Victoria's Vigorous Vine

“Do Anything You Like… Wait, What?”

A couple days ago, something strung inside me and it felt as if my legs were moving on their own and my mouth speaking on its own. Completely conscious as to what was going on but not able to take control, I found myself walking straight into a hair salon and asking to get my hair cut. “Ok,” I thought, “I haven’t gotten it cut in quite a while so my hair will appreciate getting something done and feeling fresh. I’ll probably just ask for a trim, maybe some layers at the most of a change.” as I meet my stylist, Tuan, she greets me with a warm smile and a kind voice. The hair wash was fantastic, with a head massage incorporated. As she sits me in my seat Tuan asks me what I would like. And then suddenly, I find myself saying something that I wouldn’t expect. “Just do whatever you would like and think would look good with me, with my face shape, as long as it’s not too short.”

As my stylist starts to work on my hair I feel confident that she’ll think of something fantastic for me. She checks with me if it’s alright if she cuts a certain amount off, showing me at least two inches for sure. Since that was a length to be just at my collarbone I thought that the length was still long enough for me to put my hair up and so I agreed with it. The rest of the cut was a complete surprise, especially when she started to cut some bangs to go with the new look. I felt that my heart was starting to pump slightly faster than usual. “Wow she really is making it a short bang,” I think to myself. I was a little unsure about the bangs but I decided not to say anything and let her work her magic.

Once she finished cutting, drying and styling my hair, I completely fell in love with my new look. It’s a look that I remember always wanting to have but never knew how to explain it to anyone before. I was so happy with my new hair that I decided there and then that she will be my stylist from now on. No one else. I never thought I’d be one of those people that did have just the one person that they would go to, but I guess you won’t think to have one until you’ve met them. I suppose it’s like with any relationship. You won’t settle for one until you’ve met the right one, that lives to your standards. Why would you want anything less?

Say It Ain’t So!

Ever since I can remember I’ve had some sort of problems with my stomach. Time and time again I would have some sort of ache, be it subtle or painful. Many times it would make sense if I hadn’t eaten much that day and there was a long period between meals. But as I’ve started to gain more consciousness of my body and surroundings in the past year or so, I’ve decided to actually see what was wrong. I’ve been eating more snacks (healthy, of course!) and therefore eating more frequently. The pain is still there; cross that off the list!

One of my friends had conducted tests on herself to see which foods made her feel sick, so now I am doing the same. I feel much better eating less meat, so that could be a small factor, but it didn’t erase all the pain. It was less frequent, but still there and more subtle.

However, this past week I’m feeling no pain and more energy in my body. So much more alive than I can remember last. What has changed in my diet, I thought. And the answer came to me in a flash. Wheat. I haven’t had any bread, toast, bagels, cereal, anything of the sort. My dad’s allergic to gluten, as well as my uncle, though not as bad. Could I possibly have a level of intolerance to it as well?

Let the testing begin!

Awaking from an Adventure

After so many months without updating my blog, it feels so good to sit down and write again. I missed it so. But I of course had a legitimate reason as to why I have been MIA. My time abroad in Scotland has been a busy one. From socializing with all the international and local students to traveling; from attending university clubs and their activities to studying. All in all a very busy five months – so busy, in fact, that it feels as if the five months have been a whole lifetime. Now that I think back on it, my time abroad really does feel like another lifetime; as if it is a whole other world I was in, almost dreamlike right now, especially in my blissful state in the last few weeks. I know I went there, I know I had a great time, I know that I have met so many interesting and wonderful people, but as I settle back into my life at home the trip almost feels surreal. Only the memories, pictures and messages from my friends are proof to me that I have actually gone. But having not blogged and being settled back at home means that I get to write about all of my adventures now, reliving them again and reminiscing.

It feels almost impossible that I have been back for three weeks already, and only now that I am starting to get settled back into the life I had before I left for the UK. Yet, coming back home does not feel the same as it did when I went traveling in my past. Mind you, the longest I’ve ever been away from home before the fall term was only one month. This time it was five; five months where I really got to know some great people and therefore have attachments that I have yet felt on previous travels. My guess - that is the biggest difference. I miss a couple people that I’ve met dearly, but I am very happy to have met them and we still keep in contact to this day. I’m positive that I will meet them again one day. Whether it be on European travels, or back here in Canada, or anywhere else in the world. Heck, maybe even Africa. Or Japan should they wish to come see me while I’m there! Who knows what the future holds, but this I know for sure: I will see them again. Don’t know where, don’t know when, but I know I will.

Flying into Ottawa on a late Saturday afternoon, with work awaiting my presence bright and early on Monday morning was a difficult task indeed. I had only Sunday to recuperate my strength, energy and health, as I was sick while flying in. It was a good rest, but surely not long enough. Nonetheless, waking up at 6:00am was fairly easy since Scotland has a time difference of +5 hours. Though it was easy to wake up, staying up after I got back from work was the hard part. In my first two weeks back all I could do was sleep, wake up, go to work, get home and go back to sleep to start the cycle all over again. Definitely a hard change from the blissful vacation state I was in, in my last couple of weeks abroad.

About a week later I have adjusted myself to a more regular schedule, though I now wish I could wake up as easily as I did at six in the morning! The point of change was probably at my first Saturday Night Swing dance since getting back from the UK. Swing dancing and socializing with friends that you haven’t seen in months until two in the morning will surely do that to you! It felt good to be back, but I did feel different as I have mentioned. While abroad I have grown as a person and developed new hobbies. Though don’t get me wrong - I still love to dance and enjoy spending my time with everyone there, but there is something that’s just… different. Maybe being abroad made me realize that I have more hobbies that I enjoy doing and should make time for those, equally with dance. Being away from home, from all materials at hand, made me realize how much I’ve missed gazing at the stars, drawing, painting and playing on the piano. Things I have put behind dance. Now it’s time to start treating them equally. So instead of being predictable and going every Saturday to dance, I will make the time for all my hobbies, including the ones I’ve picked up abroad - fencing and archery. Coming back from an adventure abroad doesn’t mean to put all the things you’ve done and learned behind; it means to take and put forth what you have learned along the way to your present and future.

You can take the girl out of the UK, but you can’t take the UK out of the girl!

A New Journey Begins

As I first journeyed out of the comfort and familiarity of my own home for a few months for the first time, I felt a new sensation bubble inside of me. One that was realizing my first great change in my life; one that was a mix of nerves and excitement. This change involves me flying overseas, and finding my way in a new environment and culture, away from the home and people that I’m used to. I have traveled quite a few times in my life already, even exotic places such as Peru, but never have I gone traveling anywhere alone. I feel that this is a really big step in my life; to prove my independence and courage, mostly to myself.

Just before I was about to go sit in the waiting room to board the plane, I felt a sudden sadness start to swell inside of me as I turned to say goodbye. As I waved goodbye to my mom from the other side of the security, I realized how much I would miss her and the rest of my family and friends. Whatever you do, just smile and don’t you dare let a single tear drop. Because once it does, you know that both you and your mom will start crying, which no one wants because it will make it that much harder, I told myself. Then as I walked off to go sit and wait I wondered, How will it be like? Will I be able to handle it? Will I prove my own independence and courage to myself? Will I get around each city without getting lost for hours? Questions that can only be answered once I start this journey.

A very long plane ride and three movies later, I take my first steps on UK ground. The London Heathrow Airport is indeed that largest airport I have ever been in, I believe. Luckily they had signs posted everywhere to know where to go, or else I would have been already lost before even venturing out into the city itself. Backpack and suitcase in hand, I make my way to the tube station, which was also pleasing to find that it was easy to understand. As painless as it was to comprehend, the hardest part of the journey was yet ahead of me. I did not want to take my backpacking backpack off as it was hard to put on in the first place because of its weight, and I did not want to have a hard time getting off the tube. Little did I know, it was going to be a two-hour tube ride. Standing with my suitcase beside me, I was counting down the stops until Russel Square Station. As soon the tube announced the station, I sighed with relief to be able to finally get to my hotel and take my backpack off. It took me quite a while to find it but the elderly Englishman was very kind in pointing me in the right direction.

By the time I had made it to the hotel it was already evening and so I decided to go to a restaurant recommended by the staff, called Giraffe. As I entered the restaurant the atmosphere was instantly very welcoming. It would be an ideal place for any occasion, for either a family, a date, or even if you’re just on your own. I had decided to get their special Feel Good Dinner Menu, which included a choice of a starter and main for £9.95. I chose to order their soup of the day, which was split pea mint soup and included garlic bread, and then for the main course I had decided on the classic dish of fish and chips, with a glass of red wine. The food was absolutely delicious and very filling, and the server was very welcoming and warm. I would definitely recommend anyone to go to Giraffe!

So Little Time, So Much To Do

To start things off, I wish to apologize to anyone who has been waiting patiently to hear something from me about my trip so far. It’s been a bit over a week since I left home and haven’t really done much with my blog. Unfortunately I don’t have much luck with an internet connection, as the Contiki Basement closes at 8pm and that’s the only network I trust since it is secure with a password protection. On the other hand there’s the hotel’s internet connection which also has a password protection and so you’d think it would be safe, right? Well I can’t be too sure. You see, when I was on the internet at the Contiki Basement everything was fine. But the first time I used the internet connection at the hotel, the yellow triangle warning sign appeared on my protection and I thought, “Just great. Best not to use this just in case.” Am I right or am I right? Also, the connection at the hotel is limited to the lobby. Meaning it is impossible to use in the bedrooms.

Since I am in London for a short while, I am trying to use as much of my time as possible to see all that there is to see. Most attractions close in the early evening, at about either 5:30 or 6pm. Therefore, I try to get up as early as possible to see as many attractions as I can and then leave the various parks until the evening to stroll through. Once I am done with my day, I take a gander at my watch and see that, of course not to my surprise, the whole day has gone by and the Contiki Basement is either already closed or just about to be.

Since it is my last day in London today, I have already made it out to all parts of the city (even as far out as to be able to see the mountains in Wales) and so it will be a relaxing day. I will first visit the British Museum, which is just around the corner of my hotel, and the visit the London Zoo. Hopefully if I have enough time I will also make it out to the London Aquarium. Though knowing me, I will most likely dilly dally around all the rooms in the museum and zoo, and want to read every single word on every single plaque that is hung. Fingers crossed that I do make it to the Aquarium though! And finally I hope to get a final view of the city at the end of the day in the London Eye, since it is the only thing that is open late (9pm).

Seeing that I will have a long day ahead of me – big surprise – and an early morning tomorrow to catch the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow Airport for a plane into Glasgow, I will most likely not write or post any pictures up until either my first (if it’s not too busy, though I suspect it will be) or second day in Scotland. So sit tight, relax, and await patiently for some stories and visuals. On the upside, I have been keeping up to date on editing the photos and so they are ready and waiting. I just have to decide on which ones are the best to post. I have about 200 images, on average, per day. Will try to limit to about 20 photos per day? We shall see how it goes!