Monday, December 24, 2012

Last Days of the Good Life

It's hard to believe that a week ago I was spending my first day in Morocco and today I am sitting in my bed in America uploading my final photos from traveling and reliving the excitement one more time.  Being home these last few days has been really hard for me.  I miss Paris so much already, and I am having trouble adjusting to the idea of having nothing to do for a whole month.  

I had the best final trip with my friend Jen in Morocco.  We experienced a serious culture change, and saw some pretty amazing parts of Marrakech.  We held snakes, monkeys, and even got to ride a camel.  It was so much fun to walk around the markets and see things that don't exist in the U.S. and to see how completely different people's lives are there.  My favorite part of the trip was our hot air balloon ride over the desert to watch the sun rise.  Our experience in Marrakech was a little difficult at times but it was incredibly worth it for all that we got to do and see.  



















After we got back to Paris, I spent my last day visiting my favorite parts of the city and saying goodbye to the place I have called home for four months.  It was really hard for me to know that I was no longer going to be able to wake up in my apartment with all of Paris outside my doorstep.  I went from having so many things to do and see every day to sitting in my little suburban town in Massachusetts wondering how I ever was happy living here.  I am hoping that I will eventually stop missing everything about Paris as I get more used to being home, but it will definitely take a while to get used to this huge change in my life.  

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Week from Hell

This past week has been crazy and exhausting.  Last weekend I went to London and then I came back to Paris for my last three days of class and finals.  I had to present at our student conference on friday, and then I had two finals today.  I also had three final papers to hand in this week, so I have been stressed and sleep deprived for days.  On top of all this, my best friend Jen has come to stay with me because her study abroad program in London ended two weeks before mine does, so I have also been hanging out with her and going sight seeing.  Finally it is all over though and tomorrow we are going to Morocco for our last trip before flying back to the U.S. on Friday.  

Being in London for the second time was much less stressful because I only had a few places that I wanted to see and I am now familiar with the city.  I rode the London Eye at night which was beautiful and I went to the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels exhibit.  I also did a tour of the Harry Potter set at WB Studios which was the absolute highlight of my trip.  I got to walk around Buckingham Palace and take some good pictures as well.