Growing up, my Mom always put out decorations for each season. In my late teens she taught me about hygge- a Danish concept of creating warmth and comfort in your home environment. I wonder if she got this tradition from her mom. My Grandma will get out her decoration boxes at the turn of each season, almost like a ritual. She carefully puts each of her collection away and bring out the new pieces. When my family moved to Texas, my mom missed the natural change of seasons. The leaves didn’t change in the Fall and Winter never truly felt like Winter. My Mom kept the tradition of changing out decorations each seasons and even though I spent my teens in an place where the changing of seasons was not naturally apparent, my mom taught me the importance and value of accepting seasonal changes. I have carried the tradition of changing my environment to match each season. Putting up decorations, buying a seasonal candle, eating seasonally, changing out my wardrobe to match the weather are all examples of things that I have incorporated in my life to honour change. This helped me tremendously when I went from the sunshine of Texas to the very seasonal England. The first Autumn and Winter were hard for me. I missed the sun and I definitely felt the lack of Vitamin D. I slowly started to find comfort in the rituals that my Mom and Grandma taught me to make for myself.
I am writing this in early August. In the midst of summer break. I was on a walk last week and noticed the tips of the leaves on a tree starting to turn colour. I thought I was seeing things. I am not going to lie and this seems kind of silly but I proceeded to ignore it for about a week, refusing to believe it is already time for the summer to start easing into the autumn. As I sat down in the library today and looked out the window I noticed another tree starting to show signs of change. It is too early to get out my autumn clothing. It doesn’t feel right to start drinking warm drinks every night and curl up with a book in the candle light. It is certainly not time for cozy, warm socks yet.
It still feels like summer and it unsettled me to see glimpses of Autumn when it wasn’t her time yet. Don’t get me wrong, I am excited for the autumn this year. I am excited for everything this new season will bring but I can’t help but feeling like it isn’t time for it yet. I am not ready for this summer season to be over. As I meditated on these thoughts, I started to gain an appreciation for the season to come. While Summer is living out the rest of her days this year, Autumn is making preparations for her annual entrance. I’m not ready for the seasons to change yet but I admire Autumn for how she prepares to step into her time.
Autumn doesn’t come overnight; it comes in subtle changes. The leaves start to turn and the air starts to change over a period of time. She works up to the finale of vibrant trees and crisp fall air. I’m trying to remind myself as I work on my goals and dreams that, like autumn, these things take preparation. It takes time to get to the finale. Most importantly: the journey to get there is beautiful in and of itself.
Mindfulness is a practice of being fully aware of the present moment. There are many trainings and practices that can help a person introduce mindfulness into their day-to-day life including meditation, breathing exercises, journals writing, practicing gratitude, etc.
Mindfulness has a deep history in Hinduism and Buddhism. Forms of mindfulness can also be found in other religions, yoga, and non-religious meditation practices. Thich Nhat Hanh is a Buddhist monk who has been named “the father of modern day mindfulness.” He has dedicated his life to the teaching of mindfulness and other Buddhist practices to fit our modern and complicated lives. On the topic of mindfulness, he says “If we start by being gentle with ourselves, giving ourselves time to return to ourselves in the present moment, we can begin to heal.”
For the past 5 or so years I have made an effort to learn about mindfulness and practice it in my everyday life. Studies have shown mindfulness attributes to stress reduction. I have seen it make a difference in my ability to enjoy the present moment more and more. The mindful habits I implicated before moving abroad helped me navigate the pressures that come with adjusting to a new environment.
When moving abroad you are met with new challenges. It can be difficult to manage each new challenge and balance it all. I have written about homesickness and culture shock in the past. These will become part of your new normal. Even regular life stressors can seem overwhelming while trying to adjust to a new environment. On top of all of that, some of you may be learning and are completely immersed in a new language.
Here are a few exercises and habits I have clung to in the past 2 years living overseas:
Mindful Movement
From yoga to dancing to walks- movement allows any stagnate feeling in your body to flow. While participating in any type of movement you focus on your body’s actions, how it is feeling and how it is reacting. This creates a meditative state that brings out an inner calm.
Guided Meditation
Apps such as Headspace and Calm have become popular in recent times. These provide a variety of guided meditations that range anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. YouTube also has high quality guided meditations from various creators.
Breathing Exercises
There are many different exercises that one can follow. A quick Google search will produce enough techniques to try for an entire lifetime. My go-to is a simple one: sitting or lying down, I focus on my diaphragm and breath in for 5 counts and out for another 5 counts. I do this for a few minutes and only focus on my breathing.
Practicing Gratitude
If I am being completely honest- I am not the best at keeping up with a gratitude journal. Part of mindfulness is accepting what works for you. Practicing gratitude is an important part of my persona. Even though I don’t keep a gratitude journal I make it a point of setting aside part of my meditation time to focus on a few things I am grateful for from that day, week or certain moment.
Give yourself space and time to just be
The title of this exercise is very vague. As I started adding some of these small exercises to my everyday life, I noticed I was paying attention to myself more. I was taking the time to check in with myself mindfully and consciously and see how I was doing throughout the day. These moments allowed This is so simple but so incredibly powerful and has become an essential part of my overall wellness journey.
Putting in the effort to start this practice has added significant value to my time in the UK. The memories that have been produced because of it will be cherished for a long time. It has also allowed me to continuously develop the coping skills needed to battle the stress that comes from living abroad.
I do have to add that everyone’s mindful practice looks different. Taking care of indoor plants has become part of my mindful practice. I think it is important to find what grounds you and what makes you feel most present and make it part of your routine.
Below I have included some resources I have used over the years to learn more about mindfulness.
Since moving to England as an international student, I have been able to visit a number of cities and towns across Northern England. Many of these places can be experienced on a student-friendly budget. Here is a list of my top 5 places to visit while in the north of England:
York
York is one of the most picturesque places to visit in the North of England. With York Minister, the shambles, the city wall walk, and countless museums and centres- York is a city you will never get bored of.
My favourite place in the city is the Museum gardens. Taking a picnic and a book on a nice spring day underneath the Roman ruins makes for an idyllic outing.
York Art GalleryThe Shambles
Knaresborough
Knaresborough is a quaint town north of the city of Leeds. You can take a 45-minute train ride from Leeds City Centre for as little as £5.
You can take a lovely walk around the Castle and museum grounds. The view over the train bridge is picture perfect. Along the river you can find charming cafes and shops open to the public. This town is a lovely and quiet place to getaway.
Knaresborough Castle GroundsRailway Viaduct over the River Nidd
Howarth
Home of the Bronte Sisters, Howarth village is located about 3 miles south-west of Keighley. From the Keighley bus station, you can grab the Bronte Bus to the village. The centre of Howarth is set on a hill. At the top you will find the Bronte Parsonage Museum which is a home museum dedicated to telling the Bronte Sister’s stories. There are a handful of sites around the town such as the old schoolhouse and the church that link to the Bronte Sister’s story as well. On the way down the hill, you will find various gift shops, book shops, restaurants, pubs, and cafes that give the village a homey and warm feeling. There are holiday cottages along the main road that can be rented out as well.
Haworth
Scarborough
I stayed in Scarborough for one night and hiked from Scarborough to Whitby the day after. This beach city is so fun. The cliff-side castle is a must visit and the views there are breath-taking. Along the beach you will find several fresh made doughnut stands. A perfect treat for a chilly evening walk.
As I was there for a hike, I can say the hiking scene in Scarborough on the coast is nothing like I have ever experienced before. The views are out of this world. Along the coast around Scarborough there are several routes that will take you to small seaside villages such as Robinhood’s Bay or Ravenscar. If you are a hiker, I would highly consider looking into some of those routes!
Robinhood’s BayScarborough at SunriseHiking around Scarborough
Liverpool
Walking around the docks in Liverpool is a must-do if visiting this city. There are a few museums that are interactive and informative around this part of the city. You can also find the Beatles statue situated close to the docks which is of course a quintessential part of visiting Liverpool.
I love Liverpool, the mix of modern and historical architecture has made this city a stunning sight. The library is a perfect example of this wonderful harmony. As you walk into this building you will notice the spectacular, modern high ceilings and open floor plan. As you explore further into the library you will come across a room that feels like you have stepped into one of the books that it houses. The history seeps from the walls and it truly does feel romantically academic.
Liverpool LibraryLiverpool DocksUniversity of Liverpool
“We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone“
Katie Thurmes
I was able to spend some time in this gorgeous northern city this past week. I only had a very short amount of time so here is Newcastle in 24 hours:
The Castle in Newcastle
Who knew there was a castle in Newcastle? Just south east of the train station you will find the remains of The Castle. The stone structure we see now was first built around 1172-1177 by King Henry II. King Henry III added the grand entrance named the “The Black Gate” around 1247-1250. This place is absolutely gorgeous. There is a small fee to pay to go inside, which we did not do this time but visiting even to walk around the grounds is worth it!
The Castle at Newcastle
Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas
On the way to the Castle we passed the cathedral, first built in 1091. I was absolutely obsessed with the lantern spire that sits top of the building (this was later added in the 14th century.
Grey’s Monument
Heading north, we came across Grey’s Monument- a 135 foot tall column holding a statue of Lord Charles Grey. I have two fun facts with this one: 1.) Apparently, in 1941 a bolt of lightning knocked the head off of the statue but luckily was replaced in 1947 making the statue is no longer headless today. And 2.) Earl Grey is named after this man. How cool would it be to have an entire tea named after you. This monument and the area surrounding it was stunning. I realised I never got a chance to take a picture of the full monument because I was too busy taking pictures of it with the view behind it. The buildings that line Grey Street make up a breathtaking view.
Chinatown
We stayed just around the corner from Chinatown Newcastle. The historic Stowell Street is filled with vibrant restaurants and businesses. We ate at a restaurant called Mannaza tucked in an alley off the main road. The relaxed and cozy atmosphere paired with the amazing food made this experience one to remember.
Chinatown Newcastle
Eldon Square Shopping Centre
Of course, we did a little shopping before heading home. Eldon Square Shopping Centre is such a nice mall with a variety of stores. We enjoyed a nice warm drink (tis the season) outside the centre where we found a war memorial monument surrounded by benches and grass area.
Although this visit was short, I really enjoyed Newcastle and look forward to visit again in the future! I received my timetable for this next term and needless-to-say, I am very excited to start studies again, especially with the prospect of in-person classes. I hope you all have an amazing week. Love and miss you all. xx
P.S find more info about the places I visited here:
“But we have to remember that we have lost the vessel, not the memories. We just have to build a new place to hold them.” – Kelli Kehler
I’m writing this as I fly back to England after a trip home for the summer break. It was an emotional goodbye this time. Last year when I left, I didn’t know how the homesickness would feel or how it would come in rough waves throughout the first few months. I was excited with anticipation and nervous for the unknown.
If you will excuse the continued wave reference from earlier, I was just home in California and I was thinking about this as I was on the beach one day. The one thing I always notice when I get in the ocean again after a long time is the strength of the waves. Even as you are first walking into the water you feel the ocean pulling and pushing at your feet and legs. As you get deeper and the water comes to your waist and then your chest the waves get bigger and stronger. As time passes you learn that you now have two options: to dive under as the wave rolls over you, or to ride them.
This reminded me of homesickness. Leaving home or even just stepping out of the comfort zone is stepping into the sea. Regardless of the reason you stepped in, this action leaves you with a new found strength and confidence that you wouldn’t have otherwise. However, this strength and confidence only comes as you spend time being impacted by the strength of the waves.
If you are moving abroad, or even just moving away from someplace familiar for the first time you will probably experience some form of homesickness. This honestly comes in so many forms it is unpredictable. I miss my family and my friends and my dog but homesickness also hit me in unexpected ways. I’ve talked about my first experience in Morrisons in an earlier post. A few months after that initial visit, I found myself in the same Morrisons for my seemingly normal weekly shop. In the middle of the bread isle I started to feel a huge wave of sadness because I missed being able to buy American coffee and ranch and V8 fruit juice (that last one is very specific, I know). I felt so incredibly stupid and overly dramatic. But that is how homesickness works. Sometimes it comes at the most expected times like during the holidays or after a phone call home but sometimes it will hit you out of nowhere.
I have put together a list of very cliche things to do when homesickness rushes over you. Even though these things are cliche and simple, they have also helped me tremendously. These are things that help me ride the wave instead of getting caught up in it like I did the first time I stepped in the water.
1.) Find your people.
I was immensely lucky to be put with great flatmates this year. It is so important to make connections wherever you end up. Create a foundation where you are at. If not your flatmates, check out your school website and social media pages for clubs and get togethers. More often than not, your school will have a variety of clubs for people with different interests. Covid made that difficult this year but hopefully as we ease back into regular human contact, opportunities like these will open up. They are great ways to meet new friends and make connections.
2.) Get comfortable doing things on your own
Connections are really important but doing things with someone else isn’t always an option and it is also important to create a sense of independence for yourself. Getting used to going on a walk or visiting a local museum by yourself every once in a while is a good skill to have. Being an expat can get you feeling lonely at times. This is a great time to remind yourself why you came in the first place. Plan to go out and explore (SAFELY) by yourself often. I call these mini solo adventures self-dates.
3.) Call home often
I have moved away from home before, each time in different circumstances. The first time I moved away from home I found it difficult to contact my family and friends. It always seemed harder after talking to them. I missed them more and it forced me to think about what I was “missing out.” I found that even when calling seems harder than just pressing forward with distractions or a busy schedule, it is so important to frequently touch base with your loved ones from home. For me at least, it is so much harder when long periods of time pass between each call or video chat. Later I will talk about how important it is to feel those feelings.
Now-
While the first three points were things to do to prepare for when those waves hit and to prevent them from consuming you, these next points will be what to do when they do hit and you are feeling the pull from home.
4.) Go outside and get some fresh air.
Whenever time goes by and you get bored, the homesickness will creep up on you. Going out, taking a deep breath and going on a walk with your thoughts is one way to refresh and clear your mind.
5.) Talk to a friend
As I said before, my flatmates have been amazing this past year. Right before we moved out of our student accommodation we sat around and shared our favourite memories from the year. My favourite memory was about 4-5 months after I had moved. It was the middle of winter and I missed the sun and my family. We had just come home from the winter holidays and straight into lockdown and I just broke down. My poor flatmates let me cry and listened while explain my feelings of missing my family and everything that was going on at home. It was my favourite memory because sometimes, you just really need to let it out.
6.) Do something that reminds you of home
Whenever I feel down, it helps me to cook something from home. Growing up, my family would have pizza and movie night every Friday. My mom makes the best homemade pizza. When we have something to celebrate my dad will make fish tacos. I love both of these dishes and found myself making either of them when I felt like I needed a pick-me-up.
7.) Feel your Feelings
I don’t study the brain and emotions but I’m sure someone who does could tell you why it is important to be honest with yourself. The emotions will hit you out of absolutely nowhere some days. When I was in Liverpool for Christmas break I would have moments where I would just break down in tears out of nowhere missing home and missing being with my family for the holidays. It’s important to be honest with yourself, to allow yourself to acknowledge those feelings and then to make a plan to move forward.
No matter how happy, excited, grateful, determined or focused you are for a new adventure, it is totally normal to feel homesick. But just like waves, they pass, you learn how to ride them, and then they become part of the adventure.
Best of luck. As always, if you have any expat questions let me know! My instagram is in my bio, send me a DM. Much love. xx
p.s. Kelli Kehler has an amazing piece titled “Eulogizing a Home: How to Say Goodbye to a Place With Memories.” Her words are beautiful and it touched me dearly. I highly recommend. Here is the link:
Happy half-term to my UK fam and happy summer vacay to those back home! You made it through the 2021 school year my friends!! (whoop whoop!) We still have a couple more weeks left here at uni, but we are almost there!
I – just like the rest of the world – have been listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s album on repeat for the past week. I was talking to my flatmate about it the other day and said, “Where was Olivia Rodrigo’s album when I was 18?” For context, my flatmate is 19 years old. She took a second, looked at me and said, “She was 12, Sierra, that’s where she was.”
I’m not being dramatic when I say that comment threw me completely off the tracks. I was not expecting that at all. My eyes got wide in realisation, and it took me a couple of seconds to process that it was actually true and what that meant. I haven’t been able to stop laughing about it since then. Since when were 23-year-olds allowed to be roasted for being old?!
Of course, I realise that at 23 I am still young and have a whole life ahead of me. But being considered a “mature student” does come with some different experiences. After high school, my gap year quickly turned into five and choosing to go back to school and start university half-way across the world wasn’t an easy decision to make. I really treasure the experiences I had during my five year gap. I am grateful for the valuable skills I learned in my various adventures during that time, but I always knew I wanted more education. I knew I wanted to get a degree. As I was approaching my 22nd birthday I realised if I didn’t start soon, I would probably never get around to it. I knew communications was important to me and I knew that being connected on a global scale was important to me.
After realising that it was possible to study abroad, I was ecstatic and extremely nervous. I felt a rush of insecurities about starting university later than everyone else. I wondered if it would be hard to start studying after not being in full-time education for a few years. I even had frequent thoughts of “I’m not even good enough or smart enough to do this.” I found this quote that said something about “having fears but doing it anyway” because that is how you overcome those fears. I thought about that often as I started applying to universities and throughout the entire journey to get here. When I got here and moved into my flat, I discovered I was really blessed to be paired with flatmates from many different educational backgrounds and life stories. One of my flatmates shared my experience of going back to school after a few years and another went back for a second degree. I have learned from their study styles, differing perspectives, and world views. I kept reminding myself that life isn’t just about studying; making personal connections and seeing different perspectives were among some of my favourite moments this year.
For anyone who is around my age and is thinking about going back to school -do it. Yes, you aren’t quite an older student, you aren’t quite a younger student. It is an awkward in-between. It is scary and those nerves are there for a reason, but if it is a dream and something that you want to do, it will be 100% worth it. I highly suggest reaching out to a guidance counselor from your intended university. An email requesting more information about what it would look like as a mature student at university brings so much clarity and peace of mind. And of course, I don’t know much as I am still trying to figure it out myself, but my DMs are always open to anyone who has questions about going back to school as a “mature” or an international student.
Early twenties are a weird time in life. My mom had me when she was 23. I have friends who are getting married this year, those who are graduating this year, some just finished their first year as full-time employees, some who are expecting their first child and those that have entire families already and there is me who is just starting university. We are all on our own paths. We all have our own stories to write. If we all hit milestones at the same time, we would be a boring, monotonous society. Our individual value does not come from what we haven’t accomplished yet. I have caught myself so many times this year comparing where I am at to someone else’s journey. Comparison is never great for mental health. Focusing on your own beautiful story is much more beneficial than spending your time wishing you were the main character in someone else’s story.
To be honest, I haven’t really had anything to write about in a while. Although we are (hopefully) seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, we are still in lockdown. I miss being able to go places and I wish I could have traveled a lot more this first year than I have been able to but sometimes there are pandemics so there is that. Stay safe everyone, keep your family and neighbours safe, wear a mask.
I have gone on loads of walks this month. Just exploring what is around me. I am obsessed with finding plots of land with old churches or buildings in the middle of random neighbourhoods or across the street from Tesco. It intrigues me to see something so old and with so much history just chilling there while normal, modern, busy society has just built it’s way around it. I find these places refreshing even though there is seemingly nothing refreshing about a 200 year old church or stuffy manor-turned-museum. These spots are usually quiet compared to the busy streets beside them. I found a gorgeous, blooming magnolia tree next to an old abbey yesterday and spent most of the afternoon on the bench underneath reading and taking in the sun (it is supposed to snow this weekend, I was soaking it in while I could). I couldn’t help but think “this absolutely cannot be real life.” You see these moments in movies.
One of the last class exercises for this past term was to write a short response to the prompt “I’m curious.” It made me reflect on this past year. It has been a devastating and exhausting year for the world. So many lives have been effected. Many things have happened in my own personal life and family and friend’s lives as well. It has been a mentally draining year and yet for a good majority of my days I was left with so many quiet and mindful moments. The first lockdown started while I was at home and, like many, the busy rhythm of my life came to a halt. I was uncomfortable with the silence I found myself sitting in. I filled my time and mind with music. When Taylor Swift came out with her ‘folklore’ album, one part of her attached personal essay reads, “In isolation, my imagination has run wild.” I related to that feeling well. My curiosity cracked open and was let loose in lockdown. I was curious about everything from art, mental health awareness, social injustice history and activism, communication science, mindfulness and meditation, writing, thrifting, hiking, celebrity gossip, etc. The list goes on and on. Literally everything. I was curious about everything. Part of that could do with ADHD but also… lockdown.
Much like the places I find on my walks, quiet pockets of reflective stillness are so important to find. The world- to all appearances- came to a halt last year but life goes on around us still. Pausing long enough to breathe and renew has become a necessity in my life and I think it is kind of cool that the environment around me matches the vibes I’m going for.
I have a feeling this should just be titled “Moving Overseas.” Full Stop. But moving during the middle of a pandemic did make things a little extra spicy. If I’m being completely honest, it’s only been 5 months but I don’t remember many details of the journey. I know I had 3 layovers and that on the longest flight of the trip (8 hours), there were only about 25 people on board. The flight attendant gave me pillows and blankets from the back so I could stretch across all four seats in the middle row and take a nap which was very nice. All of the airports I went to ere very clean and for the most part people were very conscious of social distancing and wearing face coverings. The trip was long though and when I did make it to my quarantine room I probably slept for at least a week. I was in the quarantine flat for 14 days and then moved into my flat that I am in now.
Leading up to the trip I did loads of planning and organising but no matter how much planning and organising you do, it never quite prepares you for something you have never done before. There were definitely bumps in the road that I didn’t plan for. For example: my duffle bag strap casually tore off half way through the trip and I carried the duffle bag around in my arms the rest of the time. Not a huge deal, but it definitely added to the hilarious ridiculousness of that day.
Moving is messy. Getting used to a brand new place leads you out of your comfort zone and into a mental and social place that is awkward and sometimes completely out of your control. Homesickness hits you hard or visa appointments fall through. Not to mention culture shock. Culture shock happens at different levels no matter where you relocate and no one can tell me otherwise. Walking into the grocery store for the first time absolutely blew my mind. I remember walking around the first time with wide eyes and saying to my flatmates, “there are so many types of fruit and vegetables.” If you think we have loads of veg at home, you haven’t seen the cabbage section at Morrison’s yet. I also spent the next 4 weeks wondering where the “English muffins” were kept. I finally realised I live in England. Why would they be called “English” muffins??
I have done some reading on the different stages of culture shock and I definitely have felt all of the stages at one point or another and still do. I’m not sure how much the pandemic has affected acclamation for me or other international students because I have nothing to compare it with. I’m just kind of going with the flow and I have found peace in that. My time as an expat is neither at the newbie level or the experienced level and I kind of like it here. I like learning new things. I like asking about words I’ve never heard before and explaining things like “what’s his bucket” and “frazzled.” (Yes, I know. I know. But I spent my high school years in Texas my friends.) But I also like being familiar with my surroundings. I am finding myself settling in more ways than I imagined I would before coming.
In other news: it snowed last week here in Leeds. It snowed whilst I was in Liverpool over Christmas break as well and all I can say is that I’m obsessed with England covered in snow. It’s honestly gorgeous.
As always, miss you all back home. Have a great week! Xx
A few weeks ago my train to Liverpool was cancelled so I was in the station for an hour waiting for the next one. While waiting, a pigeon decided to land right in front of me and stare at me while I was eating my crisps. I put my crisps away because… ✨creepy.✨ Before I left the US, my cousin’s sweet daughter told me that she has a love for fat pigeons. This one, I noticed, was particularly fat so I decided to get out my phone and take a quick video of it. I was sending it to my cousin and explained how creepy the pigeon was when suddenly a maintenance dude came out of nowhere scaring the bird. It flew right into face. I screamed in front of the maintenance man and about a dozen other people…
In the short amount of time that I have been here, the amount of awkward or embarrassing situations I have experienced by simply being an American in the UK has left me with zero to little shame. Screaming at flying pigeons, saying “Ree-bena” instead of “Ri-bee-na,” asking directions (constantly), calling trousers pants (ALL the time), asking how much the co-pay would be while making at appointment with the GP, only knowing what “GP” means because of Doc Martin. Oh man, the list could go on for ages. After a certain point I just started to accept it and own it. Laughing at myself has proved to be such a healing form of self love.
On an entirely different note- I have had an absolute blast in Liverpool with my fam during winter break. A couple days before Christmas, a group of farmers got together and organised a charity parade with their tractors, decorated in festive lights. We stood there watching 80 tractors pass by in the cold night air and cheered on the farmers who raised thousands of pounds for the local children’s hospital.
On Christmas Day we went on a walk up in Lancashire. There were ruins of a village lining the reservoir and sheep in the fields along the path. It started snowing as we were finishing our walk and it made for a very magical Christmas Day. I was also able to explore the city of Liverpool a couple of times since I’ve been here as well. I stumbled across a spot where I had taken a picture almost 5 years earlier. It was fun to recreate that picture and reminisce on the growth and change that has happened in the past 5 years.
Hope you are all having a lovely New Year and end to the holiday season. 2020 was full of growth and change. It was full of highs and it was full of a lot of lows. I am excited to see what 2021 brings. We are not out of the woods yet and there is still a lot of fighting to do. However, I still feel a glimmer of relief coming in the future.
I’ve been away from Leeds since winter break has started. I miss my flatmates and my family back home during this Christmas time. However, I am super happy that I get to spend the holidays with family here in England. I was able to go explore a bit of Liverpool this week. The Liverpool Library was one of the highlights of that little adventure. Can I just say… “wow.” Everything about this library is beautiful. The structure, the mix of old and modern, the collections. “Just wow.” Every room is different than the one before. When you first walk into the main library area, the multilevel, open room filled with shelves and shelves of books will take one’s breath away. The Hornby Room, Oak Room and Picton Reading Room have displays of rare and unique books. The children’s room is open and bright with fun displays of pop up books and toys.
Gentlemen’s Magazine, Jan-June 1839, comments on Queen Victoria’s most recent portrait.
Liverpool is full of magic places and magic moments and I’m very happy to be here. This year has been something else but I hope everyone has a Happy Christmas despite everything.
P.S. I am still trying to perfect the ability to walk in rain and not look like I’ve drowned afterwards. If anyone has any tips, I would highly appreciate it.
Sierra Malone 