Field Work: The World is a Lab, too!
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Field Work: The World is a Lab, too! 〰️
The world is a lab, too. These are my field notes.
Field Work, Worldly Research, & Passport Stamps
Study Abroad/Europe Pt.1: Spain
I spent a summer studying organic chemistry at the Universidad de Sevilla and somehow fell even more in love with learning in the process. Living in Sevilla taught me that science doesn't stop at the lab door. It's in the architecture, the food, the language, the people. I also missed a flight and had to navigate Madrid alone without much Spanish. Honestly one of the best things that ever happened to me. 10/10 would recommend! (But… maybe don’t miss any flights!)
Europe Pt.2: Italy, Malta, & Portugal
One week. Four destinations. While studying abroad in Sevilla, I took off and didn't look back. The Dangli Cliffs of Malta at golden hour, the palaces and pastries of Sintra, the cobblestone streets of Lisbon, and then Rome. ending at Vatican City, where the scale of everything just stops you in your tracks. This trip taught me that you don't need a perfect itinerary to have a perfect trip. You just need to show up and say YES!
Europe Pt.3: France & Belgium
I turned 21 in Paris. That's really all I need to say. But also: the museums, the food, the quiet streets early in the morning before the city woke up. And a day trip to Ghent that felt like stepping into a painting. (I missed my train from Ghent to Paris… so I got to experience Lille, France, too!) Travel is never just travel. It's always something more.
Africa: Morocco
I'm not sure any place has ever stopped me in my tracks quite like Morocco. The colors, the sounds, the medinas, the food! Morocco was busy in the best possible way. Morocco reminded me that the world is so much bigger and more beautiful than anything I could have imagined from home. Not to mention witnessing the country my ancestors came from? I felt so full of joy in Morocco! Can’t wait to visit again!
Central America Pt.1: Costa Rica
Rainforests, coastlines, and the kind of biodiversity that makes a chemistry student want to pivot to ecology on the spot (Trust me!). Costa Rica was a full reset. Pura vida is not just a saying! It's genuinely a way of moving through the world, and I think about it more than I expected to. This was also my first international experience, and I would not change it for the world!
Central America Pt.2: El Salvador & Guatemala
Based out of La Libertad and Chiltiupan with my closest friends. We swam, explored, ate really well, and laughed a lot. El Salvador is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and one of the most misunderstood. I came home with a full heart and a longer list of places I need to see. With a day trip to Antigua, Guatemala, to eat the best food and walk the rockiest roads. Such an amazing time!
