These four months have gone by so quickly it's unbelievable! I remember coming into my freshman year at Bucknell and thinking "I'm going to Italy junior year; God, I can't wait!" And now all of a sudden it's time to say goodbye to something that I've looked forward to for years. It's been extremely difficult to know that these months are coming to an end, but it's wonderful to also know that everything I've done this semester has been an incredible experience and I would do it all again if I had the opportunity.

The Last Supper

Continue reading "Arrivederci Padova, Ti Amo!" »

I've been to Sydney Harbor (or Harbour) multiple times since arriving in Australia, but it wasn't until last week that I was able to see Sydney ... BY SEA. The University's Civil Engineering Society set up a harbor cruise for us and it was a blast. People danced the night away dressed up as what they hoped to become when they were a child. So, of course, I dressed up as a study abroad blogger -- tie and all.

Here are some views of the Sydney Harbor bridge, the world famous Sydney Opera House and a look back toward the city.

*Sorry in advance for the fuzziness of some pictures, I was using a high sensitivity camera setting and most of the pictures were taken from a moving boat.

Continue reading "Sydney by Sea" »

So the USSR hasn't been around for a long time ... but it's still a good song and I gotta make the pun while I can, right!?

I've been back in the states for a couple weeks now, trying to readjust ...

Continue reading ""back FROM the USSR"" »

Four airports later and I slept in my own bed! Being home feels good to the soul. My family, my house, my mom's food, my roads, my car, my dog. Even from the airplane America looked different; green and orderly.

Continue reading "Home ... for now!" »

Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I've been keeping busy traveling to the far corners of Europe before... well, before I have to return to the States (but we're not going to think about that for another three weeks). Two weekends ago I packed up and took a bus to Budapest, the city formerly known as the cities of Buda, Óbuda and Pest, with Holly (obviously) and Louise.

Continue reading "Buda, Óbuda and Pes(h)t" »

After more than three months of living in a city of 3 to 12 million (depending on who you ask), I've realized that I've more or less kept my sanity intact due to some key reasons. When I've holed myself up with my laptop to work on final papers, I will fondly think of these places and people. So the top five reasons that I've remained sane (more or less) here in la Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires begin with: Thelonious Club.

Continue reading "Surviving BsAs: Part 1-Thelonious Club" »

I feel almost as though I'm stabbing Cairo in the back. After all, this city has been my home for almost five months. In that time, I've grown and learned and appreciated every phenomenal opportunity. However, there is a negative shift in me that I can't deny. And you, dear readers, deserve a complete picture of Cairo.

Continue reading "Cairo cynicism" »

I definitely could not have chosen a better destination for the end of the semester - what better place for a final group trip than Barcelona!? To be honest, I really hadn't heard much about the city before coming abroad, but after having realized the frenzy of bookings taking place I became really psyched about my upcoming trip. The only advice I was given before leaving was get sleep; Get LOTS of sleep. And, boy, did I need it! I don't think there was a moment where we stopped moving in this city and there was always so much to do, especially because it's typically the case that staying out till 5 or 6 a.m. in Spain is a normal night on the town.

Continue reading "Gaudi, tapas, Barcelona! The final trip of the semester, almost..." »

Having explored nearly every region of Peru - the jungle, the desert and the mountains - I decided to spend my last weekend here discovering the northern coast. On the last of my many excursions around this beautiful country, my friends and I visited the pre-Columbian ruins of Chan Chan and Las Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (Temples of the Sun and Moon), while also finding enough time to relax at the beachside village of Huanchaco.

Continue reading "Ruin hopping and beach bumming" »

I'm home! Getting home was a little bit more of an adventure than I expected since my flight from JFK to Reagan National Airport was canceled due to thick fog and impending rain. My fellow Bucknellian in Barbados, Whitney, and her family were kind enough to let me stay with them for the night until my parents could come pick me up in Pennsylvania in the morning, but before I knew where I was going to spend the night, I'll admit I was freaking out a little.

Continue reading "Mystic Mountains, Part 1" »