Not that I have a huge readership or anything, but remember when I used to write regularly? When I was living in France, I felt like every new experience was an opportunity for me to reflect and share my thoughts and perspectives. 2018 proved to be a particularly low-yield creative year for me. Not just in blogging, but in almost every aspect of my life. … Continue reading What Did I Learn in 2018?
deference | noun | /ˈdef(ə)rəns/ 1: respectful submission or yielding to the judgement, opinion, will, etc., of another. 2: respectful or courteous regard. It’s been a long time since I’ve been truly inspired to write anything. Part of that is the typical “I’m busy with life” excuse, but another part of that is that I have always felt like this blog is a place for … Continue reading I Am Done With Deference.
For anyone who’s kept up with my blog, you might have noticed that it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. Since my last post in July, I’ve gone through a series of experiences one might summarize in a phrase as “growing up.” I moved to a new apartment. I got my first “real” job. I started some new hobbies. I’ve made new friends. I’m … Continue reading Life Updates – Hello, Adulthood
“Get involved in your community.” I feel like this is a common phrase in American culture. Whether we’ve heard it at school, from a friend, from a religious leader, or even in a public service announcement, this idea of involvement seems ever present in our culture. But what does it really mean to get involved in your community? We often think of involvement as volunteering … Continue reading How to Get Involved in Your Community (Other Than Volunteering or Donating)
Real-life events that have transpired this week: 1. I went to a professional networking event and had no title/organization to put on my name tag. I was suddenly hit with the realization that I couldn’t claim the safe-haven that is student status anymore. During introductions, I panicked and introduced myself as a musician, which by virtue of degree, I am. 2. As part of an … Continue reading My Worth Is Not Defined By My Job Title (Or Degree)
If there’s anything I’ve learned about the postgraduate landscape, it’s that there are no one-size-fits-all maps. Maybe, if you’re really lucky, you have some great mentors who can help guide you. Maybe, you find yourself more-or-less on your own trying to pave a path. Either way, I’m here to say that I relate and here are some of the things I’ve been doing to keep … Continue reading 5 Things To Do During the Postgrad Transition Period
After my nine month stint abroad in France, I’ve returned home to Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s been about two weeks and I’ve had time to reacquaint myself with the ins-and-outs of everyday life in the United States. Who would have thought that after just nine months, I would need time to readjust to a country that I have called my home for my entire … Continue reading Signs of Reverse Culture Shock – France Back to the US
I’m currently in the process of packing up my life in France, saying goodbyes, and getting nostalgic. It’s a bittersweet time. On the one hand, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen my family and friends in the US. On the other hand, I’m not sure I’m ready to say goodbye to everyone I’ve met in France. Who would have thought just after a … Continue reading How to Make Friends in France (Or Elsewhere)
Introduction: I’m not sure if you’ll believe me when I say that living as an English teaching assistant in France isn’t as glamorous as it seems. The salary is humble, but it’s definitely been enough for me to take advantage of my time in Europe. You just have to be willing to be flexible and resourceful when it comes to travel (scan the internet for … Continue reading By Plane, Train, and Bus: Tracking My Trip Around Central Europe
I can hardly believe it’s already the end of March. I still have a couple months left of my time in France, but I’m about three-fourths of the way through my experience. In February I went on a jam-packed adventure in southern France, where I got to see firsthand the diversity of regional French culture. After having survived the cold winter of northeastern France, I … Continue reading Learning to “profites-en bien”
