Leaving to Firenze tomorrow guys! I can't believe Summer is already gone, and with that, the internship at the studio, the weekends spent at the beach, the goodbyes. Oh gosh, I'm a tough girl and known to be quite reluctant to exteriorize my feelings, but I never thought it was going to be so hard to manage goodbyes to family and close friends. And I'm presumably coming back home for Christmas! Anyway, it's all fine, I'm super excited to get there, start living on my own at the rented flat downtown, finish all the paperwork that needs to be done, and start knowing more about Italian culture and lifestyle.

So, you might be wondering how the preparations for a year studying abroad have gone so far, and why I've been away from the blog (and almost all social media channels) for almost a week and a half. I landed home again after being totally away for a couple of months due to the Summer internship in town, which felt super awkward (believe me when I say I didn't remember properly where some things were stored at home) to be received by a huge empty suitcase that needed to be filled as soon as possible. Plus, dealing with another large suitcase filled with Summer work outfits and stuff that needed to be washed, organized and put back into place. Plus, paperwork and stuff that needed to be done in the city prior to leaving the country. That translates into two weeks of non-stop running from one place to another to get all done in time.

All this studying abroad craziness has led me to some interesting conclusions and tips that I needed to share with you before leaving to Italy. This is:

#1 Two hands, one luggage
Are you traveling solo, or getting to your destination by your own? If so, don't you think about embarking a huge suitcase and a taking a cabin carry-on. Will you be carrying all those things by your own, probably late in the evening, once arriving at a place you might not know at all? (Or even better when dealing with transfers). Instead, embark all your stuff in your luggage and get a cabin-sized bag which you can wear on your shoulders as a backpack.

#2 Get some info prior to your departure
Are you flying to an airport which is not in your town of destination? Are there any buses, trains or transfer at your arrival time? What do you do if your luggage gets lost or your flight delayed? Gather some information which might be useful once you arrive to your abroad destination (like complaint and information numbers, etc), and get ready for the worst situations. Even if they might not happen at all. Prevention is better than cure!

#3 Pack wisely
Back to when I went to Boston, due to flight connections in Madrid, my luggage got delayed a couple of days. Fortunately, that happened on my way back home, and not in my way to the US, as that could have caused a massive situation in my 17 year-old-self. Once that happened, I learned the hard way to always put in my cabin bag a couple of clothing changes, my most valued items (laptop, camera, tablet) and to pack inside the carry-on a little purse for the ID's, passport, money and phone.

For Firenze, I'm also carrying a set of bedsheets just in case the first night on our new home away from home things are a bit, let's say, nasty.

I'm graduating! After five years of titanic efforts, sleepless nights and crying A LOT due to frustration and tiredness, I can't believe that I'm finishing this thing off and finally moving on. Well. Sort of. Let me explain a bit. The Architecture degree has 5 obligatory courses in Spain. On the contrary that other European countries, where you can achieve different qualification degrees depending on how many years you spend studying architecture/design engineering (two courses, or three years plus two more for the Master's degree), not in Spain. You are supposed to finish your 5 course diploma, or you're NOTHING (you can't possibly leave once you're at third year and get a basic diploma).

Five courses which aren't what we would call easy, and which aren't actually translated into a course per year. Then, once you finish your 5 year diploma, you are expected to take a 1 year Master degree, in which once you finish, you are able to sign your own projects and designs as head architect (which many of us will take, as it's almost the only way with architecture around here). So, what's all the fuss around the Erasmus year, and graduating and so on? Well, I didn't actually finish my fifth course and although I'm leaving to do just a couple of subjects left in Italy, I will be graduating anyway this coming September along with my friends and coursemates. Which leads to... Graduation ceremony outfits!

In Spanish universities, it is quite typical to held a diploma ceremony with the director of the Faculty or School you attend to, some professors and teachers, your family and friends. We don't usually wear robes nor caps, instead, we are put a sort of sash with the year of entrance and graduation, and our School's crest around our shoulders. I think it's pretty close to a prom ceremony, but without the robes and caps. After receiving our sashes and diplomas, we then go to take lots of pictures with our relatives and then, head to have dinner and party all night long! So, we ought to look our best in our graduation dresses and outfits, as we will not only be called one by one to the stage but also, get photographed zillions of times on that evening. So, today I'm partnering up with the team of Lightinthebox to show you my take on a graduation/prom outfit approach with a chic twist.

I think going for a jumpsuit is a great and super astonishing option for a graduation ceremony. Is as valid as any other but, I assure you not many are brave enough to go for the different! I'm seriously considering wearing this white V-neck halter jumpsuit on my graduation day. I find it perfect as it's comfortable, light and a bit playful, I must admit! I particularly liked the fabric and color from this one at Lightinthebox, as the fabric falls heavily to the floor and surprisingly isn't see-through!

I'm currently living my first Summer ever at the city. As some of you might know, I haven't been really around here due to work. Yep! After distributing my CV and forms all over the place, I was called last-hour for an internship at an architecture office here in Valencia (already told you about that in last post), cancelling all the possible plans and things I had in mind for holidays. But it's OK! Doing a two-month internship on a studio is something I've been looking forward this last year, and I find it very suitable and appropriate for this stage of my career to keep learning and take my head out of Architecture School a little bit when it comes to real world. So, I'm not only learning tons of things everyday but also having a great time (although I really, really hate to get up early every day).

That being said. Spending my weeks at the city and only weekend time at beach town has allowed me to redistribute my routines and schedules on a more efficient way. Week is for work, weekend for leisure. Although I've spent some days with terrible headaches, sleeping endless naps in the afternoon until early evening once I'm at home (life happens when you spend your mornings in front of a black computer screen), I've started fulfilling my schedules and marking down pending issues on my TO-DO lists. Including that article I have to finish before September 5th for a Conference. At least I've started writing. Lovely, isn't it?

Meanwhile, I spend my weekends doing SUP surf (sure you've seen my first steps at Instagram) and being a master couch potato when I'm not spending endless mornings at the swimmingpool. Then, once again Monday will come and I'll be getting up early for work.

So, what is your Summer being like? Are you on couch potato mode as well?

Tell me on the comments below!

Striped wedges. As you're reading this, I'm currently working on my suitcases for my trip to NYC next week. Yay! Looks very exciting. New York it's been one of my biggest life inspirations, and walking down and getting lost on its streets sounds truly amazing.

Coming back from Italy and Switzerland trip with College last week doesn't make things easier precisely: there's still luggage and things to put on it's right place, while I'm packing again things for this new trip, plus looking for maps, guides and stuff to put on the same suitcase that went to Ticino. As crazy as it sounds.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to meet my friends as much as I can before leaving, spend cozy mornings at home drawing and preparing new coming projects, or doing some sport. This outfit was one of those I wore to meet up with friends at late afternoon. I love how some details like this striped wedges and bag can absolutely make the difference and add the outfit that different and incredible touch! Doesn't it look a bit futuristic?

 

Navy. I think it's one of my favorite styles to wear, because it puts together my favourite colors: dark blue, white and red. I think it's one of the reasons why I'm addicted to have things with the flags which have that colors. This time I decided to wear this outfit to go for a photoshoot + walk the doggie with my friends Ana (also known as The Mystic Lipstick) and her sister. They're having this puppy for about three months and it was her first walk, so we all wanted to go with her, take pictures and play with Frida, because she was very scared! Although that, she finally started having fun with us three!

I decided to wear this red wedges from Pierre Cardin I bought on sales. What a fatal mistake: they hurt too much, and now it feels like I have two huge wholes on the back of my feet, where the strap of the shoe was placed. I'm leaving for three days to Madrid tomorrow as lot of you may know, so I hope this doesn't disturb me for going to walk and take pictures!! You''l know about my adventure there on Monday!