In under two months, I will be in London. I will be getting on a bus that will take me to the manor that I will call home for four months. I can't believe it. I have changed the background on my phone to a picture of the manor. I am so excited to go and fly over with my friends and experience all there is. I CANNOT WAIT. I am booking trips and planning details. I'm also shoe shopping for the perfect pair of shoes. It just adds to the idea that I'm a princess because
Cinderella is proof that a pair of shoes can change your life. So I am getting new shoes to help make this experience even more magical.
I am trying to figure out what I will eat as a Celiac and lactose intolerant individual. I found a local shop in the town the manor is closest too that serves gluten free fish and chips. I literally cried tears of joy because I had found food I could eat that was traditional. I also found a fast food restaurant that serves gluten free, dairy free, and all other sorts of healthy, delectable options. I am now going to start researching restaurants in other countries so that when I travel outside the UK I will not starve.
Paying for all these trips is so much pressure and too much to handle at times, so I'm trying to find money in every place I can. I applied to be an RA while there to gain work experience while abroad and to have my own room. I don't share my room well, especially with a random roommate. I know that I would get the person I can't stand. Not that I plan on spending an enormous amount of time in my room.
I'm ready for it to be here and to get to go all the amazing places that I want to explore!!!!!
Bise Bise
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Teach me how to Travel
I cannot wait for my semester abroad to come. I can't wait to get on the plane and fly to London, knowing only that adventures await. However, I am slightly freaking out about booking trips and having fun. I know that I will regret not going everywhere I can, but how do I go everywhere I want to go??? There are so many amazing places to visit in Europe and nearby in Africa and Asia. I just want to see everything.
So far I have a list of places I HAVE to go to. They include London, Ireland, Paris, Paris again, Italy, the Netherlands, and EVERYWHERE. I can't narrow it down to just a few places because I literally would be O.K. with going anywhere. I am trying to find out where friends want to go so I can travel and have the most fun. My best friend and I talk about sitting at a cafe along the streets of Paris, people watching and reading and drawing and I literally die of happiness when we think about it.
Speaking of friends, I don't know how I'll survive without some of my sorority sisters and friends that aren't traveling abroad with me. I cannot wait to go but I also don't want to miss anything that happens here. I love this school so much. I know next semester will be amazing because I will learn more about life than anything. The British history, politics, and theater courses I will take will show me a whole new world that I never knew existed. There's so much to learn just from traveling, so someone please explain how do you limit the possibilities when they're endless??
A little over sixty days and counting until I learn how to embrace the world!!!
Bise Bise
So far I have a list of places I HAVE to go to. They include London, Ireland, Paris, Paris again, Italy, the Netherlands, and EVERYWHERE. I can't narrow it down to just a few places because I literally would be O.K. with going anywhere. I am trying to find out where friends want to go so I can travel and have the most fun. My best friend and I talk about sitting at a cafe along the streets of Paris, people watching and reading and drawing and I literally die of happiness when we think about it.
Speaking of friends, I don't know how I'll survive without some of my sorority sisters and friends that aren't traveling abroad with me. I cannot wait to go but I also don't want to miss anything that happens here. I love this school so much. I know next semester will be amazing because I will learn more about life than anything. The British history, politics, and theater courses I will take will show me a whole new world that I never knew existed. There's so much to learn just from traveling, so someone please explain how do you limit the possibilities when they're endless??
A little over sixty days and counting until I learn how to embrace the world!!!
Bise Bise
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Ironing the Details Out
We had our first official orientation meeting a few weeks ago and I was so excited that I just started calming down. We got all of the final paperwork that we need to get fully registered and class schedule registration. I'M SO STINKING EXCITED. I want to take an independent study because they aren't offering any art courses while I'm over there so I have to schedule meetings.
Other than classes we had to do a physical and tell them what medication we are on, what our dietary restrictions are, and other random physical necessary information. Well I don't know the name of my medication so I had to research it. Also my dietary restrictions limit my food options A LOT. But I'll live somehow. I am just excited to live there and travel.
My sisters and I just got new sorority sisters from recruitment and a few of them are traveling to Harlaxton with us. EEEK! And we are planning a trip to Disneyland Paris and I want to go to Africa and ANYWHERE THAT WILL LET ME IN AND BACK OUT. I can't wait to travel the world and throw what I know with my sisters. We're going to have so much fun and take so many pictures our Facebooks will be covered in Europe. <3
I am so excited I can't think straight; however, I have so much to do. I can't figure out how to manage all of it. I have to book the flight and pay for it. And I started working so that I would have money while over there because all of my money disappeared from bills, and an international student ID card, and so much other paperwork I just want to cry. I know it will be worth it once I do it but I can't handle all of it.
It's hard to believe that in 111 days I'll be in London about to start my semester abroad.
Bise Bise
Other than classes we had to do a physical and tell them what medication we are on, what our dietary restrictions are, and other random physical necessary information. Well I don't know the name of my medication so I had to research it. Also my dietary restrictions limit my food options A LOT. But I'll live somehow. I am just excited to live there and travel.
My sisters and I just got new sorority sisters from recruitment and a few of them are traveling to Harlaxton with us. EEEK! And we are planning a trip to Disneyland Paris and I want to go to Africa and ANYWHERE THAT WILL LET ME IN AND BACK OUT. I can't wait to travel the world and throw what I know with my sisters. We're going to have so much fun and take so many pictures our Facebooks will be covered in Europe. <3
I am so excited I can't think straight; however, I have so much to do. I can't figure out how to manage all of it. I have to book the flight and pay for it. And I started working so that I would have money while over there because all of my money disappeared from bills, and an international student ID card, and so much other paperwork I just want to cry. I know it will be worth it once I do it but I can't handle all of it.
It's hard to believe that in 111 days I'll be in London about to start my semester abroad.
Bise Bise
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
The Important Details
A few days ago I received and email about the group flight. So I have to decide now, when I want the semester of fun to end. How do I choose now when I want to return? I want to live in Europe for as long as possible. I want to do so many things but I have to make decisions and promise myself I'll get back there. I also have to figure out how to pay for this extravaganza. I forgot how expensive traveling abroad can be so I am accepting donations for the I WANT TO HAVE FUN Funds. Just kidding but I do need to start budgeting. I thought I had more in savings than I do which is kind of depressing because I want to visit every country I can.
After I received the group flight info, I went to Chicago for the weekend and went shopping. Not the brightest move while trying to save money but I got stuff that will work for my trip so I'm O.K. with it. The best part was I GOT MY LUGGAGE!!!!!!! EEEEKKKK!!!! I am so excited because I wanted something fun and that was me. Wellllllll, I found it! It's Vera Bradley and I am beyond thrilled. My parents and brother questioned me about wanting it but HELLO?! it was on sale, I am obsessed with Vera, and IT'S SO PRETTY. I literally cannot wait to pack it up and just wheel it around my house let alone O'Hare and then London Heathrow. (How cool is that I'll get to be in London?!) While I was in Chicago, I met up with some of my cousins and a great aunt and we talked about where I had to go. We're a large Irish Catholic family and a few of them had been to Ireland. They said, "If you can't have fun in Ireland, you can't have fun anywhere." I plan to take at least two trips there, a long one and then again on St. Patty's day.
It hits me a little more everyday that in the spring I won't return to the University of Evansville. I'll head to O'Hare, be on a plane for 6-7 hours, and then live in England for FOUR MONTHS. I need to become more comfortable with Skype because right now I'm really awkward and it's weird, but it'll be one of main sources of communication with my friends that are still here in the USA. Skype and Snapchat.
I have talked with a few of my sorority sisters that are going with me and we can't wait to be over there together and experience it. Of course we'll throw what we know a lot because the whole world should see our hand origami that we know. I'm already planning to wear a letter shirt to the airport, because you'll never know who you'll meet.
148 Days and counting!!!
Bise Bise
After I received the group flight info, I went to Chicago for the weekend and went shopping. Not the brightest move while trying to save money but I got stuff that will work for my trip so I'm O.K. with it. The best part was I GOT MY LUGGAGE!!!!!!! EEEEKKKK!!!! I am so excited because I wanted something fun and that was me. Wellllllll, I found it! It's Vera Bradley and I am beyond thrilled. My parents and brother questioned me about wanting it but HELLO?! it was on sale, I am obsessed with Vera, and IT'S SO PRETTY. I literally cannot wait to pack it up and just wheel it around my house let alone O'Hare and then London Heathrow. (How cool is that I'll get to be in London?!) While I was in Chicago, I met up with some of my cousins and a great aunt and we talked about where I had to go. We're a large Irish Catholic family and a few of them had been to Ireland. They said, "If you can't have fun in Ireland, you can't have fun anywhere." I plan to take at least two trips there, a long one and then again on St. Patty's day.
It hits me a little more everyday that in the spring I won't return to the University of Evansville. I'll head to O'Hare, be on a plane for 6-7 hours, and then live in England for FOUR MONTHS. I need to become more comfortable with Skype because right now I'm really awkward and it's weird, but it'll be one of main sources of communication with my friends that are still here in the USA. Skype and Snapchat.
I have talked with a few of my sorority sisters that are going with me and we can't wait to be over there together and experience it. Of course we'll throw what we know a lot because the whole world should see our hand origami that we know. I'm already planning to wear a letter shirt to the airport, because you'll never know who you'll meet.
148 Days and counting!!!
Bise Bise
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Getting Excited
Spring semester may be over a hundred days away but I'm too excited to care. As soon as I found out I was going, I started planning trips and the details. Well I couldn't really plan trips because it was too far in advance for the airline companies, but I tried.
For people who have never heard of Harlaxton College (I just call it Harlaxton), let me tell you a little bit about it. Harlaxton College is located about two hours, by car, north of London, just outside of Grantham. It is the University of Evansville's study abroad school. It is a Victorian manor, but I prefer to think of it as a castle. My friends and I all think of it that way really, some of them pretend it's Hogwarts. It kind of is. We stay, eat, learn, and play in the manor. While there I take British studies and two more classes of my choosing. The school has grounds to explore, rumored ghosts, and secret passage ways. We only have class Monday through Thursday and then have the weekends to travel. We take field trips to London for class and get to learn by exploring. I CAN'T WAIT!
I can hardly contain my excitement. Last night, I had yet another dream about Harlaxton and I can only hope that I come back with some stories that are a tenth as exciting as my dreams. I keep trying to decide what countries I want to visit, what I MUST do while there, and figuring out how I'll pay for all of it. I've also contemplated how I will pack. I'll admit it, I over pack. A LOT. Being limited in how much I can take over makes me nervous. How will I decide what shoes will go, what purses, and what clothes?!
When people who have been to Harlaxton and people from other schools talk to me about study abroad, I walk away knowing that I am going to have the time of my life over there. I am so grateful that I get to study abroad, especially through such a great program. I will be taking pictures of literally everything and anything. I cannot wait for it to begin, but I also know that the time before it will be just as important.
Bise Bise
For people who have never heard of Harlaxton College (I just call it Harlaxton), let me tell you a little bit about it. Harlaxton College is located about two hours, by car, north of London, just outside of Grantham. It is the University of Evansville's study abroad school. It is a Victorian manor, but I prefer to think of it as a castle. My friends and I all think of it that way really, some of them pretend it's Hogwarts. It kind of is. We stay, eat, learn, and play in the manor. While there I take British studies and two more classes of my choosing. The school has grounds to explore, rumored ghosts, and secret passage ways. We only have class Monday through Thursday and then have the weekends to travel. We take field trips to London for class and get to learn by exploring. I CAN'T WAIT!
I can hardly contain my excitement. Last night, I had yet another dream about Harlaxton and I can only hope that I come back with some stories that are a tenth as exciting as my dreams. I keep trying to decide what countries I want to visit, what I MUST do while there, and figuring out how I'll pay for all of it. I've also contemplated how I will pack. I'll admit it, I over pack. A LOT. Being limited in how much I can take over makes me nervous. How will I decide what shoes will go, what purses, and what clothes?!
When people who have been to Harlaxton and people from other schools talk to me about study abroad, I walk away knowing that I am going to have the time of my life over there. I am so grateful that I get to study abroad, especially through such a great program. I will be taking pictures of literally everything and anything. I cannot wait for it to begin, but I also know that the time before it will be just as important.
Bise Bise
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