The Things They Don’t Tell You About Life After Graduation…

Hey guys,

Long time no chat! Hope ye are all keeping well and are enjoying phase two of the easing of restrictions. I’m not even sure if enjoying is the right word hahaha but I mean the human contact is amazing isn’t it (Phase three next Monday woohoo). Honestly if this had have lasted much longer I think I would have forgotten how to socialise completely hahaha.

Today’s post is something I’ve touched on before on my ‘6 things I learned after graduating from college’ blog post but it’s something I’m really passionate about and definitely something I’d like to cover in more detail. I think now is as good a time as any as a lot of 2020 graduates have received their final year results in the last week or so. If you’re reading this and you’re one of those people, CONGRATS gal, or guy who knows hahaha (All welcome here). You completed your degree (challenging at the best of times) during a global pandemic like that’s a huge achievement. I can’t even begin to imagine the stress and pressure you must have felt attempting to complete your studies at home. GO YOU!! You’re one in a million and should be super proud x

Whether you’re graduating this year, last year like myself or many years ago I hope you can relate to this post in some way. I think graduation is stereotypically perceived as this big grand occasion (the physical ceremony) and I suppose for most, a necessary passage of life. I think for me I thought that once I graduated from college I was going to have this life-changing epiphany and all at once I would have this amazing realisation of what I was supposed to do in life and how my future would look. The dramatics of it all hahaha (which is definitely from watching too many American films when I was younger haha). I suspect you too might have the same idea about finishing college and let me tell you now that for the vast majority of people this is simply not the case.

As humans, we fear change, we associate it with threat mostly rather than opportunity. Graduating college is a huge change, no longer spending every day with your friends, no longer living away from home perhaps, no longer having complete independence for some. After I received my final year results and the celebrations and buzz had eased, the panic set if I’m completely honest. I realised after, that finishing up with college scared the living daylights out of me. All of a sudden, memory after memory came flooding back to me of the good times. The sunny days sitting out having ice cream between lectures, the daily tea dates with friends, the messy nights out and even messier hungover days( not sure I’d classify this as a good memory to be honest but the craic was always good).

Suddenly, I felt like my world had fell apart, everything that had become normal for me in life during college suddenly felt miles away. I think for me, it was a lot to do with not appreciating the here and now and always looking to the future. College for the vast majority was great, I made the best of friends, had an unbelievable part-time job (Miss you Maynooth SU Bar), and enjoyed my course for the most part. I definitely took it all for granted. Sometimes in life we get too comfortable and don’t appreciate the small things like living with your best friends or being able to go for a pint on a Monday night if you want to because you have no responsibilities hahaha.

So now on to the nitty gritty, what exactly they don’t tell you about finishing college,

1. The ‘Real World’ can be scary

I’m not telling you this in an attempt to scare you further but the real world isn’t rainbows and unicorns that’s for sure. Jobs and even grad programmes can be hard to get. Most of the time, employers won’t even reply to your job application. The harsh reality of it sadly so hang in there, good things take time.

2.College & school are the best years of your life TO DATE

I’ve lost count of the amount of times after finishing college that I’ve been told ‘The fun is over now’. It’s honestly my pet peeve and so not true. Fair enough, the college fun is over but that’s it. There are so many adventures and fun times ahead and countless good memories to be made so hang in there sis the fun is definitely not over.

3. People get SUPER busy after college

Some get accepted to do masters degrees, some internships and with this brings crazy schedules and limited free time. Reach out to friends you want to stay close with. Check in on them and arrange times where ye can meet up. I think a lot of college, for me anyhow, was spent living in my friends pockets which is amazing but life after college entails independence and doing things on your own and that can be a learning curve but super fun to do.

4. There’s no ‘right’ way to do things, or no one path you must follow

I think this realisation after college is HUGE. I think the era we have been brought up in leads us to believe that every young person must follow the same path as they grow up such as school, undergraduate degree, masters degree and then find a job (lifelong career) but this is just mad to me and so untrue. You are never limited to the paths that those around you are following. Your job after leaving college is to find your own path ( easier said than done unfortunately). NEVER base your life decisions on expectations of others or their past experience. YOU DO YOU SIS!

5. There’s no timeline on your journey or success

I’m prime example of this after deciding to take a year out after graduating from my undergraduate degree as it felt right for me at the time. Never feel rushed in to anything in life whether this be education wise or just in general. You have time to try new things, experiment with what you do and don’t like and work out a path that’s going to make you truly happy. Hey, maybe it turns out to be a path that you never anticipated and that’s okay too because life would be boring if it was predictable. The most important thing to remember is that life is about the journey not the destination so enjoy the journey and don’t get too hung up on the destination.

You’re starting a whole new chapter of your life which is super exciting and probably slightly daunting but generally the best things in life are anyway. As the saying goes ‘Sometimes the best beginnings are hidden in the saddest endings’.

 

I really hope you took something from this post if you got this far hahaha. The ‘ Post College Blues’ are so real and affect some more than others. I feel like it’s not something that is widely spoken about so I’d love to stir up some chat around the topic. My advice to you is to hang in there if you’re feeling them. You’re doing great and things will work out for you. I’m thinking of making these posts in to a series as I’d love to cover other aspects of college whether you’re only starting or ending your college experience. So let me know if that’s something you would be interested in reading.

Feel free to message me on instagram (emma_unedited) either if you want to chat in more detail.

Chat soon!

Le grá,

Emma x

 

 

 

Why I Took A Gap Year from Education And Why I’d Recommend One

Hey guys,

Hope ye are all keeping well during these crazy Corona times. I’m back today with a bit of a personal post on why I decided to take a gap year from education in September of 2019 and what I’ve learned from my year out. The idea for this blog post came around after chatting with a few friends who were due to do their Leaving Cert this June. As I’m sure you’ve heard, the LC has been cancelled due to Corona which leaves a lot of uncertainty associated with starting college in September. Uncertainty is an inevitable part of life unfortunately and it can cause a lot of anxiety, as I know from personal experience. Some students are considering taking a gap year after school if they are unsure about future plans and/or the effect of Corona Virus on their studies in college in September.

For those of you that don’t know, I graduated from Maynooth University last September(2019). I had applied for the ‘Professional Master of Education’ in Primary Teaching the previous February. After a very tough application and interview process I was offered a place on the course. I knew how difficult it was to get a place on this course every year as one of the country’s most renowned teacher colleges so I thought I should feel lucky but to be honest I  just didn’t. If anything I started to dread starting the course as it was a complete change filled with lots of uncertainty hahaha I’m sure you’re starting to see a pattern here. While uncertainty is challenging to deal with it is not something to fear as uncertainty just means new opportunities which is always a good thing.

I suppose after graduating from college, completing a Master’s Degree just seemed like the next step. Everyone else was doing it, so I probably should too, or so I thought. I guess I felt a bit of peer pressure without realizing. After arriving home from my Summer in San Francisco in mid August, I was obliged to go to the Gaeltacht for two weeks with the whole course group. I guess this is when the panic started to set in. Going to the Gaeltacht in Gaoth Dobhair(Donegal) with 60 people you’d never met before definitely isn’t my idea of fun hahaha. However, I persevered and made such great friends by the end of the two weeks.

We started college at the end of September and 6 weeks later I decided to defer my place. I felt so overwhelmed being in a new place, with new people, studying something completely new. It was at this point I realised that I needed to take a step back. It dawned on me that I had started the Masters for all the wrong reasons. I wasn’t particularly interested in the course or the new college. I had only applied in the first place because that’s what everyone else was doing. How wrong was I?! You should never feel pressurised in to doing something whether it’s school, college, work, relationships etc. related. ‘Don’t be a sheep’ as the saying goes, something my parents reminded me of time and time again growing up.

So, I did exactly that, I decided to stop being a sheep and took a step back. I deferred my place and started a full time job at home. I realised that I wasn’t going to reach my full potential in that course if my heart wasn’t in it. I remember hearing of people deferring and withdrawing from college in the past and thought ‘God that’s not something I’d ever do’ as if this was something bad. Honestly though, what could be bad about putting yourself first and taking a step back from something that is clearly making you unhappy.

My advice to you if you’re even considering taking a gap year is to do it. I guarantee you’ll gain so much more from it than you’ll ever lose. I think nowadays a lot of young people are of the mentality that they need to be at the same stage of their life as their friends. You’ll never be truly happy if you base your future off someone else’s plans. Your younger years can be so difficult. You jump from school, to undergraduate degrees to postgraduate degrees to full time jobs. You barely have time to catch your breath in between. A friend once compared your younger years to a treadmill. You’re trying to pick up your pace all the time to keep up with your friends. You’re exhausted from looking forward all the time but not really knowing what you’re aiming for at the same time. It can be physically as well as mentally draining. It’s important to remember that life is not a sprint rather a marathon and you’re not in competition with anyone except yourself.

Hand on heart, I can say that deciding to take a gap year was the best decision I’ve ever made. I know myself so much better now as silly as it sounds and I feel ready to take on whatever comes my way in September. Sometimes we have to take a step back to see the bigger picture. If you ever have any questions regarding college whether it be subject questions or regarding gap years feel free to message me on Insta. My name is emma_unedited. I’d love to chat. Sometimes asking someone about their experience can be such an invaluable source of help.

Hope ye enjoyed this post and it gave ye some food for thought. It was quite a personal post which I’m not used to so I really hope you enjoyed and let me know if it’s something you’d like to see more of in the future.

Le grá,

Emma x

A Little Life Update (Corona Virus Edition)

Hi guys,

Long time no chat! Where to even begin amidst all the madness that is Covid-19? I have no real excuse as to why I haven’t been active on my blog other than I’ve been super duper busy with work. I’m still working away ( & grateful for it) so I haven’t had much free time as of late. Today is my day off so I thought I’d sit down and write a chatty blog post on what I’ve been up to and how I’m feeling during this time. I promise it won’t depress the hell out of you which some forms of social media concerning Corona Virus have the tendency to do lately ( well for me anyhow). I hope it gives you something to think about and some inspiration to keep your mind and attitude as positive as possible during these tough times.

 

Okay, so when I first heard talk of Corona Virus, I’ll admit that it didn’t really phase me. Purely, because it was happening on the other side of the world (China, at first) and while I sympathized with their situation it seemed like it would never directly affect Ireland. Fast forward a month later and here I am, writing this blogpost from my bedroom on ‘lockdown’. How quickly things progressed terrified me at the start. It seemed like overnight, everything just fell apart. At the beginning I definitely felt like things couldn’t possibly get any worse but I realised that that mindset was not going to help anyone least of all myself. So, I started looking at things differently, from a different perspective. One post I saw on Instagram lately really stood out to me. It said,

‘You are not stuck at home you’re safe at home’. What a wonderful way to look at this all and how true a saying.

A few months back, after I graduated from college I felt so lost. I remember I kept wishing that the world would just stop ( as dramatic as it sounds ) even just for a little while so I could catch up and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I felt like everyone was moving on with their lives, starting their masters, getting a grad programme etc. and I was doing nothing worth talking about. Fast forward roughly six months and what do you know, the world has literally stopped. Obviously this is not what I wanted at all but I think it’s what a lot of us needed. We live in such a fast-paced life consumed by our phones and social media that we have forgotten what the simple things look like. This virus while extremely serious and harmful has forced us to take a step back from the ‘real world’ and go back to basics which I love.

I am in no way trying to take away from the damage that this virus has caused and will cause to so many however I’m just encouraging you to try keep some perspective in the situation and try find the benefits of it. I have been really enjoying doing some research on the topic of Corona Virus and how best to react to and handle it. I have been watching Dr.Shefali’s videos on YouTube through a friends’s recommendation and I would advise you to take a look at them if you have an interest. Dr.Shefali is a ‘clinical psychologist, an international speaker and a wisdom teacher, integrating Eastern philosophy with Western psychology’. A point she makes in one of her recent videos is that we have the power to choose what way we react to the virus. She says that as the economy is falling apart and stock markets are crashing we must realise tha this is purely a result of our actions. The stock markets and economy are a reflection of our actions and reactions to the virus. They are panicking because we are panicking. Ultimately, the economy and stock markets cannot exist without us so we have the power over how they function and survive.

While it’s a horrible situation we must try to navigate it as best we can and make the best decisions for everyone involved. This means staying at home, keeping our social distance while out for necessary reasons ( doing our groceries ), washing our hands, not panic buying and just being all round sound individuals and looking out for each other. Just remember that in order to pull together… we must stay apart. It’s really not a lot to ask. There’s definitely strength in numbers, ‘Ní neart go cur le chéile’ as the Irish saying goes and this sense of unity can be felt so strong during this time. How wonderful a thought it is that we’re all in exactly the same boat right now. The virus doesn’t judge based on race, age, colour, gender, wealth, status, background etc. It’s impacting all our lives however we have the power to choose how to handle it.

My advice to you, make the most of this ‘time off’ it may never happen again. Do what makes you happy whether that’s getting stuck in to cleaning, going for a walk or lounging in your jammies all day. It’s not a competition. We’re all handling this in our own ways and that’s okay too.

For me, I’m enjoying this time as best I can. I’m trying to get out for a walk( within 2km ) every day after work. I’m prioritising self-care when I can( refer back to my self-care routine in a previous post ), I’m checking in with friends, I’m baking Banana Bread like the rest of the country hahaha and I’m remembering that this too shall pass. We’ll be back to the hustle and bustle of everyday life soon enough so enjoy this downtime and look after yourself and others.

I hope you took something from this post and maybe it’s inspired you in some way. Feel free to message me on my Instagram ( emma_unedited) anytime, if you wanna chat virus related or unrelated. Always here to help!!

Chat soon!

Le grá,

Emma

6 Things I’ve Learned Since Graduating From College

Hey guys,

Going to do a more chatty blog post today on the main things I’ve learned since I graduated college. For those of you that don’t know, I graduated college in September 2019. I spent three years in Maynooth University and graduated with a BA in Irish and Business.

I am currently taking a year out after graduating and I am planning to start a Masters (Postgraduate degree) in September of this year. This year is proving to be exactly the thing that I didn’t know I needed. I’m really enjoying having the time to reflect and look forward to the future and what it holds. Okay, so all the cringe aside, I thought I’d run through some of the things I’ve learned since graduating. Hopefully some of you can relate and maybe get some inspo from this. x

1. How lovely is it to know that some of the best days of our lives haven’t even happened yet’

When I first graduated, I really struggled with the fact that my time spent in Maynooth was over. I had a very serious case of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) hahaha as some of my friends are still in Maynooth finishing their degrees. They say that ‘School days are the best days of your life’ but personally I think that school days and college days go hand in hand. That being said, I know that there are so many wonderful things ahead so if you ever find yourself in the same boat as me try and keep some perspective. It all ends well, and if it doesn’t then it’s not the end.

2. Being a ‘real adult’ is crazy busy

After graduating, it’s important to work harder to stay in contact with and maintain friends. I made some of my best friends in college. After college, everyone goes off in different directions, some getting full time jobs, grad programmes, starting postgrad degrees or some even leaving to go travelling. This can be hard to come to terms with as you have spent years surrounded by all your friends to suddenly be out in the big bad world on your own hahaha (Not as terrifying as it sounds, I promise). Just remember to check in on friends and make plans to meet up. It works both ways though so if they haven’t messaged you recently to meet up, you make the first move. Life can get crazy busy so setting time aside for friends ensures you will never lose the friendships you made at college.

3. You don’t have to have your life all figured out

Contrary to popular belief, after college you don’t have to have a 5 year plan and have it all figured out to a T. Where’s the fun in that? Take reassurance in the fact that you’re not expected to know exactly what you’re doing or what your next move is cause by God I don’t hahaha. Take it day by day. As the quote goes ‘Two things that prevent us from happiness is living in the past and worrying about the future’. It would be a pretty boring life to live if we had our every step mapped out wouldn’t it??

4. It’s okay to make mistakes

So you start a new job or a new college degree and don’t like it? Who cares? At least you tried. It doesn’t make you a failure for not liking something it’s just a way of showing you something else that you would like. You will probably go through a lot of jobs in your lifetime and hey ho some you’ll love and some you’ll hate. You’ll learn more about yourself from the ones you hated. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, they make for good stories if nothing else hahaha.

5. You need to grow up

I feel like we are so sheltered in college to think that it is ‘normal’ to go out three nights a week or go for a pint with our dinner almost every lunchtime with our friends. NEWSFLASH, ‘Real adults’ don’t have time for this. It’s such a harsh reality and by God it took me long enough to come to terms with but it’s true. We need to grow up a lot after college and learn to be independent and self-sufficient. By God, if I had the choice to take my packed lunch to work every day or meet my friends for brunch and a pint you know where I would be hahaha. I suppose a bit of self-discipline comes in to it too, knowing how to manage your money and when you need to bring your packed lunch or need to meet your friends for brunch and a pint.

6. ‘Everything happens for a reason’.

So you’re done with college and it feels pretty shit but hey ho there’s better things ahead. It ended so something better could begin. I really do believe that ‘everything happens for a reason’ and when a better thing comes forward you’ll figure out that was the real reason. I guess we all have a tendency to think that ‘The grass is always greener on the other side’, life will be better when I graduate , life will be better when i finish my masters, life will be better when I get my dream job….

This year out has really taught me to live in the moment and stop getting carried away with the past or the future. ‘The grass is greenest where you water it’ is a better way of looking at it I think. Wherever you focus your time and energy is where you’ll feel the happiest.

Hope you took something from this or could relate in some way.

Le grá,

Emma x

My ‘Self-Care Saviours’

Hi guys,

Back today with a quick post on my ‘Self-Care Saviours’. I don’t know about anyone else but I’ve been feeling a bit down the last few days probably mainly on account of this gloomy weather. I’ve just hit a slump but that is A Okay because I know how to make myself feel better in this situation.

The term ‘Self-Care’ is used so frequently on social media lately and I am so glad that it is getting the recognition it deserves. I know how important ‘Self-Care’ is for my own mental health personally. I try to set aside a couple of times a week where I practice ‘Self-Care’ and I’m going to run through a few of my favourite things to do in this post so I hope you enjoy and get some ideas for yourself x

(1) Tea, tea and more tea

Starting very basic here but there’s very little that tea can’t solve or at least help in my eyes. If I’m feeling anyway down, I make myself the biggest cup of tea in one of my fave mugs. Tea always does the trick or softens the blow at least!

(2) Candles

I light my favourite candle in my bedroom which is this Aldi candle at the min! It smells insane and definitely helps me relax! I don’t spend big money on candles because I go through them so often but you can guarantee that I always have one or two on the go! Generally, I reach for vanilla, almond or lavender scents. The addiction is real.

(3) Pamper Routine

If I’m having an off day there’s nothing I love more than a pamper routine! I’ll start by running a bath with one of my favourite lush bath bombs. I light a candle and stick a good face mask on! I’ve loved the ‘Mask of Magnaminty’ from Lush for years. It’s great when my skin is having a moment and I’m breaking out. Luckily that doesn’t happen too often as I keep on top of my Image skincare routine (Blog post covered on this in the past). Then the ‘Image Vital-C’ facemask (pictured below) is great when my skin has cleared up and I just want to get a nice glow back to my skin. Both firm favourites of mine for years and ideal for a pamper evening. I always feel better after a good soak in the bath and come out feeling a lot calmer and more relaxed.

(4) Journaling 

I’ve gotten quite in to journaling since the start of this year! I picked up this cute one in New Look in the January sales. I try to be consistent writing in it every night if not every second night. I find what works best for me is writing down how my day went, including the good parts and the bad parts. Then I go on Instagram and search hashtags or Pinterest and try find a suitable quote to match how my day went. I’ll include a few as examples. I find they keep me motivated and serve as a message to take out of the bad days and the good days. Some of my personal favourites are,

• ‘When you get the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance’
• ‘You’re exactly where you need to be right now’
• ‘Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but gets you nowhere’
• ‘Be thankful for what you have, you’ll end up with more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never have enough’.

While we’re on the topic of quotes, I love following @little_penny_thoughts on Instagram for quotes inspo.  This lady has such a way with words. I’m so excited to be going to her @Wellnessfromwithin2020 workshop next month for all things mindset, fitness, food and goals inspo.

(5) Reading

I try to always have a book on the go also. I’m actually re-reading Oprah Winfrey’s book ‘What I know for sure’ at the minute. It’s such an easy read and I find it so motivating.  Generally, I fill out my journal and then read a chapter or two of the book I’m reading at the time, before bed. It helps to stop my mind wandering and reduces my anxiety. It also helps me shut off so I find it easier to get to sleep then. As the saying goes ‘ The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go’.

(6) Podcasts

For an other option rather than reading a book, I love listening to podcasts. They really help me unwind and keep my mind off whatever it is that is getting me down that day! Podcasts that I reach for most are ‘@TheGoodGlow’ by Georgie Crawford and ‘@OwningIt The Anxiety Podcast’ by Caroline Foran. I find both women really inspirational and a breath of fresh air to listen to. Would definitely recommend checking them both out if you haven’t already.

Gonna round up this post here. I hope you’ve enjoyed and have picked up some ideas for yourself along the way. I think it’s important to acknowledge when you’re having a bad day and not make yourself feel worse about it. Self-care is so important on these days however when you’re having a good day and just want some me time it is still just as important. As the saying goes, ‘You can’t pour from an empty cup, take care of yourself first’.

Le grá,

Emma x

 

 

A Weekend in Edinburgh

Hi guys,

Back today with another travel post. I’m just back from a weekend away in Edinburgh, Scotland so I thought I’d fill you all in on what I got up to. Okay, so deciding on Edinburgh as a weekend away was quite a spontaneous decision as we booked it in early January when January blues were definitely setting in so I would have booked to go to the moon if I’m honest hahaha! However, I am really happy that we decided on Edinburgh as I had never been before and it was such a nice, chilled out, relaxing break away – exactly what the doctor ordered!

Okay, so in terms of recommendations I’m going to break the post down into four categories, Food, Drink, Activities and Accommodation for your convenience!

Food

So in terms of recommendations I really can’t take credit for all of these as a lot of my friends had visited before and had lots of handy tips to share! However, I will talk you through places I loved personally and also recommended places that we just didn’t get time to visit unfortunately! We landed Friday morning in Edinburgh quite early and after checking in to our hotel (CityRoomz Edinburgh) we were definitely ready for brunch so we headed to Badger&Co on Castle Street in the city centre! I had researched this place before visiting and I would recommend checking them out on instagram! Their interiors are dreamy with food to match! I had the steak sandwich and it was up there with one of the best I’ve had and was very reasonably priced, as was the whole menu! The service was also brilliant! Will definitely be returning here when I visit Edinburgh again!

That night we went for food in the fabulous Vapiano which is actually a franchise across the UK! Such a cool idea behind this restaurant, basically you choose either pizza or pasta or other light bites such as bruschetta etc. and the chefs make it right in front of you. It was such a cool experience and made it easy for you to ensure it was cooked the way you like it for example how spicy you like your pasta etc. Although it is kind of like a self-service restaurant as in the staff don’t take your order from your table and serve you, the staff did check in with us to make sure everything was okay. We thoroughly enjoyed the food, so much so that we even returned here the next night to try something different on the menu! That says it all really doesn’t it haha! If it’s not broken don’t fix it I suppose.

The next day we ventured to Ryan’s Bar on Hope Street for a quick lunch! The beef burger & chips was really good! Proper pub grub! You can’t go wrong! Lovely staff may I add also! Although we were just grabbing food it had a lovely atmosphere especially as people were warming up for the Ireland vs. Scotland match so definitely worth a shout on match days or just for a midday pint.

In terms of other places recommended that we didn’t get to try Brewhemia is supposed to be a lovely spot for brunch or Las Iguanas for mexican food. They’re on my list for when I come back for sure!

Drink

In terms of pubs, cocktail bars etc. we tried a few really great spots, one being, The Boozy Cow. I was on the wine buzz that night however they had a lovely cocktail menu also and my friend tried a few and loved them. It had really funky interiors and good music. I would definitely describe it as a late bar, perfect before heading to a nightclub however they had a food menu too so I’m sure it would be just as nice for a bite to eat during the day.

Another firm favourite was Tigerlily cocktail bar. Once again, they did have a food menu however we were just out for drinks that day! I had the Keltic Tan cocktail which was amazing, probably one of the best cocktails I’ve ever had! My friend had an Espresso Martini and a Mojito which she loved. This spot is definitely made for the instagram lovers out there! Such a cool layout, interiors and menu. Huge fan of this one, definitely put it top of your list.

In terms of places we didn’t get trying  The Candy Bar which looked insane however they were booked up the day we tried so I would recommend ringing ahead for a reservation if you plan on going here! Revolution Bar for cocktails was also recommended to me a few times! Worth a look! The Three Sisters bar is also supposed to be up there with the top bars in Edinburgh but unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to try it this time around. The same goes for Copper Blossom I’m afraid which was also recommended for amazing cocktails.

Activities

I’ll be honest, in terms of activities we didn’t get up to much on that front. We had too many food and cocktail places we wanted to try hahaha! We did of course visit Edinburgh Castle and get the obligatory castle photo. The castle really is beautiful and the views overlooking Edinburgh are incredible. I have heard that Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is a good way to spend an hour or two and it’s located right beside the castle so it’s handy out. We did of course hit the shops on both Princes Street and Multrees Walk which was nice to pass a few hours also. Usually, I would have lots planned activities wise for a trip away but it was so lovely just roaming around the city popping in to anywhere that took our fancy. Definitely a very chilled weekend away! Lovely as a January getaway after the madness of Christmas!

Accommodation

We stayed in CityRoomz Edinburgh which gets a 10/10 from me. I really couldn’t fault it. The location couldn’t have been more central. Basic clean rooms and great service. One thing that stood out to me was the ease of check in. As I mentioned earlier, we landed at our hotel at 9:30am and had hoped for an early check in but knew this probably wasn’t going to be possible on account of just how early it was. I had messaged ahead to enquire about this and the staff had no problem letting us check in on the day. This means a lot when you’re surviving off two hours sleep. I honestly could have kissed the man hahaha. Couldn’t recommend the place enough. The ideal accommodation for a quick city getaway.

 

Will wrap it up here guys. Hope you’ve found this post helpful. Will definitely keep them up for future trips away. I know I personally love these types of blog posts for ideas in order to plan a trip away. I hope you do too. X

Chat soon!

Le grá,

Emma (Unedited) x

J1 in San Francisco… An experience of a lifetime

Back again with another J1 blog, this time on my 2019 J1 adventure in windy city San Francisco. If you’ve read my previous J1 blog post you’ll know that I spent summer of 2018 in Myrtle Beach in South Carolina on a J1. Looking back, I thought Myrtle Beach could not be out done but little did I know all that San Fran had to offer. I’ll just get stuck in because there’s lots to cover on what was one of the best summers ever!

Location, Location, Location

Okay so with regards to location, San Fran is situated on the west coast of America. The complete opposite end of the country compared to my previous J1. I don’t do things by half hahaha. If you’ve heard of people going on a J1 to San Francisco then you will know that the majority tend to stay in the suburb of San Francisco called Berkeley. It’s known for being the main spot for Irish J1s in general. Don’t get me wrong, some Irish do stay in the city for the Summer but the vast majority stay in Berkeley and commute in and out of the city for work/nightlife etc. My advice would be to stay in Berkeley as that’s where everything is happening and where you’ll have the most fun and meet the most people.

 

Temperature

I much preferred the weather in San Francisco/Berkeley to Myrtle Beach. We didn’t have that horrible humidity like they do in Myrtle Beach. The weather was always sunny and warm but a much more bearable heat generally in the late 20s/30 degree Celsius. We also didn’t have a drop of rain all summer, bonus!! The only thing I will say is that it does get quite cold in the city at night time so definitely make sure to pack a jumper if you’re in the city for the evening.

Jobs

Okay, so this is a tricky one because I got very very lucky and landed a job in Berkeley which was super handy but generally J1s will have to commute in to SF for work. I worked in the Claremont hotel and Spa in Berkeley. I worked as a server at the pool with lots of other Irish girls. It was such a handy number location wise as I saved on transport as it was within walking distance of my accommodation. Tips were also great in the job which made a big difference to budgeting while over there. Shifts were also quite good as the earliest we would start work was 9am with the latest being a 7pm close. I couldn’t have gotten luckier with my job because a lot of my friends worked on Pier 39 in SF and had a long commute to work. There’s pros and cons to both and jobs are definitely more readily available in SF along Pier 39 in places such as ‘The Charthouse’ ‘Buppa Gump’ ‘The Flyer’ ‘I LOVE SF’ and ‘Applebees’ so bear that in mind.

 

Transport

The transport is great in SF. The trams known as ‘The Bart’ (Bay Area Rapid Transport) do what they say on the tin and get you from Berkeley and surrounding areas in to the main SF district called ‘Embarcadero’ in almost no time. The trams run very regularly and are the main means of transport to get you to the city. Uber is also a great option however it can prove quite expensive for long journeys. Uber is a good shout coming home from a late shift in work or a night out in SF when you have a group to split the cost. You’re also guaranteed to meet the nicest people as Uber drivers. They all love the Irish so make sure to ask them for tips and recommendations for things to do/see as it’s the best way to get a feel for a place.

Accommodation

My two friends and I lived in the official J1 Accom building( J1Accom.com) in Berkeley. It was definitely one of the more expensive forms of accommodation while over there but it was very handy for meeting other J1 students and making friends easily. Other options for accom are frat houses which you can apply for at the start of the year ahead of the summer on Facebook or their websites. Apartments are also a good shout if you have a big enough group to fill them to ensure they work out relatively reasonable in price. In all honesty, as important as accommodation is it’s definitely not the be all and end all as you’ll really only sleep there. On your days off you’ll be off exploring so you really only need a bed at the end of the day. Take time and consider your budget and what exactly you need from your accom and you’ll be able to work out the best option.

Nightlife

Berkeley has a great nightlife however it is quite limited on late bars etc. or so I found anyhow. The main spots are Pappys, Spats and Kips. Each bar has a designated night or two that are best that get a good crowd. My personal favourite was spats for a good bop on the dancefloor but they all have pros and cons. One thing I will say is that drink is so so cheap so I wouldn’t worry too much about pre-drinking. Another good shout is the ‘Tap Haus’ which is a late bar on Durant Ave in Berkeley. It’s located conveniently beside ‘Seniores Pizzeria’ which was probs one of my fave things about Berkeley hahaha. BEST PIZZA EVER! and probs the reason for 90% of my J1 tonne weight. If you’re feeling a break from Berkeley nightlife ‘Club X’ in SF can be a good one on a Fri/Sat night. It’s a nightclub so nice for a bop and a change of scenery. Definitely check it out at least once just to say you’ve been!

 

General things to do

This is going to be a very long list and in no particular order. Before I went to SF I made a list of all the things I wanted to see and do and I ticked nearly every single one of them off the list… very satisfying haha.

1. Lake Anza – Okay so week one we headed to ‘Lake Anza’. It’s only a short Uber drive from Berkeley but it’s worth checking out. Just don’t forget your suncream like me and my friend or you’ll regret it big time! Not a good look, red raw sunburn heading out to Spats hahaha would not recommend.
2. Pier 39 – The tourist spot of dreams in SF. The best crepes you’ll ever try and any amount of SF keyrings and fridge magnets you can find.
3. Ghiradelli Square – Ghiradelli is famous chocolate in SF and the square is filled with the cutest shops and restaurants. The ice cream café is insane and a must if you can afford to pay $10 for an ice cream cone.
4. The Painted Ladies – Famous pretty painted houses, ideal for an Instagram.
5. Fisherman’s Wharf – Another must see tourist spot.
6. Lombard Street – A trek to get to the very top but worth the view. Can see over the bay for miles from the top. So good I went to it twice.
7. Golden Gate Bridge – A MUST SEE. We rented bikes and cycled the bridge as far as Sausalito and got the ferry back. Insane views and definitely work the cycle.
8. Six Flags/Hurricane Harbour – You can visit Six Flags worldwide but we went to the ‘Hurricane Harbour’ Waterpark in Concord. I love waterparks anyhow but it was easily one of the funniest days we had in SF. A big group of about 15 went and we went on every ride possible. Some not for the faint hearted but they make for good memories!
9. Santa Cruz – We rented a car on one of our days off and set off to Santa Cruz. We actually ended up driving a mustang so another one ticked off the bucket list. The beach was one of the most stunning I’d ever seen. Great restaurants along the beach and some of the best sangria you’ll ever have.
10. Shawn Mendes Concert – This one is optional but if you can get to a concert in Oakland arena it’s well worth it. It just so happened that Shawn Mendes was playing one night so we jumped on the bandwagon. Such a good night and a great way to have a night off from going out.
11. Berkeley Swing – Located up in the hills it’s a trek but the views from then top make it all worthwhile. Make sure to take a designated photographer because you will want lots of photos at this one. As they say you’ll only regret the photos you never took!
12. Napa Valley – Generally it can be quite hard for you and your friends to get the same days off  so when we did we decided to venture to Napa Valley. Known for its stunning vineyards it’s a good one for the wine lovers. We went to Stirling Vineyard and it was out of this world. I wouldn’t say it’s a must do if you’re in SF as it is quite a distance away but I’m so glad we went. BTW: Don’t go to the outlets in Napa Valley unless you want to spend your life savings.. been there done that haha!
13. Twin peaks – We sadly didn’t get visiting this landmark in the city so it’s on my list for the future but lots of my friends recommended it. Make sure you go on a clear day though or you won’t see the incredible view at the top.
14. Coit Tower – A cool one views wise if you’ve a spare hour or two but I wouldn’t say it’s a must.
15. Lands End – A short bus journey from the city. Certainly worth a visit. Lovely walk around the water and makes for great photos.
16. Dublin Shopping Outlets – Can get the BART to Dublin then the outlets are a short bus journey/uber ride away. Some of the best I’ve been to in the USA.
17. Strawberry Canyon Pool – Located in Berkeley. We didn’t get to go sadly but it’s a good one to pass a day relaxing if you want a nice chilled day.
18. Bay Cruise – On our last week in SF, we took a bay cruise. It goes under and around Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge. Takes out you to Alcatraz Federal Prison also which I loved seeing as we never got the chance to visit it (Tickets sell out months in advance so pre-book these well before your trip if you plan on going).
19. Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe *Major Highlights of my Summer* (Full blog post to come stay tuned)

 

So, I told you this one would be a long one and I wasn’t lying was I? hahaha. SF has so much to offer in terms of tourist attractions so you’ll never be at a loose end which I love. I wish I could just do it all over again made the best memories and the best friends. SF is an unreal J1 destination with a huge Irish population in the peak summer season. If you’re thinking about it at all, don’t hesitate, get booking I promise you won’t regret it!

I did a lot more travelling at the end of this J1 (LA, San Diego & Vegas) so I will include that in future posts! Hope you enjoyed!

Love,

Emma x

 

 

 

Advice for surviving Final Year in College!!

Hey, I’m back again with a quick post this week on College. I’m being very optimistic attempting to give tips on ‘how to survive College’ considering I still have four weeks left myself hahaha. Guess I’m just getting very sentimental lately about college, reminiscing back on the last three years. Okay, so for those of you who don’t know I have spent the last three years studying in Maynooth University. I’m currently completing a double major degree in Business and Irish. Maynooth has been a rollercoaster for me as cliché as it sounds hahaha it has been one of the best and worst experiences of my life. I didn’t originally plan on studying in Maynooth University but due to one thing or another that’s where I’ve ended up and I couldn’t be more grateful. It was most definitely a blessing in disguise. I’ve made some amazing memories and some not so great ones but it’s all added to the experience for sure. Part of me is so excited to move on to the next chapter and the other part of me is petrified.. all about balance I suppose. I definitely believe that better things are always ahead so I’m so excited to see where I’ll be a year from now. I’m a big believer in the saying ‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened’.

Okay, so thought I’d share some wisdom on how to survive Final Year of College. I’ll definitely do a post closer to September on tips for starting college because that’s a completely different kettle of fish altogether haha. Okay, let’s get stuck in!

(1) Plan your year

Make a plan for yourself for the year in terms of what you want to achieve. Would you be happy with a 2:2 or 2:1 degree or do you want to push for a 1:1? Have you much work to put in in order to obtain this?

(2) Plan of action

How are you going to achieve this goal? Are you going to make a study plan? Cut down on the hours you work?

(3) Goal setting

Have you a plan for after your degree? Perhaps a Masters Degree? Or maybe a year abroad is on the cards for you? Work out what you want to do after your degree. It’ll give you something to work towards in the long-term and will make studying easier.

(4) Keep on track

Keep on top of assignments and assessments. Don’t leave them until the last minute because you’ll put the standard of your work at risk. I definitely could have done with hearing this piece of advice at the start of the year – total procrastinator/ stress head.

(5) Be Realistic

If you’ve just been floating through college so far and scraping some of your grades you’re realistically not going to do as well as someone who has been getting a 1:1 in each year of their degree. Be realistic about your abilities and capabilities but don’t ever sell yourself short.

(6) Reward yourself for work well done

This one applies throughout the year but most definitely in the lead up to important exams. Around exam time we tend to think that every minute of every day must be spent studying or we won’t do well. This is not true. 2 hours of quality studying is much more beneficial than 6 hours of half-arsed studying. ‘Quality over Quantity definitely applies’. Reward yourself for work well done which will keep you motivated and on the right track.

(7) Don’t be too hard on yourself

This one is one I’m definitely guilty of. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day of college because you couldn’t face it or if you have no motivation to study one day in the library. Take note of the fact that you’re having a bad day and let yourself have the bad day. Have an early night and try again tomorrow. We’re only human and can’t be expected to be in top form at all times.

(8) Get a Diary

Sounds very grown up I know but I picked one up at the start of Final year and it was the best thing I could have done. You will have so many deadlines trust me they’ll be coming out of your ears some weeks. The easiest way to stay on top of them and not miss them is writing them down. Buy a diary and thank me later xo

(9) Lists are your best friend 

Following on from number 8, like your diary, lists will become your best friend. Write your life down in lists. You’ll feel unbelievably organised even if you’re not. Fake it till you make it as they say. Plus, it is the most satisfying feeling ticking them off your list when you’re done. Then resort back to number 6 lol.

(10) Don’t take it for granted

Enjoy every minute. Go out socialise, go for food and drinks, meet up with friends and set time aside for studying. It’s all about balance. Enjoy the Journey xo

Hope you enjoyed this post. If you’re looking for me I’ll be in a corner crying, in denial that I’m finishing college in a month and have to be a proper adult. Make the most of college kids because in the blink of an eye it’s over! Chat soon!

Love,

Em x

J1 in Myrtle Beach… An experience of a lifetime!

Hey guys,
Myrtle Beach- An adventure of a lifetime

I’m back with another post. Today I’ll be chatting about my J1 in Summer 2018 which I spent in Myrtle Beach. Hoping you’ll pick up some inspo or tips if you’re considering going on a J1. Okay, so around January 2018 I got the brainwave that I wanted to go on a J1. I always have been quite a last minute, spontaneous sort of person and this was no different. I spoke to a few of my friends and eventually me and my best friend from school decided that we would go together not knowing the amazing adventure that lay ahead of us!

Being honest, I had never previously heard of Myrtle Beach situated in the state of South Carolina in America but while researching destinations it kept popping up. Both me and my friend had our hearts set on a J1 in San Francisco however as we had left it late(Mid March by this stage) jobs were almost impossible to come across in San Francisco. So, we made the decision to go to Myrtle Beach, knowing little about the area, it was definitely a big gamble, one that thankfully paid off.

Location, location, location

As I’ve said Myrtle Beach is situated on the east coast of America in the state of South Carolina. It is primarily a tourist destination and is extremely busy during the summer months. Tourists come from near and far to the seaside location and there is always a great buzz and atmosphere to be felt.

Temperature??

I would describe the temperature as hot but bearable. The part I struggled with was the humidity mostly, leading to frizzy hair and scauldy looking makeup. Never ideal hahaha. However, it was a welcome change in scenery from Ireland and the heat was very much appreciated. I’d like to say I came home with a gorgeous tan but if you’re Irish you know that the chances of this are slim to none so a nice shade of red coming home did the job for me hahaha.

 Jobs

Jobs are easy to come by in Myrtle Beach, some of my friends even ended up with two jobs to make some extra money to fund their travelling at the end. Both me and my best friend worked in a local hotel, a short 20 minute walk from our accommodation. We worked early mornings sometimes as early as 6am but the work was varied so it was enjoyable. We planned our J1 with the agency ‘USIT’ and they found us the job thankfully as we had paid for the premium programme but jobs are easily come by if you don’t get one before you arrive so I wouldn’t worry. There were only 5 Irish including myself working in the hotel during the Summer, a low number compared to other workplaces however this meant that we became close as a group. The work was different everyday which I enjoyed. Some days I worked in the Starbucks in the hotel resort, others I spent bussing tables or manning the host stand. While busy days meant I was serving all day meaning I got tips which came in handy. The only disadvantage of where we worked was where it was situated as it was a distance from our accommodation. If you are planning on going on your J1 to Myrtle Beach, I would recommend looking for a job along the boardwalk such as places like Moe Moon’s, Iggys, I love Sugar, Gay dolphin etc. Some of my friends also worked at the resort park called ‘Broadway at the Beach’ another great alternative. It is a bit of a trek from the main hub of Myrtle Beach but Ubers cost next to nothing and the local bus runs buses to ‘Broadway at the Beach’ on an hourly basis.

Accommodation

Both me and my best friend stayed in the motel ‘Fountainbleu’ for our J1. We stayed in a four person room with two girls we had made friends with through a Facebook page. The rooms are basic but that’s really all you need. They had two beds between four people and are en-suite with a small kitchen area with an oven, hob, fridge etc. Personally, I never cooked in the room as we were provided with food at work but my roommates cooked often. I would say the highlight of my J1 was staying in Fountainbleu not particularly because of the rooms themselves or the facilities which were good anyhow but solely for the reason that so many Irish J1 students were also staying there. There was 40-50 Irish J1 students staying in Fountainbleu and everyone became good friends easily. We all had pre drinks together either on one of our balconies or at the pool area every night before going out which was a great way to mix with and get to know some of the other students. We also had a pool party organised by Randy May every Sunday, your go to man while staying in Myrtle Beach. He helped us so much while over there with advice on places to go, places not to go and general tips. If you are going to Myrtle Beach, I would say get moving quick and get in touch with Nikki in Fountainbleu to secure your place. It’s the ideal spot if you want to be in the middle of everything for the Summer.

Nightlife

Nightlife in Myrtle Beach didn’t disappoint. There was something to do every night to ensure we were never at a loose end. Some of my favourite places to go included Sharkeys, Murrells Inlet and The Boathouse. Sharkeys is on Monday and Thursday nights and is only a stone’s throw from Fountainbleu and is a great spot for a bop. As I’m sure you know you need to be 21 to drink alcohol and be allowed entry to clubs in America and this applies to Myrtle Beach aswell. Some spots are more chilled when it comes to this rule so it’s a matter of trial and error I’m afraid. Murrells Inlet and the Boathouse are a short uber ride away and both are always great fun. Murrells inlet is a strip near Myrtle Beach along the water with lots of great places to eat and drink in. We spent many a night in Murrells Inlet and it was most definitely my favourite place to go out in. The Boathouse is open every Sunday and is a chilled affair. It’s gorgeous on a sunny day to sit out the back, listen to the live music and have a drink. You won’t be disappointed by the nightlife for sure.

General things to do 

I spent many a day walking around ‘Broadway at the Beach on a day off work. It has such a chilled atmosphere and has loads of attractions. Probably my favourite place I went while in Myrtle Beach was ‘Market Common’ a 10 minute drive from Fountainbleu. It’s a gorgeous outside shopping district with lots of great restaurants and bars. I would recommend the restaurant ‘Gordon Biersch’ brewery restaurant. We went numerous times and it was even nicer every time. If you’re at a loose end some night I would suggest taking a trip to a ‘Pelicans’ baseball game when they’re at home. Thursdays are usually a good shout as they do $1 dollar beer on these nights. Definitely something you should check out before you leave Myrtle Beach. ‘Coastal Grand Mall’ is a great option for some retail therapy and the ‘Tanger’ outlets are also a good shout if you’re looking for some bargains. One thing we didn’t get to do while in Myrtle Beach was to visit ‘Charleston’ city. Full of history and quirky little streets and restaurants it’s definitely a must. Don’t leave without checking out the infamous house which featured in the well known film ‘The Notebook’. Charleston is one place I regret not seeing so definitely check it out.

 

Hope this helped you in some way and gave you the travel bug. I definitely have it after last Summer and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Currently planning my J1 for this Summer in none other than San Francisco. So excited but it has a lot to live up to after Myrtle Beach. If you’ve even the slightest interest in a J1 in Myrtle Beach I’d say do it! I promise you won’t regret it.

Love,

Emma x