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Monday, 21 August 2017

Travelling or Therapy?

I know I haven't written a post in a long time, and the last time I did write was about the more downbeat, but very real issue of the post-university blues, and I said I don't write posts unless I have something to say. Well, now I have something to share. When wrote that last post, as I mentioned before, my heart was broken because I was leaving my home of 3 years, and while I still miss it and everyone there with all my being, it has become easier to deal with.

For me, travelling has not just been something amazing and a chance to see the world, but it has become a form of therapy. Sometimes travelling may seem like running away from your problems but looking at something from 8000 miles away can certainly give you a different type of perspective. I know this might sound very obvious or airy-fairy, but last time I was writing I was struggling a lot with a very big life decision - whether to attempt to find a job, stay at Holloway for another year or be brave and go to Paris. I was still struggling with this decision when I left over 5 weeks ago on July 17th to head to Central America.



There's nothing like leaving alone and attempting to tackle 8 countries in 5 weeks without knowing a word of Spanish to clear your head. I hadn't been travelling alone for 2 years to this point, and although I was absolutely terrified about leaving, (and my best friends will attest to this), once again, as always, it was the best decision ever.

Going to the other side of the world made me realise I could do it, I could do anything I wanted to, and that, while all my fears about leaving and moving to Paris for a year were legitimate, they also made it part of the appeal. Moving abroad can be exciting and terrifying at the same time, and they both go hand in hand, but leaving for 5 weeks showed me what I already knew but seemed to have forgotten, that I can completely rely on myself and that I am in control of my own life. End of story.
I'm still beyond nervous about leaving, and in 4 weeks time when I have to leave for good I probably will not want to go, but I will be so proud of myself for going, and I will be able to do it.



Deciding this was finally a decision for me. I stopped faffing around and chose to not make my decision about anyone else but me, and it felt so good, it was such a relief. I was so caught up before about what to do that I couldn't see a way out, I was winding myself up so much I couldn't hear myself think. Travelling allowed me to understand what I really wanted, and while it is probably a more expensive solution than therapy, its a hell of a lot more fun!

Have a good week my loves!

Lots of Love, Kate xxx

Monday, 12 June 2017

The End of an Era: Post University Blues

To my lovely readers,

It's breaking my heart having to write this, but I have now come to the end of my time as an undergraduate student at Royal Holloway, the place I have happily come to call home. I hate to admit it but as I write this I am fighting back the tears because more than anything I don't ever want to say goodbye to this place. It is my home and the people here are my family. We have lived, loved and laughed together more than I could have ever imagined. I was terrified when I was driving up here from home, scared out of my mind that the place I was going to have to stay for the next 3 years would be horrible and would make me want to count down the days till I could go home.

How wrong I was.

And I'm so pleased I was wrong. This place and these people have provided me with the best 3 years of my life. So far. And I'm going to say so far because I can only hope that the future years are going to be just as good.

While leaving is painful, thinking about the future is just as hard. I can't imagine waking up without my best friend just the other side of my bedroom wall, and honestly, I don't know how I am going to do it.

My options for life now are terrifying me because whatever I choose to do it will still be a massive change. I could go to Paris and do my masters there as has been the plan up until last week (I've done more U-turns on that than Teresa May!) or I could move to London and find a job, or stay here and accept my masters' place. Yet, even if I take the easy option and stay here everything will have changed. I won't be living in the same house with the same people anymore. I won't have the pleasure of walking through Egham or onto campus and knowing at least 50% of the people there. I will know what I'm doing, I will still have my job, I will still have the security of feeling comfortable, safe and at home for another year, even if I am without some of the people which make this place home. But then I will have this problem all over again next year and have the same feeling of being totally and utterly lost. I'm aware having these amazing options open to me is very much a 'first world problem' moment but it doesn't make it any easier.

In a way, I want to just go to London and get a job because it is simple. While finding that job will be challenging, and setting up in a new place, finding new people to make it home will be near on impossible, London is so close to everyone and everything that make me me at the moment so it feels like it would be a step forward from leaving RoHo but not such a giant leap as moving to Paris.

But then Paris. Honestly, I don't know why I want to go, except not going would feel like a massive failure. Admitting that maybe I can't do it is so hard because I've never liked to take the easy way out of anything. I want to be myself, I want to be that person who can just up and move to Paris and have the most amazing time that is beyond Instagram-worthy and is something that people talk about with wonder. But truthfully, I'm absolutely terrified. Terrified that I'm going to hate it, terrified that by going somewhere I know nothing about or no-one there that I will end up more alone that I have ever been, more isolated than I have ever been and more forgotten than I have ever been. Yet, the potential for going is so much greater too. I can finally be fluent in French like I have always wanted. I can get a masters, I can have lived in Paris and experience some of the greatest things it has to offer.

I feel like, with this, I am standing on the edge of a cliff and if I jump into the unknown that is Paris I may either find that there is actually a beautiful ocean at the bottom in which I can swim or jagged rocks that will hurt. Or I can take the sensible steps down to the bottom by getting a job, or I can just turn around and say 'I'll try again next year' and walk away by staying at RoHo.

I love my life here so much that I never want to have to give it up, but it is changing, everyone who makes it what it is are moving on and I have to push myself to make sure I am moving on with it, however much it hurts.

In some ways, I wish I had been more prepared for the Post-University Blues. I wish it is something that we are warned about. How hard it is to let go and move on from something that has been a big portion of your life as a student. I wish it is something that is more openly talked about, because the concept of separation anxiety from university and the people is a real thing, and it can be really scary, and as reassuring as it is to hear that you are not the only one feeling it and that it is something that everyone experiences at one time or another, it still doesn't make it go away. The only way to combat it, that I've found, anyway, is to stay busy. But in the downtime the time when you have nothing to do but think about how much you are going to miss everything and how you don't want it to change, well then what do you do?

I know this is all a bit heavy for a post considering that I haven't written much in a while however it is something that is playing a big part in my life right now.

I have two weeks left in this house until I have to leave. Elliott just left for the week (to be back at the weekend) and I'm already upset so what the fuck am I going to do when we both actually have to move out for proper. I'm going to be a mess. I can't walk past his empty bedroom without the prick of tears at the moment, and that's not helping anybody right now.

Lots of Love to you all, and to my fellow third years who may be feeling only a fraction of what I'm feeling right now, it's scary but it's going to be okay, at least that is what we must believe at the moment.



Have a good week my loves!

Lots of Love, Kate xxx

Friday, 28 April 2017

What now?

Sorry for the long silence apart from the occasional radio posts my lovely readers - I simply haven't had the time and I've had a little bit of writer's block. I don't want to write a post just for the sake of it so I only try to write when I really have something to say.

Well, I have finished. Yup, that's it. Done. Finito. No more exams, no more essays. End of. And that is absolutely fucking scary. I can't believe how fast my time at Royal Holloway has gone, and how much I have loved it. As much as I have had my days when I have wanted to run kicking and screaming out of Egham, I'm really going to miss this place and the people here. Don't get me wrong I am so looking forward to going to Paris (I did tell you guys I am moving to Paris to do a masters degree right!?) - I am, but at the same time I'm sad that I've only got two months left in Egham before I lose my house and have to move on.

So many people I know are growing up and getting jobs and I'm really happy for them, but I don't want that part of my life to start just yet. So, therefore, Paris, and why I have also booked for a month to go travelling around Central America: Mexico-Belize-Guatemala-Honduras-Nicaragua-Costa Rica! It's going to be epic. Yes, it's fucking expensive but I've worked my ass off working 4 jobs this year to be able to afford this so I'm going to damn well enjoy myself, I've earned it. I'm so nervous excited for this!

Planning fun
I'm so looking forward to the summer and next year and what adventures it brings, but at the same time I really want to savour my time here and make the most of the moment - cause I'm gonna really miss RHUL and the people I have come to consider my family now.

Have a good week my loves!

Lots of Love, Kate xxx

SPOTLIGHT ON: LJUBLJANA

Welcome to #traveltuesday once again here on Insanity 103.2FM and today we are going to Ljubljana, one of the most under-rated cities in Europe in my opinion. Slovenia is one of the most amazing countries in Europe as it is relatively undiscovered in travelling terms - it is not on the typical travel route (although it usually features as a stop for most interrailing students) and it is definitely on the rise as a popular place to go. This is most likely because of its beautiful city, welcoming people and very affordable prices. The fact that Slovenia is also only a 2hr plane journey away makes it pretty popular too. Sandwiched between Vienna, Italy, Slovakia and Hungary, Slovenia is pretty much in the centre of Europe, and it is the centre of my top ten European travel destinations.

Easiest way to get there:

  • By Train: interrailing or by train from wherever you are coming from on your journey
  • By Bus: from Croatia or Vienna etc. buses to Ljubljana are as cheap as €22 
  • By Plane: from London Gatwick or Stanstead EasyJet flies once a day direct to Ljubljana for as little as £60 return - the Hungarian airline Wizz also flies there too for similar prices

Riverside Ljubljana

Where to stay:
  • Ljubljana - is so small there is not much to choose from: I stayed in a great Airbnb above a bar called Liquid for £52 per night for the entire apartment and it is a really cheap option because it can take up to 5 people and includes a free breakfast while being right in the centre of the city so you literally walk outside the front of the bar and be next to the Dragon bridge
  • Hotel Mrak: £69 per night, and right in the centre of the city
  • Hostel Tivoli: £13 per night, includes a basic breakfast, 10-minute walk to congress square and right next to the bus station 
Lake Bled


What to do:

  • Visit Lake Bled: bus ticket from Ljubljana bus station for €12 for 1h30m bus journey to one of the most beautiful lakes and scenes - take a walk around the lake and enjoy the gorgeous sunshine
  • Take the funicular up to Ljubljana castle and wander around the restored castle and prison - tickets are €7 for students - get a spectacular view of the city 
  • Take a free walking tour of Ljubljana leaving from outside the Pink Church in the old town at 11 am every day - worth it to spend a couple of hours wandering around the city - although as it is so small there is not much walking involved. The best part is you get all the history of the city but don't forget the guides rely on tips so leave them a couple of euros 
  • Sit by the river and enjoy a cocktail at many of the riverside bars
  • Wander around the open and covered markets to pick up some memorable souvenirs and food

Pink Church
Have a good week my loves!

Lots of Love, Kate xxx
  

Saturday, 18 March 2017

SPOTLIGHT ON: AMSTERDAM

It's #traveltuesday once again here on Insanity 103.2FM and today we are getting on a plane and heading towards the wonderful city of Amsterdam in The Netherlands. Amsterdam is known across the world as a city of hedonism, partying and good times, but there is more to do in Amsterdam that just party (although it is pretty great here too). Spending a long weekend in the city is a must for any traveller and it is a perfect starting or ending point for your Europe interrailing journey too. Enjoy a stroll down the by the canals in the summer, pop into one of the many museums that scatter the city or browse one of the markets in one of Amsterdam's many parks.


  • STA: offers '72 Hours in Amsterdam' Tour which includes 2 nights at St Christopher's at the Winston hostel with breakfast, the Amerstdam Combi ticket - one-hour Canal Cruise and Heineken Experience, Amsterdam city bike tour OR the Amsterdam pub crawl and the Red Light District Walking Tour. 


Easiest way to get there:

  • Fly: from London, it is only a 40-minute flight to Amsterdam Schipol airport for as little as £60 with EasyJet from Gatwick or British Airways or KLM from Heathrow 
  • Coach: with National Express from London Victoria to Amsterdam for as little as £15 one way although it will take you close to 20 hours to get there!
Where to Stay:

  • Airbnb: You can find some great and interesting places to stay on Airbnb - from eco houses to houseboats, Amsterdam has it all!
  • St Christopher's at the Winston: centrally located hostel with free breakfast, a place in a dorm room costs £21 per night. The hostel also has a nightclub which is located right next to the hostel so this place is not for the light sleeper!
  • Hotel Vondel: for those who would like to splash out this hotel is a small, boutique hotel set in the heart of the city with a beautiful breakfast patio, this place is £73 per night for one person or £37 per night for a twin room between two.

What to do:
  • Head to one of Amsterdam's famous 'Coffee Shops' and see what they have to offer, not like your average Starbucks, similarly, Smart shops in Amsterdam aren't that smart...but you'll have to go there to find out yourself to know what I mean
  • Go to the Flower Market and buy some of Amsterdam's famous tulips
  • Join the masses queueing at Anne Frank's House for a peek at where the Frank family hid out 
  • Wander around the museum quarter, and especially check out the Van Gough and Rijks Museums and take a photo with the famous 'I Amsterdam' sign 
  • Go to the Heineken Experience and taste the world famous beer
  • Visit Dam Square where all the shops and clubs are, visit the sex museum here or take a boat tour around Amsterdam from here. Admire the architecture of the churches. 
  • Meet in Dam Square for the Free Walking Tour of Amsterdam. Book here in advance. I would highly recommend these tours as they show you all of Amsterdam in a couple of hours, they will show you all the sights and the guides are knowledgeable and fun. The guides rely on tips, so tip at your discretion, but great on a student budget!
  • Wander around the Red Light District - enough said! 


Have a good week my loves!

Lots of Love, Kate xxx

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