Inspiration

Just a little blog post this time. Some of my favourite songs to listen to when I need inspiration. I've been listening to these a lot lately..they help me to focus on and be happy with decisions I've made and am making. 

There are old ones, new ones, cheesy ones, rap ones...a little something to suit my every mood. Here's a snippet of a few from the list. 

Rascal Flatts - Life is a highway

Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten

Gabriella Cilmi - On a Mission

Eminem - Not Afraid

Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

Seven Days

In seven days time..I will be in Bologna. Beginning my year abroad and taking a huge leap into the unknown. 

I have to say seven days because I feel it sounds longer than one week or 'this time next week' in which I start to panic and flap around like a headless chicken. 

Many of my friends who are also doing year abroad's with ERASMUS have already arrived at their destinations and knowing I am next is terrifying, yet seeing how they are all enjoying it is extremely comforting. 

I haven't updated this blog for a while because I have been on holiday with my boyfriend. We went to Tenerife and had a 'fantabulous' (my personal favourite adjective) time. 

It was so pleasant to just escape all the stresses. I am someone who can hide and contain stress fairly well. If you were to spend time around me you would probably have no idea how anxious and stressed I am right now. 

So this holiday was just bliss. To be able to empty my mind of thinking too hard, read a great book (Divergent for those wandering) and have fun. I got to see Dolphins, Orca Whales, Sea Lions, Penguins and lots of my other favourite animals, I got to spend time at one of the best and most renowned water parks in Europe and drink a tonne of Sangria whilst soaking up the sun. 

 It was also kind of sad to leave as it marked the end of our 'real' time together before I leave for Italy (even though I will obviously see him this week around work) and I am well aware of how difficult the next year will be. 

Anywhoo....trying to think about it as a positive rather than negative thing because after all, I did chose to do this. I was not forced into it and I need to enjoy and relish every moment of this opportunity. 

The organisational aspect of things are going okay, I'm just trying to make a list of everything to take, get all my paperwork together. Keeping my diary updated is currently keeping me sane whilst I start saying goodbye to friends and family. 

I have been doing a LOT of thinking recently too, about the future and all it holds. When I started my degree I was completely set on teaching I was just unsure as to what age group. I am now re-thinking all of my life decisions. I am definitely still interested in teaching but a part of me wants to do something completely different, whatever that is. 

I'm having one of those periods where I want to be everything. I watched a series on Midwives and now I want to be a midwife. I recently have been involved in a bit of politics and want to be a politician or go into law. Then a big part of me is interested in journalism (particularly fashion and beauty) but knowing how competitive and popular those careers are is daunting and overwhelming, and therefore off-putting. So I'm at a bit of a life-crossroads and I'm hoping this next year abroad will help me towards figuring that out.

I've been looking for some inspirational quotes everywhere recently and I'll just post a few of my favourites (sorry to Alex for stealing yours but I loved it <3)"No, no! The adventures first, explanations take such a dreadful time."

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself"

"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional"

And perhaps the most over-used, corny quote of all time, but one I live by...

"When one door closes, another one opens"

Friendship

AGRH 1 month exactly until Emma and I take to the skies on our Italian adventure. I had a lovely chat with her today and we spent a lot of the conversation flapping about everything. 

I'm sure it will all turn out okay, as we keep telling each other, people do this every year and manage. It is just rather scary considering the lack of organisation from either University (specifically the bloody Italian one).  

It is also sinking in that whilst several of my friends are doing ERASMUS and I will see them next year, I will be missing out on many friends' final year at Leicester. This saddens me greatly as I feel they are not only friends, but family and the rest of the post will be dedicated to friendship. 

I love my friends from home, they are just as special as friends from University as I have known them for many, many years. However it's a different kind of relationship with the ones at Uni.

We have shared so many special moments together, the first time we are out in the big wide world on our own and we are thrown together and told to be friends. I am extremely lucky in that my first set of housemates (Josie, Kat and Gopi) we're an absolute dream. I couldn't have wished for lovelier people. We got on from day 1, we didn't have a single argument, dragged each other home at 3am on several occasions, took pictures of each other when we fell asleep doing uni work in the kitchen at 1am and oh...all the many, many, many 'frapes'. None of these ladies are doing ERASMUS and I couldn't be more upset that I won't see them all graduate but I will always have a special place in my heart for them and I know we will be friends forever. Here's a little pic of one our first nights out together for my Birthday (I hope they don't mind :P) 

In the second year which I have just completed, I lived with Sarah, Lilian and Josie again, because I love her SOOOO much ;) Again, these are incredible friends and I love them with all my heart. I cherish the memories we have here, calling our friend Jack who lives down the road to rescue us from a spider at 11pm, being involved in a Jubilee street party, BBQ's, dealing with the *insert expletive* landlord, and the many, many house parties/pre-drinks we hosted (again, I hope they don't mind an inserted picture :P). 

So alongside the people I lived with, I have some absolutely out of this world friends from my course and ones I've met through other friends, too many to name here, and I'd be scared I'd leave somebody out but I'll leave you with a few group pictures. If any of you are reading this, I love you all. You have made my University experience everything, I could almost cry I have so many happy memories (if you put Wanderwall on, there's a chance I actually will.....ohh Red Leicester times). 

Anyway, this is just a little dedication to all of those who will graduate whilst I am away and also to those I will see on my return. I love you all more than I can write,  and I know we will be friends forever <3

Real

As I'm sure you will know if you know me personally or have read this blog previously but I am now home from a short break with my mum to Bologna. Being there in person has made things very real and whilst it's very exciting, it is also very scary! 

I'll highlight a few things from the trip :) 

Firstly, the weather. It was between 35 and 40 degrees every day and ALL day (37 degrees at 9pm), whilst this was lovely for 3 days, I sincerely hope it cools down by the time I arrive as my fragile pale skin and I may melt. 

Secondly, the food. I can definitely see myself getting used the Mediterranean Italian diet. Caprese salad's (see below), pizza and pasta are to die for, and even those are topped by Italian gelato. I am also now a convert to anything coated in extra virgin olive oil or balsamic vinegar. 

Thirdly, the architecture. Whilst studying History of Art for a year as a supplementary at University, I complained non-stop every time our lecturer would pull out a slide labelled 'Italian Architecture'. This is mainly because he was perhaps one of the most boring men I have ever met, it is also because as a technical subject, it's difficult. However visiting Italy for the first time I was utterly blown away by the beauty of the buildings.  The Piazza Maggiore which is the main square of Bologna is breathtaking and the city is filled with arcades to walk through all designed with beautiful arches. 

We attempted to find the university. We found the 'University District' but it was very quiet and very large and impossible to figure out our way around (as our map didn't cover this part of Bologna) but it did look very picturesque with the large floor to ceiling doors and more arcade walkways. I'm looking forward to deciphering my way around it with friends. 

Overall it was a great trip. But as the title of this post says, it has made things very real, we now fly out to Bologna in 5 weeks today! (Just worked that out on my calender and almost had heart failure)

Ciao 

xoxo

Time Flies...

I can not believe how time is flying! It is now August, which means I leave for my year abroad next month..AGRHH! 

Things are organised as far as they can be, we can't do anything about accommodation until we arrive. When I go to Bologna with my mum I will look at a hostel we have been recommended by a friend who is already out there. Flights and hotels here are booked. Although I have just received a new batch of paperwork from my University to try and battle and decipher my way through. 

Today I decided to brush up on my Italian but that isn't going well. Learning a new language is just so difficult! This isn't helped along by the fact that I have been struck down with illness AGAIN! I would have thought I'd had my fair share of illness this last month, but apparently not. It is mainly just a really bad cold with all the side effects but it doesn't help in getting anything done. 

I think I might link my blog on my Facebook now..so far it's been strictly Twitter only because I used to have an old blog that was linked to a rather embarrassing YouTube channel (which has now been deleted) but this is about my travel journey and I figured some of my close friends and family might be interested in keeping an eye on what I am up to.

So if you're reading this because of the link I posted on my Facebook then Hello :) Please scroll down and read from the first post so it all makes sense :) 

Ciao for now <3 

Summer Summer Summer...

Ciao, 

Update time! What has been happening in my life even though not a whole lot has progressed on the Bologna front. 

The biggest update I have on my year abroad is that we have booked a hotel near Gatwick airport to stay the night before our flight as it is a morning take off and neither of us live near London. It's a great deal...£24 each for a Premier Inn that runs a service to the airport which takes less than 10 minutes YAY!

Other life updates: My boyfriend and I have booked a holiday too...this may seem extravagant considering I've failed to acquire a summer job, HOWEVER it can be justified. As well as my compensation money, I am also having my house deposit from last september returned, as well as money for the V Festival ticket I have sold, these two together cover the cost of our holiday, so I thought I'd spend it on something nice :) 

Can you believe after almost 5 years together (give or take a few weeks here and there) we have never been on a 'summer holiday' together. We have gone away together, to Amsterdam and other UK locations, but never a hot, sunny destination. This is usually down to either one of us having a full time summer job, not being able to afford it, or going on our own holiday with friends. So FINALLY we have taken the leap. We're going to Tenerife at the end of August/Beginning of September for 1 week. I am VERY excited about going all inclusive too as I never have before and just getting away before having to leave him for a couple of months to go to Bologna *sad face* 

Now I'm just blabbering...But it will be nice to look back and remember what I did this summer!! :) 

Ciao!

Exciting Developments...

Ciao, 

I have missed writing on this blog but unfortunately I have been struck down in the "priiiime of liiiife" (cheeky F.R.I.E.N.D.S reference there..be prepared for many throughout my blogs) and anyway, I have had severe tonsillitis, unfortunately for me, this means no drink, no food, no sleep for a week as well as constant sickness and pain..so writing a blog has not really been an option. I am now back on the mend and ready to update with the recent happenings.

So, since the last blog there has been some exciting changes. I mentioned that I was thinking of taking my mum to Bologna for a few days but was unsure. This IS now happening! We are going on the 7th August for 3 nights to a cute 4* hotel in Bologna (rated #3 of all hotels in Bologna-so I'm expecting good things), the unlikely source of this is that company with the annoying adverts-Trivago. I really recommend them, it's easy to use and you get incredible deals. 

Anyway, I'm getting off track...so we're going for a relaxing break but also for me to be able to get a 'feel' for the place and get my basic bearings. It's all very exciting! My mum hasn't been on a holiday since 2005..that's 7 years! So she's over the moon, even if it is a short break :) 

In terms of Bologna for the University year, things have developed there too....Myself and Emma have booked our flights for the 17th September so we now have an actual date which is rather daunting but exciting! :) We will no doubt soon be looking into a hostel for a few days to a week for when we first arrive and are house hunting. 

That's about all the updates I have for you..apart from..well I got a SHINY NEW MACBOOK AIR :D (perhaps the most exciting update for me) I love it so much, it's my new baby and I want to look after it and nurture it and care for it (jokes..well kinda). 

I'll leave you with that and update soon!

Ciao