Hello Lovelies!

The semester is almost done! Many students are already done for the year while others have some last minute things to complete. I have one last paper to turn in and I will be done with my 3rd year! If I was still in Nottingham,I would most likely be packing right now since my original flight was booked for May 26th. Wow… time does fly by.

This is a wrap up for my travel blog. A video will be posted next week sometime for final thoughts. But I wanted to take a few moments to think about the things that I am grateful for during my time abroad.

1. My deep friendships with the other Luther students. We all grew as individuals and as a group during our time together. We supported each other during tough times and got through them. The memories will be cherished. Our laughs and stories will carry on and I hope the future Nottingham groups appreciate the new friendships that will form.
2. The travel time. Independent travel was stressful but it made me more independent. It taught me how to use my resources. Taking the time to explore the history of each city was amazing.
3. University friends. I am blessed to meet such kind hearted and wonderful people who I get the privilege of calling friends. I learned a lot of English traditions through them and I’d like to think that they learned a few new things about the US.
4. My variety of class topics. I can’t say that I was a fan of all of my classes, but I can say that I am glad I took them. History has never been my favorite subject, but I gave it another try. It ended up opening my eyes to different world problems and prospectives that I never considered. The way history is told is biased and there is always another perspective out there.

Those are a few top things I am grateful for. Nottingham has been an experience that has made a big impact on my life. I have a strong feeling that I will be back someday… maybe sooner than you think. 😉

Thank you to the FEA foundation in supporting me in my journey! This would not have been possible without you. And a huge thank you to family and friends for giving me positive support throughout everything.

Go out and find your own adventure!

Hello lovely friends! I hope everyone is healthy and continue to stay safe as places start to open up. Iowa is opening up quite a few places and that is concerning to me, but I trust that our state leaders have it’s people best interest in mind. It is a step towards normalcy and like everyone else, I am looking forward to it.

The family I am working with in Decorah has three little kiddos and they have school work to finish up. Ages are 4, 7, 10. This has been an adventure trying to tutor them because I have not prior experience tutoring children this young. It is definitely harder than it looks… I a enormous shoutout to teachers out there! I have scoured the web finding different ways to explain concepts because we all learn differently and I personally think it is important to provide different methods to see which one clicks. It has been a struggle to encourage the kiddos to be motivated when they are frustrated. We all have struggled with something and it is discouraging, feeling like you cannot accomplish something. Encouraging words have helped. Allowing the kiddos to make mistakes and then learn from those mistakes has shown them that they are capable of the task at hand. I also found it useful to encourage them to try their best and that it does not have to be perfect because they felt that their work has to be perfect, but it doesn’t have to be. It takes time. So those are the things I have been using to encourage them. Let me know if you have an ideas that worked for you!!

I am on a path to another adventure for the future! On Friday, I had an informational session on Fulbright, a program started right after WWII by Senator Fulbright to encourage and develop understanding between people and nations. I am very interested in this program because it funds students to teach english in another country, independent research, or for student to get their masters. It is competitive, but I am up for the challenge! Who knows where it will take me?! With my year cut short in Nottingham, I want to go back, but there are also other places I want to visit. But anywho, the application is now open and shall be starting it soon!

Before going to Nottingham, all my focus has been on options in the US. I never considered anything outside the US, my comfort zone. But now, I noticed myself considered graduate school in different countries, primarily the UK. Never in a million years would I have ever considered that if it weren’t for my study abroad program. It does not seem like am impossible option and it does not seem scary anymore. Being comfortable trying something new and open to other possibilities than the ones near you is a definite benefit of studying abroad. So yeah… grad school might be in the UK for me! Only time will tell. I will keep you update on my graduate school search!

That is all for this week. 🙂 I hope you all find a new adventure, small or big. No virus can keep us from obtaining our goals. Stay safe!

A chilly hello to all of you! It is suppose to be spring…. isn’t? Does not need like it at all. The last couple of days have been chilly and being stuck indoors has made me miss traveling. With the virus, it is preventing us from traveling places, but that does not mean you cannot go exploring. What do you mean, is probably what you are thinking. I am not suggesting breaking any quarantine rules!!!

Last week, I went on two hikes with the kiddos and their mother (the family I nanny). We did our own exploring through the MULTIPLE trails of Decorah. We took pictures of the mushrooms and other plants we found and looked them up. It turns out that there are tons of plants in the woods that are edible, so we decided to give it a try.

WARNING: Do your research before consuming any plants.

Here is what we found:

-Pheasant back mushrooms. We picked some and are attempting to cook them… we had to watch several videos to learn how to clean and cook them.

-Fiddleback ferns. The fun looking plant grows into a tight spiral on a long stem. With some sheppard’s pie, we sauteed these on the side with butter, salt, pepper, and fresh basal. Very delicious. The taste is a mixture of asparagus and spinach.

-Morel Mushrooms. Sadly, we did not find any… yet. I still have hope!! The ground in Decorah is too dry, but with the rain this week, maybe we will find some next week! Mushroom hunting is always fun and a great way to explore the land around you.

-Ramps. These plants grow in little bunches and they smell like garlic and onions. You can cook this with most dishes to give that delicious smell. When you see them, do not over pick! People make the mistake of over picking them. You only need 2-3 leafs.

-Nettles. These can be eating raw in salad. We also picked some, but have not tried them yet. Hopefully we get to try them soon!

I am lucky to be able to be in a town with several trails and understand that not everyone is around trails. But there are several trails throughout the midwest or anywhere you are currently residing. Just look it up! Take a bike ride there or hope in your car for a little drive to a trail. Perfect way to explore and feel like you are traveling during times like this. I found it to be a great way to be active and get fresh air. It is also a great way to learn about the area you live in.

Hope you all have a great week!

Hello healthy friends (I hope you all are healthy)! I think the title has pretty much explain what this post is going to be about… When talking to my friends fro home and from abroad, it seems that everyone is starting to hit a wall. It feels like it is break and assignments are starting to slip out of our minds. Motivation has gone on vacation already and is not coming back any time soon… or at least that is how I am feeling. We are on our last month of college so we just need enough to get through this month. We can do it. I have been brain storming ideas of what would be good motivators and felt the need to share. These are hard times, but I truly believe that we can get through this TOGETHER.

1. I find list helpful. There is something satisfying about crossing off a task in pen. It feels permanent and that it is done for good. I sometimes overdo it and put several large task on my daily list and when it does not get all done, I feel unproductive. So be realistic about what you put on there. Remember to put time in your schedule for breaks here and there.
2. Many things are uncertain right now and are out of your control. But one thing I feel that we have control over is getting things done. I only have 3 papers left and the deadlines are not until the end of May. It is helpful to make little deadlines to lead up to you finishing the assignment. For instance, I set three deadlines to finish up the paper I am currently working on. I finished one today – come up with a topic and possible directions for the paper. Now I am starting on writing the first half of it and that deadline is in two days and the last half after that. Small deadlines makes it seem like you are accomplishing more things.
3. We are social creatures. I often times study with friends. So maybe call up a close friend and hold each other accountable for deadlines. Check up on each other. Lean on your friends and have them lean on you. I have not tried this yet, but I might just call up some friends and see if we can get a homework session set.

It is a difficult time for everyone and the only way through it is together. Life does not seem very bright the moment, but in that dullness, there are 1000s of things we are grateful for. Think about the good things in life and do not forget about them. Lately, I found it helpful to say a couple of things I am grateful for. The ones for today are: To have my family and friends healthy and to be able to talk to them. 🙂

Just like everything in life, it will get better. 🙂 Stay active. Stay healthy. Stay Safe. Talk to you all next week!!

Hello everyone! Hope you all are still healthy (and continue to be) and practicing social distancing, even though it is tough. We are social creatures, some more than others, but we have our group of people who we like to socialize with and it is hard not to go see them. I know for me personally, it has been really tough not seeing my friends whom I have not seen since I left for my study abroad program. But, I remind myself, it is for the health and wellness of them, my family, and me.

Life Update:

College work wise, I only have 3 papers to go before I am done for the year! Hooray!! One of my final projects was just turned in yesterday and I am feeling good about it. Things are starting to slow down and the rest of my deadlines are at the end of May.

Starting May 1st, I will be moving up to Decorah, Iowa (where Luther College is) to start up my nannying job with a family I nannied for last summer. They have a 10 year old boy that is on the spectrum, and he has two little sisters, that I get to work with too. They are adorable and full of energy. Most of the time, it does not even feel like work. The boy has behavioral problems and so when he escalates, it is tough, but he is such a caring kid. I am excited to see the kiddos again and to continue our adventure together.

Travel advice:

This week when I was getting coffee, something one of the other students apart of the program said popped into my mind. It has to do with feeling homesick when traveling or abroad. As I said last week, there is no comfort zone, but there are things that you can do that is familiar to you. For instance, I often go to a coffee shop, and the act of it is familiar to me and brings me comfort. I did this in every city I went to and it helped. However, that does not mean you should not go out an explore new things.

Another thing I found useful was to update family and friends, but not more than once a week. It was hard seeing my close friends and family members do things that we would have normally done together. That feeling that your missing out at home is a real and that is when homesickness sets in. BUT you have to remind yourself that you are experiencing sometime entirely new! Traveling abroad is something that many people wish they could do, but instead of wishing, you are living it. At first, I would call my mother everyday, sometimes more than once a day, then eventually, it became every other day, then once a week. We would text on between, but it was just to make sure I was alive and doing okay and to see if I needed anything. I called my best friends to talk and to update each other once a week. This was a good balance. It was not because I did not want to talk to them, but it allowed me to live in the moment and to fantasize about what could be.

I’ll add more advice in the later blogs as they come to me. That’s it for now. Stay safe my friends 🙂

Hello everyone! Looking back at previous post, I touched on the big question of “why study abroad?”, but never went beyond the basic answers. After being over in England for 6 months, I feel it is time to dive into this question.

When you study abroad, there is no such thing as comfort zone. It does not exist. Do not expect to have a comfort zone you can step back into when things get a little scary. When in a different country, there are many things that are different and you will not realize how much it will affect you. One or two different things won’t really bother you, but when all the small and few big differences add up, it is hard. I am not saying this to scare you away from studying abroad, but rather to encourage it. Why? Because you learn to adapt. That is an important skill to have and a skill that can be used for the rest of your life. Life is unpredictable (no matter how much you think you can control it) and it is important to learn how to adapt in a healthy way and not jump back into that safe bubble of a comfort zone. After these six months, I am more acceptable to change and would not be fearful of unknown situations.

Just like college, you create connections with other people. However, these connections are international. You’d be surprised on how many different nationalities I have learned about through meeting new people. People have different perspectives and it all depends on their background. You may not agree with everything people say, but it adds to your knowledge bank of the different viewpoints. It widens the narrow tunnel of our minds because sometimes we subconsciously make friends with people who have similar viewpoints. With meeting new people outside your town, family, or old friends, new and fresh perspectives come in. An example of this is a speaker who came to give a lecture. He was a muslim man who thinks it is a big sin to be homosexual. I personally don’t agree with it, but he was raised in Pakistan with a Islamic upbringing. I do not agree with him and it made me slightly uncomfortable, but I learned to be respectful of people’s opinions. It adds perspective and a better understanding of where people’s viewpoints comes from.

You gain independence. For me, this was an important skill to learn. When you are in an unknown place, you learn to utilize your resources. You start to figure out things for yourself. During my free travel time, I was terrified to be traveling for a month, but I found little tricks here and there to make the travel from place to place easier. I navigated the public transportation on my own and would feel confident in doing that in any city now. Studying abroad bring independence in whether you want it to or not. I had to learn to budget my money, organize, plan, and be aware. It was definitely exhausting at first, but you get use to doing all of those things. Those skills will come in handy later in the future.

And the most obvious reason to study abroad is because it is FUN. Do it when you are young, because you have the energy to. When life gets busy, and you start working or start a family, there isn’t as much time. It sounds cliche to say this but it is an opportunity of a lifetime to study abroad. You learn new skills. You learn about yourself as a person. You make connections. You get to explore things you might have read about. You get to experience a part of the world that isn’t your own. There many resources out there to help with studying abroad. Use them. 🙂

Hello everyone! Hope y’all are healthy and staying safe. Life is getting stranger everyday and it feels like we are living in an apocalyptic time period. I went to Hy-vee grocery store the other day and there was a mandatory path and each register was separated by a plastic drape. This kind of pandemic that you read about in history textbooks, but never actually think it would happen in today’s world.

With the pandemic still on the rise, many primary and secondary schools have been reverting to online classes. Colleges and universities have already adapted to this way of learning. It is not ideal, however, with the technology available, it makes it possible. With programs like Google Hangouts and Zoom, it creates an online like class room environment. It is all good and dandy, but sometimes we forget that not everyone has the same privileges. All this technology requires equipment and wifi, which is something not every one has. Libraries and public places with access to wifi are closed, so that takes away alternative options. It makes make wonder how schools are accommodating for that.

There are pros and cons of online learning. Some students find it more flexible, while others find it harder to time management for. It is not for everyone but it is important to learn how to adapt to it. Set apart a chunk of time away from distractions (ex. phones), just like you would at school. School is pretty much a mandatory chunk of your time that you spend doing school work. At first, I found it hard to focus, especially with family and the comfort of my home distracting. I tried to cram all my work into one sitting but that was not a healthy was of doing course work. So the following tips are what I found to be extremely useful getting work done and still having time to relax

1. Remove unnecessary technology. Put the phone in another room. Put it where it cannot be seen. That saying, “Out of sight, out of mind”, is true! Just like when you are in class, you would not have your phone out.
2. Close all tabs that does not relate to your work. Do have Netflix or shopping browsers up because that will just tempt you. And when you think you can multi task and watch Netflix and do some course work, it is a lie. It takes 10x the amount of time it would take you to do it. Just finish what you need to do for the day, then watch Netflix.
3. Have water nearby when studying. Staying hydrated helps your body and brain function.
4. Stand up every hour, whether that is to get water or a quick snack. It gets the blood flowing in your body so you do not feel so lethargic.
5. Sit at a desk or a table. It helps getting you in the zone. When I study on the couch or on my bed, I get sleepy and too comfy.
6. Set reasonable goals for the amount of work you need to get done. Don’t overload yourself. I found myself doing this, because I thought I have so much time now that I should be able to get more things done. You are human and our brains can only take in so much before its tired.

These are pretty basic tips, but sometimes we forget. It has been a lot easier to focus and get work done at home. I mean, we did it for the first 18 years of our lives, so it is possible! Plus, there are always additional tips online or simply reach out to your teachers/professors for help. 🙂

Stay safe and healthy! Hopefully, next week will bring some good news in regards to the current situation.

First full week of being done with self-isolation! Woohoo! It is honestly so weird that I have been back for three weeks nows. I am sad about the lost time in Nottingham, but I found that doing the things I did at the flat at home has been a good time filler. For instance, I started baking in Nottingham. Ask anyone, my baking skills were non-existing. To make, baking soda and powder were the same things… yeah no judgment please. The first few times I made brownies were interesting. But now, I have ventured further into the baking world and have made coconut macaroons, pies from scratch, cookies, cakes, and so much more. I’ve started baking at home now and found that it is a good way to spend my time while taking a break.

Since we have more time than usual on our hands, it’s a perfect time to try something new! Whether it is a new recipe or a new hobby, just go for it! Take time away from Netflix or social media and start a new project. It will be good for the mind. 🙂 Promise.

As I reflect back on my time in Nottingham, I found that there are several new things I tried. Baking was one of them. Playing card games was another. Being more open to talk to people I do not know. That one has a story behind it. When I was in Paris, I stayed at a hostel by myself… a huge step for me. It was a single room, but I had to put myself out there and socialize with new travelers. At breakfast one morning, I pushed myself to start a conversation with the girl sitting next me to. We ended up having a wonderful conversation and added each other on social media. It was refreshing and demonstrated that it is not scary talking to strangers. In that moment, I grew a little more and overcame my shy tendencies.

Another new thing I tried was ice skating! It was scary, but exciting! I have skated twice in the past, but I always held onto the handle for support. With my flatmates and Nottingham friends, we all were able to help and support each other. Let just say, you may catch the Nottingham crew in future olympics.

But yeah, you get the gist. Try something new during times like this. Create new goals for yourself. It will make everyday seem less long and boring. Have a fitness goal you have been wanting to accomplish, go for it. Want to hit a running goal? Perfect excuse to get some fresh air! Been wanting to go through your closet…? Perfect time to clear out some old things… and maybe even get some new things online at local places?? Support local businesses if you are able to! They are also going through tough times and would greatly appreciate your support. 🙂

As always, stay healthy! Stay physically active! Stay mentally active! Hope everyone has a good weekend. 🙂 🙂

Hello everyone! I hope everyone is healthy and following the necessary steps to keep yourself and everyone around you well. Upon my arrival back home, I stayed in an apartment, separate from my family, to ensure that I don’t develop any symptoms. After a week of complete self-isolation, I came home to self-isolate in my own home. Self-isolation is not fun and for some, it can be a difficult time, but it’s good to keep a positive mind set.

For this post, I think it’s important to cover healthy ways of spending your time in self-isolation, to keep your body and mind active.

1. Get your eight hours of sleep! It is very important for your overall wellbeing that you get enough sleep. However, that does not mean sleeping the day away. That will just make you more lethargic and tired. This also means not staying up into the early AM. Stick to a good sleep schedule so your body has some sort of routine.
2. Eat food that provides your body with nutrients. I have trouble with this, especially when I am bored. I eat when I am bored, and not anything healthy. Get your two to three balanced meals a day. It is okay to snack! But just do not make it your meals for the day. I am a firm believer in what you eat will indicate how you feel. Overeating sugar and fats will make you feel tired, sluggish, and weighed down. My rule of thumb is to try to have a colorful plate for every meal. Get your fruits and veggies in. If you are like me and eat when you are bored, then do not keep snack foods in the open. Put them away in the cupboards… Out of sight, out of mind.
3. If you are a student like me, then you would have work to get cracking on. It is hard to, but remember, you are not on vacation. All students are still ‘in school’. If you are home, it may feel like a break. If you know and understand this, then it is important to let your family know as well. Family’s will forget, but it is important to let them know that you have school work to complete. Plus, doing your course work will keep your mind stimulated!
4. Get some FRESH AIR! I am telling you, this will make the biggest difference in your day. Go for a walk, run, or complete a workout outside the house. There are thousands of workout videos and apps you can use to stay physically healthy. If running and lifting weights is not your thing, there are plenty of other options out there. You just need to take the first step into finding them.
5. Talk to people. We live in the 21st century, where almost every person has a cell phone or a way to contact them. Video chat with people. Catch up with friends and family you have not talked to in a while. We all live busy and fast pace lives, that we sometimes forget to stop and take a moment to see what going on in the lives of our love ones. There is not a better time to check in on friends and family, then now.

Those are just some things I did during my time of self-isolation. It is a hard time for everyone, but just remember to keep yourself healthy, physically and mentally. Stay well everyone! 🙂

Hello Everyone! I do apologize for the late weekly post! Since writing to y’all last week, lots has happened! First off, I am writing to you from Iowa… Yes, I have returned home! Normally, it would be exciting to be home, but it did not happen for the best reasons. Last Thursday evening, the UK became a level 2 with the CDC, therefore students had the choice to decide whether to stay or go home. My parents has asked me to return home since they were very concerned for my wellbeing. The US government has also recalled all students abroad that is under their scholarships, therefore the choice was already made for me. Three weeks before, I just bought my flight home and was ecstatic about coming home, but it felt extremely wrong to be leaving England. Nottingham has become another home away from home and leaving was hard. The goodbyes were worse… I’ve never been good with farewells. Everything happened super fast. I was packed in a day and Saturday I spent it with my friends from Nottingham, then Sunday was my flight.

So I am home now… but I cannot be around family and friends quite yet. For precautionary reasons, travelers from abroad are required to self-isolate for 14 days. During those days, I will be doing some fun readings with books I recently bought and doing lots of facetimes to catch up with family and friends. I also have course work to complete since my Nottingham classes will be online, therefore I can watch all the lectures. The professors have been doing switching everything to online learning and for some professors, it is all new. As a student, I completely appreciate all their hard work to keep our education going in times like this. It is not ideal to learn online, but it is important that we all continue our education. Lots of students are concerned whether they will be graduating this year and schools have been addressing those concerns.

Coming from England, where health care is free to everyone, it makes me wonder what people with no insurance are doing in the US. People in England do not have to worry about health insurance because it is free to everyone, regardless of income. That is not the case for individuals in the US. Those of us who are fortunate to afford healthcare do not have to stress over whether or not they will afford treatment. This new virus really does demonstrate the fact that health is not individualized… If one person has it, they have the potential to spread it around. Health affects everyone, directly and indirectly. With that being said, there are arguments for both sides. Free vs Paid healthcare is a large debate. Maybe it works for England because it is a small country… Would it work in the US? That is just an issue I have been thinking about.

Before studying abroad, I would have never thought about an issue like the one described above. It is refreshing to look beyond the US and have an idea of what is going on in the rest of the world. I think that is one of the most beneficial thing that came from studying abroad.

I shall keep all of you updated on my self-isolation… Please practice preventative actions for your wellbeing as well as others. As always, hope everyone is healthy. In stressful times like this, it is important to also pay attention to mental health as well!