A Very Danish Birthday Weekend

Hello everyone - long time no blog! I've been busy exploring the city, starting my classes, and learning how to keep up with the locals on my new bike (more on that later). But even more exciting, I got to celebrate my 20th birthday last weekend in true Danish fashion.

On the morning of Saturday, the 26th, I applied for my Danish Residence Permit. It was a surprisingly fast process and I will soon receive my CPR number (kind of like a Social Security Number) that will allow me to access free healthcare and other fun welfare state perks :) Later that afternoon I met up with Maddie, one of my high school besties, who I coincidentally share a birthday with. We headed to Frederiksberg Palace for a picnic with my flatmates and enjoyed some bread, cheese, and wine in the beautiful palace grounds. That night we met up with a bunch of friends at one of the main squares near DIS and celebrated the clock striking midnight as it became the 27th. Then I took the train back with Maddie to spend the night at her homestay.

The picnic spread

The birthday girls!

6 of the 8 of my flatmates

Maddie's sweet homestay family (Peter, Heidi, and their 3 daughters), gave us the best birthday morning, starting at around 8:30 when they all came into our room singing happy birthday and giving us presents. I was completely surprised and so touched when Heidi gave me a beautiful pair of earrings that matched the pair that Maddie got! We then had some time to get ready before joining the family, as well as two other families from their neighborhood, for a brunch feast. They really pulled out all the stops, cooking up eggs, bacon, sausage, homemade bread, crepes, fruit, cheese, and more. I literally thought I was going to explode from all the food and then they brought us out a birthday cake!! What happened next is kind of hard to describe but all of the families (16 people in total) sang us the Danish version of happy birthday. Before they began, they asked Maddie and I to each pick an instrument - she said trumpet and I said guitar. They all broke into the most energetic and lively song with sound effects of the instruments we had picked. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced and definitely much cooler than the American version ;)

Opening birthday presents with Maddie's cute host sisters

The table for our birthday feast - featuring the Danish flag (a classic birthday decoration here)

Making a wish!

After brunch I headed back to my apartment for a quick nap before joining my flatmates and SRA for a birthday pizza dinner! They sang happy birthday and got me delicious macarons and little cakes from a famous bakery here in Copenhagen called La Glace. I ended the night with a family FaceTime sesh and responded to all the lovely birthday messages from my friends and family back home.

A sweet ending to the night

10/10 would recommend

More birthday wishes!

I have to admit that I had pretty mixed emotions about spending my birthday so far away from home this year. But thanks to Maddie's host family and all of my friends, celebrating in Denmark ended up being an amazing way to kick off my twenties. I can't wait to see what adventures this year has in store.

Best belated birthday gift from the best family ever!

Greetings from Copenhagen!

I have officially arrived in Copenhagen to begin my fall semester with DIS! These past few days have been a whirlwind of travel, unpacking, orientations, meeting up with friends new and old, and lots and lots of walking. As the sun sets on my fourth day in Denmark I thought I would share some photos of my new home for the next four months and what I've learned so far!

On my first day here, I arrived to my flat in Frederiksberg, which I share with eight other DIS students (5 girls and 2 boys). I got unpacked and my SRA (kind of like an RA) took everyone to the grocery store down the street to pick up some essentials. Afterwards, we ordered pizza, hung out in our living room, and got to know each other a little bit. Later that evening I met up with some friends from Villanova and we explored the downtown area where we will be taking classes. 

On Sunday, a few of my flatmates and I walked around our neighborhood and went to the local pharmacy to pick up some more items for our apartment. Then, we completed a scavenger hunt that led us around the city completing tasks like riding the bus and learning some basic Danish words and phrases. That evening, our SRA took us out to dinner with the other students he is in charge of for the semester (our 'sister' apartment). He brought us to a place called Absalon, which is an old church that has been converted into a community center. It has a very unique set up - there's no menu, everything is cooked from scratch and served family style, and everyone is seated at long tables with other random people. That night they were serving homemade bread, roast chicken, a tomato salad, and potatoes. It was so good. After dinner there is always some sort of activity (yoga, bingo, live music, etc.) and on Sunday it was a jazz band. I thought this was such a cool concept and I'm definitely going to bring my friends back there during the semester. The best part? Dinner is only 50 dkk per person (about $8) which is very affordable and rare for Copenhagen. 

On Monday morning, we had the DIS Opening Ceremony at the Royal Danish Academy of Music. There were performances from Danish opera singers and the program director spoke about what to expect during our time in Copenhagen. That afternoon I picked up my textbooks and headed back to my flat for lunch. A few of my flatmates and I took a walk to a park in our neighborhood. It is apparently one of the largest and most beautiful parks in the city and it did not disappoint! There were lots of trails, a fountain, a palace, and a zoo! We barely got to explore the whole thing so we are planning to go back again soon. 

The park reminded me a little bit of Longwood Gardens

The park entrance - the buildings in our neighborhood are so beautiful!

Later that afternoon, our SRA took us on a walking tour of the city center, where he showed us the best shopping, bakeries, restaurants, and study spots near the DIS campus buildings. It was a great way to learn more about the area and help us get our bearings. European baked goods are my weakness so I made note of a few places I need to visit soon. All of the streets and storefronts here are so quintessentially European and some are very reminiscent of Paris - I love it!

My ideal front door

Cobblestone and colorful houses are found on every little side street

One of the main shopping squares in the city center

After our tour we got sandwiches and had a housing meeting with our sister apartment. That night, I met up with some friends at Paper Island, a food market alongside the harbor. The market is made up of lots of different food stalls and there were so many delicious options! There is currently an art installation by Yoko Ono called the Wish Tree Garden on display outside the market. According to its website,

"On a slip of paper, a so-called ‘wish tag’, anyone can write a wish which is afterwards hung from the branches of the trees. All the wishes are regularly collected and sent to Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower on the island of Viðey in Kollafjörður Bay, Iceland...The wishes are buried around the Peace Tower along with the millions of other wishes that have been collected since 1996 from other places in the world."

Yoko Ono's display at Paper Island

This morning, our flat had a DIScover Copenhagen Tour, where we went around to different spots in the city where DIS representatives gave us history about important locations and attractions. Each walking tour leaves me feeling like I am slowly but surely learning my way around this place. My favorite place was the Black Diamond, a library on the waterfront. They have lots of great study and work spaces as well as rotating exhibitions on display. I'm sure I will be spending time there later on in the semester. Afterwards, I met up with my friend Maddie and we went to Nyhavn, the place most people probably think of when they think of Copenhagen. It's a picturesque stretch of harbor lined with colorful row houses and beautiful sailboats. We of course had to snap some photos and try out the trampolines built into the sidewalk nearby!

I was so happy to finally find these trampolines after hunting for them all week!

A classic Cope photo ft. BSHS alums :)

Tomorrow I have academic orientation and classes start on Thursday! I'm super excited for all of my classes this semester and I can't wait to explore the city even more in the coming months. In closing, here are the top 5 things I've learned about Copenhagen so far:

1. They have peanut butter here! It's not Jif, but its actually not too bad. 
2. Pretty much all Danes use bikes as their main mode of transportation, bikers even get the right of way over pedestrians.
3. You can never know what to expect with the weather here - once second its pouring rain and the next second its sunny blue skies. 
4. There were several fires in the city in the 17th and 18th century so most buildings in Copenhagen aren't actually that old!
5. Danes love to badmouth the Swedish - I'm not quite sure why yet so updates to come on this. 

If you want to get my blog updates directly to your inbox, be sure to submit your email address in the 'Follow the Adventure' box on the right-hand side of this page to subscribe. Farvel (bye) for now!

Study Abroad Survival Guide: Packing

Hello everyone! As the countdown for my departure to Copenhagen comes to a close (3 more days!!) the process of packing my life into suitcases has officially begun. I will admit to being both a procrastinator and an over packer - pretty much a deadly duo when it comes to travel preparation - but I'm going to try my best to prove myself wrong this time around and actually get all my packing done more than 3 hours before I board the plane. Having gone through this experience once before, I now know what I really need to bring with me and what can be left at home. I hope you find this packing list useful in your abroad preparation, and may the baggage weight requirement be ever in your favor ;) 

• 1 Large Checked Bag
• 1 Carry-on 
• 1 Personal Item - Backpack

I’ll also be packing a large Longchamp tote and a cross-body purse. Bags with zippers are best to avoid pickpocketing.

Tops

• 3-4 long sleeve t-shirts
• 3-4 short sleeve t-shirts
• 2 tank tops 
• 5-7 sweaters (turtlenecks, crewnecks, cardigans)
• 2 flannels
• 1 button down 

Bottoms 

• Jeans (1 blue, 3 black)
• Denim skirt
• Corduroy skirt
• Leggings (2 pairs)
• Sweatpants

Dresses

• Denim overall dress
• Long-sleeve casual dress
• Short-sleeve casual dress
• Business casual or other formal dress for special occasions

Outerwear

• Denim or leather jacket 
• Parka or other heavy winter coat
• Raincoat 
• Blazer
• Sweatshirt

Shoes 

• Athletic Sneakers/Tennis Shoes
• Adidas sneakers 
• Chelsea boots
• Bean boots
• Ballet Flats

Accessories

• 2-3 Scarves 
• Winter hat
• Tech gloves 
• Belt

Sleep & Undergarments

• Underwear (at least 10 pairs)
• Athletic socks (at least 10 pairs) 
• Wool socks (3 pairs)
• Black tights (4 pairs)
• Pajamas (at least 2 pairs)

I find it helpful to keep a specific color scheme in mind when I'm packing for an extended period of time. This makes it easier to create outfits, as everything tends to go together already. Luckily for me, my existing Fall/Winter wardrobe will fit in nicely with the Danes' affinity for black, grey, and other muted colors. This is what my study abroad wardrobe will look like (give or take a few items): 

Pack travel size versions of everything you need (shampoo, face wash, contact lens solution, etc.) in your carry on. You’ll be able to shower as soon as you get there and figure out where to buy full size bottles later on. Keep the travel size items for weekend trips.    

Must Have

• Canvas tote bags - Grocery stores abroad will charge you for plastic bags so I would recommend bringing a few of these if you want to avoid the fee. 
• Outlet converters - A must have for charging your American electronics. I would recommend bringing two or three. 
• Cold Medicine - Pharmacies abroad won’t have the exact same medicines you use at home. It’s a good idea to toss a box of Dayquil/NyQuil/Tylenol in your suitcase. 
• Prescription Medication - Have your doctor prescribe enough medication for the time you are abroad.
• 'Travel Folder' - Bring a double pocket folder with copies of your passport, insurance card, ID, proof of university acceptance etc. every time you travel.
• Hand Sanitizer and Disinfectant Wipes - Good to have in your purse/carry-on. 
• Reusable water bottle
• Portable phone charger
• Travel-size Umbrella 
• School ID

Optional 

• Small Padlock - Lock the zippers on your backpack or other bags for additional security when staying in hostels or AirBnbs.
• Pillow case - A small and easily packed reminder of home. 
• Hair turban towel
• Bathing Suit
• Mesh laundry bag
• Travel luggage scale
• Journal
• Photos from home/Small room decor
• Flip flops

• US straightener or curling iron - They don’t work - not even with converters! Plan to buy any hair tools upon arrival.
• Rain Boots - In my opinion, these take up too much space and aren't worth bringing for the amount of use they may or may not get. 
• Hangers - Your apartment/housing might provide these! If not, save space and buy some when you arrive.

If you have any suggestions for things I missed be sure to let me know in the comments below! If you want to read the first installment in my Study Abroad Survival Guide, click here. Happy packing!

Study Abroad Survival Guide: The Logistics

Hi everyone! As the departure date for fall study abroad programs gets closer, I’ve been seeing a lot of questions in my program’s Facebook group, as well as getting a lot of questions from my friends, about the logistical side of a semester abroad. Now that everyone has been accepted to their schools overseas, registered for classes, and bought their plane tickets, a little bit of reality has begun to sink in. People are thinking about how they will get settled in a new country - one that doesn’t operate on US Dollars, AT&T, and maybe even the English language. So I decided to start this Study Abroad Survival Guide series to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about a semester abroad. If you're already an experienced international traveler, then a lot of this is going to be old news. But for those of you who have never been out of the country before, or haven’t spent an extended period of time abroad, this Survival Guide series is for you.

Disclaimer: There are LOTS of ways to go about planning the logistical side of a semester abroad. The following tips are what I personally used, prefer, and would recommend to my friends getting ready to go abroad.

When I studied abroad in London, I arrived into the UK with about 50 British Pounds and 100 Euros that my dad had leftover from previous travel. I did not exchange US dollars for foreign currency before I left and I did not bring any US dollars to exchange for local currency once I got there.

Bringing a ton of US dollars with you abroad is not the best idea for several reasons. Most currency exchange points overseas, especially ones in airports and around major tourist locations, charge higher exchange rates so they can make a higher commission off of your transfer. Also, you run the risk of losing all of your money if your purse/wallet/luggage gets lost or stolen.

Withdrawing foreign currency directly from an ATM abroad will get you the best exchange rate. Because of this, my parents got me a Travelex Cash Passport, basically a debit card that you load with US dollars online which get automatically converted to the currency of your choice. I used this card to withdraw cash from ATMs, or to pay for smaller transactions like snacks and drinks. The thing I liked best about the card was that it had no transaction fees at the ATM, unlike my US debit card. Travelex no longer sells this exact card, but they do offer something similar called the Travelex Money Card.

As for larger purchases, like plane tickets and groceries, I opened a Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card under my parents account. This was the easiest way for me to get a credit card without having any credit history of my own. Every month my dad would send me an email with the balance I had accrued over the period (my favorite email to receive!) before taking the amount out of my bank account. I would highly recommend this card for its 24/7 live customer service line (you get connected to real people right away) and zero foreign transaction fees, two criteria you should look for when applying for a credit card to use while you’re abroad.

Last but not least, don't forget to call your bank and credit card company before you go to let them know when and where you will be travelling so they don't freeze your accounts! 

My parents will tell you that ‘Julia’ and ‘budget’ don’t belong in the same sentence, and they might be a little bit right about that. BUT if you want to achieve all of your study abroad bucket list items, making (and sticking to) a budget for the semester is really important. 

Before I left for London my dad and I sat down and created a budget in Excel. The sheet was broken down into categories like ‘Snacks’, ‘Groceries’, ‘Travel’, and ‘Entertainment’ and I made an estimate for how much I thought I would spend on each category for the whole semester. For example, I estimated that I would spend $60-70 on groceries each week for 16 weeks, totaling in a grocery budget of about $1000 for the semester. We made it so that I could input my actual expenses each week and the total estimated amount for the semester would decrease accordingly. This allowed me to keep track of how much I was spending and how much I theoretically had left to spend as the semester went on. Using my banking app, I was able to cross-check my budget with my bank account to see if I should adjust my spending habits at all. 

Full disclosure, I kind of got a little bit lazy with the whole budget idea as the weeks went by which led to me spending more money at the end of the semester than I did at the beginning. This time around, my goal is to be smarter with my spending so I don't run into the same problem again. I think it’s important to give yourself a little leeway for unexpected expenses, but it’s also important to set a realistic guideline for what you can spend while you’re abroad. With a little planning ahead of time you’ll be able to have an amazing semester without coming home to $0 in your bank account.

There are so many conflicting opinions when it comes to the best way to get cell service abroad. Some people get a prepaid ‘burner’ phone, some like International data plan add-ons, and others prefer buying a SIM card to use with an unlocked device. This was probably the topic that stressed me out the most before I left and during the first few days after arriving in the UK. Ultimately, I decided to get the international monthly add-on for my regular AT&T plan, and purchased a (very) basic phone and a monthly cell phone plan once I got to London that I intended to renew at the end of each month. This lasted less than a month. I made it through the semester without any major issues, but in hindsight would not do it this way again. 

CONS: The little brick phone I bought lasted for about 3 days before I gave up on it and was a total waste of money. Also, the AT&T international plan is pretty expensive and you don’t get a lot of data - I don’t think many international phone plan add-ons are meant for long term use. 

PROS: I got to keep my US phone number. 

This time around, I am enrolling in a foreign phone plan for the semester. My program provider partners with a Danish cell service provider called TDC, who will give me a new SIM card to put in my phone. This will give me access to their network while I’m in Denmark and traveling throughout Europe. To do this, I will need to ‘unlock’ my current device so I will be able to use a different service provider. This article explains the steps of how to unlock your device really well!  

CONS: I will lose my US phone number for the time I’m abroad, because it will be replaced with a Danish phone number. 

PROS: Less expensive than getting an add-on to my existing plan or purchasing a burner phone and separate phone plan. I'll also get more data than I would with the AT&T plan and it will be easier to communicate with others who have Danish or European phone numbers. 

I hope this helped to answer some questions about planning for a semester abroad! There are a lot more topics I want to cover so keep an eye out for more posts like these coming soon. If you have any questions from this post or you have a topic you want me to cover next, be sure to leave a comment below!

Summer Reading List

With the school year quickly coming to a close, I find myself anticipating the days when I will actually have free time to read for fun. If you know me well, you know that in the summertime I often have a book close at hand. I've always loved bringing a new book to the beach or on a long road trip, and I'm feeling especially excited to swap out my trusty Intro to Finance textbook for some lighter reads. Over the past few weeks, I've been compiling recommendations from friends, teachers, mentors, and my own research so I can prepare my Amazon order for when I come home. I know I'm a little late on the bandwagon for quite a few of these but better late than never right?? Without further ado, here are the top 12 books I hope to read this summer:

1 // The Geography of Bliss

In the spirit of my upcoming semester abroad, I've been looking into books about global travel and culture. This top pick by a longtime NPR foreign correspondent explores what makes certain places happier than others and how our environments shape us to be the way we are. It's part travel memoir and part self-help book but seems like an all-around great read for anyone interested in travel and psychology.

2 // Eat Pray Love

My roommate is obsessed with this movie and had been hounding me for the past year to watch it. I finally did over Spring Break and I have to admit it was pretty good. However, I am a strong supporter of the "Books are Always Better than Movies" idea and want to put this one to the test - plus it fits in perfectly with my travel theme.

3 // I Am Malala

I was supposed to read this book earlier this year as a part of a club I joined but never actually got around to ordering it (oops). In light of Malala's recent honor from the UN, I think it's about time I learn more about her incredible story.

4 // Solve for Happy

This book came as a recommendation from a Google employee when I visited their New York HQ earlier this semester. It's written by a top exec in the company and discusses how to create and maintain happiness throughout your life. I'm thinking it might be a little over my head seeing as I'm not really one for excessive formulas and math references (ha) but I think I need to give it a try.

5 // The Secret

Another recommendation from my roommate (shoutout to you Nico!) who got this book from her dad earlier this year. Another self-help and happiness book that is supposedly life-changing. Guess I'll be the judge of that!

6 // The Opposite of Loneliness

A few of my friends have recommended this book to me over the years and it's another one that always seems to be on my "to-read" list. A collection of essays and stories written by a Yale student who died a few days after she graduated, this book focuses on self-discovery and how we can make a change in the world.

7 // Milk and Honey

This book gained popularity over the past year or two and is, again, one that I've been meaning to read for a while. It's a collection of poems about heartbreak, healing, and hope that has impacted millions around the world.

8 // The Circle

This book was recently made into a movie starring Emma Watson and Tom Hanks. Set in the future, it ponders how technology, social media, and innovation could potentially threaten our privacy and society at large. I've always liked utopian and futuristic type books and this definitely seems like it would be an interesting read.

9 // The Tipping Point

A top pick for those in the business world, this book discusses how trends and social behaviors take off and spread throughout the world. As a marketing student, I think this would be a particularly interesting way to learn about buyer behavior and selling.

10 // The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

My dad recommended this book to me last summer and I think I started but never actually finished it. It's a true story written by the former editor-in-chief of French Elle who experienced a stroke and, as a result, suffered from locked-in syndrome. He wrote the entire book by blinking his left eyelid to choose the next letter of each word.

11 // Lean In

This was recommended to me by one of my dad's colleagues in London last year. I bought it, started it, and it's been sitting unfinished on my nightstand at home for the past year (are we sensing a theme here?). Written by the COO of Facebook, this book reflects on women's empowerment and leadership roles in the workplace. Basically she was a #girlboss before it was cool.

12 // Work Rules

Another recommendation from the panel at Google. Written by the company's former Senior VP of People Operations, this book gives tips on how to be a more creative and innovative leader. It's always interesting to learn more about how one of the most prominent companies in the world works.

If you have a book you think I'd like feel, free to send me a message or leave a comment below - happy reading!

Ultimate London Travel Guide

Hi everyone! So as you probably know, I studied and interned abroad in London for the spring semester of my freshman year. It was an amazing four month long adventure that ignited my love for travel (the travel bug is real people!) and placed London at the top of my list of favorite places in the world. Since many of my friends are going to be abroad in London in the fall, and I've gotten a few requests for recommendations in the past, I decided to put down all of my favorite places to go/see/eat etc. all in one place! If you find yourself hopping across the pond anytime soon, I hope this list will make your trip planning a little easier.

When you are planning a trip to London, there are definitely a few must-see locations to check off your bucket list. Here are my top favorites:

• Big Ben - There's nothing quite like stepping out of Westminster Station to see this iconic British landmark. Head to the corner of Parliament Street and Great George Street for the perfect tourist picture - stand in a red photo booth with Big Ben in the background!
• Westminster Abbey - Often frequented by the royal family and also the site of Will and Kate's wedding! Sit in the choir stalls during a Sunday service or take a tour of this breathtaking church during visiting hours. 
• Buckingham Palace - The administrative HQ of the monarchy (essentially the Brits' version of the White house). Be sure to pay a visit during the changing of the guards!
• Tower Bridge - Most known in recent events as the location where the Olympic rings were hung when London hosted in 2012. Take the elevator up, walk across traffic, and see boats passing through from the glass floor above.  
• Hyde Park - One of the largest of London's Royal Parks and home to several famous landmarks. Check out Speaker's Corner to watch (or participate in!) a lively public debate, or take a leisurely stroll around the Princess Diana Memorial. Bikes and paddle-boats are also available for rental.
• Harrod's - Huge luxury department store selling everything from Legos to designer ball gowns. The food hall is absolutely amazing (try the cronuts!) and the toy department is a must-see. 
• Piccadilly/Oxford Circus - Essentially the equivalent of Times Square in the UK. Giant light-up billboards, street performers, shopping, and more. 

One of my favorite parts about London is that most of the museums are free! So basically it doesn't make you feel as bad if you leave after 30 minutes :) Whether you are an art aficionado or a history buff I can guarantee that you'll be able to find a museum that's perfect for you. But if museums aren't your cup of tea there are plenty of cool activities and attractions throughout the city to explore. 

• Victoria & Albert Museum - One of the largest museums in London with over 4.5 million objects in its collection. You will see everything from ceramics, furniture, fashion, photography, and sculpture and will most likely get lost in the process!
• National Portrait Gallery - The first portrait gallery in the world, home to an extensive collection of portraits of notable British people, both old and new. When I was there, they were hosting the Vogue 100 Years exhibit, which is still one of my favorite museum exhibits to date. 
• Churchill War Rooms - Visit the secret underground bunker used by Winston Churchill during World War II. Learn about Churchill's life and legacy as well as the stories of the staff who spent thousands of hours working here. 
• Imperial War Museum - Explore interactive exhibitions on wars of the past and present. I found it especially interesting to learn about the World Wars from a British perspective. 
• Tower of London - Built almost 1,000 years ago and chock full of history - its the site of Anne Boleyn's beheading and home to the Crown Jewels. Be sure to take a tour with one of the Yeoman Warder's - they're actual tower guards who live on the property today!
• Houses of Parliament - My top favorite guided tour I took while I was in London! Learn about the British political process and see the House of Lords, House of Commons, The Queen's Robing Room, throne, and more. Plus, if you want to see it in action, most parliamentary debates are open to the public on weekdays.
• London Eye - Giant ferris wheel on the bank of the River Thames. Get amazing views of the city - especially if you go around sunset when everything is starting to light up. 

I'm admittedly not the best person to ask for recommendations on where to get food in London seeing as I tried to cook for myself as much as possible while I was there - #BrokeStudentProbs. However, here are a few places I loved if you want to give them a try! 

For a Quick Bite (mostly chain restaurants, but good for busy days of sightseeing):

• Pizza Express - Italian restaurant serving pizza, pasta, salads, etc. - try the Fiorentina pizza!
• Pret-A-Manger - I shed a tear any time I see one of these here in the U.S. because this is where I went to lunch basically every day during my internship. Panera-esque fresh, ready-made soups, sandwiches, salads, pastries, etc. Seriously SO good. 
• Nando's - An trademark British fast-casual establishment known for their Peri-Peri chicken.
• Hummingbird Bakery - Adorable bakery with delicious homemade cakes and cupcakes - try the rainbow cake!
• Ben's Cookies - Fresh, gooey cookies made with chocolate chunks - not chips (yes, this makes a huge difference). Yummy, cheap, and perfect for a mid-day pick me up. 

For Breakfast:

• Cereal Killer Cafe - Quirky and nostalgic cafe serving custom mixes of modern and old school cereals from around the world (called "cereal cocktails") as well as over-the-top hot chocolates and other breakfast treats. Reminisce on your childhood while eating lucky charms and watching classic Saturday morning cartoons. 
• The Breakfast Club - Perfect brunch spot serving up the classics - from pancakes and eggs to a full English. Be sure to make a reservation or arrive early as the line is usually out the door on weekends. 

For Afternoon Tea

• Kensington Palace - Kind of touristy but who could pass up the opportunity for tea on the grounds of Will and Kate's home?!
• Sketch - Infamous pink tea room that turns into a cocktail lounge by night. The perfect mix of sophisticated and insta-worthy fun. 
• Goring Hotel - If you're feeling especially posh, pay a visit to where the royals have often gone for tea. The Goring has been serving up the quintessential tea experience for over 100 years, so you know it's got to be good. 

For Lunch and Dinner

• Bluebird Chelsea - Cute, modern, European restaurant with a market, casual café for brunch and lunch, and an outdoor terrace. Great ambiance and has lots of vegan and vegetarian options alongside other yummy fares!
• Byron - Casual restaurant that puts a British spin on the American hamburger joint - only classier. Get a delicious burger and shake to fend off homesickness while abroad. 
• My Old Dutch - Another place I frequented while I lived in London. MOD serves sweet and savory crepes and on Monday nights they're only £5! The nutella crepe with ice cream is my personal fave.
• Café in the Crypt - Head underground (below St. Martin in the Fields Church) to this affordable café that serves fresh food and is located right in the heart of the city. 
• The Natural Kitchen - Another place I frequented for lunch during my internship. This restaurant serves different, healthy foods each day. They usually have a few different types of meats or fish and a huge selection of pasta, sides, salads, and more, plus fresh-squeezed juices and baked goods.

If you really want to get a feel for London's culture, say goodbye to Big Ben and head somewhere slightly less touristy for the day. These aren't necessarily hidden or unknown, just a little more unique. 

• Shoreditch - Eclectic, artsy, urban and my favorite place to spend a Saturday afternoon. Check out Spitalfields Market or Brick Lane Market for delicious food from around the world as well as unique homemade clothes, jewelry, gifts and more. There are tons of vintage clothing markets (with a surprising amount of American college gear) and lots of cool hipstery coffee shops and independent restaurants. 
• Camden - Similar to Shoreditch, Camden has a more urban, authentic city vibe and is definitely the place to be on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Head to Camden Lock Market and wander through the hundreds of stalls selling food, clothes, souveneirs, and more. The hot chocolate at Chin Chin is to die for!
• One New Change - For beautiful views of St. Paul's Cathedral and the London skyline head up to this free rooftop terrace.
• Notting Hill - The place to go if you want to see the colorful, charming row homes London is famous for. There's also lots of cute shops and restaurants as well as a street market on weekends. 
• Liberty London - Gorgeous, upscale department store in a sprawling, but homey building on Regent Street. Fun for an afternoon of window shopping. 
• Fortnum and Mason - Luxury grocery store with delicious food and cute gifts. Their picnic baskets are #goals. 
• Daunt Books - Quaint bookstore with original oak bookshelves, sunny skylights, and cozy armchairs. They specialize in travel books but have regular bookstore sections as well.  

From pubs to bars to clubs, London has plenty to offer once the sun goes down. And now with the Night Tube running 24-hours on Friday and Saturday you can stay out until the sun comes up again ;)  Here are a few of my favorite places to spend a night out with friends. 

• Koko - Eclectic multi-level club and music venue housed in an old theater. Plays a mix of  live music from up-and-coming indie bands to top 40s hits. If you get the chance, be sure to check out their Guilty Pleasures night (it only happens a few times a year!).
• Queen of Hoxton - Mix of a bar and club with multiple levels that play different types of music (live and DJs). Has a rooftop terrace and a photo booth. 
• Piccadilly Institute - Classic tourist club in the center of Piccadilly Circus. Six-levels with different themes and mostly top 40s music. Discounts on Thursday nights if you bring your student ID. 
• Roxxy - More of a casual bar with a dance floor. Happy hour and themed nights with student discounts. 
• Tiger Tiger - Club and restaurant. If you're missing the American college life, check out their Monday night Frat Party! 
• London Cocktail Club (Shoreditch) - Probably one of the wildest bars in London. Has a dive bar vibe but is actually on the more expensive side. Definitely worth it if you want a unique night out.
• Roadhouse - Bar/club/restaurant with live music and DJs. Karaoke on weeknights.
• O'Neill's - Irish pub that apparently all Villanova/American students go to while in London. We never made it there but from what I've heard it's a fun time!

If you'll be in London for a little while, there are lots of cool places throughout the U.K. that are worth a visit. With a little bit of planning in advance, you can find round-trip train or bus tickets for relatively cheap - or book an Airbnb and turn your day trip into a weekend excursion! 

• Stonehenge - I didn't actually know that this was in England until I went! Super cool to see such an iconic landmark in person and to hear all of the theories on how it might have come to be (aliens, anyone??).
• Bath - City in the English countryside known for its beautiful Abbey and, most notably, the Roman baths. Amazing architecture and quaint town with shops and restaurants. Go to Stonehenge in the morning and head here for the afternoon to see two World Heritage Sites in one day!
• Windsor Castle - Home to none other than HRH Queen Elizabeth (pro tip: if the flag is up that means she's there!). See a smaller version of the changing of the guards as well as cool exhibits on growing up in the royal family. 
• Brighton - Seaside town with a fun boardwalk and amusement pier. Great food (I had my first fish and chips here!), lots of cute shops, and has a cool music and arts scene. 
• Cambridge/Oxford - Take your pick of one of the iconic rival universities in England - or see both! Take a campus tour to hear more about the history and quirky traditions of these prestigious schools. 

Of course there are many more exciting and unique things to see and do in London, but I hope this gave you a little taste of what the city has to offer! If you have any recommendations be sure to leave them in the comments below. 

Top 5 Study Abroad & Travel Apps

Hi everyone - long time, no post! I thought I'd get back into the swing of blogging because I will be heading abroad again in the fall (huge shout out to my parents for supporting my love of not spending more than 6 consecutive months in the US lol). I'll be spending my fall semester studying European Business Strategy in Copenhagen, Denmark and I couldn't be more excited! Get ready for more adventures abroad coming soon.

In the meantime, since a lot of my friends will be studying abroad for the first time next semester, I figured I could share some of my ~wisdom~ with them as they prepare for their own adventures! To start, I've compiled a few of my favorite apps I used during my time in London - almost all of which I still use now. There are obviously so many travel-related apps and websites out there, but if I could only choose five, these would be my picks:

It's great to be back on the blog again - keep an eye out for more posts like these to come!