Standing, leaping, squelching, shoving, pushing, falling, ramming, WAIT … Was that Mickey Mouse I just saw? Landing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade seemed a far cry short of Plymouth Rock, as a spectacle of floats, balloons and performers welcomed the traditional festivities of the holiday. A joyous day for all the family to celebrate with heightened spirits as their favorite characters are propelled 70 feet into the sky! However, as I perilously lean on a ledge to try and catch a glimpse of the show, I wonder whether the idea of a parade as a magical experience is as…

Oh the delights of Washington D.C., the hub of intellect and history that has built the foundations of justice, political liberty and freedom for all. The center for hope and change where thousands recently gathered on the steps of Capitol Hill to watch the inauguration of the first African American president and proclaim “YES WE CAN!” Hence, you can imagine my surprise when I arrived on the steps of The George Washington University, only to be pushed aside as a swarm of inebriated students rallied out of the building ready to party it up in Adams Morgan, an area in…

As an exchange student from London, traveling around the country is part and parcel of this study abroad experience. This past weekend I made the all-important voyage to the wondrous “concrete jungle where dreams are made of,” (as Alicia Keys puts it) to visit friends in their lovely rented apartment in Brooklyn. Traveling downstate brilliantly captured New York’s eclectic scenery with a plethora of autumnal trees gradually replaced with the bright lights and skyscrapers that Manhattan is famous for. Enticed by the glittering sights and vibrant atmosphere, I quickly disregarded my fear of missing out on a Friday night at…