Life since I arrived home...

I've been back in the UK, after two years abroad in South Korea for seven months now. Since I came back, lots of things have happened, and yet I haven't felt the immediacy to write about them on my blog. Unlike whilst I was away, when I enjoyed reliving all my experiences through blog posts, I have had a vague notion to publish things on my blog, but just haven't 'got round to it'. I put this in quotation marks because this is not because I haven't had time, in all honesty I don't actually know why I haven't written as much as I did in Korea. Perhaps it's just because now I'm in my home country, things don't feel as special or exotic as they once did, perhaps because the purpose of this blog was to update my friends and family on my life; people who are now much more a part of places I go and things I do. I genuinely do wish to continue to write on here, but that desire doesn't seem to readily manifest itself into action.

Anyway, obviously I have found some time now, on this chilly almost springlike day, to sit down, write and hopefully schedule a few posts with all the pictures I've taken on different outings in the last few months.

So firstly; an update about what I'm doing... 

The first three months that I was back were hard. It was difficult to find any work (or even get an interview), fortnightly trips to the job centre were depressing and it was difficult to make any plans or think much further than a week or two ahead because my savings weren't going to last forever. I loved being able to catch up in person with friends, meeting new additions to my friends' families, eating food I'd been missing, revelling in all things Christmas. I managed to get some work for January working with NYU in London as an RA (chaperone/leader) for students visiting for a three week course. This was a fantastic time, finally having a job to do, meeting two girls who've become really great friends and living and working in London. I was SO LUCKY that after my three weeks was up, the student life team at NYUL asked me to stay on for the rest of the semester. I wasn't expecting this, even thought I hoped the three weeks might lead to more, I was really surprised and grateful for that opportunity. I've recently been offered a permanent position as a colleague is leaving so for now this job is permanent. 

So what do I do? I live and work in one of the NYUL halls of residence. There is a small team of us (resident life assistants) who maintain the smooth running on the halls, making sure paperwork etc is filled out, helping students if there are any other problems with housing, creating evens to get them involved with things in London and accompanying groups on trips around LDN and the UK. Yes, this is a fantastic job! Since January I've been to Oxford, Cambridge, on tours of the British Museum, Dover, Harry Potter studios, on the London Eye, watched Fulham Vs Wigan at Craven Cottage, the BBC and on various food related outings. 

A guided tour in the British Museum

Now I'm back, I've also started to settle into life back home; I travel back to Essex fairly regularly at the weekend, try and explore London as much as possible, I've started playing Netball once a week and recently enrolled on a Mandarin Chinese course at SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies). Things are going well, but don't think it all just fell into place. I didn't really suffer reverse culture shock, because I was ready to come back, and because I know that for now this is the right place for me to be. But it was hard. I have read many times how, once you return home, after working, living or travelling abroad, you have changed, whether you wanted/needed to or not, you are different and many things at home are exactly the same. Yes this is true, but what can make the transition harder is that also many things are very different. My friends and I are all older than when I was here before, many are married, settled down, pregnant or with a new little one in their life. This is fantastic but because of these changes, and the changes to yourself,  you must find your place at home again. If you've got good friends (as I have) they will help you to find that place. With effort from both sides, settling back in, whilst taking a bit of time, is possible and even an enjoyable experience.

Being in London makes finding Korean products possible!

Experiencing a game at Craven Cottage. Yes there's an actual cottage in the football ground.

Made two great friends in January

Got lost in the snow on our way to the Barbican

Picking up tickets to a game I couldn't attend: gutted.

Day trip to Oxford

I love walking by this building regularly

Working here has been excellent

Got myself enrolled here for Chinese lessons

Brilliant trip to the electric Cinema in Notting Hill. I had my own armchair, blanket, side table and lamp!

Visited BBC Television Centre before it closed!

And I've been cooking a lot since I got back!

Chinese crispy Pork

Toad in the hole

Hot cross bun and butter pudding

Cologne Cathedral

I've been to Cologne once before, on a school trip when I was in Year 7 (about 15 years ago). I don't remember much about that trip, so it was nice to go back and experience the city and cathedral as an adult, with more experiences behind me. We made the walk up to the top and spent a while walking around inside. It's an impressive space, with lots of visitors. The tomb of the Magi is here (although my mum didn't believe me), so that was one sight to see. Outside, the Cathedral sits closely surrounded by buildings. Its majesty is slightly diminished due to the proximity to everything else. The view from the top was great, and on our last day, as we walked towards the town from the river, it was easier to take in the view of the whole building from afar. The cathedral survived the war intact, as we (the Allies) didn't bomb it. This, we were told, was because the aircraft at the time were not equipped with radar and therefore the pilots used the Cathedral as a landmark to navigate from. I don't know how much truth lies in that statement, but nevertheless the Cathedral remained intact, meaning visitors can step inside the original masterpiece. Tall, Gothic and foreboding, a visit to Cologne is not complete without entering this majestic building.

Alter of the poor Clares

I wish I could remember what these rods signified. I think it's the amount of Priests that have served in this Cathedral.

I think I remember this correctly as St Christopher; the Patron Saint of Travellers...

Craning my neck to get the facade in. Too many other buildings around!!

Looking up at the top.

Yes, my sentiments exactly!

Just before taking this the bell had chimed and scared the bejesus out of us!

533 steps!

Four days in Edinburgh

Back when I was in Korea, at the turn of the new year into 2012, I'd already made the resolution to travel to Scotland with my mum. It took a while for us to organise it, and actually go, but this February we stuck to our word and spent a long weekend in Edinburgh. Blessed with awesome weather, we had an amazing time. Edinburgh is an incredible city. Just as everyone I'd spoken to before we went had said, we really enjoyed those few days. Obviously it would have made a difference if the weather had been drab and rainy, but even so I can't wait to head up to Scotland again. All these years living only a few hours away and I'd never ventured there before!

As we only had a few days we had decided beforehand what we wanted to see and do. Our trip coincided with an exhibition on David Livingstone, the famous Scottish missionary and explorer. We have a connection with Livingstone, as he lived and studied at my mum's church for a few months before heading off to Africa. They still have one of his walking sticks on display. On one of our days we decided to take one of the bus tours around the city. I've always found these to be such a great way to see the main sights, and get an idea of the places you want to see more of when visiting a place. They are quite expensive but you get a general guided tour and it's a good way to see more of the city if you don't have much time in one place. Other days we spent walking up to Arthur's Seat and exploring Edinburgh Castle and Hollyrood House. 

I'm so glad I've finally visited scotland, and cannot wait for the next trip up north.

A brave woman standing up for what she believes in. A woman after my own heart!

:: This is a plaque, on the floor of St Giles Cathedral is dedicated to Jenny Geddes who was a Scottish market-trader in Edinburgh, who is alleged to have thrown her stool at the head of the minister in St Giles' Cathedral in objection to the first public use of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer in ::

Due to the window tax imposed by William III, many windows were bricked up to save on money. There are loads of examples of this all over England. Here in Scotland, instead of just bricking up the hole, they pained over the area to make it look as though the window was still there. Ingenious!

A young Queen Victoria

The hotel where Agatha Christie spent her honeymoon

Mum and I outside Hollyrood House

The Mackenzie Tomb

:: There is a myth that a poltergeist lives in this tomb. I was not brave enough to shout through the keyhole (the way to antagonise the ghost). I took this picture and fled! ::

Greyfriars Bobby's grave, loaded with sticks for him to fetch.

Auld Jock's grave, where Bobby held his vigil for 14 years.

William Smellie's grave; the editor of the first Encyclopaedia Britannica 

Bobby's statue, just outside the graveyard.

The Livingstone Exhibition in the National Museum of Scotland