Time Flies when You're Having Fun

It's been 2 and a half months since my last post, and I'm finally back for another one! I am currently back in Tuscany after spending the greater part of Christmas break in Berlin, Prague, and Vienna. A lot has happened in the past few months, and here is an update of the highlights:

- SPAIN: For our Long Weekend (a 5 day break in the semester), several friends and I went to Spain (first Madrid and then Barcelona). We enjoyed walking around Plaza del Sol, visiting the royal palace, locating artwork we learned about in Humanities class in El Prado Museum, and other sightseeing in Madrid, and in Barcelona we saw Gaudi's famous architecture, walked through Park Guell, saw a Flamenco show, and ate Spanish churros.

- FLORENCE: In the Pepperdine Villa, we had a big Thanksgiving dinner together, and a Christmas dinner too. We all have so much fun together and get along really well. This is a fabulous group to spend the year with, and they are the best family I could ask for while I'm away from my actual family :)

- SWITZERLAND: On Thanksgiving weekend I went to Interlaken and Bern (Switzerland) with my friend Joelle. Interlaken is one of the world's extreme sport capitols, so Joelle went paragliding, and then came with me to watch me go canyon jumping...it was possibly the most frightening and thrilling thing I've ever done. We also went to a Swiss chocolate tasting, and walked around the lakes (Inter_Laken = Between_Lakes). It was probably one of the most naturally beautiful places I have ever been.

- ISCHIA: Almost everyone in our house went to Pompeii and the island of Ischia (a neighbor island of Capri) for an optional field trip the weekend before midterms. All expenses were paid for by the school, and we got several awesome tours of historical landmarks, ancient ruins, cities, etc. But the best part was a whole day spent at Poseidon Thermal Baths on Ischia. The premises included a private Mediterranean beach and 22 thermal springs and pools ranging from 15 to 40 degrees, the use of which are supposed to promote wellness, health, and relaxation. We could not believe this spa day in paradise was just another weekend of school!

- GERMANY: In Berlin, Germany, I stood where the wall used to be, halfway in East Berlin and half in West Berlin. I also saw historical/political monuments such as the Brandenburg Gate, Victory Column, and Reichstag.

- PRAGUE: During Christmas break I visited Prague in the Czech Republic, and walked around the grounds of the Prague Castle: the biggest castle in the world, where the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic have had their offices. The architecture here in the Castle District was breathtaking, and it was a great atmosphere for the holidays, with lots of Christmas markets, Christmas trees and pretty lights. Oh, and I also had a mini-emergency in Prague...I left my folder in the back of a taxi, and this folder contained ALL of my tickets, information, contact names and numbers, and everything else I needed for the rest of my Christmas break travelling, and we were staying at an apartment in Prague, with no printer...luckily, I was able to pay at a hotel across the street to look up and print out what I needed!

- VIENNA: I spent Christmas this year in Vienna, my first Christmas away from my family. I missed them (and home and friends) SO much, but the homesickness was mitigated by wonderful friends and plenty of Christmas cheer. I was staying at an apartment that one of my friends found with her parents, who are Filipino. We celebrated in the traditional Filipino way, eating a big dinner on Christmas Eve, then eating again and opening gifts (my friend got everyone something small) at midnight. We even had a Christmas tree :) Christmas day we slept, ate, slept some more, and went out and walked around a bit. Though there was no snow, Vienna was still beautiful; we enjoyed the Christmas markets there, as well as the Schonbrunn Palace grounds ("Schonbrunn Palace with its surrounding buildings and the huge park is one of the most significant cultural monuments in Austria. The castle was built to rival French Versailles in Baroque beauty and importance....In earlier times it served as summer residence to various Hapsburg rulers" - aboutvienna.org).

- SCHOOL: I also got my first B. It was a B+ in Humanities...that class and I did not get along very well. This was a pretty big milestone in my life! Also, I was in a media class first semester (called Storytelling Through Media) and my group actually made a short movie, which I got to act in, as well as produce.

- LIFE: I think I have been growing and changing much more than I expected to. From being totally independent in my travel plans and money budgeting, to having to navigate subway lines in a foreign language and locate hostels and apartments in foreign places I have never been before, I have had to become a very different person from the girl who just relies on her parents to do everything on vacations and trips. I was thrown into this situation right when I arrived in Italy, so the person I am now is really all the people in my Villa know me as, and all I know of myself here in this place. I am interested to see how much I notice a difference in myself when I go back to my old environment at home.

I'm sure much more has happened that I can't recall right now, but I've been having fun and time is flying! One semester is already over, and in just over 3 months, I will be leaving this place I have come to love and returning home. I can't wait to be home, but in the meantime I have much more exploring and learning to do! If you stuck with me for this entire post, which was probably way too long and boring at parts, thank you! :)