Currently I’m packing for Harbin.
Having checked the weather report for this weekend (Saturday the temperature will reach a whopping 17 degrees Fahrenheit, and -10 Fahrenheit at night) I am mentally preparing myself for the arctic weather. I am going with 15 other students from my program, so it should be an awesome trip!
One of the returning students to IES went to Harbin last year during this time, they said it will be one of the coolest places you’ll ever see, but you’ll also be the coldest you’ve ever been.

Finally. Berlin, in 5 days.

Now, before I write anything in this blog, I feel that some background info would be helpful for those readers who do not personally know me.

Milestone achieved: 1st full week in Rabat! Before it was just a few days for Orientation, and then off to Fes for 10 days. Now I’ve been here in Rabat for a week, gotten settled into my homestay, and purchased a pair of house shoes (nothing makes me feel more Moroccan than walking around in house shoes).

Three days and three beaches explored. Time has been moving incredibly fast since I’ve landed in Sydney. It has only been five days since I’ve been here but it feels more like 50. Everyday is packed with lots to do. Three out of those five days that I’ve been here were spent at the beach. You can’t come to Australia and not go to a beach. The first beach that was explored was Manly Beach and I will never ever forget my time spent there that is for sure. My skin is still recovering from the burns and over exposure.

My past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activities and classes! My first two weeks in Siena were devoted to intensive Italian classes and orientation activites organized by IES that introduced us to this place where we will be living for 4 months! We toured the “Bottini,” underground tunnels that used to be the source of water for the whole city–the entrance to the tunnel is through a door in the wall of an old brick library! We visited the headquarters of one of the contradas.

This past weekend I traveled outside of northern Spain for the first time to the “New York City of Europe.” As my plane glided through cotton field skies over connected pastures of lush green and brown, I couldn’t have been more excited. I thought about how my mother always used to tell me about her travels in her 20s; I realized history is repeating itself, and now it’s my turn.