“What they saw-eastward, beyond the sun-was a range of mountains. It was so high that either they never saw the top of it or they forgot it. And the mountains must really have been outside the world.” – C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia

A wide smile formed on our tour guide’s face as he answered my question. “Basically,” he said, running a hand through his thick, jet black hair, “this is the end of the world.”

I’m about two months, the half waypoint, and hit a rough patch/feel like I’m at low point of my study abroad experience. I have had an unbelievable time here so far with lots of highs but now it’s time for me to face the lows. I’m at a tough middle spot where I’m so excited to continue my incredible experiences here but at the same time wouldn’t mind being home. I think the homesickness is really starting to kick in with the realization I have two months down but two to go.

Last Saturday my best friend, Bender, surprised me and came to Sydney for spring break. I had absolutely no idea. We briefly discussed the possibility early in the year but when I asked him a few weeks ago whether or not he had found flights, he said no and that he was not coming. As a pleasant surprise, he had colluded with my friend, Ryan, who is studying in Sydney with me, to surprise me for the week. He barged into my room early last Saturday morning while I was sleeping.

An interesting flower growing off an interesting plant growing off of another plant in the Amazon Rainforest

In my opinion, the quickest way around the city is using the subway. It's pretty simple to use if you know what you’re doing and where you want to go. And it's really cheap as one can travel from one side of Beijing to the other for only 7 kuai. The most expensive way to get around in Beijing is by taxi. Taxis do come in handy though, as the buses and the subway lines stop running by 11:30 PM (or even 10:30 PM). 

One of the most alluring things about studying abroad, especially in Europe, is the ease of travel. In Europe, it is much easier to go to another country for a weekend than in the US. It’s not uncommon as well to take a weekend trip and spend sometime in a new place with friends.

Somehow, the months leading up to my semester in Japan have been both hectic and boring. A stream of tasks, from visa applications at the consulate downtown, to seemingly eternal kanji character practice, has kept me busy. But as I chipped away at my long list of preparations, my excitement built up to agonizing levels. Departure always seemed so distant. While my friends returned to college in January, I “enjoyed” an extended winter break that outlasted winter itself. But finally, what was once distant is arriving swiftly.