Before coming abroad, I was told that I would absolutely love using public transport, so this was the expectation I had. However, after two months of using public transport every day, I have come to the conclusion that I really do not like public transport for daily use, but that it’s really great when I travel. Different cities handle public transport in different ways and I decided to rank the public transport of 5 major cities I’ve traveled to.

1. Paris

The goodbyes I have to make to this city are endless. I have to bid farewell to the corner cafes with their identical menus of Sangria, croquettas, patatas bravas and paella. To the sound of pots and pans banging together straining to be heard by people who have the power to make real political changes. To sore legs after hiking up to the old civil war bunkers to see 360-degree views of the city below. To the smell of fresh baguettes and cigarette smoke blowing in the Mediterranean Sea breeze.

As of now I am back in the United States far away from where I used to be in Cape Town. I'm visiting some friends in Grinnell and settling back into life here. My last weeks in Cape Town were fun but a bit of a blur, going by far faster than I could have anticipated.

It seems like one I was taking exams and then the next thing I knew I found myself on a long, long plane ride back to the United States. Exams were over. My bags were (hopefully) safely stowed in some cargo compartment. I was going home.

Somehow I was lucky enough to finish all my exams by November 16th. While many of my poor friends where still slugging through exams, I had a full two weeks to enjoy Cape Town and have a few last stress-free adventures before heading back to the States. Here are some of the fun things I was up to in my last weeks in Cape Town.

This is it. It is my last time posting before I head home. It’s so crazy. We’ve been prepped about reverse culture shock (well everyone else was, my literature class had a make-up session so we missed it), we’ve turned in all our final projects and final papers and finished our final presentations, and now we’re all so ready to be done! All the shopping is done (or as done as it is going to be while I’m in France), and everything is on its way to being packed and ready to go.

​I stuck my head below and swam out just a few more feet. The water was warm and perfectly comfortable; I dreaded the thought of eventually having to leave it. But for now, I floated calmly and enjoyed the gentle waves. I resurfaced and rubbed the water from my eyes, before turning to look back at the shore. I immediately froze with shock when I found that it had completely disappeared. I frantically spun and looked in every direction, only to find an immense spread of blue stretching into the horizon all around me.

This is it. It is my last time posting before I head home. We’ve been prepped about reverse culture shock, we’ve turned in all our final projects and final papers, and now we’re all ready to be done! Shopping is done (or as done as it is going to be while I’m in France), and everything is on its way to being packed and ready to go. Now we just wait until it’s the date and time of our individual flights and get going back home.

With my departure date only a week away, I can’t help but think of all that I have fallen in love with during my semester abroad. Here is a list of the things I wish I could bring back home with me:

Cheap food

Let me specify, inexpensive delicious food. The fact that I can get a bocadillo and large coffee for 2 euros in between my classes is insane. Also, just the other night, my friends and I went out to eat at a nice restaurant. Three courses later, I spent less than 20 euros.

With only a few days left in Santiago, I reflect on how amazing the Emerging Economies program was and the amazing things that I got to do. I visited four countries - Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay - and have seen some amazing wonders of the world. From the Iguazu Falls to the Atacama Desert to Macchu Picchu, I was in awe at all of these things. These were all experiences that I'll remember for the rest of my life.