It’s 9:07 am and my doorbell is buzzing incessantly. I want it to stop, I want to go back to sleep, I don’t want somebody waking me up right now. It takes a few minutes to realise that the person ringing my bell is my friend, and he’s waking me up because we’re leaving on a weekend trip to Utrecht in 13 minutes. I scramble to pack and am out the door.
Vienna's architecture is filled with hidden gems hiding in the ornate facades and rooftops of buildings.
Modern sculpture showing the way on the rooftop.
Carnivale in Siena, Italy
Welcome to Madrid, where tapas are ridiculously, fantastically cheap and somehow pork finds its way into almost every dish. Where strange nooks and famous plazas are around every corner and at times it’s cheaper to order sangria than water. Where the people are friendlier than you might expect for a big city and the metro is surprisingly navigable (albeit after a few mishaps).
Being in a non-english speaking country can be pretty overwhelming, but once you know what signs to look out for it gets a little easier!
One thing that runs constant amongst almost every student studying abroad? Pictures. It’s nearly impossible to not want to take pictures when there are so many new sights and places to capture. While taking photographs may not appeal to everyone, the instinct to share our experiences with those loved ones who are far away is natural.
A keeping of the old and new makes for an interesting contrast when the retro tram meets its modern counterpart with the manga style art.
What I probably love the most about Vienna is how peaceful it is. I revel in the fact that I can go out into the first district and enjoy the bustle of city life without being overwhelmed by the sound of car horns and people yelling over each other. You might say it's because Vienna is full of old people, and honestly, you wouldn't be wrong. However, that doesn't mean there isn't anything fun to do. Yes, if you make noise in your apartment after 10 pm, you might get the cops called on you.
Greetings from Jiao Tong University! When we were first driving through campus, I have to admit it looked like a compound. It’s partly because that’s the way some Chinese buildings look, but also I think it was just the older part of the school.
To think that in less than 24 hours, I will be mid-flight on a 19-hour flight from JFK to Cape Town International Airport is hard to wrap my head around. After a 72-day long winter break, feeling "ready" to go to South Africa is an understatement. When I think of all that my life will become this time next week, I feel so much more than ready.