I’ve been meaning to update here about how insanely busy everything has gotten since I’ve returned to my college life 8 (or is it 9 now?) days ago and I apologize profusely for making this first return-to-Champaign post about men and about that last semester in Costa Rica, but after a momentary freak-out this is [...]

I used to be such a winter person. Not that it was my absolute favorite season, because I loved them all equally, but because it could be just as fun as summer. I loved playing in the snow with my brothers (and roommates, as it came to be in college), bundling up in pretty layers [...]

Welps, I just spent my entire day crafting a new layout for this blog. And you know what, it feels good. Like I legit got something done today. It sort of commemorates this new phase in my life, the post-study abroad me. And even though I’ll probably be drowning in sadness just gazing upon this [...]

“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” — Nelson Mandela Amazing. I’ve finally figured out what’s wrong with me. Funnily enough, I came across that quote while reading through the “Welcome Back” guide the study abroad office sent me. And I [...]

Last night, 21-year-old Raissa made her debut in the hip, cool urban American bar scene. It was, in all seriousness, the thing I’d been waiting for in the two weeks since I’ve been home. Me, loose in the streets of Chicago, armed with a small bottle of booze and ready to get crazy. Because it’s [...]