Highlights of 2011

So here is that blog that looks back on the year...

2011 has been for me, and probably for my family also, the toughest year to date.

This time last year my parents, sister and I were celebrating Christmas in someone elses house whilst waiting for visas to the USA.

The visas eventually came - but not in time for my 21st birthday so I suddenly found myself in England wondering what to do.

The plan had been that all four of us would get visas and then I would enroll in college in the US upon our arrival.

So.....there I was....visa-less and wondering what to do.

I decided to cram for my SAT exams and see what scholarships I could get to attend a college near to where my parents would be living in the US.

The exams went well and I was offered a scholarship.

Whilst I was studying for my SAT exams I saw a documentary on the television about education in the Netherlands - cheaper and great teaching.

This led me to Google: "Best University in Holland".

Yeah.....I really did Google that and I really did apply to the school that came up at the top of the results page.

In fact, I got an offer from the Roosevelt Academy in the Nethelands before I even sat my SAT exams.

Surprise - I then moved to the Netherlands whilst my parents and sister moved stateside.

Yeah....didn't see that one coming this time last year.

Off to the Netherlands I went.

I have survived one semester.

It was very tough.

I am back in England with friends for the holidays before I fly back for school at the end of January.

2011 has been a year of practicing patience and trusting God with His plans.

Now my parents are settling in to their new US city and LOVEING it! They are in the process of improving a beautiful mountain-view house and hoping to learn to ski soon.

I have been away from my parents before but this time around it is tougher. Straight after high school I moved to the US for the best part of two years and I rarely missed them (sorry Mum and Dad!) But now, living in the Netherlands whilst they are over there, I really do miss them and I can not wait to see them in the summer.

I am still waiting to move back to the USA where I feel I left me heart.....

Highlights?!

I started running in 2011. This time last year I was so keen to run a marathon and I began to train.

My knees were not happy though and I was forced to take a break of a couple of months in the late Spring.

Practicing patience....again....

Although I was not able to run a full marathon I did complete a half marathon as well as a cross country race.

I spent a wonderful week in Spain with a friend where we lay by the pool and took a mental break from work, study and stress. 

There was a lot of eating and floating on the pool involved!

Then at the end of September I flew to the Netherlands - my new home.

I was pleasently suprised by the prettiness of my new town of living and I love going to school in ancient buildings - we call it Hogwarts.

School has been hard. Hard hard hard work.

I do take a pride in my work and sometimes I find that it is all a bit too much and I need to take a deep breath and remind myself that I am Sally and studying is something I "do" and it is not "who I am".

What am I studying to become?

No idea! Still waiting to figure that out.

Patience again.

I finally got a Mac Book Pro! That has been a year long search for the right one at the right price.

But it lives in the US and I shall not see it until the Summer.

See....patience again....

My running has slipped up majorly since starting University so I only just training again and, well, training is one large mess of practicing patience!

But don’t get me wrong – University has been great.

Although it breaks my heart that I miss important events in the lives of my friends in the US and the UK like weddings and birthdays, I have really enjoyed making new friends in the Netherlands.

I feel truly honoured to get to travel so much and experience new cultures but I do hope that 2012 will be a year of becoming a little more settled in one place.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

At home in beautiful Buckinghamshire

 

 

 

With my wonderful sister

Running achievements

Spain

 

 

Exploring Amsterdam

Hogwarts

 

University

Student Bar

Photo fun with Kay

Snapshots of Christmas

Christmas came and went in no time at all!

I was very busy celabrating birthdays on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day along with all the normal festivities.

I stayed with a friend in London for the week before Christmas and I hugely enjoyed wondering around Richmond and Oxford Circus under the lights and admiring all the incerdible window displays.

Here are some snap shots of the holiday season: travelling Netherlands to Belgium, flying to London, refueling at Starbucks, new TOMS and hat from the parents and biking in my favorite English woods.

Hope you all had a great Christmas.....now on to New Year celabrations!

Photos taken using Instagram app for iPhones

Stocking Fillers

Whooohooooo the semester is over!

I can hardly believe that I have survived.

It has been a busy but good last few days of celebrating.

Although the closing of our student bar was very sad....

I felt a tad bad because I finished a few days before most other people so I got to enjoy sleeping in until noon whilst others stressed.

But now we are all done and heading home for the holidays! Yay!

Yes, I have become one of those people - someone that "travels home" for the holidays.

I shall be flying to England on Monday for six weeks to see friends and family.

I am a little sad that I will not see my parents and sister but I know that they will be busy enjoying their first Christmas state side.

Here are a few suggestions for stocking fillers from Jack Wills if you are still stuck for ideas.

I'll say it again - Happy Holidays!

 

VIA

VIA

Wishful Wednesday

I had to face Christmas shopping today.

Normally I look forward to this, but not this year.

After a long and stressful last few weeks, all I wanted to do today was stay in bed.

I finally dragged myself to town at noon and searched the shops for present ideas.

I eventually got on a train with a friend and went to another town to shop where there was more selection.

Where would I like to be today?

My favourite English city for shopping is Bath.

But I also greatly enjoy shopping in San Francisco. Here are some snaps of the great city that I wish I could have spent today exploring further and shopping in. 

I would really love to live in this enchanted city at some point in my life. From China Town to the pier to the yumminess of the Ghirardelli chocolate factory - the city is beautiful.

Snapshots from the weekend

I spent a lot of this past weekend studying

In between cramming I did a little window shopping, ice skating, pancake eating and coffee drinking

I spent a good amount of time lusting over cosy scarfs and hats

I kinda like this time of year - festive and chilly

This time next week I shall be back in England! Whoohoo!

Stay tuned for holiday blogs and snaps

All photos taken using Instagram app for iPhone

A Post for my Mum

Hey Mum,

You know you are about to embark on an adventure of decorating/renovating an entire house?

Well, here is some inspiration for you and your wonderful new kitchen.

I know you wanted light and airy - I think these are all wonderful.

Enjoy your adventure and this opportunity to use your creativity.

Love you always.

VIA

VIA

VIA

VIA

VIA

VIA

VIA

VIA

Christmas Wishes....

 So....Santa....here is my list!

Wooden iPhone case (And a nice new iPhone 4S to go inside would be nice also)

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle 

Maybelline Delicate Pearl Lipstick

Mac Book Pro

Barry M Raspberry Nail Polish

TOMS Shoes 

Joules Socks 

Co Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine

Esprit Scarf

Plaid PJ's

Chocolate (Goes without saying)

But in all seriousness - All I want for Christmas is time with the people I love.

And snow.

And hot cocoa.

TGIF

TGIF

Yes, THANK GOD it is Friday

Friday night......Top Gear and no stress

The square looked so pretty when I got out of class today

I always feel a sense of awe when I see our school lit up at night

Christmas really has come to town.

Happy Weekend Y'all!

All Photos taken using Intagram app for iPhones

Style Crush

If I could raid anyone's closet I would raid Olivia Palermo's

This girl almost stole the spotlight from the beloved Whitney when The City came to MTV

Olivia is always polished and perfect - even when she is just popping out to the corner store for some milk

And she has a pretty fashion forward beau as well

Wishful Wednesday

The wind has been howling all night long and it has not relented yet

I may well not even step outside today

Sad I know

So much study though

I kinda wish I was at this wonderful ocean cliff resort right now 

Or at least I wish I had this to look forward to once this last week and a half of school is over

Yeah - one week and a half now

Roll on Christmas vacation!

VIA

VIA

VIA

VIA

VIA

Winter time

Taken using Intagram App for iPhone

Winter is setting in here at Hogwarts 

(aka University - but that is what it looks like right?)

It is quite a struggle to cycle and get to class on time when the wind is so strong

I really should get up earlier and leave more time to get to school....

Probably not going to happen though in all honesty

Woohoooo only two more weeks of class to go!

AND I did good on my first Dutch test - only two more to go.

But, when it is cold, I think of America and Boise

I think of the mountains

I think of the snow

I think of the ski slopes 

I think of breathtaking views

This is what I think of:

Sally Sargeant Photography

Sally Sargeant Photography

Sally Sargeant Photography

Sally Sargeant Photography

Happy Sinterklaas!

This has been my first year celebrating Sinterklaas with the Dutch

Jeez....I ate so much candy today! 

The Dutch have some pretty yummy treats for the holidays

The weather even reminded us that it is indeed winter today - maybe some snow on the way

Happy Sinterklaas to you all!

(Although I really miss being able to visit Santa in Macy's and sit on his knee)

With Sinterklaas in Amsterdam

With Sinterklaas' Helper

With Santa at Macy's

Sunday Blues

I escaped to the city today.

I had a wonderful time sipping coffee out of holiday cups.

Found some record bargains - Prince and Police!

I ate yummy sandwiches and had some wonderful conversations with dear friends.

But now I am back at school and BBC is showing beautiful scenes of my home county of Buckinghamshire in England.

So I have the blues...because I want to be there and not here.

Right now.

But I am not.

But here is what it looks like - can you see why I love it?

Sally Sargeant Photography

Sally Sargeant Photography

Sally Sargeant Photography

iPhone Instagram