In late November, IES took a group of students to the Bauhaus School in Dessau. The Bauhaus was an art school in Germany opened by Walter Gropius in 1919 and shut down by the Nazis in 1933. The school was revolutionary, setting a new standard for how art and architecture could be thought of and created. Much of what is considered today as “modern art” was influenced by the Bauhaus. The Bauhaus style played with the relationship between art and technology, form and function, and design and industry.

In my previous post, I mentioned that the most popular questions I’ve received since being back in the states include “Where is Morocco?” and “Did you have to wear a scarf?” yet I must admit that this has only turned out to be partially true. Over the past three weeks of winter break, I’ve met wrinkled noses, upturned eyebrows, ear-to-ear grins, and the occasional pursed lip when individuals ask me their new most popular question: 

Why did you choose Morocco? Why Rabat?

When I first came off the plane into Buenos Aires and got in the taxi on the way to my homestay, the thoughts that consumed my mind were “What in the world am I doing?” and “Who do you think you are leaving for a whole semester?” I was excited and incredibly nervous about all of the unknown aspects of my semester abroad and there was no turning back. Now a month after my return home, it still feels unreal that I spent a whole semester away, and my new daunting task is preparing to go back to my home campus. 

The final days of the program go by the fastest. You slowly pack away the home that was yours for the past four months and say goodbye to the family you built abroad. Sadness over leaving is mixed with happiness for the memories you have made. None of it is easy. The one thing that makes it easier is knowing you will be returning home to all your friends, family, and possibly a few extremely missed pets.

If you’re bored in London, you’re doing it wrong. Here’s my ultimate bucket list of things to do and see around London – all of which I have done and would happily do again:

When I arrive in Ecuador, only 12 days will have passed since the end of my fall finals period. Now halfway through those 12 days, I doubt I will look back on this time as a period of rest. The quick turnaround definitely has its perks– after all, I can barely contain my excitement and am  itching to go– but it’s also a bit overwhelming. There’s a lot to be done.

About a week and a half ago my IES program ended. My new friends flew back home for the holidays and a new semester in the States. I said goodbye to my favorite professors and started thinking about finding the best presents to bring home to family and friends and imagining the excitement of arriving home at SeaTac airport, met at baggage claim by my family.

(Sung to the tune of 12 Days of Christmas)

On my first week in England, IES gave to me

A single bed in Chapter Kings Cross

On my second week in England, IES gave to me

Two trips to Scotland

and a single bed in Chapter Kings Cross

On my third week in England, IES gave to me

Three Oyster cards

Two trips to Scotland

and a single bed in Chapter Kings Cross

On my fourth week in England, IES gave to me

While sitting in the kitchen of my dear friend’s West Philly apartment, he asked my favorite thing about Vienna. I had to think because there are so many things to love. After a few minutes, I settled on music. “It was so meaningful being a place where music, particularly classical music, is culturally valued and widely accessible,” I told him. I love that music history is alive in Vienna— how I could visit Mozart’s apartment and see some of his original scores.

Going Home

Well, the semester has come to a close - I’ve left Nantes and have found myself sitting once again in the comfortable atmosphere of a Starbucks, settling down to type this blog along with the nice cafe Christmas music, snacking on a pain au chocolat, looking out at all the terraced apartments lining the streets…. 

Wait, pain au chocolat? Terraced apartments? If your detective skills have led you to believe that maybe I am not in the US after all, you would be right!