Perhaps it isn't too surprising I'm having these nostalgic feelings. Thanksgiving was yesterday and as I did two years ago in Durham, I spent it away from my family. I was lucky in that most of my meetings for that day were cancelled so I could spend time Skyping my parents (and the ferrets) and some friends as well. I cooked myself a nice vegan Thanksgiving meal and settled in to watch Miracle on 34th Street, the film which traditionally kicks off my Christmas season. Though I didn't get to watch it after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, I did get to catch some live glimpses of the Snoopy balloon and Santa courtesy of my good friend Erika. It wasn't lonely for some reason and for that I am confusedly grateful.
I feel as though I am forever apologising about not keeping up with this blog. I have decided to be brutally honest and simply say, I've not been as inspired to write in and about Leicester as I was two years ago when I wrote about living in Durham. I have found being an ex-pat a second time around to be much more difficult. I'm not sure if it's because after living abroad for a year and being home for four months I found myself growing even closer to people I then had to say goodbye to for a second time. I'm not sure if it's because Durham was only a one year commitment and Leicester is at least a three year commitment. I'm not sure if it's because I knew this time, Chase (my eldest ferret who turned 8 last month) would not live beyond my time away. I'm not sure if it's because I have not found a community in Leicester the way I found a community back home or in Durham. Most likely it's a combination of all of the above.
Whatever the case, I have been trying to force myself to write about my experiences here and I just haven't felt very inspired to do so; until this evening I suppose. Let me take you through some happenings from the past few months.
1. Erika came to London for a brief work trip. It was really fantastic to see her and I spent a lovely day with her and our friend Ibi. First, her hotel was first rate, top of the line, fancy schmancy. I mean, there was champagne in her room, heated floors in the bathroom, and a lovely restaurant where we ate a scrumptious lunch. We unexpectedly got to go to the Ai Wei Wei exhibition at the Royal Academy when her boss's wife offered us tickets.
Being reunited with one of my best friends from back home is an indescribable feeling. First there is the disorientation of not quite knowing which side of the ocean you are on. You see, when you're an ex-pat your brain sort of compartmentalises your life. There is here and there is there. When the two mix, it can throw your brain for a loop. One of the best bits though about being reunited with someone from home (especially someone who is as close a friend as Erika) is that your friendship hasn't faded one bit. You just pick up right where you left off. To be honest, at some parts of the day, I felt as though I would just make plans with her to see her in a week, as though we still lived on the same continent, it felt so comfortable. I guess the hard part though, it when you have to say goodbye at the end of the day. When you realise, no, you won't see her next week nor the week after. In fact it may be months before you can hug each other again. The walk to the train station is always extra cold after saying goodbye to someone you love.
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| I mean, champagne IN THE ROOM! |
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| Gorgeous ceiling over a beautiful wooden staircase. |
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The Ai Wei Wei exhibit at the Royal Academy
2. The past few months have been critically important in PhD land. At the end of October I went before a panel of two academics from my department to defend the work I have done up to this point. All PhDs are required to go through a probation review at the end of their first year. (It's hard to believe that I've been at this for almost a year, but there we go.) Before the interview I had to prepare a bunch of documents and write a 5000 word paper fitting in everything I had been up to for the year in clear, concise, academic language. At the same time I was busy with a bunch of side projects, helping to run an event for local schools about Black History month, being an SSCC (Student-Staff Consultative Committee) representative, doing some lecturing in the department, and taking on some odd jobs to pay for it all. Truthfully from September until now has been a blur.
Anyway, the good news is that I received official word yesterday that I passed my probation review. (Insert triumphant trumpeting here.) In fact, professionally, things have been rather good for me lately. I got very good feedback on some transcription work I did and really encouraging feedback from my supervisor and from students about the teaching I've done. I think these successes have really helped to make the loneliness and isolation feel a little bit better.
3. Earlier this month I attended the opening of the Diwali festival in Leicester. It's the largest Diwali celebration outside of India and believe me, the Golden Mile, which is where the festival takes place, was packed with people. I had never been to this part of Leicester before and it was the first time in weeks that I'd been out after dark. The beautiful lights were definitely worth the hour walk there.
      
4. I should probably mention that I've gone and gotten myself an English boyfriend. In fact, those who have read my other blog, An American in Durham, may remember him. Jeremy and I have been seeing each other since the end of April. I know, I know, I didn't mention anything before now. Secrets, secrets.
It's actually been a pretty nice few months and just a few weeks ago, for my birthday, we went on holiday to York. It was a much needed break from Leicester and work and being back North again just made everything feel much better. We went to a choral concert at the Minster on our first night. Hearing beautiful music in one of Britain's most beautiful buildings was the sort of salve I needed after going so hard at work. We walked the length of the walls and visited the Castle Museum (hey, we're museum people, we can't help it).
The best treat was being able to visit Durham again when the Lumiere festival was happening. The timing was just perfect. I can't describe the feeling of seeing the Cathedral from the train, walking in those familiar streets, breathing that air. It was like coming home. Jeremy quite rightly pointed out that Durham was my UK home. It was the first place I knew and loved in this country.
We met up with some old friends, James, Nathalie, and (Scottish) Sophie and chatted about how things were going. In the evening we walked back into town and braved the crowds to catch glimpses of the beautiful lighting displays. They seemed much better this year than they'd been two years ago. How did I ever take this place for granted? How could I face leaving it again and going back to my present? It wasn't easy and even now I have homesickness twinges not just for the place, but for the time I had there.
           
I ended up in the old gaol. Ooops.
I have missed this view.
The streets seemed very much the same
The Lego Cathedral had grown quite a bit though since I last saw it
My favourite view of the Cathedral from Prebends Bridge
The Cathedral at Night
The streets were packed for the last night of the Lumiere festival
The Castle was beautifully lit with a changing display of images
These were probably one of my favourites. They danced all above the Square.
The Cathedral display was brilliant. It took you through the study of astronomy from ancient texts on through to black holes with views of the planets and different galaxies.
The Cathedral was lit in a tribute to Paris in between shows.
That about brings us up to date with some of my doings. It's been a whirlwind of a year. Some of it has been good, some of it has been bad, and most has been in between. As the holiday season approaches, I'm hoping to find more inspiration to keep writing. For those of you who haven't lost total faith in me, thank you for your readership, but mostly thank you for your patience.
With that, I'm off to have some Thanksgiving leftovers. Sending my best wishes out into the interwebs!
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