Berliners love dogs. To a dog enthusiast like me, it is particularly fun to see that dogs are allowed almost everywhere here – stores, buses, cafes, the metro…I rarely see them on a leash, even the big ones, as they are all incredibly well-behaved. It gives Berlin a bit of a more relaxed vibe, as it suggests that people think it is important to take it easy every now and then by going on a casual stroll with their four-legged friends.

I just got back from a trip to Milan with IES Abroad. Milan was exciting and fun…but it definitely isn’t the constantly picturesque, romantic, relaxing Italy that I am used to (Tuscany has spoiled me already!). It is a big city and you have to constantly avoid men trying to tie bracelets on your wrists and sell you corn to feed the pigeons, as well as keep your hands on your purse at all time.

Paris is known as a lot of things; the City of Lights, the City of Love, the fashion capital, or Paname (less common for non-French people). However, spend a day there and you’ll discover what’s even more present than sparkly towers, eccentric outfits, and overly affectionate couples: street music.

I was fortunate enough to have a lovely spring holiday last week. I think it is safe to say that it was truly the most amazing spring break I have ever had. One of my good friends in the Irish General Studies program here in Dublin joined me on an excursion to Scotland for three days! We flew into Glasgow and headed off to Edinburgh to do some exploring around the city. Edinburgh Castle was absolutely amazing, and the views from the castle walls were unexpected and beautiful! I didn’t realize that Edinburgh was surrounded by hills and mountains!

A really interesting part of Beijing is the many opportunities for foreigners to earn money, especially students. Last summer when I was studying in Beijing, a few local students who were developing a hand writing software program approached me. They paid me two hundred Yuan to write a few sentences on a cell phone and on a tablet.

I can already say that Scotland has been one of my favorite places I’ve traveled so far in my life. I know I’m going to look back on all my adventures here and remember in particular this past week. It was just four days of utter bliss. And shortbread.

Research, research, research! It seems that’s all anyone can talk about these days. The number of PHD’s has sky-rocketed over the past couple of years and the competition for tenure positions has become as fierce as the competition for the last Oreo amongst a group of 8 year old boys.

So, I have been here for almost a week in Buenos Aires, this huge sprawling city of cities. Each neighborhood here has a distinct feel, character and population, connected by a complex web of bus lines and underground “subte” trains. I’m excited to know everything I can about this place, but for now I am exploring my neighborhood of San Telmo and all it’s cobblestoned streets, beautiful street murals and iron fenced balconies.