Tschüss Berlin! My Study Abroad Reflection
December 14, 2018
And just like that my time studying abroad in Berlin has come to a close, and oh has time flown by. It seems like just yesterday I was saying good bye to my mom as I was boarding the gate at Newark Airport. I have had such an amazing experience and I met some incredible, inspirational people who I’m going to never forget.
At the beginning of my semester, my program director gave us an aspiration: “I hope you transform from mirror people into window people.”
At first, I didn’t believe that I would be able to see the world in new perspective in such a short time, however, it ended up being true! I've had transformed into a mirror person. I have been able to integrate myself into a society where I at first didn’t know the language and the culture. As someone who had lived in Connecticut her whole life, studying abroad has been such an eye-opening experience.
Studying abroad has helped me expand my knowledge in ways I didn’t think were possible. Going abroad taught me experiences that being on campus simply can’t. Regardless of what your interest are, going abroad will give insights on different cultures and you will grow to not only love and enjoy new interests, but it also makes you more appreciative of your culture.
Going abroad has given me a new sense of independence I wouldn’t have without the experience. It's less about school work and more about being on your own and finding your own way, whether it be through your career, or literally, through the country you stay in. It's a learning opportunity in more ways than one. There is so much to learn about the world around us and studying abroad helped me see that.
I would recommend studying abroad in some type of capacity at least once in your life. I just started my 20’s and I’ve already studied abroad twice: in Montpellier, France last summer and now Berlin! Going abroad was one of the best experiences of my life for so many reasons. You get to travel everywhere, try new foods and meet new people. I even got to learn German while I was here, and that’s an asset I can carry with me for the rest of my life.
I would even recommend going abroad even if you’re hesitant. Put yourself out of your comfort zone! You don’t want to look back on something you wish you did!
Berlin, you have been so good and have blessed me with experiences I will never forget. Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end; it simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again.
“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard” -Winnie the Pooh
Tschüss!
-Jenna
Warner Bros. Studio Tour: Do's and Don'ts
December 3, 2018
Hi everyone! Sorry for the long writing break; school has been taking over my life here in Berlin (yes, that means I haven't had a lot of time to travel on my own). However, I promised you all a blog post about my recent trip to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London! Here, I will provide you with some "do's and don't" to make your day extra MAGICAL!
First, I want to start off by discussing how amazing my day was. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan so I paid extra to get the VIP Deluxe Ticket and it was 110% worth it (I'll talk more about what my ticket included below). I spent a solid 7 hours at the studio and I wished I didn't have to go back to my airbnb that evening! I also did A LOT of shopping! We can say that I had to take a break from spending for a little bit after that trip!
What to DO at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour: London!
1) Buy your tickets ahead of time!
This will help you avoid so many long lines that would take away from the magic on the day of. If you are getting your tickets online, remember that the earlier/later your time slot is, the less busy it will be. The afternoons are usually pretty crowded!
2) Dress for the weather!
There is a section of the studio tour called The Backlot. The Backlot is OUTSIDE and includes a lot of cool features, like Privet Drive, the Hogwarts Bridge and the Knight Bus! You're going to want to grab a Butterbeer and spend time talking it all in! You don't want to be too cold or too hot. Make sure you're dress appropriately!
3) Make sure you watch all the movies again before the trip!
The studio tour is all about how the movies are made! What's the point of going if you haven't rewatched the movies! You’ll need to re-familiarize yourself with all the facts and figures, the sets and storylines, the characters’ names! It will definitely help in the end.
4) If you're able to, GET A DELUXE TICKET!
Getting a deluxe ticket was the best choice of my trip to London. As a major Harry Potter fan, I had access to things other people didn't. For example, my package included 4 professional pictures and 1 video. I got 2 photos in front of the Hogwarts Express and 2 on a Broom Stick. For my video, I got one filmed of me flying over London! (TIP: If you're a Slytherin, make sure you ask about your robe in advance because the green on the robe may match the green screen...and you don't want that!) Next, I also got a free Studio Tour book that reminds me about my special day. I also got a complimentary Butterbeer and a private lunch, along with my private tour! I think my favorite part about having VIP was that we could go through the tour as many times as we wanted to, while other people could only go through once. Also, we got access to sets when groups weren't there. For example: I got to go into the Great Hall without a swarm of people! It was such an amazing experience, if I ever go again, I am doing deluxe! The ticket information is attached with the following link: https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/tickets.
What NOT to do at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour: London
1) Don't show up in the afternoon!
I talked about this a little bit above, but if you don't want a crowded experience, make sure you either show up early in the morning or later that evening. Most people tend to go in the afternoon and it gets very crowded and hectic. Especially because I was doing a lot of shopping later and wanted less people, I set my tour time for 10:00. It got busy toward the end of my day but for the beginning it was fine!
2) Don't feel as though you have to rush through the exhibit!
If you do attend the tour at a later time, there tends to be people rushing through the exhibit and pushing their way through to the front. YOU PAID FOR A TICKET ALSO so you should be able to take your time to see everything YOU want to see! This is your magical day, you want to make it count and memorable!
There wasn't much that I wouldn't do at the Studio. This was the day I gave myself permission to splurge on. Even though I did spend a good amount of money on the Deluxe tickets and at the gift shop, every memory I made I know I will cherish forever!
Solo Trip: Adventures in London
October 25, 2018
Today was hands down the most stressful day of my trip. Let's just say London transportation is unreliable! So, I'm writing this post as I'm sitting in London Luton Airport for the next 3 hours waiting for my flight. Writing is one of my favorite stress relievers!
Well, we aren't here to talk about my stressful day. I want to talk about my amazing solo trip to London! It was the first leg of my Autumn Break from school in Berlin.
I decided to go on another solo trip for this break because as the Tudor historian and Harry Potter geek I am, I wanted to do a lot of tours no one else in my group would have wanted to do. During this trip, I did some AMAZING things that I can't wait to tell you all!
I'm hoping this will inspire anyone else who wants to do a solo trip to London because it was totally worth it!
Day 1: Tower of London and King's Cross
I wanted to start my week off with something exciting! So, the first thing I did was go to the Tower of London. The Tower of London has a large historical significance to me and in general. This is where Anne Boleyn's trial was held, and it was where she and Catherine Howard were beheaded. This was a HUGE deal for this Tudor historian; and since the Tower was in central London, it was super easy to get to my next stop, King's Cross Station!
The Hogwarts Platform 9 3/4 is there for guests to take authentic pictures of running to catch the Hogwarts Express (you can see one of my photos below)! This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip!
Day 2: Exploring
I wanted to make sure I at least had one day to explore the city, so, I chose my second day! That morning, I had breakfast (aka dessert) at Peggy Porschen Cakes! It was only the most Instagram-able store front on all of London! You can probably tell by the pictures! I would definitely recommend going if you had at least 2 hours to spare, since it took me an hour to even get a seat!
After, I had my London shoot at all of the main parts of the city! I had an amazing time exploring the city at dusk time! It was the perfect time to explore because the super tourist-y spots were settling down and I had the whole location practically to myself!
Day 3: Hampton Court Palace
I was an extreme Tudor geek at Hampton Court Palace! This was where Henry VIII spent most of his time. It was also one of the only palaces that still had one of Henry's preserved banquet halls! Through out the Tudor apartments you could see aspects of all of his wives (yes, all 6), and how his architecture choices changed due to them.
The palace also had different exhibits about Henry's kitchen and Henry's earlier life! I loved the palace so much, so even if you aren't a huge Tudor or history fan like I am, I would still recommend going!
Day 4: The Making of Harry Potter
This was, for CERTAIN, the best part of my trip. In fact, it may even be the best part of my study abroad so far! I went to Warner Brother's Studios in London to go on the Making of Harry Potter tour! But, to make things even better, I had VIP TICKETS!
I was able to have a private, guided tour; and I had access to thing's no one else had access to! My VIP package came with 4 included professional photos and 1 video! For those of you who know me, I took my video on a green screen of me riding a broom through London! Also, I'm pretty sure I had about 3 cups of Butterbeer and I have no shame!
Let's also not talk about how much money I spent at the Harry Potter Shop...let's just say it was the most expensive part of my trip! YIKES!
I am probably going to write a blog post specifically about my trip to the studio in the near future, so I don't want to give a lot away now!
Day 5: Windsor Palace
Windsor Palace was splendid! This is one of the homes of The Queen. It also happened to be where the recent royal weddings took place, and...(here comes my favorite part)...where Henry VIII is buried along with his favorite wife, Jane Seymour!
I'm pretty sure I just sat in front of his tomb for a solid 20 minutes just staring at the tomb!
Since I went during the state visit of the royal family of the Netherlands, a lot of attractions inside The Queen's apartments were closed! I was super bummed because I was planning on spending a full day at the palace but I could only spend 2 hours! Oh well, at least I saw what I really wanted to see!
Overall, my trip to London was absolutely amazing and you will be sure to see me back here soon! There is still so much more for me to do! However, I'm looking forward to the second leg of my tip in Edinburgh, Scotland!
*Most of the locations are tagged in the post so it's super easy for you all to make reservations if you wanted!*
Cherrio!
-Jenna
The Berlin Art Aesthetic
October 17, 2018
After living in Berlin for almost 2 months now (yes time flies so fast) I'm so excited to say it's become my new home away from home!
One of the memorable parts about any visit is the experience, the sights, smells, noises, the taste of the food, the way the atmosphere affects you. Berlin is no exception to this.
Even though I’ve been here a while, and I’m starting to blend in more, folks can’t tell I’m a foreigner immediately anymore. However, I still like to take some time and explore the city when I can.
One recently cool spot I explored was the East Side Gallery, a modern art gallery painted right in the side of the Berlin Wall! There were Lots of political messages tied into the meanings of these pictures.
The other night I also got the opportunity to check out the Festival of Lights! It’s this really cool event that goes on in Berlin where they project different lights and different designs onto a lot of the different notable buildings and monuments.
There are also little everyday type things too! Just today I found an Asian Noodle Festival with lots of different types of noodles and pasta dishes from different Asian cultures. Definitely a cool experience.
I look forward to all the continued opportunities I have to soak up everything this city has to offer, and what new places I can find!!
-Jenna
A Preppy Girl's Guide to Fall Fashion in Europe
September 25, 2018
As a New England girl, born and raised, Fall has always had a special place in my heart.
It has always been my favorite season. Nothing can beat the feeling of an oversized sweatshirt, warm tea and Hocus Pocus.
However, since I'm in Europe for the semester, I have a feeling Fall just won't feel the same here. So, to help myself out, I've done a bit of research to try to get the full Autumn experience while abroad! Especially when it comes to clothing!
Pinterest has been a life saver while researching places to experience Autumn in Europe!
I didn't know what to expect as I was preparing for Fall abroad. However, I think I brought the essentials. As a lover of cold weather fashion, I brought 4 coats with me (yes, 4 COATS!) That way, I have the maximum ability to match with all of my sweaters and turtlenecks! As pictured below, I also bought my first Fall fashion hat! It is the perfect accessory for chilly weather outfits. I bought this wool one from H&M!
Also, when days are a little warmer, I love to wear long sleeve dresses in Fall colors! I bought 3 dresses in Europe so far. I bought a navy blue coral dress, a maroon long sleeve dress (one of my favorite fall colors), and an olive green dress (as pictured below).
I also have an "unhealthy" obsession with scarves, scarves and more scarves! I buy a lot of my scarves from Francesca's. Whether it's a blanket scarf, infinity scarf or just an accent scarf, they are always perfect for a Fall day, especially in Europe!
-Jenna
First Time Solo Traveler: Vienna
September 16, 2018 Vienna, Austria
This past weekend was so special to me because I went on my first solo trip! Normally if I am traveling by myself, I am going somewhere to meet family or friends. However, this time, I was going to a different country with the freedom to do whatever I'd like.
For my first destination, I chose to go to Vienna, Austria! Vienna is a beautiful city only an hour by plane from Berlin. I only booked my tickets to travel 2 days before I left but once I got to the city, I felt super comfortable with my weekend plans
Here's a little overview of my trip!
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| The Hofburg Imperial Palace |
I landed in the city around 8:00am so I had the whole day to explore. I planned on using my first day to explore the Museumquartier. This is where a lot of the museums in Vienna are. I went to 3 main attractions on the first day: The Hofburg Imperial Palace, The Imperial Burial Vault, and The State Hall of the Austrian National Library. The museums were truly breathtaking for a history geek like myself!
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| Fresco in the State Hall of the Austrian National Library |
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| The Hofburg Imperial Palace |
I also walked around the outsides of Staatsoper, The Art History Museum, and the Maria Teresa Monument.
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| The Art History Museum and the Maria Teresa Monument |
For the next day in Vienna, I went to explore Schönbrunn Palace and the Tiergarten Schönbrunn. Fun fact: the Tiergarten Schönbrunn is the oldest zoo in the world!
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| The Palace |
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| Yes, I saw a capybara and it was the best thing ever |
During my time at the palace, I had a photoshoot planned in the gardens with Amr Ebeid though Airbnb Experiences! Amr was a wonderful photographer and he gave me a great mini tour of the palace grounds. The scenery and views absolutely blew me away.
Just like that, 2 days in Vienna flew by in a blink of an eye and I was on my plane heading back to Berlin!
Tips for a first time solo traveler!
I feel like I picked up a lot of good tips and tricks as a first time solo traveler myself.
1) Put yourself out of your comfort zone!
Whenever I am doing something new, I always liked to have a "safety net" just incase I do something wrong the first time or until I get the hang of it. Going to Vienna alone was a huge step for me as a traveler and a person. It made me realize I shouldn't be scared to get out of my comfort zone.
2) PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!
As a solo traveler, you don't want to get to your destination and be completely lost. You should do some research before hand to have a tentative itinerary of what you wanted to do there. Remember, you can always tweak your plan once you get there!
3) Keep in touch with your family back home!
Before I left on Friday, I made sure to send all of my plane, hotel and activity information to a few family members back home. I also texted them often to keep them in the loop with what I was doing abroad to keep track of where I was. Safety first!
4) Don't be afraid to meet new people!
I really tried to communicate to as many locals and fellow travelers as possible. This is great advice because it gives you the opportunity to find people with similar exploring interests and gives you someone to talk to while traveling solo! Over the course of the trip I met my photographer, a super nice guy at a restaurant and another girl in my hostel from Florida! Put yourself out there!
5) Enjoy!
God has given me this blessed opportunity to be able to travel at such a young age, so I want to take advantage of it in as many ways as possible. For me, solo traveling was a chance for me to explore myself and explore the city as I wanted to on my own schedule. Make sure you soak up all of the memories you make (aka don't be afraid to take a lot of SELFIES!)
The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of opportunity. -Leonard Ravenhill
-Jenna
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