Some of the things I have done in France so far. Taking the good with the bad.

BLUNDERS

Whirlwind: a column of air moving rapidly around and around in a cylindrical or funnel shape

February 8th - 10th: Kyoto - the land of shrines and matcha green tea

School break means one thing and one thing only. It's time to get out of your regular routine and embark on an adventure to new places, discover new things and see the world in a different light. So me and my IES Abroad buddy, Becky Honnold, packed our suitcases Sunday night and headed to Kyoto the next morning. 

This blog may be posted a little late because of some technical difficulties, but these pictures represent the first crazy week of my semester abroad! From the flight in over the beautiful Andes, to the mini trip we went on during the first weekend, it has all been incredible. We talked a lot about culture shock in orientation, and also a lot about the potential dangers here (2 students got their Iphones stolen within the first week), but overall it hasn't been too hard.

I’ve been here for over a month.  My day-to-day routine is relatively well-established, and I know my way around enough to leave google maps in my pocket (sometimes).  I am living an ordinary life among the Londoners themselves, and patterns about the locals have emerged. 

Yes I know its February, but according to the lunar Chinese calendar, 2016 began on February 8^th. Chinese New Year is a Chinese festival known around the world for a variety of reasons. The festival, also known as Spring Festival or 春节, runs from the first new moon of the lunar calendar until the Lantern Festival which occurs on the 15^th day of the first month. Festival traditions typically revolve around family and include things such as large meals, gifts, and lots and lots of fireworks.