As my plane and the first day of my program grow nearer and nearer, I’m on edge and my mind zips around, trying to fathom my life in Paris. With the holidays gone and without work and classes, there’s nothing to do but focus on the trip, the packing, the thousand little items I have to run out and get and zip into plastic baggies or shove into multicolored little sacks.

If you’re going to Japan this spring, you, like me, may be wondering what to do with all your copious free time between now and the end of March. It may not be much, but I’d like to relate a little story from my recent past to help give you some ideas.

So I’ve officially been back at school for over a week now. My education is once again in my own hands and I’ve had to readapt to my school once more.

When in Spain, do as the Spaniards do. Or I should say, “When in Catalonia, do as the Catalonians do.”

I have been in Barcelona for more than a week now, and it didn’t take long for the culture shock to kick in full force. The lifestyle here does not match the flamenco-dancing-siesta-taking-Spanish-speaking stereotypes of Spain. Cataluña is a region of Spain with its own history, language and traditions. The residents here take great pride in that.

Vienna Vienna Vienna….oh woops! This isn’t my first blog is it? Sorry I meant, Wien, Wien, Wien! Ja, das ist besser. Austria and all it has to offer has been a gracious host since my arrival. Its wonderful wild life, picturesque Alpine environment, and subtle spiritually have eased my travel sickness, homesickness, stomach illness and all around exhaustion. Yes, although we’ve made it to the other side of the pond, the arrival hasn’t been as glamorous as one might think.

It’s so strange to realize that I’ve now been in Quito for almost two whole weeks. I’ve been so busy attending orientation, starting classes, and exploring the city that it’s weird to think of how quickly the days have passed. At the same time, two weeks out of a whole semester is really only the beginning, and the fact that I’ve found myself having to re-learn such basic skills as riding the bus is a reminder of that.