Saturday 4 September 2010

all yellow

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So... you'll have seen this dress a few times on my sister while she was here, but I wanted to wear it too. My sister and I are lucky in that we're the same size in everything (except shoes, rings and gloves) and often buy things with the idea that the other person will also get some wear out of it. And when we're not together, well... ownership reverts to the person who bought it, unless they decide they don't want it anymore!

Yesterday I got a few questions in the comments about my lifestyle. Someone mentioned that they too wanted to up and move to London, and wondered if I had any advice/regrets after several years of this sort of behaviour. I don't consider myself the best person to give advice, but I thought this question might be of interest to a few people, so here is my "wisdom," interspersed with some mellow yellow pictures...

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I don't regret any of my moves, although not all of them were very well-planned or considered. Here are some things I'd keep in mind:

If it's your first time doing this sort of thing, maybe start with baby steps. I first moved from Canada to Scotland. It's different, but not too different, and you don't have to go around trying to open bank accounts in a foreign language. I then moved up to a foreign language but a European culture (Barcelona) and then to the madness of the developing world (Mexico).

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This one's important: don't just go somewhere, give yourself something to do when you get there. Do an internship, take a course, whatever, but have something lined up to get you out and into society. Otherwise you'll have too much time to yourself to mope, feel homesick and be neurotic. For example, I arrived in Barcelona not knowing a soul, but started a course the next day where I met ten people. I didn't have time to feel homesick for months!

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You won't be happy all the time but if you stick with it you'll have a great time! I went to a seminar once that described the stages of homesickness and it was very true. At first, everything is great, then you go through a little slump after about a month. Then things pick up and you find the new culture interesting and entertaining again. Then, after about four months, it ceases to be fun at all. Your spirits crash big time and the things that used to entertain you now drive you nuts and you think everything and everyone is stupid... If you can pull through this without going home in despair, you should start to have the time of your life.

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And in general... try and go with the flow. And make friends with other foreign people, it's way easier than trying to get locals of any country to pay attention to you! Be open-minded, and polish your small talk, at least for the first little while.

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So... if any of you decide spontaneously to move to London... look me up!

Outfit:
Dress: Lady Dutch (my sister's)
Citrine necklace: self-made
Shoes: Fly London

33 comments:

Closet Fashionista said...

Oooh great tips! I would never have the courage to just leave alone XD
http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com/

Diana said...

i've loved your last few posts - you look gorgeous in all of them but i think this yellow dress is my fav! so lovely :) i think your ability to pick up and move to different parts of the world is so admirable especially seeing that many of them you've went knowing no body! you are so brave! i really admire this and would love to be able to do the same. i'm looking forward to seeing your london pictures - what a fun place to live!!

as for your question i go to school at umass boston (in boston) and always move back and forth for summer and the school year. totally NOT as cool as london but fun to decorate ;)

xo

Rio said...

I loved your advise, and I admire your sense of adventure! I also love all things yellow; wearing it automatically makes me smile! :)

SG said...

Nice one. I was also like you to some extent. After I graduating from college, I landed in the USA, at the San Francisco International Airport, without knowing a single soul. Of course, I landed with a Green Card. Then struggle for job, and then a great job. My company then moved me to different cities in USA including Salt Lake City, Utah, and to many countries, including Saudi Arabia. Visited London many times.

20 YORK STREET said...

I live vicariously through you my dear. I always admire a brave soul like you. I'm more of a need stability, I'mma stay here till I bore myself to death kinda person so I've got much admiration to those who can up and move, esp. those ones who do it lovely yellow dresses!

much love

Unknown said...

Hey emily...thanks for your sweet message...if you click on the pcture usually comes a new one and by clicking on it again you can enlarge that.but just wait for tomorrow where I publish the question&answer again.kisses

lahti shirley said...

como falei outras vezes,adooooroooooo suas fotos ! :)

beijos

eagle-eye-cherry said...

Thank you for your advices, I plane to move in London, maybe next year, and I am sure your recommendations will help me. Have a great Weekend!

Closet Fashionista said...

Nope, no french for me, haha...and I took spanish when I went to school XD

Stevia said...

That is a beautiful n perfectly sunny dress
wow! You moved a lot!
Go adventures!

Paulie Antiques said...

Love the dress and shoes!!! :) I really want to go to grad school in London. It's between that and Canada right now :)

love, polly

Lexy @ QUIRKY EXPLOSION said...

GORGEOUS PHOTOS. And the dress is adorable. Yellow is my favourite colour and YOU TOTALLY ROCK IT. So summery. Perfect, as it's RAINING LIKE CRAZY TODAY.

And I'd love to spontaneously move to London! Buy me a plane ticket? Aw thanks gurl!

QUIRKYEXPLOSION.blogspot.com

Lilith-Joutsen.com said...

i like the colour of your dress :)

xx,

http://like-a-good-old-fashion-nightmare.blogspot.com/

the desert foxx said...

I wish I could move to london! these pictures are phenomenal, the yellow is divine!

Amber said...

Hello miss. Thanks for stopping by my blog and I must say your blog is spectacular. Two thumbs up dear!

Emily, Resplendent Tranquility said...

The contrast in these photos is quite mesmerizing. The shades of yellow, the textures... I like them a lot.

Thank you for the music recommendation. I will surely seek out those songs on Youtube when I get a moment. Great Lake Swimmers have a nice selection of videos on their own Youtube page. Their songs are all so wonderfully crafted.

Ah, Persuasion. That's my favorite Austen (right up there with Sense & Sensibility). Sometimes I pick up the book to solely read the chapter with Wentworth's letter. Oh, that letter!

kiran sawhney said...

such gorgeous sunshine yellow dress. I also like your shoes and your self made necklace.

Imogen said...

I love your dress so much. Its incredibly sweet and great for summer. The colour looks amazing on you.

Ashley said...

this is very good advice, thanks! Like...I really took all of it in :)

Did I tell you I'm planning to move to Turkey within the next few months?? I've been dreading the homesickness part of it (I've never moved far from my parents), but I like how you broke it down in steps. It makes it more comforting somehow, like it's a process to get through.

Emilie said...

great advice :) your blog is amazing! I follow with bloglovin, so glad I discovered it :)

xx

hope you follow me back, thanks for visiting me!
lifeisroyalty.blogspot.com

eesa said...

love the necklace! very cute.xx

Anonymous said...

beautiful dress & photos! :) it sounds like you've had an exciting life, moving from place to place...i wish i had been able to do that & fingers crossed i still might one day! :)

thanks so much for visiting my blog & for your lovely comment! :)

www.messyourhairup.blogspot.com

Kerri @ OldLadyChic said...

Wow, that dress is so beautiful! And I love that out of focus picture of you!

Elanor said...

you look lovely!
yellow is such a darling color.

thanks so much for the comment on my blog!
xxoo elanor
missing-lovebirds.blogspot.com

Lenne said...

Oh London! I feel incredibly envious! :D
I really hope that you'll have an amazing experience (:

(P.S You've been gorgeous in all your latest posts!)

ÆTIENNE.NET

Amrit said...

Picture are nice as usual but I liked your advice the best "Be Open minded..."

k said...

your tips for moving are so good. i also think you just have to do it and stop saying you "want" to! the pictures are GORGEOUS with that yellow wall :)(

Louise said...

Cute dress! xx

Anthea said...

Lovely post Emily! I've already said that I like that yellow dress. Honestly, I am going to keep an eye open for a yellow dress and it's all because of you! hehe.

Great advice on becoming home sick. I will surely remember it if I ever decide to move.

raji said...

hey u know wht ruby..all yellow..i wish ur shoes were also yellow.now how crazy was tht?

genevieve said...

Oh, what fun! There is so much to love about this post; your advice, the fun pictures, your adorable dress...

The patterning on the bust line of the dress is so pretty, and your shoes are pure perfection!! I'm most certainly impressed with all of your moves; it takes a bold and brave person to do that. You've got such lovely photos on your blog!

ladydazy said...

I luv yellow, your dress and shoes are wonderful. I like how humbly and thoughtfully you give your wise advise. :)

ladydazy said...

Your necklace is beautiful. You did a beautiful job. :)