Lost & Found Magazine: Spring 2025 Issue

LOST &

FOUND

m a g a z i n e

SPRING 2025 | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 1

ABOUT

THE

MAGAZINE

Lost & Found is the place where lost stories go to be found. A collection of

photos, conversations, tales, and fails from around the world. A place for people

to connect over recommendations, experiences, and unprofessional advice.

Like the lost and found bin, you never know what you might find here.

All images and writing are protected by copyright 2025 Madison Hall. All rights reserved.

NOTE FROM

THE CREATOR

Hi there! I’m Maddie, a 24 year

old with no idea what I am

doing. I left everything and

bought a one way ticket to

Europe. Twice. I feel most at

peace with just a suitcase and no

plan. I constantly daydream

about far away places and

sometimes need someone to

bring me back to Earth. Like

many others, I have found my

20s to be a time of constantly

losing and finding versions of

myself. A cycle of grieving the

loss of one identity while

jumping into a new one. What a

terrifying and exciting time in

life!

I started this magazine as a

creative outlet and passion

project. It doesn’t take itself too

seriously. It can be whatever it

wants to be. I have dedicated

this first issue to reflecting on a

recent trip I took this fall

through the Netherlands,

England, Ireland, and Scotland.

Traveling solo, I often used my

photography and writing as a

witness to my experiences. A

way to hold onto memories and

say “It was real! I was there!”

Here I share these moments

with you.

I hope for this magazine to

become a place for others to

share their own thoughts and

experiences in the world. Born

from the desire to connect, L&F

is a place for wandering

nomads, happy homebodies,

and everyone in between. We

are all a little lost, let's be lost

together. Come hang out. I hope

you’ll stay awhile.

Maddie Hall

CREATOR OF L&F MAGAZINE

A LOST 20 SOMETHING

A WITNESS TO LIFE

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

FEATURES

One Way Ticket to the Netherlands 5

Finding Home In Yourself 9

Living with Less 13

*NOT SO*

GUIDES

Hidden Gems of the Netherlands 17

Following Irish Folklore 19

Pub Culture: Is this what the US is missing? 22

An Education on English Slang 25

Museums Actually Worth Your Time 27

PHOTO ESSAYS

31 A Train Ride Through Ireland

33 A Day in Ghent, Belgium

37 Scenes of Scotland

39 People Watching in Vondelpark

41 A Day in The Dutch Countryside

THE L & F LIST

43 Losing and Finding in 2025

CONTENTS

FEATURES

I BOUGHT

A ONE WAY

TICKET TO THE

NETHERLANDS

T

he older man riding

his bike towards me

waved his arm and

called out to me in

Dutch. I smiled and

waved back at him.

Wow, what a nice

old man. The

people here are so

friendly, I thought

to myself.

As we got closer, he yelled

again. Only now, I could see

the expression of utter concern

and confusion on his face. The

way he looked at me, I may as

well have had “Dumb

American” written on my face.

Oh sh**. I was going the wrong

way down a one-way bike lane.

&

Instinctively, I swerved and did a

180-degree turn onto the other side

of the road before anyone else

noticed. It was my first time

attempting to ride a bakfiets,

otherwise known as a Dutch cargo

bike, and it was not going well.

Still recovering from jet lag induced

by a 15-hour journey from Los

Angeles the day before, life didn’t

feel real. Ten days ago, I had no

idea I would be in the Netherlands.

Now I was teaching myself how to

ride the utility bike I would be

using to drive two Dutch children

around town. I hadn’t ridden a bike

in probably two years and had

severely underestimated the

Olympic sport that is biking in the

Netherlands.

The bike was a bit too big for me

and the large cargo basket in the

front made it difficult to find my

balance. My legs shook and my

palms grew sweaty as I tried to

stay in a straight line. I just

needed to get by without causing

a multi-person bike collision.

Surrounding me on all sides were

local residents riding to work,

taking their children to school, or

running errands on their bikes. I

observed this new world around

me and considered my new part

in it. I successfully drove through

multiple stop lights and started to

feel pretty good. I quickly

snapped out of it when I realized

one thing: I did not have enough

control to stop this bike.

Zaanse Shans, Netherlands

Before I proceed, you may be wondering

how I got here. You and I both. Well, let's go

back to the beginning of this story.

A few months earlier, I was scrolling

through Workaway.com, a site where people

post volunteer and job opportunities around

the world. I routinely browsed this website,

imagining myself volunteering on a vineyard

in Italy or a surf camp in Portugal. The site

had come to serve the same purpose to me as

a dating app—something to swipe through

for some entertainment without actually

expecting anything to come from it. I

scrolled past a post from a family looking for

a short term au pair in The Hague, the

Netherlands. I stopped scrolling.

Something about the adorable children and

picture-perfect family stood out to me.

Before my mind could object, my fingers had

responded to the listing, sending an email to

the mother who posted it. When I didn’t hear

back from her, I figured they had found

someone else and put it out of my mind. It

was a long shot anyways. But then, one late

summer morning I woke up to a surprise- a

response to my email! The next thing I knew,

we were FaceTiming and getting to know

each other. She was so kind and the family

seemed like a great fit. I left that call feeling

excitement buzz through my body.

Recovering from the effects of a year filled

with newfound health uncertainty and

purpose anxiety, I needed to do something

drastic to break my current cycle. I bought a

one way ticket for the very next week.

LOST & FOUND MAGAZINE 6

“Holy f*** I’m in The

Netherlands, what the

f*** is happening”

Now, back to where we were...

Unable to stop the bike without

completely tipping over, I

continued straight and drove

directly toward a high school. I

swerved dramatically, trying to

regain control. I tried to put my

feet on the ground but they could

not reach. I finally came to a

complete stop... by running into

the side of a parked BMW. I

struggled to free the front of the

bike from under the car, keeping

my face turned from the group of

teenagers watching this

trainwreck, or bike wreck,

happen. I quickly assessed any

damage to the bike or car, relieved

to find that the only thing

damaged was my already battered

ego. Completely humbled, I gave a

nod to my audience, got back on

the bike, and pedaled away.

By the time I made it back to the

house, I felt defeated. How was I

ever going to drive the children

around in this thing? Riding that

bike seemed like a liability, but

taking the children to their

activities was a main part of my

role as their au pair. I was already

figuring out what I would do when

they inevitably had to replace me

with someone who could actually

ride the bike.

In the depths of my spiral, the

mother walked into the kitchen

and asked how it went. I told her a

bit of what happened, sparing just

a few details, and she just assured

me it takes some getting used to

and that I will get the hang of it. I

had no idea where her confidence

in me came from, but I hold onto

it and delusionally persuade

myself she is right.

Later that day, I was tasked with

driving the oldest boy to his swim

class across town using the

bakfiets. I thought of my

experience earlier that day and

became dizzy with anxiety. My

better judgement should have

explained that I would not be

riding that bike ever again.

Clinging to the mother’s

unexplainable faith in me, I

decided to give it one more

chance. If it didn’t go well, I

would immediately stop and call

for assistance. But, it had to go

well. I felt as if my whole stay

depended on it.

I picked up H, placed him in the

front, and walked the bike out to

the street. Taking a deep breath, I

pushed off and started pedalingin

the correct direction this time.

To my surprise, I rode with ease.

Instantly, I found the momentum

I had lacked earlier. As it turned

out, having weight in the front

actually helped with balance. I

felt on top of the world.

The route to the swim class took

us through the city, then onto a

long passage through a small

forest, surrounded by trees and

other bikers using the shortcut. I

remained focused but allowed

myself quick glances around to

admire the Dutch architecture and

lush greenery. I could hardly

believe that this was an everyday

commute for so many people.

Taking a deep breath, I let myself

feel everything at once—the

anxiety, the uncertainty, the

excitement, and the awe. For the

first time since sending that email,

my mind finally caught up with

my body. I laughed and thought:

“Holy f***, I’m in the Netherlands.

What the f*** is happening?”


Finding Home in Yourself:

How Solo Travel Changed My View On Loneliness

How Solo Travel Changed

My View On Lonliness

I once heard someone say that joy needed a

witness, that happiness was only real when it

was shared.

I never agreed with this until I went on a solo

trip halfway across the world.

To be honest, when I first wrote this I said the

exact opposite. I went on about how I grew to

love being alone and felt immense freedom. I

had successfully felt joy being all by myself.

The more I read it, the less it resonated with

me. It actually kind of made me want to slap

that person across the face. How could I write

something so false?

The thing is, I didn’t realize it was false when I

was writing it. I liked to see myself as an

Elizabeth Gilbert Eat, Pray, Love type who

booked the solo trip and was forever changed.

Or the traveler who seamlessly hops around

the world urges you to “fall in love with your

own company!” I wanted to claim that I was

able to find all the fulfillment I needed in

seeing new places and in no one else. I really

believed that I did.

The year leading up to this trip was a time of

newfound solitude. Going from University to

traveling with my best friend, I rarely had a

moment where I was alone. I lived with five

girls for five years, always having social

connections within arm’s reach. After leaving

the comfortable cocoon of my college town, I

was introduced to a new friend called

loneliness.

I unconsciously ran from this unwanted

companion, picking up and constantly moving

around, never truly feeling settled in my new

home. I thought I could distract myself enough

that it would just go away. This would work,

the presence vanishing as I planned weekend

trips to visit friends or made myself busy with

meaningless work.

But alas, it was always there to greet me when

the festivities were over like a reliable

welcome home. It tapped on my door, begging

me to let it inside.

I plotted and planned my ultimate getaway,

booking a ticket halfway across the world

where it could not follow me. I was going to

conquer loneliness and prove just how well I

do on my own. I packed my bags and went on

my way, finally feeling freedom from my

invisible counterpart.

But there it was, following me from a distance,

waiting for the right moment to latch on and

make its presence known. It consumed my

mind with flashbacks of traveling with my best

friend, seeing her outline in the chair across

from me that was now empty. The unsettled

feeling only grew stronger the further I ran

from it, growing powerful from my resistance.

It made sure I knew it was there no matter

how many people I surrounded myself with.

I finally gave up. I let it inside and surrendered

to it’s cold embrace, feeling its hollow chill run

through me. Defeated, I sat with it and offered

it a cup of tea. I invited it to come out with me

the next day.


I was not going to win this battle by

outrunning or outsmarting it. So, I allowed my

loneliness to join me, accepting it as part of

myself. It turned out to be pretty good

company. When I allowed myself the

permission to experience life with no witness,

I no longer felt the weight of being alone. I

actually, truly enjoyed it.

The days I spent with myself felt sacred. I went

to new cities, took pictures, and allowed

myself to move at my own pace. I wrote, ate

good food, and talked to whoever I could.

Being someone who usually goes with the flow

of other people’s plans, I felt proud of myself

for being intentional with my time. I was no

longer able to get external validation or

security, forcing me to find comfort and home

within myself alone.

But here’s the truth- Even though I enjoyed my

time alone, I don’t think I can claim that I felt

joy alone. I now realize being comfortable and

being truly happy are two different things.

Just because I had built a home in myself did

not mean I needed to lock the front door and

hide the key. I hated to admit it, but my

company alone was still not enough. I felt

peace but craved connection. I felt like I was

failing at the whole solo traveling thing.

Meeting people and then going our separate

ways became harder and harder each time.

But I moved along, finding refuge in the house

I built in myself until fate decided to plop

someone else on my doorstep. And it did.

When I least expected, my path crossed with

family and old friends which filled me to the

brim with excitement. I met new friends that I

now hold close to my heart. I was on a city

tour alone when I met Anna, a fellow solo

traveler that I instantly connected with. We

did not separate once for weeks until our

tearful goodbye as I headed to the airport to go

home. I carry all these moments closer than

any place I saw.

Traveling alone made me accept that I can be

content on my own while still needing others

to find joy and happiness. This does not

diminish my independence. Like many things,

there is a balance. (Most do not need to fly

across the world to discover these things, but

that’s besides the point.)

I have found that life will bring people into

your world if you are willing to put yourself in

a position to meet them. And sometimes you

have to be willing to be alone in order to be in

those positions. I remind myself of this as I

anxiously wonder what will come next in my

life. So to myself and anyone who needs it:

Go do the things you want to do- even if it

means going alone. I can’t promise that the

shadow of loneliness will leave you alone on

the way. It will knock on your door, begging to

come in when you least expect it. Do not run

or let this discourage you. Invite it inside, sit

with it, then let it go on it’s way.

“When I allowed myself the

permission to experience

life with no witness, I no

longer felt the weight of

being alone. I actually,

truly enjoyed it.”


LIVING WITH

LESS

If outfit repeating were a crime,

then I’d be in federal prison.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. While on my

three month trip this fall, I ended up

rotating the same three pairs of pants and

two sweaters only spicing it up by which

jacket I would throw on top. If it was cold, I

would put on the one pink striped scarf I

had. To finish off the look, I wore the same

pair of trainers every single day. Yes, you

read that right. I wore the same pair of

shoes every day for three months straight.

They accompanied me on hikes, walking

tours, and bars alike. If that doesn’t earn

someone a sponsorship from New Balance,

I don't know what will.

It was as if I was a character with only five

options on how I could look. As far as my

skincare and makeup, I left everything at

home that wasn’t absolutely essential.

Being in a culture that constantly shoves

trends and the new skincare routines in

your face, this all felt very controversial.

The truth is, this trip was not about

making any fashion statements or getting

Instagram photos. I would be alone or

with children for most of the trip so even

getting a photo of myself seemed

unlikely. (And to the people who post

perfect pictures with perfect outfits on

their trips- I see you, I respect you, I wish

I were you, and I truly appreciate you.)

To my relief, I found that most Dutch

people dress pretty simple so I never felt

out of place. If you have read the first

part of this magazine, you’ll have picked

up that I was working as an au pair to

two young children for the first half of

my trip. By the time this portion was

over, half of my clothes were stained

with mud from the dogs or paint from

the children. These are signs of a life well

lived, but wearing these out would be a

social crime that might actually get me

put in European federal prison.

So, I got one new sweater and then

powered through with a limited

wardrobe for the rest of my trip. I had

the urge to go on a shopping spree, but

resisted to save the weight in my luggage

and more importantly save my bank

account. I was hoping around cities

every few days so I figured no one would

ever know that I was committing these

crimes right under their nose.

While my lack of choice was first

annoying and restricting, it ended up

being a blessing. I found it freeing not

having any choice on what to wear. I

woke up, put on one of few outfit

choices, and then went on with my day. I

feel Steve Jobs was onto something. For

the first time, I was more concerned

with what I was experiencing than what I

looked like and I never felt better. The

anxiety of getting dressed no longer

inflicted me. And yes, show on the

record I did laundry very regularly and

was in fact very clean and hygienic.

Even after arriving back home to my

full wardrobe, I still find myself rotating

through the same few articles of

clothing. Over half of my clothes sit

there awaiting the day I’ll finally let

them see the outside world. Dream on,

silly useless clothes.

I suppose this story should have a

message, so here is what I learned and

what I urge you to consider:

You don’t need as many things

as the world and social media

are telling you. You can live

with less and be happy. You are

enough and you have enough. I

promise.


LIVING WITH

LESS

LIVING 10 Things WITH to

LESS

It was as if I was an avatar with

only a few options on how I could

look. As far as my skincare and

It makeup, was as if I left was everything an avatar with at home only a

few

that

options

wasn’t

on

absolutely

how I could

essential.

look. As

far as my skincare and makeup, I left

Being in a culture that constantly

shoves trends and the new skincare

absolutely essential. Being in a culture

that

routines

constantly

in your

shoves

face,

trends

this all

and

felt

the

new skincare routines in your face,

If outfit repeating

were If outfit crime, repeating then I’d everything at home that wasn’t

be were in a federal

1.Plug crime, prison.

adapter then

I’d be 2.Airtags in federal-1 for bag, very 1 controversial. for passport

prison. I’ll let you in on a little

secret. While

3.Luggage

on my three

lock this all felt very controversial.

month I’ll let trip you 4.Flip this in on fall, flops a little I ended for shower

up secret. rotating While the on same my three

pairs of 5.COMFORTABLE pants and two sneakers

month trip this fall, I ended

sweaters up rotating 6. only Travel the spicing same size three it up of by GOOD shampoo and

which pairs of jacket pants I and would twothrow

on sweaters top. If only conditioner- was spicing cold, I up wouldyour hair will thank

put by which on the jacket one pink striped

scarf I had.

you I would

throw on top. To If finish it was off cold, the

look, I would I wore 7.Paper put on the the same one scan pair pink

of your passport

trainers striped scarf every I single had. To day. finish Yes, truly appreciate you.)

you off the read 8.

look, that Copy

I right. of

wore I the wore any prescriptions you

same

the pair same of trainers pair have of every shoes (and single every the prescription of

day. for Yes, three you months read that straight.

They right. accompanied I wore course) the same pair on

hikes, of shoes walking every day tours, for and three bars

alike. months If

9.

straight. that

Compression

doesn’t Theyearn

packing cubes- game

someone accompanied a changers!

sponsorship me hikes, from half of my trip. By the time this

New walking Balance, tours, I and don't bars know

10.Small compact mirror

what alike. will. If that doesn’t earn

someone a sponsorship from

New Balance, I don't know

what will.

BRING

The truth is, this trip was not about

The making truth any is, this fashion trip was statements not about or

making getting any Instagram fashion statements photos. I would or

getting be alone Instagram or with photos. children I would for most be

alone of the or trip with so children even getting for most a photo of the

trip of myself so even seemed getting a unlikely. photo of (And myselfto

seemed the people unlikely. who (And post to perfect the people pictures

who with post perfect perfect outfits pictures on their with perfect trips- I

outfits see you, on their I respect trips- you, I see I you, wish I I were

respect you, and you, I I truly wish appreciate I were you, you. and I

Keep doing the Lord’s work.)

To

To

my

my

relief,

relief,

I found

I found

that

that

most

most

Dutch

people dress pretty simple so I never

Dutch people dress pretty simple so

felt out of place. If you have read the

I never felt out of place. If you have

first part of this magazine, you’ll have

picked

read the

up that

first

I

part

was

of

working

this magazine,

as an au

pair you’ll to two have young picked children up that for I the was first

working as an au pair to two young

portion children was for over, the half first of half my of clothes my trip.

were By the stained time with this mud portion from was the over, dogs

or half paint of from my clothes children. were stained These are with

signs mud of from a life the well dogs lived, or but paint wearing from

these children. out would These be a social are signs crime of that a

might life well actually lived, get but me wearing put European these out

federal would prison. be a social crime that might

actually get me put in European

federal prison.

10 Things to

LEAVE

1. Blowdryer

2. Heels- cobblestone streets and heels are

not friends

3. Running only shoes- you may have good

intentions but trust me, you will walk

enough

4. Makeup you have never used- you

probably aren’t going to start wearing it

abroad

5. Books- tempting but not worth the space

6.Extra jewelry- not worth losing it

7.More than one purse

8. Stanley/Hydroflask or any huge water

bottle

9. Extra electronics

10. Excessive athleisure clothes


GUIDES

Photos: The Hague, The NL

NOT SO

Hidden Gems of

The Netherlands

Not Hidden,

Just Not Amsterdam!

Photo: Zaandam, The NL

Utrecht

This might be my favorite Dutch city.

Another University town, it has a

young energy yet felt extremely laid

back and livable. Surrounding the

bell tower that centers the town are

streets lined with shops and cafes. I

had the best day walking in and out of

bookstores, discovering peaceful

hidden gardens, and browsing

antique shops.

How long I recommend: 1-2 days

The Hague

This is the city I was based in and

spent most of my time during my

stay. I absolutely fell in love with it

here. It has great transportation,

amazing parks, the BEACH, sand

dunes, great cafes, Dutch

Parliament, the UN Peach Palace,

beautiful neighborhoods, and a

theme park with miniature

windmills. What else can you ask

for?

How long I recommend: day trip

Rotterdam

If we are talking about Amsterdam’s

family tree, Rotterdam is the edgy,

younger sibling that feels

misunderstood by the rest of the

family. This is the only city that

doesn’t have typical Dutch

architecture due to being bombed in

WWII. The new buildings and

modern design make it a

playground for architects to try

things outside the box. Or shaped

like a box (See example). You may

even see surfers on the canals if you

are lucky.


Delft

Right outside of The Hague, Delft is a

charming, quaint city with canals,

antique shops, cafes, cobblestone

squares, and the coolest Subway

sandwich shop I’ve ever seen. They are

known for producing Delftware- iconic

Dutch blue and white ceramics.

PS- Does purchasing an antique

ceramic tile mean my frontal lobe has

developed?


Gouda

Sound familiar? Yes, this is the land of cheese.

Here is some history for you- The main square was where Dutch

farmers came to sell their cheese to the public, creating the name

for the cheese we all know and love. Aside from cheese, this city

has iconic canals, churches, and shops. But who is really visiting

for anything besides the cheese anyways?


Come for Amsterdam,

Stay for Delft!

Leiden

A young, university town smack in the

middle of The Hague and Amsterdam. It

could be described as Amsterdam’s

smaller, chiller cousin as you get similar

architecture on the canals without the

busyness or chaos. Come for an

afternoon drink at a cafe on the canal.


Zaanse Shans

A typical day trip from Amsterdam, this place feels like Dutch

Disneyland. This is a great way to get a feel for the countryside

without having to stray too far. Here, you can see real working

windmills, learn how to make clogs, and test out more Dutch

cheese than you knew existed. It can be packed with tourists so

keep that in mind if it is a busier season.



Photos: UN Peace Palace, The Hague, The NL

Photo: The Hague, The NL

Following Irish Folklore

Oh Ireland, you magical place. The land of fairies, rugby, toasties, Guinness,

and unexpected mullets that..kind of work? My time in Ireland showed me

why Americans love to boast their Irish heritage.

While visiting, I had the pleasure of staying with a family friend who

showed me true Irish hospitality. From her, I learned so much history and

folklore. You could feel the passion and excitement she had in sharing her

country which made me just as excited to learn. Their culture is so rich that

there would be no way to cover even a fraction of it, but here are a few

things about Irish folklore I found interesting. (I really hope talking about

these things does not leave me cursed).

Fairy Homes

Walking through the forest outside of

Tipperary town, we saw multiple

handmade wooden homes on trees. These

are a peace offering from local residents to

welcome and keep the fairies happy so as

to not disturb your own home. Unlike

Tinkerbell, the fairies here are known to

cause chaos. There is an understanding

that if you are kind to the fairies, they will

not bother you.

VOLUME II LARANA MAGAZINE 16

Fairy Trees

Fairy trees are scattered across the country and are

known to be a portal between our world and the

mystical world, otherwise known as the Sidhe. They

bring great luck, but are NOT to be removed or

tampered with under any circumstance or you will be

cursed with bad luck. Entire buildings and roads

have been moved to avoid tampering with

these trees.

Portal Tombs (Dolmen)

This artifact dates back to 3000 BC and has remained

structurally intact. It is a burial ground that reveals much

about past civilizations. They hold a supernatural aura as

they are thought to hold spirits of Irish ancestors.

Thatched Roof Cottages

These are traditional Irish cottages that were common for

families to live in the 1800s. The remaining structures are

protected and can not be torn down or altered in any way.

If you want to buy land with a cottage on it, you are

legally responsible to maintain it and keep it perfectly

preserved. This includes replacing the roof every 8 yearsa

project averaging around 10,000-20,000 euros.

The doors and windows are painted blue to symbolize

hospitality. Others are painted red to ward off evil spirits.

VOLUME II LARANA MAGAZINE 16


Drawing: From my journal

Pub Culture:

Is this what we are missing in the US?


A

s we walk into the corner pub, I breathe in that

perfect smell of beer and fries (or chips). We seat

ourselves at a table and look around at our surroundings.

To our right is a family enjoying a lovely Sunday roast

with all the trimmings and to our left is a group of loud

20 somethings on their eighth Guiness getting piss

drunk. I marvel at the duality of one establishment and

feel right at home. This truly is the place where society

comes together as one.

While in the UK and Ireland, I discovered the joy of pub

culture. On just about every corner lies a pub, all unique

but decorated similarly with dark wood and moody

lighting. They did not feel pretentious, but a welcoming

spot to relax and have a drink or bite to eat. You can

come and sit for hours with no pressure for turnover

from staff.

I learned that it is common for people to go to the local

pub on their way home from work for a pint or three as

part of their daily ritual. In America, we might call this

alcoholism, but there it is just a normal occurrence that

is accepted and celebrated as part of the culture. (See

mom, it turns out I was just really cultured in college.)

This helps build a real sense of community, even in big

cities like London.

Looking back, my absolute favorite pub

was one we went to in Galway, Ireland

called Taffee’s Pub. It was a random

Monday night and it was packed to the

brim. There was a band performing

traditional Irish music and a crowd so

full that everyone was pushed together

in one blob. There was every age group

mixed together singing and drinking.

The Guinness was flowing along with the

Irish craic.

I tried to think if we have an equivalent

to this in the US. Sure, we have bars,

diners, restaurants, cafes, and even

pubs. However, these places do not

seem to hold the same weight in society

and culture as the establishments over

there do. There isn’t a one place fits all

as I would describe the pubs there. The

closest comparison I felt to a pub was

the karaoke dive bar we frequented in

college. It had a sense of community,

but let's just say there definitely were not

any families eating Sunday roast there.

I believe these pubs act as more than a

place to drink, but a “third space” to

casually hang out and talk to people

around you. I am not saying we do not

have these in the US, but they are just a

bit harder to find. So when you do find a

local gem, it makes it even more

meaningful and important to appreciate.

I look forward to stepping foot into

another English, Irish, or Scottish pub in

my future, but until then I will seek out

my local dive bar and reminisce.


An Education on

English Slang

I can’t wait to

get pissed

after this

If you have ever watched Love Island or The Great British Bake

Off, you may have found yourself voluntarily or involuntarily

incorporating new phrases into your daily life. I personally can't

consume any British media without imitating an accent for days

on end (to the pure joy of all those around me.)

I found this English epidemic was not a curse only bestowed on

me, routinely hearing my friends affected by the same inflictions.

This led me to wonder… What is it about the English accent that

Americans find so fascinating?

Deep in my curiosity, along comes Harry, a Northern English lad

with the accent of Harry Potter’s dreams. We all know common

phrases, but he was throwing out words that I had never heard

before. I knew I found the perfect person to teach me all there is

to know about English slang. Throughout our weeks of traveling

together, I had unknowingly and very voluntarily enrolled in an

ongoing masterclass in all things English slang.

This information will probably *definitely* not change or improve

your life in any way. But I feel it is my duty to share my findings.

So here it goes: a list of key English words (according to Harry

from Newcastle).

-peng/leng- beautiful - “The sunset was

peng.”

-chattin shit - talking shit/nonsense

-ropey- sketchy - “That alley is ropey”

-mug- look like a fool - someone is a mug

or being mugged off, “made to look like a

mug”

-fit - hot

-naughty- another word for hot ??

-bare- a lot

-rubbish- they don’t say “trash”

-pissed- drunk (we know this one)

-extra tip: use lad not mate


Photo: Westminster Abbey, London, England,

Photo: London, England

Museums Actua

Museums Actua

Because let’s face it.

Mauritshuis

The Hague, Netherlands

Boasting the iconic Girl with a Pearl Earring

painting, this museum is a main attraction in

The Hague with hundreds of thousands of

visitors a year. Come for Vermeer and

Rembrandt, but be wowed by the beautiful

architecture in this once functioning palace

to Dutch aristocrats.

Guggenheim Museum

New York City, USA

This is not a hot take. This Upper East Side

staple provides just as good people watching

as art viewing due to it’s iconic circular

architecture. Constantly rotating its exhibits

to feature new themes, you can go multiple

times a year without it getting old. My favorite

exhibit was a pair of worn jeans stapled to the

wall. It really made me think.

Trinity College Old Library

Dublin, Ireland

Who said libraries are boring? At least not ones

that hold some of the oldest texts known to

mankind and have giant globes hanging from

the ceiling. Here lies the ancient Book of Kellsa

religious book from 800 BC that is known to

be Ireland’s greatest treasure. Don’t expect to

check out out any books here. I tried and they

told me no.

lly Worth Your Time

..many are not.

Titanic Museum

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Quick trivia: Where was the Titanic built?

No, not England you fool!

It was built 10 feet from this museum in the

industrial capital of the north, Belfast. Personally

going through an unexplainable Titanic obsession

at age 12, this museum fulfilled me with all the

knowledge my preteen self could ever dream of.

It even had a ride on the inside. I would happily

spend an entire day in here.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

Glasgow, Scotland

Kelvingrove is an unexpected gem. I saw

priceless works of art from Van Gough, Renoir,

Matisse, Picasso, Dali all in one room. Thinking

it couldn’t get any better, I turned the corner

and saw a lifesize sculpture of Elvis Presley.

Needless to say, it did get better. The building

itself is gorgeous, a sandstone Victorian

building decorated with hanging scary faces

and old fashioned airplanes. You truly never

know what you are going to see next here.

National Museum of Scotland

Edinburgh, Scotland

This is a beast of a museum, with three stories

and multiple rooms on each level. Art, Scottish

history, natural history, science, and highland

cow lovers alike are all welcome here. Unless it

is closing time, then you will be promptly

escorted out by security. Do not ask how I know

this.


Photo: Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland

Photos: Mauritshuis, The Hague, The NL

PHOTOS

A Train Ride

Through Ireland


A DAY IN

GHENT, BELGIUM



Scenes of

Scotland


People Watching in Vondelpark

Amsterdam, Mid October


A Day in The Dutch Countryside


LOSING IN 2025 ?

The

caring about what

family, friends, and

society judge as

success

anxiety about getting

into grad school

forgetting to cancel

my subscriptions

the inclination to

be on my phone!!

...& my sadness

sweet treats at night

the fear of falling

off society’s path

&

giving a f***

what people think

What

self doubt

sleeping in

through my day

caring what people

think on social media

my purpose anxiety

tipping 30% at coffeeshops

are you..

MOTHERHOOD

LOVE

real and

intentional

friends

meal prepping

healthy boundaries

start learning to

play chess

a six pack

putting myself first

my childlike wonder

HOBBIES AND

PEOPLE THAT

FUEL ME

my creativity

my sparkle

learning

COMMUNITY

a challenge that

aligns with my

mind and morals

Spanish

FINDING IN 2025 ?


thanks for reading!

get involved:

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&

FOUND

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Lost & Found Magazine: Spring 2025 Issue

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