well! It’s 3:33pm(I do my best journaling starting on an angel number:)) on October 19th and it has almost been a week since I’ve landed in the UK. In case you’re living vicariously through me (😳🫣😳) I am going to get a bit specific about my journey so far, so let’s get into it!

I had landed in Dublin before my transfer to Bristol and was slightly interrogated by the passport control agent who seemed to feel doubtful that my previous employment at a bed and breakfast provided me enough means to carry me through months of travel. It probably didn’t help that I had spilled half of my glass of wine all over myself on the flight and had a huge purple stain down the front of me that reeked of pinot noir. Honestly, valid! However, I got that stamp and I was on the way.

Up until landing in Bristol, I was feeling pretty great. The anxiety set in a little bit when I was navigating my way through a new place and had developed an entirely new fear of looking like a dumb American who doesn’t know what she’s doing. It’s ridiculous, I KNOW! For some reason though, I really didn’t want to be perceived as a single American girl who doesn’t have a clue. I think it’s more of a safety precaution in my head because if I can come across like I know exactly where I am and what I’m doing, then I am not vulnerable to being taken advantage of. I learn well from my momma to always be on my guard but I am in a place that is completely new to me with different customs and rules and there is definitely an edge of fear to it. Since settling in though, I’ve been able to funnel that emotion differently because it’s exciting and I can be proud of the journey in learning.

Now, I am Swansea with sweet snuggly Harri who makes the stressors in exploring so much easier. What I thought was a quaint marina town is actually the second largest city in Wales. The history of Swansea goes back to the 12th century where the first Norman lord or Gower built a castle that a town slowly started to grow around. In the 17 and 1800s Swansea was given the nickname Copperopolis as it was the leading copper smelting destination in the world. Now, it is the first place I get to explore on my trek across the world!

I have enjoyed all that I’ve seen so far. I started slow as the nerves wore off but this city is very cute! The people are kind and loud and funny. The weather is cloudy but not cold so it’s perfectly moody. I am situated in an apartment right on the marina less than a 10 minute walk to the beach that I can take all the way to the next town when the tide is out. The beer is great, the food is……and the accents are so nice.

I am going to be honest when I tell you that I thoroughly enjoy a good accent. I have been working on them myself because I think they are so much more fun than just American and I honestly kill when it comes to the British accent. However, this has created another dilemma for me as I find myself speaking in a British accent, then realize that the person I’m speaking to probably knows I’m a big phony (I also realize that if they were to ask where I’m from I would be an even bigger phony because there are many accents across the UK and I have no idea where the one I myself have mastered is from), then switch to speaking regularly which I then realize is actually worse. This is something I’ve been trying to hard stop but it’s difficult being surrounded by the same voice I use when talking to myself to not let it slip.

I do feel very grateful to have gotten such a good first pet sit. My spot on the water is so nice, the owners are even nicer, and the dog, Harri, is quite literally perfect. He knows all of the spots that give out treats and creates his own walking path to each one. He will even wait at their doors at night when they’re all closed up. This is a very pet friendly place and all of the dogs are so well behaved they could walk off leash and stay right beside you (unless you’re near the spot on the corner that gives them sausages, of course). Being an animal lover, this is the perfect situation for me!

There are all sorts of little things that I have figured out along the way like how the water heaters here work and how I can’t take shells of the beach. There was a leak in the ceiling yesterday but with a bucket and a box of chocolates from the upstairs neighbor it was no thing! I feel so very proud of myself! Overall, things are going really well and I am even more excited for the next stretch. SO, so excited. However, there is still much to be explored here and I am just barely cracking out of my shell. I hope this little taste will satiate you for now, I am about to have so many fun stories to tell! But I am settled and safe and loving this journey.

Until next post! The universe loves us🤗