Novis Newsletter - January Edition
Hey everyone, hope you've all had a great start to the year. My January has been a pretty busy one with a couple of milestones, lots of goal setting and soaking up the last bit of the break
A Quiet and Wholesome Start to the Year
I welcomed the new year on the Belgian coast with some high school friends. There was lots of Raclette and long walks at the beach, a stark contrast from previous years where I spent the first day of the year nursing a hangover in bed, but the change was very welcome. We also did PowerPoint night again, and I think this might be one of my new favourite traditions and the most entertaining way to catch up with long-distance friends.
Back on the Slopes after Eight Years
After returning to Brussels, I quickly packed and headed to the French Alps with my dad and brother. It was my dad’s first time skiing (spoiler alert, I think it will also be the last) and I hadn’t been in eight years, so it’s safe to say it was a lesson in humility. I joined a class with other intermediate skiers after tumbling down the mountain on my first day (my bruises have finally faded after three weeks), and though I had a couple of meltdowns, I was pretty proud of pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, and even doing my first-ever black run. I was also very entertained by my instructor, who would tell us of tragic or freak accidents every day, keeping us on our toes (think everything from avalanches to getting run over by a snowcat to high-speed collisions where there are never any survivors).
Graduation, the End of an Era and Family Time in London
Getting back to London, I got to reconnect with all my friends from my masters and celebrate all of our hard work. With all my family in town, we also hit up some of my favourite spots in London (brunch at Drury, lunch at Lima and dinner at Beijing Dumpling never disappoint). We also went to a couple of shows in the West End, and after they all left at the end of the month, my job-hunting mode came back in full swing.
Looking Forward and 2025 Goals
My year is properly starting in February, and I’m excited to get back into a routine. I also figured I would share some of my practical 2025 goals and resolutions in case anyone needs some inspo (I’ll leave the boring bits involving jobs and financial responsibility out of it though):
Cook one new recipe a month (I’m paying for that NYT all-access subscription, might as well make good use of it)
Join new clubs - now that I’m out of uni, making friends is a little trickier, and I figured I could use some of my newfound free time (hopefully not for long and I’ll be employed soon) to join a run club or book club and meet some new people
Read 40 books - I love a numbers game and this feels pretty achievable. I also want to limit my time doom-scrolling so hopefully it will also help with that. If anyone has any book recommendations feel free to send them my way!
Julia’s January Recs - To Read, To Watch and to Eat
To Read - My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
I know I’m late to the party, with my mom declaring it the best thing she’s read in the past ten years, and the New York Times putting it as the #1 best book of the century so far I finally joined in. I’ll admit it took me a while to get locked in, and at first, I was overwhelmed by the amount of characters and last names, but I’m officially hooked. A story about a friendship spanning decades (if you’ve been living under a rock, there are four books in the series), it has all the drama, violence, and complex characters to pull you in.
To Watch - MJ The Musical at the West End
Sorry non-London friends, but this is the best thing I saw this month and I haven’t seen anyone talking about it, so if you have the chance to snag some tickets, feel free to invite me because I’m definitely in for a rewatch. Featuring Michael Jackson’s best hits, shiny costumes, dynamic choreography and an eerily close portrayal by the main actor, this is everything you want for a night out and more.
To Eat - Cuscuz de Frigideira
I haven’t done that much home cooking this month, but this has quickly become my new favourite hyperfixation meal. It comes together in under 15 minutes and takes me back to leisurely breakfasts on the Brazilian Northeast coast. To the gringo friends, I recommend finding a Brazilian market near you and giving it a go, and feel free to dress it up however you want.