The Year of the Ram has arrived!

People born during the year of the Ram are known to be considerate, careful and artistic.  They are wanderers, and although none of the students here are years of the Sheep/Goat/Ram, I'm sure that we can all appreciate that the year we get to spend in China is one of a more adventerous tendancy. 

Valentine’s Day has just passed, and I was lucky enough to spend the holiday weekend in Morocco.  Two friends and I began the journey Thursday in Marrakech and eventually made our way to the capital city of Rabat.  My time spent in Morocco was unlike anything I have ever experienced before, while most were spending a romantic day with their significant other, I experienced culture shock for the first time in my life and it caused me to take a step back to reflect on my experience abroad.

With my backpack, big coat, and boots (of course), I met my Galentine Kristin at the train station and we boarded the train going north. We were off to Auvers-sur-Oise! To the land of Vincent van Gogh and cobblestone streets. It took less than an hour to arrive at the station we were getting off at, which was nice. As we got off the bus (that we had transferred onto), we realized that we were in the middle of nowhere. There was a small town near the station, but we were a ways away from our hotel and Auvers-sur-Oise.

Please tell me there are some Star Trek fans reading this? Or at least a few Chris Pinenuts (the name given to crazed fans of Chris Pine also known as Captain Kirk of the Enterprise). Either way, I think this is a suitable title to this blog post as it relates to the never ending territory in outer space. Amsterdam is sort of like space because the possibilities are endless. I initially believed the city was very small and tight with a few museums and landmarks dotted across canals. This is completely untrue.

My journey abroad in Paris, France is taking me every day somewhere new. I thought that these categories from the book and movie “Eat, Pray, Love” broke up my weekend perfectly in order to explain what has been happening in my adventure so far in little Paris.

EAT

Rome is a city well versed in love.  Though not THE “City of Love,” I still think RRRoma on Valentine’s Day could make anyone’s heart do a couple flips, if not pitter-patter in a tap dance.  There is something very intimate about the way in which the city connects to its people; it is responsive to them, though heaven knows exactly how it will respond.

Although the title is certainly referring to who I am (and who I aspire to be more authentically in Brasil and in general), this pre-departure list definitely can apply to anyone who wants to take on Brasil with good vibes, an open soul, a brave heart, and a prepared attitude.

So here we go: