Fourth (and Fifth) Months: Already?

Time is passing very quickly here in Leicester! This past weekend we changed clocks already, and it seems that spring has rapidly sprung upon us. A few weeks back we had a bit of snow but it didn't stick around, and I think that was winter's parting gift. At the Castle Gardens, daffodils and other flowers have begun popping up for several weeks now and the songbirds have been much more boisterous.

The longer days have been very nice, although somehow they seem to be passing by faster. I've stayed busy around Leicester, for instance by attending a few shows from the local comedy fest in February as well as continuing to partake in yoga, climbing, libraries, and cafes.

Things have been plenty exciting around my flat as well, I've enjoyed Haggis cooked & shared by my Scottish neighbor, an unrelenting 3 am fire alarm, and chilling with Bonita of course!

Work has also been quite busy, especially related to a new project I've been assigned to in the new year, related to an acquisition my company made recently. It's been a very dynamic, interesting project to be a part of. I'm continuing to learn a lot, but as we're approaching 6 months in the UK we're also beginning to put more thought into what comes next. Our rotational program will end in just a few more months, after which we'll be looking for other full-time opportunities-- it's unreal how quickly the year is passing by!

In the past several weeks, I've also been lucky to have a few chances to meet in person with colleagues I usually only work with virtually. Around St. Patrick's day, I was able to visit our Dublin office and meet more of the team I've been working with on our Life Sciences strategy. Shortly afterward, I made an extremely quick trip to Langenfeld, Germany to meet with more of the team on the newer project I mentioned.

From a personal standpoint, as you've seen recently, I've been doing more travelling outside of the UK, and I am hoping to see more of England and continental Europe in the near future. Other than that, it's also been very nice staying in touch with some friends and family stateside. I connected with a few Purdue friends in Dublin, which was fantastic, plus I've not only had calls with friends and family but also recently figured out the British post system and managed to successfully send along a few letters and postcards.

I'm very much enjoying my time here in Leicester and will continue to do my best to make the most of it!