To be determined - by Amelia Roessler

Trip to Rome brings special blessing

For all of you wondering, yes I did end up seeing the pope; it was a story to tell for a lifetime. Even though it was quite cold, we stayed for an hour and a half so that we could be blessed. So yeah, not to brag, but I’ve been blessed by the pope. Anyway, it’s reached a point in the academic...

Musings while I wait to see the Pope

Bonjour! Italy has been exciting and interesting. As I write this, I am in line to see the pope. Crazy right? This is the third day my friends and have been in Rome; we got up before 6 this morning so we could get a good spot in line to enter Vatican City. We wanted to see the basilica, but...

Beautiful, but not quite home

I’ve had a revelation. While traveling, I’ve noticed that I’ve enjoyed the sights and seeing all the new things that Spain and Europe have to offer, but every time I’ve visited a new place or seen an interesting landscape, there’s always been something missing. For a while, I couldn’t place it...

I thought I left the cold back in Minnesota

Sadly enough, there are midterms in Spain. Thankfully though, they aren’t to the extreme that I’ve found them to be in Minnesota. Also, it’s only one week here, while at the UMN tests can go on for weeks - which is why many students tend to refer to “midterm season.” Like I said, my midterms...

Amelia Roessler stands on the streets of Lisbon, Spain.

But we had our tickets, I swear

Ah, Lisbon - my dream. I traveled to Portugal this past weekend and it was amazing! Portugal is majestic with mountains and forests. Then there’s the coast and ooooh, it’s so beautiful. I stepped out of the bus at 5 a.m. Friday and breathed in the salt air: I was in love. Friday we went...

Amelia Roessler stands in front of the Museo del Ejército (Museum of the Army) in Toledo, Spain.

Missing home while making another one

At this point I feel like I need a theme song to play every time you start to read my columns about being in Spain. A five- or ten-second clip of music that ends with a drumroll and final chord - like one of those singing birthday cards - so you won’t get bored when I start my column with “it’s...

Getting used to the rhythms of Spain

Hola everyone. Welcome back to another description of my week in Spain. Whether or not you all want to read it is up to you. Nothing much has happened to me this week besides classes and me being sick. My illness wasn’t bad, I just couldn’t eat anything or do a whole lot for a few days...

Pioneer columnist and writer Amelia Roessler in front of “The Castle on the Hill” in Segovia, Spain.

Castles, snow, and Portugal adventures

It’s been another week, which means more journeys in Spain. Last week our class ventured to Segovia, which is north of Madrid in the mountains. The thing to see in Segovia is the castle on the hill: Let’s just say I fell in love. I grew up reading fantasy and adventure books and not turning...

Culture shock and cat speak

Hello from Spain! Oh my goodness it’s been so much fun. Madrid is incredible and I love it. I’m sure you all aren’t surprised that Madrid is a whole lot safer than Minneapolis. I comfortably walk the whole city day or night without any fear of getting hurt; it’s a wonderful feeling. In the Cities...

Layover in Amsterdam

Well, I finally made it. I am currently sitting in the Amsterdam airport waiting for my flight to Madrid. The seven-and-a-half-hour flight here from Minneapolis was actually pretty bearable. I watched Aquaman for the first time, slept through Harry Potter because I had seen it before, and watched...