At Alex and Ani, we truly enjoy hearing from you – our wonderful fans. The amazing stories of how our products have brought joy, comfort, hope and love into your lives are both humbling and heart warming.
One of our fans, Rachel Murphy, recently shared how Alex and Ani eased her anxiety when she studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Her Red Sox and Bruins bangles served as reminders of home and became part of her journey as she experienced Spain and beyond! We hope you enjoy reading about her amazing travels.
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By way of introduction, my name is Rachel Murphy. I am an international business major at a very small liberal arts college in rural Pennsylvania. I have always grown up hearing the saying, “the world is your oyster.” I was taught that I could do anything I wanted if I put my mind to it – so I did! I stepped away from everything I had ever known and traveled 3,613 miles from my home state of New Hampshire to study abroad at the University of Barcelona in Spain.
However, leading up to the start of the new semester, I wrestled with so many emotions. There were days when I felt like I wasn’t ready for something like this. I was scared about things such as the food, what would happen if I didn’t like my host family, and if I was going to make friends easily. The thought of the six-hour time difference petrified me. I wouldn’t be able to talk to my friends and family like I usually did.
My program also did not provide much information about what was going to happen when I arrived in Barcelona, which was nerve wracking. All that I knew was that I was going to be met at the airport by my program director. There were also plenty of days when I was excited. I couldn’t wait to leave and see what Barcelona was actually like!
Before I knew it, it was January 18th, my departure date! I was leaving Boston behind to fly to JFK in New York and then to Barcelona. There were a few tears as I hugged my family goodbye. I slipped my Bruins and Red Sox Alex and Ani bangles onto my wrist, feeling comforted to know that I would always have a bit of home and the sports teams I loved wherever I went.
I’ve always enjoyed photography for as long as I can remember. I decided that before I left for my semester, I would bring something from home to add to my photographs. I wanted to connect the new places that I visited with something from home. I decided that I would use two of my favorite Alex and Ani bangles as my prop in photographs for whenever I went somewhere new.
At my gate in Boston waiting for my flight to JFK.
In a few short hours, it would be goodbye America and hola España! There was no turning back now. I was about to step into the unknown and experience life in a completely new way.
I arrived in New York safely, eating a quick before trying to find my gate. At my gate, I met several other students who were taking the same flight with me to Barcelona. My nerves started to melt away as we chatted while we we waited for our flight.
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Excited to see where Rachel’s journey takes her? Be sure to check back next week for more Adventure Awaits: Traveling the World with Alex and Ani!