​Obviously, we have all heard about Thanksgiving.  It is definitely one of the most recognized holidays in the US.  I was extremely excited to spend my first American Thanksgiving here.  Since I have family in the US, they invited me to go with them to New Jersey and spend the beautiful holiday with them.
 
To be honest, I really had no idea how much food there was going to be.  I remember seeing several episodes of “Friends” where they had Thanksgiving and they bragged about how much they had eaten, but I didn’t know what to expect.  The moment my uncle and aunt started telling me about all the food that was going to be at Thanksgiving my jaw started to drop!  We were invited to go to my cousins-in-law’s house, in Long Island.
 
We left New Jersey at about noon, because traffic can be bad, especially during holidays.  We got to Long Island at around 2:40 pm.  As soon as I entered the house, I thought to myself, “I’m doomed” – there was so much food.  From cheese, to crackers and hummus…and that was only the appetizer.  We started having small snacks, but then I thought to myself, I really shouldn’t eat that much because then I would not be able to eat the good stuff.  I was looking forward to the turkey, the yams, and, obviously, the stuffing.
 
Finally, the time came and we all sat down at the table.  Since it was my first Thanksgiving ever, they made me say a couple of words.  I said I was thankful for the opportunity that my parents have granted me of being here and that I was extremely blessed to be spending this Thanksgiving with loving and caring people.  There were a lot of people there.  It was us, a Japanese family, and the family that hosted the event.  It was a multicultural atmosphere, which made everything interesting and lively.
 
I tried the turkey with cranberry sauce, and let me tell you, it is definitely worth the calories and the bloating feeling that came along afterwards.  Of course I tried the yams – they were amazing… there is definitely a reason why Joey from Friends loves them so much.  I had a bit of stuffing, but that was not my thing.  I think it was a weird taste and well…I’d rather have other stuff.  At this point, I was already in a food coma, but I knew I had to be brave and make it through dessert, because dessert is always the best part.
 
Dessert time came along, and I had cheesecake which my aunt made.  IT WAS AMAZING!!  Seriously…I had so much cheesecake, I think I even had a sugar rush because of how much I had!  It was just a spectacular event.  It was all positive.  People kept telling stories and just smiling and laughing.  There were no negative moments, and that right there is what Thanksgiving leaves me.  It is one day to forget about all the problems that one may possibly have and just be with those you love and love you back; while enjoying the millions of calories you put in your body.  It is definitely an interesting and worthy experience.  I hope I get to spend more Thanksgivings in the USA and get more amazing food.  And for the record, I heard a couple of times throughout the night that Thanksgiving calories don’t count…Let’s see what my jeans think tomorrow morning.

I have been trying to keep the motto of doing something new everyday for the past couple of months. It has actually worked quite well because it has made me more confident about myself and about living away from home. Some things are a bit drastic, while others are just eating at a new restaurant or walking to someplace I have never been.
 
This time, I decided to do something I have always been scared of: heated yoga. I am a true yoga fan, but I usually do flow, Hatha, Iyengar and even Ashtanga; but I would never have the courage to try heated yoga because of what people had previously told me. So, what are all the things I had heard about heated yoga previously that scared me so much?  You can faint, it is really hot, your blood pressure could go low, you will lose a lot of energy, etc.  As you can imagine, I was quite unsure about it.  I decided to go to the place that I have always been to on Beacon Street which is called the Down Under School of Yoga.  They have great teachers and a great variety of yoga styles from beginners to advanced. I got there shaking and nervous, but at the same time excited, because there still was the possibility of enjoying heated flow and possibly coming back.
 
I got there, left my stuff in the locker, and went straight downstairs. I had my yoga mat with me and I was prepared with light clothes so I could move and at the same time not die from heat.  When the teacher got there, she seemed so nice and so relaxed, it made me feel very comfortable. When the class started, everyone began in child’s pose, which is the most basic pose for yoga. To be honest, all I could think of was the heat that was approaching me. The class continued and we carried on with more poses and flow movements. The heat started to increase, but I started liking it. I started sweating like I never had before, but I definitely felt a different type of therapy in my body and I felt the smoothness and elasticity with every movement.
 
I was so concentrated and relaxed that at a point I forgot completely about the heat and about the sweating, it was like it wasn’t even there. I felt completely restored after the workout and I definitely loved heated flow. I think it was a good thing that I finally motivated and encouraged myself into going, because as a yogi, you should be open to trying different disciplines within yoga. I do recommend this to everyone, especially if you are looking to relax and find inner peace. For those of you who have low blood pressure, definitely talk with your doctors before attending. For all those yogis that have always been afraid to try it like me, do not be afraid…it is definitely different than regular flow, but you will find the beauty within it and love every aspect of it.
 
 
Down Under School of Yoga
Drop in class for students : $16 

​Cambridge is always a good idea. Since my boyfriend came to Boston to visit me this past weekend we decided to enjoy and profit his time here as much as we could. We planned a whole afternoon in Cambridge where we could explore MIT, Harvard, Harvard Square, the Charles River, and, of course, the various good restaurants. 

​To get there we took the Red Line Train to Alewife - it was quite easy to get there. We got off at Kendall Square and made our first stop at MIT. We both were impressed at the architectural structure and design of MIT.  It is quite different from anything you have seen before and it is a must see. My boyfriend was also impressed with the weather. I told him that it would be very cold and he had to bring jackets and hoodies. Surprisingly enough, we were at 17º Celsius!! It was lovely! We walked inside a bookstore at MIT and we both bought interesting things (books, books, and more books). We started walking and before we knew it, we were already at Harvard. We both enjoyed Harvard and MIT, but we agreed they are quite different and uniquely special.
 

We took pictures by the Charles River and keep walking inside retro stores. Eugenio loves vintage stuff, especially if it has to do with technology; thankfully, Cambridge had a lot of that ready for him. We had lunch at a place called El Jefe’s Taquería. It was absolutely delicious!! I am Mexican and I can tell you THAT IS GOOD FOOD! They have a wide variety of taco options (even for vegetarians), and they also have diverse beverages, salsas and of course some lovely flan!
​
I have never walked for a long distance in Cambridge. I can now say it is definitely worth it. There are a lot of interesting places to visit and the vibe you feel once you get there is so positive you won’t ever want to leave. There are some good coffee shops as well. We had the opportunity to visit a coffee shop called Crema Café that is insanely delicious. My boyfriend even said, “Best latte I have ever tried.” They have really good food and excellent pastries as well, definitely worth the visit. 

​So, yes… take the Red Line, go to Cambridge, and get lost!  What is the worst thing that could happen?  You’ll always find your way back home. 

​Being away from home might be tough, especially when the weather and daylight time is drastically than back home. However, I have found no need to feel home sick in Boston, since I have set my mind into enjoying and taking advantage of every moment as much as I can, because in a few months everything will just be a memory. It certainly is okay to miss your family sometimes, and it is quite normal to miss your regional food (trust me, I miss tacos so much). But the thing about being home sick though, is that it makes you not want to be in the place you are at the moment, and it makes you sad and lonely. For all these reasons, it is important to avoid getting home sick in one of the best cities in the world… and how have I done that? I will tell you. 

​I try to keep busy everyday; it really isn’t a hard thing to do in Boston since there are plenty of activities to do and plenty of foods to try. I always wake up realizing that I have one less day in Boston and that soon enough I won’t be spending time with the friends I have made, and I won’t be enjoying the dining hall food, etc. When I get a slight tender feeling of missing home, I think to myself… this is home, it might be temporary but it actually has become home and we have built a family here.  Consequently, I have full support every day and all my worries and homesickness flies away. One day I remember waking up, I was missing my home so much, and I Face-Timed with my dad and I started to feel sad, which is completely normal after a month or two of being away. I really didn’t want my dad to realize I was sad, so I hung up after a few minutes. After a couple of minutes I started to think about all the things I miss and then I instantly evolved my mind into thinking about all the things I would miss about Boston, and gratefully, my mind realized that there are more things that I will miss from Boston than any of those things I miss from home. It is tough to miss your family, but thankfully technology has granted us the opportunity of speaking with them every day and we are lucky enough to have the chance of sharing this experience with them.
 

​When you feel home sick, speak with your friends; they are your family here and they will support you to the fullest. The most important thing is that you keep busy and take advantage so that those slight feelings of homesickness drift away from your mind as fast as possible. Go to the gym, read a book, go to a nice dinner! Every single activity works. And trust me, it is okay to feel home sick…. It is okay to admit it…. But it is way better if you try and shift those thoughts into appreciation and love for your experience abroad.  After feeling home sick sometimes, I realize how happy I am when I am actually not, and that is when I realize I should never take for granted my experience here, because it makes me feel amazingly joyful. So whenever those bad times kick in… think about all the good ones, and all the missing incredible ones that are to come. 

As you may have already noticed from my blog’s name, I consider myself to have a “wanderlust” personality; which means I like to move constantly from one place to another and get the chance to learn about new cultures, go to new places and learn knowledge that probably books wouldn’t give me. Travelling has always been one of my favorite things to do, especially as a student because you are able to see the world in another perspective and the contrast of everything is beautiful. 

​Luckily, Boston is a great place to be if you want to travel nearby. One of the many things I love about travelling as a student is learning how to budget your time, schedules, and (obviously) your money.  For this reason, I consider Boston a great city to wander around.  I will tell you a little bit about the journeys I have made and who knows, maybe you would like to make a similar one. 

​In September, I had the opportunity to visit my family in Green Pond, New Jersey. They live in a lake house, which was really a completely new experience for me since I am used to being in big cities and in constant movement. I took the AM track train towards Newark and from there my uncle picked me up and brought me to the lake house. It was an amazing experience. I got to do all of the things I love at the same time. Since the weather was so beautiful, every morning I went jogging around the peninsula and after I ended my workout with a yoga session right at the border of the dock. I also got a chance to read and write in the middle of the wilderness; this really got my inspiration moving. However, one of the most enjoyable things I did down at the lake house was going in the kayak; I am a true fan of outdoor stuff and obviously new adventures so I enjoyed kayaking.  It wasn’t my first time doing it but I enjoyed it like it was my first time.

If you are looking for something quiet, calm and to enjoy the beauty of nature I definitely recommend you try Green Pond, NJ. It really is beautiful, but you have to be mentally prepared for it to be just you, yourself, your conscience, and nature. Denville, New Jersey is also a quiet town close to Green Pond that has a vintage look and cute boutiques and restaurants. I had the opportunity to try a delicious s’mores beignet here!

​I know what you might be thinking….summer and the heat are great for trips! Yes, that is true… but, actually, my favorite month to travel around is definitely November.  The pumpkin spice time!  This past weekend, I traveled with my friend and roommate Isabel to Montreal, Canada.  We had talked about the trip for a long time, but we never really settled any plans or any concrete schedules so everything was quite vague a week before.  We actually were spontaneous enough to buy the bus ticket one day before actually leaving!! The thing is though, I used to live in Quebec City so I have friends in Montreal and Quebec.  I would have the time to see them and at the same time I would be a tour guide for Isabel, since she had never been in those places before. 

We decided to take the night bus, which meant leaving Boston at 11:30 pm to arrive in Montreal at 6:30 am. At the beginning we thought it would be very tough and tiring, but it was actually quite calm and relaxing, we slept all through the bus ride, and before we knew it we were already at customs at the Canadian border.  We arrived at Montreal at 6:30 am and we immediately wanted to get breakfast. The moment we got there Isabel and I were already practicing our French. We had breakfast at this nice place called Tutti Frutti, we enjoyed everything with maple syrup, and after that we got our things to the place we were staying and headed straight out to start showing the city to Isabel. We started our journey at old port Montreal; there was beautiful weather and it was quite an enjoyable day. We walked all along the port and took pictures and explored the streets from there until old Montreal.  After a big walk, we were already craving something delicious to eat. We opted for a nice, cute looking restaurant in Old Montreal. We had a delicious meal. After that we walked a bit more along St. Laurent Street and St. Denis, although we were quite exhausted and the next day we were heading early in the morning to Quebec City. 

The next morning, we woke up and took the 8 am bus towards Quebec City. As soon as we got there I was making sure I had time to show Isabel everything she had to see.  We started the day at one of my favorite streets which is Rue Cartier, a street full of life, vibrancy and of course, good gastronomy. We ate at a place I used to go often when I was a student there; the restaurant is called Cochon Dingue. Isabel had a very Quebecois dish, and of course, I had poutine! After our amazing meal, we started walking since it wasn’t too cold. We went to Vieux Quebec and saw the view of the Chateau Frontenac and the St. Laurent River.  After that we met up with some of my old friends and we had a beer with them at a bar called Pub St. Patrick’s right on one of the main streets of Quebec, Rue St. Jean. We topped off our night by having dinner in the hipster and stylish area of Quebec City, which is Basse Ville. We decided on a restaurant called TABLE. We chose a selection of cheeses and breads and of course poutine and good wine. Everything was amazing. At 9:00 pm we hopped back on the bus to go back to Montreal for the night.

​Sunday morning we decided to go up the hill of Mont Royal. The view is definitely worth it and amazing!! We walked all along downtown and bought different things from chocolate shops, tea shops and of course clothing boutiques. Canada is definitely a very friendly country; every one was always asking us if we knew our way and everything. 

So, as you can see I love travelling! They don’t have to be big travels… none of them were plane travels, and I enjoyed both of them a lot. I urge you to travel!!! Especially in your study abroad experience, travelling will make you gain knowledge, experience, and confidence, and you will finally encounter yourself and understand what you enjoy doing and what places are the ones you never want to leave.
 
  
Trip to New Jersey
 
Expenses
Train: $85 round trip
Personal Expenses: $130
 
 
Trip to Montreal/Quebec
 
Expenses
Bus: $150
Personal Expenses: $220

When I was back in Mexico, I used to be a lunch or dinner person: I never really thought about the concept of “brunch.”  Brunch basically means you are too lazy to have breakfast, and you love both lunch and breakfast menus, so they kind of make a fusion of them from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.  I had an excellent brunch experience this past Sunday at TATTE Bakery & Café, located on Beacon Street.

​I think it is a very cool concept and something that every international student should try, especially in Boston, since it is a city that offers a lot of delicious options to try it out. You have different places like, Eastern Standard, The Met Bar, Henrietta’s Table, and so many more.  Even if you are a little bit scared of the concept of eating scrambled eggs at 1:30 p.m., you should definitely give brunch a try because it is worth it and it will definitely boost up your energy for the rest of the day.
 
For brunch I had a mozzarella & tomato toast topped with arugula. It was definitely an amazing choice and different from the classic Italian sandwich I had tried before.  My friend Amy had an avocado toast with poached eggs.  She said they were very well done and she also enjoyed her dish.  I had Moroccan mint green tea to accompany my meal; Amy had a naturally pressed orange juice and enjoyed it as well.

​After our amazing meal, I decided to try one of the million desserts they have to offer. I chose the Belgian chocolate mousse; it was amazing!

​I can definitely say that I now consider myself a fan of brunch, especially on Sunday to close off the week in a nice way.  Below I will list some good recommendations of places where you can have brunch in Boston.  Enjoy!  
 
Eastern Standard
Price: $$
528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
 
Vialé
Price: $$
 502 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
 
Tatte
Price: $
1003 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446