CAPA WORLD

We’re very excited to introduce and welcome our team of official bloggers and vloggers for fall 2017!

Each of them will receive a grant accompanied by an explorer fund while they are abroad to help them generate their weekly stories here on CAPA World. From pre-departure thoughts through their reflection upon their return to the States, we will watch the stories of these students unfold as they learn about their host country, explore and discover the real city beyond stereotypes and expectations, interact with locals, focus on their academics and complete internships.

So who are they and where are they going?

ELIZABETH LEAHY, BLOGGER, DUBLIN
A Communication major from Lasell College, Elizabeth will be spending her fall semester in Dublin. She's excited to explore her new home and travel to new places. She will be interning at Alice PR and Events, where she hopes to expand her knowledge in the field of Public Relations. Look forward lots of amazing photos of Irish culture, food, and more!
Look for Elizabeth's posts on CAPA World every Tuesday starting September 12 and read more about her on her official CAPA blogger profile where the archives will be compiled. 

We’re very excited to introduce and welcome our team of official bloggers and vloggers for summer 2017!

Each of them will receive a grant accompanied by an explorer fund while they are abroad to help them generate their weekly stories here on CAPA World. From pre-departure thoughts through their reflection upon their return to the States, we will watch the stories of these students unfold as they learn about their host country, explore and discover the real city beyond stereotypes and expectations, interact with locals, focus on their academics and complete internships.

So who are they and where are they going?

SARA ROUNTREE, BLOGGER, BUENOS AIRES
Hailing from Simmons College, Sara is a Sociology Major and Public Health Minor who will be spending her summer in Buenos Aires! While abroad, she's excited to explore the Argentinian healthcare system and connect what she sees to what she's learned about health in the US. She hopes to attend fun events like polo matches and salsa dancing, and see plenty of historical monuments around the city.
Look for Sara’s posts on CAPA World every Friday starting June 9 and read more about her on her official CAPA blogger profile where the archives will be compiled. 

Michela Mickaluck is an official CAPA vlogger for spring 2017, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A public relations major at SUNY Oswego, she is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Michela takes us along on a day trip from Dublin to Howth - about 25 minutes on the Dart - with her parents who are visiting from the States. 

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Thanks, Michela!

Michela's journey continues every Monday so stay tuned.

Nathan Overlock is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2017, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A professional writing and information design major at Cedarville University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Nathan shares five of his favorite study spots that will get you out and about in Dublin.

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It’s been a little too easy for me to forget, with everything else going on in Dublin, that I'm here to study. Sure, I attend lectures every day, often for much longer than at my home college. But switching from the weekly projects and essay writing of college in the US to exactly one paper and exam per course at Griffith College hasn't exactly helped... Yet, with assignment week approaching, I can’t help but dread the prospect of spending hours typing essays on my computer with the hustle and bustle of the city around me and the weather shifting from winter to spring. There has to be a way to learn and study without missing out on everything going on in Dublin, right? 

Here are five unique study spots that will get you out-and-about in the city!

Niah Humphrey is an official CAPA vlogger for spring 2017, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A communication major with a minor in Spanish at Auburn University, she is studying abroad in Buenos Aires this semester.

In this week's post, Niah takes us along on an autobus tour in the city.

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Thanks, Niah!

Niah's journey continues every Thursday so stay tuned.

Danya Carithers is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2017, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A marketing major at the University of Pittsburgh, she is studying abroad in Florence this semester.

In this week's post, Danya shows us around Barcelona in a short visit.

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While studying abroad leads to many opportunities to travel and explore other parts of Europe, there is only limited time to do so. My most recent trip was to Barcelona, Spain.

Overall, Barcelona was full of surprises. I didn’t expect the city to be that big, I didn’t expect the food to be so amazing, and I definitely didn’t expect to be standing in the pouring rain for 30 minutes trying to get a taxi. I learned a lot about the big city in only a small amount of allotted time. With the suggestions of my friend, Megan, who studied there last semester, I was able to hit all the touristy areas and get insider advice on the best cafes, restaurants, and clubs all under 48 hours. It was helpful that I’m a obnoxiously fast-paced walker, but it most, most helpful that I planned my trip out in advance.

Thursday

9am: My hostel, called Casa Barcelo, was located near the Gràcia neighborhood where a lot of the new and trendy restaurants are located, making it quick and easy to find a nice café. After walking down a few blocks, I ran into a cute, beach-themed café called Brunch & Cake. I recognized the name from the list Megan sent me and was instantly sold when I found out they served smoothies.

Sarah Kaplan is an official CAPA vlogger for spring 2017, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A screen studies major with a concentration in film/media production at Clark University, she is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's video, Sarah takes us to a Tesco inside of a shopping center for a local grocery shopping experience. 

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Thanks Sarah!

Sarah's journey continues every Wednesday so stay tuned!

Danielle Thai is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2017, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A resource economics major at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, she is studying abroad in Shanghai this semester.

In this week's post, Danielle takes us along on the CAPA Shanghai excursion to explore Beijing. 

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Twenty-six point two miles – the distance of a marathon. Did I actually complete a marathon? No. Three days walking and exploring Beijing will equal walking a marathon. I am not making it up; my Fitbit tracks the distance I walk per day. I applaud those who complete a marathon within a day because my legs are sore and I had two nights to rest between the days.

The city of Beijing is more spread out than Shanghai in terms of the distance apart that the attractions are located. Although places are spread out, the more popular sights are swarmed with people. Public transportation is comparable to rush hour, but at all hours that the metro and buses run. It is always packed. To make it onto a vehicle, it is either push or be pushed. Once on, it is like packed sardines with no room to move. My body parts would be pressed against at least five different strangers and I would have to slightly tilt my head to get some “fresh” air. In China, I have come to appreciate the times where I am at least an inch from the people next to me.

Saturday

FIRST STOP: BEIJING PLANNING EXHIBITION HALL

Elizabeth Withers is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2017, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A double major in English literature and history & philosophy of science at the University of Pittsburgh, she is studying abroad in Buenos Aires this semester.

In this week's post, Elizabeth talks about arriving at her homestay in Buenos Aires and her first explorations of the beautiful Recoleta neighborhood that she will call home for the semester. 

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Hello from Buenos Aires!

After 28 hours of sitting in planes and airport gates, I have finally arrived. I’ve settled into a stunningly-decorated room in an apartment in Recoleta, a neighborhood known around the world for its beautiful and unique cemetery. The apartment really is luxurious -- I’ve got a balcony with a pretty view and dozens of potted plants right outside my bedroom, and I think my rug may have once been a real zebra! My host has worked as an interior decorator for many years, and it shows.  

The apartment building is just a block away from Plaza Libertad, and I’ve spent much of today walking around in various plazas, finding shade and enjoying the scenery. The plazas are filled with beautiful plants, fountains, statues, and art. It’s about 90 degrees here (Fahrenheit), but there’s plenty of shade cast by the enormous Gomero trees. Gomeros are Ficus Elastica -- rubber trees, which are a species of the fig genus (for any tree aficionados), and although they are not native to Argentina, Buenos Aires is famous for some impressively old and large specimens. I saw many today in the Plaza Libertad and around the Recoleta Cemetery. The trunks are about four feet wide and the roots spread out to cover at least three times that. The branches are thick and heavy, and very, very long. They just keep growing until they hit the ground -- or, in some places (like outside the Recoleta Cemetery) they have a little bit of support to stay in the air.  

Michela Mickaluck is an official CAPA vlogger for spring 2017, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A public relations major at SUNY Oswego, she is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Michela takes us on a shopping trip to Dublin's famous Grafton Street and offers a few tips along the way. 

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Thanks, Michela!

Michela's journey continues every Monday so stay tuned.