In celebration of Pride Month, I was lucky enough to attend the Vienna Regenbogenparade, or Rainbow Parade. This parade demonstrates support for the LGBTQ+ community and was held for the 26th time in the Wiener Ringstrasse. The Wiener Ringstrasse, or Ring Road, goes around the historic center of Vienna, where several government buildings and museums reside. The parade itself lasted 4 hours, though we only stayed for a couple before walking around the shops and parks of Vienna.

I’ve spent my birthday in a variety of places over the years, from birthday parties with family to the Mall of America to last year when I had to work on my birthday. This year, I was fortunate enough to get to celebrate my birthday on a weekend trip to Greece with a friend. I spent my birthday in Poros, Greece relaxing on the beaches of the island and experiencing Greek culture. Greece, a place I’ve always dreamed of going, was everything I hoped it would be. If you have the chance to go to Greece while abroad, DO IT.

Before living in Spain, I was worried about the food because I had heard the stereotype that the diet was mostly seafood, which I really don’t like. After arriving here, however, I found out that it’s so much more—and I love it!

In 1814, invading British forces burnt my home city – or more accurately the city that my suburban hometown relies on for survival – to the ground. This summer, I’m going to return the favor. London, get ready.

When I chose to study abroad in Buenos Aires, practicing and improving my Spanish was one of my main reasons why, and yet it was also one of the things I dreaded most. 

I have never been one to have a huge group of friends. Throughout college and high school, I maintained close friendships with a handful of people. This never bothered me, although I imagined that going abroad would give me a much larger social circle. I pictured instantly clicking with a lot of people and doing all of my daily activities with them. During these past three weeks in Barcelona, I have felt unexpectedly lonely at times.

Signs reading like the title of this post are the reason why, in my extensive walking around Dublin so far (perhaps excessive, even, but I find it’s the best way to get to know a new city), I have carried in my pocket a little red notebook that I’ve begun to fill with scribblings that might just prove the observation attributed to John Adams about handwriting.

Tonight, I am writing this blog in my room at 12:24 a.m. in Washington D.C. I am writing it this late because I was afraid that I would forget to write this tomorrow and before I leave. I have not started packing at all and I do not know how I will go about it. All I know is that I am going to France. I leave the 13^th of June and I will arrive the morning of the 14^th at Charles-de-Gaulle airport in Paris.

Bobbing in the sea off the shore of Howth only five days after arriving is when I first realized, “Oh man, I’m really gonna miss it here when I have to go home." Stella, Jack, Declan, and I had hiked the cliffside and absorbed stunning views: the vibrant blue of the peninsula, screeching puffins perched percariously on the rocks, and a herd of amorous llamas enjoying each other’s company on the rolling green hills. We spontaneously decided to take a dip in the sea, capping off a perfect day.

If you like city walking and talking cheap, fast and convenient trams, buses and subways to go all around an ancient city, then Wien is definitely the right place to come!