STUDY // I'm home!

Hello there!

This post has been a long time coming.

I kept starting to write this post but have never been able to finish it. I tried as soon as I finished my final exam. I tried to write it again once all my bags were packed. I sat down at Vancouver airport, Montreal airport and LAX and attempted to write this post and I just could not bring myself to do it. Now I'm back in England I feel like I HAVE to write it because I am no longer living in North America anymore and I really do need to sum up the past month and a half that I have been away for.

If I am honest, I was in complete denial that I was ever going to leave Canada. I had a job interview lined up, I had accommodation sorted for when I got the job (which I didn't get but considering the whole getting a visa thing last minute is completely understandable!) and I was convinced that I would not be leaving for a good few months. I had 3 weeks of travelling around the East coast of Canada and then West coast of the US before I had to leave and it just felt so far away. 

However, now I'm sitting on my sofa with my cat, watching Pointless, and yearning to go back to Vancouver as soon as possible. I have banned all travel websites and have three estate agent websites up instead because I still don't have a house for university this year (slightly worrying - but I'm technically a grad student so I'll just repeat that over and over until I have someone let me live in their house). 

I may be awfully jet lagged (like crazy - it's not what I want right now) but at least I have Radio 1's Big Weekend this weekend with all of my girls in Norwich to look forward to. Muse, Florence, Tay Tay, Catfish, James Bay and more all in one weekend (for free!?) How could I even be so lucky!?

Anyway, I'm going to stop blabbering on and feeling sorry for myself and start giving a quick recall of my final weeks in Vancouver and my final thoughts on the whole thing. Let's go!

As I am sure you are bored of me mentioning, the education system is seriously different in Canada than in the UK. Exams are worth slightly less, there are far more summative assessments and you have a whole WEEK if you're lucky to prepare for your finals. I had four finals to prepare for in a week so I spent every day in the library from 7:30 - 11:30 with only a few breaks to grab lunch, dinner, a coffee or cake. It wasn't healthy, I went a bit stir crazy but there was no time for anything else. I ended up having a couple of seriously unproductive days as a result but somehow I got through it! I have all of my grades back and I didn't fail one module - I'm taking that as a huge win!

Once my exams were over I spent a day in bed with Netflix. I think I deserved that much! I then spent as much time with my friends as possible considering we only had 5 days left! I was one of the earliest to finish, and really procrastinated when it came to packing, but I managed to see one last movie for free (LOVE Scene points), went out for Sam's 21st birthday (well I did - I'm not actually sure he did....) and even went to the aquarium with Liv. 

Oh, and I cannot forget going out for Emily's 21st (yes, it wasn't the cheapest week!) at The Cactus Club Cafe on the Waterfront which was just beautiful. Yummy cocktails and wonderful company, what more can you ask for?! 

I had to go pick up bits of work, I had my job interview and had to eventually pack before I headed off to Toronto to start off my travels for the next few weeks. I finally threw away my lab shoes that have gotten me through my entire undergrad labs. I am so upset to see them gone but they looked disgusting (damn you Vancouver rain!). I am now on the hunt for new lab shows and hope that they were holding me back. I will be an even better Chemist now I am starting my Masters and don't have my old lab shoes! 

Sure, I wanted to explore BC a lot more than I did but time (and money) just ran out. At least I know that I will have to go back to Vancouver at some point and that there will be plenty to do!

So, now I'm home and have plenty of blogging to do. I have TENS of travel posts ready to be written and uploaded this next few weeks. I'll have a couple of posts from Radio 1's Big Weekend (so excited!!!), book reviews,  my year abroad in Snapchats and even a post thanks due to the lovelies at Prairie Charms. I don't know what else to say but keep your eyes peeled and if you have any questions about studying abroad feel free to contact me either by Twitter, Instagram or email (broomfie_@hotmail.com). 

Are you guys excited? I know I am!