As I write this from a petite classroom in Paris, bundled in layers of wool sweaters and counting the days until the city finally allows public buildings to turn on their central heating, I’ve realized that today marks one month exactly since my plane first touched down at the Charles de Gaulle airport. Dizzy on 48 hours of sleepless travel and complimentary Air France wine, I stumbled into the city of lights captivated by a singular fear that perhaps I’d…
Featured image: A canal in the heart of the city center. Studying abroad is something that has been on my radar since I was in the sixth grade when I attended my first college visit. I remember walking into the hallway where international relations and study abroad opportunities was centered at the University of Kentucky. There, I saw a bright green sign with the country flags of where all their students were currently studying; I can’t remember exactly how many countries…
Featured image: Smolny Cathedral (1748-1761) on the grounds of Smolny Institute for Noble Ladies. If this style looks familiar it is because the architect who designed and built The Winter Palace, Rastrelli, also spearheaded the design of this cathedral. As an interesting anecdote, the nearby Smolny Institute is notable in Russian cultural history as being a school for upper class women. In Russian, the word “Smolinska” (I think that’s right, it might also be “Smolinka” I can’t remember) carries the same…
As much as I have missed starting the new school year with the energy that accompanies Vassar in August, the transition to pumpkin spice lattes or to the autumn colors of the Hudson Valley, I must confess that I do not regret my choice to spend the first semester of my junior year in Italy! I tried to think of a great way to start this series of Far and Away blogs but since one of the most common questions…
If I had to sum up my first three weeks in Prague with one word, it would be “trdelník.” My Czech pronunciation leaves a lot to be desired, so I can’t tell you how to pronounce it (I’m still saying “turtleneck” in some type of undefined accent), but I can explain what it is: a cylindrical cake, cooked on a spit, dusted with cinnamon sugar and nuts and sometimes brushed with Nutella or filled with ice cream. In the tourist-packed…