Hellos always mean goodbyes. And as excited as I am for my summer in Europe, saying goodbye to my home, family and friends is hard. But in this life, nothing goes without change. This month was crazy busy finishing up my semester and preparing to travel to Europe. Here are my top 5 for the month:
1. The beauty of reflection
It’s so important to reflect and think about where you were one month ago, one year ago, etc. Leaving home this month was difficult, but if I think back to when I first moved there only a matter of months ago, the transition was very difficult too. Celebrate the fact that you have something worth missing, and assess your growth. This year was nowhere near easy; it included much change, grief and heartache. But it also included the joys of friendships, growth and mentorship. I’m so happy to have spent a year with my dear roommate, Abby. No, not every day was perfect or without problem, but being able to grow alongside another makes the journey possible. I’m sad that we won’t be living together this fall, but this period was beautiful in its time. Take time to celebrate with friends. Before I left, Cate and I had a nice brunch to remember the past year and look forward to the adventures ahead.
2. Facial masks
On a lighter note, my latest obsession is facial masks. At a recent gal pal rendez-vous, we tried out some, and I’m hooked. It’s a fantastic and fairly inexpensive way to pamper yourself and relax. (And you get some rad pictures out of it too!) Fortunately, I haven’t had any experiences like this, but I can confidently guarantee this video will make you laugh out loud!
3. Packing sucks
Having to pack for three months abroad is incredibly overwhelming. I may have a travel blogger, but I am not immune to the lack of motivation to pack. If you need some tips to get motivation to pack, read this. If you’re living abroad this summer, here’s how to pack for the summer plus a free printable packing list!
4. New tunes for the journey
When you have a journey from 15 to 20 hours, you’re going to need some new tunes to keep you company. God bless Spotify Premium because I downloaded Disappear Here by Bad Suns and the La La Land soundtrack.
5. Being alone doesn’t have to mean lonely
Living in a new country can be exciting, but at the same time, you have to start over with just about everything. One of these things is friends. I’ve made several friends, but they also have their own lives too. But I’m not going to stay in my room all day. In America I would never dream of going to a restaurant and saying “table for one.” But I’ve done that multiple times here, and it’s not lonely. You have time to people watch, think and honestly just breathe. I dare you to do something without others. It’s surprisingly refreshing.
My theme for the month is transitions, leaving home and moving to France. France may be glamorous, but change is also so very hard. Living in a country where you aren’t fluent in the language and don’t have many friends is difficult, but it’s in these times that we must reflect on how we conquered changes in the past. Life is an adventure with both uphill and downhill paths. Chin up—you’re growing more than you realize!
Bises,
Kristin
{How do you handle being in an unfamiliar environment?}
