🇪🇸 Summer in Spain: Finding Balance in Salamanca
In Summer 2024, I spent six weeks studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain, where I learned as much about myself as I did about language and culture. I lived with a host grandma who was a little crazy in the most endearing way — opinionated, full of energy, and always ready to feed me more than I could possibly eat. Her home quickly became my base for exploring a city that felt both ancient and alive.
☀️ A Day in My Life
Most mornings began at 8 a.m. with breakfast and conversation before walking to the University of Salamanca for class from 9 to 12. Afterward, I’d head straight to the gym to lift from 12:45 to 2:00, then walk home for a long, late lunch — a Spanish tradition that always made the day slow down.
After lunch came siesta, a time I grew to love. I’d rest, shower, or edit photos by the open window as the city quieted beneath the afternoon sun. Around 5 p.m., I’d lace up my sneakers for a run or wander through Salamanca’s golden streets with my camera. I even brought my lacrosse stick and found a park wall where I could play wall ball — a small ritual that connected me to home in a place that felt entirely new.
✈️ Weekends in Motion
Every weekend, I set out to see somewhere new — determined to make the most of being in Europe.
Week 1: I flew to Amsterdam to visit my college roommate Jasmin Daaman, and met up with Alana, who was studying abroad in Italy. We spent days exploring canals and nights laughing until sunrise.
Week 2: I traveled to Florence, where Milligan, my brother, met me. We flew back to Spain together, and he spent the week with me in Salamanca.
Week 3: We met our mom in Marrakesh, Morocco, for five days of color, chaos, and adventure. After Milligan flew home, my mom and I visited Málaga and Madrid, with a quick stop in Salamanca so she could see where I was living.
Week 5: I went to Paris, planning to see Megan Thee Stallion in concert — but instead, I stayed with my cousins in the city and then spent the weekend at my high school friend Sabrina’s family château in the French countryside.
Week 6: For my final trip, I joined my study abroad group for a weekend in Porto, Portugal — a vibrant, colorful ending to a summer that already felt surreal.
📸 What I Took With Me
Spain taught me balance — structure in the mornings, stillness in the afternoons, and freedom on the weekends. It showed me that sustainability isn’t just about the planet; it’s about how we move through the world, how we spend our time, and how we connect with the places around us.
When I look back through my photos from that summer, I see more than places. I see growth, independence, and light — the kind that changes how you see everything.
These are my frames of Spain: moments of motion, color, and calm that shaped the way I see the world.