There and back again

When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence,
as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
Kahlil Gibran

Every instant of our lives is essentially irreplaceable:

you must know this in order to concentrate on life.

André Gide

It's a Universal Travel Truth that layovers suck. They are like the face a baby makes when you let it taste a lemon. Or maybe that's just what my face looks like when I'm faced with a long layover. Either way, I consider anything longer than three hours to be long. Three hours tests my patience threshold, after which I resort to taking unnecessary trips to the bathroom just to do something other than sit in one spot, moping, staring at my computer, greatly appreciative of every single person who likes my incessant Facebook status updates. I'm generally not an airport shopper, and although I don't mind stopping to eat in a restaurant or grab a drink at a bar, I can only sit there for so long. Because I'm connecting to another flight, I'm constantly on edge about which gate it's going to be at, where all my stuff is, how much wi-fi costs and why I think it's just ridiculous that airports don't offer free wi-fi for more than twenty minutes.

I left for the airport around 10am on Sunday, leaving my family, and one of my sisters who was only 10 hours away from giving birth to my very first nephew (although at the time we didn't know boy or girl). I missed it! It was killing me. I think if I had had to board my 8-hr flight without knowing if the baby had been born yet, I would have completely fallen apart. But I did find out. And it was a boy, and his name is Junah, and he is gorgeous and perfect.

My visit home was all over the place. For the first few days it was calm and relaxing and amazing. Family and more family, and that was it. But things slid into weirdness (much of it good, but generally emotional and/or unexpected) as the week went on. Among other things, I had completely failed to get together with a friend I've known for a long time (and haven't seen as much the last couple years, but that's another blog post entirely) and felt guilty about it. I had also gone a little overboard with another unexpected get-together, pulling one of our (as part of a marginally larger, varying group) well-into-the-morning nights in the middle of the week. Those particular kinds of evenings go back a few years with other friends involved, so a '6am' is kind of nostalgic in itself. But oh, nostalgia, you complex monster.

I like nostalgia, but not when it's painful. Not when it makes you fuzzy-headed and emotional and feeling guilty for dwelling on things that will never exist that way again.

6am's usually were in the summer. They were never very frequent and always extremely spontaneous, at least for me, which was a certain part of their appeal. More often than not they involved indie band videos on YouTube (La Blogotheque Takeaway Shows), typewriter(s), poetry, records on the turntable, sometimes dancing, random food from the fridge around 3am, followed by strong coffee, a rotation of visitors amongst the 'regulars,' sometimes a backyard fire depending on the house, and always copious amounts of alcohol.

So, essentially, nostalgia laid siege to my relaxing week at home, with a multiplicity of mixed emotions about the past and uncertainty about the future. I was so happy to be back, then wrenched around when I became homesick for the first time since moving, when I arrived home, and not the other way around. I found myself trying to keep from drifting into 'coulda-woulda-shoulda' mode when the visit ended. I forgot how, by being away from home or any familiar place or people, your feelings about it/them sort of crystallize over time. Sometimes it's not easy to face changes, or things that may have become clearer in your absence.

So, perhaps the moral of the story is... traveling when there is some major family event going on, or when you're majorly stressed out for whatever reason, and having to deal with two 5+ hour layovers... not a good idea. I know sometimes it's unavoidable. The major problem is that I was alone, with nothing to do but think, in the already anxiety-laden atmosphere of several airport terminals over a stretch of time in which much more sleeping should have happened.

Despite all this, it's refreshing to be back in Edinburgh. Classes started this week, a routine revs up again, I've got great friends to hang out with, this city is gorgeous and calm again after the New Year (no more carnival noise, yippee!), all my stuff is here, and... my mobile phone works normally. There is something fresh about being back, as if I'm able to see it more clearly. Keeping focused on the present is the best thing here, and is probably best in any case. And I also was able to, in the feat of technological greatness known as Skype, to speak to four generations of my family all at the same time: My nana, my mom, my sister, and her new son. How amazing is that? I may not be there physically, but I could still, in some sense, meet my new nephew. Yes, everything really is alright. :)

Anyway, if you made it this far, thanks. ;) What's a blog if not a place to spill every once in a while, eh?

Cheers guys!
Kate xx

Over the Thames

A fatter picture post (!!) with some shots of my walk around Westminster and South Bank. It was a cloudy day and as the evening wore on, it started raining in earnest, so the color isn't the best. But it's what it is, and it's still London! <3



South Bank has a Christmas Market right now, which is quite large. Most of these Christmas markets seem the same to me, but if you look carefully you can find some unique things. The benefit of this one is the array of yummy food stands -- there were plenty of those! So, if anything, you can get some churros or hot chocolate and stroll around listening to Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmas Time" for the seven-billionth time (and that's okay).

One area I had never checked out before was Gabriel's Wharf with a number of independently run shops. There are a couple cafes and coffee shops along with a few print galleries and handcrafted gift shops -- definitely worth a stop!





Cheers!
Kate x

London: Art on and off the street

So, I got the obligatory (as I see it) HEYO LONDON post out of the way. There's a pattern that has developed over the years. I've been to London a handful of times now and every time I go, the first day always includes a beeline to Trafalgar Square, a walk down to Westminster Abbey and Parliament, across the bridge and along the Southbank, and then at some point back north of the river, catching the tube to whatever part of town I'm staying in that time. This time I was just north of Hyde Park in a nice little hotel, just far enough out of the central insanity of the Christmas shopping mecca, but still very close to it.

The first full I day in the city was spent walking around a bit, but the weather dissolved into steady rain so it was indoors entertainment for most of the afternoon. This included a major high point: Tate Modern. A little while ago they did a major rehang of their permanent collection (I'm not sure I'm 100% on board with it, but let's not go there), but I was particularly interested in seeing the Paul Klee exhibition (through 9 March 2014). Klee is one of the big guns of European modern art, involved closely with the Bauhaus, where he taught for ten years. He was meticulous about cataloguing his work and also note-taking about the artistic process, creating sketchbooks and notepads of diagrams and notes for use in his classes. A couple of these took the form of books, such as The Thinking Eye and Pedagogical Sketchbook (which I have an early edition of, which I'll unabashedly boast!)... it was a good show. Klee was the focus of much of my senior year as an undergraduate student, so it was cool to go back and revisit some of his work.

But I was surprised to find that I actually liked another show better. The Klee ticket could be bought in conjunction with the retrospective of Brazilian modern artist Mira Schendel for a pretty deep discount, so I decided, what the hell. I'd never heard of her, but for an extra £2 I could handle checking it out! And I have to say, it was love at first sight. Her work is totally rad, and yes, that is the technical term for it. The Tate Modern exhibition is only on for another month, through 19 January, but I would highly recommend it if you're interested in abstract art and sculpture with a firm connection to philosophy and language. I spent probably twice as much time in the Schendel show than in the Klee one, so it just goes to show... you never know.
Just some random shots outside those exhibitions at the Tate, and of course, one of the best places to snap colorful photos, the skate park with an ever-changing and encouraged array of spray art.

Cheers! Kate x

Hello London!

  

I love this city! On my first full day in the city, I started the morning at the National Gallery and took a walk through Westminster and around Southbank to get to Tate Modern. Luckily it didn't rain until later evening, but it was quite cloudy most of the time. Just a few photos!

I'm fairly positive I walked by Adam Godley! Having just watched Love Actually the other day, in which he plays the tiny-bit part of the teacher introducing the school nativity play, it was happily coincidental to see someone so fresh in memory.

Now I'm snacking on some Hobnobs and sipping an evening cuppa. By the way, does McVitie's still make mini Hobnobs? Those were the best...

Cheers,
Kate x

Mission accomplished: Oban

Above is Dunollie Castle, a Clan MacDougall stronghold from the 15th c, now very well abandoned. There's an adjacent 17th century house which has been turned into a museum. More on this later. ;)



  

I'm back! And blogging! I feel a little guilty that there's been a bit of a delay getting a new post up, but a lot's been happening! I may not have been posting, but I've been accumulating material to post. Right? Right. ;)

I arrived back at Edinburgh last night a little before 9, after, I admit, a really shitty just-bearable train ride. Being a Saturday evening, and en route to Glasgow, it's quite possible this was the reason for a much more boisterous group of people being on the train. Perhaps to even out this pitfall, I met two Scottish couples who sat across from me and had been visiting Oban for a few days. They had a bunch of leftover venison and smoked salmon sandwiches, so they very warmheartedly provided me with supper and some cheery conversation. They were en route back to their retirement home in Portugal. Sigh!

Oban is on the west coast of Scotland, about as far west as you can go on land before having to hop ferries to the islands. It's a small, friendly city. I walked around there very briefly when my family came to Scotland on vacation back in 2011, but I was able to walk around and explore a lot more this time around. That's one benefit of traveling solo... you're on your own timetable! Albeit sometimes there are moments when it would be nice to share a beautiful view with someone, or a meal, or a drink at the pub. Just thought I'd share a few photos of the first evening I was there. I'll get some more up soon, from the subsequent days.

Cheers!

Kate x

Where did I pack the...?

Here goes: one of the only posts I'll probably ever do that does not include a photo! I'm pressed for time, you see. And technology. I don't know where my camera is at the moment--oh wait, I do, but it's buried in a carry-on bag full of things I couldn't fit in my regular suitcase. In fact, I don't know where I put the toothpaste, but I'm trusting it's in one of the bags, somewhere...

In a nutshell, I'm about to depart! Thought I'd throw out a quick update since I suddenly find myself with about an hour to spare and nothing more to pack. I could cuddle with my cat for a while, but he's napping and it would probably just piss him off. I got in a really nice last-minute coffee date with my mom and nana, and said goodbye to my sister and her lovely coffee shop. That's one place I will definitely miss -- the regulars there are like none other. Seriously, just about everybody knows everybody. There's some serious value to a place like that.

I finally started getting "nervous tummy," which my sister corrected me (correctly) and called "excited tummy." Not really wanting to eat anything, feeling a little anxious about all of the little things that really aren't all that important, but somehow seem hugely significant right now: Is my suitcase below the weight limit? Do I really need to bring that extra purse? Is mascara considered a liquid? Where is the toothpaste?

All in all, though, I feel really good. I feel prepared, and that's about all a person can ask for when she's about to embark on a big trip. And not just a big trip, but a long stay. A move, but a university move, which isn't really the same thing--but kind of. I find that the more I tell myself to go with the flow, the better I feel. So, to leave you with, three little day-of-departure tips that I'm finding useful right now.

1) Daily routines are important. I was distracted enough this morning with packing that I totally forgot to put makeup on. And not that makeup is a necessity -- I don't mind not wearing it. But the point is that it's a regular morning routine, and I didn't do it. So, to my surprise, late in the morning I was surprised by my appearance in the mirror, and felt like I had forgotten something. Moral of the story: stick with your routine and you'll feel better about the excitement and uncertainty that lies ahead.

2) Do a last-minute cull. You're getting down to the wire and you think your suitcase might be a little heavy or overstuffed. Open it up and make a snap decision or two about a few things you don't need. If you're like me, your last week or so has been, at least in some part every day consumed by thoughts of what to bring, what not to bring, what fits, what's too heavy, etc. When you've got a deadline (ie. actually have to getcho bad self to the airport), it's easier to just be done with it. Stop thinking, just pull a couple things out. It's so much nicer to have a little wiggle room in the suitcase.

3) Take some time to just relax. Scan your Facebook feed, have coffee with your mom, read a book, watch TV... just chill. It's good to get your mind off things for just a moment--just to pause--and refresh a little bit before hopping on the plane.

See you there!

Kate x

A day trip to the Door

The first of two posts about a day trip I took to Door County, Wisconsin... pre-summer and just after most of the cafes and galleries opened for the season. I spent a good hour in Peninsula State Park, where I haven't been for at least ten years. The weather was fitful, so it was an abbreviated trip, but as far as Lake Michigan scenery goes, it's hard to beat.

That little bugger hanging off the leaf on the right is just one of bagillions of pesky lake flies. They were unbearable in places. The only major drawback of my visit.

This guy was absolutely enormous, and was keen to make all sorts of bizarre noises. More for his benefit than my entertainment, but it was still amusing.

And fishing. What is a Wisconsin lake without fishing?

So far, this being a newbie blog, I'm really enjoying getting into the swing of documenting my experiences and sharing them with you. That's essentially the reason for starting it up so early before departing for Scotland: if I'm in the habit, all the more to show you and keep up with. Can't wait!

Days to Edinburgh move-in: 114