Amsterdam Adventures

This trip was easily the best trip of my life! Amsterdam is such an artistic, picturesque city that draws you into its strangeness and quaintness.

Two Mini Adventures

One of my favorite things about studying in Stirling is being a mere 40 minutes from the two largest cities in Scotland; Edinburgh and Glasgow. This past weekend I had the joy of going to both!

Round 2!

I’m back in Scotland for a second semester! It was a bold choice for me to do the whole year instead of a semester, but it has already proved to be a good decision as I’m really starting to feel at home.

A Semester of Firsts

The past semester has been so impactful on me. Putting myself so far out of my comfort zone and having a fresh start at new university was a growing and maturing process. I definitely feel like more of an adult than I did when I arrived three months ago!

Norway? No way!

This is the first country I have visited since coming over here! People were surprised by my choice, but I honestly couldn’t be happier with my experience there and it made my fall break the refreshing and fun break from Uni that I needed.

Oslo, Norway is the biggest city in the country and full of diverse people and foods. It’s also packed with great activities.

The Honeymoon Phase

Just as I was told by my study abroad advisor,  I was on top of the world and overwhelmingly excited the first few weeks being here in Scotland.

This was the “honeymoon phase” of my transition into my life here in Scotland, and it ended abruptly.

Transition: It Is What You Make Of It

Every time I meet someone new and I explain that I’m from San Diego, they say something to the caliber of “Why would you come here?” It has made me appreciate home all that much more, and when I answer the question, it makes me all the more sure of my decision to study abroad in Scotland.

I always answer saying, “Yeah, San Diego is a great place, but I’d lived there for seven years and I was ready for a change.”

Lost in Iceland

Getting to my university in Scotland was a struggle to say the least, but it was an amazing journey full of unexpected twists and fantastic people who helped me along the entire way.

I had a 30-hour travel day departing from San Diego International Airport, then to Minnesota, then Iceland for a ten-hour layover, and then finally I arrived at my hotel in London.

Oh, The Anticipation!

Here it is: the beginning of a big adventure. I haven’t even left yet, but the emotions are already running high (and not just mine, the whole family’s, too!) Ten months will be the longest I’ve ever gone without seeing my parents, my two little sisters, and Tigger (my cat). I had a moment last week when I couldn’t stop thinking “Why am I doing this? Is this a mistake? Will I miss out on too much here?”

It was all the result of me falling victim to a negative mindset, and all the questions stopped when I decided to look to the future.