Moving to a new city, or even a new continent, can be completely overwhelming. Whether you're ready to dive into your new culture, or choose to take a moment to register the amazing experience you're about to undertake, it may be difficult to really call your new living space home. In my eyes, there are always options to find solace in a new place. Everyone comes from a different background, with different homes of all sizes and styles, so I challenge you to find your "little things" to feel comfortable in your new quarters. These are the little things I did to make my new apartment feel comforting, or my "home away from home."
Ambient lighting is cozy and inviting. Thankfully, we were provided with a lot of different lighting options in our apartment. These Chinese inspired lantern lamps bring so much warmth to our living room and pair well with the natural light coming through our balcony windows.
Again, thankfully our apartment was equipped with these cubbies, where each of us were able to grab our own and add pictures (Like my roommate, Erica did). I'm still working on mine, but thankfully I have a few months to figure it out.
I decided to pick up some flowers from Las Ramblas this past week, and boy am I glad I did. For about 4 euro, I bought a full bouquet of these little pretties and spread them out around the apartment. Fresh flowers bring me so much happiness, and my roommates loved them too!
Boys and girls: Open your windows! Fresh air is essential to breathing easy! Every time I feel confined to my slightly tight quarters, I throw the window open and take a deep breath. I see no easier therapeutic means of breathing and mentally centering myself.
Ambient lighting is cozy and inviting. Thankfully, we were provided with a lot of different lighting options in our apartment. These Chinese inspired lantern lamps bring so much warmth to our living room and pair well with the natural light coming through our balcony windows.
Again, thankfully our apartment was equipped with these cubbies, where each of us were able to grab our own and add pictures (Like my roommate, Erica did). I'm still working on mine, but thankfully I have a few months to figure it out.
I decided to pick up some flowers from Las Ramblas this past week, and boy am I glad I did. For about 4 euro, I bought a full bouquet of these little pretties and spread them out around the apartment. Fresh flowers bring me so much happiness, and my roommates loved them too!
Boys and girls: Open your windows! Fresh air is essential to breathing easy! Every time I feel confined to my slightly tight quarters, I throw the window open and take a deep breath. I see no easier therapeutic means of breathing and mentally centering myself.
If you need to take it a step further, step out onto your balcony and take a look at your surroundings. Notice details, take more deep breaths, and feel the breeze/warmth on your skin and rest easy.
Your journey in a new country is full of beauty aching to be seen.
Kathleen McPherson is the Fall 2015 CEA MOJO Photographer in Barcelona, Spain. She is currently a junior at the University of Tennessee Knoxville.