What did you wish you knew before you went to Spain? That’s what people have asked me on several occasions. And that question is more complicated than it seems. If you’ve ever been asked do you wish you’d chosen to go to school somewhere else, maybe you’ll understand. The true answer to that question usually revolves around “At the time I made the right decision, but who I am now wouldn’t make that same decision.” That’s how it is with going abroad. After the experience, I know a whole lot more than I did coming in.

After one long train ride, four flights, and countless taxis, I’ll be in Madrid in a little over a week. Just a few weeks ago, my parents decided to book a last minute vacation in Orlando so my youngest sibling could experience the magic of Harry Potter World, which I would dare to say is even more magical than Magic Kingdom. I’ll then be flying up to Washington, DC for a last minute round of summer internship interviews on the day before my flight to Europe.

I left my home on Liebhartsgasse last month. A month before that I figured out that "lieb" means "dear," "good," and "lovely," and "hart" means "hard" and "tough." I've been living on lovely, tough street for four months. How apt! I came to Vienna with the intent of being present. I wanted to take Vienna as my opportunity to be like I had never been before. I didn't want to go to bed each night with the wish for a better tomorrow.

The new year is upon us, and so too is my flight to Vienna, Austria. I've never been one to care about New Year's—I'm always in the same place, with the same people, doing the same thing. But this year is going to be different—very different. I will be studying music in Vienna for the spring 2016 semester, and I have never been more excited (and scared) for anything in my whole life. Vienna: Europe's cultural capital, the home to some of the greatest musicians, artists, and thinkers who ever lived! And I'm going to be there!

I can't believe I am already back on American soil. It feels like just the other day I was getting my passport checked in Japan, with excitement rushing through my veins. Just moments before meeting Xavier, who little did I know, would be come my best friend on this amazing experience. It feels like just the other day I was sitting in a room of 150 international students complaining about the drawn out orientations and comparing excitement and expectations for the semester ahead.

I've been back in the United States for almost three weeks now, and in a strange way it feels like nothing has changed back home other than myself. There's construction on the highway and my family moved a new couch into the living room, but otherwise nothing seems that new. I've been happy to experience all the things I missed about America, but other things have made me notice what I already miss about being in Beijing. Here are the top five things I missed about America and the top five things I miss about Beijing 

As I lay here in bed having just arrived home from a 2-week vacation in Argentina with my mom, it is hard to believe that in another 6 short weeks I will be headed to Brazil to study abroad. It was fantastic to get out of the country again and visit Argentina for the first time, first making a couple day stop in Chile to see some old friends there, but it had a much different feel to it than studying abroad does.

I finished my finals on December 18^th. My friend came to visit and explore Vienna with me on December 19^th. We flew home on December 23^rd. The few days that we were together were sumptuously filled, as I showed her some of my favorite places and places I’d wanted to go the entire semester, while simultaneously kissing Vienna goodbye (for now). I’ll share some of those spots here.

1.     Spittelberg Christmas market

I’ve been back home for about two weeks now. It was great to see my family again, especially my dog. This painting is for my two dogs – Chantilly (Chanty) in Quito, a high-energy terrier; and Java in Brooklyn, a lazy, yet absolutely adorable, pug-beagle mix.

I’m sitting here, looking at all of the bags I have packed – my five months studying abroad in Ecuador, my life in Ecuador constrained to four bags. My room is completely empty – I forgot how bare it was before I, and my mess, moved in. I feel very weird about all of this – I’m operating on auto-pilot. As a countermeasure, I decided to draw my bags.