Bordeaux was supposed to be an easy, relaxed, three night detour. I didn’t even bother leaving the city, not wanting to put the burden on myself to… Read more “Stranded”
Author: Janelle Bitker
Janelle Bitker is a journalist based in Oakland, California.
Bordeaux for gastronomes
I spent Friday night at a small birthday party full of European exchange students, mostly from Germany and all studying in Bordeaux. The girls were posh, blending… Read more “Bordeaux for gastronomes”
Lessons from the farm
After shoveling rabbit shit out of ten cages, my arms were throbbing. Rabbits are amazing creatures. They procreate like no other — mothers are sent on honeymoons… Read more “Lessons from the farm”
Farmville, in real life
The rabbits, chickens and pigs were all fed, and it was time to lock the barn up. I hollered to the dogs that had followed me in,… Read more “Farmville, in real life”
Winter break: Vienna
I had been told that there is no more magical place to be in the wintertime than in Vienna. As I flew into Vienna from Brussels a… Read more “Winter break: Vienna”
Winter break: Bratislava
I am looking into the eyes of a woman in her early 60’s. She’s 100 percent Slovak, and she’s never left the country in her life. Her… Read more “Winter break: Bratislava”
Winter Break: A Czech Christmas
Maybe I should have been more concerned when I missed my bus to Prague, surely an omen of bad things to come. Maybe I should have freaked… Read more “Winter Break: A Czech Christmas”
Winter break: Munich
The sheer number of Christmas markets in Munich was staggering. There was the uber-commercial market at Marienplatz, stretching oddly all down the main shopping street, with real… Read more “Winter break: Munich”
Winter break: Salzburg
Truth be told, I’ve never seen The Sound of Music. Somehow I ended up in Salzburg anyway, The Sound of Music Tour-less. But I prefer it that… Read more “Winter break: Salzburg”
The End: Semester One
I am sitting in the ISA office with six other students. Momentarily, we´ll be learning how to make Liege waffles with that magical pearl sugar. In 40… Read more “The End: Semester One”
Janelle Bitker 