2015.

I have no idea why it is so hard for me (and has been for the past two months or so) to write this effing blog post. Now that it is almost 2015, I might as well make this part of my new years resolution. These past years I have tried to stay away from those, but tumblr and Pinterest make that hard for you with all these pretty and inspiring pictures. Ugh (it's like I'm the bird that can't stay away from these shiny things).
Anyway, so turning this blog around is definitely on it. As well as crazy important things such as my dissertation and figuring out this post-graduation life thing.
For the next few days though- hanging out with my friends, denying that dissertation, eating too much and staying in pyjamas. Something like that.


So see ya next year, with full steam ahead!

Julia and Joyce's posh adventure (Edinburgh Caledonian Hotel)

Last year, Julia and I created a promotional film for the Caledonian hotel here in Edinburgh. As a thank you, we received vouchers for a stay with breakfast, dinner and so on. Last week we were finally able to put that voucher in to action- we stayed in the hotel for a night, had a 3 course dinner and abused the breakfast buffet in the morning. AH HEAVEN!
Here is our little instagram diary of those 20 hours:

ps: those robes are the best thing that ever happened to me. they cost around 135$. crap.

Lake District trip

Last Sunday I took a trip to the Lake District in England, and guess what- I got paid for it! Believe it or not, I have been hired to accompany these trips and tell the people when to come back to the coach etc. Easiest job in the world! I've always wanted to go down to the Lake District, in pictures it aways looked so so beautiful. And it is!!! Even though the weather was super gloomy, it looked stunning with the fog hanging over the water and hills.. I think I must have been the most annoying person because all day I just went "THIS IS SO PRETTY"...
Anyway, so the Lake District obviously doesn't just have one lake but sooo many to chose from. The coach dropped us off in Bowness-on-Windermere, where you can go do the Beatrix Potter museum (so cute) and go on a boat trip. As soon as we came off the boat, the weather was changed completely- proper sunshine and blue skies... so of course we (the other guide girl and me) went to the nearest pub, sat outside and enjoy a proper Sunday roast from the pub. Because why not?

These pictures are just a tiny amount, but I don't wanna be that girl posting 50 pictures where everything looks about the same... so here you go!

Tomorrow I am going on a trip to Loch Ness.. be prepared for more touristy pictures if you follow me on Instagram!

Friday Favorites

pic via x

I might just be slightly obsessed with Matt Smith as the Doctor. I keep watching episodes when I am on the bus, in my bed, in the gym... everywhere! Having the Netflix app on my phone doesn't really help stopping this either... Ah!

pic via x

I mean who doesn't love a good Buzzfeed article, right? This one will make you either really happy or really sad, depending on where you live. It gives me goosebumps, that's for sure. Look here for 53 (!!) reasons why living in Edinburgh will ruin you for life. 

pic via x

 If you have followed this blog for a bit, you probably realise that I am a major fan of Halloween. I wish it was a week long! All the costume possibilities, party opportunities... aaah one day is just not enough! As it falls on a perect weekend this year, I have high hopes. Anyway, as my flatmates are just as obsessed as I am, we are having a themed party in our flat... (again).
This time the theme is HARRY POTTER!! We cannot wait to put all of our ideas in to action. ( btw I am in Ravenclaw, what are you?)


& last but not least, these blog posts:
Motherhood Around the World- As a former nanny, I have loved all posts of this series, but this is probably my favorite.
Post-Trip Depression: It’s Often Emotionally Harder to Come Home than Go Away- The "downside" of traveling and coming home. So sad and true.

Oh October!

 

October has been so eventful already. I have had a job interview for something actual media-related! It's a (paid!) part time opportunity that would last for 6 perfect months. I was as prepared as I could have been and gave it my best shot, so fingers crossed! To kickstart my Master applications, I finally took advantage of the career services of my Uni. Now I just need to figure out funding- and the personal statement needs to be written with just the right amount of perfection and passion. Easy peasy, right? 

So while fourth year is all fun because we are now among the wisest of all and obviously own the uni now (ha we wish), there is that little nagging thing called dissertation. As the weirdo I am, I have been looking forward to writing my disertation ever since May, when I was in Texas and felt so inspired to create this beautiful little piece of research that I am going to be really proud of.

Right now everything is still a little foggy in my head because my topic keeps shifting, but hopefully that will clear up soon!

And to make this post proper random- Yesterday I worked as a waitress at the Edinburgh Oktoberfest. In a dirndl (and this is deff not a thing in the part of Germany where I am from!) 

Being German abroad makes you do weird things, let me tell you.

 

If the rest of this month is gonna be as cray cray as these past days, I better get ready-
xx

Highland Lochs once more.

In August my parents came to visit me for a few days and on one of the days, we went on a highland bus tour (this one from Rabbies)- for the first part it was sunny and beautiful and then in proper Scottish fashion, it started raining. Anyhow it reminded me how much I love this stunning country and I wish I could spend every day like this.

I'm annoyed at myself for how much I am neglecting this blog (again), so I definitely will try harder. We'll see what happens.

happy photo accident- Someone seems to be flying around Scotland in a car again

Independence is good, right?

photo credit: Ben Cooper via photopin

Today is the day.
Scotland votes if it wants to be an independent country or not.

Almost 95% of all people are registered to vote for this referendum. This is crazy and only one indicator of how big this thing is gonna be. Personally I am happy I am not voting (I could, but I feel it's not my decision and shouldn't be), by this stage there are just way too many emotions attached to all of this. Months and months of trying to convince people, advertising, non stop flyering and brochures all over the place. Discussions, fights and so much bickering. What if and trallala. And now the day is here.

The atmosphere is crazy. People wearing yes/no buttons, flat windows covered in according stickers and banners, camera men on every corner- you cannot escape from it.

Voting on independence man, that is massive. And you can taste it in the air, I am tellin you. Pubs are going to stay open longer tonight, until the results are in. Which might be around like 6am. But what is gonna happen if they vote yes- or what if it's gonna be a no? So far the race is so damn close, which makes it even more crazy to think about. Is this gonna end in a huge party or a huge riot? So many people are so passionate about this country and that makes this big deal infinitely huge and special. I love Scotland deeply and really hope for the best-- but more than anything, I AM SO SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS REFERENDUM. This is not a casual thing, this is gonna be something you tell your kids about in 30 years. And I am so nervous and so giddy about tomorrow's party.
Because whatever will happen, I am gonna celebrate with the winners.
How exciting is this democracy thing people?!

SEE YOU TOMORROW, when maybe everything will be different. Or not.

Tur-tur key-key

And again I've let way too much time pass between posts. Oh well.
A quick catch up then:
The fringe finally came to an end,  which felt very different than last year. Not sure why. 
Then it was time to pack my suitcase,  throw in every summer dress I own,  download light summer reading books on to my kindle,  buy sunscreen and get excited.
A week in the Turkish sun has flown by,  it still fascinates me how the skin changes colour in the sun,  how salty the sea can be, how amazing it is to do nothing at all...
One week of bliss to go,  then it is back to Edinburgh, back to university. 

ROAD TRIP// Memphis

Memphis was pretty much our last real stop, but we cut it down to just one day because we spent more time in Alabama. You hear a lot of stuff about this city, people warned us about it, said it's not safe for two girls to go there by temselves and all of that. After certain incidents in Texas and elsewhere, we were definitely trying to be "safe" (whatever that means), by driving in daylight, staying away from dodgy alleys and all of that. 

Memphis was beautiful, not at all scary in this beautiful weather but we still just drove around to get a feel for the city. It is a shame we didn't do anything at all and again, you need a lot more time in this city to experience it the right way.

Elvis had his house here, Martin Luther King Jr got shot and died in this city, it is home to the Memphis blues and soul- the city is bursting with charm and character, waiting to be explored.

First we were randomly driving around, but then we just followed this beautiful old car in front of us and it gave us a sightseeing tour around Memphis haha.

the car we followed

the motel where King was shot, it is now the civil rights museum

a glimpse of Beale St, the famous bar/club street

Moving on to Elvis Land

this is the wall in front of his house, full of messages for him

the beautiful house, tucked away behind trees

Fringe diary #2

There are certain moments where you are so caught up in the Fringe madness, you forget what the real life feels like.

I took a half hour bus ride to finally get a hair cut and here in the south of Edinburgh, it's like the Fringe doesn't even exist.
But then you come back and have a wine and cheese night on a stage where Jason Byrne is just hanging out next to you. This has become my weird August reality. Your team becomes your family and it feels weird when someone has a day off.
You walk home in absolute daylight, wondering how the night went by so quickly. For me the some days only start at midnight, when I'm finished with work.

Edinburgh is transformed during August, there are always people everywhere, all the shops are open late, it is so different than other months.
At the same time, as much as I love Edinburgh and the Fringe, it also make me aware of how much I prefer films and that whole scene. I'm not a theatre person, I hate acting, I can actually fee how different I am from these drama students, performers and theatre obsessed people. I enjoy good comedians, a well written play and an entertaining show, but I think it ends there. Film is much more my scene, I would prefer watching weird films over watching weird Fringe shows any day. Why do I still do it, working at the Fringe? Because festival goers are fascinating and mostly lovely people and helping them pick great shows in this sea of possibilities is rewarding, especially when they come back and tell you got much they loved a certain show. And a month long festival is a one of a kind thing to be part of. That's why.

And again, the shows I watched recently:

1. Rhythmic Circus- Feet don't fail me now


2. Jason Byrne


3. Brazouka


4.The After Party with Alex Rossi and the Rhythmic Circus Band

5. Best of the Fest

ROAD TRIP// Nashville

Nashville was the first big city we visited after a whole lot of Alabama countryside. We stayed in a super dodgy motel (again), so we shut the curtains, avoided eye contact with fellow motel mates and got ready for a proper night out. We wanted to go line dancing as a proper cowgirl would do, but of course the dance hall was closed. So we went across the street, hung out at a typical American dive bar-  we made friends with the bartender and everyone around us, had a great night (and a huge bill) that ended with us running from the parking lot straight to the sketchy motel room to avoid unwanted attention.

The next day was slightly corrupted after this extensive night- we still went to the Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame, which was really cool. I wish we could have stayed longer in this great city, but we had to drive to Memphis that same day.
Aw Nashville, you are a babe.