Wait, what? Yeah, the concept of Spring Break in September was confusing to me too.
I only had to remember I was in the Southern Hemisphere to get back on track. IES Abroad was kind enough to schedule us a mid-semester, week-long break to explore without the stress of classes.
My time in China is flying by and I am so grateful for all the experiences I have had so far. In order to make the most of my time here I am always looking to see a new place in Beijing. This post is dedicated to the famous Summer Palace! The Summer Palace is a must see in Beijing! The sprawling grounds, beautiful architecture, and peaceful lake provide a perfect get away from the chaos of the city. The APEC controlled weather also provided a great day to be outside!
Though the last two weeks at EARTH University were quite busy, during our free time, we would stop by the university’s river and rope swing into the water. It was refreshing and cooling, especially during the hot humid days. One of my favorite field trips while I was at EARTH, was visiting the Bribri Indigenous Community in Talamanca, Limón. Once we arrived to the site, we were introduced to Bernarda who is one of the founders of the Stibraupa Organization in the community.
I’ve got to say, it’s almost overwhelming how much I am learning about this world and myself. I never thought to imagine how different I would truly be after studying abroad for so long. I feel blessed and lucky that I have such wonderful family members, sponsors, mentors, and friends who have always been there for me when I needed them the most.
I am about to embark on another adventure, and I cannot wait to draw and photograph all I see.
“Hasta ahora, el futuro de los humanos dependía de las islas. Hoy, el futuro de las islas depende de los humanos”
[Until recently, the future of humans depended on the islands. Today, the future of the islands depends on the humans.]
I came home last night to an apartment building covered in Halloween decorations. The staircase leading up to my door was lined with spiderwebs and the walls were covered with various decorations. I was a bit bummed I missed the celebration here in Berlin, but I had an incredible weekend in Budapest! It is one of the best cities I’ve ever been too.
Kia Ora!
So I have been writing heaps of poetry lately, most of which I am quite proud of. I chose to share this poem, Twenty Years, because I wrote it in my final. Last week I took my History of Sexuality final and finished with time to spare, and as we aren’t allowed to leave the classroom until 15 minute past halfway I had a little time to think, and write. So this is the poem that came out in the wake of finishing my first final abroad. Enjoy.
Twenty Years