How not to cook!

Hello again! How is it going?

Today I took a huge step in adulthood and attempted cooking on my own without any supervision. Two weeks before leaving to go on Erasmus to Germany for 6 months, I asked my mother for a few cooking lessons, just so I would have the basics. I grew more comfortable cooking and got familiar with the oven. So when I was coming over here I was like it's going to be alright! You got this! You can boil potatoes and cook meat! You'll survive six months.

Flash forward to day 10 of living in student accommodation and I am staring at the cooker looking confused. Now I know what your are gonna say: What do you mean day 10? How have not cooked yet? How have you not fainted from lack of food yet? Well dear reader, that is because we had a few meals out for our orientation and also I was too afraid to cook on my own so I suggested to my friends here, why don't we all cook together. That is exactly what I did for at least 4 of those nights. However I felt it was time for me to stand on my own two feet. I was scared to cook in my own apartment because 1. It didn't look clean enough and 2. My roommates were always in the kitchen cooking extravagant meals. I'm still nervous at cooking so I felt intimidated. But not today! My stomach thought feck it Katie, I'm hungry and your bank balance keeps going down so let's just do this!

I selected a simple meal of spaghetti and mince meat. I'm leaving vegetables until tomorrow. They are level two of cooking. After today's adventure I'm not quite sure if I am even ready for level two. Just for the record I can cook spaghetti and I can cook mince. Just not together so that they are done at the same time. Secondly, my cooker DOES NOT say which switch is for which hob. So I had to break cooking rule number one and almost touch the hob to see if it was hot. Thankfully I turned on a switch for a different hob so I did not end of burning myself. I have a feeling that I will by the end of this trip! But practise makes perfect so hopefully I'll have the timing figured out by the end of the month. As for today's attempt:
                       
Imagine a young woman in her 20's with Hermione Grangers hair, eating mince meat by the counter, wondering why the spaghetti is taking ages to cooking. Hopefully with take two I can eat them together!
Until next time,
KT

Move in day!

Evening ladies and gentlemen! What's up?

Today was the big day! Moving in day. O_M_G! As someone who has spent her whole life living at home, moving out can be a little daunting. But that's life and while you're at it, why not jump in the deep end and move abroad! Two birds with one stone or whatever the kids say nowadays.
I have to be honest because honestly is the best policy and all that jazz. I was shocked and a little disgusted! Kitchen looked like there was a food explosion or else someone decided that the white walls were too boring so a bit of food art on the walls would liven up the place. As for the bathroom I could only laugh and walk away. Lets just say that the sink could use its own hairbrush. As for my bedroom, it's white, white and oh white. Except for the bed which I covered in cling film and two layers of bedsheets. I love to throw color everywhere but I guess I'll have to brighten it up with my fabulous personality!

As humans we must learn to adapt to any situation. So on the first night I had my diva moment and shed a few tears. Then I told myself to shut up and move on. I can be bossy at times, even to myself! But how else can one get shit done! Once I unpacked everything it started to feel like it could be home! But I am only here for one month and then I get to move to another fabulous student accommodation. My advice is to bring lots of photos and postcards and whatever else you can think of to make your room feel like your own!

How not to pack a suitcase!

Hello again! What's happening?

I have just had the craziest week where I have been on the go non-stop. As you might guess from the title of this blog, I might of had a few hiccups. Last week was the BIG MOVE. I am still alive so... so far so good. Now lets talk about the first step to any move or travel abroad. Something that is very important and will affect you in the future. I am of course talking about the suitcase (or suitcases) that you are going to bring with you. Now I am the type of person who packs everything and I mean everything. From clothes, makeup, shoes to rubber gloves, cereal and enough supply of pads to make it to the end of the year! There's always those what if moments and I like to be safe than sorry.

So lets fast forward to the night before my flight. I am standing in the kitchen frowning at my suitcases on the weighing scales. I've always been known for over packing but this time I have set a personal record. I was allowed a max of 40KG and somehow I managed to get it to 54.6KG. Don't ask me how! I still don't know! So the night before my flight I am in a panic dashing around trying to get rid of 14kg! According the the airline website they charge €10 per kg that is extra. As a student, I nearly fainted when I realised I was nearly fined €140. So moral of the story, weigh your suitcases to make sure they aren't over weight and don't do it the night before the flight.

Welcome to adulthood!

First of all congratulations on surviving the teenager years. They were awkward AF, from first kisses to first zits. We've all been there and hopefully there isn't that many cringy photos stored on your friends USB for safe keeping. If you're still a teen or have yet to 'enjoy' being a teenager, well......
good luck! But that's not what this blog is about. We have past that stage in life. We are at the beginning of a new chapter.

 Ladies and gentlemen,
 I welcome you to adulthood!

One important thing that I learnt from spending 7 hours a day at school, is that they do not teach you  how to be an adult. We were taught maths, science, business, art, multiple languages, etc. But did they teach you how to do your taxes or how to manage your bank account or sort out your health insurance  or even cook. Nope! Fourteen years of getting an education and I had no idea about any of those things. Google has been my teacher on how to do 'adult things' like trying to figure out P45s and bank drafts. Without Google I would be lost. TBH I am still lost but not as lost as I was. They seriously need to create a module in secondary school where they teach you all about doing your taxes, mortgage stuff, health, etc.

The reason I am starting this blog is because I have reached a big milestone in life. I'm not just taking a step or a leap but I'm bloody jumping off a cliff into the unknown.
And that ladies and gentlemen is me moving out of my parents home for the first time..
and I'm moving to another country.

I am at the grand old age of 22 and I'm in my 3rd year of college. I have decided to go on Erasmus to Darmstadt in Germany for this semester. Am I excited? Buzzing for it! Am I nervous? Terrified! But the main thing is that it's an adventure. This blog is to document my experiences of moving out, moving abroad, learning how to cook, pay rent, explore Germany, go to college abroad, etc. My journey begins on the 26th of February so for the next week I will be trying to squash my clothes and the kitchen sink into my two suitcases.
So until next time,
Ciao for now!
Katie