Traveling abroad is a beautiful luxury that not everyone is able to afford. We're told that there is nothing better than hopping on a plane, a train, a boat, or in a car and just...going. But how can we do that when traveling is getting significantly more expensive? The idea sounds good, but it's not very realistic when of us are in debt or working our arses off to live a simple life. But what if I told you that you don't have to be rich to travel? What if I told you that all you need is to be strategic? It's okay if you don't believe me -- see it yourself. I am going to share with you all five ways to travel on a limited budget, whether that's abroad or domestically.

1. Staycation

One of the biggest ways to experience travel while saving money is to participate in a staycation. What is a staycation? It's when you stay local while vacationing. This could mean traveling to a metro-city for the weekend or renting an Airbnb for the weekend. These types of trips can encourage you to really get to know where you live. After all, how many of you can say that you have experienced what tourists come to town for? We get a bit lazy and take our cities for granted. Let's change that by treating out hometowns or metro-cities like you would if you were to fly half-way across the world.

This option is particularly convenient for college students. I know that we all want to go far, but realistically, our schedules don't allow for that. Now, you can travel an hour or so away, relax like you're in Bali or ski like you're on the Alps, and make it back to campus in enough time for your 8 am class on Monday.

2. Join a Student Travel Organization

I wish I would have known about this nifty tip when I first studied abroad. Joining student travel sites provides you with discounts and savings that can make an unaffordable trip become...well, affordable! This time around, I am a member of STA Travel, which is awesome for getting huge discounts on adventures, travel methods, lodging, and even little things like food (or big, if you're a foodie like me!) With this, I also got the ISIC (International Student Identity Card) through MYSTA, which also provides discounts. Their new app allows you to browse by location, and you can see all the potential savings. Note that this card is only available for full-time students.

3. Travel Solo

Solo travel is a pretty popular option that young women are taking advantage of nowadays. If you want your adventures to stay budget-friendly, going away by yourself is a great choice. You can focus on what activities you want to do, and not feel FOMO or like you're being judged by your companion for skipping out on other, costly options. When it is just you, you don't have as much pressure to partake in things that might bankrupt you. And if you are still feeling unsure about whether traveling alone is for you (whether it's because of potential dangers or simply because you like having company too much), there are plenty of websites that cater to solo travelers. You can meet up with others whenever you want, but don't have to worry about not being able to do your own thing if you want.

4. I'm Feeling Lucky with Google Flights

Google Flights offers a pretty sweet opportunity for those who want to travel with a budget. I'm not sure how often it is used, but it can definitely allow you to travel cheaply. How sway? You go to their website, set a maximum price that you are willing to pay, and the app will gather all affordable flights for you. You can also filter your flights even more by interests (e.g. shopping, architecture, or nightlife), airlines (because Delta is my go-to), times (red eyes tend to be cheaper), stops (you can save some bucks with layovers), and the flight length. This is a very comprehensive app that works for you and your budget.

P.S. Make sure that when it comes time to select dates, change it from 'specific' to 'flexible'; you will still have the option to choose which month you'd like to travel in, but the less locked down on dates you are, the more likely you can catch a good travel deal! (Google Flights will also let you choose whether you want a weekend trip, weeklong trip, or two-week trip, even with flexible dates!)

So, I have been in Urbino for four days so far. It seems like life goes slowly over here. Maybe that's because the timezone is different, or maybe it's just the Italian lifestyle. Our classes have not started just yet, so maybe once they do, time will go a bit faster. Regardless of what it is, I like it. It forces you to slow down and enjoy what is happening at the moment. As an American, I can easily say that most Americans would probably go stir-crazy over here at how slowly things move. It's not like things aren't as modern as America; it's just that Italians seem to value time off and with their loved ones more than working. This can be seen during Pausa, when everyone gets off of work around 12-12:30 and goes home to eat lunch with their family. Things do not pick back up until around 3 pm or 7 pm even, for shops that stay open later.

I have experienced so many things in my short time here. Simply arriving in Urbino was an experience--the beauty of the city was unexpected. I knew that Italy was known for its beautiful architecture, but I guess the amazingness doesn't resonate with you until you see it in person. When the bus driver dropped four of us off (me, Grace, Mckenna, and Audrey) and Dennis (our professor), we took the elevator up to the city center because we all had luggage and rolling up the steep hill with that would be a nightmare. The four of us are briefly staying in the professor quarters because another American group (UT-Austin) has so many students that we have to wait for some of the graduating Italians to leave so that we have space at the Colle (the student dorms).


That first day was exhausting because we had just got done traveling; nevertheless, we wanted to see where we are going to be living for the next 99 days, so we had Dennis show us around. We saw some cute cafes, a lot of picturesque locations, the post office, a church, where one of our classes would be, and one of the mensas (cafeterias). Let me tell you: Urbino is steep. It's located on a mountain and it's plain hilly. If I do not leave here in the best shape of my life, I don't know what to tell you. To end the night, we went to Caffee Basilica for aperitivo and then to the mensa for dinner.

Let's skip forward to day two: Friday. This was a day of filling out legal documents and adventure. We walked the highest hill (oh my gosh, I do not think I am ever going to get used to it), went to get photos taken of us for our residency application, and had aperitivo again. I really enjoyed Friday because I got to really start learning Urbino and how to get around. We visited the Sugar Cafe for aperitivo; Giovanni owns the cafe, and he is the sweetest Italian! He even gave us all free coffee coupons. That was my first time trying a Spritz, which is a drink with Prosecco, Aperol, and soda water. It was okay, but not my favorite.


On Saturday, we all went to the post office and then the market. The market comes around every Saturday, and there is so much there. There's food (fresh and fried), clothes, scarves, shoes, bags. The list is endless! I bought a scarf for 8 Euro, a bookbag for 25 Euro, and some strawberries, kiwis, and clementines for about 3 Euro total. I'm excited about next weekend's market! At night, we all went to eat dinner at La Balestra Antica Hostria; we had pizza there and it was pretty good. Not going to lie, I haven't fell in love with any of the pizza here yet, so I'm still looking forward to finding one that is just...wow!


On Sunday, all twelve of us caught the bus to Pesaro. Well, we were supposed to go to Pesaro. We got off of the bus about fifteen minutes too early, but luckily where we got off was by a mall! I bought a pair of shoes because I need more fancy-casual shoes, so I got some slip-ons that are super comfy.

Now...today. Today is Monday and we started our Italian course. I. Am. In. Love. The language is so beauitful. While learning a language is never easy, I am excited about the challenge. Our professor is named Silva, and she is a really nice lady. Her one rule for the class is to never speak English. This should be fun...

Today, I am on the way to Urbino, Italy. This is my second study abroad, but my first time in college abroad. When I first went overseas, I studied with Youth for Understanding in Germany during my senior year in high school. (You can read all about it on the blog that I kept up while there, which you can find right here.) Now, I am going to Italy with my college. The program that I am going under is called A Semester in Urbino--Italy. It goes from the end of January to the beginning of May, and the focus will be on the Renaissance Era of Italy with focus on Journalism and Communication students, such as public relations, journalism, and advertising. Our accompanying professor is Dennis Chamberlin, a Pulitzer-Prize winning photographer and professor.

I plan to keep this blog up with some of my adventures in the land of love. Living in Italy has been my dream for the longest. Before I went to Germany, the plan was for me to study abroad in Italy; I went to the former, however, because it was financially better. I have no regrets, however; I'm simply even more excited to finally get to live in my dream country for awhile. While I am excited to go to Italy (and not even a super touristy part, y'all!) and become immersed in the culture, I am not going with ridiculously high hopes. My mind is open, and I am going to let whatever happens, happen.

When it comes to travelling, I am learning that being super open and willing to experience is the most important trait to have. Anything can happen, so if your expectations are really high, you will end your trip feeling like it was unsuccessful. That's why my goal is to go to Italy, learn the language as best as I can in the 3.5 months I am there, and just...experience.

Throughout my time there, I am going to travel around the country. It's not a goal of mine to leave Italy (unless I cannot find doner; then, I am making a trip to Germany). I want to get to know this country as much as I can, every crevice and unique aspect of it. So, here's to a good few months!

It's been three months since I have become a sister of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. We are the FIRST Latina sorority. Despite myself not being Latinx, I chose my sisterhood based on its priorities and the genuine comaraderie I saw amongst sisters as well as their devotion to academics. Lambda Ladies are go-getters, who don't let barriers keep them from pursuing their passions and making a name for themselves. Lambda Ladies fight for our communities and speaks up for the unheard. We are Latin by tradition, not by definition.

Okay, that was my basic spiel about my sorority. But why did I decide to join a sorority at all? Once upon a time, I was severely anti-Greek. I did not dislike Greek life; I just didn't see myself actually partaking in it. There was so much required to be a member; it wasn't simply a sisterhood or brotherhood that you party, gossip, and have exciting adventures with (thanks movies for giving off this false perception). You have to put in work. That sounds like I am lazy, but I promise I'm not. It's when I am putting in work that I thrive the most, actually. With working hard, I have learned how to prioritize and identify what is best for me to pursue. Before last semster, I knew that I was not ready to commit myself to all the duties of Greekdom. I was just figuring out college life and finding an understanding of myself. I knew that if I did join a sorority, it wouldn't be for the letters. It'd be because I felt passionate and true about its mission.

So what the heck happened?

I met my mentor, Susan, in Connect 4 during my first year at Iowa State. When we first met, I found out that she is a founding sister of Zeta Gamma Chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha.

For those who aren't Greek, sororities and fraternities break off into chapters. For example, Alpha Chapter (the first, "The Motherland") of LTA was established at Kean University. Zeta Gamma Chapter is also LTA, but it was established at Iowa State University. These are different chapters of the same organization.

Susan and I spent our lunch talking, and she started to talk to me about her sisterhood. I was really impressed because of their contribution to the community, so our conversation delved deeper into what LTA was really about. I was new to learning about Greek life, especially the Multicultural Greek Council.  After about a thirty minute (quite conveneient) PowerPoint about LTA, I was really excited and thought that if I were to ever join a sorority, I would probably go burgundy and gray. Nevertheless, I did not pursue it at the time because of what I said earlier: I wasn't ready to commit myself. If I went for it, I wanted to go for it wholeheartedly.


I kept in touch with Susan because she is an awesome person, and I was inspired by her. She was majoring in Public Relations, so she was vital in helping me learn more about the industry and the possibilities I could have down that route. Occasionally she would bring up LTA, but she never made it a big deal about it. (Later on, she told me that she wanted me to find my own way there; if it was meant to be, it'd happen. Subtle....which is not like Susan at all, so this is funny in hindsight.)

It was not until Fall 2017 that I made up my mind: I wanted to go Greek. I was ready to pursue something that meant a lot to me, and I wanted to have a sisterhood. At this time, I was also the PR Chair for the Black Student Alliance, and one of my sisters was on the board as well. I talked to her about my interest, and she was beyond elated! She invited me to LTA's Open Espresso, which is basically an informational about the sorority. From then on out, it was fair game. I was all in.

A couple months later, I was officially a sister of Lambda Theta Alpha. I am the Duece of El Naciemento de Una Nueva Era, and am lucky to have two other line sisters who crossed with me. The process was definitely difficult, but do I regret it? No. I am SO proud to have my letters and be able to show the world what sisters of LTA can do.

I have always found it funny how college students talk about being broke so much, yet it seems like they're the main ones traveling for spring break. Before I became a college student, I thought that this was impossible, and these people who were complaining were lying about something. Were they even really broke? Or did they photoshop themselves somewhere? Because how are you traveling - and why are you spending all the money that you have - if you are so broke? But now that I am a college student, I see the truth. You CAN travel abroad (or around the country) with limited funding. It's all about working the system and finding the best programs/funding opportunities for you!

1. Study Abroad with Your College (Short, Semester, or Year)

This option is the most expensive on this list, but it's probably much cheaper than you going abroad by yourself! When you decide to study abroad with your college, you open yourself up to many grants and scholarships that can help fund your trip. Keep in mind the type of program you choose, however, as some have strict itineraries, whereas others are free-as-you-please. 

2. National Student Exchange

I will be participating in NSE next Spring semester (2018). You'll be able to catch me in the US Virgin Islands, St. Thomas! (Fun, right?) The aspect that I love most about the National Student Exchange is how you can either pay your regular school tuition and room + board, or your host college's tuition and room + board. In my case, I will be paying the USVI, which works out perfectly because it's a bit cheaper than Iowa State. 

3. Spring Break Programs

Going abroad (or, in general) during Spring Break may seem like it'd be completely unaffordable; however, that's not true. If you choose a program (either through your school or a completely separate trip), you will receive some type of discount compared to doing it alone due to it's all-inclusivity. Student City is a great place to check out future trips and prices.

4. Go With Friends + Split Everything

When I went to Chicago for a weekend, my friends and I split literally everything: hotel costs, gas, food, drinks, etc. This helped everyone financially; at the end, I spent less than $100 dollars for an entire weekend in Chicago. If you are going abroad, however, the only separate price that you would have to foot would be airfare. 

I am going to preface this post by admitting my bias. Larch Hall was my freshman year dorm. Whenever you stay someplace, events, experiences, and people will completely bias you in one way or the other. Before I officially chose to attend Iowa State, I was told during a tour of the college that living in Maple-Willow-Larch would be one of the worst decisions I make. "It is a party dorm," I was told. While MWL can be seen as party dorms, I would also like to digress because any dorm can be one. If you aren't really a party person, MWL would suffice just as well. It all depends on the type of person you are. I happened to be a perfect mix: the first semester, I hardly went out; the second semester, went out a heckuva lot. Note that I am saying I went out. I never partied in Larch Hall. Regardless of whether you like to party or not, there is a multitude of reasons why you should select to live in MWL during your freshman year at Iowa State University.

1. The convenience to central campus

Maple, Willow, and Larch are right off the edge of central campus. There is nothing easier than getting to central campus from these dorms. You have many options: you can catch the Orange 23 bus, walk, or bike. It's that easy. Nothing is more than 10 minutes away from MWL (excluding other dorms, such as Wallace, Wilson, and the University-Schilletter Village Apartments). 

2. Bus Routes

As mentioned above, Orange 23 is the primary bus to get around central campus. It leaves from the commuter lot (near Jack Trice Stadium) and comes to Maple-Willow-Larch, then it takes you to the most of the primary buildings (Lagomarcino, Mackay, Parks Library, Carver Hall, Memorial Union, and Lied gym). Across the street on Lincoln Way, you can also catch the 3 Blue South (or North, depending on which side of the street you stand on) and 1 Red East (or West). 

3. Seasons Dining Hall

If you are lazy like me, you do not always feel like leaving your dorm to go get food. Most campuses set it up where you have to, but Iowa State (thankfully) allowed MWL to have a dining hall right downstairs. Seasons is one of the largest dining halls on campus, and it's definitely the most frequented, I would say.

4. East Side Store (C-Store)

If you are in need of a snack, a late night meal, toiletries, or a blue book, East Side is right downstairs. I love it because they accept dining dollars, meal plans (after 7:30 for Late Night), and regular cash or debit/credit cards. 

5. MWL Commons

If you need a easy, nice place to study, the MWL Commons will make you happy. While there could definitely be more space added, it is large enough for the typical school weeks (don't try to go there during Dead Week). There is also a computer lab that lets you print! I mean, this was a real benefit for the lazy student who didn't want to bus or walk to Parks Library. 

6. Lied Recreational Gym

Lied is a great gym for the athletic person; there are racquetball courts, basketball courts, ping-pong tables, fitness classes, a mini-track, workout machines, and a tennis court outside. Hello? This sounds like heaven, and it was considering it was really easy to get to. Finding the encouragement to trek across campus to State Gym was hard, so Lied made it harder to be lazy and make excuses for not working out. 

7. Convos 

Conversations is literally right across the street, and that's great for Late Night meal bundles. Instead of having to stick to food at the C-Store, you can branch out and go over to Convos for a nice meal (the chicken tenders were A1, and so were the quesadillas, jello, and puppy chow). 

There is so much that I want to tell you right now. 

• You're beautiful.
• Your skin is beautiful.
• You're not beautiful "for a dark skin girl."
• You do not need to stay out of the sun this summer. 
• You do not need to be afraid to get darker this summer.
• You do not need to lighten your skin.

I know that all of this was sudden, but I am so overcome with emotions that I did not want to fester any longer. Dark skin should be embraced, yet, in society, it's not (or it goes to the other extreme by becoming a fetish). Once upon a time, I disliked my beautiful chocolate arms; I wondered why I had long, sun-kissed legs seemed less feminine because of its muscular structure; I didn't understand that my natural skin was a super long kiss from the sun. Dark skin was never considered "exotic," circa the desire of "foreign girls" a couple years ago. Everyone seemingly wanted a thick redbone. It was always team light skin versus team dark skin -- I'll leave you to figure out who naturally came out on top. Dark skin was not something to be desired.

But it's time. It's time that dark skin starts being appreciated for its innate beauty. There is no competition between skin tones; all tones have their own beauty. I need you to understand that you do not need skin lightening cream; what you need to do is hold your head up, take care of your beautiful glow, and not let society knock you down. I do not want you to shed a tear over the dark skin that God bestowed upon you. Do not let a foolish guy (or girl) let you think that you are beautiful in spite of your skin. You are beautiful because of it. I'm talking about the beautiful cocoa brown, the gorgeous honey nut, the deep, warm black. 

You beautiful chocolate girls and women, embrace your skin. After all, you only have one. Do not tolerate colorism; stand up for what you believe in. Never let your head fall, gorgeous. This self-confidence has to become the norm. I do not want my heart to break for any more little girls who grow up with a distaste for their own skin.