I’m sure every post at this point in the semester is going to say the same thing, but I can’t believe how 5 months has come and gone so fast. When I got here, it seemed like time would stretch on forever, that I had all the time in the world to live in, get used to, explore, and fall in love with Ecuador. And I did. Except time, as always, snuck up on me, and December hit me square in the face. I spent the first part of December in Lima, Peru, visiting friends from the place I worked at this summer.

Grüß Gott!

I, along with my RA Sophie and my two roommates explored an Austrian custom: Buttermilk! I’ve often noticed people drinking straight buttermilk on the street or with a meal or even hiking. Personally, I thought that was very bizarre but Sophie told us to try it. So thus Sophie’s Austrian Buttermilk Challenge was born! Enjoy!

As classes have come to an end, I can honestly say I am excited they are over.  It has been a challenge having classes and trying to balance that with traveling all around Europe.  My classes have been very different than I had expected them to be, but over all I am happy I took the classes.

I thought this day would never come. But it came. So fast.

A week ago, we all got an email from awesome David about the “Fiesta de Despedida.” Students, staffs, professors, and host families were all invited. After taking our last IES class final (spanish oral exam) we walked over to Hotel NH, the venue for today’s fiesta. Everything was very classy at the NH. Gourmet canapés/wine/beer and even zumo de naranja!! We mingled around while eating and drinking. I introduced my dear host mom to my professors. We took pictures together.

Homesickness is a funny thing.

Despite trudging through icy wind and rain when I’m more accustomed to snow this time of year, my holiday spirit has arrived in Berlin. We arrived back to our IES building on December 2^nd to find faux pine bushes and sprigs of pinecones and gold ribbons, ceramic reindeer, a wooden yuletide candle fixture and small clay houses with glowing interiors on every surface.