I am writing this because it’s 18.30 on a
Friday and I am the last person sat in Queen’s café on campus, getting myself
in a tiz about my French listening exam in FOUR DAYS and Alex has just invited
me to share photos to a folder on Facebook of our trip to Brussels last summer
along with Teagan.
Scrolling through those photos has actually
managed to get me out of my head a little. It has been so easy these past
couple of months to be absorbed by this world of grades and really not see the
bigger picture. Travelling makes me so happy. I don’t find the rigmarole of
airports stressful or boring if anything I find it quite relaxing, the promise
of the next adventure.
Anyone who studies languages will know the
struggle of being graded, particularly post-year abroad, when you got your
bloody NIE after three months of back and fourth to the police station in Spain
but alas I misuse pronouns when writing speeches in class. I study languages
because I love culture. I love learning about people and understanding the
differences between our lives and how that varies from country, to region, to
town, to barrio (what’s the bloody
English word? Another issue). I study Spanish because I was never quite
ready to give up, I tried Italian because when I applied to university I found
out that with just a simple tick of a box I could, it was that easy, I later
switched this to French because when I was sixteen my back up plan in life was
to get a one way ticket to France, buy a phrase book and a sewing machine, sell
clothes and eat croissants. I never bought that ticket so I had to pacify her
with something. Sitting in a classroom is not when I’m at my happiest,
wandering the streets of a new city is.
I have no idea where this post was supposed
to go. But anyway, I think it’s important to think about the things that make
you happy and the things you are constantly striving towards. Sometimes we
can’t jet off when we want. I do want a language degree and I will get one but
it’s important to remember that there is so much more out there. And to quote
Oprah sometimes you have to do what you need to do so that you can do what you
want to do. Or something wise along those lines.
The promise of the next adventure awaits
whatever it is and I know it’s going to be a good one.
H XX
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