Here come the girls: how to spend Galentine’s day with your besties
By Nefertiti, from Indonesia, studying Chemical Engineering
It’s me and my girls’ time! Every year I get excited for my Galentine’s plan and this year I am going to Manchester for the first time to meet up with my high school friends who are studying in various parts of the UK.
Lean into your love language
As someone whose love language is quality time, just being with my friends not only charges up my battery but is also my way of showing I care for them, I miss them and I love their presence.
Quality time doesn’t have to be something extravagant or elaborate, it could be as simple as unwinding from a full day of activities with a hot bath, hot chocolate and late-night talks, which is actually my favourite activity of the day. From late-night talks, we can not only laugh through the fun memories we had in the past but also open up about emotions or thoughts that have been weighing on our minds and provide one another with words of affirmation to heal our wounds and come back stronger.
Go away or stay?
Going on trips away could be one way to spend Valentine’s, but there are numerous activities Edinburgh and societies have in store. For example, the Korean Society has a Valentine’s Night event that includes karaoke, Korean drinking games (yes APT APT) and a little questionnaire to get to know each other or maybe find love.
There are usually events in the city too that you might be able to get student discount on entry. For example, there’s a Candlelight concert on the 14 February in St Giles Cathedral. The program includes pieces such as Clair de Lune, Moonlight Sonata, Fantasie Impromptu and more. Tickets go as low as 15 pounds and students get an extra 10% discount through Student Beans.
Remember to look after yourself too
Following the theme of love, how about taking time this Valentine to give yourself some love? Look at the recent signs your body or mind has been calling for, whether it be more sleep, exercise, a massage, a walk on the beach, or watching your favourite Netflix show.
At university, we are constantly interacting with different people and we easily forget to set aside some time for ourselves eventually leading to burnout. I highly recommend a light workout such as pilates or body balance and entering a sauna or a hot bath to warm the body, especially with how cold it is this week. Thank me later once you get that nice sleep.
To end this blog, I want to remind everyone that “before you can love someone else, you gotta learn how to love yourself”. I hope everyone will have fun this Valentine. Live, Love, Laugh. Xoxo – Nef
