I got stung by a jellyfish at the beach last weekend. I was relaxing with friends in the lovely waves of the coastal town of Canoa when a blue creature made contact with my fingers, and I started cursing and screaming loud enough to attract stares from my fellow beach-goers. I lost feeling in my left hand for several hours and had shooting pains all the way up my arm. I am fine now, although the marks are still visible on two of my knuckles.

It wasn’t exactly how I had planned my beach vacation.

Midterms are here! Can you believe it? I have been living in Vienna for so long now, I am practically a local. Yesterday, I saw a young woman wearing my exact same outfit—scarf, jacket, hairstyle and all! That’s what happens when you go to Europe: you look confused for the first few weeks but finally assimilate and derive joy from finding an Austrian doppelganger. I’m joking. Sort of.

It has been a struggle to find good spaces to study in the city. With the IES Abroad center only open until 7 p.m. Mon-Thurs and until 2 p.m. Fridays, it was necessary to set out and discover more study-friendly places to get work done so that I don’t have to resort to being cooped up in my homestay all the time. Since I am not enrolled in either of the local universities, I had limited access to some of the libraries. Below I have compiled a list of some of my favorite cafes and public study areas, WiFi passwords and all.

Looking at the massive structure of La Sagrada Familia from the outside, I saw an unfinished masterpiece overshadowed by cranes, scaffolding and the noises of a construction site. However, as soon as I stepped inside of Gaudi's cathedral, I had no words to say besides "wow" and nowhere to look besides up. Suddenly it was all silence as I stepped across the marble floors and watched the sunlight come in through the stained glass windows in every shade of orange and blue. The gothic columns imitated trees and shot up to the high ceiling above.

A week ago on Monday I had the panicky realization that I am halfway done with my semester abroad in Amsterdam.  A million thoughts have raced through my head this past past week: How did the time go by so fast?  I still have so much I want to do!  Where is all my money?!  Why don't I feel like I've done anything?  I haven't done anything.  The paralyzing fear of wasting my time has been like another person sitting on my shoulder whispering all of my failures and shortcomings into my ear.  I also have the