In May, I interviewed for two jobs, including one where I reached the final two candidates – but neither resulted in a job offer. I also fit in a long weekend in Romania and a short trip to the Malvern Hills. I also experienced my first English heat wave and the start of summer barbecue season. Here’s a look at what I did in May 2026.
Destinations visited:
Bucharest and Transylvania, Romania
Cheltenham, Colwall, and Malvern Hills, England
Favorite destinations:
Transylvania, Romania – I visited Transylvania on a day trip from Bucharest, where I explored Bran Castle, Peles Castle, and Brasov. I was especially struck by these landmarks and the beautiful scenery of the Carpathian Mountains. I’d definitely revisit the region and spend a few days here in the future.
Highlights:
A long weekend in Romania – About a week before my trip, I found a well-timed flight to Bucharest from a nearby airport and decided to go. It was exciting to explore somewhere completely new, especially on my own, which always pushes me a little beyond my comfort zone. I loved learning more about Romania and visiting both Bucharest and Transylvania on a day trip.
A nearby “staycation” in the Malvern Hills – For Mark’s birthday, we rented a house with a hot tub in the small village of Colwall, about 45 minutes away in the Malvern Hills, with two friends. It was a lovely weekend of relaxing in the hot tub, playing games, enjoying good food, hiking to Worcestershire Beacon, and exploring Great Malvern.
Markell making Dean’s List – I’m so proud of Markell for all the hard work put in this semester to earn a place on the Dean’s List!
Summer barbecues have begun – I greatly enjoy barbecue season, and it has officially started here in England! I went to three different barbecues this month, and it was so nice to catch up with friends, eat good food, and enjoy the warm weather.
Challenges:
Interview stress – As I continue my search for a UK based job, this month, I had two interviews, and as expected, preparing for them was very stressful. One also required a specific approach to answering questions, which added another layer of pressure. Although neither opportunity resulted in a job offer, I see the experience as valuable practice and am grateful to have a job in the meantime.
England’s heat wave – Experiencing heat in England has been interesting as someone who spent almost their entire life in the Washington, D.C. area, where summers are both very hot and oppressively humid. I don’t necessarily find the temperatures here too bad on the “hot” days, and the humidity is considerably lower than what I’m used to. What has been more challenging is that the sun feels very strong and the houses are built to retain heat. During the first few nights of the heat wave, I was sweating indoors and throwing off the blankets while trying to sleep. Once I realized that opening a few windows overnight to create a cross-breeze could cool the house down significantly, things became much more comfortable.
Posts:
Looking ahead to June 2026:
I’ll be heading back to the U.S. to spend time with friends and family in Virginia and Maryland. While I’m there, I’ll also be attending three World Cup matches—two in Philadelphia and one in New Jersey. My family has a tradition of going to the FIFA World Cup every four years, so I’m excited to keep that tradition going and enjoy some great soccer. Go Team USA!
What are your plans for June?
Noelle Across The Pond 