Catch Me Up!

Hello all!!

I’ve been SO busy that I’ve been here nearly a week and haven’t updated you guys with too much. I’m really sorry for that, but as I sense that the beginning of the school year is a bit hectic for everyone, I hope you’ll forgive me a bit.

So what have I been doing? I’ve been doing tons of walking around and trying to fit myself into what it’s like here. London seems to daunting when you look at a map, but when you take the tube or the bus or walk to somewhere, you find that you begin to understand how it all connects.

First British apple ever pared with some Lizi's Treacle Pecan Granola. Cute dishes? They came with little creme brule's in them that my parents ate!

For example, I walked from SOAS around past Russell Square the other day and found that I could have kept walking and met Covent Garden! I had no idea I was so close!

Note to self: get proper cutlery

Doing all the walking is making me both exhausted and excited at the same time. I’ve been getting to sleep far later than I usually do (read: around 1130pm) and waking FAR later than I usually do (the night after I stayed up until 4am clubbing, I woke at 1130AM- first time ever!) I’m hoping my sleep schedule goes back to normal soon.

Jet lagged and ready to go

Obviously I still need to pay attention to my sleep habits. Hard to make friends with people AND maintain your health on the sleep side, isn’t it?

I haven't taken as good a photo in the mirror as this since. I rather like this one. Only you can't tell I've been crying

The first bit after my parents left was rough, I’ll say it. I mean, this is my third year of college, and I spent the entire summer last summer abroad, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hit me the same every time. What I’ve learned is that the first night and next morning is awful, but I’ve got to get out and meet people, there’s no other way to do it.
Apart from looking in the mirror while your shoulders wrack with sobs and tell yourself it’s fine. and then have some Fromage Fois with a plum and Lizi’s Treacle Pecan granolaand head out for the day!

This stuff is good. Consistancy like greek yogurt, taste a bit more savoury (added a bit of stevia), but holy protein! Whole thing was 30g!

I felt a bit better after this. I also let my parents have their fun off in Bruges. I’ll do another post about living abroad and the normalcy of homesickness later this week. It is something I think many people struggle with, whether they’re homesick for their parents, friends, bed, house, school, grocery store, or their favourite spot next to the window in the morning. We all have things we are fond of and are bound to miss when we go away.

I've got to recreate this. The granola was the perfect combo in here. If you haven't tried the stuff, you've simply got to. I'd never have picked it out myself (too scared) but my mom put it in the cart. Boy, am I glad she did.

I interviewed for a Nanny job a couple stops away from here on the tube. I landed it and will now be pulling in an extra ~£90 a week to fuel Whole Foods salad bar ventures and travel. Or just to pocket and keep. I haven’t decided yet.

Sainsbury's instant latte mix....not too shabby. On reduced, so I was tempted. Night after clubbing + interview = need caffeine bad.

Any ideas of where to travel inside the UK or abroad? I’ve been to and loved Amsterdam, Scotland, Not much of Wales yet, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Dubai and Taiwan. I’m looking for anything really, I just love to travel!! I’m also a sucker for architecture, naturally and beautiful countrysides/landscapes.

And a review for you!! We went to Whole Foods on Kensington High Street, here in London, and wow, if there was ever a foodie mecca, that would be it. 3 floors of Natural goodies and food offerings. I was in total heaven. Now usually I don’t do this (reference anyone?), this being buy granola. I’m never sure if the serving size will hold me over long enough, and I’m usually too scared of their nutrient density and amount of sugar/fat. If my mom hadn’t put it in my cart, I probably would have looked longingly at it and passed it by as usual. But this time my mom was aiming to set me up well, she added this to my cart full of oats, squash and almond milk.

Lizi's Treacle Pecan Granola.

This stuff is good. I mean, I was really happy I got it. Lizi’s makes great granola inspired by years of serving it to guests in her Oxfordshire B&B. She finally made it into a business and after tasting, I can see why.  Nuts and seeds would normally turn me off in a conventional cereal but here they are presented as being a source of heart healthy fat and essential vitamins. I love the smattering of Pecans and pumpkin seeds that mingle with the treacle dusted oatsin this product!

A scenic view of the granola vista

The granola is based on oats, which are great because of their low glycemic load. Lizi explains more about the difference between glycemic load and index here. and I recommend you check out the link if you’re wondering, it really informed me and made me feel even better about what I was eating.

I'm loving these little serving dishes.

The key, according to this bit, is to eat complex carbs which will keep your blood sugar steady. I always get shaky if I get hungry and haven’t eaten, so this is key for me. The GL tells you how the food affects your blood sugar. The website says;

“The Glycemic Index (GI) is also an important factor, but it only tells you about the quality of the carbohydrate in the food. You end up with some funny choices if you just look at GI. For instance, watermelon has a GI of 72, which is very high, but its GL is only 4g per serving, which is very low. So watermelon is fine to eat – it will hardly affect your blood sugar at all.”

I’ll take that

granola-->hand-->mouth. that's how it's done.

I have a community garden meeting now. Did you know that the community garden is right around the corner from my residence hall? I know, how could I not go and take advantage of it??

Hope you’re all staying cool. I’m sure not and I’m the one who brought all long sleeves because I was prepping for cold! Gah, London!

Love, Hannah

I cannot

A stark change from yesterdays euphoria but
I cannot express my feelings at this moment.
This has hit too, too close to home, finally, and it strikes my heart.
I just received an email from the Dean of the college to express her condolences for the recent death of a student, yesterday. This girl was a senior, due to graduate in may. She was a double major, author of a blog, successful leader of our chapter of Active Minds and had been recently accepted at two graduate schools.
This girl had an eating disorder.
We’ve never spoken but I’ve seen her many times across campus, speaking out for recovery and advocating for education about the illness. I can’t tell whether I wish we had spoken, or if I would be more upset having had made a relationship with her. I can only tell you that this is real. People can die from this. I could die from this. You could die from this. We need to remind ourselves what really matters.
Is it the size our our bodies? or what is in our hearts? Easier said than done, I know. I’m one to talk; who struggles between two sides of my own mind daily. But I need to make these choices and this serves as a reminder of what is the right thing for me to do. What I am meant to do and what can truly open my life to all the things on my bucket list and beyond.
This isn’t something you just hear about. It is right outside your front door, it is on your campus of 2500 women.
and all I can say is
well, to be quite honest, I cannot say right now. I’m at a loss for words. My heart is full of love and hope and support and respect for all those struggling with Eating Disorders and I hope that we can all take things like this and truly give them thought.

And to this bright young woman: We will miss you. The world, and I, who have never even told you my name.
Rest in beautiful peace.