The title of this post is the best compliment someone could give me. It means, “You look really French.” It is a goal of mine to dress, act, and (eventually) speak like a French person. I would love to live in Europe one day so I might as well start learning to blend in now! Unfortunately I get “Tu as l’air vraiment fatigué” much more frequently. But I’m working on it! I have been trying to look a little less lost, wear a scarf every day, and stop smiling at strangers (no matter how cute their dog or baby is). Some days go better than others.

This year, it is estimated that 3.6 billion people will make journeys home for what is known as 春节, the Spring Festival, Chūnyùn, or perhaps more clearly: Chinese New Year. In 2014, New Year’s Eve landed on Thursday night, January 30. The IES dorm-dwelling students were lucky enough to join host families in celebrating.

Since I’m here in Shanghai a few weeks early to celebrate Chinese New Year with family, I thought I’d share with everyone what’s happening during one of China’s most important traditional holidays! Not much happened during the day of the 30th, except for the occasional “pop” from fireworks. But dinner was amazing! We took a taxi to the restaurant on Huaihaizhonglu and got to see the wonderful lights of a very affluent part of the city. You could maybe see clearly about fifteen feet in front of you due to all the smoke from the fireworks.

I said in my very first post that I would try to go somewhere every weekend, and so a few weeks ago I went to Atsuta Shrine to watch Touka Shinji, a ceremony performed by Shinto priests at the start of the year. Some of the priests played instruments while the others dance (I call it dancing but it is more similar to making slow, deliberate movements with a sword and a fan). They apparently needed to step on the ground to stabilize evil spirits and pray for happiness.

It’s been a busy few weeks in Ecuador. Schoolwork is picking up, but we still manage to find time to do some traveling. Our trip to the market in Otavalo was one of my favorite excursions so far. Hiking and SCUBA diving also top the list. We saw manta rays, sea turtles, and eels while underwater! We also went to a professional soccer game in Quito, which was crazy with all the fans chanting in Spanish!

Whenever I travel, I always try to visit the local food markets for the following reasons. First, it’s a place where you encounter an explosion of colors, smell, shapes and taste that makes it such a sensual experience. Second, you get to see what locals  eat and how they buy their food, as well as how they interact with one another between customer and the shop owners. Third, it’s a great place to find fresh food, and cheap eats. Luckily, in Barcelona there are many many food markets.