The following post was actually first
drafted on 10th December 2015. I was nearly three months, my first
term, into my year abroad. Sat on a plane, with nothing but Amy Poehler’s Yes Please and my thoughts I started
rambling in the notes on my phone about things that had been flying around my
head as my first semester was nearing its close. As this year nears the end
I’ve found it interesting reflecting on what I felt I had learnt then compared
to now. I will most likely do an updated version once I complete the year but
for now, here are ten things I learnt in term one of my year abroad.
Being alone is
hard
Okay so I may
have been alone when I moved to the other side of the country for university
but moving to a new country is a whole other kettle of fish. Not everyone
around you is in the same boat. There’s not always someone to go home to and
tell about your amazing or shitty day.
Being twenty
(/young adulthood) is hard
Not knowing what
the hell you’re doing in life is painted as kind of a big deal. I’m a big
believer in everything working out but we all have those days.
What do I want to
do?
This isn’t
something I’ve learnt so much as something I haven’t as I have had several
existential crises.
It’s okay to cry
It’s okay to cry
down the phone to your dad at 4am
True story; I was
drunk and my door collapsed.
Your parents want
to understand
And if you’re
lucky like me they will try and they will listen.
Doing the
distance (this distance) is hard
George and I have
lived in different cities for the past two years and this yes I have moaned
about. Turns out doing distance for real is hard. Sometimes you just want to be
with the one who makes you laugh without getting on a plane.
Doing the
distance (this distance) is worth it
If you are lucky
like me and are with someone that makes you laugh a lot and will brush your
hair and buy you chips.
Being spontaneous
really is fun
One Wednesday
whilst moping around I decided to book flights to go and visit one of my best
girl friends in Gran Canaria that weekend. I needed to regroup with someone I
was close to and would understand. You will never regret money spent on
visiting people or places.
People make
everything
I knew this but I
didn’t KNOW this. I think going on this big adventure by myself made it more
exciting. Turns out I was wrong. My friends and I on so many occasions said how
much fun it could have been if we’d been in this together. Sometimes you just
need a coffee and cake date. Making friends here, and bloody good ones, has
made such a difference to my experience. I’m so lucky to have such wonderful
people in my life whom I miss so much – you all absolutely know who you are. An
experience just isn’t the experience you want without the people you need.
I hope you've enjoyed this slightly more personal post for a change. Let me know what you think and if you've ever moved abroad!
H XX
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