Congratulations!

Congratulations to boyfriend for his successful defense of his PhD!  I guess I haven't mentioned it, but attending his defense was my inspiration for this month-long trip to Europe.  I hardly need an excuse to travel, but this one was an extra special reason to hop on a plane.

Dr. Boyfriend! :)

I couldn't be prouder of all the hard work he did, and I couldn't be happier for him that it is finally over!  To celebrate we are going to Vienna next week for a few days, as I mentioned in my last post.  It will be the perfect chance to get away and for boyfriend to reward himself for a job well done!

My contribution to the party last night was brownies. I figured I would add an American touch to the event.  Too bad boyfriend only has a small microwave/oven; I still managed to get the job done.  I knew that this double-yolked egg was good luck while baking!

Apart from the brownies most things at the party were German, which made for a wonderful spread of food which you can see below!

I better get back to school work, but look for Vienna updates soon!

Sunny Luxembourg?

Once I again I have fallen back into my school routine and forgotten to write about all of my adventures in Europe.  Luxembourg has actually been sunny lately, which has also led to my failure to blog -- who wants to be at a computer when you could be going for a run in the sun?

But, just as I started planning a jog for this afternoon the weather suddenly turned into this again:

Oh well, it comes with the territory. I always forget just how much it rains in this area; I even forgot to pack my rain jacket this time. Luckily boyfriend is always prepared with an umbrella to keep me dry!

I don't have so much to update except an upcoming trip to Vienna! We haven't been so touristy in Luxembourg since boyfriend has been here for almost four years, but we have planned a trip to Vienna for four days at the end of the month! I'm so excited to return for the first time as an adult and boyfriend is looking forward to his first visit. Can't wait!

So far we have booked flights from Luxembourg, a hotel in the city center and ballet tickets at the state opera house! I will write more about our plans soon!

One Year Ago

During the semester I am really bad at posting, and since the semester started again yesterday I can't promise that I won't disappear again for a while. However, being abroad for January will certainly help remind me to post since every day is an adventure!

I meant to write this yesterday since January 7th is Ethiopian Christmas. (Melkam Genna! መልካም ገና!) If you don't know about the ridiculously confusing calendar in Ethiopia, here is a little more about it.  December 7, 2011 (one year ago yesterday) was also the day I left my town in Ethiopia (more about that sad sad day here).  It's hard to believe it's been a year since I left, but at the same time it almost feels like it was so long ago that it was a dream.  Having my Ethiopia pup around certainly helps to reassure myself that it was reality.

I can't deny that this one-year anniversary brought tears to my eyes. I miss all of the wonderful things about life in Ethiopia, and yet I easily forget the hardships in those moments.  I made phone calls to the two Ethiopians I still keep in touch with a year later, my work friend Yibeltal, and my high school student-turned-sister, Aregach.  It is amazing how my Amharic comes back while I'm on the phone just as the memories come flooding back as well.  

The children on my street the day I left (I'm in the background)

I miss it. I wish I could have done more. I want to visit as often as possible. However, I know deep down that I'll never have that again. I'll live abroad again, and I'll have adventures and connect with local people. But I'll never have Dangila back.

My mom appropriately sent me this picture yesterday that she took in Florida.  I think it accurately depicts my state of mind, and state of heart; so far away but so close at heart.