Funnily enough, I'm back exactly where I started my 2019 journey; preparing for the new year tucked away in a snowed in Canadian town. One year ago I felt disconnected to my home in Canada. My mind was somewhere else entirely, and the year ahead was finally going to allow me to go where my mind was taking me. What was in store, I could never have guessed. I am now sufficiently poorer, undoubtedly wiser, have three new tattoos, and a new definition of home.
This post is about sharing my gratitude for 2019, the most terrifying, wonderful, enriching year!
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Travel
Including my temporary home of England, I visited 4 new countries this year, and was lucky enough to revisit two countries I'd seen many years ago. Highlights include: nearly being blown into the sea on the coast of Northern Ireland, traveling to Nottingham alone to stay with friends I'd met on Instagram, picnicking under the Eiffel Tower, road-tripping to Brighton in a massive rental van, and making new friends on the beaches of Croatia. It wouldn't matter how we filled our days if there was no "we". The dear friends I traveled with filled those trips with exhilarating insanity and joy. They made the anxious plane rides more than worth it, and I owe a lot of this year's memories to them.
Before heading home for the summer, I fulfilled a shared dream I was never quite sure would ever become a reality. My life long friend met me in England and we set off to Europe together, exploring Italy, Switzerland, and one impromptu day in Germany, crashing with family and friends along the way. We knew in the coming years life would inevitably get in the way of any travel plans, and I could not be more grateful that we made this year the time for our adventure.
Sustainable Approach for Fashion
There are two notable changes in my approach to style thanks to the 2010s. Firstly, my style inspiration now comes almost exclusively from Instagram and Pinterest (and the question still grows stronger of whether or not I really like the things I buy, or marketing has just become frighteningly good). And secondly, more so than ever, I'm shopping with the earth in mind. This is an 'end of the decade' development for most of us, and an exciting mind frame for entering 2020. This is the year I began the journey of what I call my "Forever Wardrobe", meaning shopping in 2019 has been done with one goal in mind; build a wardrobe of versatile, ethically sources pieces that will stand the test of time. Charity shops, online designer consignments, and luxury retailers are now my main shopping destinations.
You can definitely expect to see developments in The Forever Wardrobe from me in the new year.
Hatfield
You lived where?
Hatfield.
Where the hell is that?
Hertfordshire, about a 30 min train ride from London.
This is a conversation I've had many times. For those of you who have been to Hatfield (a generous guess would be perhaps five people reading this), you'll know it fits pretty well into the category of "where the hell is that" in terms of towns. When we weren't floating in and out of each other's uni dorms, we were... well, there wasn't many other places to be. Whetherspoons, the Co op just down the road, or the surprisingly American style mall called the Galleria were the only other viable destinations if you were to do a where's Waldo type search for our group in that tiny town. Most weekends took us to London, St. Albans, or further around England. But for six months Hatfield housed us, fed us, and brought us all together. It was a home base for the typical international student comings and goings. It's where we had our late night girl chats and wondered across campus in the dark. It's where some people fell in love, or briefly in lust. It's where wine was drunk.
I can close my eyes and be back there instantly. It was home, and I loved that stupid little town.
You lived where?
Hatfield.
Where the hell is that?
Hertfordshire, about a 30 min train ride from London.
This is a conversation I've had many times. For those of you who have been to Hatfield (a generous guess would be perhaps five people reading this), you'll know it fits pretty well into the category of "where the hell is that" in terms of towns. When we weren't floating in and out of each other's uni dorms, we were... well, there wasn't many other places to be. Whetherspoons, the Co op just down the road, or the surprisingly American style mall called the Galleria were the only other viable destinations if you were to do a where's Waldo type search for our group in that tiny town. Most weekends took us to London, St. Albans, or further around England. But for six months Hatfield housed us, fed us, and brought us all together. It was a home base for the typical international student comings and goings. It's where we had our late night girl chats and wondered across campus in the dark. It's where some people fell in love, or briefly in lust. It's where wine was drunk.
I can close my eyes and be back there instantly. It was home, and I loved that stupid little town.
Live Music
I'm a concert fiend, but can say confidently I will never be able to go to a gig alone. Half the fun for me is in the mutual excitement and future ability to reminisce with someone else. This year, each concert acted as a stake in time, reminding me of the headspace I was in during that period.
The 1975 at the 02 marked the beginning of Josee and I's study abroad adventure.
Hippo Campus at Shepherd's Bush brought a turnaround of weather and emotions.
Troye Sivan at Heaven Nightclub was intimate and hectic, but brought me closer to new friends.
Childish Gambino at the 02 blew our minds and bonded us further.
Mumford and Sons in Vancouver was a memorable night with family.
John Mayer at the 02 marked the turning point in a really incredible journey.
The Lumineers at the 02 connected me with a friend from home.
The Chemical Brothers at the 02 was the strangest night of my life.
I'm a concert fiend, but can say confidently I will never be able to go to a gig alone. Half the fun for me is in the mutual excitement and future ability to reminisce with someone else. This year, each concert acted as a stake in time, reminding me of the headspace I was in during that period.
The 1975 at the 02 marked the beginning of Josee and I's study abroad adventure.
Hippo Campus at Shepherd's Bush brought a turnaround of weather and emotions.
Troye Sivan at Heaven Nightclub was intimate and hectic, but brought me closer to new friends.
Childish Gambino at the 02 blew our minds and bonded us further.
Mumford and Sons in Vancouver was a memorable night with family.
John Mayer at the 02 marked the turning point in a really incredible journey.
The Lumineers at the 02 connected me with a friend from home.
The Chemical Brothers at the 02 was the strangest night of my life.
Living Alone
There's a first time for everything, including: calling relatives when you think someone is trying to break into your flat, discovering your best suited "sing at the top of my lungs" song when doing your makeup, and killing enough spiders to warrant bravely keeping your eyes on the TV screen during the tarantula scenes in Home Alone.
I'm proud to say I've lived nearly alone (in the uni flat with people I almost never saw) or completely alone for the majority of 2019, and I absolutely loved it! Nothing forces you to learn more about yourself than spending an entire weekend alone in a big city only to come home, cook dinner for one, have a movie night for one, and go to bed whenever the hell you want - i.e. 9:30pm because I have low iron and no one tells me how to live my life.
There's a first time for everything, including: calling relatives when you think someone is trying to break into your flat, discovering your best suited "sing at the top of my lungs" song when doing your makeup, and killing enough spiders to warrant bravely keeping your eyes on the TV screen during the tarantula scenes in Home Alone.
I'm proud to say I've lived nearly alone (in the uni flat with people I almost never saw) or completely alone for the majority of 2019, and I absolutely loved it! Nothing forces you to learn more about yourself than spending an entire weekend alone in a big city only to come home, cook dinner for one, have a movie night for one, and go to bed whenever the hell you want - i.e. 9:30pm because I have low iron and no one tells me how to live my life.
New Relationships
I can't possibly give a shout out to every single person, dog, cat, or statue that made an impact on me this past year. If you know, you know. I love you all dearly and can't wait to see how our paths cross in the future.
A few people I will mention are those who pretty much made this year possible, along with my supportive, loving family.
Miss Josee, if it weren't for you, I would never have had the courage to apply to study abroad and the experience I had in England wouldn't have been half as meaningful.
To Sylvia, Sophie, Nicola, Zara, Ollie, Charlotte, Emily, Immy, and Janina, you all made my transition into London life so welcoming, gave me a place to live, and taught me lessons I never thought I'd get to learn. Here's to office falafel wraps, long days on set, and tracking down receipts.
Lastly, to Rob, my partner in crime this year. Hopefully 2020 will bring more memories, more adventures, and less timezone gaps ;).
I can't possibly give a shout out to every single person, dog, cat, or statue that made an impact on me this past year. If you know, you know. I love you all dearly and can't wait to see how our paths cross in the future.
A few people I will mention are those who pretty much made this year possible, along with my supportive, loving family.
Miss Josee, if it weren't for you, I would never have had the courage to apply to study abroad and the experience I had in England wouldn't have been half as meaningful.
To Sylvia, Sophie, Nicola, Zara, Ollie, Charlotte, Emily, Immy, and Janina, you all made my transition into London life so welcoming, gave me a place to live, and taught me lessons I never thought I'd get to learn. Here's to office falafel wraps, long days on set, and tracking down receipts.
Lastly, to Rob, my partner in crime this year. Hopefully 2020 will bring more memories, more adventures, and less timezone gaps ;).
Work Experience
One day I will never forget over my time working in London, was spent on set this past fall. It was an editorial shoot I helped location scout for (I'm so proud!). Our incredible executive producer Sylvia was there, and recognized the groomer/hair stylist on set. Like both Sylvia and I, he was also from the Okanagan, the region in British Columbia where we'd both grown up. All three of us were so blown away that somehow we were all there in the same room, working so far from home on a common goal. I was told a few times that London can chew you up if you don't know how to handle living there. Working that day with two incredibly talented, successful Canadians, in the industry I'd always dreamed of being apart of, gave me peace that I was where I should be, and I wasn't so out of place.
One day I will never forget over my time working in London, was spent on set this past fall. It was an editorial shoot I helped location scout for (I'm so proud!). Our incredible executive producer Sylvia was there, and recognized the groomer/hair stylist on set. Like both Sylvia and I, he was also from the Okanagan, the region in British Columbia where we'd both grown up. All three of us were so blown away that somehow we were all there in the same room, working so far from home on a common goal. I was told a few times that London can chew you up if you don't know how to handle living there. Working that day with two incredibly talented, successful Canadians, in the industry I'd always dreamed of being apart of, gave me peace that I was where I should be, and I wasn't so out of place.
London
Distance truly does make the heart grow fonder, and when I returned to London after being home for just over three months, my heart viewed crowded trains and Underground posters more fondly than ever. As I write this, I can feel my heart starting to pound with anxiety at the thought of it. London was ever-changing for me; sometimes I was in love, sometimes I felt more lonely than ever before, and then I'd fall in love again. I understand why people choose to live there, but I understand less and less why people choose to holiday there. It seems to me a city that one needs ample time to absorb in order to appreciate. The surface level London of Oxford St. and Covent Garden have their place and may I say, get dolled up beautifully for Christmas. But, it's the boroughs hidden in between the townhouses and iron fences that make London such a weird and fascinating place. I lived right on the border of Islington and Hackney. Turn right and you have well kept gardens and people who shop at Waitrose, turn left and you have Dalston. Just a hop and a jump from Kingsland high-street, the area is lively and colourful, covered in a layer of grime just thin enough to see the vibrancy beneath. I truly loved living in London, though I'm not sure if I ever will again. I can guarantee I will return a happy visitor, but it'll be the diner on the corner of Dalston Junction or the blues bar down the road in Shoreditch that I'll be visiting, because to me, that's London.
In case you hadn't noticed, new year means NEW FONT. If you did not notice, congratulations on having more of a life than I do. If you did notice, you must be an avid emeroo reader, I applaud you.
Thanks for reading. Bring on 2020!
- Emily
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