New York Part 1

Here comes another travel post. New York can I first say is amazing, nothing does justice for New York like actually being there. To begin, lets start with my story of how it all began. My cousin being as spontaneous as she is flew out to New York on the Tuesday, without telling me! Upon realising the cheap flights, £400, how can you pass that up? Despite having lots of work to complete before the next term begins, I booked tickets. This was after a sitting in the library at 9am telling myself if I complete 2000 words of this 5000 word essay I will book flights. It was just one of those moments when you are suffering in the library and need an escape. I had contemplated being sensible and checking flights for more feasible dates, e.g. a week later or later on in the week, but actually I booked it for the next day. The day was currently Thursday and I was flying FRIDAY morning. And so it began.

First stop: Madrid. Connecting flights can be so tiersome, but a 3hr wait really isn't too long, the only problem is me being me I didn't contemplate how hot it would be over there. So wrapped up in all my layers protecting me from the cold of the London chill and the following coldness in New York, I was baking in Madrid. It was still 20+ degrees there! Safe to safe I looked like a knob.

Here we go, AIR EUROPA, flying to New York. I can tell you now I couldn't contain my excitement whilst I sat and took this picture. Despite being by myself, there was something even more exciting about it.

For cheap flights this is a surprisingly flight airline. The seats were relatively roomy and the service was amazing. The only downside of the cheap flight was the movies and television shows. Unlike the big airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and Cathay Pacific, they do not offer a wide array of the latest movies. Albeit they had a few such as "The Drop" but I ended up channeling my inner-child and sticking to Maze-runner, which if you are 15 or like me, you will enjoy. 

Having woken up at 3am to make this flight and flying through the day it was so difficult not to fall asleep. The struggle definitely was real, but staying up to sail through clouds is definitely worth it.

Arrival into Madrid, I didn't want to do anything but eat, I was STARVING to say the least. Getting to my table and realising I picked up sparkling water and paid €2.50 for something I didn't want instead of still water, I was a little peeved at myself, but nothing could ruin the pure joy and excitement I was feeling.

 

Devoured my mandarins and fruit mix very quickly in the back as you can see. You didn't expect the water and fruit to be my meal did you? This was the main course, PIZZA.This is supposed to be the meat pizza, I mean there wasn't much meat but who am I to complain I was hungry and it was do-able.

And so the final lap of the journey begins, NEW YORK, HERE I COME.

For those nostalgic moments you need a few sunset pictures. For those moments where you contemplate what you've actually done, you need to look out the window and question life. That is exactly what I was doing here. Asking those important questions "WHO AM I?" "WHAT HAVE I JUST DONE?" and the real question of "WHAT ARE MY SIBLINGS AND PARENTS GOING TO SAY WHEN THEY FIND OUT?"

Having to stay awake to adjust to the time differences isn't so difficult when you have horizons to look at whilst flying over. That and the food. The food was so good on Air Europa, sorry Virgin, Cathay and British Airways, Air Europa wins! The food was generously portioned and was offered 3 times. Thats more than in a 12hour flight to HONG KONG.  

AND SO I ARRIVED IN NEW YORK. Was this a picture to mark my arrival or just because I liked the man's yellow jeans in front of me, you decide. And so my lone journey around New York began!

University: Careers

Being in third year, there is a constant reminder that this is the end of a journey. This is the end of your educational journey, it is time to venture out where you are competing everyday for a position, you are no longer sat in a safe position after being admitted into that school or that University. Unfortunately for us, a boss can cause havoc in our life if we don't do what they need to us to do. This makes these last few months of University so much more difficult. Wondering where our future boss is, what they're like, who are they like and how to best get these people to like us.

The problem is, if you don't actually know where you want to go, and can't envision what kind of boss in what field. That is my dilemma right now. 

I have simply become too comfortable in the student lifestyle and have too much choice. Choices are endless, I could continue my journey in education, or I could travel and see what countries have to offer, or I could just stay and search for a job, I could even just sit comfortably and help my parents. The endless choices make these next few months so much more difficult, but whilst I was going through this conventional 20year old crisis, I was reminded by my mother of a few things.

1. Time

I have endless amounts of time to choose what it is I really want to do, there is no restriction on time. If I don't like a job or career, you move. If you want to find a career path, go back into education. Time is actually on your side, there is nobody telling you you need to be on a particular path at a particular time. 

2. Resources

I forget how lucky I really am, and my parents don't consciously try to remind me, but they are those heroins that just have the happy and lucky spirit that rubs off on you. On this occasion she verbally reminded me that they are always here to help. I can stay and do what I want, and be educated if I want to be. A lot of us have privileges like this and it is nice to be reminded. 

3. Comparing Yourself Doesn't Put You In A Better Place

My mother is one of those people that loves money (she's Chinese, you really can't blame her) but she also reminds me that being happy isn't about how much money you have. Comparing yourself to what others have will also put you in an unhappy place. Finding a job doing something that you don't hate will make you a whole lot happier every morning than waking up with money. 

These were the few things she reminded me of when I was going through my crisis. It is amazing what a few words can do for you and your entire day. 

So if you are going through this exact same crisis, know there is a beginning and an end, and your journey is just beginning. 

All bad things come to an end. 

Life Lately #3

So the past two weeks has been a whirlwind. It's not been crazy, I have just been in different places constantly. But here is to a few weeks back, where I was finishing the last few weeks of term. It is crazy how fast University goes, and this will be my final autumn semester! Although most of these photos seem to consist of home, I guess I do return home more than I should still...

Brighton during Christmas is really beautiful, at any time of the year in fact. North Laine and the Laines in general is quite pretty, these pictures do not quite do the place justice. When the shops are opening and people everywhere, shops and cafes with their little displays outside, it makes it look that much better.

The most and possibly only annoying thing about Brighton is the one-way roads. It makes me sad seeing one way signs. I have lived here for so many years, and I yet sometimes I still fall into the trap of accidentally going down or up a one way road. That is what happens when the Green Party controls the area!

Back at home, some parts of Medway really do stand out from the rest. In my attempt to find bouldering locations, it led me to Arethusa (that supposedly has climbing walls and facilites, however there is no actual access.) So that failed, however it did lead us to this lovely little view.

Rochester High Street, during the Christmas with it's Christmas Markets and various little boutiques it gets quite busy, and actually looks quite pretty. The rest of the year it still looks okay, but it has a certain charm about it during the winter months.  

Home with my family consists of a lot of eating. A lot of eating out. On this occasion it was no exception. Here is my not so tiny little cousin attempting to stick a LARGE chinese spoon inside her nose. Classy little girl, I know.

 She's an eater, can you tell?

Again, what did I mention about eating? At the restaurant if it is not busy, I do a lot of eating. A little special concoction conjured up by the chef which is not on the menu. The perks of being in a restaurant huh (which I guess you can also see as disadvantages to somebody on a diet, oh the hard life)

To finish off here is a picture of the bi 

Finding Motivation

Finding Motivation
It's the 8th week into the 1st term of the 3rd year at University. I know a lot of people are at this same stage in life. I also know there are several people also lacking motivation just like me.
You somehow start off term so excited, so eager, so ready.
For me it was early mornings, library sessions everyday and reading everyday. That turned into several times a week to hardly a few days a week. It's difficult to keep yourself motivated when there aren't any formal deadlines. I am living proof.
There are however a few things I do to stay motivated.

1. Write down goals.
A lot of people say this, but genuinely I think it helps. A daily reminder of your goal (maybe it's writing an essay, doing exercise or drinking more water). When you write down these goals there is no way for you to avoid thinking about it.
Write it down where you can see it, post it note, notebook, phone notes, phone background.

2. Getting out of Bed
I find if you get out of bed early enough in the morning it just motivates and sets the tone for the day. The earlier you are awake, the less other people are, the less distractions there are. Especially in a student household. Wake up anytime before 10am, you're guaranteed to have the house to yourself and silence (if that is what you like). And yes getting out of bed is the hardest part, your alarm rings at 7am and you feel groggy and can't even seem to open your eyes. But once you roll out of bed and into the bathroom, you're instantly energised. I've recently been reading a book called "Find Your Happiness" and it is about a journey of a woman who took a few steps over a year to change her perceptions and actions to find her happiness. One of her goals was "act how you want to feel", so if you want to feel energised, get up and about, and you're almost, I say almost, guaranteed to be more energised.

3. Talk to People Who Motivate You
It's easy in a University environment to find people who can motivate you. Most people will have an end goal in sight, most probably a job. We are also all hoping to gain qualifications from this, and it is hugely motivating to find people going through the same thing as you. To talk about your goals, to talk about what you are doing on your journey. If your University friends aren't motivating, your home friends, your parents, your cousins. There is somebody. Maybe even those people who have supposedly "reached" their goals, talk to them, it is bound to make you feel more motivated.

4. Reading Blogs/Books About Motivation
I love reading things to do with anything, motivation, happiness, academic studies. It is my way of procrastinating when I'm not reading my formal work. There are lots of places to find motivational words if you don't wish to fork out on a book. BLOGS mostly, wherever you look there is motivation everywhere. Daily there is bound to be an established blogger writing about how they've been motivated, what they look for for motivation, and how they continue to be motivated. Give them a read. Places like Elite Daily and Thought Catalog are also great places for motivation for millennial's, and everything in between.

5. Dream 
Those few seconds for me before bed before I past out, I dream about my goals, and that mostly gives me motivation for the morning to roll out of bed. It almost always dictates my dreams durning my sleep too and makes it that little bit easier to get up.

I always find solace in a motivational quote too, and they are everywhere online.
So if you're a student, or anybody lacking in motivation right now, give these little things a try. If they don't help, don't do anything drastic to me please. Enjoy and hopefully it helps!

Blogtober #13

Blogtober #13: Favourite Fall Recipe

So I've never been much of a chef, nor will I expect I will ever be. However I did find a recipe that sounds like something that will appeal to me and my housemates. 

An Autumn Vegetable Soup - courtesy of BBC Good Food

If you would like to find the recipe follow the link below

Link: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1032/autumn-vegetable-soup-with-cheesy-toasts

Sounds so hearty and yet healthy, and something that will make the autumn blues go away if only for the small amount of time whilst enjoying the soup. It is also such a simple recipe, 2 steps for the soup, and the toast if you want something a little fancy like theres just 5 steps.

For more, I would suggest looking on BBC Good Food website, it is incredible.

If you're a student, also considering buying The Ultimate Student Cookbook by Studentbeans. It has some seriously good recipes and so simple for students to follow.