So this week I must digress a bit. Christmas is just around the corner. And finals are literally knocking at the door (aka I have two finals tomorrow). So I will take a small break from my travel tales to honor the request of my mcom professor for this Christmas/finals season (as a side note, I really don't understand why we have to combine those two): find someone more stressed than you (if that is possible), do something nice for them, and write about it in your blog. To be honest, it shouldn't have taken the request of my professor for me to think of doing a simple task like that, especially during the holiday season. But I am glad he made the request.
I didn't do anything extravagant. In fact, I should have done more. I simply lent a listening ear to a friend who needed one. I was swamped - I had a paper due the next day plus five finals to start studying for. But I could tell my friend needed someone to talk to, even though she didn't ask. I may not have received a whole lot of sleep that night, but hopefully I made a friend feel a little better. I'm not great at giving advice, but I can listen. But it goes to show how what they always tell you is true - an act of service can be just the simplest thing. And the other thing they always tell you is also true - if you want to be happy, forget about yourself in the service of others. Finals are beyond stressful, but I went to bed that night feeling a little bit better.
So for all those out there suffering through finals right now, here's some advice: take a moment to find someone more stressed than you (if that's possible), and do just a little something for them. I promise it will help. And good luck!
Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Sunday, December 8, 2013
A City with History
Next stop - Germany. We made a stop in Dresden to visit the Volkswagen Factory - a very impressive building. Then it was on to Berlin for a couple days.
A few significant events happened while in Berlin. First - it was Marriott round two! A truly lovely thing for exhausted travelers. We also had to bid farewell to our handsome Italian bus driver Christian, as we would be flying to Russia and then flying home. We had become quite good friends with him - multiple 8 hour bus rides will do that to you I guess. We also had a business visit to the Coca-Cola Factory which was interesting.
Berlin is simply and wonderfully full of history. We walked all over exploring the different sights. We visited the Holocaust Memorial and went inside the museum - a neat but solemn experience. I loved seeing the Brandenburg Gate. We took some great model shots in front of it and stopped to watch some impressive street performers. We also visited Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall. It's pretty incredible to think of all the stories and secrets the city must hold. The Reichstag Building was another beautiful spot.
By this point in the trip, we were all starting to feel the effects of attempting 10 countries in 30 days. We found ourselves lagging a bit in our explorations, heading back to the hotel a bit earlier at night, and at times attempting to nap on large rocks found at a park (if that tells you anything). But we still got to enjoy a lot of Berlin!
I was up late our last night in Berlin - repacking my bag for the flight to Russia. My souvenir collection took some creative distribution and redistribution to finally get my bags under the weight limit. But don't worry - we made it! (I was glad I did it in the hotel room rather than on the airport floor like others were forced to do...)
Hard to believe there is only one city left to blog about.
A few significant events happened while in Berlin. First - it was Marriott round two! A truly lovely thing for exhausted travelers. We also had to bid farewell to our handsome Italian bus driver Christian, as we would be flying to Russia and then flying home. We had become quite good friends with him - multiple 8 hour bus rides will do that to you I guess. We also had a business visit to the Coca-Cola Factory which was interesting.
Berlin is simply and wonderfully full of history. We walked all over exploring the different sights. We visited the Holocaust Memorial and went inside the museum - a neat but solemn experience. I loved seeing the Brandenburg Gate. We took some great model shots in front of it and stopped to watch some impressive street performers. We also visited Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall. It's pretty incredible to think of all the stories and secrets the city must hold. The Reichstag Building was another beautiful spot.
By this point in the trip, we were all starting to feel the effects of attempting 10 countries in 30 days. We found ourselves lagging a bit in our explorations, heading back to the hotel a bit earlier at night, and at times attempting to nap on large rocks found at a park (if that tells you anything). But we still got to enjoy a lot of Berlin!
I was up late our last night in Berlin - repacking my bag for the flight to Russia. My souvenir collection took some creative distribution and redistribution to finally get my bags under the weight limit. But don't worry - we made it! (I was glad I did it in the hotel room rather than on the airport floor like others were forced to do...)
Hard to believe there is only one city left to blog about.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Clean Beds and Fairy Tales
We thought we had died and gone to heaven when we arrived in Prague. After weeks of hostels, pulling up to the Marriott left us all a bit giddy. Towels, comfortable beds, clean sheets, clean carpet, two to a room - we were living large. Funny how you come to appreciate the little things (like free towels).
But besides the hotel, Prague itself was beautiful. We went into Old Town Square that first night. The church looked like something out of a storybook, and the astronomical clock tower was very impressive lit up against the night sky. I loved exploring the city next day. So much character, and the whole city reminded me of a fairytale. A guy in our group had served his mission in the Czech Republic, so he was able to give us a little tour of the city. The Charles Bridge was one of my favorite spots. As you cross the bridge, more and more of the city becomes visible as you turn around to look. Another favorite was Prague Castle. We went as a whole group to visit the castle, and it offered gorgeous views of the city. We had so much fun taking pictures and hanging out. It's amazing how close you can get with people you have never met before in 30 days.
We also had one of my favorite business visits while in Prague as well. We visited Pricewaterhouse Coopers. The office is beautiful, and the speakers gave a great overview of the company and work environment.
Yet another stunning city! Prague was a dream!
But besides the hotel, Prague itself was beautiful. We went into Old Town Square that first night. The church looked like something out of a storybook, and the astronomical clock tower was very impressive lit up against the night sky. I loved exploring the city next day. So much character, and the whole city reminded me of a fairytale. A guy in our group had served his mission in the Czech Republic, so he was able to give us a little tour of the city. The Charles Bridge was one of my favorite spots. As you cross the bridge, more and more of the city becomes visible as you turn around to look. Another favorite was Prague Castle. We went as a whole group to visit the castle, and it offered gorgeous views of the city. We had so much fun taking pictures and hanging out. It's amazing how close you can get with people you have never met before in 30 days.
We also had one of my favorite business visits while in Prague as well. We visited Pricewaterhouse Coopers. The office is beautiful, and the speakers gave a great overview of the company and work environment.
Yet another stunning city! Prague was a dream!
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain
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