How could I resist?

I had one month before school started back in San Francisco. My flight from Iceland took me into the heart of New York City, another very favorite city of mine. My boyfriend and I both have good friends in New York, so my first steps on US soil were very happy indeed. New York is where we left off originally to start our European adventures, so it seems only fitting that this is where they would end.

A few days later and I'm saying goodbye to my boyfriend for the thousandth time in the past year and a half of our long distance relationship, and saying goodbye to my east coast friends. Off to Michigan to visit my family!

Shortly after I arrived, my sister flew in from San Francisco...time to have one last little adventure before it's back to the grind, back to real life. My grandma, now 91 and no longer driving, had decided to give us her car. What better way to get a car from the Midwest to the west coast than a crazy road trip to go see all the little bits of America I had always wanted to see?!?!

So off we went, my sister and I, on the open road on a cross country trip. First stop was Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. Awesome!!! It is truly an amazing sight and if you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it! Next was a trip to the magnificent Yellowstone National Park, where I got to see our famous geyser, Old Faithful, in all its glory. Yellowstone blew our minds, the Grand Prismatic Spring is definitely one of the most astounding sites I have ever seen...we felt like we were on Mars! 

Mt Rusmore, South Dakota

Old Faithful! Yellowstone National Park

little sister at the Grand Prismatic Spring

beautiful Yellowstone National Park, Montana

The drive through South Dakota, Montana and Washington were uneventful, yet gorgeous, with all kinds of fun road side attractions along the way. Right up my alley!

Oh yes, all the things a road trip is supposed to be! Next stop, Vancouver, BC to see a friend I had made in Germany...and also to check out the fair city itself. We've always wanted to go there, so why not! After a quick stop in Vancouver, we headed back south for a stop in Seattle, then to visit friends in Tacoma, then breezed through Portland....

Vancouver, BC

the famous Bob's Java Hut, Tacoma, Washington

 



...and then...at long last......back to San Francisco.
6 hours before classes are about to start!!!

As always....thank you Gilman Scholarship Program!!

http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program

How Iceland soothed my aching heart

Where to start? What to say? This will most likely be the last time I write on this blog. I'm not much of a blogger, if you can't tell by the 5 month lapse in postings here.

The last 5 months have been a complete blur. I meant to write so many times--I wanted to document each step in the process of coming back home...but time got away from me. And here it is, the beginning of a new year, 2012.

I left Germany to meet my boyfriend in Iceland. Wow, what an amazing way to take my mind off the heartache of leaving der Vaterland. Iceland was amazing, like being on the moon or in some sci fi movie. So much art and music and unique culture in that land. Truly amazing.

gorgeous Reykjavik sunset 

 Blue Lagoon geothermal spa in Grindavik

Gullfoss waterfall on  the Hvítá river   

lovely Reykjavik, Iceland

A week in Iceland is enough to make anybody feel better, especially if you take a day at the Blue Lagoon! We went camping and hiking, we saw Gullfoss the enormous waterfall and Geysir, the original geysir that all others were named after. We discovered the art and charm of Reykjavik.

And then I got ready to go home.

Once again, thank you to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship program, for helping me to have the adventure of a lifetime!

http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program

Oh wow. Here it is. My very last night in Germany. I really can't believe it. I already left Konstanz. I said goodbye to all my new friends and my favorite little German town. I was completely heartbroken when I left. Like a physical pain in my chest as the train was pulling away.

I took the train to Berlin, where I am visiting old friends and new. Saying more goodbyes. My heart felt much better once I stepped off the train in Berlin....I really love this town. So much culture, diversity, art and history. Great haircuts and sweet style. And vegan döner (a German delight created by Turkish immigrants in Berlin, traditionally meat only, but Berlin has it all)!!!! Whooo!

But, as my time here in Berlin is coming to an end as well, I feel the pain in my heart coming back. As hard as this year has been, I really had a great time and I really love it here in Germany. I know it won't be long till I come back. It can't be. You can't stay away from something you love for too long.........right?

I feel that same anxiety I felt over a year ago, lying in my bed in San Francisco, and knowing it would be the last time I would sleep in that bed in more than a year. Not knowing who I would meet, where I would go, where I would sleep next. Funny, but I have the same fear of going back home as I did of leaving.

So with pain in my heart and tears in my eyes, I'll get on the plane tomorrow night and leave Germany for good. Well at least for a while.

Buuuuuuuut, I got some traveling to do in the meantime, on the road again!!!

Next stop...Reykjavik, Iceland!!!

The Fernsehturm at dusk, Berlin

Crunch time

How am I supposed to study AND say goodbye to all my new friends at the same time????

This may be the hardest part of the year yet...in 2 weeks I will be gone.

It just hit me...

I just heard a language being spoken outside my window that I didn't recognize and I got sort-of butterflies in my stomach. I realized it was because I haven't heard a language I don't recognize in so long. I mean, there are lots of different accents and dialects around here, especially since I'm so close to Switzerland....but I just realized how much I miss living in a big city. As much as I love it here and really, really don't want to leave...it's gonna be good to be back in good ole San Francisco!!

the famous Haight/Ashbury, San Francisco

at the Albany Bulb, Albany, CA

an anti-war protest, San Francisco 2005

Bixby Bride, on Rt 1 near Big Sur, California

the rocky California coast, Rt 1

Only looking forward, seeing beautiful things ahead...

The Beginning of the End

On the morning of the 1st of July, I woke up and saw what day it was. The first thought that went through my head is, "This is the month that I have to leave".

At a get-together with friends the other night, we made a toast, and one person said, "To the beginning of the end"...I've never heard a truer, sadder statement.

It truly is the beginning of the end. Although my friends back home say, "Germany isn't going anywhere", which is true, they don't realize that what is happening right here, right now, in this place, with these people, will never, ever be like this again.

Here's to celebrating the beginning of the end of one of the greatest years of my life.

Stress

Oh man. Exams in two weeks. Leaving in 3. Going to Iceland. Have no money left. Boyfriend ran his car into a tree while trying to park today (he's not hurt, but the bumper on his car is officially dead and buried). Sister's car died too.

I have to pack. I have to send my stuff home (because I bought too much while I was here). I have to de-register with the city. Exmatriculate from the university. Do something (although I don't know what yet) with my papers from my job. Sign up for classes back home. Hopefully sell some of the junk I've acquired to new students coming in. Make an appointment with the Hausmeister (landlord). Find a new place to live back home. Find a job back home.

EXAMS IN TWO WEEKS. German exams.

Stress.

One thing at a time.

Exams..........AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!