Long distance relationships

Not everything that shines is gold, and traveling has its flaws as well.
One of the biggest – and probably hardest, ones is long distance relationships.

Due to my previous experience in America, I can tell you that is not easy keeping in touch with the people you love, even though you try your best. 
New city, new people, new routine, sometimes it just gets too overwhelming and you can't keep up. It's not your fault, of course, it is important to remember that this whole experience marks a new chapter in your life, therefore you will be willing to discover more and experience new things.

Does that mean that the people back home are not important anymore?

Of course not. 
Your relationships back home are the most important thing for you right now. All the support you have is because of them, they believe in you and in your dreams, and – hopefully!, they'll always be there for you.

But let me tell you one thing, the people that are not willing to keep up with you during your new adventure are not worth your time. 
Be careful then, during this whole experience you'll lose people, but you will never regret it – trust me!

Leave a Comment adventure, alice, distance, explore, fresh start, friends, friendship, future, gap year, london, long distance relationships, new post, relationships, teenager, travel, traveling

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Hard times and decisions

The reason why I decided to take a gap year is because I didn't know what to do with my life or my future. I didn't know what I wanted to study, what I wanted my career to be.

A month ago I moved to London and started a new life, I got a job and decided to live a bit more. Before moving here, though, I thought that it would have been easier for me thinking about my future in a place that is not home. A place where nobody knows me and nobody can tell me what to do or make decisions for me.

A month later I realized that I still don't know what to do with my life, I don't know what I want or what I am good at. Did the moving help, you may ask? 

I don't think so.

Being away from home does not mean I am more mature or more conscious about my career.

The question that come first on my mind though is how can people expect a nineteen year old to decide what to do for the rest of her life?

How can I possibly decide what's good for me and what's not? Why do I have to choose something that I'm not sure of just because it might – or might not, who knows?, help me finding a job in the future that will allow me to save up some money and live a decent life? 

All I know at this point of my life is that I am surely not mature enough to make that decision, I am not ready to decide what is right for me and for my future. And it really sucks.

Leave a Comment alice, career, college, decisions, fresh start, future, gap year, london, london bound, new post, school, teenager, university

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Wanderlust or homebody?

People don't always realize how hard it is to leave your home and travel around the world. 
It is exciting, that's for sure, but there will always be a part of you that will feel a bit homesick.

Why is that, then? Why do we feel the need to be home with our parents and family when all we want to do is explore?
There are different reasons for that and they all depend on what kind of person you are.

I believe that traveling is one of the most challenging yet amazing things that someone could ever decide to do. Exploring the world, living with strangers, learn about new cultures and traditions – who wouldn't like that?
But sometimes just because we think we want to travel it doesn't necessarily mean it'll be as easy as we imagined it. Sometimes exploring is not fun, strangers are not always friendly and a culture can be way too different compared to yours.

But that doesn't mean you can't do that. If there is one thing I've learned from traveling is that you always have to challenge yourself because you can do it. Traveling and getting out of your comfort zone will help you grow up, you'll change, you'll learn and you'll come back with something new that no one else will ever have. 

Homesickness happens to everyone – no need to be ashamed of it. Just know that it'll go away eventually and you will be fine.

So this post goes to all of you travelers out there: I admire you so much and I can't wait to join you soon.
Also to every single one of you who wants to travel but is too afraid to make the first move: if not now, when?

2 comments adventure, explore, exploring, fresh start, gap year, homebody, homesick, london, new post, travel, traveling, wanderlust

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Boulogne Sur Mer, France

I just got back from France after two short, but great days.

I left London on Friday afternoon and I took the EuroTrain all the way to France. I have to admit it, it was pretty cool. I am used to travel either by train or by plane but traveling on a train that goes underwater was a whole new experience to be honest!

Boulogne Sur Mer is a city in Northern France, therefore I didn't have to travel a lot to get there. It is such a lovely and quiet city and it's famous for its fishing port which happens to be the largest one in the country. 

Walking around Boulogne Sur Mer was quite interesting. It was bombarded during World War II which means that the city is now divided in two sections – the new part of the city and the old one.

The new part of the city is not as interesting as the old part, there's a lot of new buildings and shops and nothing more but, as you keep walking, you then get to the old part of the city which is beautiful.

The weather was nice as well, really worm during the day and not too cold during the night time.

Over all I had a really lovely weekend and I ate so much fish – which was, in my opinion, so so so good.

Leave a Comment alice, france, gap year, living in london, london, london bound, new post, travel, traveling, weekend

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iTunes Festival: KASABIAN

As many of you might know September is a month full of concerts in London because of the iTunes Festival. 
This year, as usual, the list of guests playing at the Roundhouse is incredible and I – for once in my life, was lucky enough to with a pair of tickets to go and see Kasabian live.

Kasabian are an english rock/indie band who recently released their new album '48:13'. If you don't know Kasabian at all I suggest you go and listen to some of their songs, you might start liking them, who knows!

Now, I was really surprised when I found out I was actually going to see them live for the second time. I remember going to one of their concerts in Italy in 2012 and enjoying it so much that I obviously couldn't wait to see them again. 
To be quite honest with you, I'm not a big fan of their last album but I knew they were going to play some old school songs for sure!

The venue was actually really good and the queue was short and fast – something I would never ever expect in Italy!, and the Roundhouse is small but really cool which allowed me to watch the concert from the third row while I was drinking a beer and having the time of my life – again, why doesn't this happen in Italy?!?

Their setlist was amazing and their energy and the way they interact with the audience is something I've always loved about them.
What can I say, if you like Kasabian and you haven't seen them live yet I highly recommend you do it, it is surely and incredible and unforgettable experience! – plus cute guys/girls with the same music taste as yours?!?! Just kidding! (or maybe not haha)

Leave a Comment alice, camden lock, camden town, fun, gap year, itunes festival, kasabian, living in london, london, london bound, moving to london, music, music festival, new post

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London bound

It's just been three days and I am already in love with London.
I arrived Friday morning and since then everything has been so overwhelming that I couldn't even find the words to describe the beginning of my new experience. 

Being able to finally live in the city I've always loved is such a big step for me and it's something I wouldn't have expected to happen at this point in my life but it did and this was probably one of the best decisions I've taken in a long, long time.
Feeling that you belong somewhere is something that I've never felt before – not in the proper way at least, and I feel so relieved now. 

I am truly sorry for the lack of posts, there is a million things I'd like to write about – and I will, but I wanted to find the right words to write down the way I feel right this moment because I won't easily forget it.

Leave a Comment alice, camden lock, camden town, fresh start, gap year, italy, living in london, london, london bound, moving to london, new post, piccadilly

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Things I am going to miss about Italy.

London is only four days away and I am already thinking about all the things I am going to miss about Italy.
I am not a sentimental person and I almost never get homesick but I know that this time is going to be a bit different.

• First of all I have a cat now. She's a small, black ball of joy and – unfortunately, I cannot bring her with me. I've spent the last year watching her growing and now the thought of leaving her is killing me.

• Shall we talk about food next? Because I know for sure I am so going to miss italian cousin. And come on let's be honest, there will never ever be a restaurant that will cook as good as my grandma. 

• And what about the gorgeous italian landscapes? As much as I hate living in a small city, the nature that surrounds me is so overwhelming and incredibly stunning. 

• My oh–so–comfortable bed! Everyone knows that nothing can beat it, not even the most comfortable hotel bed in the world – if you get what I mean by that!

I am sure that as soon as I'll post this blogpost I am going to think about thousands of other things that I will most likely going to miss.

So now I am asking you, if you were going to leave your hometown for an unknown period of time, what would you miss the most?

Leave a Comment alice, gap year, italy, living in london, london, moving to london, new post, things I miss

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Gap year and new adventures!

In just ten days I'll leave Italy and take a one-way flight to London to start a new adventure.
Excited? A lot.
Worried? Probably way too much.
Traveling has never been a problem for me – I've been wanting to travel the world for a long time now, but the fact that I won't be in school anymore almost terrifies me.
If I think about it, I've spent the last 13 years of my life in school – it's crazy!I guess once you're used to the same old daily routine a change could be quite hard. 
I won't stay out of school for too long though, I'm pretty much a nerd that likes to learn as much as possible – ah, bet you didn't know that!, but I felt the need to take a gap year and explore the world, I needed to step out of my comfort zone and "live the adventure".

So a few months back I decided to start looking for a job and a house somewhere and I came up with the whole London idea.
The thought of living there has always been in the back of my head but I've never had the chance to really live in London for more than just a couple of weeks.

I am not saying that a gap year is the answer to every single problem, I actually am a bit upset I am not going to university right this year but I feel like I'm accomplishing something in life, something that I care about. And who knows what the future holds for me in London. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

London, December 2013

London, December 2013

London, December 2013

Leave a Comment alice, fresh start, gap year, london, new post, university

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