Walking in a Mediterranean Wonderland

WARNING: readers beware. Lengthy blogpost and many pictures ahead. Seating and plenty of time advised.

Family and friends, I can now check a sixth and seventh country off my list for this year's travels: this time, Italy. I can't think of a better way (besides at home, maybe) to spend the holidays and the new year, and I feel like a totally different--definitely more well-rounded--person because of it. Visiting historic sites that have existed for thousands of years and witnessing notorious works of art has given me perspective, but has also allowed me to appreciate the world for what it is.

Salted caramel, one of my personal favorites.

In the past few weeks, I've tried a dozen flavors of gelato, used at least five different methods of public transport, seen two new seas, met travelers from four continents, and traveled myself over 1,700 miles to explore a new country. We've been to art museums, science museums, fountains, gardens, cathedrals, piazzas, a palace, a skating rink, and even a zoo to have the adventure of a lifetime. The weather was perfect: warm(ish) and sunny, begging us to explore the sights and sounds around us.

My travelling partner for this time around was Hamish, a Form V pupil from Dollar who lives in Spain. Hamish deserves extra credit for several reasons, including 1. he has a plethora of interesting history/life knowledge up his sleeve, 2. he puts up with my obscure and random facts about Catholic saints, and 3. he sings Hamilton on demand with me. He's also as hilarious as his is informed and open-minded, which made him a fantastic travel buddy.

Meet Hamish, who is standing in two different countries (Italy and the Vatican) at the time of this picture.

Here's a basic itinerary of what we did over the holidays: it would take hours of me to give the amount of detail all of these experiences deserve, but when I get back to the States, I promise that I will have lots of stories to tell.

FIRST STOP: ROME

Duration of stay: 10 nights
Best food: Penne with octopus; lamb tsehbi (a sort of stew) at an Eritrean restaurant

The Mouth of Truth supposedly bites off the hands of liars. Thankfully, my hands are intact.

Top experiences: Seeing the Pope (twice!); Vatican museums; St. Peter's Basilicas Rome's zoo; the famous Mouth of Truth; skating by the Castel Sant'Angelo; making a wish at the Trevi Fountain; walking the Spanish Steps; the Colosseum; the Pantheon

Most unexpected: At the location of Julius Caesar's murder, there happens to be a "cat sanctuary" for strays-- and visitors can adopt them. What a temptation.

Most found: Palm trees and "stone pines" (really, just lots of green); the initials SPQR; churches; random ancient ruins; uneven sidewalks; cats

Pope Frankie at Christmas, preaching a message of peace.

A Vatican Christmas parade.

Most memorable experience: A failed attempt at both cornbread and Venezuelan cachapas in the Hostel; using the Snapchat face-swap feature in the Vatican museum; practicing Scottish Dancing around the Circus Maximus

SECOND STOP: POMPEII

Duration of stay: day trip
Best food: The best cappuccino I have possibly ever had at the unlikely location of a train station
Top experiences: The beautiful panorama of Mount Vesuvius; my first ever view of the Mediterranean Sea; seeing mummified victims of the volcano

Most unexpected: The actual ruined city was closed, but walking around and seeing the ruins from the outside was just as worth it.

Most found: Hamish singing Bastille's "Pompeii" as often as possible; breathtaking scenery
Most memorable experience: ordering a plate of "mixed appetizers" and getting a plate of raw ham

THIRD STOP: FLORENCE

Chiesa Santa Maria del Fiore, my favorite cathedral.

Duration of stay: 6 nights
Best food: indulging in arepas and tequeños at a Venezuelan restaurant
Top experiences: Seeing Michelangelo's David,the famous Birth of Venus, and other famous works at the Uffizi Gallery and the Galleria dell'Accademia; Piazza de Michelangelo and its views; a whole building dedicated to food markets; the Florence Cathedral; long river walks

Most unexpected: The actual city of Florence is quite small, making it quite navigable and forgiving on the feet-- especially after the hills of Rome.

Most found: Leather and clothing shops; art and statues at every corner
Most memorable experience: Visiting the Galileo Museum and seeing maps dating back centuries

FOURTH STOP: PISA

Duration of stay: day trip
Best food: A simple picnic in front of all the tourist sights
Top experiences: Sunbathing in the warm atmosphere and perfect weather

Most unexpected: Again, I thought that the Tower of Pisa would be larger for being such an icon.
Most found: Horses and carriages offering rides to unassuming tourists

Most memorable experience: Seeing everyone make a fool of themselves attempting camera tricks with the leaning tower, and action of which I am equally guilty

FIFTH STOP: VENICE

Duration of stay: 5 nights
Best food: Mushroom risotto; a delicious wrap with ingredients I could not name or recognize

A charming scene on the island of Burano, where every house is a different color.

Top experiences: Wandering through the canals; St. Marco's Cathedral; the Doge's Palace; the Museum of Natural History; riding the waterbus to neighboring islands (Burano was the hands-down winner); Venice's Museum; the old Jewish Ghetto

Most unexpected: Venice is, in Hamish's wise words, a "topographer's nightmare"-- most streets seemingly will lead to a dead end, or even just take you back to where you started. It's like a maze, but on an entire island.

Most found: Bridges; overpriced gondolas; glass from the factory on Murano; masks for the famous Carnival in February
Most memorable experience: A Star Wars marathon celebrating the New Year

Overall, the indescribable views, the unique experiences, and the breathtaking historical and artistic scenes alone made our journey to Italy worthwhile in itself. Not only was the trip education and mind-opening, but it was also a perfect way to get out of the study zone and enjoy ourselves. If you had told me a year ago that I would be able to travel the world and actually check these adventures off my bucket list, I would never have believed it-- but here I am. Again, I am so grateful to everyone who made this able to happen-- family, friends, teachers-- and who enabled me with the courage and confidence to achieve this.

Although the gun-gray skies of Scotland were a less-than-warm welcome back, I am certainly ready to be a productive student again. Study leave for prelim tests start two weeks today, so a bit of review was definitely a good idea: the excuse of studying "history and art" in Italy will only get me so far. Next break is in mid-February, and I'm thinking Amsterdam maybe (open to suggestions, though! Leave a comment!). Until then, I must learn to "carpe diem" in my own everyday way, braving the bitter cold and taking advantages of my opportunities here at Dollar.

P.S. A few of my favorite moments...

Parties and Ceilidhs and Dancing, Oh My!

If you thought that America was serious about Christmas festivities, think again: Scotland is where the party truly is. Or, should I say, the parties: we've had three in less than a week, and that's not counting an outing to a traditional British pantomime and other holiday celebrations. I must say that this was by far the most interesting December I have experienced in quite a while-- but that's a good thing. In fact, I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves: there are definitely plenty of those.

Saturday night, Heyworth House held its own Christmas party full of love, gratitude, games, and Prosecco. This was our time to unveil our Secret Santa gifts, dance to Justin Bieber, pull our Christmas crackers (I had never seen one before!), and relax after our last full week of school.It was especially welcome at this time, since half the boarding house has been off sick with a cold. Everybody knows that the holidays are the best cure for that sort of thing.

 After hours of napkin-folding, paper-star-making, and general decorating, Heyworth girls spent the night enjoying each others' company-- and, of course, embarrassing ourselves with outrageous games. Pie-Face was my personal favorite, where each girl took a risk of taking a face of whipped cream. And, of course, we were obligated to watch "Elf" afterwards. This was our last weekend of the year together, and I cannot think of a better way to spend it at all.

Bente and Helen making a fool of themselves. 

Eline transforming into a pie.

Also, shoutout to my Secret Santa for getting me "The Little Mermaid" socks (so I can wear myself on my feet) and delicious jalapeno bread. Anna, you know me too well. And from the Duncans, I received luxurious, fragrant soap and lotion from Lush Body Shop. Do I smell a spa night? I think I do.

Ruby, Henni, and Anna, ready for some Christmas food.

Ruby, posing with my very first Christmas pudding.

The next night was the annual Boarders' Dinner and Ceilidh, which was a real treat for all of the boarding community at Dollar. After a wonderful three-course meal accompanied by rocket balloons and noisemakers, I got my very first taste of traditional Scottish folk dancing. In fact, I was so busy twirling that I almost forgot to take pictures, so please forgive me for the lack of imagery here. It was also our chance to perform the skits that we have been rehearsing for weeks now, and although we lost to Argyll House, we still thoroughly enjoyed the chance to poke fun at ourselves (and the other houses). 

Mia, me, Hamish, and Sandra, all being Dancing Queens.

I spent most of the night dancing with Hamish Munro, my best friend from McNabb house. Thankfully, he has a Scottish background, so he (mostly) knew the moves. It's difficult to describe what Scottish dancing looks like; the only comparison I can make is the village scene from the movie Tangled. What I can say without difficulty is that it is very, very good exercise. We all felt it the next day, I guarantee you that. Thankfully, I took a video to give a demonstration of its rigor. 

And then, just two days later, we did it again-- except this time at the Form V and VI Ceilidh, and with more than 300 people instead of 70. Yet, the crowds did little to dampen our spirits. This time, I was much more confident of all the moves, and was therefore dancing with more people. Scottish social dances usually occur in groups of 2, 4, or 8, and they can sometimes be progressive (where dancing partners change throughout the song). Translation? I danced with lots and lots and lots of people, some being complete strangers. 

But that only added to the fun. When we just had to catch our breath, my friends and I hung out in the library and snacked on macarons and punch-- not a bad way to spend a break. There were also various contests throughout the night of the funniest or most passionate dancers on the floor, which of course ignited my competitive nature. At the end of the party, everyone sang Auld Lang Syne together in a circle, with everyone all tired and sweaty in their mini dresses, tuxedos, or (for the hardcore Scottish men) kilts. 

Heyworth girls in Forms V and VI, all spiffed up and ready for some twirling. 

I cannot explain the feeling of taking part in these traditions, some being older than my own country. And everyone participates with such passion, such enthusiasm, that I cannot help but dive into this rich and open culture. As time passes, I begin to feel more and more at home, with these events just being the icing on the cake Christmas pudding. It's hard to believe that this is only the end of the first term, and there is still so much more to experience here. Although my holiday break will be filled with amazing opportunities (and food) in Italy, I know that I will be more than happy to return here once again in January. 

Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year! Greetings from the Eternal City soon!

Glorious Sounds (and Sights) of Christmas

This week, I had the privilege of traveling twice in three days to my new favorite city in the world, Edinburgh. Both trips were, of course, having to do with the holidays--as are most events in December.They were also both an excellent way of ignoring our upcoming (and increasing) school responsibilities, with prelims slowly but surely approaching in January.

My first journey on Sunday was one of the many weekend trips with Heyworth House to keep us occupied, but this does not mean it was any less memorable. Between helping each other make agonizing decisions over which shoes to buy for the upcoming dance and enjoying the exciting and busy atmosphere of the city, our holiday spirits were tangibly rising. The yearly German Christmas markets were in full fling, bringing with it the smell of currywurst and mulled wine as we strolled by the stations of handmade goods and treats.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

 My friends Ruby and Una were so inspired by the festivities that they went on one of the many mini rides scattered around the city center, while the rest of us sat back and laughed at the sight of their feet dangling just about over the famous Scott Monument. It was certainly a nice escape from school, not to mention an excuse to indulge in some hot chocolate and give fashion advice to each other.

Homemade German truffles? Yes please. 

Ruby and Una, after their thrilling ride and before shopping 'till they drop.

The second trip on Tuesday was something that has been on my schedule for quite some time: the Dollar Academy Usher Hall concert. Pupils have been actively preparing for this performance since just about the beginning of the year, and just this past week we have all been positively bombarded by missed school days due to the continuous rehearsals. In fact, because I am in two choirs and the senior orchestra, there were two days in the past week where I spent my whole class day in the auditorium instead of the classroom.

An organ in the Usher Hall that would surely make Mr. Gouwens jealous.

The rehearsals really did pay off, however. The concert itself was remarkable, despite all the teachers' --and students'-- frets leading up to the performance.  Every group from the prep and junior choir (children about the age of 5 to 13) to the Dollar Academy Jazz Orchestra (more commonly known as DAJO) played and sang their heart out to an audience of about 1700. The Usher Hall is an absolutely gorgeous venue; it was a great privilege to play in a building with such pristine acoustics and a rich history. I cannot accurately express the way the sound of over 400 student performers, whether singers or instrumentalists, aged 5 or 19, resonated through the air-- especially on our finale, Orff's famous Carmina Burana. I can tell you now that there is no better way, except perhaps the Christmas Markets in Edinburgh, to realize that Christmas is right around the very corner.

A warm-up before the big event. 

My friend Hamish, keeping me company in the long hours of setup before the concert.

Also, I must add that Christmas carol tunes are much different here than in the States. When I first saw familiar songs on the program such as Away in a Manger and Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, you can imagine my shock when it was a completely unfamiliar melody. It's one of those little things that catch me off guard once in a while, reminding me that I am living in a completely new world than before.

The Mixed Voice Choir and Wind Band, only about half of all the performers!

But the holidays are far from over for Dollar pupils. This weekend, I have another performance with the Chamber Choir, a House Christmas party, a pantomime show, and the Boarders' Caleigh (Scottish translation: party) to look forward to-- and that's not counting all the festive events next week. Then on Friday, I'll be on a taxi in the wee hours of the morning to catch a flight to Rome: is there possibly a better way to spend Christmas? Well, maybe at home with family. But I promise, through all of these festive events, that you all will be on my mind and in my heart.

A Thanksgiving to Remember

Every year, the English Speaking Union holds a formal Thanksgiving dinner at their headquarters in London for current scholars, alumni, and friends of the organization. You won't be surprised that I had been counting the days to this event-- after all, who doesn't love a trip to one of the largest and most culturally vibrant cities in the world? Despite regretting not spending the holiday with family as usual, I considered this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I could just not miss out on. So, I played hooky this past Friday and instead hopped on a train to stay in Great Britain's capital for the weekend.

Andrew, Bella, and Caitlin in the fancy chairs.

The (almost complete) group of all ESU scholars, looking spiffy.

The dinner itself was magnificent. After spending 5+ hours on a train (and more on a bus), I was grateful to have some good food and a chance to dress up a little. I met some new scholars and alumni, but also reunited with some old Culver friends-- Alice Dendy, Nate Vandevelde, Evan Fischer, and Alex Kerr-- which was undoubtedly the highlight of the trip. The ESU Debate Team made an appearance after dinner, igniting a lively discussion on the American Dream (which was, well, quite relevant in light of recent events).

 But the night wasn't over. Many pictures later, and of course after a bad rendition of the Culver Song from its alumni, a group of us decided to go to a bar in The Shard, a famous skyscraper in the heart of the city. It also must be said here that I was personally asked to show my ID not once, not twice, but three times, which was quite offensive. But it certainly was fun, just kids in the midst of millionaires, sharing £20 pound cocktails and enjoying the spectacular view of the city.

Apparently this is only the back of Buckingham Palace. That said, it's still Buckingham Palace.

Yes, that is a nose in the wall. There are 35 of them all over London, protesting the "nosiness" of the government. Heh.

The next day, Tricia, Evan and I got up early to catch a free walking tour of the city. Having never been in London, I enjoyed the opportunity to see as much as I could of the city and learn about its past. The tour did live up to our expectations, and then some: we were able to see Buckingham Palace, the real Nocturne Alley from Harry Potter, St. James' Palace, the Palace of Westminster, the London Eye, and so much more. The tour guide was hilarious, and also akin to a walking encyclopedia of British history. When we became cold and hungry, we diverged from the tour and treated ourselves to some delicious noodles.

Tricia, Evan and me in Trafalgar Square, the "center" of London.

The funny Canadian tour guide. 

It was excellent timing for the new movie "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" to be in theaters at the time when we were in London: what better place to see a Harry Potter movie (ironically, this one takes place in the US, but who cares)? So we made our way up to Piccadilly Circus to buy our tickets, but not before shopping shopping around a bit first. After a visit to the famous M&M's World and an outside Christmas market, we enjoyed an IMAX 3D showing of the film (which was indeed fantastic).

Four stories of chocolatey, crunchy goodness.

One fantastic Indian dinner later, we were content to wander slowly back to our hostel. However, inspired by the magic of the wonderful world of Harry Potter, a trip to the real Platform 9 and 3/4 was definitely in order. After Evan graciously took pictures of Tricia and me at the famous location, we spent a liberal amount of time inside the neighboring merchandise shop. It was quite a peaceful night, but that was what we wanted.

The next day, I was on a train back to Scotland, filled with gratefulness and happiness despite having caught a rather nasty cold. I hope that this will not be the last time in London, and now that I know more scholars based in England, I might very well plan another visit later in the year. It was so great to see some familiar faces, and I really felt a connection with the other scholars that came. But I'm also not forgetting my home in Indiana, and all those who made it possible for me to be here. Let's just say that this Thanksgiving, I couldn't be more grateful.

Rugby and Friends

After a long week of homework, test prep, and other scholarly obligations, what better way to wind down is there than enjoying a good sports game? That's what the boarding houses did here this weekend at Dollar, getting the privilege of witnessing the national Scotland rugby team take down Argentina at BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. The stadium itself seats 67,000 people, and really is a sight to see-- especially when watching a rugby game for the first time.

Team Scotland, preparing for their fight.

It was a chilly night, but the low temperature was balanced by the warm excitement around us from all the die-hard rugby fans. Scottish children proudly wore the Scottish flag--blue, with a white cross-- painted on their faces. The Scottish national anthem belted out from all directions. A performance from the "Red Hot Chili Pipers," complete with a rendition of "Don't Stop Believin'" on the bagpipes. Overpriced Fish n' Chips and beer sold on every corner, and a majority of men in kilts. If you think America is the center of sports nationalism, you may want to think again.

Bente and Una enjoying the game.

I'm not going to pretend that I know anything about rugby-- in fact, throughout the first half I was accidentally cheering for the wrong team (in my defense, both Scotland and Argentina have blue and white on their flags). One moment, the teams were lifting each other up like cheerleaders to catch the ball; the next, they were all interlocked together in what resembled a giant wrestling match. I could tell, however, that this particular game was more tense than usual. Fights between the players broke out frequently, much to the humor of us boarders. And as the game was tied in the last seconds of the game, the entire crowd was sitting on the very edge of their seats. 

The teams battling it out, cheered on by at least 60,000 fans.

Scotland did pull through in the end, much to our pleasure. The end score was 19-16, with a penalty shot just in the nick of time, and "I'm Gonna Be" by The Proclaimers (which seems to be the Scotland song, more so than the national anthem itself) blaring from the speakers. With our feet numb but our spirits high, we headed back to the bus home for some chocolate cake and a good night's sleep. 

All in all, I'm glad I went to the game. Yes, it was freezing, and I was generally clueless about the game, but it reminded me that I am living in a community  much larger than myself. I'm so glad to be part of a culture with so much pride and determination, not to mention a great sense of humor and fun. 

Work and Play

The countdown is on: less than 5 more weeks of school before Christmas Break. Not that anyone is waiting around, of course: life has been far from boring lately for anyone. I'm enjoying the lively spirit that is tangible here with so many exciting events occurring--inside the school and out. Students are abuzz with school projects and parties, of course, but also with the recent election results (more than a few of us, myself included, stayed up almost the whole night) and their implication on the world. As for me, I'm just glad to be busy again.

Three other Heyworth girls and I challenged ourselves this week by entering a Battle of the Bands competition held by the Yearbook Committee-- Anna on piano, Zuzana on violin, Henni as a lead singer, and me, of course, on my cello. We ended up earning second overall out of eight to a talented band who had written their own songs, which we all considered fair. I always enjoy proving people wrong, so when some people rolled their eyes at seeing "classical" instruments on the stage instead of drums or electric guitars, I took great satisfaction in the look on their faces when we started playing songs by Rihanna and The Weeknd. It really was something I want to remember for a long time to come.

I also experienced Karaoke for the first time this weekend with other boarders in Form 5 and 6 (and yes, in case you're wondering, I did belt it out to Queen). Plus, I have to say it was hilarious being sober while everyone ended up making fools of themselves after more than a few beers. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of any of these events, yet, but I will surely share them when they are available. Until then, I certainly won't be waiting around like I was in my last post. Here are some of the projects that are picking up speed for me these next few weeks.

In an extended Modern Studies assignment, I have chosen to explore the topic of compulsory voting and the impact it would have on the United States. Do not misunderstand me in thinking that I consider compulsory voting systems beneficial by any means-- in fact, I am arguing that it would threaten the United States' political system. I won't go into depth about my political beliefs here, especially so close to the election where raw emotions are still high for everyone. But I am passionate about the fact that the election turnout was a 20-year low: only about 55%. How can we call ourselves a representative democracy if just over half of the voting population participates? It has certainly been interesting to study the impacts a mandatory voting system has on countries around the world-- Belgium, Australia, and Brazil, to name a few. I will say that voting could be much easier for American citizens (even after some attempts to make it so, like the Moter-Voter Act, weren't all that successful). Not everyone who doesn't vote is apathetic or disaffected from the system. So maybe, say, a day off work or automatic registration would make the government a little more legitimate.

The other long-term project on my mind at the time is my geographical survey on the environmental safety and quality of Stirling, Scotland. For those of you that aren't up to date on Scottish geography, Stirling is a city about half an hour away from Dollar, and a favorite place for boarders to escape from the school. I chose the location originally as an excuse to get more of Gregg's to-die-for mochas, sure, but after some additional research I was curious to know if the city's pedestrianized center had an effect on people's experience of the city. After all, human geography is much more interesting to me than physical geography (sorry, all you soil-lovers). I've finished collecting most of the data needed for the report, which included taking pedestrian and traffic counts, decibel measures, and surveying people on their perception of the city. The latter was definitely the most terrifying and the most interesting, and offered perspective on much more than environmental quality. Speaking to local Scottish citizens on a personal level was a valuable, enriching experience, and I overcame my social anxiety every time I approached a stranger. Sure, most people declined to answer, but some encounters were quite unexpected. One intimidating-looking man I was particularly scared to approach ended up being one of the sweetest, kindest people I talked to that day. It's always nice to be pleasantly surprised, isn't it?

After Culver's heavy emphasis on process grades and homework, a shift to assignments being worth 40% of the overall grade is undoubtedly stressful. But it gives me a reality check for how college life will be, not to mention an effective motivation to work as hard as I can. Plus, I get to focus more in depth than ever on a particular issue, a studying method which I personally prefer. Either way, I'm enjoying the subject material in my classes while having fun outside of school, and that's all that matters.  everything else will sort itself out in time.

Another Reflection-- and Halloween

The leaves are turning colors, the hours of light are falling, and stores are already unpacking their Christmas decorations: winter is coming. Time is seeming to fly by, and I often forget to pause and assess the progress I have made in the past months (has it really been months??) here at Dollar. Soon enough, the first trimester will be over and I will be free for break--this time to Italy--which marks the first third of my entire gap year. It's a scary and somewhat bittersweet thought; part of me wants to stay here for a longer amount of time. This is all the more reason to consider what I have accomplished so far, in which areas I have struggled, and what I have in mind for the rest of the year abroad.

Heyworth House pumpkins. Ignore the one on the top left, because it is what it looks like.

No one can deny that I've had my fair share of bravery thus far on my journey. After all, jumping fully into an Advanced Higher Geography class is no easy task-- not to mention joining a boarding house with absolutely no familiar faces, or hopping aboard a plane to France and eating escargot. I would especially say that learning how to travel has been one of the most useful skills I have learned here, even though it was terrifying at first to buy a simple bus ticket to the nearby city of Stirling. I didn't realize how much planning it took: knowing the times of public transport, the cost, etc. I still have to console myself that it will all be okay: the train won't randomly change directions, and the bus has not left if I am 20 minutes early to the station. But it does take courage to go out on a limb, rising above the anxiety I may face. A few girls in the boarding house and I were especially brave recently, and entered into the annual "Battle of the Bands" contest taking place next week-- although we're playing the best band of the school in the first round, we love to make music together, so the crowd ultimately won't matter. All in all, I have done well in taking the chances I receive to jump out of my comfort zone as often as I can.

Some costumes were a little too realistic.

In addition to showing my bravery, I believe I have overall succeeded in proving myself both to my peers and to my adults here. In Harry Potter terms, the Ravenclaw in me has peaked a curiosity in the subjects I am taking, and provided a strong motivation to go above and beyond assigned schoolwork. In fact, I have (very thankfully) had the time to do some of my own reading lately in relation to my future college major: I just finished "Prisoners of Geography" by Tim Marshall, and am now making my way through "The J Curve" by Ian Bremmer. My book supplier and Politics/Modern Studies teacher, Mrs. Young, owns a plethora of this genre and is more than happy to loan them to me-- in exchange for only an interesting conversation about it later. On the more social side of things, I have been nominated to speak at the Remembrance Day Ceremony next week, along with a solo part in the next Chamber Choir concert. While I undoubtedly feel humbled by these opportunities, I cannot help but be glad that others are appreciating the hard work and respect I have for them.

I also discovered that apple bobbing is much harder than it looks.

Unfortunately, my experiences lately have not entirely been of sunshine and rainbows. After all, what would a foreign exchange be without some challenges to help me grow as an individual? Anyway, it is getting cold and dark here-- and fast. That certainly takes a toll on anyone's mood, and a constant reminder of the impending doom of winter. But that also means that the holidays are coming, which rebounds our spirits again. And although prelims are approaching soon and classes are supposed to be picking up the pace (academically speaking), I am finding myself with lots of free time on my hands. Each class in which I am enrolled poses little challenge to me at the moment, which can be frustrating, but I make the best of the situation by independent learning and reading, as mentioned above. But after a filled-to-the-brim senior year, a free period a day-- or even two on some days-- feels unnatural and even frustrating at times. I know that once I start my projects in Geography that I will have less time on my hands, but for now, I must settle for the simultaneous blessing and curse of free time.

The Hanging Donuts game. I sat this one out because it was just too fun to watch.

Another problem I have encountered lately is a more surprising one: homesickness. While I do feel at home in the boarding house, I must confess my persistent longing for the town I once thought I hated. There have been times where all I wanted was to share one more homemade dinner with my family around me, to be huddled up next to the fireplace in the Public Library reading The Week, or to see a concert series in Eppley Auditorium right next to the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee. This is the first time I have such a feeling: it's hard to miss home when it's within walking distance. But it's the little things-- the different placement of keys on a computer keyboard, the plugs on the walls, the different food-- that are constant reminders that I am still in a foreign country, thousands of miles away from where I spent my life until now.

Anna and Una being cute roommates.

But that's a minor issue compared to where I am now. I do love my classes, my friends, and the opportunities presented to me here. Home will always be there for me, especially when it is time for me to return. For now, I plan to continue being brave, working hard, and savoring the time I have here. My future goals are simple: keep my involvement in extracurricular activities, balance work with upcoming music obligations, and continue enjoying the company of the amazing people that surround me. And, of course, learn to enjoy free time. Everything else will work itself out.