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Bikes were parked everywhere

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One of the most recognizable bridges in Amsterdam

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Safely arrived in Amsterdam

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I'm currently staying at Anni's so I thought this was an appropriate time to share this:

It is the "Wall o Art" which has slowly been built over the course of this year and includes both old pieces which Anni has brought with her and new items which have been collected this year.

In a Year

“There is a kind of magicness about going far away and then coming back all changed.”
From New Chronicles of Rebecca by Kate Douglas Wiggin

You don't realize how much happens in a year until you starting examining it. As I wrap up my time in the UK I look back and am amazed at everything that has happened both here and back home.

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Clean house - check

Bags packed - check (well, sort of, but that's a tale for another time)

House key turned in - check

Good cry - do to

Completely moved out

Where has the year gone? 

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This is what our lives have become

being excited for a free backpack that will hold more stuff for the journey homeward

She made me touch the lower-back pad because it was "so soft" - what has become of us? 

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Great time at Shadya's going away party - I'm going to miss this girl!

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Long lunch with my WMG peeps before we all disperse to our own countries

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Final Roomie Dinner

The three kitchen buddies 

(aka Harold & Kumar - apparently I get to be Neil Patrick Harris, I don't get it, but this is Zain and Ting's metaphor, not mine, so I went with it)

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 For the first time in my life I get to celebrate my birthday at the end of the school year, instead of the beginning! 

I had a great time with my friends on a day trip and then some cake at Anni's, the weather even cooperated!

Oh, and since it's my birthday I'm doing what I want and am having more than one pic - so there.

With the girls at the Broadway Tower

Course I had to get my pic next to this!

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And so the packing begins . . .

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Having dinner with friends for my birthday

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Dinner with the guys

Well, really the guys eating dinner

Best part is that they look like they are posing but they refused to do so, this is just how they are

Love it

A Beach Holiday

'"What do you like doing best in the world, Pooh?'
'Well,' said Pooh, 'what I like best-' and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called. And then he thought that being with Christopher Robin was a very good thing to do, and having Piglet near was a very friendly thing to have; and so, when he had thought it all out, he said, 'What I like best in the whole world is Me and Piglet going to see You, and You saying "What about a little something?" and Me saying, "Well, I shouldn't mind a little something, should you, Piglet," and it being a hummy sort of day outside, and birds singing.'
'I like that too,' said Christopher Robin, 'but what I like doing best is Nothing.'
'How do you do Nothing,' asked Pooh after he had wondered for a long time.
'Well, it's when people call out at you just as you're going off to do it, "What are you going to do, Christopher Robin?" and you say, "Oh, Nothing," and then you go and do it. It means just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.'
'Oh!' said Pooh."
From The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne

So after months of stress, cold weather and clouds in England we'd finally had enough. Over a month ago we decided to go to Portugal once our dissertations were submitted.

The original plan included a group of about eight.  Not shocking, as the day got closer people dropped like flies.  By the middle of August, Anni and I were the last ones standing.  But we were going to take this vacation even if it was just the two of us.

After some recruiting we convinced Sandra,  Kanar, and Shapol to join.  But as August rush by and our deadlines snuck towards us,  we put off and put off booking.  The week before, calamity struck - Kanar and Shapol, who are Kurdish, weren't going to be able to acquire visas in time.

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We spent a few hours in Faro before heading to the airport

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Sandra and me drinking mimosas with a poolside breakfast - this is the life!

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Another beautiful day in Portugal

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Let the Beach Vacation Begin!

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The girls came over to my place and I made them stuffed cannelloni

We planned to go to the cinema but we were all so tired it was postponed to next weekend