All the way home I'll be warm...
JollyAt the end of my last entry, I wrote how I had one last mega-trip of the summer left -- and that was to Latvia and Russia! What a blast
It was so fascinating to go there especially since it was the 40th anniversary of the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia (Wiki & Video ) when I went to Praha only a few days later [21.08] 
But the people in Russia were lovely. I memorized the alphabet before I went so I could get me and my friend around without a hitch, and I communicated with them through some mix of Czech-Russian which I made up but all the people I spoke to immediately burst out into smiles (well, most of them) and helped us out
Luckily, I could understand about 60-70% of what they were saying so 
Latvia was really great too. It's a country that I think most people wouldn't think about going to, but I highly recommend it. I'd love to go back and explore outside of Riga. Riga was great in that we were basically the only tourists there. Great food
nice people. Fun city to wander around in 
We spent over 6 hours in the Occupation Museum which was incredible! It was so thorough and free! I couldn't believe it.After that, I went to the Czech Republic to see my family
We went up to the mountains (Teplicko-Adrspasske skaly) for a week, and then up into Poland for a day to Wrocław and Kłodzko.Since then, I've been studying abroad. That's coming to an end now too! I'm going to be bawling
I love everyone here so, so much 
I also went to Praha a few days ago, completely last minute, to see my friends & family and just be a tourist -- something I've always wanted to do! 
Success.But I have to admit.. I'm really excited to go home and play in the snow, see my doggies/family/friends, drive the Scoobadoo in the snow -FINALLY-
and chill [literally..].I also bought a ton of amazing books off Amazon which I can't wait to tear into, and I finally got some RallyArmor mud flaps!
Can't wait to put them on Merry Christmas & all the best in 2009!!
Happy
Cheerful
I keep looking around the room trying to figure out how and when I'll start moving things, what to move them into 
(boxes are NOT going to fit in my car haha..), and what to toss (which will end up being more than I'd like).
) The fortwo is definitely successful here. I've seen at least five or six cruising around the past couple days. Bizarre, but it makes sense; it's just another novelty for people here. They do look cuter here than they do in Europe because they really stick out 
Great story 
haha. Good luck with finals, for those who have em, and have a wonderful summer! 
The semester is already more than half done 
This year has already been so crazy 
) Here's to hoping that being a girl will work in my favor 
(they want 50/50 distribution in their audience)
From speaking with some past participants, I've learned that much of the two years is filled with idle time, and that bothers me. I need to be doing something all the time. Anyone have any experience?
