4:14 PM and pitch black outside my library window

(We're really far north. Which equals not much sunlight during these winter months)

Apologies for the lack of posts lately, but now as I sit in the library working on research for an essay that isn't due for 2.5 weeks I feel obligated to update...

Edinburgh:

tastie tatties.

backed potato + lots of different toppings to choose from ( I chose chicken tikka-

they are curry crazy over here and I like it).

looks gross, tastes unbelievably delicious.

what I saw outside the bus on our way to Scotland vs. Fiji rugby game.

friends at said rugby game.

crazy men.

hostel living.

where J.K. Rowling wrote..

table she sat at. with view of Edinburgh castle.

I love Edinburgh lots.

London:

Big Ben.

Buckingham Palace.

crazy awesome bird we saw while walking through St. James Park.

best life choice.

Wonderful place- Tate Modern.

Traveling. Seeing. It's all really cool. But it's not these pictures that matter. Sure they represent small fragments of things that hit my optical nerves, but in the large scheme of things they don't compare to what in actuality is of importance.  *I'm not disregarding pictures*  I am obviously a LOVER of photos! Capturing beauty that is fleeting and transforming it into a permanent object (a photograph).  Bringing attention to others sights that are so often overlooked. How they tell stories.  I have deep love for photographs... and taking them. But what I'm trying to get at is what is MOST important.  It's the time spent with friends exploring. It's the talking, listening, responding, silence, amazement, confusion and understanding that matters. The things that will have affected me most from my time abroad will not be these pictures. It will be everything mentioned above.

I think one reason why I haven't posted much lately is because words have seem to become really unsatisfying lately. Everything is still processing.. verbalizing takes lots of effort.

 I'm not ready to be torn from this place where I am just learning how to j-walk without fear of death, where I am now learning to be a culinary success in the kitchen, where I finally know my way around the city, where I am building relationships....  However, the holidays beckon me and I can't wait to be embraced by my family and friends back home in 3 short weeks. Excited for Christmas music in my living room, and being in a HOUSE with maybe a couch or three, laying by a fireplace...  Bittersweet.

This weekend Ella and I are off to York to visit our good friend Molly. We've been planning to visit each other while we're both in the UK since.... February of last year? She came to Aberdeen in October now it's our turn to see the place she's being calling home for the past few months... can't wait :)

sending ALL my love to my adventure-followers,
Jess



(no clue why the spacing is being weird on this post!..sorry bout that)