A lot of my family and friends ask me why I study German, and for good reason -- it does seem kind of random. During my senior year of High School I had the lucky opportunity to visit Berlin for 3 weeks. The eccentric hipster artsy vibe of the city along with how young and surprisingly nice people were have remained with me to this day. Even though the trip was relatively short, it was impactful enough to bring me back to Germany, now three years later.

Having grown up in an urban area, Philadelphia, PA that is, I would not define Santiago as an especially outstanding city by any measure. The city layout, day-to-day activity, and the daily routines of its residents, are hardly distinct from those of many American cities and citizens. When the air is clear of the smog which often plagues the city, there are beautiful views of the mountains that surround Santiago, a view that from some perspectives is punctuated by the sleek and elegant, glass Costanera skyscraper in the city center.

As my time studying abroad in my favorite city is very quickly coming to an end, I really am not sure how I'm supposed feel.  Should I feel sad about leaving the best summer of my life and the country that I have grown to love? Should I feel excited about going back home, seeing my animals after 3 months, and starting my senior year of undergrad?  To be honest with you...it's definitely a mixture of both (with more emphasis on the saddness part).

“Ni shi nali ren?”

Hey! I'm Alexis Funaki and I am stoked to be able to blog about my study abroad experience at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland this fall semester. I currently go to Occidental College, a small private school in Los Angeles, but I am originally from San Diego, California (I actually had to buy a REAL rain jacket for the first time in my life to prepare for Ireland!).

It's hard to believe that I've been gone almost half a year and nothing much has changed back home. I had been so worried about feeling disconnected coming back but the whole process has been much easier than expected, granted I did only come home to San Francisco and still have yet to return to Minnesota, which may be an entirely different experience. 

Another long weekend meant another opportunity for a weekend excursion to a far away land...or in general just another opportunity to explore the great land that is Australia.  Last weekend, I traveled up to Proserpine, a nice tropical getaway to say the least.  The town is home to the infamous Whitsunday islands, specifically Whitehaven beach.  Whitehaven beach consists of some of the whitest sand in the world, and getting the opportunity to visit was definitely a once in a lifetime experience.

I have officially been back in the United States for a week now. My sleep schedule is finally back to normal, the jet lag has worn off. I’ve caught up on the political scandals that I missed from June and July. Slowly I am getting used to the humidity again.

Well, my time galavanting abroad has finally come to an end.  Today I head home, making the long trek back to California from the Dublin airport. It’s a very bittersweet time for sure, like most things I’ve been experiencing lately.