Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone

So it took me months (and I mean months!) to decide upon where I wanted to spend my next academic year once I had graduated with my BSc in Psychology from Bangor University... should I stay in Bangor with all my friends and potential boyfriend (who is actually my boyfriend now btw!)? Or should I move somewhere completely new, push myself away from my comfort zone and jump into a brand new experience?

After lots of stress, pros and cons charts and last minute mind changes, I finally decided to take that leap, and accept my offer to study MSc Foundations of Clinical Psychology at the University of Southampton. And I'll tell you now, I am so incredibly glad that I did!

Don't get me wrong, I love love love my little Bangor-land, love my friends, and the University will always hold a very special place in my heart. But I'm somebody who constantly needs change and new experiences, and I felt that after three wonderful years, I needed to learn some lessons from a different city and from different people. After all, life is all about learning and growing, isn't it?

I've been in Southampton for two weeks now, and at first I was getting cold feet... I wasn't sure about my new house (it was so strange going from living with a house of nine, in which we were all practically second family, to a house of random people that I didn't know), I was worried I wouldn't get along with any body on my course, and I worried that I wouldn't make any friends and be able to socialise and actually experience Southampton city whilst I was here. And last, but definitely not least, I was worried about maintaining my newly found relationship with Aidan as a long distance one!

All these worries.... for absolutely nothing. I love my cute little house now... love my bedroom with my big desk in my bay window, and the cosiness that I feel when the sun goes down. I love the people on my course, I couldn't have asked for a lovelier bunch of people. We eat lunch together and get our nerd psychology talk on between lectures (it's great I love it)  and we're already organising meals and nights out together. I've joined the Surf society, and as a result have met some really interesting, cool people, who I'm having a great time on socials with! I've even already had my first try at surfing, where we all went to Bournemouth for the day and hit the waves! And Aidan, well I couldn't have asked for a more committed, encouraging, and loving boyfriend! He's already been down to visit from Wales, and we had a great weekend exploring new places together, and he told me today that he's planning on coming back down next weekend (eeeeeeeep so excited!).

So, all in all, things are pretty great down here in Southampton, in my new city. I'm so glad that I took that jump, pushed past my fears and stepped outside of my comfort zone, because I'm now just so excited for this next year, and all the experiences i'm going to have that are just going to help me grow as a person, and teach me things that I may not have learnt elsewhere! This year I'm going to be taught by leading researchers and clinical psychologists who undoubtably will inspire me greatly. I will build friendships with new people and I, undoubtably, will learn a thing or two about trust, loyalty and just plain old having fun! I will experience, deeply both the ups and downs of a beautiful relationship, both sides of which I'm sure will teach me much about love; it's strengths and it's vulnerabilities.

My advice to anybody contemplating entering something new and unknown, just think about the opportunities that lay ahead, try to think ahead of time and consider whether you think you would regret turning down the challenge that lies in front of you. I'll ask you what my friend asked me when I was trying to make the decision to move or to stay; 'do you think you have learnt everything you needed to learn from where you are now?' and do you think that you have something greater to learn elsewhere?

'Be willing to step outside your comfort zone once in a while; take the risks in life that seem worth taking. The ride might not be as predictable if you'd just planted your feet and stayed put, but it will be a heck of a lot more interesting.' -Edward Whitacre Jr.

P.S. if you really want to get inspired, or need some encouragement in accepting a challenge, I highly recommend the book 'Feel the Fear and do it Anyway' by Susan Jeffers. It's a really great read and I've learnt heaps and bounds from that lady!

Roma, Italia

So, once again, I am guilty as sin, for abandoning my blog for far, F A R too long! I've had a lot going on this year, and had my mind focused on other things. I actually wrote this post before Christmas (!), and I thought it would be a shame to just delete it, sooooo I decided to finish it off and share it with you all. I've been away from my blog for a very long time, but I'm really missing it, and wanting to get back into it again, so hopefully, i'm officially back again, for the billionth time!

Here we go, travelling back to  my days in June 2014 spent exploring the beautiful city Roma, Italia!

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Primo giorno (day 1)

It was a dream come true to land in Italy, one of the countries I had always longed to go to! We arrived in the early evening, hopped in a taxi and watched the sun set colour the sky an impressive orange through the car windows, Italian beauty obviously not shy on the first date! Every time I step foot outside of an airport, into the fresh air of a new country, I take a good whiff of its aromas... and let me tell you, Roman air, smells delicious, a mixture of sugary pastries and summer flowers! Italy definitely deserves the silver medal for best smelling country (Cambodia is still yet to beat!).

Once we reached our cute little hotel, we headed straight out to dinner, a minutes stroll and we arrived at our first local italian restaurant, called Sugo, we were all very excited! Pizza must be my all time favourite food, and my expectations were incredibly high, I mean... to eat a pizza in Italy, that was bucket list material! Unsurprisingly, my margarita pizza did not disappoint! It was so fresh, and juicy, full of cheese, and light with sweet tomato! I could not contain my happiness!

Giorno Due

After having a short nights sleep (the mistake of giving into temptation and ordering a macchiato before bed!), we woke up bright and early, had a quick breakfast, and headed straight to Vatican City (as you do!). When we got to Vatican City it was so incredibly busy! Thankfully we had pre-booked and so only had to go through security and find our tour guide, avoiding the massive queue! 

We had a wonderful tour guide, who knew the ins and ours of his Italian culture and art history! The tour lasted for about three and a half hours, and I was absorbed the entire time. The Vatican City is beautiful! Full of art from some of the worlds leading artists; Rafael, Da Vinci, and of course Michelangelo. The whole tour felt like being in a story book, each piece of art so intricate and full of life, despite their impressive age. My favourite part of the tour was standing in awe inside the Sistine Chapel, where the paintings of Michelangelo seem to engulf you, a story of god and mankind stretched across the ceiling, each detail so fine and three dimensional, it was incredible. The colours, the 'realness', the symbolism.. all completed by an artist who hated painting (a sculptor at heart!). The fresco covered the entire front wall, my favourite symbolic story in the chapel; the story of God highlighting to man that one is not born evil nor good, but that each and every person has a choice, and those choices determine whether you go to heaven or hell, and in turn the deeds you enact during life, will reflect how you will be treated in afterlife. Angels are shown helping the 'good' to heaven, symbolising the kindness and goodwill to those who rightfully deserve it. 

After the chapel, we went to St Peter's Basilica. We saw the original virgin Mary holding a 'sleeping' Jesus, an incredibly famous Michelangelo sculpture! The basilica was huuuuu-mungous! The black letters painted onto the gold trim that lined the ceiling walls were each a grand six foot tall! I couldn't believe it! 

                        

After a wonderful morning in Vatican City, we grabbed a quick sandwich from a local stall and then headed back to the hotel for a brief rest, before getting back on our feet to head to the cute Piazza for ice-cream! Our first gelato in Italy, and I diligently chose biscotti and vanilla, scoops of heaven to say the least! 

                      

After we savoured our little tastes of Italy, we strolled on over to the Pantheon. It looked huge from the outside.. the tall Roman pillars serving as the grand entrance into a circular shaped building, with a giant circular hole penetrating the centre of its dome. Four tombs were kept inside, including the tombs of the first King and Queen of Italy! 

                        

... I'm just going to take you on a little detour, I hope you don't mind! ... As you may probably already know, I am quite the architecture enthusiast, and so I was in absolute heaven in Rome, because the architecture is stunning, so traditionally European, it was the rustic colours that had me at hello though! Check it out...!

... So anyway... after the Pantheon we ventured to the Spanish Steps and took a seat, resting our feet before climbing to the very top and overlooking the staircase, out onto the beautiful streets of Rome. The sun was beginning to set, a truly picturesque scene.

We also went on over to Trevi Fountain, but it was in the process of being restored so the water wasn't running! That was a little disappointing, but we were still determined to throw in our two over the shoulder coins, so we did! 

Once we threw our coins, one for a personal wish, one to return to Rome, we sat down for dinner at a local restaurant (obviously!), and I enjoyed a cheese and black pepper spaghetti, bellissimo! A perfect way to end a long, culturally enriching day!

 Tre Giorni

Although day two had been extremely tiring, I woke up feeling revived and ready for round two! First up was the Roman Forum! The Roman Forum is quite the time warp to get stuck into; the ruins of Roman buildings, tombs and villages. We had audio guides but they weren't so great (so I definitely wouldn't recommend them to anyone planning on visiting!), so it was a little confusing as to what was what, but we got the jist of most of it in the end! It felt so surreal being there, keeping in mind that the Romans that we learnt about in school, with all their armour and what not once romed (lame joke award goes to..) there.

Obviously.. a compulsory sister seflie half-way round!

After our 'rome' around the Forum, and after a quick sandwich (or in my case, a folded pizza slice!) we continued our time travelling on over at the Colosseum! The colosseum was a.w.e.s.o.m.e! It was huge, and surprisingly still very much intact, for its incredible age at least! We started our tour underground, and saw where the weaponry used to be kept for the gladiator fighting, and were the gladiators would stay before being hoisted up on podiums to the stadium floor...being down there reminded me of the hunger games trilogy!.

                     

We then ventured to the very top of the colosseum, and overlooked the entire stadium, which was really cool to see, really got the feel of the size!

Dad... the modern day gladiator!

                 

After a long day of time travelling, we were brought back to the 21st century when we settled down in a local bar to watch the european world cup; Italy playing! My day was made by hearing the cliche Italian words; 'mamma mia!' , by the Italian bar tender ^^ After the game, we went for dinner at a nice Italian restaurant, with a cute little table outside, just how I always envisioned an evening meal in Rome, in a quaint little side street, with live accordion players creating the most delightfully romantic atmosphere. I ordered a pizza, surprise surprise...

My father, our major source of dinner entertainment..! 

With bellies full and content we managed to roll on over to Piazza Navona (mine and Chloe's favourite place in Rome!). It's so beautiful there, even more so at night, with the fountain alight, violins playing; filling the air with mellifluous melody, so romantic! We were mesmerised by the street artists..

... and took photos with the bronze cowboy poised in front of the grandiose fountain.

I really hope to return to Piazza Navona again... perhaps if i'm lucky enough, with a special somebody who has charmed his way into my cheese ball of a heart (ultimate romanticist right here)! ^^

-Alyssa xo