I take my language holiday guests to their homestay hosts (often after exploring parts of Scotland on the way), and we step inside. I introduce them to their hosts, and then I leave.
I became curious about these first moments.
By this point, guests have met me (and have a taste of how I share language and help people feel comfortable talking), they have confirmed that Blue Noun is a real and beautiful space, and they have finally stopped travelling and started settling in.
Once your suitcase is in your temporary bedroom and you can finally relax, what is the very first thing you do?
There are so many answers.
Through them, I learn how someone settles and what they want more of.
𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.
𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧.
𝐈 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐝.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧.
𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬.
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬.
𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰.
𝐖𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜.
𝐌𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫.
𝐈 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫.
𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐱.
I spoke with my host.
She knows Spain well.
Drank a coffee.
I like to drink coffee in the afternoon.
Just sat on my bed.
It is so quiet.
I can hear the birds.
Read the magazine you gave me.
Listened to the kids talking in their room.
They were so excited.
Phoned my husband.
I video-called to show off my room.
I talked to the dogs.
My host has 2 spaniels.
I love them.
Sat on the chair in my room and wrote notes.
I had so much to remember already.
Hung up all my clothes.
That’s how I feel at home.
Every photograph on this page comes from the home of a past or present Blue Noun homestay host. The images are not matched to the individual stories.
