Eiffel Tower in Paris
Paris, France

Paris, France

What a more detailed travel guide for Paris?  Check out the “3 Days in Paris” travel guide and itinerary in the Study Hard Travel Smart shop! Where to stay in Paris:  It is simply expensive to stay in cities like Paris. Forget about the amount you’ll spend on transportation, food, attractions and everything else, your accommodation will probably hurt your bank account. Different arrondissements(essentially neighborhoods of Paris) offer different things, so it’s good to do some research in advance so that you know…

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A Walk Through America’s Immigrant History: Ellis Island

A Walk Through America’s Immigrant History: Ellis Island

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When tourists come to New York City, there are usually a few sites high on the list of places to see. Most often, this list includes a trip to see the Statue of Liberty just off the coast of lower Manhattan, but it includes a trip to see Ellis Island must less frequently. I grew up just outside of New York City in the Hudson Valley, and I distinctly remember my first trip to Ellis Island, which was in early…

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Santorini, Greece
Discovering the Hidden Treasures of Santorini

Discovering the Hidden Treasures of Santorini

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Santorini has become an increasingly popular destination in Greece, and for good reason! It’s insta-worthy for sure, it has gorgeous architecture, beautiful sea views, and fantastic weather for most of the year. Most cruise lines that sail in the region include Santorini in their itineraries, so visitors from all over the world are shuttled there daily to absorb a little bit of the magic. I went to Santorini having been there once before for just one day, but not really…

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Aix-en-Provence, France

Aix-en-Provence, France

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Aix-en-Provence is known as the city of 1,000 fountains, and was founded in the 2nd century BC by the Romans because of its hot springs. It has grown and developed a lot since, and it’s hard now to recognize the Roman remains spread throughout the city (but they’re there, I promise!). Now, Aix-en-Provence is a quintessential Provencal town located about a half-hour north of Marseille, giving it great access to beaches, mountains, and everything else that the region has to…

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Teaching English Abroad
Teaching English Abroad (and Why I Don’t)

Teaching English Abroad (and Why I Don’t)

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Prague seems to be one of the TEFL (“Teaching English as a Foreign Language”) capitals of Europe, and since moving here, I get asked all the time if I’m an English teacher. In fact, for many, it seems out of place that I’m an American living in Prague that doesn’t teach English. A native-speaking expat in their 20’s or 30’s that isn’t teaching English abroad is somewhat of an anomaly in this part of Europe. I’ve often been told that I should…

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Funding Study Abroad: An Inside Look at International Education

Funding Study Abroad: An Inside Look at International Education

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Studying abroad has historically been viewed as an opportunity only available to wealthy students. This narrative is changing, however, as many American colleges and universities are pushing for their students to have the opportunity for a cross-cultural experience. Unfortunately, changing such a stereotype takes time, and many American college and university students aren’t aware of all the ways to fund their study abroad experiences. Funding study abroad isn’t as painful as you might imagine, you just need to know what…

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An Expat’s Guide to Restaurants in Prague

An Expat’s Guide to Restaurants in Prague

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One of my biggest guilty pleasures, especially since moving to Prague, is eating out at local restaurants. One of the amazing things about Prague is that the cost of living here doesn’t preclude people from trying out different restaurants in the city, as the prices are typically so reasonable! Tourists are typically shocked at the prices in Prague compared to their own countries or cities, especially in comparison to other major European and US capitals. This just means you have that much…

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Karlovy Vary
A Day Trip from Prague: Karlovy Vary

A Day Trip from Prague: Karlovy Vary

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I have lived in Prague for over 2 years, and there are so many places that I always say I want to visit, and somehow never manage to actually visit. I travel a lot for work to cities around the Czech Republic, like Plzen or Cesky Krumlov, but the ones outside of my bubble have so far evaded me. The weather last weekend was meant to be beautiful, and I couldn’t let such a nice Saturday go waste. I decided…

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My Top 5 Things to do in Prague!

My Top 5 Things to do in Prague!

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Prague is an absolutely amazing city that I’ve been lucky enough to call my home for over 2 years. I am constantly amazed by the history and beauty that seems to be around every single corner. It seems, however, that the world has caught on to the charms of this Bohemian city, and tourists certainly do infiltrate every year, particularly in the summer and just before Christmas (Christmas markets, anyone?). I get as frustrated by rogue selfie sticks as the next…

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A New Yorker’s Favorite Spot in New York City!

A New Yorker’s Favorite Spot in New York City!

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I grew up about an hour north of the city, and desperately miss having constant opportunities to pop in on NJ Transit for a visit. Last month, I was visiting home for a couple of weeks and made the rounds to all of my favorite places, including New York City. I was playing host to my boyfriend, so of course I wanted to show him my “spots” in New York. We had a chance to try some new places, including Gallow…

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