It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Milan, and I am loving it.  All of the streets are decorated with lights and rugs out in front of each shop.  There is even a large Christmas tree in front of the Duomo. And not only does it look like Christmas, but it feels like it too.  Last weekend it even snowed for a couple of hours and has been very cold these last couple of weeks.  Being from Washington you think I might be used to the snow and cold, but boy am I not!

I’m finally settled back in Berlin for the home stretch of the semester, but am even now trying to figure out how I will fit all the Christmas presents I bought during vacation into a suitcase that already met the weight limit when I left. For vacation, three friends and I spent three days in Vienna, and three days in Prague. In keeping with the theme of my entire time in Europe, both cities held exciting surprises.

My friends and I were talking about how nicely IES choose travel sites and they always make it special and different from what we will experience if we plan to go there by ourselves.

And our last trip together to Kyoto just proved it once again. 

I recently ventured out to Moganshan Lu, a small street in Shanghai’s newly prominent art district.  M50 is the most famous collection of small galleries and exhibits, and Moganshan Lu is just outside.  While M50 is full of brilliant works, Moganshan Lu has emerged as the street art equivalent.  We had a great time exploring the area, and it was a nice reminder that Shanghai shares the same urban trends as all other world cities.

My last traveling while in Europe (I dislike that statement immensely), was to Prague this past weekend and will be to Paris this next weekend. I can’t believe these are my last trips; the next time I will be on a plane I will be going back to Chicago. Weird.

I’m officially back in the United States after a month off since finishing exams. I’ve done quite a lot and I’m in the process of writing some of those adventures down.  In the meantime, I’d like to share one of my favorite adventures so far.

If you really want Shanghai to blow you away, theres nothing quite like wandering down a crowded street full of shiny skyscrapers only to end up in the quite and green calm of Yuyuan.  Seriously, its almost confusing sometimes how diverse this city is.  You can sit on a bench in Yuyuan and meditate with a view of the world’s tallest building in Pudong under construction!