The city is absolutely beautiful with its cobblestone walkways, vintage clothing shops, and old British architecture.

There is so much to see and do in Leeds that confining myself to a lecture theatre almost seems like a disservice to my experience here.

I was dreading this last Saturday more than usual. This Saturday I got to put on my own clothes and eat real food, but all of this was being done at the Miami International Airport. My contract on the ship was over and it was time to go home.

It might be too early to use the “L” word, but Leeds is definitely finding its way into my heart.

It is a very rare occasion when you are not asked for your “good name,” native country and your general opinion of India and its people. And there is something infinitely sweet about that.

I have the mentality that if you’ve been to one beach you’ve been to them all. There is a huge difference between going to a country and actually seeing the country. So if you’re travelling all the way there, why not see the country?

The natural beauty found throughout Canada can make the very act of travelling locally a thrill.

Although many of my co-workers are from Canada, I work with a woman from Brazil, another from Mexico and even one from as far as Ukraine. Interacting with people who have different life experiences and beliefs makes learning about diverse cultures fascinating.

I don’t know if it was nerves, excitement or a nauseating combo of the two, but I wasn’t able sleep last night. Instead, I laid awake for hours going over every detail and potential adventure that might be waiting for me on the other side of the ocean.

Working as a seasonal employee means you also get seasonal sleeping arrangements. You are constantly shuffled around to different parts of the ship to accommodate the passengers and the new crew who are coming aboard.