Gone but not forgetting.

Slurping my cup of tea with a digestive DUNKable biscuit, I'm appreciating for, not the first, nor the last, my beautiful goodbye present from Northeastern University. The many kind words just edge me further towards trying to step out onto the plank and experience more. ....... 

 Note that quote: “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”- Dr Seuss 

See y'all Later!

Well that's that then.


My last day of Boston coming to an end. I'm currently sitting in the airport lounge in Boston Logan Intl Airport with my last Dunkin' slurping my freezing, and not so replenishing, frappacunio.
After avoiding a teary goodbye from my Kinross room and Apartment, saying a true 'see you later' to my Scottish girls, and a farewell to my closest American girly Michelle and her family, I'm now ready to go home.
Thankfully my suitcases were accepted onto the plane, and nicely enough the lady behind the desk didnt charge me eXXtra for my overweight bulging suitcase- a nice heavy RED alert tag was attached and off it went without more $$ required, thank you Aer Lingus.

It has been a great great great year!! (can we make sure the GREATs are emphasised a lot, since it truly was a great experience)  I have learned so very much which I will be able to take back to me to the Bonnie Island of Scotland, and of course take with me throughout my journey in life- anywhere I may find myself in the world.

Infront of me lies an overnight 6 hour flight, stopping in Ireland, to home. It has been one FULL year and a few days since I physically saw my family and friends, even the four legged ones- and I would be completely and utterly lying if I said I wasn't ready to go home.

Having said my goodbyes now for perhaps 3+ weeks, I'm ready to rekindle my life back home, connect and catch up with all those people who would like to, and probably lose my voice on multiple occasions from over talking and retelling my many wondrous stories about Boston and the United States of America.

To all those who I met this year, and to all those who helped make this full experience an amazing one, thank you- thank you, thank you!

I would love to come back and visit, sorry.. . I WILL BE BACK TO VISIT, so lets all keep in touch- let me know your bearings on the globe, and perhaps our paths shall intertwine once again to share smiles and laughter.

One last individual THANK YOU to of course, 'Northeastern University'- The creator of my journey, and helped me grow professionally and personally.

GoodBYE- Don't forget this name :)

Reflection

As I sit here and prep my thoughts for tomorrow, in my ‘Northeastern University’ red Tee and black shorts (so totally a diehard husky now) I cannot believe what day it is tomorrow.

Tomorrow, alas, is my final day within my Industrial Placement at Northeastern University.  I have had an incredible journey in the United States on placement, and could not have hoped that the year went any differently!  It will definitely be a ‘bitter sweet’ day with mixed emotions saying all of my goodbyes. I am so utterly excited to return home, after physically not seeing any family or friends since June 2012, and of course.. .. I am more than saddened by my time running out here in Boston.

It will be merely a see you later, farewell tomorrow- as, as always, c’est la vie. I knew I was going to have to go home after my 12 months were up, and I am embracing in the beauty that has been my rollercoaster of an experience in Boston throughout the times I have smiled, laughed, cried, shouted, screamed with happiness, and most importantly grew in knowledge and experience here within the Higher Institution.

This evening I managed to enjoy the Institute of Contemporary Art with my new ‘Boston babies’ the new international Co-ops, embracing our co-op positions for the 2013-2014 cycle of placement. It was a lovely night, to ease my mind whilst pondering around weird and wonderful sculptures and creations.. .. I should mention we also got FREE ‘Kickass Cupcakes’ en route home, a smile gets you a long way these days.. J

Lucky Charms

"Did you know: Northeastern's original mascot was a Siberian Husky named Mr. Husky who came to campus in 1927? In 2003, NU students voted to replace King Husky with Paws, our current Husky mascot. You can still find statues of King Husky around campus, including our lucky Husky in Ell Hall! Rub his nose and you'll have good luck for your exams!"

I will be most definitely heading into Ell Hall in the next few weeks to give this nose a propper good rub before heading back to Scotland!

Love & Laughter

Love is in the air baadaadaadadada, love is in the air! Chomping my way through chewy coconutterly good nanbreads at, ‘punjabs palace’ in Harvard ave myself and collegues met at an Indian restaurant to satisfy our craving for it during the week, Friday night. From Harvard ave, which is a really neat street in Brighton/Allston, offers all trendy people a grand night out dining and then onto wining with their range of bars and restaurants up and down the street- we went to a colleagues engagement gathering to celebrate the engagement of two wonderful love birds. I work with Nick, and have Zumbaaad with his now finance lovely Lane! It was a nice night of laughter and I even learnt a few new party games.. .. ….

 The following morning I earned some dollars at the garment district having a semi spring/summer clean of a lot, A LOT, of clothes which I don’t want to take back to Scotland, then giggled my ribs around at the AMC movie theater through seeing the Hangover 3 with molly.

Sunday brought a new location to my check list, I visited the sowa markets with Alana, Michelle and her delightful family. The markets are interesting, so many wonderful stalls and with the gorgeous weather that day I could have happily pondered about for the full day looking at pretty trinkets, and vintage peculiars.

 

After a stop at pret a manger (keeping it European) I headed to the airport to meet out new international coop from Scotland at logan airport. It was so thrilling to welcome a new face into Boston, and of course into her new life and journey ahead of her!

Fire and Ice-Chinese

Bonding with friends, bonding with food.

Best of both worlds.. . I guess. I really should make a point to ask if we can relax in a park with a salad, or some kiwis and melons- I should stop accepting foody invitations out around America, as scrummy as they are. … I don’t really want to be rolling back to Scotland in a few weeks!

Fire and Ice on Monday, with friends and Katies Scottish cousins- having never been here before, I found it a true treat.. getting to pick what I wanted to eat and watch it get fried and frazzled to a great taste right in front of me. Being the smiley person I am, the chef ended up giving me a free ‘toy’ since he asked if I was getting a happy meal.

Wednesday I enjoyed the company of my American girly, Michelle! Hearing her stories from London and Iceland, we talked for as long as we could, and caught up on stories and past movements in our busy lives with a Chinese, of course.

Thursday brought in the annual Scooperbow,l event in Boston- which I enjoyed with the Admissions Team.  The working day ended and we all headed to the Boston Scooperbowl madness beside Government Centre. 10$ which went to charity, and onwards we went to a melting death by chocolate chip mint ice-cream and dozens of freezing frosty flavors.  I unfortunately had a bit too much fun, and ended the even with terribly sticky hands, getting to feisty in the lines for the icecream.  If you are in Boston around this even in June, I would highly recommend going to it- not eating prior to going AND thanks to a colleague, bringing ready salted chips (crisps) with you, to mix and match your taste buds to manage to eat even MORE icecream.. Challenge accepted, right?  Go and have an Nicecream time, trying to eat as much icecream as possible- its for a good cause.. afterall.. .

Rockport is Rocky

Rocks, rocks and more rocks. It truly is a grand name for a little coastal location, arriving into Rockport after a pleasant 1 hour jaunt on the commuter rail for a mere 10$, we definitely saw some rocks!

Thankfully the town is small and quant which allowed a refresher from the Boston (however lovely it is) surroundings. Sunbathing on mammoth rocks, chitchattering about Scotland and Boston comparisons with Katie, Molly and Katies cousin from Scotland Gillian. Girly day out. I’m pretty sure it was a cracking sight to see, as not only were we lying down we were locking ourselves in interesting angles which the rocks slanted at… a new experience, whilst topping up my pale skin with some Vit D.

After Indiana jones’ing it around the rocky coast, we swayed from one rocky beach to another, with a tad more sand and sunbathed on new terrain, sand. Exploring the area afterwards I really got to see that this small village relied heavily on the tourists that flocked in and out of it weekly. A many of native American shops and arts and crafts shops, highlighted the long road like a colorful ribbon curving out and down towards a glorious coastal scene, Rockport.