Day 12 of my sojourn into a foreign land. So far I have gathered that McDonalds sells macaroons (unfortunately they’re not called McMacaroons), the color pink is never worn by French people, and the view for my window makes me wanna go all Quasimoto up in here. I’ll sum up a few vital lessons I learned in the city of love for those of you who actually take the time to read study abroad blogs.
If I were to write a memoir about the past week of my life (believe me, I’m long-winded enough — this 500 word maximum is killing me) I would call it “Queue” as in: “Hannah Vose has spent most of her waking hours since leaving for the airport last Thursday queueing.”
We are now educated in the art of crafting silk quilts!
As this past weekend rolled around a group of us decided to travel to Venice to get away for the weekend. This was my first experience with riding the train and it proved to be a very easy process. We arrived in Venice late Friday night and made our way to the hostel. We choose a hostel called Camping Jolly where you get to sleep in tents. Now these tents were not what people think of back in the states when we go camping. They were large tent like structures with beds inside. Our hostel was amazing, at least from
I just completed my first week of classes at the IES Center.
Back in February, when I was trying to decide which study abroad program to apply to, I found myself torn between studying in Buenos Aires and Granada. I called upon all my decision-making skills, researching both cities, drawing a list of pros and cons, talking to people who’d been to both places. None of it helped. A friend of mine didn’t understand the agony I was putting myself through.
My friends and I decided for our first expedition we would head to Bruges, a small town in Belgium, for a day. We found a train route that would get us to Bruges in the late morning and get back a little before 1 am the next day. Armed with snacks and coffee, we got there a little late but still in one piece.
Our day was filled with fun. We went to a French fry museum, a chocolate museum, the Church of Our Lady (one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen) and then it was time to leave.
Hallo! I guess it is about time I did a post for my first week in Freiburg. It has been a little over a week, but between the intensive first week of classes, just getting to know people and exploring the city, I haven’t really had a free moment. So after waking up, making breakfast, applying for my Model EU position, doing my laundry in the kitchen sink and playing soccer and running home in the pouring rain , I sit down with a warm cup of cinnamon hot chocolate to reflect about this past week and look over my photos.
After my first two days in Rarotonga, we went to a church service to see exactly how Cook Islanders practiced their religion (since it has a large influence in the Cooks). To my surprise (though looking back, it seems quite obvious) the majority of the service held in the large stone building was held in Cook Island Maori.
Upon entering Paris’s hamster-cage-like Charles de Gaulle Airport, I tired my best to fit into the swarm of people grabbing bags and heading to the train/metro station. The IES Abroad program recommded that we take a taxi to our home stays for around 60 euros. I scoffed, why spend that much when I could take public transportation for 15 minutes and 12 euros! Three and a half hours later, I understood the infinite wisdom of the IES Abroad staff.