The school semester in Gold Coast, Australia has just ended. During the study week before final exams, I was able to take a trip south to visit Byron Bay, in New South Wales. While the trip was only a short two days long, I quickly fell in love with the area. Byron Bay is a relaxed beach town filled with local surfers, backpackers, and hippies. The first day I was there, I hiked along the coast up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse.

Cape Byron Lighthouse

Cape Byron Lighthouse

The view, as you can see, was breathtaking. Gorgeous blue waves crash against the cliffs of Cape Byron, and if you’re lucky you can sometimes spot dolphins or sea turtles swimming in the surf. After reaching the top of the hill, and standing on the most easterly point of the Australian mainland, I took a relaxed hike back down the hill to Tallow Beach. Tallow Beach is a huge stretch of white sand, and is easily one of my favorite Australian beaches.

View of Tallow Beach from the Lighthouse

I spent my second day in Byron lounging on Watego’s Beach, watching a few local longboard surfers enjoy the small 1-2ft swell.

Watego’s Beach

Sadly my time in Gold Coast has come to an end, but my trip is still not finished! This week I will fly to Cambodia, and after that I will travel to the South Island of New Zealand. I’m sure that after these trips I will have tons of new adventures to blog about, so I can’t wait to write my next post!

All the best,

Drew

It’s been ten weeks since my arrival in Copenhagen and I’m having some tea while the rain pours steadily outside, a vast jump into autumn compared to the bright, long days of August. Thankfully, an Indian summer has pushed sunshine into October, a stroke of luck that all Danes have assured me is rare and to be enjoyed. This week is a mid-semester break, so many students are off to Iceland or elsewhere in Europe for vacation or a visit home. It’s pleasantly quiet in my building, with family visiting a few of the remaining residents – the hallway smells like Indian food tonight – and I’ve finally sat down to write my first entry for UM’s abroad student blog.

Writing about the ups and downs thus far for me will be somewhat of a confusing thing, I think, and I hope that if you are reading this, you will have a spoonful of salt instead of a grain. My struggles here in no way reflect the usual experience of Miami’s adventurous abroad-ers, and I cannot thank Lisa enough for being my #1 supporter back in Florida. I can hardly believe that I’m here most days.

1. Arrival in Copenhagen
I don’t think this needs much more explanation. This is my first dip into Europe, and it was awesome. My flights were on time, I had a very nice layover in Frankfurt, I enjoyed the movie selection, and a mentor came to greet me at the airport and accompany me to my temporary housing. The sun was shining, it was in the 80s, and life was good.

2. Housing struggles
Here’s the salt part: housing in Copenhagen is notoriously difficult to secure. Due to city planning desires, Copenhagen grows out and not up, which makes centrally-located rooms expensive and insanely hard to find, even with the assistance from the university’s housing foundation.

I talked to scammers on the internet, other struggling international students, students who had no problems at all, local Danish, and the housing foundation. I had several leads that ended up going nowhere, fantastically shady offers, and the prospect of returning to Miami looming. I struggled. The lack of housing is something all Danes are well aware of, and they’re not particularly empathetic towards foreigners who have never lived in a city where the supply and demand are so drastic. It is what it is. You either get through it or leave Copenhagen, and no one is concerned about the outcome because it won’t affect them. I went through ups and downs with potential rooms and apartments that didn’t pan out, and every new closed door discouraged me.

3. Rock bottom
Just when I thought I couldn’t get any more desperate – I’d been to two different airbnb rooms and was planning an eight-day adventure couch-surfing with other students I’d met before going to a hostel – my debit card was withheld at a local bank. No one knew why, no one knew how, but it was gone, and suddenly I had $40 and three suitcases to my name.

I’ll move on because the story has a happy ending, but let’s just say that I didn’t have much fun during this time; to top it all off, I had a Danish language exam on my plate, both written and spoken. I passed, with a 7, which is literally the equivalent of a C in the States but relative to the Danes, feels like a B+ because it’s better than a mere pass and the average grade. I was proud of myself, all things considered, but still homeless with no access to any of my funds.

4. Upwards
In a tiny stroke of luck, I had already ordered a new bank card, which was ironically waiting to be sent because I didn’t have an address. I got it soon enough, and from then on forcibly smiled because I was still here. Still. Here.

Through my couch-surfing and despite all of my griping and panicking, I somehow convinced a few people to like me as well, and started making friends. (Which, if you did the pre-trip modules like a good student, is suggested as a way to combat culture shock.) I started having lunch with people, generally smiling more, spending more time being sociable and felt better.

And in an amazing move, I got a room in the heart of the city – somewhat. If the heart of the city was a real heart, I live in the aortic arch. It’s not perfect, amenities are limited, and sometimes the people make me crazy… but it’s mine. After six long weeks of moving around in temporary places, I finally had a place to unpack. It was so good that I swear I tasted it. And it was tasty.

That week at school I didn’t even care when someone stomped on my foot, that’s how happy I was. And I mean stomped as in I thought my toe might be broken because it hurt so badly. But I didn’t care. Because I was back in action and ready to dance around in the few sunshine-filled days I had left. I was so happy I think I felt my hair grow, and that doesn’t even make sense.

5. Nothing gold can stay (Robert Frost)
Three weeks after moving in, I had settled down in Copenhagen enough to be miserably homesick. I listened to YouTube playlists of Hawaiian music, wrote novels to UM friends on Facebook chat, Skyped my sister every other day and emoted like a Tony nominee. And I had rude thoughts about everyone. I remember one day in particular I thought, “No wonder everyone loves Europe but hates Europeans. God, they can be so terrible. How could anyone be this mean to a stranger?” The funny part was, not everyone here is even European.

I also set off a fire alarm cooking spinach, and when everyone rushed into the kitchen to see ‘the damage’ they were disappointed to find that alas, the American was actually not completely inept. However, it didn’t stop some from bringing it up again… and again… and again… ugh. It wasn’t as bad as rock bottom, but I avoided everyone like the plague for the next three days because I was tired of being teased.

6. It gets better
Today I slept until the tragically late hour of 11:18am and then woke up and did absolutely nothing all day. This blog post is probably the most productive thing I’ll do all evening as well. Classes are… well, that’s a whole new post that I’ll write later (maybe.) but going well and actually almost done for me, thanks to an odd perk of scheduling. I’ve made more friends, am smiling as we speak, and spent the weekend doing fun things (which maybe I will also write about later) and have no plans for the autumn break other than sleeping, catching up on school stuff and maybe a visit to Tivoli for the Halloween season.

I’m off to eat dinner now, which means that the upward trend is still holding, and tomorrow I’m going to shop for my first-ever pair of winter boots so that I don’t fall and die in the slick streets here. In the words of my former yoga instructor, thank you, I appreciate your participation; the light in my heart acknowledges and admires the light in your heart.

I live in an off-campus flat that is conveniently located only a 10 minute bike ride from the University, or Uni as it is referred to here. From campus, there is a newly built tram (the G:Link) that takes passengers along the coast from the Griffith campus, through the famous Surfers Paradise area, and all the way down to the Broadbeach area. Before I arrived in Australia I was nervous that locals might have accents that were difficult to understand or that they might have a hard time understanding me, but there is no communication barrier at all. The locals I have encountered have all been very friendly and are always willing to offer a word of advice if you need it. It is true that groceries and other things are generally more expensive in Australia than in the United States, but I’ve also found that if you are a conscientious shopper you can still live on a budget that is relatively modest.

I have been to some of the most amazing places I’ve ever seen during my time here. I have gone on numerous small adventures around the Gold Coast area from the gorgeous beaches to the breathtaking mountains. Burleigh is my favorite local area. This small suburb of Gold Coast has a really laid back surfing vibe. On weekends when the weather is nice and the surf is pumping, many of the locals come out to the park that overlooks the ocean and just watch the waves. Springbrook National Park is another amazing place within an hour drive of the Uni campus. You can hike all day around this beautiful area and not be able to see all of it. There are fantastic lookouts, pristine rainforest, and towering waterfalls all in one spot!

A view of Surfers Paradise from Main Beach

Looking out over the ocean at Burleigh Head National Park

A waterfall in Springbrook National Park

Purlingbrook Falls, Springbrook National Park

The view overlooking a waterfall in Springbrook National Park

Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park

In September I had the opportunity to travel to Sydney and explore the city and surrounding area for three days. I thought the city was everything I expected and more. On my first day, my friends and I walked around Sydney Harbor area and got to watch the sun set behind the famous Sydney Opera House. The next day we set out early to complete the long walk all the way from Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach. The trail takes you along cliffs overlooking the ocean the entire way, and if you’re lucky like we were you may even see a pod of dolphins playing in the surf! Finally on our third day, we took a train to the Blue Mountains National Park, and spent the day hiking along the Prince Henry Cliff Trail. The views were some of the most spectacular I’ve ever seen.

A view of the Three Sisters formation in the Blue Mountains National Park

Lookout from the Prince Henry Cliff Trail in the Blue Mountains National Park

Coogee Beach near Sydney

Sunset over the Sydney Harbor

The highlight of my trip so far was my recent mid-semester break trip to Cairns in tropical north Queensland. My friend and I boarded a boat for three days and two nights, and got to do 11 scuba dives on the Great Barrier Reef. I will not be able to fully fit into words what the experience meant to me, but as a student in marine science, the trip was truly a lifelong dream come true. We were lucky enough to see sea turtles, whitetip reef sharks, cuttlefish, and beautifully healthy coral. My favorite dive was the second night-dive we did, as there were anywhere from 8 to 12 gray reef sharks circling the front of the boat. Our dive group hovered 10 feet under the water, and watched in awe as these magnificent apex predators glided through the water all around us. Never once was I frightened, and the sharks were never aggressive towards the divers. It was truly an honor to be able to share the ocean with them.

Three orange clownfish are nestled in a large sea anemone

A whitetip reef shark cruises by

A cuttlefish flashes its colors. Just moments before this photo was taken the animal was a light tan color.

A beautiful cluster of hard and soft corals

A green sea turtle lazily swims by

Sadly, the semester has flown by, and there is only about a month left before finals begin. After finals I hope to travel to either New Zealand or Southeast Asia before coming back home. I will do my best to update this blog more regularly, so please stay tuned!

My Experience in Portugal…

After a long delay from Miami due to bad weather conditions, and missing my connection in Lisbon, Portugal, I was stranded in the Lisbon Airport for a few hours. On the way to Portugal, I sat across from a man named Moyses Levy that was on his way to Barcelona on a business trip. We lined up for the itinerary change and each received a meal voucher. The advantage of making acquaintances during long travels is that time flies when you’re chatting with someone about anything while waiting.  I think eating alone is boring, so being friendly is always a plus.

After my meal, I went to use the restroom before boarding, but it was in the process of being cleaned, so I walked into the ‘handicapped facility’ (I am a disabled veteran and even if I look ‘normal’ I have both back and knees injuries). To my surprise, when I came out of the stall the cleaning lady was standing there shouting at me for using that restroom and pointed that there was a woman and her child waiting (no apparent handicap either). I don’t speak Portuguese, but among the languages I speak, Spanish is one of them and it is very close to Portuguese in many aspects. I understood the message perfectly, but what I did NOT like a bit was that she called me “preto maluco” which is a racial slur similar to the n-word. The lady with the child said to me “Pay no attention to her. Sir, I’m so sorry for what she said.” She then proceeded to talk to the cleaning lady about her questionable behavior, so I moved on to my gate for boarding.

On my way to Genève…and then, Lausanne

Before boarding, I met a couple of funny Brazilian guys on their way back home to Switzerland. They very interested, among other things, in knowing ‘why in the States’ we called it ‘soccer’ instead of its real name ‘FOOTBALL’; instead call ‘football’ a sport that is not even played with the feet? But that’s a question I have of my own so I could not answer it for them.

I finally arrived to Genève, Switzerland and the Brazilians were kind enough to help find my way to Lausanne… my ‘final destination’ lol.

I took the metro and met a friendly and kind couple of locals on their way to Lausanne-Flon in the center of the city, where the man directed me about the connection to a public bus, from there to the University of Lausanne (UNIL) area and even wrote the instructions on a paper for me. There were multiple steps to take before getting to UNIL. I got to UNIL at around 8pm (as opposed to the 10am I had on my itinerary) and of course every office was CLOSED.

After dragging my luggage left and right with no luck, I decided to ask someone for directions to the student housing at the ‘Atrium Residential Complex’. I asked the ONLY guy that was around and walking towards me for directions, but he did not speak French. He was an exchange student from China doing his master’s at UNIL and was coming back from playing soccer. He spoke English and, luckily, he was going my way too. We took the Metro and he instructed me about where to get off the train and about the route to my residence building… which by the way, WAS ALSO CLOSED…!!!

I found myself standing in front of the ‘Atrium Residence Office’ past 9pm and yes… IT WAS ALSO CLOSED…!!! Of course it would…!!! I was already extremely irritated. All of a sudden, a guy was passing by so I introduced myself and asked him if he knew if anyone from the building would be available ‘after hours’ (a concierge, janitor, ANYBODY???). His name was Bernard Maccari, an exchange student from Lyon, France.

Bernard suggested a nearby hotel (Swiss Tech Hotel) and walked me there. He was on his way to meet his girlfriend and said to be back in about an hour or so. He also offered to let me stay in his dorm on an inflatable mattress in case I decided not to stay at the hotel. He gave me his dorm number and said I could come over if I still need a place to stay that night.

He went on his way and I walked into the hotel.  After finding that the room was 150CHF a night (almost US200) I decided to take Bernard up on his offer. I’m a United States Marine Corps Infantry Veteran, so in my head I was already assessing the issue and looking for multiple solutions to complete this mission –I was even considering sleeping on a park bench– but I was NOT about to pay 200 bucks for accommodations that were already paid for, and “let the Swiss win?” Hell no! They didn’t even make it to the quarter finals (if you didn’t understand that last remark, it’s your homework to find out what I meant lol). It is a matter of principles, or pride, or hard-headedness… or whatever lol…

I needed to contact my wife and babies, so the hotel clerk was kind enough to grant me access to their wifi, but my phone and tablet were out of battery power since Portugal. If you ever visit Europe, you better bring an adapter to recharge your electronic items. The wall-plugs here are very different from those in the Americas, so get ready to purchase one for about U$30… Thankfully, they sold them at the hotel and I was able to contact my family.

I will say it again, bring an adaptor to recharge your electronic devises…!!

After a while, I left the Hotel lobby and went to Bernard’s dorm. He was very welcoming and he even cooked pasta for me. I did not see his action of opening his place to a stranger as bizarre, because I have done similar things on many occasions for other people. What I found strange was to be on the other side of the spectrum. I guess this was Mother Nature taking care of me this time.

One good action by this guy erased a whole trail of discontent…good things can and DO happen to those who do good…!

The next day early in the morning I walked to the office and finally got the key to my place.

These are the accommodations at the Atrium Residential Complex… the dorm has all basis things you need for living.  The kitchen and the living room are shared, but the other students in this apartment are out on vacation, so I got the whole place to myself for now.

I feel as if I’m back in a US Marine’s Barracks, but full of IKEA furniture lol.

*** Make sure you bring your laptop (instead of doing what I did and bring only a tablet), because the internet in the dorm room is via ETHERNET or get ready to buy a ‘ROUTER’…!!!

I didn’t waste time and went for a reconnaissance mission of my immediate perimeter and then, went on university grounds to get acquainted with the terrain before heading out to the city.

Public Transportation at Lausanne, Switzerland:

The public transportation in Lausanne, Switzerland is great. There are buses all over the place and the metro system is great…!!! It is NOT like the bus system I have used in Los Angeles where you pay the fair on a machine by the door next to the driver; and nothing like the metro system I have used in New York in which you pay on a machine before you go on board but have to pass the ticket through a gate opener in order to gain access into the train. There is a ‘MobilisCard’ you can purchase for a set period of time and gives you access to ALL public transportation, or you can pay on an automated machine at the bus|metro stops and then, just get on-board. The curious fact is that NO ONE checks if you have it or not, but you don’t want to take the chance of a random check… The safest and easiest thing to do is to purchase a ‘MobilisCard’…!!!

The day is not over… more to be added… check back at a later time…!!! 

I decided to take a spontaneous trip to Noosa with my friend Christine. It was such a great time. Noosa is located in Queensland, Australia. We did a lot of surfing, hiking and eating of fresh fruits. We stayed in a quaint little hostel just minutes from the beach.

Vivid Sydney occurred the last couple weeks I was there. It’s basically a light show with music and its set up all throughout Sydney. It was cool to see the Opera House lit up in so many different designs and colors. They also had Darling Harbour shows, as well as buildings lit up at Martin’s Place.

My last few days in Sydney were bitter sweet. I was not excited what so ever to be coming home but so glad I was able to live in such an amazing city for 5 months. I spent a lot of time returning to places I had really enjoyed such as the botanical gardens, Chinatown and Bondi Beach, Coogee Beach, Maroubra Beach and Bronte Beach (although it was winter). I also explored new places such as Shelly Beach  a different part of Manly Beach) as well as Wildlife Sydney down at Darling Harbour. I also went whale watching and got massively sea sick but it was totally worth it. Definitely take some sort of medication even if you’re not prone to sea sickness.

Shockingly, I continued to meet more people even though my time in Sydney was almost over. I wish I had met some of them earlier but being able to meet them for even a short amount of time was still more than I could ever ask for.

I miss Australia so much already. The mocha’s, the yummy thai food, the unhealthy dumplings, walking everywhere, my amazing friends whom I’ll never forget and have helped me grow so much, the conveniency of living just a couple hundred feet away from every transportation system, the fun clubs/bars, tim tams and most important the ocean.

Australia has won my heart over and I will love it forever. I know I will be back sooner than I think.

I’m taking a beginners level French class and a World Politics course. For French, we have a quiz (or a test) every Thursday and Tuesday, July 16, I have an oral exam as part of my French final.

Not to mention, I just finished taking my midterm (a week late mind you) for my World Politics course however, I have a 15 page research paper due Monday, July 21 (the last day of classes)!

So, needless to say, I haven’t been doing much besides being the studious little student that I am. I need to pass both classes in order to count for graduation so slacking off just isn’t an option.

On the plus side, I’m making good grades! I turned 22 on July 14, which just so happens to be the French’s version of Independence Day, aka Bastille Day. I was able to take the day off from researching my paper to actually enjoy the exquisite fireworks display show by the Eiffel Tower. I have to say, it was quite spectacular.

I was also able to explore the Tuileries, located right next to the Louvre Museum, where they have a giant Ferris wheel and carnival like atmosphere! I paid 10 euros to ride that thing. However, the view from the top was well worth it. You could see almost all of Paris, in its entirety, lit up and sparkling under the moonlight; it was breathtaking.

Check out some of the photos below! I apologize for not being able to see more of Paris, but once school ends on Monday, I’ll be able to explore a lot more!

The 33rd edition of Fete de la Musique took place Saturday, June 21, providing more than 100 different events, with music for all ages and backgrounds, all of which were free to the public.

Fete de la Musique is a music festival that takes place on the streets of Paris and other parts of France. Every year, the festival takes place on June 21, the summer solstice, marking the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere.

Musicians play for free in large open areas such as streets, parks, metro stations and museums. Fete de la Musique encourages artists to play outside their usual environments, expand their audiences, and provide exchanges between young musicians and well-known talents.

This “day of music” allows for the expression of all types of music, ranging from classical to hip-hop and from pop to electronic. Artists range from local and unknown to major headliners. This year, the major headliner was Lana Del Ray.

Launched in 1982 by the French Ministry of Culture, Fete de la Musique works to popularize musical practices for people of all ages and social backgrounds. Now, this event has spread to more than 100 countries in Europe and across the globe, each with their own cultural music festivities (all on June 21).

With all the hype about Fete de la Musique, you’d think the events would be really easy to find. Maybe, because of the certain events that I was looking for or the fact that I don’t know my way around Paris just yet, I had a drastically hard time finding anything, at least during the day.

I spent the first part of my day looking for a free party in Boulogne-Billancourt, which I never found. After hours of walking, I decided to move on and try to find the next one. Twenty-two metro stops later, I traveled for about an hour and a half looking for the next party, which turned out to be nothing more than a small band playing in front of a bank. Not that it wasn’t fun, it just wasn’t what I was looking for (or expecting).

Let me put it this way; I left my house around 3:00 p.m. and it wasn’t until about 9:00 p.m. that I decided to sit down, rest and use the Wi-Fi at a local cafe. Lucky for me, I was able to connect with a distant relative who gave me his exact GPS coordinates and told me to come find him. Although frustrated and exhausted, I was determined to find at least one party, so I left and made my last attempt to find something before giving up and going home.

Finally, around 10:00p.m. I found my relative and a pretty bad-ass Fete de la Musique party! I’m a huge fan of electronic music and dubstep, which just happened to be the exact type of music that was playing. We stayed for a couple of hours, dancing and jamming out, before heading to three more events!

So, my night turned out much better than my day. I hung out with my relative and his friends (all French) and wound up having an exceptionally good time! I couldn’t tell you exactly where I was, but I was able to explore different areas of Paris that I’d never been to before. The music (once I found it) was awesome and overall, the festival was a blast! Now, if only the United States could pick up on the event and start its own Fete de la Musique, then Americans could enjoy this same joyous event and phenomenal atmosphere!

Check out the videos below (P.S. Sorry for the VERY bad audio/video quality…but you get the idea)!

MVI_0489

Click here!

Here!

And Here!

For the last stop on my series of trips around “Oz”, I decided to go to Cairns, Queensland, Australia. I don’t think I realized what I was getting myself into before I went. Cairns was an absolute blast! I’ve picked out some of my favorite activities from Cairns to share with you all.  I think it’s best if I let the pictures do most of the talking!

Whitewater Rafting in the Barron River

A side note on safety from the rafting company I used (http://www.cairnsrafting.com.au/info/faq/)

How safe is White Water Rafting?

Like any adventure activity, rafting carries with it inherent risks and you will be required to sign an indemnity form to this effect on the day. On each trip our River Medics examine the health questionnaires completed by our rafters, and are able to address concerns in relation to rafting such as medication, diabetes, and prior injuries. These select senior guides are also trained as Emergency Medical Technicians, with on-river oxygen and defibrillator kits to complement our comprehensive first aid and trauma kits. This enables us to keep rafting as safe as possible for people from all nationalities and walks of life, while still allowing everyone to experience the thrill of rafting.

 What safety gear will I wear?

All of our rafters are fitted with life jackets and helmets as a safety precaution at the top of the river, you will need to wear these while in the raft.

Back to my rafting adventure….

While whitewater rafting I happened to fall out of the raft (just my luck!). At some point the raft was completely submerged in the water and I couldn’t breathe, so I lifted my head up for air and, before you know it, I was sucked in by the water! The situation went completely downhill from there –literally. Luckily, I was able to save myself from drowning (I was wearing a life vest and helmet) and swim back to the raft!

And now for the embarrassing picture of me falling out:

Snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and now I know why! The variety of marine animals that live in the reef is incredible. Not to mention the beauty that unfolds once you poke your head underwater!

Cairns Wildlife Sanctuary

Horse Riding through the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation

Until next time, Cairns!

• Keep taking Czech class throughout the semester.  It sounds like extra work but it’s really fun and it will make your time here more enjoyable. Being able to talk to people makes a world of difference.

Repping the []_[] outside Charles University

• Keep exploring.  It’s easy to get comfortable and create habits that involve just coming back from class, but keep looking around town and doing new things. It really will pass too quickly.

There are (not so) secret gardens in Prague! The Wallenstein Garden has white peacocks roaming about

• Take trips in the Czech Republic. People neglect to do this every year but the Czech Republic is beautiful and full of castles and forests.  Take the time to go visit some of these.

Trosky Castle in Český ráj, otherwise known as Bohemian Paradise

• Don’t have your parents send packages.  The Czech Customs Office will hold it miles away and you’ll have to sign forms and give money in order to get the package back. It’s not worth it.
• Don’t wear high heels!  You won’t need them and you could easily break your ankle with them on these cobblestones. I twisted my ankle in tennis shoes, so watch where you’re going.
• Keep in mind the electricity issue.  I brought my computer, DSLR camera, and iPhone with an adapter and I’ve been fine, but other hair appliances you may need to purchase there.
• Bring spring clothes! It’s going to be cold when you first get there so you may not think about it, but it will get warmer.  Not Miami warm, but warmer.

Prague from Petřín during the spring

• Learn everything you can on the Classroom Europe trips with Jiří Holub. Poland, Germany, and Austria were amazing but Istanbul was my favorite.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul

Looking back on my time in Prague, I realize how much this study abroad experience has helped me grow and develop.  I have learned how to interact with different people and how to get around a big city.  I’ve learned more about European history and can now put historical events into a larger and more complex context.

I’ll always remember that day in spring when we rented a paddleboat on the Vltava and slowly floated through the center of the city.  Prague never stopped being magical to me and I imagine it always will be.

Church of Our Lady before Týn in Old Town Square

I’m already looking forward to going back!

Now that the third day of classes are over and the jet lag has finally worn off, I can collect my thoughts and reflect on the past few days.

After a seven hour flight, I exhaustively arrived in Paris on Thursday, June 5. Having never been to Europe before, I was nervous, anxious and excited. Surprisingly, there was no culture shock. Everything seemed natural and faintly familiar almost as if I’d been here before.

On Friday, June 6, I headed to the American University of Paris (AUP) where we had the longest orientation I’ve ever endured. From 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. I digested more information than I could keep up with.  I met people from all over the United States, France and many other countries abroad. Although orientation was long and jam-packed with information it was actually quite fun. We had lunch with the dean, dinner with our student advisers at the Eiffel Tower and ended the evening with a nice, peaceful boat ride along the Seine River.

Paris is split into 20 arrondissement (the equivalent of counties in the United States), and I live in the 16th along the beautiful water of the Seine. Having lived for a year by myself, I now have five roommates who are friendly and absolutely spectacular . Everyone gets along (so far) and although I’m used to being alone, I quite enjoy the company of my roommates.

The food here is to die for. Everything is natural and fresh and absolutely magnificent. From croissants and pastries to pasta and sushi, everything just tastes so much better than American food.

My weekend was rather boring, consisting of gathering needed materials for school, a monthly metro pass and groceries. Because of the jet lag I opted for a “lazy Saturday” (instead of Sunday), reading “Game of Thrones” and sleeping throughout the day. It was awesome.

On Sunday, I headed over to the Luxembourg Gardens in the sixth arrondissement of Paris. Filled with people, beauty and perplexity, the gardens have an enchanting atmosphere that literally, takes your breath away. Everywhere, people were reading books on park benches, playing chess under the pavilion, relaxing along the water, children playing with each other and riding the carousel. It was quite magical.

I also visited the Luxembourg Museum where they had an exhibit on Queen Josephine of Leuchtenberg. The exhibit was filled with paintings and artifacts but everything was in French. So, although I couldn’t read or understand anything I was looking at, I was still able to enjoy the exhibit and for the most part, figure things out for myself.

On Monday, classes began and I arrived for my first at 9 a.m. I’m taking elementary French and a world politics course. Classes take place Monday-Thursday and my teachers are amazing and extremely intelligent. I am very excited to see what the next six weeks have to offer.

Other than school, I haven’t had a chance to do much else. Rather than bore you with the logistics, I’ll end my post here. Check out the photos of Jardin du Luxembourg and stay tuned for more adventures!