Life lessons in Leeds

I’m 24 today! The last year of my life has been filled with an unbelievable amount of change and personal growth. On this day last year I was celebrating 23 years of life in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Today, I’m in Leeds, England, 5,288 miles away from home, but feeling better than ever.

As I mentioned in my Harris Highlights, I spent the majority of 2015 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam teaching English to young Vietnamese students and travelled around South East Asia before making the decision to come to Leeds to undertake a MA in public relations and strategic communications. I came to England to further my education and I’ve ended up with housemates that make every day exciting, a Masters programme that challenges me in every aspect, and of course a job with responsibilities and expectations that push me to do my best work every time I step in the office.

Here’s just some of the things I’ve learned since moving to Leeds:

• Without coffee everything is impossible.
• The dictionary is your best friend.
• The library is also your best friend.
• Group projects are a way of life.
• Ask questions.
• Ask more questions.
• Check spelling and grammar three times.
• Piqued and peaked are different words.
• Don’t forget the ‘u’ after the ‘o’ – ‘ou.’
• Engagement is everything.
• Never leave the house without a hood, umbrella or a beanie.
• You must queue.
• You can’t cut the queue. Don’t even try.
• Beers are appropriate at any time.
• American English and British English are completely different.
• The roads are narrow.
• The cars are small.
• Everything is small.
• Tea is its own daily food group.
• Classic Adidas are back in style.
• Accuracy.
• It is cold.
• Leeds is a hidden gem.

My time in Leeds has been filled with more good days than bad, and in life, that’s all you can really ask for. I feel so lucky to be where I am on my 24th birthday. Cheers to another year filled with positive vibes.