This weekend we visited the beautiful Prague, Czech Republic. It was stunning. The architecture was unbelievable, and I loved every moment of this trip. I signed up for the IES trip because I didn’t feel like going through the hastle of making all the arrangements myself. Yes, sometimes it ok to be lazy.

*names have been changed because I don’t know how comfortable my coworkers would be with me telling strangers on the internet about them

Surprise! a post. I should be writing a paper but I wrote this instead.

Firstly, Katrina, if you’re reading this, get off my blog you creepy stalker.

I like to think of myself as an optimist.

But I’ll admit when I glanced up at Carrauntoohil, a 3,400+ ft. peak, I had my doubts about reaching the top.  Even as we ascended up the mountain, the pessimistic thoughts kept creeping up.  The brown cross perched on top looked so tiny from our point far below it.

As of tomorrow, I will be starting my fourth week in London. How has this trip gone so quickly already? I cannot believe I’m already halfway done with this amazing journey! I’m getting to know my fellow classmates so much better and it’s been so awesome getting to go on these amazing adventures with them!

So, here we are.  On our week-long excursion to Sub-Saharan Africa.  So far…an interesting experience.  There are the expected things, like being a very obvious racial minority or the stifling humidity, either of which would make for an educational experience, but the fact that we have no plumbing at the university housing we are staying in today…THAT ensures that we are on a (mis)adventure.  Oh, don’t get me wrong, we have what appears to be a functioning bathroom, but there is no water in it -_-

Sydney, Australia; where do I begin?
Before I traveled here I used to be thin.
My hair was long and my skin was white,
I am no longer the same, no not quite.

I traded my bun for a much shorter ‘do,
said “Yes!” when handed a plate of kangaroo.
Now I’ve changed my diet to stricly no meat,
All I could think was, “What did I just eat?”

Back in March IES took our group to visit the Reichstag building, which is home to the German parliament. While being lead through the different chambers in the building by our tour guide, I learned that anyone who wants may observe a plenary sitting with prior registration.

I’ve finished up my first week of classes with IES, and it’s hard to say exactly what I’m feeling right now. I’ve made friends, really gotten to like Arles, and am very comfortable with my host family, but the specifics are harder to pinpoint.