Texas is nothing like Antarctica. Well, I guess it is big like Antarctica is... and actually, it does have its own unique character like Antarctica does... well, so maybe it is sort of like Antarctica. Like a big warm Antarctica. With guns. Texas, however, is nothing like Rovaniemi (my home city in Lapland). U Texas was full of people who were also warm, warm and kind. They helped me as soon as they heard my accent and knew that I was not from, 'round there.' They were surprised though, when they asked me where I was from, and I told them 'The South, the Deep South.' Then I had to explain about UANT of course. Some people did not even know Antarctica had people! On Cowboys : a nice look, but some people overdid it. Most students did not wear cowboy or cowgirl outfits, unless it was at an after school party. One thing I learned in my literature classes at UT was how to appreciate the 'open west' or the 'Lone Star Sky' as one professor called it. You can see from my photos that I have an obsession with clouds, and in Texas they make nice, fluffy formations. By the way, the mystic road Route 66 goes through Texas- actually it starts in Chicago and weaves its way through to California. My favourite band, the Eagles of Death Metal, have a song they sing while on Route 66. One thing that annoyed me consistently was the presence of strange rules like 'No Parking' in big open fields. To me, who loves nature, that is 'sign pollution'. Next stop: Tokyo. Austin is such a fun party town, I think it was rated one of the top places to party in the year I was there. I expected Austin to be a small city- I had heard of Houston and Dallas of course, but Austin? What did I learn on this study abroad trip? A good girl doesn't tell, but for a taste of your wiskey, I'll give you some advice. When it comes to studying abroad, every trip's a winner, and every trip's a loser, and the best you can hope for is to get home in one piece. So be open minded, not all cowboys are bad, and not all guns are loaded, and not all people are the same. But before you walk out, on the streets of Laredo, make sure you know what'ch yer doin. Do I recommend UT? As they say here, "yoooooooooou betcha!"