When I was researching programs for a second study abroad adventure, I had many factors new to take into account. This time, I was going into my senior year, and had very few options in terms of classes.  I hit many walls in the process, as it seemed that anywhere I wanted to go (Chile, for example) stopped short at the ability to provide me with the courses I needed. During this period of research, I felt part of some wild-goose-chase to locate a program that would work for me. Eventually, I gave up.

Being in China has meant that I have missed a lot of American holidays and occasions. Spending these holidays in China has been interesting because they are either not celebrated or celebrated in a different way. However, China has its own set of unique holidays, and since I’ve been here, there have been three national holidays that have been celebrated. One of these holidays happened to have occurred this past weekend on November 11th.

It’s been a while again, but I want to encourage anyone else who has the chance to go bog-jumping. Just once.

Every time I post on this blog, I feel like so much has happened that I need to cover since the last time I posted!! I want to go on and on about all of these things that I share with you, but of course it would take hours of writing to fit in everything I have experienced. So I’m going to try and highlight some of my favorite moments from the past few weeks for you, and hopefully not go on too many tangents :^)

I have been having a wondeful semester abroad! I have spent it learning the beautiful culture and city of Vienna. I have been largely traveling Europe in my spare time. Although my experience here has (definitely!) been more good than bad, there have definitely been some mishaps. Written here are a taste of some of the losses I have taken this semester.

Holiday Surprise

I was walking in the town of Otavalo earlier this semester when I stumbled upon a mural outside an elementary school. It was a nice painting, depicting a landscape of trees and rivers, inhabited by children and woodland creatures, but one thing stuck out to me—out of all the kids collecting water from the river, running through the forest and laughing amongst the friends, every single one of them was white.

When your neighbor offers for you to stay in her condo in Monte Carlo while you're studying abroad... the answer is never "no". I had the opportunity to travel to Monte Carlo, Monaco over my fall break, and boy is that a trip I will noever forget. The glitz, and the glam, and the chic-chic lifestyle makes it seem like you not only stepped into another country, but another world entirely.