Auld Lang Syne

The infamous festive song, has become synonymous with New Years Eve. This year, I rang in the New Years in Edinburgh, arms locked in a circle with local Scots singing this tune (or more accurately, a poem) while watching the fireworks light up the night sky. "Hogmanay" as it is called in Scotland, it their biggest holiday of the year. Street parties, fireworks from the castle, people lining up shoulder to shoulder for the countdown, and of course renditions of Auld Lang Syne fill the Scottish Capital. I was told that in Scots, 'Auld Lang Syne' means 'for old time sake'; this year in particular the phrase could not be more appropriate.

I can look back on 2015 with great fondness. Sure, not everything was perfect, and it certainly had its struggles, but I can look back thankful. Essentially I think thats what this song is all about, reflecting upon the good and the bad, and being thankful for such things being shared in the company of those in your life. This is not meant to sound overly sentimental, but rather poignant considering where I am in my life. 2015 brought about a great job (albeit for only nine months), great vacations with friends and family, fun moments at home, and of course my move out to England. I say I left behind a lot to move out here. However, I'm now beginning to realise that we are always moving on, closing one chapter as we open another. I am beyond grateful for what I have out here. I went from knowing nobody in Leeds, and feeling a bit lost to now having the feeling of being established with good people, an interesting course, and a growing number of places to explore. I was just recently back in San Francisco for Christmas, and though it was great being home (and seeing some sun), I caught myself a couple times referring to England as 'home'. While maybe just a slip of the tongue (and the fact that my entire bank account in now in British Pounds), it just goes to show that I can feel at home in different places, and I don't need to close one out to embrace another. So with that said, for old time sake, let me recap a few highlights from the end of 2015:

November started off with trips to London and Shropshire (a rural county just west of Birmingham), sightseeing and catching up with cousins. While I have been to London many times, this was my first trip to Shropshire. It was fantastic! The village which I stayed in was something out of an English post card with 18th Century farmhouses dotting the road, and the mandatory local pub and Anglican Church on the 'high street'. I spent the weekend with family who I have not seen in ages, and also playing tourist in some nearby towns (one of which claims to be the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution).
A few weeks later, I hosted a Thanksgiving dinner and party at my flat for 12 people! It was nearly everyone's first Thanksgiving, and it was most definitely a success. The complete turkey dinner with all the traditional fixings, was not easy considering my rather under-equipped kitchen space, and sparsity of Turkey's that far out before Christmas. Yet, we made it work, and my Turkey miraculously came out great. The dinner capped off with a fun night out on the town was a definite highlight of my time here so far.
Come December, I spent a day touring the Yorkshire Dales (a big national park nearby), as well as a day exploring the Manchester Christmas Markets with some friends. Fast-forward a week and I was skiing the slopes of Tahoe with my dad. Add in some papers, presentations, and readings -- paired with the obligatory pints -- and it was a great end to an already abundant 2015.

While I do not know all that 2016 will have in store, I am excited about eventually completing my Master's and seeing what's next. In the meantime though, I want to make sure that I do not let these next ten months or so pass me by. I have a lot on the agenda both with school and travel, but whatever arises, I need to soak it all up, with friends old and new, for 'Auld Lang Syne'.