A Day in the Life of a Master(s) of Education

I just wanted to share a few photos of the graduation trip: Until next post....laters

Hello out there blogger world! Question: have you ever been so in to something or the idea of something that even after it's over you can't believe it happened? That's how this last year and a half has been for me. I now have physical and visual proof that I have completed my master's degree in England. Yet it still feels like a dream or an anomaly. I recently took a trip back in order to attend my graduation ceremony and though I was very saddened that J couldn't join, having my parents along for the ride was amazing. My entire life my mom especially has wanted to visit England but time and circumstances prevented that from happening until now. This trip showed me how much of a treasure my parents are, reaffirmed that they won't be around forever and locked in memories that I will have long after they're gone. There was tons I wasn't able to do with them, like have a pint in a pub with my pop or stroll through the garden with my mom but we sa...

It's almost been a year since I left the place I've come to call home for the unknown. That unknown being life abroad and graduate school. Making the decision was hard, in fact when I first began the path of graduate school I was single, unsure of any potential for growth or diversity in my job and had started to feel like I had outgrown my life. No longer was I the young 20something, new to the city, exploring and discovering myself. In fact I felt the opposite. I felt like I had been there...done that...time to move on. I don't always think that everything happens for a reason, but I do believe that our path is winding and we don't always clearly see what's ahead of us. Anyway back to the reflective bit. I was in a place where I needed a change (or so I thought) and thus decided to apply for grad school. Fun fact: I looked for schools here and abroad. I also explored taking the GREs again or doing a short course to see if I could even handle being in school aga...

Things I will miss about living in England: •Walkers Cheese & Onion Crisps •Knowing exactly what something cost, taxes included •Using coffee night/wine night as prees in the Common Room before a night out with the girls...or turning it into our own party •All night study sessions in the David Wilson Library, especially in the Graduate Reading Room •Travelling to just about anywhere with ease on the cheap •Popping down to London within a couple of hours •Open containers and having a beer in the park on a nice day •Meeting up with so many friends, some I haven't seen in years •Having a pint at the pub •Primark •Grocery delivery •Weatherspoons, especially The Corn Exchange •A kebab & cheesy chips from AJs after a long night at the library •Playing quidditch (even in the snow) in Victoria Park •Leicester's Curry Mile •Quick trips in to town that turn into adventures ...

So it seems as though I've only been in the UK for a few months but actually it's been almost 9 months. In that time, I've traveled more than I have in my life, made friends from all over the world and really started to appreciate that I have the best network of family and friends anyone could have. As my time here comes closer to its end, I could not be any happier that I took this leap. I wasn't sure it would be worth it to leave the life I had setup for myself and the path I was dedicated to but these last few months have helped me grow so much. I honestly believe I am a better person than I was when I got here, for all the trials, tribulations and triumphs. Here are a few pics of my latest UK adventures, looking forward to see what is next.

Several weeks ago I was suffering from a case of homesickness. Thankfully that has mostly dissipated. One of the ways that helped was travelling. In the last month or so I have been to Edinburgh, Scotland; Alnwick, Northumberland, England; York, England; Dublin, Ireland; Belfast, Ireland; St. Austell, Cornwall, England & Cardiff, Wales. For those of you following at home that means I've seen every country that makes up the United Kingdom. What a trip. In Scotland, it snowed but I got to eat in the restaurant where J.K. Rowling wrote much of the Harry Potter Series. In Alnwick, I had the chance to visit a poison garden, cross the sea at low tide to visit The Holy Island and take broomstick flying lessons at Alnwick Castle (the Hogwarts Castle in the first two films). In York, I was able to stroll the Shambles which served as the modern day Diagon Alley and also attend a Sunday service at York Minister. Dublin and Cardiff gave me the opportunity to party and dance all night with ...

Last night I had a dream. In this dream, I was making out with someone...and it wasn't J. I woke up in a panic and really sad. Normally when I have a weird dream, I tell him, or my brother or my best friends, Normally all I had to do to share this experience was roll over or send a text message. If I'm really feeling out of sorts, a phone call. I've been in grad school and the UK for just about six months now. As evidenced by my subconscious mind, I miss home. I have been independent since the moment I left the womb (a trait my mother finds ever so worrisome) and was taken aback by the feeling of homesickness. I took some self-reflection to reconcile with myself the feelings I experienced. For the first time, I have a sense of true belonging. It goes like this, when I left for college it was an opportunity to grow into myself. I was stepping out of the shadow of an amazing older brother who excelled at just about everything, away from the close-knit family, extended famil...

Hello out there! When I decided to pursue this postgraduate degree in the UK, I also made a promise to myself that I would travel more. I enjoy travelling and always have. There is so much out there to see and do and experience and I want to achieve it all. Though I've always had the travel bug, travelling means money and time. I know, I know you can travel cheaply especially if you eat little, sleep in shacks and walk as much as possible. Trust me, I've done that, but the thing I was seemed to be lacking was time. That does not come cheaply, nor can be easily manipulated to suit one's needs. So the biggest thing (aside from you know, earning my degree) has been using my time wisely to travel. The first couple of months here weren't as productive as I'd like. In a little under 2.5 months I visited 1 country and 4 cities. Not my best showing really. In 2018 I've amped up, basically telling myself the earlier I book things, the cheaper it will be. Yes, I am sp...