Foreign. They always talk about how different your semester abroad will be. You prepare for the worst saying goodbye to the little things that make home feel like home. Yet, surprisingly, despite Vienna’s great pride in being Viennese, it has had the remarkable tendency to surprise me with it frequent Americanisms. For example, although Vienna has a laundry list of desserts to choose from, one can still forage the streets and find a delightful Frozen yogurt stand. Yes, Frozen Yogurt does exist in Austria.

I can’t believe that in just a few short days, I’ll finally be packing my things to go to Germany! I just received my host family information, and I couldn’t be more excited. The only thing separating me from juicy brots is….packing. I tend to be an over packer. You’d think that by now, having gone on a few trips, I’d be able to put together my things and pack them nicely into a suitcase. However, I am known in the family as one who always ends up cold, hot, or drenched because I forgot my umbrella.  I vow to be better this time!

A couple of weekends ago, a Japanese friend and I decided to take a trip to Chichibu, the setting for the slice-of-life/tragedy anime “Ano hi mita hana no namae wo bokutachi wa mada shiranai” — “Anohana” for short. The show focuses on five teenagers, once childhood friends, as they struggle to come to terms with the death of their sixth friend many years ago.

Today I began my journey to Rome! The date of my departure snuck up on me, as I scrambled to stuff my belongings into a suitcase late last night. Passport: check. Carry-on: check. I crossed each item off my list and completed the daunting task of packing. Ahead lies nothing but excitement. I flew from Montgomery to Charlotte this morning, where I wait for my final connecting flight. One step closer to Rome!

Not only is this my second Food Appreciation Post – Check out the first if you haven’t already! – but I decided to make this one an ode. Warning: Spanglish ahead.

Oh, Barcelona, how I miss your comida,

So much that I cried back home on el ultimo día;

My love for food can’t be put into words,

To even try is simply absurd;

But I can list some foods although you’ll think I am bonkers,

It never seemed like this moment would come, but all of a sudden I find myself with a mere month left in this sprawling, bustling city that never sleeps (except for Sundays). I’m trying to take advantage by trying new foods/drinks, walking down new streets everyday, and visiting some of the landmarks of the city. These photos are all from my mini adventures in the last week.

The next two weekends after the Queenstown odyssey brought me up to Blenheim.  The first of those was in order to see my friend Erik, who was working at a winery.  It was his last weekend in town since he was being laid off at the end of the harvest.

My second weekend in Blenheim was with eleven other IES’ers.  Initially, only five of us were heading up there to run in the annual Vineyard Half Marathon at the St. Clair Vineyard.  However, seven others ended up coming along for the ride.

I’ve been putting off this last post for three reasons: 1) I was traveling Europe for two weeks (Cinque Terre, Paris, Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, the Alps, Venice); 2) My sister’s graduation and visiting family; 3) I don’t want to face the fact that my study abroad experience is over. But it is and somehow I must face that fact.

This is the month of May.  On Wednesday, I’ll have been here for exactly four months.  Today marks one month until I go home for a week and then start my summer job in California.

Right now, I’m in a café on a rainy day in Dunedin, the second biggest city on the South Island.  While my friends are out gallivanting in the drizzle, I’ll give you the first part of a rundown of my late April/May.