BACK TO REALITY

So the last days in DR went by way too fast. I soaked in all the sun I possibly could and took nice swims in the sea. Can you believe I was taking a morning swim and lay on the beach on Wednesday and now I'm back in Utica and battling approximately -17 degrees. Big jump in degrees there compared to about +30… Not mad at all. I started to actually get pretty okay with going back because traveling that much is no vacation if you thought that. Well, the last 12 days was as close to vaycay as I could come, but before that it was all traveller mode on and that ain't easy every time. I'm probs going to do a post on stuff I realized during my travels, because there was lots of shit going through my head. I don't know if that's part of finding yourself or soul searching or whatever, but it was relieving and even rewarding some times.

Classes started on Thursday and I'm actually pretty excited about most of them. I'm taking Publication Design, which is mostly graphic design and learning InDesign, then Digital Photography/Advanced News Photography, where we learn about Photoshop and taking pictures that tell stories. Also I have Public Relation Cases, where we go through various cases in PR, Social Media, in which I haven't had a class yet and then PR Writing, which seems a bit boring, but it's probably very rewarding in the end in terms of learning to be a better writer. Plus gym classes in volleyball, yoga and aquatics maybe and later on tennis and golf. It's going to be a packed semester and it will go by so fast, but hopefully it will be awesome!

Tonight we're going to cheer for our hockey guys and then out later on :)

Clothes/Shoes/Accessories Exchange year in the US Getting fit Pics Studieliv Studying Traveling

BEACH LIFE

5 more days of this…. ♥

Exchange year in the US Pics Traveling

SURFING AT MACAO BEACH

Today I completed another thing on my bucket list (updated again); surfing. I took a 2 hour group lesson through Macao Surf Camp which was $95. Even though it was a group lesson it felt like a one-on-one, so totally worth the money! The pick-up was on time, we got to Macao Beach and didn't loose that much time before we were learning the basics of surfing and then we were in the water already. It is so hard, but I never really imagined it would be easy either. My balance sucks from before, so that part was a bit hard to control at the same time I was trying to get up and get my feet in the right position and so on. I thought it would take much more leg power than it actually did, but the place where you need power is your arms and shoulders (which I don't have atm). You really do like a slow push-up when you get up and try and balance yourself on the board and stand on it and then control the direction and surf the wave. Also you need it when getting up on the board (and abs!!).

For a first timer I think I did fairly well actually. Well, I did fall off the board the couple of first times I tried to stand, but with a positive attitude and not giving up I actually managed to surf a couple of full waves. (Please note that I do not speak surf language). And the feeling was just awesome! Everyone was so supportive too, cheering from behind me and on the beach. Really felt like a champion! Haha. So, all in all it was an awesome experience, and I will do it again at some point. And I can recommend Macao Surf Camp dearly since they were very professional and tried to really help and give advice. Thank you all!

P.S. Tomorrow I will start ticking off another thing from the bucket list; scuba diving certificate. EXCITING!

Felt like a champion afterwards!

Thank you Natsumi so much for the photos! <3

Exchange year in the US Pics Traveling

Life in Paradise: Punta Cana

So our stay in Miami came and ended fast. Maclu left for Peru and I once again realized how much I hate goodbyes. I don't like to use the word hate since it's such a strong word, but if I hate anything it's goodbyes, especially when you don't know when you'll see the other person again. The wifi sucked at the hostel in Miami so it was a bit hard to update anything. I don't know what to say about Miami though. I was a bit let down I think, maybe my expectations were too high? Maybe it was the cloudy weather? I don't know, but I didn't get that "this is an awesome place" feeling. And also it was rather expensive there. Maybe I just have to give it another shot at another time :)

We arrived in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic yesterday and fell in love already at the airport. We checked in at the hostel we had booked and... You say what? A hostel? Yes, there is actually a cheaper way of enjoying a paradise that is known for it's all-inclusive hotel complexes. We live at the Bavaro Hostel, in Bavaro, just between some of the big hotels and enjoy the same beaches and activities as the other tourists who definitely do not pay only $240 bucks in total for a 12 night stay. The hostel is very clean, the atmosphere is good and it's definitely better than many hostels I've ever stayed in. I can with my wanderlust-travel-cheap-heart recommend this as an accommodation option for young travelers who are on a budget.

After we checked in we put bikinis on and headed for he beach. So wonderful! We got back to the hostel sometime in the afternoon and we lived with a couple of Swedish guys in the same room and decided to go for dinner to this nice Asian restaurant. After that we drank some and went for a beach party. The party and DJ was awesome! Maybe not the best party I've ever been to, but still a very nice one. The atmosphere was so chill. Me and Natsumi had been up for like 22 hours at 3 AM when we decided it was time to go home and sleep, and oh so nice that sleep was! We also made a new friend at the party, this stray(?)dog, who was one of the nicest dogs I've ever encountered. It followed us home and we fed it a little bit and it aches in my heart that I can't take it home.

Natsumi on the beach yesterday 

Today we headed for the beach again. We were floating in the clear water and just talking about how lucky we are that we could come here. Such a nice place! (Even though I still prefer Thailand). After a while Natsumi gave up and headed back to the hostel and I stayed at the beach for maybe two more hours. I started reading The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho and I can't believe I haven't read any of his books before. I'm also reading another book of his as an e-book; Veronika Decides to Die. Both very intriguing and interesting. So I'm going to continue the rest of my days here and will try and update the blog too! :)

Exchange year in the US Pics Traveling

Miami South Beach & Key West

I have been in South Beach in Miami for a couple of days with the girls. Maclu is leaving tomorrow back to Peru (huge sad face inserted here) and me and Natsumi still have one more day here. It has been cloudy and rainy, but very warm. I really can't wait to get to Punta Cana though. I have so much fun things planned and can't wait to get some sun (or at least some of it). Now here's a couple of pictures from the past days here and from my trip to Key West. Key West was cute and awesome, but there was way too many tourists with Hawaii shirts, khaki slacks and souvenir caps.

Southernmost point in the states

1. 7-mile bridge to the Florida Keys from Miami. 2. Ernest Hemingway's house. 3. Beach. 4. Beautiful hotel. 5. Key West sign. 6. Handmade fabrics warehouses. 7. Port. 8. Key Lime pie. 9. Windy and cloudy.

Natsumi and me at LIV Nightclub in Miami.

Beachy photos at South Beach.

Delish gelato for dessert.

Exchange year in the US Pics Traveling

New Orleans

Jazz. Blues. Hurricane drinks. Swamp tour. Party people. Fun times. The Beach. Bourbon Street. Aussie boys. French Quarter. "Fake" beignets at Café du Monde. Howlin' Wolf - The Den. Jambalaya. Po'Boy. Crawfish. Frenchman Street. Spotted Cat Music Club. Awesome drummer. Saxophone tunes. Too many streetcar rides.

A piece of my heart was left there, and I definitely have to go back there to retrieve it on a later occasion.

Memories for life, for sure!

Exchange year in the US Party/Happenings Traveling

San Francisco-Santa Barbara-Hollywood-Santa Monica

Hej på er alla! And Happy New Year!!!

So so sorry I haven't blogged, I've just been lazy honestly. Hehe.

Så San Francisco kom och gick, blev kär i staden, men den tog nog inte iväg mitt hjärta ännu. Vi gick omkring i staden massor och såg olika delar och hade en ganska händelselös jul med noll julfiilis. Kan också ha haft och göra med att de flesta jag var med firar jul först 7 januari (WTF?). Jag och MariaClaudia lämnade San Fran fredagen 27.12 och satt i en buss typ nio timmar för att komma ner till Santa Barbara. Det stället fick behålla en del av mitt hjärta för gud sådan söt fin stad. Rekommenderar varmt för dem som gillar chill beachhäng, organisk mat och småstäder. Det där med organisk mat är verkligen stort i Kalifornien och städerna är byggda för en hel del aktiviteter; surfing, rollerblades, skateboarding, cycling etc etc. Me likey! Vi var i Santa Barbara bara två hela dagar men gud så skönt det var där och så roligt. Vi träffade också världens härligaste brasilianska kille, eftersom vi delade rum med honom i hostellet vi bodde på.

Efter några dagar av beach häng började vår hud visa tecken av en tan, men tyvärr lämnade vi stället för att spendera en dag i Hollywood. Det stället var minsann lite galet, men helt kul att se. Vi tog en tur runt Beverly Hills, Sunset Blvd. och Rodeo Drive, men ärligt sagt var det nog inte så bra. Det var okej då vi inte betalade så mycket och vi hade ju bara en dag på oss att se allt så på det viset var det okej för annars skulle vi nog inte ha sett lika mycket. Men de där turerna "lovar" att man ser homes of celebs och jo, det gör man ju, men mest deras höga häckar. På kvällen träffade vi några finska killar och en del folk från Michigan och några andra och vi gick ut till någon bar. Inte så hejsan kväll, men helt chill.

På nyårsafton tog vi oss ner till Santa Monica och låg på beachen igen även om det var aningen kallare än i SB. Till kvällen planerade vi in ett nyårsevent som ordnades för dem som var på hostellet. Det verkade kul och vi var lite lata med att försöka hitta något annat. För det mesta väntade vi bara på att saker skulle hända så det blev lite tråkigt och när vi finally kom ut till en av klubbarna var det ganska skit. Men sen igen så hade jag nog inte förvänta mig något makabert heller så jag var okej. Ingen nyårsfiilis i år riktigt. Idag åkte vi till Venice Beach och kollade sandkvaliteten där. Helt okej och fartfyllt ställe. Gillade nästan mera än Santa Monica beach, även om det i Venice hängde en hel del "epämääräistä porukkaa" också.

Nu ska jag fixa mig ready för bio, för vi ska gå och kolla Wolf of Wall Street (med Leo DiCaprio). Jag har läst halva boken som filmen är baserad på och den är awesome, men hann aldrig avsluta den innan jag kom hit. Imorgon åker vi bort från Cali, ner till New Orleans och möter upp Natsumi. Därefter är vi tre tjejer som reser i ca 1,5 vecka. Shall be fun! Adios!

I'll add pictures later so stay tuned! :)

Exchange year in the US Pics Traveling

Merry Christmas from San Francisco!

Happy holidays all! I have been in San Francisco for a couple of days now and I love it! I really have loved all the places I've visited so far, haha. I just like the atmosphere of the city and the views. I arrived to the hostel where Damir, Filip, Mai Anh and a couple of guys had arrived already. We slept for a little while and then me and a German guy, Nick, who's a friend of Damirs friend (complicated!) went for a walk around the city, but ended up walking to Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. There we saw sea lions! Haha. We met up the others at the Coit Tower and took some sunset pictures. On Monday we walked around in the Golden Gate Park and then we headed for the Golden Gate Bridge. It was pretty amazing even though it's only a bridge. We walked to the other side and back so it was a bit of a hike. When we came back to the hostel, Maclu had already arrived and a bit later Marcin, Evgenii and Hossam came to the hostel too. So we're really having a Utica College exchangies reunion here.

A happy meeting in a small room! :)

I found the closest I've come to rye bread and I am beyond happy!!

Today me, Damir and Vasilje went to Ocean Beach. It was too cold to swim or anything (windy), but the views were nice and the waves were just crazy. It is not recommended that anyone swims here, since it's easy to get dragged away with the stream, but there were some surfers that managed the waves pretty well. After the beach we headed for the pier's again and just walked around there. Tonight we're trying to go out somewhere. Merry Christmas! :)

Exchange year in the US Pics Traveling