April 2017 | Recap

April was such a rejuvenating month for me – I got back to my roots both figuratively and literally, as I got to travel again but I also got to see family! I can also say that I’m LOVING the longer, sunnier days. I even got myself a smoothie blender so I can drink a fruit smoothie on my walk through the park to work (because I’m THAT person now and I have literally no shame). So….how was April, in all its glory?

Where was I in April?

Spain (Girona, Costa Brava, Barcelona), Florida (Crystal River and Vero Beach), and England (Plymouth, Bristol, and Exeter)

Most popular instagram in April…

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSdHaurh2G-/?taken-by=endlessdistances

My favorite instagram in April…

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSjDvndBx92/?taken-by=endlessdistances

April adventured like…

  • SO MANY April adventures!!! I had two weeks off for “Easter holidays” (as the unashamedly un-politically correct Brits refer to it) which I definitely took advantage of, jetting off to Spain for a week, and then to Florida for a little over a week where I not only met up with family, but got to swim with MANATEES!!! Boom.
  • I really wanted to enjoy my time traveling, so I had my lovely friends Julia and Stephanie write guest posts for me. Julia wrote a Muggle’s Guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Stephanie shared some insights and sketchbook pages from her time as an aupair in New Zealand.
  • I lost my suitcase in Miami. LOL. This is what happens when you book 3 consecutive flights to save $$ and stay awake for over 50 hours.
  • I finished all my essays AND started my third and final placement of my MSc! I had my first day of placement the day after my flight landed back in the UK, maybe unwise on the jet lag front but I wanted to get all the time out of my break as I could! And so far I am loving placement 🙂
  • I also participated in the March for Science, combined with a visit to one of my best friends who lives in Bristol. It was really special because my parents (both biologists) also did the March for Science in Michigan! When I was home for Easter, my mom even gave me a March for Science shirt, so even though we were an ocean apart, my whole family was wearing matching clothes ;P
  • I also experienced a bit of reverse culture shock when I was in Florida… perhaps because Florida is, well, FLORIDA, and a lot more *shocking* than Michigan is. You can read my lil reflection on that here.

Bristol Science March - Endless Distances

April read like…

  • April was a VERY exciting month for me because I actually got to READ! For an ex-English major, I don’t read fiction nearly enough (emphasis on the *fiction* because I read a TON of sciencey things, but it ain’t the same!). During my time in Florida I read SO much!
  • The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George – 1/5 stars. Disappointed with this one – it was full of cliches, clunky language, and sexism.
  • We are all Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler – 5/5 stars. The best and deepest book I’ve read for a while, about a girl who is raised alongside a chimpanzee. Its narrative is beautiful and intense and I love how it controls time.
  • See Me by Nicholas Sparks – 3/5 stars. Not classic literature but will suffice for a beach read. I liked that it was a thriller as well as a romance.
  • Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear – 4/5 stars. I’m a sucker for the Maisie Dobbs series and although this wasn’t my favorite book in the series it was a smooth read and very prevalent given the current political climate.
  • Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler – ?? not quite done with this one yet. It is written by a fellow Kenyon alum, and I can see little nods to Kenyon throughout the book which is fun.
  • If you want to see more books I’ve read, follow my “Books I’ve Read” Pinterest board. I’ve intermittently updated it over the years (only including books for fun, not university books). I’m going to try and update it more often!

April mantras…

 

Here’s to May!

Sarah xx




Looking for more?

9 Comments

  1. What a great month! Travelling and seeing family is a recipe for success 🙂
    And we are completely beside ourselves is one of my very favourite books! I read it a few years ago and loved it so much. Have you read Little Bee by Chris Cleave? I think you’d like it!
    Happy May!!

    1. It was incredible – I couldn’t put it down and read it in two days!! I think I especially loved it because it was the first book I’d read in a long time that really made me THINK. Noo I haven’t, I’ll put it on my list!! Thanks for the rec!!

  2. You were busy in April! I can completely understand wanting to get as much time out of a trip as possible. I do that all of the time. But sometimes I do regret it. lol. Glad everything worked out for you. 🙂

    With Love,
    Mandy

  3. Wow! So many adventures in April! I’m often the same with flights, we had some crazy flight situations on our month break because we are stingy. Ha. Glad you had a great month and that your placement is going well, here’s to a successful May 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *