Sparks flying

...literally. You know what, don't ask. But Jinn, that certainly wasn't what I was expecting. 

So, what has the new year brought me? Honestly, not much. Things are much the same. Just me plodding along in Holland, trying to battle my way through uni and make some memories. 

It was strange coming back, there was no excitement or fear. Nerves, always nerves, but I'm afraid that's just part of being Natalie. No particular reason is required; they just come and go as they please. Don't mind me.

I don't like returning in the middle of a term. I feel like I don't have time to enjoy being back because I'm frantically battering out thousands of words on my keyboard time and time again. And when I'm not typing? Jabbing at a calculator hoping and praying that the right numbers end up at the bottom of my scribble-filled, smudged statistics assignment. 

Don't get me wrong, I love it here. Completely. But this almost feels like an in-between stage. Semester one people are in the process of leaving, and I have yet to met any of the new, second semester folk yet. That, combined with looming exams and assignments, well...get me out of here! Yuck. 

I'm hoping that once the uni work is out of the way (at least until next time!) that I'll be able to get back into the swing of things. If there is anyone left, that is! Okay, I'm exaggerating. But I can definitely feel the people have who have disappeared. Strange. 

Also, I might have overindulged over Christmas. Mum, dad, I'm blaming you for that! But it's a good excuse as any to kick start my healthy eating/exercise plan again. I've at least been doing pretty good on the food part. 'Cept that one time when I might have had a Mars bar for breakfast... #studentlife. But seriously, I'm making progress! Even made a soup that could challenge my dad's! Exercise, on the other hand...? Well, we'll get there eventually.

My mum's advice? "This should be a life lesson to you: always have a stash of chocolate in case of emergency." Haha, I'm clearly my mother's daughter. Thanks for that little calorific piece of wisdom!

This evening: enjoying my first ever kapsalon with Jinn after our little movie night! 

So, what have I got to look forward to in 2014?

Looking forward...too cheesy?

• If all goes well, volunteering at Rotterdam's international film festival at the end of the month.
• Meeting all the new exchange students in a couple of weeks. Please be my friend! =P
• My brother's Holland venture in March (hurray up)!
• Exploring more of the Netherlands, and maybe even a few other countries. Fingers crossed!
• Then, hopefully, going back to Scotland, getting a job, and maybe, just maybe, learning how to drive.
• Starting my final year at university...that happened pretty fast!

2013 has been a wonderful year, packed to the brim with new people, wonderful moments and experiences. Let's hope 2014 is up for the challenge!