Thanks to the University Entrance exams that are going on in Japan, we were given a 10-day break starting February 6th. It was the perfect opportunity to attend the Snow Festival in Sapporo, which ran from February 5th to February 11th. I booked my flight, borrowed warm clothes from my host mother and sister to combat the cold weather, and was ready.

I’ve been zip lining in Alaska, explored one of the oldest prisons on the sinking island of Venice, rode on elephants in Bali, and walked up a waterfall in Jamaica. Once you get the travel bug, one’s desire for exploration and curiosity for different cultures is impossible to cease. With only ten days until I fly, I am growing more and more impatient awaiting my next adventure, my semester in Sydney. I have been off school since early December and am ready to get back into college life.

Valentine’s Day is coming up and although I do not have any concrete plans, I do have valentines! They are not dreamy French men but two other IES students. I guess I’ll settle. My third valentine (I hope no one gets jealous) is my new city, Nantes! I wouldn’t say it was “le coup de foudre” (love at first sight) but more of a general feeling that has accumulated since arriving. I frequently find myself saying, “I love France,” or “I love Nantes,” for any number of reasons, although more often than not they involve food.

With the J-Term suddenly behind me and the spring semester rapidly approaching, this past week I found myself constantly reflecting on how much growth I have experienced thus far.  And on Wednesday, February 5th, as I celebrated my 21st birthday, I also celebrated this incredible journey that has made me feel more at home with myself than ever before.

Prior to my trip, I cleared the college library shelves of travel guides in the Netherlands and other Western European countries. I compiled a spreadsheet of places and activities, leaving a column to check them off. “Veni, vidi, vici,” I imagined myself proclaiming after a semester of countless culinary and sightseeing adventures.

Pft.

It has been approximately a week since I have arrived in the Netherlands. I have confronted numerous struggles and successes that left me riding on a non-stop emotional roller coaster.

There are so many things that I love about Rome. I love the people, the scenery, the history, and especially the food. Even though I haven’t been in Rome for too long, I have seen and done things that will stay with me for a lifetime.

Last weekend, I left sunny Barcelona for snowy Switzerland to visit my dad, who was in town for the week. My Thursday evening flight was quick and a even included a bit of Swiss chocolate after the in-flight meal.  The wind hit me as soon as I got off the plane, and I was immediately grateful for the mild weather we’ve had in Barcelona.

Now that orientation has come to a close (and we all feel sufficiently oriented) things are really getting under way! IES classes started this week. I’m taking Spanish Film Noir and Social Reality and Surrealism in Spain, which are sure to be engaging and both taught by top-notch professors. Because classes at USAL haven’t started yet, I had more space in my schedule this week to do what I’ve been most excited about: integrating myself into life in my new city.