The time spent here is rapidly slipping through my hands and sadly we just passed the halfway mark here in Beijing.  So much has happened from celebrating birthdays to going on class field trips that it’s been difficult to keep track of it all!

Night Market Shenanigans

             Now that the IES Abroad Spanish class is over, I don’t think I’ll be waking up early again for the rest of my study abroad trip.  I’m almost sad about it, since there are quite a few sights in Barcelona that are exclusive to early risers, but my circadian rhythm simply won’t allow me to get out of bed before eleven unless my GPA is at stake.  I’ll miss walking to class in the morning, though:  I’ll miss seeing squadrons of suit-wearing businessmen blaze past me on their motorcycles whole

Well, here we are. I’m lying in bed in my little Parisian apartment for the last time. It’s so strange how something that was once so surreal is now something so familiar that leaving seems impossible. I can’t possibly fully express my gratitude to everyone that has helped make this opportunity possible for me.

As classes are intensifying, I found it increasingly important to take time to be outdoors. Between picnics in the park and spending weekends exploring the Irish countryside, finding ways to be in nature are plentiful. The landscape of the country varies in an instant, ranging from farmland to bustling city to mountains. It is clear that the Irish have an incredible appreciation for their land. There is a common knowledge of how the land has impacted history and how it continually supports the country. This is evident through St.

The third week was a mixture of emersing ourselves in the diverse culture of Cape Town as well as learn about the complexities of the health care system in South Africa and how the country is working to improve and expand upon this system that faces major difficulties with accomodating to the vast amount of illnesses and diseases. 

Weeks I’ve been in Germany: 6

Islands I’ve visited: 1 (more info to come)

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!