Saudade /saʊˈdɑːdə/ n. (Portugese)

A bitter-sweet, existential yearning and hopefulness towards something over which one has no control.

The thing with being an international student and walking around a city like Belfast that is so full of art and life, it is almost impossible not to feel inspired. I have always learnt to find my comfort in words wherever, whenever I can. And as I strolled around the City Centre a while back on a warm day, I saw this mural outside the Fish City that reads:

The sea once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.

- Jacques Yves Cousteau

It took me back to the Giant’s Causeway trip organized by the ISE Team at Ulster University where I got to meet the sea for the first time in my life. Coming from a small landlocked country, Nepal, thousands of miles away from here - the sea has always been fascinating to me. I am so thankful that I got to enjoy a full day of exciting adventures with fellow students and the ISE team!

Here is a bittersweet note of love for home and the sea -

From the viewpoint near the Giant’s Causeway.

Spotted a rainbow at the Giant’s Causeway.

I always knew that I’d love the sea

the minute I saw her.

It felt like an obvious kind of love.

No matter how distant or foreign

we were to one another,

the love felt destined.

The morning that I saw her,