November 12, 2019
What to Do if an Airline Denies Your Compensation Claim
Travelers to/from Europe should know that there are EU laws that protect your rights as airline passengers. If you’ve had a severely delayed or cancelled flight to/from Europe in the last few years, you may be eligible for 250-600€ in compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004. (This sounds so much like one of those serious/cringe-y PSAs on TV, oops…)
Unfortunately, many airlines will make it extremely difficult to get your compensation. I was on a Norwegian Airlines flight in August 2018 that got cancelled the day before, and it took me over a year to finally get my 600€ compensation. Here’s what I did, and what you need to know to get your compensation too.
November 1, 2019 Lyon, France
Travel Guide to Lyon’s Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights)
Last year, I had the chance to visit Lyon’s famed Fête des Lumières. I’d wanted to go when I studied abroad in Bordeaux, but Lyon was just too far away. In Dijon, all I had to do was take a 2-hour train ride.
In this post, I’ll go over what exactly the Festival of Lights is, the best parts of the festival, as well as where to stay and what to do in the city (including an interactive map that I’m very proud of haha).
October 25, 2019 Columbus, OH
Race Review: Columbus Half Marathon 2019
Last weekend, I ran the Columbus Half Marathon with 9,000 other runners (and 3,600 marathoners). One of those other runners just happened to be my brother, and it was his first half marathon. Columbus is my hometown and where my family still lives, so it was pretty special to run the same race as my brother, and have my parents come along to watch.
Here’s what I thought of the event, and my reflections on my performance.
October 18, 2019 Salem, MA
5 Non-Witchy Things to Do in Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a popular destination around Halloween, and rightfully so. It’s home to the infamous Salem Witch Trials that took place in late 17th century, where 200+ people were accused of witchcraft, and 19 were found guilty and hanged. The Trials are now known as a case of mass hysteria, and all those accused eventually had their names cleared. That said, the legacy of such a traumatic event leaves an unsettling and spooky association with the town of Salem.
While many tourists flock to Salem in October for the witchy and haunted activities, I’ve frankly never been much of a Halloween person, and never liked “scary” things. In middle school, I went to a Halloween party where we watched The Lovely Bones, and I went home and cried and was afraid to sleep alone for months. So, it should come as no surprise that I participated in no spooky activities when I went to Salem last month haha.
Salem is actually quite a lovely town in general, with lots of family-friendly activities. If you’re also not a huge fan of the haunted houses and witch museums, or if you’re just looking for non-spooky things to do, here are my suggestions.
(I want to add a quick disclaimer that I think the history of the Salem Witch Trials is super important, and that the Salem Witch Museum isn't actually that spooky--it's more focused on the history of witches in general and the Trials. I'd already visited the museum before my last stop in Salem, so I didn't go again. If you haven't visited though, I would definitely recommend it!)
(I want to add a quick disclaimer that I think the history of the Salem Witch Trials is super important, and that the Salem Witch Museum isn't actually that spooky--it's more focused on the history of witches in general and the Trials. I'd already visited the museum before my last stop in Salem, so I didn't go again. If you haven't visited though, I would definitely recommend it!)
October 10, 2019
What it's Like to Study Abroad at Oxford
In the spring of 2017, I studied abroad at the University of Oxford through IFSA-Butler. Oxford has several colleges within the university, and I went to Hertford College, the school with the famous Bridge of Sighs (pictured above—it’s much less impressive inside than outside haha).
As a quick background, I’m a 2018 grad of Amherst College in Massachusetts, where I studied Math and French. Studying at Oxford was one of my favorite college experiences, but I barely documented it on my blog. I wanted to write this post to give prospective students a better idea of life at Oxford, especially since the academics at such an elite school might sound intimidating.
At the time, my friends actually tried to dissuade me from applying to Oxford, saying “Don’t go to Oxford—you’ll die!” A lot of people assume that going to Oxford will be so intense to the point it’s no longer enjoyable. I like a good challenge though, so I applied anyways, got in, and went.
I was expecting the worst, but I luckily didn’t die—the academics were intense, but I found the work satisfying, and I still was able to enjoy life outside of class.
So, I want to dispel some myths in this post about what it’s like to attend Oxford as a visiting student. Here are 6 things you should know if you’re considering studying abroad at Oxford, plus a YouTube video I made for my study abroad program in 2017! (This video includes most of the academic info in this post—#1-3. If you prefer to watch/listen instead of read, go for it. The rest of the post is new information, though).
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