5 Things I Learnt in My First Week at Uni

Even though I haven't been at uni long and I am still settling in to the routine and new places I do feel like I am well on my way to being comfortable in my new home. However there are a few things that have become apparent to me so I thought I would share with you the top 5 things that I learnt in my first (proper) week at uni:

1. Cooking for one is a lot harder than cooking for three; so is shopping. I will admit I haven't come to uni as clueless as some when it comes to cooking, however the cooking I did do at home or any other situation has always been for more than just me. So when it came to portion sizing and indeed buying ingredients in appropriate portions I was shocked to find it wasn't so simple. Naive maybe?
2. Everyone is in the same boat. Yes this may be what everyone tells you but it couldn't be more true. Even if you've taken a gap year or a foundation year or you dropped out and started again or you're a fresher, no matter what your scenario there will be someone else who is the same. Or even if there isn't someone in the exact same position, everyone is here to be at uni, with people they don't know, to learn things they don't know. Relax, breathe, have some space and then enjoy yourself. Start conversations. Uni is a great place to make friends but it can also be a very easy place to isolate yourself if your not careful.
3. They don't ease you in. Yeah, so they give you freshers week and induction lectures but when the first real week comes around you won't know what's hit you. Uni is not school and you definitely will not be spoon fed.
4. Organisation is key. This links in with the point above, even though everyone told me this, I didn't listen, obviously I had to learn the hard way. The more you get done in your free time/independent study time the more time you'll have to relax or spend your weekends as you please. If, like me, you nap after your lectures and leave all your reading until the weekend, you'll miss out on going out with your friends or doing what you really want to do. Basically, utilise your time wisely! 
5. Budget!! The effects of this haven't really hit me yet but I'm sure they will soon enough. Budgeting is so important to ensure that you have enough money to get you through. Whether you have a job on the side, are lucky enough to have your parents help you out or you solely depend on your student loan, budgeting it vital. It's very easy to buy a coffee here or a sandwich there but what you have to consider is will you be able to afford that book you need in 2 weeks, next weeks food shop or even to be able to do your laundry?

That's just a few things that I've come across since being at uni, what have you discovered if your new to this as well? Or for those out of uni, is there any words of wisdom you have for us freshers?

Beth xo

Travelling America - San Fran to Yosemite

After a wonderful couple of days in New York City me and my friend, Molly, had to jump on a plane to San Francisco. This took us into a time zone 3 hours behind where we had been and that's just the start of my body clock getting confused! 

We landed the afternoon before the trek began so we had some time to get our bearings and to grab some food. We had a brief meeting with our tour guide and those on our trip that evening and then we headed to bed for some much needed sleep!

The next morning we were taken on a bus tour around the city, we were told the history and some interesting facts about San Fran. We had a few hours to wander around the harbour and grab some lunch before heading back onto the coach. We were then dropped off at one end the iconic Golden Gate Bridge so that we could walk across it, something I've always wanted to do, however it takes a lot longer than you'd think! It was very windy and foggy of course, quite typical of the location. 

We were then lucky enough to have a sunset cruise included in our trip, it was a lovely way to get to know the other people travelling with us and even though it was cold, it was a lot of fun. And yes, a wave did catch me out, I got wet.

The next morning we jumped on the coach and headed south west to Bass Lake, here we stayed at the beautiful Pines Resort. We shared a chalet between three and it was just the most picturesque surroundings. The sun was shining as we arrived so of course we headed straight for the pool.

From Bass Lake we travelled the short distance for a day trip to Yosemite National Park, a place I had been looking forward to since I landed in America. I have to say it totally lived up to it's reputation, the views were spectacular and we spent the day hiking and exploring.

Back to the resort we had a lovely meal and another sunset boat trip. This one we were allowed to jump off of into the lake. It was incredible; we had music playing, drinks flowing and conversations with people who were rapidly becoming good friends. The water was warm and the sun was setting, it was the perfect end to an amazing day.

Keep an eye out for my next post to follow the rest of my journey.

Beth xo

Mindfulness and Beautiful Places | UEA

Today I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by uni, life, work and all sorts of things. Although I've only been here for two weeks, the work load has begun and the weight of being truly independent is kicking in. Being an English Lit student I already have a ton of reading to do, to concentrate I need quiet and space which has meant that I have resigned myself to my room quite a lot. Today I decided I would take a wonder around the campus to find a space that would I could still concentrate in but that would be less confining than four walls. UEA has beautiful grounds and being just off the Norfolk Broads it has a lovely lake too. I found plenty of quiet spots that I could sit for hours, ideal for getting wrapped up in a book. Fresh air is such a remedy to a busy mind and I find that there is something so relaxing about being by calm water.

I learnt today that I need to push myself to find new spaces where I can get away from the overwhelming world of uni, whilst still getting work done. 

"There is beauty all around us if we just look for it"

Beth xo

Travelling America - West Virginia to New York

Subsequently to spending 10 weeks at camp I followed this up with some much needed travel time. Having the ability to spend more time in America visiting so many different places is something I am so grateful I was able to do, I met so many amazing people and got to see some pretty breathtaking sights. I will never forget this trip and so I wanted to share some of my favourite pictures and document what an incredible couple of weeks it was.

I began in West Virginia, I went to stay with a good friend I'd made whilst at camp for a few days. She showed us around a few local spots, including this one, Harpers Ferry; this is a very historic civil war town and I loved finding out more about America's history. An interesting fact about Harpers Ferry is that there is a spot here where all 3 states of Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland meet. 

It was very beautiful and the people were so friendly.

Next up we all hopped on a Megabus to New York City! Visiting NYC has been on my bucket list for such a long time and actually going there felt so surreal. It's one of those places that no matter how many photos you see or movies you watch, nothing lives up to actually being there. It's safe to say that this is one of my favourite places in the world that I have visited; I could happily live in NYC and never leave. It's so vast, with such variation in all it's locations. In the day and a half I was there we managed to squeeze in Times Square, 5th Avenue, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and Central Park. (I was however luck enough to come back here at the end of my travels, so look out for more pictures in a later post!)  

One of my favourite experiences from visiting the city was Ellen Stardust's Diner! It's an incredible restaurant in which your waiters sing whilst serving, they are all aspiring to be on Broadway and are absolutley incredible!! The atmosphere was magical and the food was delicious.

That's all for this leg of the journey. Make sure to keep an eye out for my next post and the rest of my adventure!

Beth xo

Why Summer Camp Was The Best Choice I Ever Made

So as you may know this past summer I went to America. I spoke previously about how I was going to be a camp counsellor, this is essentially the role of being a mentor for the kids I looked after whilst they were at camp. The experience in itself was absolutley amazing for so many different reasons; it taught me so much about myself, about others, about different places and cultures. I can safely say that going to camp was one of the best and most worthwhile decisions I've ever made and I would encourage anyone who is considering going, to just go for it. 

If you're interested in travelling, seeing new places, meeting new people and being open to opportunities then camp is one hell of a way to do these things! I could rave about the joys and pleasures of camp all day long but I don't want to bore you so I'm just going to tell you the top things that camp taught me:

1. That I am a very patient person. Despite what I previously thought, camp taught me that when it comes down to it I can be very patient. Whether this is with a homesick child who for the past 6 days has told me they want nothing more than to go home, or with a whole group of children who are trying their best not to listen to me, or even with myself, when I'm still adjusting to new time zones, places & people.
2. That everyone has a different story but when it's important everyone comes together no matter what. Team work was absolutley compulsory at camp; from the kids to the counsellors, it was pretty difficult to get anything done if no one is cooperating. However it's really surprising and comforting to see that no matter people's differences everyone supports each other when it's vital. You can see this in the girls in group activities and in the staff when events take up your entire weekend meaning you don't get a day off that week.
3. That I can organise 16 girls, myself and 12 horses on 6 hours sleep (if that). Obviously I had help, my amazing co-counsellors, but really the sleep I got was precious! When my head hit the pillow at night I was out like a light; it was exhausting but so so worth it! I was an equine counsellor so even though it was technically my job to supervise the girls, I still had to help at the barn, that included feeding, mucking out, exercising, grooming and more. If I didn't think I could multi-task before, I definitely learned to at camp! This also showed me that I can be organised and I can lead, something that really boosted my confidence over summer.
4. It is the hardest job you'll ever love. I was told this my first week of being at camp whilst we were in training and it is the truest statement. Don't get me wrong I have the highest praises for it as a job but it is hard work. The days are long, the breaks are short and it requires all of your effort all of the time; but that is what makes it great! It is all consuming and it makes you give everything you have. It is so rewarding and teaches you things you can't learn anywhere else.
5. Being a kid is fun and so cleansing! Essentially my job was to ensure that the kids were having as much fun as possible. The easiest way to do this was to join them! Literally become a big kid and they love it. It's so enjoyable and rewarding to become friends with them and for them to look up to you; but also, you'll never believe how restorative it is, just acting silly without any worries really is a form of therapy!
6. Worries from the outside world are smaller than they seem. Following on from my last point, camp is like its own little bubble. Allowing yourself to fully let go of the worries and concerns you had in the outside world for a period of time, really highlights how a lot of our anxieties aren't necessarily as bad as we thought. As well as this things we felt obligated to do eg. wear makeup or act a certain way to to please people, seem trivial and pointless. 
7. You will make friends for life and they will be the BEST. I made friends at camp who saw me at my most exhausted, my most worn down, at the tipping point sometimes, but they were also there to see me at my highest, they were there when I was crying with laughter, when I was soaking wet and covered in bubbles. They saw me with no makeup, when I'd just woken up and they saw me at the end of a really long, tough day. They celebrated with me when we got through training, open house, Mommy and Me weekends, each and ever week of kids and finally clean up. You go through so much in such a short period of time and somehow that just makes you so much closer.

I realise this post is a lot longer than I anticipated but that just shows how much good I have to say about the experience. It truly is unforgettable and irreplaceable and one of the best choices I have ever made.

Beth xo

If this sounds like something that you would like to join in on then visit USA Summer Camp here and apply today! Hint: The sooner you apply the better chance you have of being placed.