Global Practicum Bulgaria - Day 4

After a beautiful time in Melnik - an evening of drinks, billiards, and sharing space with new friends - our group headed to Rila Monastery, the country’s largest functioning monastery, the next morning. Despite the anticipation such a destination should bring, I felt drained and couldn't summon much excitement. Seeking comfort, I used the bus ride to center myself, putting on my noise-canceling headphones and opening my book. Thank goodness for the book, We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark, a romantacy that blends fantasy and romance. Immersed in the storyline, characters, and build-up, I felt a glimmer of energy return. Knowing there will be another book to look forward to gave me something to anticipate.

When we got to Rila, I can see the shift in energy from the group. Less engaged. Some were maintaining but there were a handful of people that matched my energy where gravity naturally pulled us together. I was less attentive, staying on the outskirts, observing the architecture, visitors and coincidentally Iliana Lotova was there, the President of Bulgaria. Unlike U.S. Presidents, her security detail was modest but protective of their person.

It was a much chillier day, so I opted to stay in the sun within the courtyard grounds of the monastery as much as possible, present but not attentive to the lectures our guide was providing. Inside the church, which was at the center of the courtyard, the exterior walls were adorned with frescoes telling the stories of Bulgarian history. Inside, a very similar feel, with a much larger space than Rozhen Monastery. I opted not to visit the museum because of the chill and my short attention span, so a small group of us went to the bakery just outside the monastery.

 We spotted a donut spot that made the most amazing donuts I’ve ever had! As we were chowing down on donuts and sipping our coffees, the president and her detail walked past us and entered the restaurant next to us. This could never happen in the U.S. That's what I kept telling myself. What a privilege it was to have this experience and to have someone like the president in our vicinity. So unreal.

After some time soaking up the sun's warmth, we headed to the entrance to meet our group and await our bus. There was comfort on the trek back because we were heading back to the Hilton Sofia. A place that was familiar and comforting to all of us. We would have a little time to rest before our meet-up for dinner. I opted to walk through Sofia on my own. The solitude was therapeutic in a way, but also a confirmation of how much I needed familiarity to sustain me. I spoke with my sisters on the way to the restaurant. Stopping in a Bulgarian souvenir shop to pick up rose-scented candles, lotions, and oils for my family. What was really wonderful to learn is that Rose scents originate mostly from Bulgaria. They are one of the largest distributors of Rose oils, which are used to make many of the perfumes and cosmetics around the world. The one I've been using for the last 15 years is Rose31 by Le Labo. It's been my favorite scent since my visit to the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island. The hotel used this scent in their soaps and shampoos, and that is when I knew I needed to have it all the time. 

Back to Bulgaria. 

Dinner was at a unique spot with a very diverse menu called Burrata. It had a variety of Asian and Italian dishes. The ambiance was beautiful and very floral. Leo and I decided to share most of our meals so we can try more things. What I noticed with Leo, is that he likes his desserts. Which is great! I normally love to partake in desserts too but I'm learning the skill of restraint in my old age 😂.  After our meal, a few of us decided to cab it a little early back to the hotel. Our usual three - Courtney, Leo and I. and Liv and Kat also came back early. Our last day together was fast approaching but sleep was calling for us to enter its chamber. 

Global Practicum Melnik - Day 3

 March 25, 2026

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Leaving Kavala was bittersweet. Many of us felt it was too short a stay, yet we also wanted to see what was next in store for us as we ventured towards Melnik. The day was gorgeous. We could finally see the landscapes of Bulgaria - the rolling hills and far off mountains. Throughout the trip, you can also see the variety of homes both built and lived in and abandoned throughout the country side. The sites were beautiful and also devastating at times. 

As we approached Melnik, the roads grew a little more narrow until we approached a narrow road, meant for on only a vehicle, that weaved through a small establishment where people lived and worked. Our tour bus, driven by the most talented driver I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know, was able to squeeze through this narrow passage way carefully but expertly. Once past this narrow passage, we ventured up through the mountain towards the Melnik pyramids and Rozhen Monastery. This humble monastery had deep brown woods with white painted bricks that protected a courtyard of green grass embedded with stones throughout its walkways with the quaint church at its center. 

The grounds had various plants, flowers, and trees throughout the interior and had two lovely cats that welcomed us to its grounds. 

Inside the church, you walk into a chamber where the temperature is noticeable lower than the outside. Here you can light a candle for your loved ones, similar to the cathedral in Sofia, and donate money to the monastery. Once inside the church, Bulgarian culture, history and religious worship adorns every aspect from the frescoes on the walls, the traditional chandelier, the seating and prayer chambers. 

I stole a few pictures of the interior to remember how elaborately detailed these historically significant sites can be. After taking in the Monastery I strolled out to take in the beautiful landscapes of Melnik, the pyramids, as the Melnik call it, and the vast openness of the lands before me. Just down the street, within walking distance of the

Monastery stood a small church, the Church of the Holy virgin said to have frescoes from the 16th-18th century.  We departed towards the village of Melnik, with inhabitants less than 400 people total. As we approached the small town, the roads became dirt and our hotel was at the mouth of the village on a path leading up. Hotel Melnik is a beautiful structure boasting similar architecture of the deep brown woods and white painted walls. Contemporary things like elevators won’t be found in this small village so be prepared to walk, climb stairs, and have uneven pathways. Besides the physicality required to navigate through this town, it is quite the site to see. Breathtaking hills, beautiful architecture, delicious foods, and a history that is rich with wine merchants and various cultures that came through this small town. 

After we grabbed our room keys and dropped off our luggage, we were set to meet at the Bistro Melnik. It was a gorgeous day, with blue skies (clouds were rolling in but the sun was still shining), and the temperature was perfect. A group of us wanted to sit outside while half the group opted sit indoors. I partook in the fresh air and the company. Leo and I decided to share a meal because the server mentioned it was good enough for two people, so we go the veal satch. Josh ordered the lamb satch and for the table we ordered the fries which was topped with shredded feta. I’ve never had feta like this, and the fries were some of the best I’ve ever had. When our meal came out, the clay pans were sizzling allowing us to take in the aromas as it was being brought to our table. We shared or meals with the table since it was much larger than I expected and it was at this table that I realized I loved satch. I wish we had more Bulgarian cuisine in the US  because this is what I would order regularly.  We were running late to the tour of the Kordopulov house, a large Bulgarian home build in 1754 that reflects what life was like in this century. It boasted a basement wine cellar where you can partake in wine tasting. 

The home was exquisite and had a number nooks hidden behind walls and on the roof was an accurate sun dial and a lovely little calico cat that was one of the friendliest cats I’ve encountered on this trip. All she wanted was some scratches and love and I was happy to oblige her.

While on the rooftop, we noticed a staircase and a building on top of the mountain across from us. While we finished our wine tasting and the tour of the dark dank wine cellar, I overheard Dr. Bieri ask if there were others that were interested in a hike. 

I’m always up for a hike, but it may not sound like I do if you’re the person with me while we hike. Because of my asthma I am a mouth breather and I’ll sound like I’m dying, but really enjoy the challenge. It means I’m not dying 😊. All in all, there were eight of us, our two tour guides who led us to the path where we can see the historical sites of Saint Nicola Church and Despot Slavova Fortress, Dr. Bieri, and five students. Two of us were more than prepared either with the right shoes or the right training 😂. Thank goodness because there was a patch of the hike that was steep and slick and my shoes were not hiking shoes. On the way down, I hear Leo call my name which halted me in my tracks. The gentleman that he is, he told me to hold on because I didn’t have the right shoes and it was unsafe for me. He was right. I felt much better with him ahead of me. As we were heading down the slope, I hear Ismael coming down quickly and then slowing as he approaches Leo and I while he’s also coaching me on the best way to descend the slope. Clearly I was not bending my nears or moving my feet in a zipzag pattern. I wasn’t ready for that, so slowly in a linear way, I continued down the path to stable ground with Leo’s help. It was a lovely hike. One I would like to do again if I’m lucky enough to do it in this lifetime. If not, at least I have photos to remember the experience. Melnik is a town that has captured my heart. Rich with history, delicious foods, hikes and a quiet life that one could only dream of. 

 

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Global Practicum Kavala - Day 2

 ​March 24, 2026

We packed up and temporarily said good-bye to HIlton Sofia to head to Kavala, Greece. It was an early departure with our tour guide Todor and the bus driver, who’s name escapes me but I recall it sounds like Chiso - and peer of ours - who connected with the bus driver since their names were so similar. On the way to Kavala, many napped on the trip briefly waking up to stretch our legs during one of the required stops so our bus driver can rest. A gloomy day, with heavy clouds and the occasional rain  making the streets slick and the skies grey. I was able to complete one journal assignment on the way to Kavala and submit it reflecting my disorienting experience. Then I read my book for the rest of the way. 

Arriving in Kavala, our hotel was at the center of Kavala with the ocean on

one side and the city on the other side. Rain came down a little heavier but this would not stop our tour of Kavala from starting. The hotel staff was ready for us. Our room keys were ready and as the desk agents called our names, we took them and headed to our rooms. The elevators only allowed for 2 per elevator with luggage so many opted to trek to their rooms via the stairs. Oddly, we were on the 2nd floor but the 2nd floor was not one flight up, but 4 flights up. Once we dropped off our luggage, we met downstairs where our Kavala tour guides were waiting for us in motorcycle type golf carts with rain protection. They were kind enough to prepare a traditional snack for us which was a sesame covered pretzel called Koulouria. This held us over until lunch. 

First stop was the Tobacco museum. The museum is hidden on a quaint street with an unassuming entry way. It almost felt deserted until you walked into the museum itself where two lovely women sat awaiting our arrival.  The smell of. Tobacco was prominent but not offensive like when it is smoked. It is like coffee, the smell of the coffee bean can be delightful and resets one’s senses. Tobacco felt very similar in this form, where tobacco leaves have been preserved for ages. 

The kind lady behind the counter took care of the ticketing and exchange of monies and the other would be our tour guide. What we didn’t expect was actually a history of Kavala and why it was such an important part of Greek history. We were not just there to learn about Tobacco trade, but of the land’s history. She was lively and engaging in how she articulated how Kavala may have gotten its name, the importance of trade, the many different people that may have come through Kavala’s ports, and eventually the purpose of tobacco and how it became a primary trade of this region.  It is not a big museum nor is it fancy but it had so much history and depth that added meaningfully to our experience in Kavala. 

Our Kavala tour guide came in to politely let us know it’s time to go, so we

exited to our next stop. In our golf carts, we. Toured the streets going up steep hills, passing old churches with painted murals, and seeing the statue of Mohammad Ali, “the original”, near the top of the mountain. Around this area is where we stopped to have lunch at a local Greek restaurant. I partook in the sea doggies, which was a type of small shark. It was a very soft fleshy meat, texture seemed more fatty than meaty but nonetheless tasty for the meal. After eating we took a few minutes to do a little bit of shopping in the quaint shop next door where I was able to pick up souvenirs of Kavala for my family. On our way back, our tour guide dropped us off where some stopped for some gelato, and others walked back to the hotel for some rest. Dinner was due only a few hours from the time so having some quiet time helped me reset a bit. By the time dinner came around, I wasn’t very hungry but felt a desire to try Octopus, which was supposed to be great from this area. It was good but a bit overcooked - chewier than it should be. Afterwards, a group of us met at the hotel’s rooftop bar where it overlooked the ocean. The night view of the port was beautiful. There weren’t many in the bar, which made it nice to converse with my peers. Over wine and spirits, we shared why we decided to start this journey into a global leadership PhD, prompted by Liv. It was a great discussion, each of us having different purposes and topics we wanted to explore. What made the conversation so engaging is that everyone wanted the other to be successful in their studies. Cheering each other on to be our best.  After our conversations, I decided to head back to my room and rest while others decided to head out to a local hookah bar. 

The next day, I met Brad and Kit to walk through the streets of Kavala before our 9am departure. On this day, the sun was out, ready to take on the parade set to celebrate Greece’s Independence Day from the Ottoman Empire. 

Some of us had wished we could stay and experience the festivities but the day would bring us to Melnik, another monastary and town to visit. One that would forever be a core memory.

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Global Practicum Bulgaria - Day 1

March 24, 2026

Sleep was as expected when I’m not home. There are moments of deep sleep, and then moments of tossing and turning, staring into the darkness, and wondering what my family is doing back home. In any case, I was up before the sun rose and prepared for the day.

The first thing I do no matter where I am at, is make the bed. I know I’m in a hotel, and technically housekeeping can do this, but it is a habit I formed early on and prefer to own the task of making the bed in which I slept in than having someone else do it. After that, I brushed my teeth and my hair and got dressed to review the agenda for the day. Packing my crossbody with the things that I wanted to bring, pen, notebook, necessary medical needs, and the usual chapstick and hand cream were essential items, then I headed downstairs to grab a bite before we leave. 

By the time I got to the restaurant, a group of my classmates were already seated and having breakfast. Breakfast was a robust spread of a typical English/American/ Bulgarian continental breakfast. We quickly obtained the morsels we needed for the day and met Dr. Bieri in the lobby to set off to Bulgaria’s National museum of History. We had a set time to enter and our tour guide, Todor, was ready with a brief overview of where we are going, what we will see, and took care in how he would guide us through the museum. The gate that we passed through could only accommodate pedestrians despite the vast space between the gate and the museum and the large walk ways that led up to the museum’s entrance. The left walk ways was adorned with ancient stones from the 2nd and 3rd century AD each having a different origin or purpose that was fascinating to see and read about. After dropping off our coats and bags on the first floor, we walked up the stairs into a beautiful opulent space where the first landing joined four stairways, three that lead up to different areas of the museum, and one that leads down which is where we came from.

 Todor took us through the museum from the oldest to the newest. It honestly gave us a better

picture into Bulgaria’s history and was intriguing to learn about. The first picture in the museum was eloquently described to us by Todor of the significance of the photo. It was a picture of an ancient grave, one of the oldest found in Bulgaria. What I found most interesting, based on Todor’s explanation of the photo, is the different metals and materials that were found at the grave site. As Todor explained to us, gold was found but at that time, gold was not valuable, it was just a metal that could be found at the riverbanks. Additionally copper was found but copper mines were not close to the site of the burial site. So how did the copper get there? 

But the most valuable material of all were the shells. Since shells were not plentiful, shells were considered valuable. As we moved through the museum, stopping at notable exhibits, you can see the transition of the materials’ value and the shift they take when man decides that gold is most valuable. What they use gold on and how they manipulate it to create things for their needs.

Another interesting aspect of this museum is how I found certain things that stemmed from Asian culture. For example, there was a Jade buckle from Asia and Chinese porcelain made into a bowl.

​The most interesting findings were references to the first Bulgarian Khans and the use of the lunar calendar. Readings reflect that Bulgaria’s culture stemmed from Central Asia. I asked Todor this but what I didn’t get the feeling that Todor’s knowledge of Bulgaria extended to how Asia influenced Bulgarian culture. One of the things I’m bound to do is to see how and when Asia’s influence started and in what manner. 

After the museum, we headed to one of the oldest church’s in Bulgaria, the Boyana Church. It is a small

church that reflects three centuries of different styles of architecture inside and out. You can see the exterior of the building, the distinction on the old church, the styles of how it was built with different materials and influences of that century. Once inside the church the visit is timed, a group can only be in for 15 minutes and once the bell rings, you must leave. It was so interesting to see the frescas inside the church. There were areas of frescas that were painted and then chipped away revealing a different type of Fresca underneath from prior centuries.

What was unique about this site, outside of the historical value is the notable Sequoia trees on property which originated from the US. There were three in total, supposedly gifts to the queen at the time. This is also the site of Eleonar Reuss of Kostritz burial, the queen. She was the wife of Ferdinand I of Bulgaria. They called the yard a garden but it was not a garden that one would think of traditionally but a collection of trees, bushes, and plants that came from diffferent areas of the world. Hence the three sequoia trees presence on property.

 I learned during my travels to Japan, that it is disrepectful to take photos of burial sites no matter how beautiful or meaningful it is, so I stopped taking pictures of sites where the dead rest to honor their peace.

From here we headed back to the Hilton where we had a

lively discussion with Stephen Reiter who is the GM of the hotel and from Switzerland. All of us had questions and took away something from the discussion. What I took away from it is that the Hilton does not provide cultural immersion training to its expats. Stephen mentioned an 8 month acclimation period for one of his assignments but there could be value in reducing the time frame with immersion training. It made me think about businesses that receive lots of different cultures from around the world and how those individuals are prepared to receive customers, guests, or business relationships if they are not prepared for it? How can we create more awareness and education to help people adjust and integrate better in a foreign country. Do business find value in this type of training? Would people be receptive to training? All things that intrigue me - one I will incorporate into my own business and research.

After the lunch and learn, we had a brief moment to freshen up before we were due to learn about Bulgarian culture through Dance and attire. 

This was a lot of fun! Thank goodness for Liv. She teaches salsa so this was easy for her and she was next to me. I benefited tremendously from being next to her. How she counted it out and spoke out the steps made it a little easier for me to follow along. After learning and doing 4 dances to the beat of Bulgarian music, we were sweaty and exhausted. This helped our appetite out as we were ready to spend the calories at Moma a Bulgarian restaurant. The Rose lemonade and the Pitka at Moma were exceptional! Similar to the pita I had at the Hilton, the pitka bread was also crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. It was an exceptional bread, one I proclaimed as the best I’ve ever had. I had wished, in that moment that Jimmy was with me to experience it. He loves bread. I immediately shared my opinion on the bread with him so I can share the moment even though we’re continents away from one another. I wish I had pictures to share but I was too hungry to remember to take the photo. 🤤

After our meal, Courtney, Leo and I left a tad early to catch a cab back to the hotel. It was a great day! One I’ll never forget.

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Global Practicum - Pre-Departure

March 22-23, 2026

​Pre-Departure

Leaving home was a mix of excitement, uncertainty, and dread. I’ve wanted to travel to other countries but I’m always with family. I have a bucket list of places I want to go and I know that I won’t be able to go to them all if I wait on family to be available. The excitement comes from traveling on my own and seeing if I can do it. The “seeing if I can do it” is also dreadful to think about. What if I can’t do it? What if I get so scared, I have an awful time and can’t come back home? Could that even happen? In any case, I committed to this practicum and I always follow through on things I commit to, so here I go.

Departure Day

Jimmy took me to the airport. I was so thankful for that because he was the last person familiar before I head into unfamiliar territory. The first leg is easy. I’ve been to the DC airport (IAD) so there were no anxious thoughts and I felt good. However, I never traveled internationally out of DC so that part was new for me. Thankfully, it wasn’t too complicated to navigate, it did consist of a lot of walking and at least one bus ride. I had a little bit of time before the flight to Vienna, Austria so I wondered around a bit, got some chocolates for my professor so I can honor the pasalubong, and listened to Project Hail Mary until it was time to board. I upgraded my flight to premium so I could have a bigger seat but really, I just wanted less people around me. It did help to have more leg room so that I can have most of my stuff with me and there is more room around your seat to move around freely within the cabin. Unfortunately, my seat was in the middle section of the plane so leaning on a wall was not something I could do which for me, is a requirement and prevented me from getting any sleep on the longest leg of the trip - an 11 hour flight! No problem though, the last flight from Vienna to Sofia was a different story. It was a short flight, but long enough to catch a nap before getting to Sofia. 

Arriving in Sofia

Landing in Sofia was a little disorienting. I followed the flow of traffic to baggage claim. I believe I may have skipped customs OR maybe I didn’t. Either way, I didn’t pass through a check point like I did in Vienna where they reviewed my passport, in Sofia. Before I knew it I was at baggage claim. I got my luggage and followed the flow of traffic again to the green signs that said, nothing to claim, and followed the crowd to an area where I could see cars. I searched for  signs to taxi and was approached by an older, scruffy looking man who asked me if I wanted a taxi. That was a bit sketchy so I ignored him and went to a Taxi kiosk and ordered a taxi. Right outside the doors where the kiosk was, the taxis were all waiting there. By the time I got out, a man came up to me and asked if I wanted a taxi and I said yes and then he said my name and I knew that was my taxi driver.  Thank goodness! Because the little paper the kiosk spat out was still in my hand and I would not know what to do if the taxi driver hadn’t approached me. The ride to the Hilton Sofia was about 17 minutes and cost about 13 euros. My peers all had much more expensive cab rides so I’m grateful the guy I had didn’t scam me out of more money. I gave him a 20 and said thanks and proceeded to the entry, a rotating door  that led into one of the most breathtaking Hilton’s I’ve ever stepped into. 



The entire entry is illuminated by the natural light since the entire entry are floor to ceiling windows. The color themes gives off luxury nature with deep browns and shades of olive green and hints of blue. Textures of nature adorn every aspect whether it’s a sculptured flowers, planted trees, floral arrangements, or wood paneling. The space is open with quaint seating pods throughout its lobby. Checking in at a Hilton is a similar experience than other Hilton’s with the added requirement for our passports, so no issues at check in but my room was not ready so I parked myself at the restaurant and had hummus and the most delicious pita I’ve ever had. The pita was toasted on the outside and warm and soft on the inside.  Each time I put one in my mouth, I wondered how they got it to be so toasty without compromising the softness of the inside. The hummus was equally delicious. There were three flavors but I particularly enjoyed the beets. I know, who likes beets. Well apparently Bulgarians and I do. 

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By this time, around 2pm, I was exhausted. It was hard to keep my eyes open. I finally got to my room around 3pm and we were due to meet with the group at 4pm to start the tour of Sofia. I politely asked Dr. Bieri if I could pass and meet them at dinner so I could take a nap and she kindly said yes. Thank goodness, Dr. Bieri offered that Courtney also was not going on the walk and that we could possibly taxi together. So I message Courtney to see if she wanted to go to dinner together and she said. Yes! 

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Courtney recently had ankle surgery so she passed on the walk to ensure she could protect her ankle. During the short trip to the restaurant I learned that Courtney works for Indiana Tech as a Dean of online learning and that she had completed writing her dissertation and is due to defend it, likely at Spring Immersion. We both became fast friends and I often checked in with her throughout the trip to see if she needed anything and if her ankle was okay. This is a habit of mine any time I have social anxiety. It helps me when I am productive, I have purpose, to remove the anxiety I feel with interacting with people I don’t know. It also stem from me being Filipino. It is the most natural way for me to interact, is to take care of others.

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When we arrived at Egur Egur, an Armenian restaurant in downtown Sofia, no one else had gotten there yet. It was a great opportunity for me to observe the building’s architecture, which seemed to be an old home transformed into the restaurant. As you walk up the brick stairs into a narrow double door foyer, there is a room to the left that was the designated bar area, and a long hallway with rooms on each side of the hall. Each room is set up with tables to accommodate intimate sections of small groups allowing for parties to be together if needed or for a more intimate setting like a date night. Our group got a room to ourselves which was wonderful. The table was already set with all the appetizers that Dr. Bieri had picked out for us and beautifully displayed. So we sat there chatting until we saw Dr. Bieri walk in. She said that the group is at the church and asked if we would like to join them. The church was the Cathedral Saint Alexander Nevsky. Courtney and I walked back with Dr. Bieri to the church passing sculptures and vendors still on the street. This portion of the street was also closed off from traffic allowing for more pedestrian movement throughout its square. 

The church, a Cathedral, is a beautiful structure with turquoise and gold domes spread across the tops of its structure. Built between 1904-1912, it is said to have been built to honor Russian soldiers. It is considered Neo-Byzantine architecture with Bulgarian stone carvings, Italian marble, and Venetian mosaics throughout the church. This was the first time I stepped into a Bulgarian church. It is both noticeably different and similar to other cathedrals in Europe. Unlike others, there are no seatings and any that are there are are for the elderly. Long stemmed candles can be lit for loved ones depending on if they are alive or deceased and the placement of the candles will depend on this distinction. Those that are still alive, will be placed high, and those that are gone are placed low. The chandelier is also a center piece of Bulgarian culture and typically hangs in the center of the church. From the ceiling, the light fixture extends from intricately crafted metal, designed beautifully, links are typically shaped with a clover shape that extend to create a belt like stem and these link together until the appropriate height is met. The marble floors are

After a few minutes of soaking in the cathedral’s beauty, I was formally introduced to our group, including Dr. Bieri’s spouse. Quietly we said our hellos and shook hands with those that were near, and polite nods of acknowledgement who were not in immediate reach. After we left the cathedral to walk back to the restaurant, we were able to have a more intimate introduction with normal voices. It was lovely to hear of the diversity in our group, the wide range of where people lived, their background, and the many different accents everyone had. It truly energizes me when I’m around people from different ethnicities. 

Back at the restaurant, we enjoyed our meal with delicious Armenian food. The most memorable was the homemade Kyopolou dip , which is muddled roasted eggplant, roasted peppers, parsley, garlic, olive oil and spices. I could have eaten the whole bowl myself.  We spent hours chatting and learning about each other, asking questions about our studies, where we were at in the program, and what we plan to write a research on. After dinner, Courtney and I set out to catch a cab, Nevin, Dr. Bieri’s spouse and the restaurant were nice enough to help us order the taxi. On our way back, Leo, my new friend, decided to ride along with us back to the hotel. Together we got to know each other a little better in the cab ride back to the hotel before retiring for the night. The next day, we were due to meet at 8am to start the day’s activities.

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