Goodness! Where has the time gone? For those of you who have been following this blog from the beginning… hello again, old friends! For those of you who may be new, welcome to the adventure.

It’s been a year since I last posted, and oh so much has happened since! I’ve traveled to more far-flung places than ever before (Myanmar, Iran, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Albania and Oman to name a few), found myself a handsome and wonderful boyfriend and then moved across the Atlantic to return to school.

After working four years in the travel industry as an Adventure Guide with Adventures by Disney and on the Expedition Staff for trips around the world by private jet with TCS World Travel and National Geographic, I decided to take a one-year break from travel to pursue a Masters degree. Never one to follow the status quo, I ended up choosing a program on the other side of the world (naturally) and have been living in beautiful Scotland for the last four months attending the University of Edinburgh for a postgraduate degree (MSc) in Entrepreneurship and Innovation! Fitting a Masters program into one year has kept me unbelievably busy to say the least. But as I’ve had a chance to rest during my holiday break, I figured it was time to catch you all up on my life. 

Deciding to take a short break from my my usual travel-packed schedule, which took me overseas about 7-8 months of every year, was one of the most difficult, yet liberating decisions I’ve made. I have spent so much time over the last few years floating from place to place in-between trips that it wasn’t until I settled into my flat in Edinburgh that I remembered how truly special it is to have a place to call home. I have a bookshelf overflowing with books, a wall covered with maps and postcards from around the world and a single cozy chair set in a twinkly-light-covered corner that overlooks one of the most iconic Victorian buildings of Edinburgh! Believe me, the travel bug has not left, but for at least this year I’ve been truly relishing the joys of having home-base in a city like Edinburgh.

Grad school is difficult, yet the content of my studies fascinates me, so I’ve been loving even the hard bits. And of course it helps that the people in my program (I think the 39 of us represent something like 20 different nationalities) are wonderful! On top of school work I ended up as the Managing Director of a team of fellow UofE postgraduate students creating the first scratch-off map of Edinburgh (ScratchEd Maps) as part of a five-month start-up competition for the Scottish charity, Children 1st. In the last three months we have used an initial investment of £500 to create this little beauty, which is now being sold online and in stores across Edinburgh! 100% of all proceeds from this business are donated to charity, and so this project has been incredibly fulfilling to be a part of. It’s allowed my team and I freedom to create something completely unique and the opportunity to show how business can be harnessed for good. If you are interested in ordering a map, you can get yours here!

So thus far, my days in Edinburgh have been filled with wonder (aside from those late nights spent writing 15-35 page assignments every few weeks). I’ve taken to this city like a bear to honey, and can’t get enough. 

I’ve continued to write over the past year and in the coming weeks and months, expect to hear from me again as I share what has been inspiring, perplexing, and drawing me deeper into this awfully big adventure we’re living.

Much love and I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Giselle,
Edinburgh, UK