August 2026 turned out to be a month with very little work and a lot of Scotland.

From August 14 to 27, my husband and I traveled through Scotland. We organized the trip ourselves and started in Edinburgh, where the Fringe Festival was in full swing. We also had tickets for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which was one of those things I had wanted to experience for a long time. Well, the second time, actually. We were there once before, back in 2019. Some things are just worth doing twice.

From Edinburgh, we slowly made our way north toward the Highlands. We had not booked every accommodation in advance, which gave the trip a little more freedom. After about a week, we reached the Isle of Skye, where we stayed for three days.

Three days sounded reasonable when we planned it. Once we were there, it felt far too short.

We spent a lot of time outside, did a lot of hiking, and saw one beautiful place after another. Ate a lot of fresh seafood. Scotland is one of those countries where you keep thinking, „Surely the next view cannot be even better.“ And then it is.

Of course, I also had to touch a few standing stones. You never know. Maybe one of them would finally trigger my Outlander destiny. As you can tell, I am still here in 2026.

The Great Highland Cow Hunt

There was one mission that stayed with us throughout the trip: finding Highland cows. Or, as they call them up there, Heilan coos. Anyone who followed my WhatsApp status during those two weeks probably noticed that this became more and more important as the days went on.

Our first Highland cow encounter was a little less romantic than expected because we actually had to pay for it. We arrived shortly before closing time, so it turned into a bit of a just-in-time Highland cow experience. We still managed to take a few photos before we had to leave.

The second time, we had to walk a little way to find them. These cows were free to look at, though the setting was not quite as picturesque.

And then, as the saying goes, all good things come in threes. On our way to Kilmartin, we were driving along when I suddenly spotted them.

„Coos!“

My husband stopped, turned the car around, and drove back. And there they were. Completely unexpected, standing in a field beside the road. Not exactly roaming free, because there was still a fence involved, but this was easily my favorite Heilan coo encounter of the whole trip.

Naturally, we did not come home empty-handed. We now own a Highland cow sofa-pillow, and I came home with a Highland cow cuddly toy.

There is also one more thing. My husband does not know this yet. We have an American-style mailbox at home, and you can buy decorative covers for it. I found an autumn one. With a Highland cow on it. Obviously.

Oban and the Journey South

After the Isle of Skye, we slowly made our way south again and spent some time in Oban. What a lovely little place.

By then, I was already thinking about how many stories a trip like this creates. For a moment, I even wondered whether I should start writing travel articles just for fun. Not because I suddenly want to become a travel blogger, but because there are always so many details, encounters, and small moments that just disappear if you do not write them down somewhere. Maybe some of them will find their way onto this blog from time to time.

Coming Home Felt Different This Time

The journey home did not quite go according to plan. We ended up spending seven hours at Heathrow and got home much later than expected. Instead of being back on Thursday afternoon, we finally went to bed at around two o’clock on Friday morning.

And somewhere in all that travel chaos, I realized something. I was incredibly relieved that I did not have to sit in front of my computer at eight o’clock the next morning. I did not have to teach something I never felt particularly good at. I did not have to step in as vacation cover. I had resigned from that job.

And even though I had struggled with that decision, that moment made something very clear to me. I was glad I had left.

Sometimes Everyone Else Sees It Before You Do

Professionally, August was quiet on paper. Not on the inside. I was on sick leave for part of the month, because I honestly was not doing well.

And even after handing in my resignation, I still questioned myself. Was it really the right decision? Had I given up too soon? Should I have tried harder?

What I found interesting was the reaction of other people. Whenever I told someone who knew me well that I had resigned, they congratulated me. Not one person reacted with shock. The people around me had apparently noticed, long before I was ready to fully admit it myself, that I was unhappy in that job. That I was exhausted. That I was hardly taking part in life anymore.

There is an English expression that comes to mind. The cobbler’s children have no shoes. I spend a lot of my time helping other people reflect, make decisions, and recognize when something is no longer right for them. Doing the same thing for yourself is sometimes so much harder.

Traveling Always Changes the Perspective

One thing I love about traveling is that it reminds me, again and again, that there is no single „normal.“ Every place works differently. People behave differently. Some are open and curious when they realize you are visiting. Others are more reserved.

And of course, visiting a country on vacation is completely different from actually living there. You can enjoy the landscape, the food, and the atmosphere without having to deal with bureaucracy, work, loneliness, language barriers, or the question of whether you truly belong.

That difference, between visiting a country and building a life there, is something I think about a lot these days. Probably not surprising.

And Now?

August was not a month in which I got a lot done professionally. It was more of a pause. A necessary one.

September is when I will start looking more closely at what comes next. The employment agency will get more involved, and I want to give more attention to the work I actually want to build on. Expats, accompanying partners, international life, Global Mobility.

I do not have every answer yet. But I have made some space, and that is the part that matters.

Because if August taught me anything, it is this. Sometimes you only realize how heavy something was once you have finally put it down.

Also: always turn the car around for Heilan coos.