Hello 2023! It’s been a while. I’ve got a handful of things to share and a fair few updates to give. First off, I want to state that I absolutely love blogging and openly acknowledge that I’ve been neglecting that love by not utilising the hundreds of opportunities I’ve had to write posts over the last few months. I really want to make a conscious effort to keep uploading, sharing stories and keeping personal logs for myself.
At the time of writing, I’m approaching my 23rd birthday and the last year has been absolute chaos. After leaving university, I had a solid set of foundations and a clear, comfy set of shoes to step into but – in true Jo fashion – I decided to put those comfy shoes away and put on a pair of stilleto heels to try and navigate cobbled streets. I packed up my life one more time, moved away from 2.5 years of familiarity and jetted off to America.
Before I left in June, I laid out a few of my concerns and thoughts about the program – almost all of which turned out to be true and applicable. I have a lot of strong (and many negative!) feelings about the way things played out, but I was able to visit Las Vegas, Utah and go to Halloween Horror Nights, which was fantastic to see after spending so long reseraching the events as part of my dissertation. I made new friends, lost a few people, felt like I was in high-school again, figured out how to carry 6 glasses at once without hesitating and learned alot about bouncing back.
After coming back to the UK, I was hit with a major reverse-culture shock and really struggled to process everything that had happened and how quickly it had happened and subsequently ended. In such a short period of time, I’d fallen in love with people and a place and then suddenly, I was back at home like nothing had happened. I had absolutely no idea how to process those feelings, but I knew I had to get back into work and keep being busy so, within 7 hours of getting through customs, I was at a job interview.
Within three weeks, I’d applied for another J-1 program. Six weeks later, while sat on a brick wall with rollerskates in my bag, I got my acceptance email. Eight weeks and two resignation letters later, I was on a plane back to America. Whether this was the right decision for me or not, I’m still not sure, but I’m currently sat on the floor, four months into my 12 month program, writing this post.
I’ve tried being smart and sensible, but I think I thrive in chaos. I’ve started to believe a lot more in the power of the universe and the ‘if it’s meant to be, it’ll be’ philosophy, but I’m also aware that this is probably just a (very necessary!) attempt to offset responsibility and autonomy in times of turmoil. Regardless, I feel comforted by the knowledge that I can only do so much, so that energy should be used wisely and for as much good as possible.
Now, let’s quick-fire address last year’s goals:
- Work in Universal Studios
I did it! I finished my 3 month internship and hung up my ill-fitting Walmart shoes with pride.
- Go to Walt Disney World with my sister
Complete! All things considered, we did a great job and we made it home to tell the tale!
- Earn a First Class degree
Complete! I was absolutely thrilled to get to graduate, too, having missed my original graduation date due to work obligations (although I did get to celebrate in Vegas with a $30 drink, so who’s the real winner?). I completed my dissertation with Covid and missed my last lecture because I ended up at the wrong Sainsbury’s pick-up point, but I did it!
- Start a new job
I took this one to extremes. I won’t say much, but I had a LOT of orientations in 2022.
Take at least one driving lessonMove into my first home!- Spend more time doing things I enjoy, rather than filling the time
This goal so was introspective and profound that where I’m not sure I know how to address it yet. I filled a lot of my time, and I enjoyed a lot of it, but I’ll need a bit more time to answer this one.
- Go to more gigs/concerts/shows (especially Dua Lipa, who keeps being rescheduled!)
I got to see Dua Lipa! I also got COVID at the gig. Thankfully I was luckier with the rest of my concerts, and I had the chance to see some fantastic artists like Chris De Burgh (who sang me ‘Happy Birthday’!) and Bowling For Soup. I also saw some musicals and spent time sharing them with the people I love.
- Try more new foods
Every year I get braver and braver when it comes to food; I’ve tried rangoons, cream cheese in various guises, buffalo sauce, arepas, leeks, coconut water, bagels and all kinds of other wonders. I also now eat salty popcorn and am very comfortable with shrimp. I’m still not brave enough to face onions, but we’re working on other things in the meantime!
- Try a new activity
I’m not sure it really counts, but I am a far more competent and confident rollerskater than I was before. With the support of a wonderfully friendly ex-champion rollerskating desk agent, I managed to get myself going in straight lines and doing laps around the rink.
- Continue building savings
In my defence, I did build my savings. I then spent all my saings on a secondary visa and associated costs for the move, but I did save them. I’m back on track with a saving plan to try and cover myself as I learn to drive!
So, as this post draws to a close, I reflect on everything lost, everything gained and everything that is yet to come and go. I’m still not wholly confident that I’m heading in the right direction or even that I’ve got a direction I’m supposed to be heading, but I’m doing my best to navigate it all. I’ve got plenty more posts to share, and can’t wait to share them. Catch you soon!
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