21 Before 21: Getting on a Plane Alone

Hi! Remember me? I genuinely don't know how I got so out of hand in posting but I certainly am still alive. Alright, let us jump right into this. 

I once posted my a series of things I hoped to accomplish before turning twenty-one , essentially a series of things I intend to do whilst in Europe. One of the first things I both thought of and achieved was getting on a plane alone. So, about a month ago sans mummy and daddy, I took my first flight alone for my first ever trip to continental Europe. I travelled to meet my dear friends  Luana and Angela in Milan. 

The actual act of travelling wasn't difficult, Ryanair has a simple online check in system so grabbing your boarding pass takes only a few seconds. Plus I travelled with only hand luggage which takes away the stress of gathering your things at baggage claims. Also, most of the airports I encountered had a designated queue for "Non-EU Citizen," and they tend to have significantly shorter queues. It's like getting an international queue jump.   

None of us travellers were too keen on staying at a hostel so we opted for renting an apartment for the weekend which I'd strongly recommend. It wasn't significantly more expensive than a hostel and had a great location and view. 

 

By far the best thing about Milan was the food. I can not describe how amazing everything I had to eat that weekend was. If I could move to Italy and eat pizza's and pasta's and drink glorious glasses of Pinot Grigio everyday for the rest of my life I surely would. I also would surely weight 300 pounds. 

 Unfortunately, aside from shopping and eating Milan really doesn't have much to offer. Alright, not entirely true I will say the nightlife in Milan was amazing and there are bits of exciting architecture, with the major attraction being the Duomo

In fairness, this is one of the most beautiful Cathedrals I have ever seen and I've seen many Cathedrals. 

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get into the Cathedral as my skirt was deemed "too short," So if you are going to go to Milan and intend on seeing the Duomo, I'd recommend pants or an overcoat. 

 If the best part of Milan is the food, then the worst part has to be the people. Yes, I recognize that this is a huge statement and is likely an inaccurate representation (no all Milanese) I did encounter some creepy men and had my phone stolen, so that kind of sucked. Still, I have to admit I really did enjoy my trip but that may have more to do with the company than with the location. 

Ultimately, my final verdict would be: 

If travelling for any reason other than Fashion week, let Milan be a short stop where you do some shopping and take a picture with the cathedral (hopefully you'll even get to see the inside) then venture onto better parts of Italy. Also, keep your phone hidden at all times.

xoxo

Wants and Wills

I don't have any major updates (not necessarily true I recently had a shopping trip in Newcastle and watched a Premier League match in Sunderland, but more details on those later) however I have been feeling many things all of which are quite positive and most of which I want to share. 

I've set out to replace all my wants with wills.

I want to travel and see the world,

I want to laugh everyday

I want to be happy

I want to live an adventure.

I want to be surrounded only by people who love me and bring out the best in me.

I want to keep reminding myself that the only things in life I can control are my thoughts and I want every single one to be positive. 

These past two weeks in the United Kingdom have been so enlightening. I am constantly in awe of what hard work and dedication have brought me. Preparing for this exchange was an emotional ferris-wheel and I am finally at the top overlooking the view and admiring my accomplishments. The opportunity I have has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people and see so many beautiful places in such a short span of time. I can't help but think, if this is only week two how will I feel during week three or four? Month four? Month ten? How much can one trip change me? Obviously a trip can only change you as much as you are willing to be changed but this has really been a catalyst on my journey to happiness and I have never been more excited. 

I will travel and see the world,

I will laugh everyday

I will be happy

I will live an adventure.

I will be surrounded only by people who love me and bring out the best in me.

I will keep reminding myself that the only things in life I can control are my thoughts and I will ensure every single one is positive

xoxo 

ps. It was my birthday last week, I am officially twenty how did that happen? 

Positive Thinking and Good Eating

Winter in Canada just won't give up. Just when you think it's about to end it hits you with a final punch, or in this case an entire KO worthy combo. This I believe has resulted in an entire community of people being downright unpleasant lately.Quite franky, I can't blame them, I mean have you ever woken up and just braced yourself for an all around shit day? Everyday this week has been that day for me. It's reaching the end of a semester which means I am currently facing a cumulation of assignments, stress and all around negative energy. This of course all sits ontop of me already stressing irrevocably over my admission into the exchange program. It is safe to say I am tired. Exhausted really. And my days that start at quarter to six and don't usually end till well after midnight don't make my situation any more durable. 

Still, I've recognized complaing isn't beneficial. It's not a solution and it doesn't make things any more bearable. The only way things will get better, is if I force myself to feel better. So I've told myself I am going to enjoy these next few weeks, regardless of how I feel waking up, I want to both wake up and go to bed happy. And the only way this will happen, is if I forced it to. So, I started this today by treating myself. A few friends and I decided to embark on a new place to eat lunch today so we ventured to the on campus bar "The Phoenix," 

The Phoenix's clientele is generally graduate students and professors so the scene is far more mature than the regular eateries. Which can lead to a pricier menu but almost guarantees greater costumer service. 

The architecture of the building quickly became one of my favourite aspects, it's quite rustic which I love. Older building have a certain charisma you don't find on other parts of the campus. I use older sparingly as the restaurant itself isn't too old, however believe the building only recently became the restaurant. But don't quote me. 

I'm not a very adventurous eater so I'll admit my choice of food was boring. Crispy chicken burger with fries and cheese, but the good thing about boring is reliability. It boring does not in anyway mean it wasn't tasty. It was reliable and extremely tastsy. 

Speaking of reliable, 

Yes I know I have the selection of a underager. But hey, it's good, has alcohol and is an instant mood uplifter. So judge me all you want. Speaking of judging I think my server did a fair share of that when i order an alcoholic beverage at half past 11 pm. But hey, I applied the age old "five o'clock somewhere," and enjoyed myself.

All in all treating myself to a nice lunch was a great distraction but I quickly realized you can't avoid work forever. No matter what happens the homework still has to get done but that doesn't mean your day has to suck. I'm trying to find a positive balance in the things i need to do and the things i want to do. I don't want to have to sacrifice one for the other. I realize how important school and work and what not is in my development into an adult and functioning member of society, but I also don't want to have to sacrifice enjoying my youth. So, I'm telling myself I will have more fun and do more things that make me happy. Think positive and be positive I guess. 

xoxo. 

21 Before 21

Twenty-One seems to be a reoccurring theme in this early stage of my blogging. This is because I plan on leaving Canada at nineteen going on twenty years old, and intend on returning twenty going on twenty-one. The big TWO-ONE. In light of this year away I made a bucket list of sorts, things i'd like to complete before I turn twenty-one. Ultimately, things I want to happen before I return to Canada (assuming I actually leave). Now it's important to note not everything on my bucket list has to happen in Europe, some of the things simply revolve around a lifestyle change and taking risks which can begin right now. Also important is that I want all of these to be completed, meaning I'm trying to keep it as realistic (but still awesome and enjoyable) as possible. So, that means becoming bff's with Alexa Chung is not on the list, but my God how I wish it were. Regardless, the realistic list is as follows:

1. Get on a plane alone 
2. Visit all of the 21 cities
3. Have a life changing kiss
4. Fall in love 
5. Build a blanket fort 
6. Sing with the Kop at an LFC match
7. Let someone else order food for me 
8. Spend an entire day speaking french
9. Shop until i drop
10. Ask a guy out 
11. Dedicating an entire day to re-watching my favourite films
12. Get 21 comments on my blog 
13. Get a massage 
14. Go on an impromptu trip
15. Be a tourist where i live 
16. Go to an english music festival 
17. Order dessert first 
18. Have each of my friends send me their favourite film/novel and read/watch it. 
19. Order room service 
20. Attend a film premier 
21. Take a selfie with Prince Harry

Yes, taking a selfie with Prince Harry is realistic. It will happen. Just you wait and see!

xoxo. 

The 21 Cities

The scariest part about applying for this exchange is that three of my best friends here at Uni (L,A,C) are also applying. Meaning, that if I don't get in, I'm not just failing myself, I'm failing them too. Its so nerve wrecking, we’re already planning all of the amazing experiences we’ll be able to share when we’re all away. Its not as if we’re all going to the same place (actually, all three of them intend on going to France) nor are we going for the same time (C plans on only doing a semester exchange) but having familiar faces only being a channel away makes it less scary. However, having to break it to the girls if I do not get in is terrifying in its own right. Since I’m trying to look at the world with new positive goggles on, I’ve aimed to tell myself I am going (which is quickly followed by a maybe) I also tell my self they are going (again followed by hopefully). Nevertheless, the girls and I have made a list of cities that we intend on travelling together when (if) we do all go to Europe. They are as follows:

1. Dublin
2. Budapest
3. Athens
4. Amsterdam
5. Prague 
6. Tuscany
7. Edinburgh
8. Cardiff 
9. Vienna 
10. Rome 
11. Venice
12.   Madrid 
13. Brussels
14. Frankfurt
15. Geneva 
16. Copenhagen  
17. Cannes
18. Munich 
19. Luxembourg City
20. Belfast   
21. Brighton

This list was made by each of us selecting four or five of our “must see,” places in Europe.Intentionally, london and Paris were left out as those are no-brainers. We're going. Finally, we complied our favourite cities. They’re scattered all over the continent, hopefully we’ll be able to get to each of them. I know there are some that I can’t allow myself to not visit. Baby steps though. I have to get into my exchange program first. 

xoxo.