All Over the Map (Travels and Blood Sugar Alike)

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Nice, France

Bonjour from the South of France peeps. This place is beautiful, let me tell you–between the miles of ocean and color of the buildings in the city, to the decadent Italian-meets-French food, Nice has captured my heart, and blood sugar monitor.

But seriously, this place is amazing and a must-see on anyone’s bucket list of places to visit. However, visitor be warned, this is a romantic place. I know, most of France resembles some level of romance, but being here with my twin sister (twister, if you will) is hilarious. I guess the main plus to navigating the rocky beaches and steep hills with my twister is that my snarky/bitter/hopefully-witty comments are not lost on her. That, or she does a really good job of pretending to like my jokes. Sister love aside, (EL OH EL we fight all of the time, like we just fought an hour ago and probably the hour before that and basically we fight in our sleep, but it comes from such a loving place. Ugh I have the best family) Nice is, well… magnifique.

Of course, the omnipresent diabetes managed to creep in like a dark cloud over the last few days. Having to monitor what I eat so closely irritates me, especially whilst abroad. That being said, I have clearly been letting that slide (if my snapchats weren’t a giveaway to all of my snap-friends).

It’s a bummer having to consider and calculate/estimate the carbohydrates in everything I put into my body. Even more than that, that feeling, a pang of failure when I inevitably mess something up by giving myself the wrong estimated dose, and either have to binge to bring my sugar up, or drink more water than Sea-biscuit post race to try to dilute whatever mess I just ate (odds are, I enjoyed every bite). I digress. Diabetes sucks, this is no news to you or me, but sometimes a nice little rant can help anyone breathe a little easier after the whirlwind of pentup frustration tumbles out like when I opened my over-stuffed carry-on suitcase a few days ago. No idea how I fit everything in there. In fact, I’m not entirely sure everything will go back in. Any who, these are my late night thoughts.

As I sit here, a pump on either hip–feeling completely bionic, I just keep reminding myself that at least I have access to this technology, medication, medical attention, loving family and friends who make the days brighter and the ups and downs of diabetes a little more manageable. So, while I curse myself internally for deciding to give myself bionic hips instead of just putting my other pump on my arm (I refuse to give up my sleeveless tops!) I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to lay down tonight. This should be interesting. Oh well, at least I’m in Nice and heading to Monaco for the day tomorrow! Always a bright side people!

Lookout for a returning home post next week! My days abroad are numbered, and while I can’t wait to return home and see the people that mean the most to me, I have to say Europe, specifically London (yeah I consider it Europe as does the EU, sue me people!) added a piece to my heart that can never be changed or broken or tainted, forever cementing this amazing experience to my memory.

Wow I talk a lot.

Stay classy and don’t forget your sunscreen ladies and gents! (Lol, do boys even read this blog?)

xoxo

Vive La France, and Leaving London (for Now)

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Again, it’s been a long time since my last post- apologies. I’ve been galavanting around Paris and finishing up my junior year. Yup, that’s right, Abroad is just about over. *Begins sobbing* As much as I miss my friends and family in the States, i’ve made some great British friends as well. While i’ve been running around like crazy trying to fit a lifetime’s worth of London into my last few days here, I realized the magnitude of spending a term over 4000 miles away from my family, and over 3000 from my friends back in Boston.

So, in the spirit of reminiscing, I spent last week in Paris with my friend Kie

rsten, and fell in love all over again. Speaking of love, that city is full of it. I mean, couples literally rolling on the ground under the eiffel tower making out, couples making out on the street, couples making out in restaurants, couples making out in bars- okay, we get it, you’re in love! COME UP FOR AIR AND SMELL THE FLOWERS IN THE TUILERIES. I digress. My aversion to PDA aside, Paris was tres magnifique as usual. Wine, beautiful weather and shopping–what more could a girl want?

After Paris I came home (dear lord I just called London home…going to just keep going here), took my final, finished my papers, and took a lovely day trip to Brighton. I LOVE BRIGHTON. Let me tell you, it brought out the inner kid in me.

Bumper cars can be fun between two people, in case you were curious. I also went on a roller coaster that surprisingly spun. Like, can you say Carpe Diem? haha well for me that was carpe diem anyways. Sad, I know. Any who, Brighton is amazing and beautiful and just an all around must see for anyone thinking of visiting the UK.

And now, as I pack up my room and get all emotional (ew, feelings) about leaving this amazing city and even more amazing friends i’ve made here, I realize how quickly time flies. I’m about to drop some wisdom: YOLO really means You Only London Once (shoutout to you Abby), and even though that’s not entirely true, you don’t get to relive the best moments in life, so try to enjoy them if you’re lucky enough to realize they’re happening in the moment.

Today someone asked me to name my favorite place I visited while abroad. That stumped me. I loved just about every city and country I visited. I’m a strong believer in living life while you’re young and having fun. I realized that whether I’m in Jacksonville, Florida (home) hysterically laughing on my best friend’s sister’s floor, or hysterically laughing on a cliff in Scotland, it’s the people that make the places. Had I traveled with anyone else, gone anywhere else, the only thing that matters are the people you’re with. That being said, I’m so grateful for all of these amazing friends I’m bringing back to Boston, and those in London that I know i’ll meet up with sometime/somewhere down the line.

So, as I pack up my room (need to stop procrastinating), watch Will and Kate (the Lifetime Movie) with some of the coolest kids around, I’m smiling despite the ever-growing lump in my throat over leaving this historical magical amazing city of London. I know one day I’ll be back, maybe finally accept the PDA, and find a whole new reason to love the places I’ve been, and the places I will see.

London, you’ve been grand.

I’m off to France and Italy tomorrow until early May, so expect a post sometime around then.

Stay Classy and wear that sunscreen!

XOXO, or as my Brits do, xx

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Land of the Scots, Home of the Brave(heart) with a Sprinkle of London and Paris

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You take the high road and I’ll take the low road…. ugh love that song. I still have vivid memories of my parents and grandparents singing that to me throughout my younger years–enough of my adorable childhood.

Last weekend I spent a few days at a friend’s family’s home in Glasgow for the holidays. Obviously I had the best time (shoutout to Abby and Casey coming in clutch with the amazing Scottish family), but I also found Scotland one of the most breathtaking places in the world.

After climbing Arthur’s Seat, meandering through Edinburgh Castle, checking out Elephant’s Cafe (all you fellow Harry Potter nerds out there–that’s where J.K. Rowling wrote HP- holla), hitting up the modern museum and taking in Glasgow’s greatest sights tired me out, but was worth every step of the 10 miles we walked that day.

Check out some of the pics from the trip below!

As the trips wind down and my final 10 days appear at the doorstep of my overpriced posh pad in South Kensington, I’m forced to face the music, so to speak. I still have another 3 weeks left in Europe, but only a combined 5 days in England.

Don’t get me wrong, while I miss my friends and family from the States so much, London’s left an indent on my wallet and heart. I’ve met some of the most amazing people here, made some friends I hope to keep in touch with for quite some time. Ugh, don’t even get me started on the mems! These memories will just have to hold me over until my next hop skip across the pond.

Ok, enough of the bleery-eyed sentiments and onto the time I have left in Europe. Tomorrow I take a train to Paris, next week I take my finals, and then off to France and Italy.

It’s crazy how much this trip changed my outlook on life and people in general. If given the chance, and ability, go abroad. Do it– you know you want to.

Stay tuned for a Paris round-up and a teary cheers to London sometime next week!

Stay cool and beautiful peeps.

xoxo

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A Different Type of Low (Or, one in the same)

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I guess it takes a while for ideas and realities to set in–I’m learning that through every alarm beep of my cgm (continuous glucose monitor), new scar on my legs, arms and hips. With every highest high and lowest low of my blood sugar, a small piece of my past ebbs away and a newer, finger pricked-filled future replaces the carefree days of cake and fruit and chips and…. well…carbohydrates.

I shouldn’t complain–knowing that I am fortunate enough to have such a controllable disease with amazing doctors and family to support me along the way. But today, a coworker asked me a simple, kind hearted question that sparked the muffled flame inside of me that belongs to the idea that this is temporary. She asked something like, “How did you deal with that? Such a lifelong idea? How did you feel about that?”

Woah. How did I deal with that? I’m really not a big crier when it comes to sad things. I know, you’re probably reading this and thinking, what else could make you cry?! Well, friend, I am an angry crier. It’s like my tear ducts are connected to that burning sensation in your chest when something really makes you angry. Any who, I realized that I have not entirely dealt with the prognosis. I’ve accepted the fact that I have this disease, that my pancreas is not pulling its weight (so to speak) and that I have no other choice than to live with this. I did not even understand her question when she first inquired towards my state of mind after such a life-altering thing as Diabetes. I never thought, oh, I can’t do this. Sure, I say that all the time in a joking matter, but the fact of life is that we don’t really have a valid choice when it comes to surviving. I never cried because I refuse to believe that some genius out there will not find a cure sometime in the next 60 years. I refuse to entertain the idea that out of the 7 billion people on earth, millions of dollars invested in research and technology, and minds, out of all of these positive factors, one singular great positive cannot be reached. I know that someday someone will find a cure. Just like someone found a vaccine for polio, the mumps, and every other diseases from time passed. I do not want to pass this gene on to any children I might have in the (fairly distant) future. I do not wish this on my worst enemy.

As I reach the 1 year anniversary of being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, the rose colored glasses come off, and a sense of acceptance hits me with the pang as deep as seeing a beautiful cupcake that I cannot have, or the realization that gone are the days of carefree, spontaneity.

Despite my feelings of loss (RIP pancreas) for the old days, I still find myself inherently optimistic. I am not naive enough to think that I will be cured in the next 5 years, but I have hope that someday soon I won’t have to pull my shirtsleeve down over my pump so people won’t ask questions, or stare at my already formed scars on my legs and hips from my helpful, occasionally painful, and always elusive pumps.

So, I guess, it really isn’t all apples and icing, but maybe carrots and hummus isn’t too bad either?

Stay tuned for a recap on my adventures in Scotland and the last few weeks in London.

Le Sigh, I love it here, even if diabetes remains a foreign technological concept to airport security (that’s a rant for a different day).

Stay beautiful and classy, and yourself!

XOXO

Every Girl needs a happy place. Peeking back but Looking forward.

Every Girl needs a happy place. Peeking back but Looking forward.

The Luck of the Irish, Oxford Chaps, a Palace…and another Crawl

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WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?! Okay, sorry for yelling at you, I know, it’s not your fault. It’s not you, it’s me.

Ok I’ll get it together. Reeling it in. Also it’s sinking in that I will be a senior, and only have 1 year of college left with all of you beautiful friends that are reading this in Beantown… which means 1 more year of freedom before the real world… deep breaths.

Now that i’ve recuperated from my minor break down, let’s discuss the amazing adventures of the last days/weeks (really I do not know what time is anymore) since my last post.

I went to Dublin last weekend, explored the neighboring sea town of Howth. Let me tell you, Howth is gorgeous. Beautiful. Friendly people and beautiful views make the city a must-see. Spending time with amazing friends also helped the overall experience. Ireland truly is a magical place.

This weekend I went to Oxford and Blenheim Palace, pretended I was a distant relative of the Churchill family, and that this indeed was my palace. Alas, no one believed me. Apparently a last name of Goldman does not sound British. Who knew?

But let me tell you peeps, this  palace oozes opulence. The chandeleir dripping in crystals from the second story ceiling to eye level of the main floor, the house seems to form around the chandelier. Gorgeous paintings hang in every room lined with plush carpets and gold and silver accents. Even the ceiling in the dining room has a Michaelangelo-esque mural. And the gardens! Don’t even get me started about that landscape, or the manmade lake. Let’s just say that I can totally picture Mr. Darcy’s house being based off of this palace. Le sigh- Mr. Darcy. Wow, I’m a nerd. This is real this is me. Take me as I am.

After a day full of beautiful countryside and history, my friends, including a friend from Home visiting from Athens where he’s studying abroad this term, and I decided to do yet another pub crawl–this time in Shoreditch. Fun times all around. 5 star weekend folks.

Stay posted for another post in a week or so about my trip to Scotland next week. I know, you are all clearly waiting at the edge of your seats to hear about my many adventures.

But for reals, do I have to go back? London has stolen my heart and my money…. and I have to say, I don’t hate it.

Stay proper ladies and gents

Cheers

XOXO

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