My average day during a GSA program in Europe starts at 7 a.m. to the sound of my alarm.
After I open my eyes and turn off my alarm, I start getting ready for the day. After a week or two getting used to the format of the program, I can get ready quickly and do all of the essentials to be ready for breakfast by 7:30. After me and my roommate(s) discuss what we are going to wear for the day, we head down to breakfast. At breakfast, I say hi to all of the GSA staff on my program, and stop by my teachers table, where they remind me that class starts in one hour. I grab all of my favourite hotel breakfast staples, and sit down at a big table with my friends. We chat about what our coursework looks like for the day, and we plan what outfits we should wear to dinner. After I am satisfied with my breakfast, I briefly head back upstairs to grab my school work, computer, and all the essentials that I need for a day of exploring the city. I always make sure to remember to pack my water bottle and sunscreen, even though my Program Manager(s) always reminds me everyday. When everyone on my program meets in the lobby, our Program Manager(s) tell us what to expect for the day. We split off into our classes, and then our teacher gives us a metro pass and we start off the day’s adventure. After a quick hop on the metro, we arrive at our first destination of the day. We ease into class with a brief history and geography lesson from our teacher, and we walk for a few minutes to the next destination. Here is where my teacher tells us the work that needs to get done for today, and they let us find a quiet cafe to work in. Me and my group of four split off and begin to explore our options, until we settled down in a cafe not too far from where we started. Drink in hand and computer fully charged, I’m ready to start working. I work for a few hours, meeting the expectation for the day right in time to pack up and meet back with my teacher so they can send us off to lunch. Me and my friends explore some more, and find a shop to buy our lunch. Lunch usually consists of local cuisine, with staple desserts. After a fulfilling lunch, we head back to our residence, drop off my stuff, and relax for 15 minutes before it is time to meet back in the lobby for the afternoon portion of the day. I freshen up, and then I head down to the lobby. The afternoon is dedicated to a group activity, adventure, or learning experience. Whether it’s a museum visit, a walking tour of the city, or a trip down to the beach, I always look forward to learning something new about where I’m located. These walking trips last a couple of hours, so by the time I return to the hotel, I am ready for a shower. Thankfully our days are planned accordingly and I have anywhere from an hour to 2.5 hours to shower, relax, and get ready for dinner and the evening. The restaurant we eat at for dinner is always changing, so where we’re going and what’s on the menu is always new and surprising! After a short commute to the restaurant, I sat down with my friends. We recap the day and plan what we should do after dinner. After three courses of dinner I am fueled up and ready for more adventure. Me and my friends pass around the sign out sheet, making sure to stick to groups of four or more. We are dismissed and we set off on foot to find the best dessert the city has to offer. We skip, sing, jump, and even practice our language skills with each other. We somehow manage to stumble upon the best desert place across the entire city, and we sit down and grab a bite. Once we are finished, we begin to make our way back to the hotel. We get back, sign in, say goodnight to each other, and head up to our rooms. I wait for room checks, say goodnight to the staff, and have a nightly debrief with my roommate(s). I get ready for bed and get excited to do it all over again tomorrow!
Thanks to Student Ambassador Nora D. for this blog post!
