2018 was a whirlwind of a year! I have so many good memories with friends and family, and so many travel moments I will never forget! As I step into 2019 I wanted to share a few highlights from the past year. Here are my top 10 moments.
My first trip of the year was during my reading week at school. I flew down to Hawaii to meet up with my Mom and Dad and take in the sun. My favourite part of this trip was the Road to Hana. Although I felt so car sick the entire way, the views were so worth it!
I went to Calgary a few times this year, mostly to try some of the tastiest restaurants they offer, but I also found myself there for an interview to work in Scotland. This was my first interview for a teaching position so I was a bit nervous, but I’m so glad I went and that I made the decision to move to Scotland!
In the spring I got to see my best friend graduate from the National Theatre School in Montreal! I went out there for a week and had so much fun exploring, eating, and shopping with the best people!
This year for Canada Day the band got to play on the Edmonton Riverboat. We had the best view of the fireworks and I got to watch them with some of my favourite people. This was the most fun Canada Day celebration I’ve ever had.
Photo by Dale Bailey
A lot of things changed for me in 2018, but one of the most notable things that happened was my graduation from the University of Alberta. I wasn’t originally planning on going to my convocation, but my mom thought I would be missing out if I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, the ceremony was still as boring as I expected it to be, but she was definitely right as per usual. I got to see all of the people that I went through the program with, and it really sealed my undergraduate experience walking across the stage to collect my degree.
When Brooke and I moved to Scotland in the summer we were in a bit of a housing predicament when the flat we were meant to be moving into was given to someone else. We very fortunately met a couple from Canada, Marty and Yvonne, who very generously welcomed us into their home until we found a new place. This year at Thanksgiving, we had our new little community of friends that we had made over to our new flat for dinner. I am so grateful for the people I have met since I moved to Scotland, without whom I would likely be back in Canada already.
During my October break my parents came to visit me in Scotland. Brooke and I went with them through the Highlands, up to Orkney, down to Edinburgh, and finally to London. I had so much fun on this trip and was so glad to see my mom and dad after a couple months away. Scotland is such a beautiful place!
On our trip up to Orkney we went to a few different historical sites. My curiosity for the Vikings was definitely nourished by our trip to the Brough of Birsay and to Maeshowe. I loved walking around these sites and seeing everything that was left there by the Vikings. I would love to go back to Orkney, I loved everything about it (including the downpour of rain we received every day!).
I had such a blast visiting friends on the Isle of Skye this Fall. Portree is so picturesque, I could spend so much time there. This trip was a good reminder for me that I can get out and see new places on a weekend, and it was so much fun seeing my Canadian friends.
For me, nothing beats the feeling of coming home. There is so much ease and comfort in returning to my home, and it’s something I only really appreciate after I’ve been away. Since moving to Scotland in August, this has been the longest I’ve ever been away from my family and I’ve missed them so much every day. As much as I’m excited to see more of Scotland, I really am looking forward to the next time I’ll be home.
And an extra, because meeting baby Marlo this year made 2018 unforgettable. <3
For my 2017 highlights click here.