Kalyn Flores- Blog Abroad

Blog #1

From Cactus to Coast 

October 2025

Hiya, reader.

A few weeks in, and I’m happy to report there has been more sun than rain, but not a lot of seasoning on the food (with the exception of Nando’s). Now, please fasten your seatbelt as we descend into my semester abroad at the University of Sussex (US).

A few months ago, this was just a “what if…” for me. But here I am, living in a cool coastal town that has more shades of green than brown, and where I’ve swapped mountains for the beach (though it’s harder to figure out which way is east here). Before this, I had never been outside of the U.S., and the idea of this being my first time abroad was really intimidating. As it turns out, the hardest part was just going for it (though it does help to know the language).

Let’s do a quick recap for those of you catching your first “proof of life” from me. I made it to England (yay!). My first week consisted of welcome events since classes didn’t start until week two. I got to meet lots of people and explore both Brighton and campus. Some of the first things I noticed are that people here are super friendly, and they really like to drink. Pub culture is huge here. The university also has a big international community. Nearly a third of two of my classes are made up of students from abroad.

Classes are also structured a bit differently here. “Lectures” and “seminars” are separate within the same class, different people teach throughout the term, and final assessments happen after the holidays, mostly turned in online. So far, my art history class has been my favorite. We just took a “field trip” to the Royal Pavilion, a late 1700’s palace in town that served as King George IV’s party house back when he was a prince. Afterwards, I wandered down the street to the pebble beach, which is honestly great for avoiding taking half the beach home in your pockets like you do with sand and is surprisingly comfortable to sit on. The sunsets here, while not quite as good as New Mexico’s, are still pretty stunning.

You can get to a lot of places on foot, though it’s not always the most efficient. Most people don’t drive. There’s hardly any parking, and many students don’t even have their licenses (they start drinking younger than they start driving, which is a bit different than in the U.S.). The public transportation system is solid though. I’ve used trains and coaches, but the bus is my go-to. And guess what? They’re all double-decker and drive on the “wrong” side of the road, just like in the movies.

Public transportation can feel inconvenient when you’re used to having a car and leaving whenever you want, but I’m adapting. I’m also learning how to live somewhere temporarily. Knowing I’ll leave in a few months makes me feel a bit guilty whenever I’m just sitting around, even though I know I’m still just getting settled. That guilt has eased a bit though, especially after my first big trip to London.

I took a tour bus and even a boat on the River Thames and got to see all the classic sights like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, and so forth. One thing I absolutely loved about London was the architecture. I probably took way too many photos of random houses and buildings. I have no idea what most of them are, but they were all so picturesque. I saw a lot, and yet it still feels like I barely scratched the surface, so I’ll probably head back soon since it’s so close.

This post is starting to get long, so I’ll wrap it up by telling you that part of this blog was written from a castle (how cool is that?). The beautiful town of Lewes has been my most recent adventure during my day off this week, just 30 minutes from campus by bus.

All this to say, I’m really enjoying my time here so far. I’ll catch you next time to tell you about my next adventure. Also, I’m still getting used to the British slang here, so I’ve attached a glossary of words I’ve encountered here for both your sake and mine.

Cheers!

Blog #2

Irish Walter White

November 2025

Hiya, folks.

Before coming to Brighton, one of the biggest questions I got was whether people celebrate Halloween in the UK. It’s one of my favourite holidays, so I really hoped the answer was yes, but I couldn't get a straight answer. Once Halloween week rolled around, it was pretty clear they do. A pirate and Pennywise climbed up to the upper deck of my bus, kids in superhero costumes carried bags of candy days before the 31st, and even my university got in the spirit with spooky treats and charcoal-battered fish with jelly eyeballs for fish and chips Friday, (a very UK thing at my Uni). I did not see the full extent of the celebrations though, because I took the chance to head to Ireland instead.

Getting to the airport was a bit stressful. After reaching another town, all the trains were suddenly delayed indefinitely due to an incident on the line. I managed to get an Uber and made it just in time for my flight to be delayed anyway. Eventually, I landed in Dublin a couple days before Halloween. I took a tour to Cork, where I hung upside down to kiss the famous Blarney Stone. After that, I went to Derry for what is said to be the largest Halloween festival in Europe, which was the main reason I wanted to be in Ireland for the 31st. I only caught the last day of the week-long celebration, but it was still pretty great. On the bus there, I even got a little reminder of home when the first group in costume I saw included New Mexico’s own Walter White.

Derry was full of live music, people jumping out to spook you around corners, decorated shops and windows, and nearly everyone in costume. I wished I could have gone all out too, but after flying Ryanair with only the tiny free personal bag (an accomplishment for me as an overpacker), I did not have room for a costume. So I painted my face with eyeliner and set off to explore the last walled city in Europe, complete with parades and other festivities. Afterwards, it was back to Dublin, where I stumbled upon a first night of winter celebration with concerts and activity booths. The next day, I took a tour to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway. My guide told a story about two people on a previous tour who spent the whole day sitting next to each other without realizing they were both from Albuquerque. They figured it out when talking about Breaking Bad, which made my earlier encounter with Walter White feel like foreshadowing.

Back in Dublin again, I learned that booking tourist attractions early is a good idea. I still managed to visit the stunning Trinity College Library, though I was bummed to see that many of the books had been removed for preservation. I also toured the Guinness Storehouse which, coming from someone with no interest in Guinness, was surprisingly fun. Somewhere in the middle of everything, I had to register for classes at 2 p.m., which was 7 a.m. in New Mexico. I already had everything picked out, but my Wi-Fi was acting up. So here is a pro tip... make sure your Wi-Fi works when doing something important, like registering for your last semester while abroad, and maybe don't do it while trying to get to the airport. In the end, it all worked out.

Getting back to Brighton came with more transportation issues, but I made it. Basically the next day, I turned around and walked three hours to a neighbouring town. Being so close to Lewes, I was not going to miss its famous Bonfire Night. I am still not entirely sure what it commemorates, but people take it very seriously. Different bonfire societies marched through the streets with fire, firecrackers, and even little kids, probably as young as five, carrying torches taller than they were. Huge bonfires and fireworks ended the night. It was fun to watch and only slightly unhinged and dangerous (a small hole may or may not have been burned through my bag).

So Halloween abroad turned out to be way more eventful than I expected, and I am curious to see how the upcoming holiday season compares.

Cue the Irish goodbye

Blog #3

Don't Get Flattened Like a Dutch Pancake

November 2025

Hoi, everyone,

I’m not sure if it’s the procrastinator in me or what, but booking last minute trips seems like a rite of passage for study abroad students out here, myself included. Thus began my trip to Amsterdam, booked basically right before I left. Though I feel like I’ve got a good handle on navigating transportation, the hardest part of my trips so far has been getting to and from the airports for some reason. I had to wake up absurdly early, hours before my flight to catch a bus to catch a coach to catch a train to catch a plane (catch all that?). But, I digress because I hardly realised how tired I was by the time I finally got to Amsterdam and was just thankful to be there.

Regarding transportation though, one travel tip I have for anyone who will take it is to do a quick search before and download whatever transportation app people use wherever you are going. Likewise, download an offline map of the area and the Google translate language while you’re at it. Perks of being in a digital age is that nearly everything you might need to get by is available on your phone, even if Wi-Fi or English isn’t available. With that, make sure to have a portable charger as well.

Overall, walking around Amsterdam was fairly easy once you got into the city centre, as long as you made sure to look both ways for bikes. Let me just say, I was astounded by how many bikes there were. No, they do not stop for you, and yes, they will be annoyed if you walk in their bike lane (thankfully, I was only a witness to this and did not experience it firsthand).

The canal system itself was incredible. Everything is essentially a big arch with clear paths of water to follow. Not knowing what else to do, catching a canal tour when I first got there seemed like a solid choice. Meeting near the Anne Frank house, which was sold out before I even booked my flight (a downside of last-minute trips), I hopped on a semi-open boat to tour the major canal strips. Open-top tours are likely easier to find in the warmer, less rainy months, but I managed to book a tour with at least part of the boat unobstructed so I could take way too many photos.

Along the tour, we saw boats of all sizes docked along the sides (some smaller ones filled with water and sinking), crooked and leaning houses, and I learned that cars sometimes have to be retrieved from the canals. I did giggle a little when we heard that a certain brand of car with self-driving features may or may not have been a large factor in that issue. After the tour, I took a stroll around the beautiful Jordaan district, popped into some stores, and ended up in line for TikTok-famous truffle and mayo fries. They were good, but I enjoyed the warm strawberry and chocolate stroopwafel I had later that day more.

The next day, I was on a mission to hit a few spots before heading back to the airport, including the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum (aka Ruks Museum), and the Albert Cuyp Market. One of my favourite pieces was titled Flying Fox by Van Gogh and it was at that moment I found out fruit bats are sometimes called flying foxes. Overall, I saw incredible art with fascinating histories and another beautiful library tucked inside the Rijksmuseum before trying some Dutch pancakes and heading back to the chilly coast of England.

I tried to learn a few basic phrases in Dutch before going (a very hard language might I add), but nearly the only thing that really stuck for me was how to say thank you so...

Dank u wel, and see you next post.

Blog #4

Moonwalking Through London

November 2025

Hiya, lovelies,

Let me just start by saying this semester has flown by at an almost alarming rate. I’ve done a lot, seen a lot, and yet it feels like there’s still so much to do and see.

Despite the ticking clock, I have had the opportunity to see a lot of art in various forms. When choosing a school for my semester exchange, I discovered that a lot of universities across Europe don’t offer studio art classes unless it’s solely an art school. Thus, I didn’t think I’d get to interact with art very much. As I mentioned in my first post, I did the next best thing and signed up for art history courses.

In one of my classes, I get to explore architecture, street art, galleries, and more every single week. It’s been a great chance to get out and explore Brighton and the surrounding area instead of staying cooped up in my room. The other art history course I am taking focuses on analysing art and its contexts. Being a huge hub for art in England, we’ve studied many pieces that have and/or currently reside at the Tate Britain in London. Being so close to London, and with the bonus that most major museums in London are free, I went to check it out. I got to see more incredible art and, not going to lie, felt a little giddy whenever I came across a piece we’d talked about in class because I knew the background and had a connection to it. Though I love looking at art, I sometimes feel like an “imposter” in art galleries (I know, I know, ridiculous, but it’s also partly why I’m such a fan of street art and other more accessible art forms). I felt a bit more at ease when I got to relax, study the works, and even make some art myself though. One area had paper, drawing utensils, easels and clipboards set up for visitors to sketch or write whatever they wanted in response to the art, surroundings, or whatever else (I’m pretty sure I saw one older gentleman writing his grocery list). I had a lot of fun people watching while sketching, it made the area feel less intimidating and livelier. Though I’ve been nervous because grades here are based on only one or two assignments all semester, visiting museums and travelling in general has actually felt like useful preparation for upcoming assessments.

While at the Tate, I booked a ticket for another form of art, a West End musical. Before the show, I wandered through the Westminster area and saw Big Ben, the London Eye, and some other landmarks nicely illuminated at night, before hitting a couple Christmas markets. Prior to coming to England, I had no idea what a Christmas market was (my best guess was something like the Rail Yards Market), but I’ve since learned they’re a pretty big thing around Europe. Similar in ways to the Rail Yards Market, Christmas markets are outdoor markets that operate daily with booths, vendors, decorations, light displays, and sometimes ice rinks and other entertainment in preparation for the holidays. At one of the markets, I even got the chance to try pasta made in a giant cheese wheel.

Using TodayTix, it was a thriller to snag a good seat at a decent price. I truly couldn’t have beat it ordering a regular ticket, which made me feel like a smooth criminal. Now… any guesses what I saw? That’s right, MJ the Musical (I'll stop with the puns now, don't worry). It was fantastic and truly immersive as a jukebox musical based on Michael Jacksons life. I was especially impressed with the dancing and set design.

After the show, I raced to catch a bus to London Victoria train station to get the last train back to my university for the night. I could have taken a coach, which might have been cheaper, but that would have meant waiting much longer in the cold and getting back at 3 in the morning.

I will say, it’s much easier to leave London knowing I can come back to it again fairly easily and explore anything I might not have had time for. And trust me, I love the energy and all there is to see and do in London, so I will definitely be back.

Until next time, cheers!

Blog #5

Gaudí Mudslide

December 2025

Bon dia!

You know how I said the weather has gotten rather nippy in England? Yeah, well…I made a break for it! Just kidding (mostly). But I did end up somewhere a little less rainy and cold and a little more requiring of sunglasses... Barcelona, Spain! As someone who hates wearing layers, I was happy to escape the constant chill and get away with just a sweater most of the time. Though, I’ve learned to bring my rain jacket everywhere just in case (whether for weather, or for needing big pockets when I’ve run out of backpack space). Even though I wasn’t particularly bundled up, I discovered that people in Barcelona dress for the season, not the temperature, so they were layered up more than I was.

My flight was later in the morning this time so I didn’t have to get up absurdly early, but that meant arriving in Barcelona later in the day. Thankfully Spain runs on a timeline that I could get behind as a night owl. Trying not to spend much on flights, I’ve been choosing random seat allocation and mostly getting lucky with aisle seats and one middle seat in an emergency row with extra legroom. This time I finally got allocated a window seat, which felt pretty snazzy. I got to see mountains and ocean as we flew in.

Armed with a good amount of New Mexican Spanish but very minimal Catalan, I caught a bus to the city center. My first stop was the famous Mercat de la Boqueria, full of food options and vibrant fruit displays. I walked down La Rambla toward the coast and then looped back up into the lively, picturesque Gothic Quarter. The architecture everywhere was amazing and intricate. Even the Zara I wandered into had a high domed ceiling with glass panels.

The next day, I took the underground metro and made a short hike up rolling hills to Park Güell, designed by Gaudí. Unlike any park I have seen, it had whimsical, unique architecture and incredible views of Barcelona. From there I walked to the Basílica de la Sagrada Família. Once again, make sure to book tourist attractions early if you can! One minute there were plenty of tickets, and the next minute everything was sold out. I grabbed the last spot in a tour through another company that had tickets included though, and I am so glad I did. This was my favourite part of Barcelona. Also designed by Gaudí, and undergoing a never-ending building process, the outside was decorated with elaborate depictions of religious stories (my mom said it looked like mud, and honestly she is not wrong) and breathtaking stained glass on the inside. I stuck around until sunset to watch the light change, and floral-like designs cascaded across the ceiling. After taking way too many pictures, I headed toward an old bullring, L’Arc de Triomf, and another church that I wandered into before service. The last Gaudí building I saw was Casa Batlló, which I caught at just the right time to see a holiday light show on its exterior. To end the night, I went to a flamenco show. Even though I have seen flamenco in New Mexico, it was cool to watch it in Spain, and the dancers were passionate and wonderful.

On the last day, I headed to the Montjuïc area to see the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, which unfortunately was a little less magic because I did not do my research. It has recently reopened and now runs on a specific schedule. Even though I could not see the fountain show, the area leading up to the National Art Museum of Catalonia was still grand. When I reached the top (thank goodness for escalators), there were incredible lookout points over Spain, a guitarist busking, and gardens and Olympic stadiums to explore. After that, it was back to the airport and back to Brighton.

That's all for now, fins aviat!