinburgh, at least for now.

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By nmbutler3

With only two weeks left here in Scotland, I probably should be writing about preparing for exams while abroad and balancing the travel and academic aspects of studying abroad. However, as a fairly typical exchange student, I am writing instead about what I learned while traveling over the past week instead of studying for my upcoming exams. This past week was the university’s reading week, so naturally two of my flatmates and I took the spare time to make our way through Europe, moving farther southeast and farther from English as we went. We started in Amsterdam for a day and then moved to Brussels for two days. Following Belgium, my other American flatmate and I made our way to Barcelona for two days, and then I headed off on my own to Siena in Tuscany to visit a friend finishing the semester there. I could tell you about all the beautiful buildings and lights, and coastal waves, and songlike languages of the locals, but you can see all those in the movies and postcards. Instead, here are the most important things I learned in each city:

1. Plan your visit, or at least make a bucket list of what you want to do in your destination. Just exploring a city on your own and discovering what it has to offer through your own experience can be exciting, and can often lead you to things you would have never found in a tourist map. That being said, never underestimate the importance of a backup plan or at least some planning at all. I learned this in Amsterdam the hard way. Since we were only there for one night and two half days, we hadn’t planned too much of what to do. As a result, we missed out on a lot of really amazing things the city has to offer because we either didn’t’ know about it until it was too late or because we didn’t plan the travelling and directions ahead of time. Luckily, one of my flatmates had done some research and had looked into an art gallery that featured predominately Dutch painters and artists, including several pieces by Van Gogh, so the day was not wasted. We also learned that Van Gogh is actually pronounced Van “Ouaff” (as though you are hacking up the word). Just a nice little fun fact.

2. Make friends with other travelers, not tourists. Belgium was probably one of the most beautiful and lively cities I have ever visited, and the two nights and days we spent there were some of the most fun my flatmates and I had on our trip. A huge part of the fun was the people we met while there. There is a very distinct difference between people who travel and people who are tourists. If you haven’t already experienced this difference, you will as soon as you travel. It is difficult to understand until you experience it, but the easiest way to describe it is that a tourist sees a city, while a traveler experiences it. Needless to say, you should always aim to be a traveler and surround yourself with the like. The travelers we met in Belgium, two Australians, a Canadian and a Brazilian, helped us to experience the city not through the lens of a camera, but instead through appreciative and open eyes.

3.  Try to understand some history and culture of your destination before you get there. Barcelona certainly put my Spanish to the test, and while I knew enough for us to get by, it was a limiting factor in many regards. What was arguably more limiting though, was our lack of knowledge of the culture and history of the city. While there, in addition to the classic sites, we went on an alternative tour that explored some of the darker aspects of the city, like its anarchist roots, street art, community structures, social issues and various other topics you don’t normally hear about on a typical tour of buildings and dates. While it was fascinating and mind-opening, I was left with so many unanswered questions and lost appreciation that could have been avoided if I had taken the time to familiarize myself more with the history of the city. I’m not saying you have to pull a full research report on everywhere you visit, but a few hits on a google search, or even better, a few pages in a book, will significantly enhance your perspective on, appreciation for, and understanding of your destination.

4. Be prepared to visit friends outside of the normal context. It is fairly standard to visit your other friends studying abroad during your travels, which can be very comforting and help to keep you connected while on across the pond. That being said, it can also be a very strange and in a way mildly isolating experience. It’s difficult to keep in mind, that just like you, your friends have been spending the semester making new friends and sharing experiences with new people, which can be strange to come into from the outside. Of course, seeing your friend is exciting and definitely worth it, and your friend will be excited to see you and their new friends are likely just as excited to meet you. Just be prepared to miss out on some inside jokes and group dynamic things. Don’t worry too much though; the same things will inevitably happen when friends come to visit you, and it’s all just part of the experience.

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By nmbutler3

Christmas, particularly the time leading up to the holiday itself, is without a doubt my favorite time of year. Since I don’t get back to the states until JUST before Christmas, spending the season abroad was initially a bit concerning – no family, no secret santas, no warm house smelling of cookies and pine to come home to, no rush of Black Friday shopping or trying to sneakily hide gifts. But as the holidays draw nearer, I am starting to really appreciate Christmas in Edinburgh and the UK more generally.

Some things are a bit different of course. The most apparent is probably the lack of holiday buffer. Now I realize that this may sound strange, but allow me to explain. The buffer time that Thanksgiving provides between Halloween and the winter holidays is key to making the season such a magical time. In the UK though, with no Thanksgiving to impede the oncoming headlights of Christmas, garland and ornaments and Santas start appearing just after Halloween-that's an entire extra month of Christmas prep! Not that I am complaining, a little extra holiday cheer never hurt anyone, but it does take some adjustment to get used to not hearing people gripe about decorations in shops in November. There are some benefits though to not having Thanksgiving though, mainly the appreciation for pumpkin pie. I cannot count the number of British people I've met that have never had real pumpkin pie before. Needless to say, I racked up some serious friendship points last Thursday. Now that the Thanksgiving buffer has officially passed, I'm finally able to appreciate all that Scotland has to offer during the holidays. There have been two experiences in particular that have really upped my holiday cheer. The first is the scenery of the snowcapped highlands in the winter. Although the middle and southern belts of Scotland don't really see any snow until late December-January, the highlands up north are already a winter wonderland, with snowy mountains and twinkling lights and little villages full of cottages, all with smoke rising from the chimney. It's just like falling into a Christmas card. Not to mention, up in the Cairngorms National Park, there is an actual reindeer center where you can see an entire herd of reindeer. The other holiday experience was right here in Edinburgh at the city's Christmas Village festival. With so much extra time for prep and anticipation, Edinburgh spares no expense when it comes to the holiday. The entire central Princes Street Gardens are transformed into a Christmas village to rival the north pole, complete with ice skating, a slew of hot beverages, holiday bakery and other foods galore, Christmas crafts and gifts, and a Christmas theatre where the show a different play each week. There is even a giant Ferris wheel that overlooks all the lights and sights of the city. It's literally like being a kid at Christmas again! Of course, even with such magical experiences, being away from friends and family at the holidays is still very difficult, but you just have to make the most of it and enjoy the holiday traditions with a new twist.

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By meaggymurphy

Blurb: Coffee is one of those things that exists all around the world but tastes different everywhere you go. Spain is no exception, and I've learned a little during my time here about the basic varieties that you'll find in cafes around the country. More than learning the difference between a café solo and a café suizo, I've learned to like the flavor. At first it wasn't easy, but as soon as I stopped looking for the nearest Starbucks, I found myself embracing the way the Spanish do coffee. Keep reading for an account of a coffee-lover's adventures getting her coffee-fix in Spain's cafes! #coffee #cafe #GWU #GWAbroad

I will admit that I was once one of those people who said that they would never drink coffee. I said this throughout high school, when I was young, naive, tea-loving, and unaware of the amazing deliciousness that is a cup of coffee. I was also ignorant of the fact that caffeine is nature's gift to students. Long story short, I jumped off my high horse and into Juan Valdez/Dunkin Donuts/Starbucks (in that order) after my first month in college.

At home, I'm a fan of a strong cup of basic coffee, nothing with flavors that sound more like Ben & Jerry's ice cream varieties than coffee. Coming to Spain, I've gotten used to a whole new coffee language that, thankfully, doesn't include anything called a Cinnamon Dolce Frappuccino. Here, you have café solo, café cortado, and café con leche.

I'll start with the café solo, which is Spanish code for a little espresso shot. If you feel the need to be extra on edge, you can order a café double, which is a double espresso shot. I tend to shy away from ordering these because, well, I don't really have the patience to sip on a coffee that I could easy drink in one swig.

Café cortado is a café solo with a little bit of milk added. The difference between a cortado and a café con leche is the amount of milk; ordering the latter will get you about a 50:50 ratio, while ordering the former is more like 80:20. The theme here is café solo plus differing amounts of milk equals different types of coffee. For example, café manchada is a glass of milk with a dash of coffee for flavor (10:90, I think).

These three types are the most common from what I've seen, but you also get varieties like café americano and café suizo. The americano is café solo with water added and is probably the closest thing Spain has to a "typical" American cup of coffee. However, I try not to order this type because it seems too clichéd, the Americana ordering an americano. Café suizo is café solo with some whipped cream on top. "Suizo" is how you say "Swiss" in Spanish, and it makes sense that they named a coffee that resembles a snow-covered mountaintop after Switzerland. With this logic, what does that say about America if an americano is watery coffee? I'm not sure the implications here are good...

At first, I felt the coffee culture shock whenever I went to get my fix and left slightly frustrated by a coffee that was too milky/watery/small compared to what I was used to. I think I'm pretty easy-going when it comes to culture shock- I don't like to waste time thinking wistfully about foods and traditions I miss about America or trying to recreate them abroad. Coffee was the one exception to this rule because I was always trying to find ways to get my hands on an American-style coffee. However, I have recently decided that instead of constantly searching for a cup of coffee that's like what I'd receive at Dunkin Donuts (which actually exist in this region of Spain under the crafty name "Duffin Dagels"), I should embrace Spanish café. It may be mostly milk and pint-sized, but it's delicious.

Even more than being good, I know I'll always associate the flavor of a café con leche with Pamplona and spending a couple afternoon hours in one of the city's cafes. Good memories definitely make it easy to savor a cup of café español. And to think, I once said I'd never drink it- I had obviously never tried a good Spanish coffee before!

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By stlake

In the US, I love to keep up with the news especially politics.  I am studying politics at GW but it also has been a passion of mine for a long time. But the United States has this little problem with being selfish and thinking it’s the center of the universe. Our news is just a product of that. The local news is mostly stories of robbery, fires and rapes; in short, straight up depressing. The “world news” is sound bites of the biggest international stories, and updates about what is happening in Washington.  And let’s not forget the nation’s obsession and personally, my biggest guilty pleasure; celebrity news. I cannot lie to you, if I don’t check Perez Hilton or People.com at least 3 times a day, I get a little restless.

Here are 5 things I have learned though the news here.

1.    US pop culture has taken over

For example, this weekend is the 50th anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination and the Spanish news is having a special all afternoon. When is the last time, the United State did a full length special celebrating a famous figure from other country? Here, I get US celebrity and political news and it’s surprisingly un-bias. Sure, at times, the US has had a less than stellar reputation abroad, but through my own experience, people here generally love Americans and are super interested in learning more about our culture. 

2.    Spain’s political problems

Spain is a parliamentary monarchy, meaning that there is a monarchy but also a prime minister, who is the head of government. Since the 1990s, there have been two major political parties. There is the Spanish Social Worker’s Party, which is more to the left of the spectrum (liberal for those who “don’t do politics”) and the People’s party, which is more conservative, and who are currently the heads of state. Just like in the US, there is corruption and those are just trying to do what’s right. Spain also has problems with autonomy, with the region of Catalonia (where Barcelona is) and Basque Country wanting to separate themselves. These problems are so interesting but yet something I have never discussed in any world history or international politics course. Spain’s history is very interesting and I’m so happy I’ve had the opportunity to learn about here.

3.    Does local news always have to sad?

Here’s a similarity between the US and España.  Since I’ve been here, the major story has been about these parents who are being accused of murdering their little girl who was adopted from China. Such a depressing story and we hear about every little development everyday. Then there are the fires, robberies, murders; the list goes on and on. Not that these stories aren’t important but why do people want to hear these things every single day? Communication/ Psych majors, where you at?

4.    The newscasters are beautiful.

This is just proving my “Spanish women are perfectly beautiful” theory even more. Like perfect, youthful, never a hair out of place, the cutest clothes, not to mention their bodies, despite eating bread and drinking at every meal. Sure, the US newscasters are generally good-looking, but this is just a whole other level. It just straight up aggravating.

5.    They know the meaning of international news

They talk about the news in the UK, France, Italy, Russia, the Middle East, China…I could go on and on. Sure the US and Spain get the most attention, but it’s a nice smorgasbord of news.

I’ve decided to do my final Spanish project on the role of American pop culture in Spain using some actual sources and not just the strong opinions and observations of Sahara Lake. Such a huge part of going abroad is learning about another culture and I’m so #blessed to have had the opportunity to do.

As for the following weeks, I have a plethora of papers, presentations and tests, Thanksgiving dinner (If there is not Mac&Cheese or stuffing, I might have spend another night crying with Tay-Tay Swift) and my much-anticipated trip to Morocco.

Until next time loyal followers. Paz, Amor and Beyoncé.

 

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By maxikaplan

A funny thing happened this week when I made a presentation in my Economic History of Britain class.  My topic would not have been quite as intimidating were it not for the fact that I was speaking to a class of students primarily from Britain about why their motor industry had failed.  To make matters worse, the state of the motor industry in the U.S. was needed as a comparison.  And if that was not enough to make me watch my words, the president of the Economic History society at London School of Economics was in my class as well, ready to pick apart any flaw in my argument.

I was not too worried, however, about the reasoning behind my presentation because I thought that it was sound, and if I could back it up with facts then I knew it could not turn out too bad.  What struck me as difficult was trying to maintain my audience’s trust without being too partial towards the success of the US and the failure of Britain’s industries.  That is when I realized that the challenge of walking such a fine line is never an easy task but that it comes up incredibly often in life, and that LSE was, at least, preparing me for these situations that I’ll have to face at some point in the future.  I’m thankful towards LSE for moments like this, even if it causes me quite a bit of stress.

After the week kicked off on that unusual note, I made a point to do more of what I have been guilty of not doing lately: seeing London.  This is an especially busy time of year at school, and with a few interviews coming up I looked towards these excuses as a way to justify my lack of travel, but in the end we never really are satisfied with excuses.  So I made my way with a friend to the northern part of London, which didn’t require much planning considering it was only a 20 minute bus ride away.  But London can certainly amaze by how different sections of its city are that are so close-by to each other.  With work building up it is always hard to remember to appreciate the city and my experience here in general, and each time I go for these mini-excursions I realize how much there is to appreciate.  Our trip turned out to be an interesting night, culminating somehow at a jazz club that was incredible.

Thanksgiving is coming up, which means my next two weeks, and therefore my next two blog posts, should be particularly interesting.  My brother is coming to visit me who studies in Austria, so I will have much to report.  For now, it is back to work.

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By kathleenmccarthy1

One of the things I am going to miss most about Ireland is Penney’s. Penney’s is a discount store in Ireland and probably the most amazing place I’ve ever been. They sell mostly clothing but also have things like shampoo, make-up, bedding and other various household goods. The best thing about Penney’s though is the prices. You can get tops for as low as eight euros and the average price for pants is about ten euros. Most knit sweaters (or jumpers as they are called here) range from about ten to 15 euro, which is a very good price considering how warm they are. Penney’s is the most popular place to shop among college students because of how affordable it is and most of the time when you are walking around campus at NUIG you will be able to recognize the clothes that people are wearing from the racks at Penney’s. Another great thing about Penney’s is that even though the prices are so low, the clothes are comparable to things I would pay a lot more for in the U.S. Not only has shopping at Penney’s been an effective way for me to dress authentically like an Irish college student, it has also proven to be a great way to save money on gifts. When my parents visited with my grandma, all of them left Penney’s with things for themselves and for others back home. It’s also great to know that there is a place I can go when I run out of shampoo and get what I need without paying a ridiculous price, which often happens in Galway if you don’t look for bargains. They also have a wide selection of onesies, or footed pajamas, for about 12 euros. This may not seem like a big deal to the average person, but footed pajamas mean a lot in Ireland in the winter! Even though I’ve got a few weeks left here, I’ve already bought a number of Christmas presents for people at Penney’s just because I thought they were really nice. I’m really excited to wear all of the clothes that I bought at Penney’s when I get back to the U.S.  because I know that no one else will have the same stuff as me, even though here everyone is walking around in the same thing!

There’s No Place Like Penney’s #GWU #GWAbroad

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