New Year’s in Europe: A Recap

I’ve returned from my 10-day adventure abroad and I can say with confidence that it did not fall short of expectation. I could write a 10-post series on the trip, but I thought I’d spare the details and recap the highlights. So here goes:

New Town Hall (Munich, Germany)

I flew in Munich, Germany on an overnight flight (neighbored by the dreaded “crying child”) and met my group in the airport. We spent the first day on a walking tour and getting situated in our hotel. Day two was New Year’s Eve, and we spent it doing more touring. At night, myself and a few others headed to the city center to kick-off 2011. Though the night started off fairly orderly, as the hours went by, the streets descended into absolute chaos. Fireworks were shot recklessly into crowds and even directly at people (two in my group were hit in the face and body with them). The scene bore an uncanny resemblance to the New Year’s I spent in Amsterdam just two years prior. You can check out a quick clip of the Munich mayhem here (no sound, sorry). After midnight, we checked out a few clubs and made our way back to the hotel.

Innsbruck, Austria

The following morning we headed for Venice (it would be my second time there), but stopped in Innsbruck, Austria, on the way. Innsbruck had my favorite scenery of all the places I’ve ever visited. There is something surreal about being surrounded by snow-capped mountains that feel as if they’re an arm’s length away. I’m not sure that anyone could imagine what that was like without actually experiencing it themselves. Though we only spent an afternoon there, it was the most memorable afternoon I had.

Our Gondalier in Venice

Once we arrived in Venice, we settled into the hotel for the night (it was already late). A water-taxi the next morning would take us to the city where we spent the day on a guided tour, “getting lost,” and testing the waters on a gondola. Just as the two previous times I’ve been in Italy, and one previous time in Venice, I find that either Italians have very limited tolerance for Americans, or it’s in their culture to brush off good customer service. I myself am Italian, so this was quite discouraging. Nonetheless, it was a great experience to be back.

Juliet's Balcony

On the way to Lucerne, Switzerland, we made a quick stop in Verona, Italy, to see Juliet’s balcony, along with all of the letters people leave her (a bigger tourist attraction than I anticipated). Switzerland was a beautiful country with very nice people, but it was a great way to break the wallet. Everything was outrageously expensive (around $5-6 American for a slice of pizza). Unfortunately, I had saved most of my shopping for Switzerland, so I exceeded my budget a bit, and though I don’t like to make exceptions, I figured this trip was a fair one.

Heidelberg Castle, Germany

We finished the trip in Heidelberg and Frankfurt of Germany. Both cities are rich in history (though Frankfurt was all reconstructed post-WWII). I spent these last few days a bit ill, so I have less to say about them, though there was still plenty to see. The highlights of these cities were Heidelberg’s Castle, and Frankfurt’s pedestrian area (packed with shoppers even on the rainiest of days).

The trip was a wonderful experience, and though it will be my last time traveling to Europe for quite some time, I will look to this trip and my last one as reminders of the great experiences I’ve had as a young adult. And now, as I get myself into graduate school, find a job, and settle down, perhaps they will also serve as motivation to find time to travel once I have a stable life!

Anatomy of a College Grad’s Night Table

Unpacking from college after graduation has been quite a feat. Suddenly, things that I could temporarily store away over the summer or winter now either need to find a place in my cozy bedroom or be thrown out (*gasp*). I am currently on Day 2 of rummaging through my college life and there is still plenty to get through. My drawers are packed with things that are far from necessary. To my surprise, it’s not the clothes which have been a struggle, but all the other things which are difficult to make the keep-or-toss decision about; the printer, the hundreds of loose papers/documents/receipts I’ve accumulated, my intrusively-large projection TV, etc.. In all of the chaos that is this unpacking process, some items in particular have proved themselves valuable enough to make their way to my night stand- the last place I see at night and the first place I see in the morning. And so, for you, I break down the anatomy of this college graduate’s night stand:

 

1. Graduation Mementos. Don’t let yourself forget about your accomplishment in graduating! Surround yourself with things that serve as reminder of your achievement, at least for a while. Leave out some cards to flick through if you’re ever feeling down about how things are going for you post-graduation. Hang your tassel in your room or car. Frame some photos of your graduation day and place them around your bedroom and house. Be proud!

2. Professional Magazine/Journal. For graduates of the social sciences, along with many other fields, it is important to keep up on your professional happenings! Especially for those who seek entry into graduate programs, it’s vital to stay on top of research and current event in your area of study. Join any professional organizations (in my case, the American Psychological Association) to boost your awareness of your field and your resume.

3. Career Tools & Resources. In my case, it’s a CD pack for improving your interview and vital conversational skills. There are also countless resources on the web and in books for building your speaking and presentation skills. Such knowledge can help you in several ways, whether you’re pursuing a job, graduate school, or otherwise using skills of persuasion. If you know how to present yourself in the best light possible, there are no limits to your potential in your professional interactions.

4. Book. Read, read, and read some more. Not only may you have more time to do it while you’re searching for a job, but it keeps your mind running. You know that saying “If you don’t use it, you lose it?” Well, you probably won’t forget how to read, but unless you continue to stimulate your mind, chances are you’ll begin to perform other mental processes more slowly. So pick up a book for pleasure and keep ‘em coming! I recommend the best-selling author Augusten Burroughs.

5. iPod. Enough said.

6. Puzzle. While reading may cover more verbal skills, you may want to stimulate your mind in other ways while you’re out of school. For example, you can start doing a daily Sudoku in your local newspaper or at WebSudoku.com. My Rubik’s Cube was a challenge to solve, and now it’s an increasingly-difficult challenge to decrease my solve time. Puzzles like this, which are renewable or ever-changing are ideal because they constantly test your mind’s ability to adapt.

7. Brain Stress Ball. A simple reminder that, even in tough times, you are gifted with a brain that pushed you through college. No matter where you are headed, or how long it will take to get there, you have the power to achieve your dreams.

 

BONUS: For a look at what this night table looked like on Day 1 of unpacking, check out this photo.