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Paris Recap part 1

Since my program is only a month long, it has been quite intense. Everyday is go,go,go and I have barely had time to think. I'm finally sitting down to write down a recap of my time in Paris.

I stayed in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. At first, everything was incredibly scary. Especially because my school, Parsons Paris, was about a 38 minute metro ride from my apartment.

The metro in Paris is incredibly easy to understand and after one day, I became a master of it. During the summer, it does get quite hot and stuffy in there. Since tourists flock to Paris in June and July the metro can get quite crowded, especially around rush hour. One thing that I found so cool about the metro is that some stations are themed! For example, the Louvre station is themed like the Louvre itself, with replica statues of historical artifacts embedded into the walls.

While I met some great friends in Paris, my favorite thing to do was explore by myself. I put in my airpods and listened to La Vie en Rose while walking down the Parisian streets and felt like I was in a movie.

One thing that I didn't expect was how dirty Paris is. It had always been a dream of mine to visit, and like many others, I romanticized the city through movies like Midnight in Paris and Sabrina. While there are many beautiful and interesting parts of the city, honestly, most of it is pretty dirty. Many parts of the city smell, with lots of trash on the ground. There are also a good bit of homeless people sleeping in the metro stations and on the sidewalks.

My favorite place I visited in Paris was Montmartre. This is a super hilly area where the famous pink restaurant La Maison Rose is and also the man playing the accordion with the black cat on top. This area is also home to Sacre Coeur, where you can find one of the best panoramic views of the city of paris.

Another favorite area was Saint-Germain-De-Pres. This area is home to more young people with great shopping and restaurants. Cafe de Flore is a must, although touristy because of its artistic history (was a favorite of Picasso and Simone De Beauvoir.) Another similar area is Le Marais, with great vintage shopping and pretty streets.

While I didn't have much time to visit many museums, I did go to Musée Picasso, Musée de l'orangerie (Monet's Water Lilies) and Musée Yves Saint Laurent. I recommend all of these, and an insider piece of knowledge is that most museums in Paris are free on the first Sunday of every month.

The shopping in Paris is great, as it is one of the fashion capitals of the world. Paris has famous department stores, but Le Bon Marché was my favorite. Also through June and July is Soldes season which means there are many, many sales going on at pretty much every store. I recommend walking along the Seine to visit the bouquinistes, which sell old books and various items.

Overall, I had a great time in Paris. While it didn't meet all of my expectations, I met some great people. By the time my two weeks were over, I was glad to leave. Metroing everywhere, everyday became overwhelming, especially in the heat of the summer. The way of life there, when not on vacation, is very fast-paced as well.

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Twenty-sixth Blog

It’s hard to believe but this marks one half of a year that I have been recording my study abroad journey on this blog. I’ve done so much with so much more left to be done and to be experienced that it’s truly hard to believe.

On Monday, I went to Reims, a city in the Grand-Est region of France – as the name (in French) suggests, it is one of the furthest East regions of continental France. The city is mostly known as being the de facto capital of champagne production as it is in the center of the champagne producing region. Despite champagne being considered a recognized region where champagne is produced, it is not actually an administrative region in France and has not been for some time now.

Tuesday, I went to one of the many champagne houses headquartered in Reims – Maison Pommery. While there, you are able to visit the ancient caves where champagne is stored and and aged before being sold (and consumed). Afterwards, I visited the Basilica of Saint-Remi, one of the most impressive cathedrals that I’ve seen in all of France (and even Europe). Something about its relative simplicity compared to many other churches while remaining very grandiose was very impressive to me. It is the site where several very early French kings are buried and associated with the larger cathedral in the city.

On Wednesday, I spent the day travelling back to Cergy from Reims.

Thursday, I went to Montmartre in Paris and went around various bookstores. I always enjoy stepping inside bookstores to see what they have, although I’m guilty of spending more time looking for books to read than actually reading them.

Friday, I took the train from Paris Gare de Nord to the London St. Pancras station. The train I took was delayed by more than an hour which grants possibility of a 25% cash refund on the price of your ticket – something you never see for flights. I didn’t do much because I was so tired from the train ride that I just went straight to bed more or less.

Saturday morning, I went to a bookstore called Daunt Books – a famous bookstore (chain) located in London. The store itself is beautifully decorated and has the feeling of a well-established and intellectual center for readers. Afterwards, I visited the Sherlock Holmes museum where you can visit a model of the real location (modelled after the fictional location) of where Holmes and Watson would have resided. I found it to be quite interesting but I was a little confused when the guide referred to Holmes as a real person. After this, I visited the outside of Buckingham Palace and got to have a glance at the world-famous King’s (previously Queen’s) Guard.

Sunday, I visited most of the big ticket tourist things: Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus. I was a little confused because I had thought that Tower Bridge and Big Ben were part of the same area but they’re actually quite a ways away from one another. I also liked Piccadilly Circus although I didn’t realize that it is mostly known for being the center of lots of shopping in London.

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Twenty-fifth blog

On Monday, I went to the Museum of Natural History, near the Latin Quarter neighborhood of Paris. It is situated in a large building with an open layout. Most of the exhibits consisted of taxidermized animals, preserved insects, as well as various fauna. Later, I went to the Pantheon, one of the most revered places of burial for famous and remarkable French citizens. The likes of famous French writers, philosophers, scientists, and generals are all entombed in the crypt of the large Roman-style building.

Tuesday, I was in Paris once more. This time, I visited two of the most famous malls in the city (in my opinion) – these being the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. I prefer the Printemps more as it is usually less crowded and has more interesting things (as well as things I would actually consider buying and not just luxury brands).

Wednesday, I visited the area of Cergy around my school because I had to go and visit some housing options for my upcoming semester. These encounters had mixed results, unfortunately. There was a batch of ducklings I got to see at the park which made up for it.

Thursday, I went to the Chateau de Chantilly, an old and historic place located a little more than a half an hour North of Paris proper. It is named as a chateau second only to the Chateau of Versailles (I’m not too sure about this but it’s just what I’ve read). While there, you can visit the grand stables which used to house the horses that were used for the king’s hunts in the surrounding forests. The grounds of the chateau are quite large and take about two hours to traverse the perimeter (at least). This is nothing, however, compared to the Chateau of Versailles which can take more than 6 hours, from what I’m told.

Friday, I again went to the Galeries Printemps – this time with a defined mission: acquire a new pair of shoes. I was successful as there was an ongoing sale on most of the things in the shopping mall. I got a pair of Geox shoes, almost identical to those I had gotten more than five years ago (also in France).

Saturday, I went to the Le Marais neighborhood in Paris. It is known as one of the more upscale and richer areas of Paris that isn’t outside or located directly next to government buildings. While there, I visited the Museum Carnavalet which depicts the history of Paris, most notably in the form of period rooms that display rooms of the mansion as they would have appeared hundreds of years earlier.

Sunday, I went to the Longines Global Champions Tour horse show, being hosted right in the center of Paris, just a stone’s throw away from the Eiffel Tower. The point of the show is for the horses and riders to complete the given course in the fastest time with the fewest number of faults (given for knocking over parts of a jump, a bit like a hurdler in track and field). It was a very interesting experience and was worthwhile to watch, even in spite of the over 90-degree Fahrenheit weather in Paris.

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Seeing a Glacier with my own Ice

Hey everyone! Here’s Part II of my great adventure in Bariloche!

On Friday morning, we woke up at around 7:00 a.m. to head for the adventure center. There, we boarded a van and headed to the destination of our first excursion: San Martin de los Andes! San Martin is a city that lies on the foot of the Andes bordering Lácar Lake. Travelers take the National Route 40 to get to the city, passing seven lakes along the way.

As we began our journey, our guide, Mario, explained the route and what our day would look like. Before arriving at the first lake, we stopped at Villa la Angostura, known as “The Garden of Patagonia”. It was a cute village filled with coffee shops and markets where vendors sold hand-made crafts. We used the restroom and got coffee before stopping at the first lake to take pictures! I won’t name all the lakes that we went to, but my favorite was Lake Faulkner. As soon as we stepped out of the van, we could touch the sand and see an impeccable view of mountains dusted with snow. The lake is named after the Jesuit priest Thomas Faulkner who explored the Argentine landscape in the 18th century and collected a great deal of information about the indigenous peoples and geography. One recurring theme throughout each of the lakes was that the water was crystal clear. This is because the lakes sit in the Lanin National Park. As we were situated merely miles away from Chile, Mario explained how there were previous tensions between Chile and Argentina in terms of the boundaries in Patagonia and which areas of land belonged to which country; ultimately, the dispute was settled by the UK, who concluded that San Martin de los Andes pertained to Argentina. 

After about four hours, we arrived in San Martin and had a couple of hours to explore the city and have lunch. We ate our sandwiches and poked around in some shops. I’m not gonna lie, the city itself wasn’t my favorite because it was extremely touristy. There were literally stores that said “tourist shop”, and I was left confused about what residents do for a living besides tourism (the industries in Bariloche and San Martin are limited due to restrictions in place about cultivating and extracting resources in the national parks). Nevertheless, the view of the lake was spectacular, and we saw plenty of kayakers roaming the waters! We then drove three hours back to Bariloche. Before arriving, however, we made the same stop in Villa la Angostura, and I bought a sticker that said “Route 40” and a hot chocolate. Once we got back to the Centro at 6:30, we were starving, so we immediately headed to a pizza shop. We downed a couple of slices before heading to the Airbnb to rest up for the next day.

On our last day, we woke up early again to venture on our second excursion to Cerro Tronador and Ventisquero Negro! This was the outing that I was most excited about because our destination was a glacier! We once again rode in a van with Mario and made stops in lookout points before stopping to eat. My favorite spot was la Isla Pique Huapi; it felt like we were in the middle of the Amazon! About halfway through the trip, we stopped at a restaurant called “Los Vuriloches”, and I got milanesa de pollo and an alfajor, possibly the most Uruguayan/Argentine meal you can get. At about 3, we arrived at the glacier! Ventisquero Negro is one of the 14 glaciers that sits around the inactive volcano, Cerro Tronador. If you looked close enough, you could see distinct layers in the black ice where lava had flown through. While we were there, we also heard and saw a mini avalanche! Between that and getting a sunburn from the sun reflecting off the snow, I was ready to get back in the van after walking around the site.

On our way back to Bariloche, we all slept during the “hora internacional de la siesta”, or “international nap hour”, as Mario said. After getting back at 6:30, we made sure to stop by Mamuschka one more time to fill up on sweet treats. We the headed for a restaurant called “El Boliche de Alberto.” The night before, we had seen that there was a long line out the door, so we knew that the food must be good. The restaurant didn’t accept reservations, so we were the first people to stand in line at 7:15 to wait for the doors to open at 8:00. While in line, I chatted with this sweet Brazilian couple who were also there on vacation! They gave me recommendations for places to visit in Brasil, and they both talked to me in Portuguese to show how similar Spanish and Portuguese are to each other! We carried on a whole conversation speaking in two different languages. Muito bom!

When the doors opened at 8:00, we were seated and ordered a decadent meal to commemorate our last day. I ordered a glass of white wine, filet mignon, and a salad- all for $20! In the restaurant, you could see the cooks expertly cutting, seasoning, and throwing meat onto the grill. My mouth instantly started watering. When our food came out, we did a “cheers” with our glasses and tried not to devour our plates too quickly. With our hearts and bellies full, we headed back to the apartment to sleep for a few hours before getting up at 2:30 a.m. to catch our flight back to Buenos Aires.

We arrived back in Buenos Aires at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, and as you can imagine, we were exhausted. As all the cafes were closed until 8:00 a.m., we chilled in the airport and then booked Ubers to San Telmo. In San Telmo, we drank some much-needed coffee at Obrador. We then roamed around the Mercado of San Telmo, a market that spans several blocks with vendors selling hand-crafted souvenirs. In San Telmo, we took a picture with Mafalda (a famous Argentine cartoon character from the ‘60s and ‘70s), and we all bought friendship bracelets to commemorate the trip. At 1:00 p.m., we took the ferry and bus back to Montevideo.

The trip to Bariloche reminded me of why I adore Argentina – the people are beyond welcoming, the culture is lively, and the view of the Andes are incomparable. If there is one thing that I took away from this adventure, it’s that nature never fails to amaze me. I hope to come back to Bariloche in the winter and summer to ski in Patagonia, kayak in the 7 lakes, and most importantly, eat more chocolate!

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Can't believe I am writing this in the airport in Paris... It's been two weeks since leaving Belgium and time has flown! Let me catch you up.

My sister and her boyfriend's sister stayed one night in Brussels, and I got to show them around it was super nice.

Then, we headed to Paris, where I stayed for the next week. It was superrr hot but I was so glad to be back.

We saw the sights, ate plenty of pastries and got to relax a bit. The week after, I met a friend from my semester in Brussels in Lagos, Portugal for our last vacation.

We hit the beach and we even took a boat tour to see the caves. It was amazing. We even saw dolphins on the way back!

After two days, we hit Lisbon. It was so beautiful and such a cool city. We did a surfing course, which was incredible. The instructors were so kind and fun, and we even met two girls from the US who we got to hang out with. Although it was my first time surfing, I managed to stand up and I was super proud of myself. (It was a lot of trial and error haha)

We took a tour of a few neighborhoods and got to explore the city.

The last day, we went to Sintra to see the castles, but it rained all day :( Luckily we met up with a girl we had met in Lagos and we still had a good day.

After that day, I went back to Paris. Unfortunately, my flight got cancelled, and it was beyond hectic but I made it! We got to go to La Fête de la Musique, which was a huge party basically, throughout the streets.

I spent two days in Paris and now I am waiting for my flight home. It is crazy! I am excited to go home but so sad to leave. I think it will take a bit of time to adjust, but overall I am just so thankful for this experience and have begun reflecting on it all.

Happy Friday, and I will keep you guys updated with my journey home!

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Twenty-fourth blog

On Sunday, I went to the flea market of St-Ouen in the northwestern part of Paris, far from the center. Although I didn’t find anything in particular, I was found by a torrential downpour that sent all the vendors into a frenzy to cover their prized treasures in plastic film or tarpaulin.

On Monday, I went to Mont-Valérien, a city on the Western outskirts of Paris located near the Financial center of La Défense. My goal was to visit Fort Mont- Valérien – an imposing fort built to defend Paris during the mid-19th century. Unfortunately, due to its current status as an active military base, I couldn’t actually visit the inside and had to settle for a walk around its perimeter.

On Tuesday, I went to Meudon, a city in the southern suburbs of Paris – known for being the site of a location of the Observatory of Paris that rests on the old site of a Chateau belonging to French royalty. The chateau has since been destroyed but nonetheless, its grounds are home to the large domed observatory.

On Wednesday, I stayed relaxed in Cergy not really doing a whole lot. I walked around the area and came across a small, wooded area with brick paths running through it like a gridded set of roads.

Thursday, I spent the day in Paris near the Arc de Triomphe.

Friday, I went to the Louvre and got to see all the classics: The Mona Lisa, Liberty Guiding the People, and my personal favorite being paintings by Jacques-Louis David (Oath of the Horatii and The Coronation of Napoleon being a couple). It was quite packed inside the museum and as a result, it was a bit warm inside (even with the air conditioning). There was a temporary exhibition inside showcasing Art from the Islamic world, a quite intriguing exhibit that I was unable to fully appreciate as I was just so tired.

On Saturday, I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, the latter of which I had done before but the former being something I had never done. It was a bit nerve-wracking at times standing on an elevator ascending to the top of a thin structure, but I reassured myself that it was safe. The view was quite nice from the top, however, there was a huge rain storm that quickly appeared and essentially ground operations to a halt for about fifteen minutes.

On Sunday, I went to Montmartre area (an area I have visited several times already), the Père Lechaise cemetery (an area I had never been to), and the Galeries Lafayette (a place I have been to a few times). I liked all three places although I think that going to the cemetery is a bit of a one-time thing and I’m unlikely to revisit anytime soon. (It rained again later in the day).

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Varied film pictures I've taken in France

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Twenty-third blog

Monday, it was my last full day in the South, and I would be going to Saint Tropez and Ramatuelle with my co-workers. Saint Tropez was more or less exactly how I had expected it to be – full of nice cars and rich-looking people, coupled with some nice weather. After checking out the city, we then drove to the city of Ramatuelle, a small village situated in the hills of the South with a nice view of the Mediterranean Sea. We walked briefly around the village, but the main objective was to have lunch, and afterwards we were to go to a nearby beach (that would later be foiled by the onset of rain). The drive back took longer than expected as we passed through some windy roads in the hills coupled with the on and off rain showers.

On Tuesday, I was happy to be going back to Cergy for a sort of return to normalcy. My work was not yet done however, as I still needed to move my stuff from my storage unit to my actual apartment. I ended up not moving everything all at once because I was so tired from my train ride earlier in the day.

Wednesday, I finished moving all my stuff from my storage unit into my place. Also, I went to Paris to go and look at the Roland Garros tennis tournament, but I was unable to enter the grounds as I had no ticket.

Thursday, I did more walking around the city of Paris, not really seeing anything interesting in particular. I stayed around the neighborhood of Le Sentier, as it was suggested to me by one of my French classmates last semester and I’ve been attached to it ever since.

Friday, I again (big surprise) went to Paris to walk around and spend time in. It seems like the tourist season has finally caught on as certain areas of Paris are more busy than I’ve ever seen in my whole time here.

On Saturday, I went into Paris with nothing planned really. I ended up stumbling upon one of the city’s many museums – this time, the Jacquemart-André museum. Formerly the mansion that housed the art collections of a wealthy French couple, it has now become a museum available for the public to visit. At this time, there was a temporary exhibit showcasing the work of Italian painter Giovanni Bellini. Overall, I wasn’t terribly impressed with his art but some of it did seem surprisingly contemporary considering its age.

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Twenty-second blog

On Tuesday, I had an enthralling day of meetings and discussions with the team at Le Rocher. Later in the day, we had (as usual) a school help session for the kids in the late afternoon. Thankfully, the session went smoothly and without any troubles or hiccups.

On Wednesday, we hosted a Zumba class in the morning where a lady came in and led a class with the kids where we danced all together. I have never done anything like this, so it was all new to me, allowing me to be experiencing it just as the kids were. Later, we played with the kids in the neighborhood, occupying myself with playing soccer with some of them.

On Thursday, I helped put up flyers for an event that was to be happening the following week (a soccer tournament for kids in the area). Afterwards, I ended up going to get “tacos” with some of the other volunteers and one of the kids that comes around often. A French taco is nothing like that in which I am used to in the United States – first of all, it is closed (which in my book makes it a burrito), and there’s no rice, beans, or any traditional Mexican element to it. If anything, it reminds me more of a kebab wrap, but not at all like a Mexican taco.

On Friday, we had an uneventful morning of meetings followed by a very eventful escape room. The team all went to the center of Toulon to do an escape room challenge as a sort of team building activity (although we all were well acquainted with one another already). We did it in 55 minutes (with an allotted time of 70 minutes) and the woman who was working there suggested to attempt harder challenges than the one we did. Later, we ended up going to a pool belonging to one of the Le Rocher volunteers that comes in occasionally to help with the student tutoring sessions.

On Saturday, I had my last official day of volunteering with Le Rocher. We started the morning (as usual) with our café de rue segment where we offer coffee/tea to anybody that passes by. The typical response is a smile, a nod, and a ‘non, merci’ as they go on with their days. Occasionally, we can lure in some curious people who don’t know about the organization (or don’t know what/who we are). Later on, some of us went to go see a play that one of the students would be in.

Sunday, I went by myself to the nearby city of Cassis. After taking the train from Toulon Sainte-Musse to Cassis, I had to walk about 30 minutes until I had descended to the city proper. While I was eating lunch (mussels gratin, bream, and tiramisu) a light rain began coupled with a fierce series of thunder. While I sat outside, one of these strikes happened so close that the sound was like an explosion that happened a few streets over. Later on, I went to see one of the famous Calanques, but I was left extremely unimpressed by its appearance (after talking to some of the other volunteers, they told me that was the worst one out of all).

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Did Somebody Say "Chocolate"?

Hey everyone! This past week, I was in Argentina yet again! This time, my friends and I traveled south in Argentina to a town called Bariloche. Bariloche is located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park and is the gateway to Patagonia. It is the perfect destination for those who love the outdoors, as the multiple ski resorts allow you to ski throughout the Andes, and the abundant lakes are key spots for fishing and kayaking. Bariloche also has a lively downtown area with architecture modeled after Switzerland. As you can imagine, I was beyond excited to go from the moment that my friends and I booked our plane tickets!

On Tuesday in the afternoon, my friends and I took the bus from Montevideo to Colonia and then rode the ferry to Buenos Aires. Upon arriving, we changed our dollars for Argentine pesos ($1 USD = 480 pesos), loaded our Sube cards (passes that you scan to use the metro and buses in Argentina), and then went to an Asian restaurant called Koi. There, we feasted on Miso ramen and dumplings. I ordered an iced tea, something that I’ve missed since being away from South Carolina! It really is astounding the diversity that Buenos Aires has in terms of gastronomy; any type of craving you might have, Buenos Aires has a restaurant to satisfy it. Because our flight was late at night, we killed some more time in another bar/bookstore called Backroom Bar. After enjoying our Passionfruit Punch drinks and chatting, we headed to the airport via Uber. Our flight left at 1:00 a.m., and we arrived in Bariloche at 3:30 a.m. Because the town doesn’t have Uber, we booked taxis in advance to take us from the airport to our Airbnb. Our host was there to give us the keys and show us around the apartment, and then we headed straight to bed to catch up on sleep.

Later that morning, Will, Karen, and I bundled up (it was about 39 ℉ outside) and roamed around the centro of Bariloche (our Airbnb was a 7-minute walk from downtown). Bariloche is set right along the lake of Nahuel Huapi, so we of course had to take pictures in front of the “Bariloche” letters with the stunning backdrop behind it. We then went to a confitería (chocolate shop) called Rapa Nui to have breakfast. Bariloche is known as the Chocolate Capitol of Argentina, so at Rapa Nui, I ordered a chocolatada (hot chocolate). Karen, Will, and I also shared a waffle topped with chocolate, banana, raspberry, and strawberry ice cream. Needless to say, I was sugared-out after breakfast, but it was worth every bite. We then went to the Center of Tourist Information to ask about the bus system and must-visit sites in Bariloche. The bus lines in the city are on a tightly set schedule, and some buses only arrive every hour. We therefore had to plan our activities around the schedule so we didn’t waste time waiting for the bus. The upside is that one bus ride is 100 pesos, or 20 cents. We definitely were traveling on a budget!

After returning from the Information Center, our other friends, Joe and Cleo, joined us to take the bus to Cerro Campanario. There, we took the ski lift to arrive at a lookout point where you could see majestic views of Southern Bariloche. The mountains reminded me of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado where I used to live, except the Andes are encapsulated by lakes and islands. Bariloche’s climate is unique in that in the winter, temperatures can drop to -30℉, and in the summer, you can expect the temperature to climb to 75℉. As I was standing at the top looking out at the islands, I could only imagine what it would be like in December to lay out on the sand and take a dip in the crystal-clear lake. I also noticed that the mountains were pretty barren in terms of snow. A local told us that Bariloche gets the most snow in July and August, so that explained why the ski resorts were closed when we went. After taking the lift down and the bus back, we bought groceries in the supermarket and made lentil soup and peppers stuffed with rice, perfect for our cozy movie night that we had that evening.

On Thursday morning, Karen and I woke up early to scout the tourist agencies to see what excursions were available. We picked up a lot of brochures, compared prices, and explained our options to the others at breakfast. I had coffee and tostados at ChimiDeli, a restaurant that one of the tourist agents had recommended. All five of us then shared a chocolate mousse cake adorned with strawberries. Here arise my two tips when traveling: 1. If you don’t know where to eat, ask a local! They are guaranteed to have good recommendations, and it saves a lot of time instead of poking around on Google Maps and peering at reviews of restaurants. 2. If you want to try different types of cuisine, order multiple dishes and share with your friends! This way, you can have a bite of everything without feeling confined to ordering one meal.

After breakfast, we headed to the Chocolate Museum at Havanna and went on a tour! The guide explained to us that pure chocolate comes from the cacao bean, and in the early centuries, pure chocolate was exchanged by indigenous groups as a form of currency. It was also served as offerings to the gods, or high-ranking authorities in the communities. In Europe, people began to mix cacao with sugar and milk, transforming the cacao chocolate into the milk chocolate that we know today. After World War II, a large surge of Italians immigrated to Bariloche, including a man named Alfred Fenoglio. The so called “pioneer of chocolate in Bariloche” started the first chocolatería in Patagonia, and he is known to be the source of the boom of chocolaterías in Southern Argentina that generate millions of dollars in revenue annually. Who would’ve thought! As we strolled through the museum, we drank our samples of hot chocolate and saw life-sized animals pertaining to Bariloche that were carved entirely out of chocolate! Count how many times I wrote “chocolate” in this post 😉

The gang and I then went to Cerro Otto to take the gondola up to another lookout point. The view was once again spectacular, and we got our fair share of group selfies before heading down to catch the bus back to the center. When we were in line for the bus, there was a man that was playing the bandoneon, an instrument similar to the accordion that is found in most tango music (tango was born in Argentina and Uruguay). Playing the bandoneon is one of the main ways that Argentines connect to their roots and keep the culture alive, so I gave him a tip and enjoyed the tunes before boarding the bus. Once in the centro, we went to another chocolate shop called Mamuschka! Mamuschka is iconic for its rotating Russian dolls on the outside of the building and its wrapping paper being adorned with the colorful Russian doll logo. I couldn’t help myself and filled a box with different chocolate assortments, including ositos- little bears that are filled with dulce de leche. I also got chocolate bars for friends and family and immediately put them away when I got home so as not to be tempted to sneak a bite! After Mamuschka, my friends and I stopped in a supermarket to get ingredients to make sandwiches for our full-day excursion the next day. Then, we had dinner in a cervecería called Bachmann! I had passed by the restaurant earlier that day, and I made it a priority to dine there, as my last name is Bachmann! At the restaurant, we had burgers and beer from Patagonia, and the waitress gave me some coasters with the “Bachmann” logo on it. I kept cracking jokes that it was the family restaurant in Bariloche. We spent several hours there laughing and enjoying each other’s company before heading home to rest for another big adventure the next day.

Part II coming soon! Ciao!

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It’s my last week in Belgium…

I cant believe it! Although I don’t return to the US immediately, it feels surreal that I’m leaving Brussels. As much as it went by fast, I also feel like February was so far away. Regardless, I’m so sad to go.

I feel like I’ve grown so much, having to work through unexpected interactions, moments and tasks. I’ve truly learned so much about life, new culture, myself, and I’m hoping my French has gotten better too 😅

I’m going to miss the ease of transportation here, my friends and experiencing a new culture and lifestyle. Of course I’m also going to miss traveling around Europe, but Brussels holds a special place in my heart… the food, the people, the language, and all.

Lately I’ve just been spending time with my friends here, going to the park to enjoy the weather, and doing some last day trips.

I had a friend from USC visit and made sure to get waffles and fries. I showed her around and it was super fun.

Some friends and I took a trip to Dinant, Belgium, which was super cool. We visited the fort on the top, which was really interesting and had tons of World War I history.

Like I said, I’ve been in the park a lot, walking, running and admiring so many ducklings!

Yesterday, we went to Bruges, Belgium, which was amazing. Like Ghent, it is a medieval city, and just beautiful. It feels like a fairytale.

Of course, I’m trying to get in all the fries I can and soaking up all the delicious food and fun times here.

I leave Friday to head to Paris, and then I’ll be in Portugal for a week with my friend Anna from Germany. I’m so excited to share that!

2 weeks after I leave Belgium, I will return to the US. It’s so bittersweet, but I’m excited to be with my family and my cats again. I’m also excited for the summer and all the events in my little town. I miss Carolina as well and I can’t wait for the fall, with football, friends and all.

Have an awesome week and I’ll be writing on here soon! 🌞

[scedabroad]

T-Minus 11 days!

The countdown is on, as I have 11 days left before departing for my study abroad European adventure. Honestly, it still hasn't sunk in that I'm leaving for a month to travel to two foreign countries. However, it has sunk in that I'm going into this without knowing anyone. I know it will all work out as everyone that I've talked to has said that the people they studied abroad with became some of their best friends. But it is a bit daunting arriving to a foreign country not knowing a soul.

Besides that, there are not many things that I am stressing out about. I have traveled a good bit in my life so far, so airports and airplanes don't bother me. Since I'm traveling carry-on only, I don't have to worry about my luggage getting lost or left behind. However, this poses the challenge of fitting all that I want to bring into one small suitcase and one backpack. PLUS what I bring back. If you know me, you know I love to shop so I already am planning on shipping things home and buying an extra bag to check on the way back.

Since I'm participating in a fashion program and am obsessed with fashion, I'm really struggling with packing. I'm more of a maximalist and my closet is far from a capsule wardrobe. Having to fit a months worth of clothes into a carry-on size suitcase? Me?

I'm super excited for every part of my trip but especially for the Paris portion. I've dreamed of going to Paris since I was able to recognize it as one of the fashion capitals of the world. As a lover of vintage clothing and antiques, I'm going to have a difficult time not spending all of my money before I even begin the Italy portion of my trip.

Overall, my excitement exceeds my worries as I know this is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, learning about luxury fashion in its most prominent places.

[scedabroad]

Last Day, Best Day! + Some Updates (Part III)

Hey everyone! Here is Part III of the camping trip, what you all have been anxiously waiting for 😉 On Friday, the last day of the trip, we all woke up, packed up pour things, and had breakfast. The kids had hot chocolate and tostados (toasted bread with butter and jam- a classic Uruguayan breakfast), and I drank some very-much needed coffee. The students then had the opportunity to refine their lyrics and choreography for their team song and dance so that the counselors could judge and award tokens to the group with the best performance. I helped the green group again, and I suggested that they add a more “complex” line in English to impress the judges. They thought of “we are win”, and I had to explain to them how it would be “we will win” because it’s in the future tense. This proved difficult for them to wrap their heads around because they had not learned the future tense in class yet. When they finally performed, they all forgot the phrase and instead cheered “we are win”, but I had to laugh.

The first activity of the day was called “Scavenger Hunt”. The students were given a sheet with things that they had to find and collect, such as an open pinecone, a smooth stone, etc. After gathering all the items, they had to ask me in English how old I am, where I’m from, and what my favorite food is. The first team to present all the items to a counselor and write down my answers to their questions would win tokens. They had the most trouble finding a four-leaf clover, so most of them just drew a four-leaf clover and showed me the drawing.

After the scavenger hunt, the students had free time. All of the boys rushed to the futból field, and the girls played four square. We then had a quick lunch before completing the last activity of the day, which was a group reflection. The kids passed around a large poster board and had to write a word or a phrase in English that described their favorite part of the camp. Most of the boys said “futból” which didn’t surprise me one bit, but I was surprised at how reflective a lot of them were. It was then time for what everyone had been waiting for… the final token ceremony! The counselors counted the tokens, and we announced the teams in third and fourth place before declaring the winner… it was the green group! They won a huge box of alfajores (like a whoopie pie), and the other groups each got a bag of sweets. We all then boarded the bus to head back to Montevideo, and I slept like an angelito that night.

Although it was challenging to counselor a bunch of fifth graders and encourage them to speak in English, by the end of the camp, I could tell that they were less timid about talking to me and that they lit up when they could get their point across. I’m glad that I could give back to the community in that way, and I hope that I left the students with the realization of how fun and enlightening it is to interact with people who come from distinct countries and speak different languages.

I also wanted to give some updates about what I’ve been up to recently:

Constantly going to the supermarket and buying water. In Uruguay, it’s generally safe to drink the tap water, but because there has been a historical lack of rain recently, the country is experiencing it’s first drought! Instead of distributing water from their reservoirs, providers are taking water from the Riverplate and adding salt to purify it. As a result, the tap water is extremely salty! Everyone has been buying gallons of water from the stores, but most stores have now placed a limit that one person can only buy at most 4 gallons of water at a time.

Playing voleibol! I joined ORT’s club volleyball team at the beginning of the semester, and I’ve been going to practice every Wednesday. It’s been a great way to meet locals and work out!

Checking things off the bucket list. In the past few weeks, I’ve been to the zoo, saw a movie, watched people dance tango in the street, and played pool with friends! I always try to do at least one new thing every weekend so that I take a break from studying and discover more about Montevideo.

That’s all for this post! Nos vemos pronto!

[scedabroad]

Our journey, then, led us to Krabi, a captivating province in Thailand that left a lasting impression. Thailand, often referred to as the "Land of Smiles," showcases a vibrant culture that has remained unconquered by European colonization. This part of our trip was dedicated to exploring the natural wonders that this country has to offer.

To navigate the region efficiently, we opted for day tours, which proved to be a practical way to experience the area. One of the notable stops was the Emerald Pool, a popular attraction bustling with both tourists and locals. Adjacent to the Emerald Pool, we discovered the Blue Pool. Unlike its swim-friendly counterpart, swimming was prohibited in the Blue Pool due to its delicate ecosystem. Nevertheless, we admired the tranquil beauty of its vibrant blue waters.

One of the more physically demanding aspects of our trip was ascending over 1,300 steps to reach the summit of a mountain. The climb proved to be an arduous challenge, testing our endurance and stamina. However, the reward awaiting us at the top made it all worthwhile. As we caught our breath, we were greeted by an impressive temple and a breathtaking panoramic view. The sense of accomplishment and the stunning vista combined to create a memorable experience.

Among the various tours we embarked on, my personal favorite was our visit to the Hong Islands. Traveling by speedboat, we spent the entire day hopping between small islands, each boasting secluded and relatively untouched beaches. Whether snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters, sunbathing on pristine sands, or simply appreciating the surrounding natural beauty, the day unfolded as a blissful retreat. Our animated tour guide added a touch of fun to the experience, ensuring laughter and beautiful memories throughout the day.

Krabi, Thailand, revealed a world of wonders that allowed us to immerse ourselves in both the cultural heritage and the awe-inspiring natural landscapes. Each day tour provided a glimpse into the remarkable beauty of this region, leaving us with cherished memories and a profound appreciation for the unspoiled charm of Thailand.

[scedabroad]

Visiting the Philippines

Before leaving Asia I visited the Philippines with my dad, as he is friends with a couple who live there and invited us to visit them.

The Philippines consists of more than 7,600 islands. We were on the largest and most populous island, Luzon, which is where Manila is located. My dad’s friends whom we stayed with reside outside of Tagaytay, a city that is technically less than two hours south of Metro Manila, but with Philippine traffic it takes longer than that.

I thought Vietnam had crazy traffic, but getting around there was much easier than in the Philippines. My dad’s friends have a hired driver because the roads are honestly insane to navigate there. In addition to cars and motorbikes, the popular modes of transportation that locals use in the Philippines are Jeepneys and tricycles. Jeepneys are essentially the public buses that people can easily hop on and off, and they’re often decorated to be flashy and colorful. They can get quite very crowded, though; we saw several that had people seated on the roof and hanging out of the back. Tricycles are basically motorcycles that have been outfitted with covered sidecars to transport more passengers. These are also often colorful and overflowing with people. While it is cool to see these forms of transportation that are unique to the Philippines, they contributed a lot to the difficult traffic.

Despite spending many hours in the car, our hosts showed us around to some great sites. Tagaytay overlooks Taal Volcano, an active volcano that erupted as recently as 2020. One day we took a boat out on Taal Lake to see the Volcano Island. Due to the volcanic activity this island is supposed to be closed to inhabitants, but people still live there to farm and fish and preserve their homes.

We also went to a beach further south to swim. The water was very clear and calm, making for a pleasant swim. The beach we were at also had boats and water toys available, so we road a banana boat out to sea that allowed us to see more of the coastline and feel some sense of adventure.

For our last day we visited Metro Manila to see some historic sites. We went to Fort Santiago, which provides a lot of insight into colonial history. There is also a museum on site there about José Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines who was executed in 1896 for his role in inspiring the revolution against the Spanish rule. We also visited several churches. The majority of Filipinos are Catholic so there are many beautiful churches around.

Of course I cannot forget to cover the food. Filipino food is AMAZING and I am so sad that it is not easy to find where I live in the US. I left the Philippines well-fed with a stomach full of Halo-halo, Adobo, Chicharon, Lanzones, Mangoes, Pomelo, Sinigang, Lumpia, Kare-kare, Pancit, Milkfish, Bibingka, and Buko Pie. This is not Filipino food, but we also got KBBQ as a treat and it was only about $10 USD. One of the things I will miss most about SE Asia is the availability of incredible food.

Overall I really enjoyed the Philippines and was glad we got to stay with people who live there to see some things that the average tourist would not. Besides the sites and food that I wrote about I also loved how warm and welcoming Filipinos were, and I would love to go back some day. Our hosts recommended Palawan or Boracay for the most beautiful spots so those are now on my bucket list.

[scedabroad]

Twenty first blog

This week went by incredibly fast, but each day seemed to pass so slowly.

On Monday and Tuesday, I did very little on both days. I happened to have a long series of meetings with my organization on Tuesday of varying subject matter. As usual, I partook in the student help sessions provided every Tuesday (as well as Thursday and Friday).

Wednesday was a bit more interesting as the director had helped organize a rugby training session with a local professional rugby team. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see any of the players, but we did get to train with some of the trainers that train with the players regularly. The kids seemed to like it for the most part, which is really all that matters when we do these events.

On Thursday, we again had a very long series of meetings (followed by the scheduled homework aid for the local kids). Afterwards, we had a session especially for the fathers of the kids that usually attend events. This was the first time we had an event like this because normally it is usually only mothers that come by the location to talk with the workers/helpers. We played pétanque with the dads and had a little barbecue setup

On Friday, I had another average day, much the same as Tuesday. It was slightly exciting because it was our last day before departing for a camping trip that would span from the 27th to the 29th at the Chateau de Castille.

On Saturday, I and four other volunteers accompanied two students for the walk to the chateau. As expected, the kids were quite difficult to walk with and would constantly demand typical questions that a kid would ask during a long hike. Once we finally got there, the kids remained stalwart in being a general bother to us adults - much to our delight.

On Sunday, we had a mock set of Greek games with one of the volunteers serving as a commentator/narrator to help guide the teams. Later, we did something called accrobranche, essentially an obstacle course that you do suspend in trees while attached to a safety cord. I thought it was super fun, but it was quite difficult to do at some times.

On Monday, we had our final day of camp. We went to the beach and saw flamingoes in the wild(I) - sometimes | forget that animals in the zoo exist in the wild as well.

[scedabroad]

Our next stop was Siem Reap. We took a 6 hour bus from the capital to Siem Reap and one could instantly see the difference between the two cities. Due to its many cultural and ancient attractions, Siem Reap is built much more western and developed compared to its capital counterpart. It is obvious that because of the larger revenue of tourism, it receives a lot more of the funding.

While in Siem Reap, we got to enjoy a tour of a floating village, which add the time that we visited (dry season) was in fact not floating. The tour guide, Tom, originally came from a similar village and therefore was able to give lots of helpful insights while showing us around. One thing I noticed especially here is how forthcoming the villagers were. Because their livelihood depends on the revenue from the tours, they are very friendly with us and we even spoke with a class of students that were learning English so that they could practice. I loved this experience because I really felt like I got the real insight into what life in these villages look like and I knew exactly where my money was going.

The next morning, we started our day with a sunrise tour of Angkor Wat which is an impressive archaeological site and a testament to the architectural and engineering prowess of the Khmer Empire. This massive temple complex, built between the 9th and 15th centuries, stands as a remarkable historical relic rather than a mystical wonderland.

Approaching Angkor Wat, you'll notice its sheer size and the scale of its construction and as you explore the temple complex, you'll witness the remnants of a once-thriving civilization. The main structure of Angkor Wat consists of a series of courtyards and galleries, built with sandstone blocks. The walls are adorned with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from ancient myths, historical events, and everyday life during the Khmer era. While some of these carvings have withstood the test of time, many have suffered from erosion and damage.

Around where the temple lies, many other temples have also been erected that may not meet its impressive sight but definitely where as historically important.