Summer 2021

Every year I think it will be my last summer at home and then it turns out not to be! 2021 was another summer at home but it was completely different from last year.

I have been doing a cleaning job 4-5 days a week for a local cleaning company. I clean a mixture of caravans, lodges, holiday cottages, private houses and restaurants. It's been a good job, varied and interesting. It's kept me busy over the last few months and allowed me to save up some money for my year abroad next year.

I have been preparing for my year abroad throughout the summer which involves so much more organising than I ever could've imagined. The paperwork seems to be endless, from visas, residency permits, vaccinations and insurance to sorting out accommodation, travel and courses. I leave for Switzerland next weekend and plan to write some blogs on the whole experience.

I completed an online TEFL course to learn how to teach English as a foreign language and also started writing and editing for a new blog with my friends. I've read a few books and am currently trying to finish Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China before I leave. It's a really interesting story which tells some of the history of China over three generations.

I've had one of the most sociable summers of my life, keeping up with people both virtually and in person and catching up with friends from years ago. I took up tennis again, went on some cycle rides and tried out new places in St Andrews. I've kept very busy and overall it's been a pretty great summer! Despite Scotland still having some covid restrictions in place, things have felt relatively normal this year.