CAPA WORLD

In this week's post, Emma visits Dublin sporting landmark, Croke Park, and learns about the wonderful world of Gaelic Football. As part of her efforts to find her place in the local culture and get situated in the city, she takes in the sense of community displayed in this beloved sport. Without also staying too far removed from American sports, she shares how she kept up with the Super Bowl!

My geographic coordinates have changed. Who knew this newly adopted latitude and longitude would inspire a new habitude and attitude about life? While I am loving the opportunity to meet a diverse array of people from around the world, and discovering the enchanting nooks and crannies of every alleyway, I am still trying to find my footing and adjust to my life abroad (literally and figuratively—the cobblestones are quite slippery here!). Like many things, a sense of belonging is something we never fully appreciate until it is lost.

In this week's post, Daniel finds himself in Rome for the weekend and outlines the costs associated with visiting Italy's capital city. He debunks the myth of having to break the bank to have a good time by sharing cost-effective travel options. Enjoy this city through Daniel's photos and favorite moments!

One of the best ways to get familiar with your city is by walking through it. In this week's post, Sarah tells us how she got a basic footing in London through tours in Southbank and Greenwich. Take a look at some of the iconic attractions spotted on these walking tours and read some of Sarah's tips to successfully enjoy your time in this global city. 

(Original illustrations by Sarah Mai)

Since my workload has been very manageable the first few weeks of class in London, I’ve had ample time to do some exploration around the city and to get involved with some of the CAPA city events. My internship also gives me the opportunity to travel to different locations, so I’ve managed to check off some of the major sightseeing/touristy attractions within the first couple of weeks very easily! I feel like getting that out of the way gives me more time to find the hole-in-the-wall spots and get more familiar with the city, which is what makes the place feel so much more like home and makes me feel like much less of a tourist.

In this week's post, Nora writes about learning how to tango at a My Global City event held at a local dance studio in Buenos Aires.

What’s was great about this study abroad experience is that we got a lot of free unstructured time to just explore the city and travel and do our own thing, but there were a few preplanned activities called “My Global City events.” The event that I think everyone was looking forward to the most, myself included, was the estancia trip. This was a trip an hour outside of the city to a ranch where we would ride horses, hear from real life gauchos, and watch live performances over a free lunch. Sounds amazing right? Unfortunately, I can’t tell you about that one. I was seriously sick all weekend. It was a huge bummer!

Yes, CAPA global cities are bursting with people from around the globe and are inevitably full of social and networking opportunities. They're also home to some pretty amazing quieter places though, and are host to tons of activities that give the introverts among us a chance to recharge and perhaps discover another, more peaceful, side of a bustling metropolis. Here are 10 of our favorites in Buenos Aires:

1. ENJOY THE PARKS & PLAZAS. While Buenos Aires isn't a city particularly celebrated for its acres of green space, there are still plenty of parks and plazas that offer an opportunity for a moment of solitude among the millions of commuters and tourists filling city streets. For convenience, we love Parque Lezama in San Telmo with its proximity to the market where you can pick up a bite to eat. Jardin Botánico Carlos Thays, another favorite, is a lush oasis with plenty of shade and pretty historic greenhouses. Bring a book, sip a mate and chill. The Borderless Project shares their top 8 parks in BA, worth a read. It's not bad on a rainy day either with a visit to the Planetarium.

In this post, Niah gives us a lesson in fashion before giving back to the local community.

In this post, Molly talks about her favorite bus trip that she took while studying abroad in Dublin!

Towards the end of the semester, with my budget growing thin, I realized that I had a weekend free with no plans! My friend and I began looking at short day trips that were relatively easy to get to on a bus or the trains. In our search, we came across one of the bus tour companies that operate around Ireland. They have tours that go to most of the major sites on the island and their tours range from half-day trips to trips that last a few days!

When you study abroad in Buenos Aires, there's a few cultural celebrations throughout the country that are worth looking into attending! Here are five for your list: 

1. Tango Festival

Argentine Tango is famous around the world, but no place celebrates it more than its home city of Buenos Aires. Every August, Buenos Aires hosts a tango festival that brings tourists and locals out into the street. Performances, lessons, and open air parties take place day and night in the city, and professional dancers from around the world gather to take part in the revelry.

In this week's post, Kara talks to us about her student apartment, its amenities, and its central proximity to stores and restaurants, as well as her commute to classes and her internship. As she chronicles her time abroad, go through this photo tour to see where she'll be living this semester. 

It’s hard to believe, but it has been nearly a full week since I arrived in Sydney and moved into my apartment. Located less than a quarter-mile (350 meters) from the CAPA Sydney center, my apartment Urbanest provides a range of accommodations for university students. While the majority of CAPA students also live at Urbanest, others either reside at the nearby Oaks Goldsbrough Apartments or a private homestay. Read on if you’d like to learn about my experience so far living at Urbanest and commuting to my internship.

After a few weeks in London, CAPA Vlogging Duo Emma Dinnerstein and Kailey McIlwrath have tackled the challenge of learning the Tube system in London!

From Oyster cards and tube etiquette, to navigating the zones and using smartphone apps like City-Mapper and Bus Times - watch for this awesome guide on how to use public transportation in London!