Oh look, another smush post!

Featuring: University blegh (as always), a bit about Venice and a touch of Bosch.

As you may well have garnered from the title, this is going to be one of those all over the place, rambling posts whereby I say vaguely what's been going on without the use of (m)any pictures... and we all know that's the interesting bit! Anyway, I'll try to keep it short!

The last few weeks have been completely and utterly insane in terms of workload. I've struggled quite a bit to keep on top of things and, so far, have managed. I'm also trying to get ahead - and managing thus far - because next week I'm going away and I refuse to do any work during that time! I submitted three essays in two days over the weekend and have another three to submit before the end of the week. It's a self imposed deadline but one I really want to stick to. Of course, I'm sat here typing instead of being all academic and stuff! Then, after spring break I have a few exam icks to get through but, other than that, I will just have to focus on reading the set texts for classes. Hopefully, this will give me a few weeks where I can obsessively study for the German intensive in June because, frankly, I am terrified about it. Emphasis there to show that I am in no way exaggerating my genuine feelings.

That said, before I go on to face the terrors that late May and June may hold I have the wonders of next week which is spring break. So excited.

So, for my vaguely significant birthday last year my mother decided to impulse book me a trip to Venice. Seriously. Anyway, almost a year after booking, the trip has finally rolled around and I'm going to be off there next week (with the mother, of course). I actually visited Venice a few years ago - okay, when I was about 12 so more than a few years ago - but, since starting to study art history, I've really wanted to return and see it all again 'knowing' what I'm seeing. And yes, I may well dig a few old photos out over the next couple of blog posts. My camera was really poor then so the photos are grainy but it's amazing how much of a "Muuuuuuum... do I really have to pose on this bridge/by this piece of architecture/with this food?" feeling I give off even at that tender age!! You also start to realise where I got my "You will pose for this photo" outlook from ;-)

Prizes to anyone who realises that I still own and wear that roll neck top!

Anyway, the past aside, I'm not going to upload photos to Facebook/write blog posts until I get back and, even then, I would expect some delay because of general life chaos. I'll try to upload a couple of decent shots to my Instagram while I'm out there and keep Snapchat updated with silly/food photos WiFi permitting. I'm aware that I'm going somewhere a few of my friends wanted to go so I have to rub it in keep them in the loop  ;-)

And then, when I get back to the Netherlands I am going to catch the amazing Bosch exhibition. Super excited because he is seriously one of my favourite artists and I really had to fight to get tickets - they kept selling out. Going to be exhausted by the end of the week but I am going to have so many amazing new memories so no complaints... and a lot of scrapbooking to do, no doubt!

So, until then!



If you are wanting to stalk me in Venice or just socialise generally through the visual medium then my username on both Snapchat and Instagram is oiahavanah

I didn't want a relaxing summer anyway!!

It's all getting a little too real now! The other night I finally sat down and booked all the flights for my teaching thing in the summer.

Other than insurance they're the only part of the course that I have to fund but trust me, they were still quite the investment. But investment is the right word because, not only am I getting to learn new skills, but I'm getting to travel.

Actually, I'm going to be joined by my mother for a fair bit of this summer's travels. I managed to talk her into coming to Budapest for a few days after my placement there ends. She's wanted to revisit but various factors have meant she couldn't so this time I worked extra hard at convincing her. I also managed to talk her into coming to Castlefest again - something she enjoys but was thinking about not doing. And then she wanted to visit Krakow, where I have my final placement, so we're going to do a bit of touristing beforehand. And that's without mentioning our trip to Venice in about a month which is my belated birthday celebration.

I am super pleased that I get to travel with my mother again because it's been way too long. However, to be honest, I'm also pleased for another reason. I was absolutely terrified about traveling alone. I've traveled since before I can remember but the idea of going to a brand new place all alone and exploring solo... I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet. 

So, the long and short of it is, this summer is going to be quite the adventure!

Also, if you're wanting to meet up with me when I'm in England you should probably write to me sooner rather than later because I'm only there for a couple of weeks this time.

Who says university holidays are for relaxing? ;-)

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