This past week, from the 21st to the 23rd of September, was Silver Week in Japan, a colloquial term for three consecutive national holidays in the country. Monday was Respect for the Aged Day; Wednesday was Autumnal Equinox Day; and Tuesday was kokumin no kyūjitsu, or Citizens' Holiday which is the day in between two holidays that subsequently becomes a holiday by Japanese law. Consequently, the entire nation of Japan was on holiday, and luckily for me, I was too! What else is one to do on a five-day break then but travel, obviously?

Well, as quickly as I got here, I only have one more week left of my term time in London! Because Oxford goes by trimesters, we take one class in London beforehand in order to get a few more credits in. To prepare us for the tutorial system at Oxford, which involves meeting one-on-one with your professor once a week, we took this first class either individually or alongside one other student.

After two weeks staying in Milan, I found out that the Milanese locals really fancy using the word “equilibrio”, meaning “equilibrium” in English. Depending on the context, it usually refers to balance, a middle point, or perhaps perfection. And now I have found the most accurate word to describe my experience in Milan. It is all about the balance. Like every other big international city, Milan is definitely chaotic sometimes. Traffic and all-year-round fog become a part of the Milanese identity.

After the first three days of orientation, IES Abroad arranged a retreat for us to Sirmione and Lake Garda, architectural and natural gems in northern Italy. Here are some snaps of this amazing trip. My new friends, Fonnon from Nigeria and Zdenek from Czech Republic, were wonderful companions during the trip. In the great town of Sirmione, history is embedded in every intricately shaped stone that we roamed through.

As the summer days fade away into the nostalgic dreams of yesteryear, autumn in Japan is encroaching with a rather gentle pace. With the onset of milder days and faster-encroaching nights, I can't help but feel an utter sense of optimism for what the next few months are sure to bring. This island nation has so much to offer and I'm obviously not going to pass up on any opportunity to experience it fully and intimately. In the past month, I've done the following: 1.

Last Thursday at 11PM, tired and stressed out but mostly excited, I boarded a train. I was headed to Munich for Oktoberfest but I had a 4-part, 12-hour journey to get through first. My travels went smoothly until 1AM, when I found myself in the small border city of Venlo with 4 hours to kill before my next connection. I had expected to spend this layover sitting in a train station cafe or reading a book but when I arrived, I was immediately rushed out and told the station would reopen at 4:30AM.

I have absolutely always wanted to go on a safari. I was the Disney kid growing up, obsessed with The Lion King, singing the songs. Every time my family went to Disney World, I was always dying to go on the safari ride at Animal Kingdom. I know, I sound like the cheese-ball of the century, but when I found out that IES was offering a five day trip to Kruger National Park over the mid-semester break, I practically imploded from excitement. Kruger National Park lies to the north-east of the country and is bigger in square miles than Israel.

So…. It looks like I am going to be living in paradise for the next three months.

Having been a home to both the Tang and Ming Dynasties, The Xitang Watertown is an ancient city nestled in the Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province. Still alive after thousands of years, the small town connects 9 rivers, which divide its 83 square kilometers into 8 districts. The Watertown is now home to small shops, restaurants, bars, a couple hotels, and even local people. Here is a brief glimpse into my day at the Xitang Watertown.