With three out of seven of my classes officially completed, and two more incomplete but finished as far as my grades in them are concerned, I feel as though the stress has been sucked out of my time in Berlin.  

I have so much free time right now.

I've been asked many times about my favorite places and my favorite parts of each place I've been. While sometimes it was hard to think of a definitive thing that stood out above the others, I definitely had a list ready of why each place would hold a special place in my heart. And, because no city is perfect, I also had a running list of things that I just wasn't crazy about for each city.

I'll start off by saying that I love Madrid. Though it's the capital of Spain and a huge, bustling city, it's often put second on a tourist's "To-Go" list behind Barcelona. Madrid doesn't have a beach, but it has amazing parks. It may not have the Sagrada Família, but it has the Palacio Real. I understand the pull of Barcelona - it's on my list as well - but the people and the pace of Madrid are unbelievable. I don't think I've ever met more relaxed, open people than the Spaniards of Madrid. Another thing I love about Spain - the siestas!

Hello everyone, it's been a while! Today is Tanabata in Japan, which is the day when two stars, Altair and Vega meet in the sky. This day is often celebrated as a day to have wishes granted. Many people write their wishes on pieces of paper and attach them to a tree for everyone to see! I think it would be pretty relevant to talk about mine. (Pictured below)

As I sit in my hotel room in Cyprus wondering how to describe Greece, the first thing that comes to mind is astonishingly, indescribably hot. I’ve always loved warm weather and relished summers in Indiana, but this is a new kind of heat I have not yet experienced. Besides the hellish temperature, though, there are a lot of other noteworthy things about Greece: -The architecture is an obvious first. We had a guided Acropolis walk that gave us a good base for a little more individual exploring later on.

This past week has been such a whirlwind of emotions as I’m getting over jet lag and becoming more comfortable with the fact that I’m really in Ireland for the next two months. I’m meeting so many new people through orientation and within our accommodations at the UCD residence areas.

“You will soon be traveling to a distant land.”

That’s the fortune I was given in my fortune cookie the day before I depart for Dublin (no joke). I don’t think it really set in at that point—I’m not even sure it has set in yet!