Inside Student Blogs

Sarah Doyel Madrid, Fall 2012

Sarah Doyel is a California born-and-bred Diplomacy and World Affairs Major and Spanish Minor hailing from Occidental College in Los Angeles. She enjoys reading everything worldly from Rick Steves guidebooks to the Economist, which led her to found a current events student organization on her campus. When Sarah’s not getting her zen on in yoga or enjoying her daily peanut butter fix, she is practicing her Spanish and exploring L.A. Totally stoked to focus her travels within Spain, Sarah dreams of learning flamenco and using the Metro as practice for her life goal of never owning a car. Expect a mix of cultural musings, fiasco-fueled adventures, and street photography from this travel fanatic.

Sarah's Posts

• 

  Dreams of Madrid

  4/01/13 • (0)

  I haven’t processed even half of what I learned during my semester in Madrid. I can’t summarize it and I have no parting words of wisdom. What I do know is this: that I grew faster and learned more about myself and the world in that semester than I did during any other four months of my life.

  end of semester, friendship, homestay, Last post, Madrid, Post IES, Spain, Study Abroad, Travel

• 

  Put Down the Portable Coffee Mug

  12/18/12 • (0)

  A young and over-caffeinated blogger learns how to chill out.

  Madrid, relax, Spain, Study Abroad, Travel, yoga

• 

  Home [REDEFINED]

  12/05/12 • (1)

  Despite my newfound inner cultural chameleon, I felt relief and gratitude as soon as I sank into my seat on the return flight. I fell asleep dreaming of my bright, clean metro stop and the Spanish tortilla I would eat for dinner that night.

  Comparison, Home, Madrid, metro, Paris, Spain, Study Abroad, Travel

• 

  My Other Blog

  12/03/12 • (0)

  I just wanted to give you the link to my intercambio’s blog about cultural diversity, since I’ve written about my experiences with it a couple times… There is also a plethora of other topics if you want to learn more about the many facets of Madrid! (I know you do.)

  Blogs, cultural diversity, Diversity, food, intercambio, Madrid, Photo Blogs, Spain, Spanish food, Study Abroad, Travel

• Of Papers and Superglue

  11/29/12 • (0)

  I have learned to appreciate when my academics come to life – like that time I brushed my fingers over the façade I’m now studying – and when to enjoy some well-deserved relaxation. On that note, the time has come to finish my paper and pack my bags for Paris.

  Academics, art history, classes, Complutense, Finals, Madrid, museum, Spain, Strike, Study Abroad, Travel

• Digital Wonder: Sevilla and Granada

  11/19/12 • (0)

  I tried not to give Sevilla short shrift, because it is the classic Spanish city I always imagined when I thought of this previously-far-away land.

  Madrid, Spain, Study Abroad, Travel

• I Used to Think…Cultural Diversity Part 2

  11/12/12 • (0)

  Once again, Spain has left me with a more open mind, saying “I used to think…but now…”

  Cultural Immersion, Culture, Diversity, flamenco, intercambio, Madrid, Religion, Spain, Study Abroad, Tapas, Toledo, Travel

• Another Tapa and Another Semester Abroad, Please: Granada

  11/06/12 • (1)

  During a trip to Andalucía with some friends last weekend, I fell in love with the living poetry of Granada. Photos to come.

  Andalucia, Granada, Madrid, Spain, Study Abroad, Tapas, The Alhambra, Travel, Weekend travel

• Cultural Diversity – Huh? (Part 1)

  10/31/12 • (0)

  I’m participating an intercambio, or exchange, with a group of four students who are studying English at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and we met for the first time on Saturday afternoon.

  Culture, Diversity, friendship, intercambio, Madrid, Spain, Study Abroad, Travel

• “Integration” and My Spanish Home

  10/26/12 • (0)

  Today, I received a welcome reminder of how wonderful my homestay and host mother are, over our nightly dinner and good conversation. Can it be that I really have integrated into Spanish life? My home away from home says yes.

  Cultural Immersion, homestay, Host Family, host mother, Madrid, Spain, Spanish, Study Abroad, Travel

• Moments in Madrid and Surroundings

  10/19/12 • (0)

  In honor of completing my first full month, here are some snapshots from my daily life plus delightful commentary to explain them.

  Madrid, Real Madrid, Salamanca, Segovia, Spain, Spanish food, Study Abroad, Travel

• 

  A Different World, No Passport Necessary

  10/08/12 • (1)

  As we trundled north along the highway toward Bilbao, a jumble of words caught my eye from a sign. My head whipped around as I did a double take to peer through the tinted window.

  Bilbao, Field Trips, Language, Language and Area Studies Program, Madrid, Photo Blogs, San Sebastian, Spain, Study Abroad, Travel

• The Funny Thing About Transitions

  9/24/12 • (0)

  Funny thing about transitions, though: they tend to get easier after a little while, despite my tired psyche’s insistence that they won’t.

  Cultural Differences, Culture Shock, First Impressions, First week, homestay, Madrid, Spain, Study Abroad, Travel

• 

  The Obligatory Goodbye/Hello

  9/10/12 • (0)

  You knew this was coming. It’s the night-before-my-morning-flight-abroad post. Since my morning will be particularly early – though in my opinion, 3am should be late and not early – I will keep this short and, well, bittersweet.

  Home, Madrid, Pre-Departure, preparation, Study Abroad, Travel

• Eight in the Afternoon

  8/29/12 • (0)

  Today I received un besito (“a little kiss”) from my Madrileñan host mamá, only it had to travel several thousand miles through the phone line to reach me.

  Host Family, Madrid, Pre-Departure, Spain, Study Abroad Blogs