This past week has brought several outdoor adventures that have highlighted the natural beauty of Brazil.

The first big adventure was our hike last Friday to the top of Pedra Bonita. The hike was only 30 minutes long, but very strenuous. We did not realize that were supposed to keep a certain distance from the guide, so our pace was very quick because she thought we were pushing her to go faster. Meanwhile, we all panted and pushed ourselves up the steep mountain.

As I write this, I am grappling with the fact that my flight back home is scheduled to leave in exactly 24 hours. I am procrastinating on the whole packing situation—I am slightly terrified that all the wonderful things I have collected here have added up to a monstrous pile of souvenirs. I’ve briefly thought about the amount of bulky clothing I should wear to the airport in order to save space in my luggage…but that’s giving me anxiety. So I thought I would make a list of the things you should and shouldn’t bring to Buenos Aires.

I went to London last weekend! Sorry for taking so long to talk about it, but better late than never, eh?

Even though I was only there for a month, saying goodbye to my host mom and the city of Salamanca was difficult. The city had become so familiar and was truly beginning to feel like home.

And although it was only a month, I gained so much from my time in Salamanca:

-My Spanish had improved significantly; I can now understand when native Spanish speakers talk quickly and am able to speak without having to thinking about what to say

Each island of the Galápagos surprises me more than the one before, and the best part about visiting the archipelago is finding out what makes each island unique. After two weeks of classes and host family bonding on San Cristóbal Island, we headed to Santa Cruz on a speedboat and began our much-anticipated week of island-hopping.

The past week has been a whirlwind of emotions and experiences. I’ve been back in Freiburg for almost a day, but I still can’t stop thinking about Sarajevo and Bosnia-Herzegovina in general. My classes today were focused a lot on a reflection of our time spent last week and the issues present there. I feel like my mind is running with everything I’ve learned and I feel so passionate about it all.

Four days ago, I returned from five weeks abroad in Costa Rica.  On Sunday, Costa Rica beat Greece to qualify for quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup.  As the game was playing, I was unpacking, and trying to make myself fruit frescas just as my host family did, wishing I could hear the car horns and people yelling back in San Jose. The city would be in uproar about the game, and I wanted to see that.

Put simply, Cape Town is beautiful.

Leaving the city center for the various beaches of the Western Cape area is a must. On our second day of touring we traveled along the Cape shoreline for some breathtaking views. Taking in the breeze and sunshine, we visited Hout Bay, Boulder Beach, and all the way down to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point.