Harlaxton Manor, even though a thick fog, is grand and
beautiful. If you ever take a quick glance at it from the top of the back gardens,
it will almost appear fake — as if someone is holding a postcard against the
landscape.
Living and studying at Harlaxton can
be a surreal experience and is undoubtedly one of life’s bigger moments. Our lives
are full of these moments. From graduations to birthdays, we all experience
events and opportunities that seem bigger than ourselves. There is a certain
magic to these moments, but sometimes we can go too far trying to make these
experiences perfect.
In the case of Harlaxton, a busy
schedule in the manor and trips every weekend can begin to feel overwhelming.
When we put too much pressure on events to be perfect, we can fail to enjoy our
experience.
When I was in middle school, my
mother and I took a trip to Chicago to see One Direction in concert. At the
time, the trip was a huge moment in my life and I wanted everything to go
exactly as planned. Of course life isn’t perfect, so neither was the trip. We
could have focused on the fact that I forgot to pack my outfit for the concert
or complained about the bad weather, which had ruined our beach day. Instead,
we looked past the inconveniences and focused on the small unexpected moments
of joy.
On the four and a half hour drive
home from Chicago, we stopped at every rest stop and played on the accompanying
playground. We discovered jumbo seesaws and wooden-bench swings. We didn’t take
any pictures or make any Facebook posts about our stops, but when I think back
to this trip, the playgrounds are what I remember the most.
Upon arriving at Harlaxton, I had
plans and ideas of how my semester was going to go. I wanted everything to be
perfect and had high expectations for my every moment abroad. But I now have to
remind myself to find the playgrounds alongside my study abroad experience.
Whether it’s exploring Harlaxton
village on a rare sunny day, eating cheese and grapes in a small village
square, or listening to “The Clash” while drinking hot chocolate at a local
café, small moments influence our larger experiences.
My first weekend trip to London is a
perfect example of little pieces making up the bigger picture. We got lost
trying to find Kerb Market, but stumbled upon a local college campus and got a
peek into student life in London. The pub we planned to spend a few hours in
after our walking tour was full, but we ended up eating at a pub that locals
said has the best bangers and mash in London.
Each plan that falls through or
situation that becomes stressful is simply another opportunity for a new
moment. We didn’t find the market, but I now have amazing pictures of the
streets of London that I wouldn’t have gotten before.
When we look back on our time at Harlaxton we aren’t
going to remember the missed opportunities, but the times we laughed and the
happy memories we made. We will remember the little moments of joy hidden
throughout every day. So even if your classes are hard or you’re homesick or
you miss a train, take the time to find one of life’s many playgrounds and
swing for a while.
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