lottievoyage-blog

[lottievoyage-blog]

Why so inconsistent?

The last couple of weeks have been so jam-packed with assignments, exams, and unrelenting homework at college that I haven’t even had time to think! 

Next week is a big week, so stay tuned! 

[lottievoyage-blog]

Autumn is such a lovely time of the year. Many people struggle with their emotions when the weather turns but I really believe in the Scandinavian philosophy of Hygge. I thoroughly suggest people read it when they’re in places which are particularly dreary.

[lottievoyage-blog]

Sunrise at Mirror lake

[lottievoyage-blog]

Goodnight! 

[lottievoyage-blog]

An absolute must for anyone ever who visits Portland. Powell’s is the book version of a maize maze.

powells city of books / portland, oregon

[lottievoyage-blog]

Manhattan is honestly one of my favourite places to be. It’s a huge contrast to where I grew up; busy, happening, and modern. Maybe one day I’ll write a blog about my view of New York City. 

By Alberto Reyes

[lottievoyage-blog]

To take the good of everybody's character and make it still better and say nothing of the bad

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

[lottievoyage-blog]

Sunsets around FG.

[lottievoyage-blog]

A really good song to sit, lie, walk or run and think retrospectively of love. I really enjoyed listening to this late at night, in my own headspace after a long day of thinking about statistics, law and numerous other things. Sam Smith’s vocals are velvety and charming.

[lottievoyage-blog]

Portland series.

Typical of a teenage girl leaving home for an extended period of time, I was stressed on the drive down to Heathrow, anxious about the voyage I was about to take. As soon as the twisty (and unnecessary) line structure to airside appeared as did my tears, streaming as I latched to my mum and my dad. As a chronic over-thinker, I realized that maybe the late nights working, which led to oversleeping, didn’t leave me with quite enough time to truly grasp what I was doing. Was this the best decision? Am I really doing this so I can get some cool photos for my Instagram and then harshly realize home is 4778 miles away? Now, retrospectively, I can answer yes to both those questions; this whole idea, conjured up in February 2017, implemented nearly 4 weeks ago, is probably the best decision I’ve made. And that’s coming from someone who’s fallen out of the honeymoon phase and crash landed, face first, just west of Portland, Oregon.

But, in reality, I need to tell you about the whole process of flying across the Atlantic and mainland USA - an 11-hour flight, 32-hour day and one really tired girl = a lot of research, food, and movies.

Firstly, if you’re doing an international flight that requires you to dawdle around an overly-crowded airport, such as London Heathrow T3, you should seriously invest in some ‘space’; an airport lounge. Not only do you get copious amounts of food and drink, you also get an experience. If friendly and approachable, you meet people who are willing to share a little snippet into their life and seriously help to distract you from your own chaos. I met a bunch of interesting people, all dragging me away from the reality that I’d fledged the nest big style.

Secondly, when reading all those articles on how to deal with jetlag, really digest the importance of shifting your meal times gradually towards the local time at your destination. Albeit, you can definitely survive if you don’t do this through doing this technique called snacking (one of my favorite past times). By eating closer to the destination meal times, it means you won’t wake up at some weird times and expect a fry up.

Alongside these points, I really really recommend a pair of Bose noise canceling headphones. My 11-hour flight was so much more bearable as I could sit and listen to all my Spotify playlists I downloaded (also Spotify Premium is a MUST). Delta Studio offers a good range of films which can definitely help to burn a couple of hours, but listening to the audio through a pair of Apple earphones can kinda ruin the thrill of Boss Baby.

Finally, and ending on a big one, don’t go into a situation like this negatively. I had to get the MAX (public transport) when I arrived at PDX. I was tired, disorientated and without much money but I did it! Personally, I don’t tend to analyze situations like this until it’s too late and I’m already in the process of doing it. In reality, the easier route would have been to spend $30 on a taxi, but instead, being the cash-strapped student I am, I paid $2.50 for an experience. I understand there some areas in the world I really wouldn’t suggest doing something similar to this, but if you really research and understand your surroundings, I really do recommend trying something that makes people question your sanity.

For those of you who want to travel, study abroad or just visit a far-away place, I hope you have the best time, document your experiences and reminisce in years to follow. Life truly is for the living and go at everything with an open-mind and a happy heart. Be safe, aware and alive but don’t sit within your comfort circle. My trip is definitely not an extreme, but for me, it was a big ask. I’m here, having a great time, meeting brilliant people and living in a culture which will help round me (probably both in character and in person).

[lottievoyage-blog]

Pre-study abroad post

T-minus 4 days until I hop onto the 12.30pm Delta flight from LHR to PDX. A powerful enemy (in the shape of my mum) has been made over the lack of packing progress - yet I have to conflict this due to my 240-strong tea bag collection. In my stomach resides butterflies and in my head, I am calculating the ratio between all the possible positives and negatives. Eagerly, I keep loading the Delta website to see if I can check-in and have reshuffled my seat several times in order to sit next to a window so I can sleep (and most-likely drool) on something other than a strangers shoulder. The next few days will embody ensuring that all types of health professionals know I will be leaving the country until Christmas and that they should read sufficiently into the future, enough so that my family’s peace of mind is affirmed. Friends will be met for coffee, the family will be able to wish me ‘bon voyage’ and my parents are okay with driving me 3 hours to get within the M25. Oh, and I have done enough google’ing to know the entire population of Portlands ancestry.

If somebody could just guarantee a good exchange rate, then all should be golden for my 4 months.

[lottievoyage-blog]

Reflecting on... Catalonia, Summer 2016.

[lottievoyage-blog]

Abersoch, Wales. July 2015. Sea you soon.