We are Hobbits of the [York]shire

This weekend I discovered that the best weekends don’t necessarily come from incredible adventures in exotic places, but also from short trips home with close friends.

Flamborough Head

For anyone reading this that doesn’t know, my family is from Yorkshire, a region in the northeast of England in a small seaside town called Bridlington. Yorkshire has always held a special place in my heart, with its striking coastline running parallel to expansive country fields and the moors made famous by Wuthering Heights; so I decided it was high time to share my home with some of my GLS family. 

We took a train up to York from Kings Cross early Saturday morning and were greeted with open arms and warm smiles by the most incredible woman to exist, Elaine. After exploring a little bit of the old town, we headed back to my grandmother’s house for fish and chips, where we ate so much I couldn't breathe.

A wild Eric Alley in his natural habitat

Next stop was the harbor and beach, where Eric decided the water was going to be graced by his presence. He ran full speed, in swimming trunks, into freezing water and promptly ran back out. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone as happy as Eric was as he ran back to us laughing at him on the beach. I love that kid. Then we did one of the things that I hate most in this world: bumper cars. With that said, this was one of the highlights of not just my time in Brid, but this whole semester. I have not laughed that hard in a very long time and watching Eric get out of the car with the donut that he had just bought completely squashed was the cherry on top.

Robes on fleek. Doritos on fleek. 

Regardless of the fact that we had eaten enough food to last us until Christmas, of course I was still hungry. I somehow coerced Eric into thinking going to the grocery store was a good idea, but even more so that he should push me there in my grandmother’s wheelchair. A close encounter with death and half an hour later we came back with cheese and then never even used it, typical. Instead Troy heated up some garlic bread that Elaine had made for us, but really I think he was just trying to burn the house down. One fire alarm later we sat in the in my grandparents robes, watching the parent trap in front of the fire, and I have never been happier.  If you thought that was the end of the attempts to burn down my grandparent’s home by Troy, you’re wrong. The next morning I was woken up by the smell of burning bacon and Troy whispering in my ear that he couldn’t find a skillet. So there he was, using a saucepan to fry bacon. Love him. Needless to say, that didn’t end well and “professional smoke fanner” should be a new skill on my resume.

GLS dads being dads, skipping some rocks

After an eventful day of exploring the Yorkshire coastline, skipping rocks, flying kites and (unsuccessfully) looking for puffins, we walked back to Elaine’s house for a typical English Sunday roast dinner. She made us roast beef, roast potatoes and parsnips, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, stuffing, Yorkshire puddings and enough gravy for Eric Alley to swim in. That woman is incredible.

I’ve written about all that we did, but words can’t explain how happy this weekend trip made me. Going home was great, but really it was the people that came with me that made the trip so incredible. This entire semester has gone by so quickly and I have loved all the opportunities I have been given while over here, but the part that will stick with me the most are the friendships I have made and strengthened whilst here. These people have given new meaning to word family for me, and I can’t wait to see what the next 2 years have in store for us all.

Peace up, A-town down.
-Jennaaaaay