Hello there.

2017 has been crazy hasn't it? I was just sitting here in a hotel, watching The Big Bang Theory re-runs and thought 'my God - when was the last time I wrote a blog post?' It shocked me to see that it was as far back as last summer (insert shocked cat emoji here) and I felt more than a little disappointed in myself for ignoring my blog for so long. I used to put so much effort into posting regularly, taking hundreds of photos a week and engaging with other bloggers most days. However, recently I've been focused on running experiments, drinking too much coffee and watching too much Netflix. Oops.

So, I've decided to start posting again. I've updated my blog layout a little bit. I've got a few posts written and ready to upload. I've properly scheduled blog post writing in hopes I'll keep this up. We'll see - but I'm being optimistic (it's the way I get through most weeks these days.

STUDY // What my year abroad taught me

Hello there! 

Can you believe that I have been back from Canada for about 2 months now. Where has the time gone? I really, really wish I knew. I have been working, I've been seeing friends, I have been house hunting (I FINALLY have one and it sounds perfect!) and, of course, blogging! Still, with results being posted (although mine still aren't...grrrrrr) I thought it would be nice to do a little post on a few things I learned during my year abroad. 

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!

STUDY // Semester 2: Four Weeks In

Hello there!
Can you believe we are already approaching the end of week 4 and I haven't posted a study abroad update yet? Can I get a 'that's crazy yo' (please and thank you). This has been the most hectic few weeks full of nights out, lab reports and hockey. Do you know what? I don't think I'd have it any other way.

STUDY // Semester 1 is over

Hello there!
Yes, I know it has been a little while since I have last posted. I have sat at my laptop thinking 'I want to blog but I have finals' and yes - finals happened and were a thing. I have half of my marks back and  they aren't too bad considering I had a grand total of about 4 days to prepare for a full semester's worth of work. I still cannot get over that. I know if I was given the three months I'd usually have to prepare for finals I'd ace them but instead I had three days so I am super impressed to get 84% overall for Materials (if anyone needs a materials chemist just look this way!)

Anyway, I thought I'd just do a post showing a timeline of my first semester here at UBC. It has been the craziest past three months and I cannot believe I am flying home for Christmas on Monday. It's going to be so nice to go home and see everyone and see my cat in her Santa suit and at all of the cheddar cheese in the world because Canadian cheese is bloody awful (#realtalks).

So here we go!

STUDY // Study Abroad: two weeks left

Hello my lovelies!
I cannot believe finals are upon us. This morning I had my first final and it feels so good to have finally finished a module. Sure, it was the hardest module of the lot and I am super, duper worried that I haven't even passed (seriously - it was that bad! We'll have to see what happens!), but it's nice to feel like I accomplished something. I have had nothing but trouble with it and I 100% didn't have the pre-requisites and no matter how much work I did I just couldn't get anything.

Pro-tip: if you are going abroad and are choosing modules make sure you know exactly what is being covered. The websites can often be quite vague and that definitely made things 77 times harder for me than it should have been.

Anyway, it has been a super hectic past few weeks due to it being my birthday and Liv's birthday. There have been more house parties than I can count. I have had assessments due in and spent all day in The Beanery working on ridiculous questions that I cannot do. I have managed to do my first presentation (and it went pretty well!) and to top it all off I have now come to the conclusion that I actually love it here and could not even think about going back home. It's crazy how just a few weeks can completely change how you feel.

STUDY // Study abroad 5 weeks in

Hello my lovelies!
I cannot believe I haven't posted in over a week. I hoped it wouldn't come to this until finals but it has come early and it sucks. Everyone says that you have ups and downs during your study abroad and the past couple of weeks have definitely 100% been a down. Sure, there have been good bits and bad bits but overall, this past couple of weeks have sucked. If I hadn't made such great friends out here I know 100% that I would have given up and just gone home last week and that would have been the end of this adventure in Van and at least I tried.

Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say here it that absolutely everything they tell you about how it's going to be difficult and you'll feel sad is 100% true! Yeah, I know - that sucks!

STUDY // Study Abroad - two weeks in

Hello there!

It is crazy to think I have been living in Canada for almost three weeks now. I still do not know how this happened. I know I say that a lot but it’s true. Obviously I can do a flow chart saying how exactly it happened (see below) but I didn’t ever think it actually would happen you know?

Anyway, I thought I’d do a post letting you know how it feels to have successfully completed two weeks of classes. My ‘successfully’ I mean not annoyed the lecturer/failed everything to get kicked off the module. I wouldn’t say it has been all that successful at all – and that kinda sucks.

STUDY // Tips for surviving university

Hello there!

For many of you, the dreaded A Level results day will be fast approaching.  I remember that day like it was yesterday (seriously) and remembered how lost I felt before I started university. I recently read a brilliant post by Sarah at The BlossomCart who has just graduated uni with a first (go her!) and agree with every single point she has made. However, there are a few points I want to add so I thought I’d do a little post (well not so little but anyway). Make sure you check out Sarah’s post too – I’m not going to write her points here (apart from the ones that are REALLY important) and I’m sure you don’t want to miss a tip!

I'M MOVING TO CANADA!

Hello there!

Please excuse the capital letters but I am incredibly excited. Yesterday I found out, after a horrific month and a half of waiting, that I managed to get a first for my second year of my chemistry degree. Yes, I know - I may or may not have cried (okay, I cried).

Not only that, I've officially been given my grades so I am officially moving to Vancouver in less than two months. Yes, I know - I cried! Excitement does not cover it.

Please note: this is my excited face.