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all too sudden

So I finished the last exam for my third year of university today - goodbye strathclyde exams. You didn't last long but I still didn't appreciate you being around. And while this news is fantastic (trust me, not having to study today was wonderful) it also hit me how little time I have left in Glasgow. How few days I have left to do all of the things I have been putting off doing in this city, and this beautiful country. 
As the girls and I sat around our living room today we realized that there are only a few days that we have where we will all be in Glasgow. Some are going on trips, others are leaving earlier, and ones family is visiting. In all of this we still need to find time to enjoy each others company for just a little bit longer. None of us are ready for the far-to-soon goodbye that is encroaching. It is difficult to imagine not seeing these girls everyday. Witnessing them trip over everything, listening to stories about the "monster", watching videos of eating kinder surprises, adding to the map, and having some far too inappropriate conversations. It is these moments that I will miss most. The small ones. 
Here's to the last 16 days in Glasgow. Let's make it worthwhile. xo

not all those who wander are lost

I am home from my 2 and a half week long trip through five European countries. Insane sounding, I know. So much to see in so little time, but I felt that I got a really good grasp of every city I visited. 
Let me start off by saying the trip was absolutely amazing (obviously). I got to see so many places that lots of people will never visit. And even better then that I did the whole thing with three amazing people (and also visited a few other lovely friends along the way). The things that we learned about each other and ourselves can't be found anywhere else. We may have had our disagreements, and our bad days, but in the end we came out closer then ever. I can't wait for the future journeys I take with these girls. So thank you Kayla, Amy, and Claire for being the best travel companions. I could not have had a more hilarious and memorable spring break<3
I leave you with a picture from the start of our journey, ready to start the long waited adventure we planned. 

Big smiles

(I am hoping to update a few more times today while I am in Glasgow. I head off to Denmark tomorrow to visit my bff Tess. The busy life just keeps on going).

something like an update for your sunday night enjoyment

So I thought it was about time that I gave an update of sorts on my life here in Glasgow. I also wanted to reveal where I will be headed over our spring break (it may be breaking my bank account but it is sure to be amazing). So here goes my list - if you know me well then you know that lists are my favourite way to do things. I can't believe this is my first one on here. Anyways, life update:

• I am going to Ireland for St. Patricks day this year. I am leaving on Wednesday morning and coming back on Saturday. I will be staying in Cork at one of my flatmates friends apartments (free accommodation is my favourite). It is sure to be one wild week with my wildest of flatmates. Oh and I am hoping to meet up with some friends from back home AND the girls that I met in Sevilla - all very exciting.
• This past week has involved me writing my first essay of the semester - yes that is what I am currently procrastinating from doing. I haven't written an essay since November so it is proving a little difficult to get back into the writing mode. I know, I know everyone is thinking, that girl goes to school over there? It shocks me sometimes too. 
• When Claire and I came home from Spain we had lovely little <3 and XO notes on our doors from our lovely flatmate. It still makes me smile when I have to open my awkwardly heavy door and sit in my too-small-it-makes-me-go-crazy-writing-an-essay room. 
• A long story short I am now using a very ghetto version of the phone I had when I was 14. It really can only...well actually I am not too sure what it can do. It can send a text. But is very bad at telling me the time and having the alarm go off at the right time. Oh and it is pink - that I like. 
• I bought an alarm clock due to the lack of reliance my UK flip phone provides me. 
• We got snow yesterday. Snow may be a bit of an overstatement but still, there was white stuff on the ground and I was not happy about it at all. Therefore I refused to leave the flat. Currently I am hoping that mother nature does not give us anymore of it. Rain is fine. Snow is not. 
• I bought a new jacket :) and I am so so so in love with it. I lost a part of my trench coat a few weeks ago (also a long story) and therefore it looks kind of awkward on. This new coat is also beige but totally different then a trench. I will get some pictures in it soon to show you all. (this may be another reason my bank account is hurting right now?)
• SPRNG BREAK plans have been finalized. Claire, Amy, Kayla and I will be travelling to - dun dun dun - Salzberg, Vienna, Prague, Berlin, Munich, Paris, Lyon, Barcelona and Madrid from March 31st to April 17th. We could not be more excited! Knowing us it will be an insane trip. Europe is so not ready for Flat2D. 

That is all for now. Glasgow still rocks. I am still so in love with it here. I still don't want to ever leave. So basically not a wholeeee lot has changed. Back to the essay? I suppose so. xo

getting personal

Strathclyde

So I realized that over the course of writing this blog I have told you tons of information about all of the fantastic places I have gotten to see but haven't said much about my personal experience so far. So here goes.

First off I guess I should mention the reason I am actually able to be here in Glasgow - school. I know, its hard for me to remember thats why I am here as well! I am taking three classes this semester, which is a full course load here at Strathclyde. They are: The Politics of European Integration, Local Politics, and War, Terrorism and Conflict. I have two lectures a week, and a tutorial for each class bi-weekly. It basically gives me lots of time to enjoy this wonderful city. One thing I will note that is very different from Queen's is how they deliberate reading material. For two of my classes the professor gave us a list of approximately 40 books per week that are suggested material. From this we pick what we want, and as many as we want, in order to learn the most we can about the subject. For my last class she didn't even give us a list - we are just supposed to find books that apply to the material we are studying. Slightly scarier and more independent then the structured reading guide given out at Queen's.

Secondly - my flatmates and the humble abode we live in. Six of us share a hallway with our bedrooms, a kitchen/living room, and two bathrooms. Our flat consists of girls from Malaysia, France, three from the United States (Rhode Island, Virginia and Iowa), and of course me - the Canadian. Thankfully we all get along great! I could not have wished for a better set of flatmates. We were instantly able to laugh about everything, share stories from our lives at home, and ultimately learn a lot about each other in a short amount of time. I am so excited to see what the next few months bring with all of these lovely ladies. 

Finally I want to mention my absolute contentment for this experience so far. I am so fortunate that Queen's was able to provide me with this opportunity. It is turning out to be everything I had hoped it would be. The feeling I get when walking down the street, the incredible fashion I see all over the city, the smell of beer in a pub while watching a rugby game, and talking to all of the fascinating people I have met - it is all perfect.

a new beginning

There once was a girl who had always dreamed of going on an exchange. The idea of travelling, starting fresh and experiencing a different culture sounded amazing. She stumbled upon Scotland and decided it would be a nice place to go. This is how she ended up in Glasgow.

Her journey has finally begun.