Less than 48 hours!

It's t-minus 48 hours until I'm leaving on a jet plane. It's kinda of surreal yet amazing, scary, nerve-wrecking at the same time! I can't believe that I'm actually going to be going to Europe. I've spend my whole life in Newfoundland, except for 4 weeks....once in Parry Sound, a trip to Ottawa and a Pathfinder Camp in New Brunswick. (St-Pierre doesn't count!) Yeah, not a big traveller. Yet, anyways. It's going to be amazing over there. So much like home, yet not like home at the same time. It'll also be the first time I've really been living away from home.

Needless to say, everything's in a mess right now as I've tried to get everything straightened away. Clothes are slowly getting packed as well as washed prior to packing. I don't have anything in my backpack and carry-on yet, so I'm going to pack those as well. I need to manage to stuff in several boxes of Kraft Dinner.

Here's what I have left to do:

- See the doctor to get my prescriptions straightened away

- Change some money

- Finish packing

- Suspend my cell phone account

Packing's going to take the most energy. But it should be ok.

I'm getting quite excited here.....I'm not even sure what to right! I just know that now, in 47 hours, I'll be sitting on a plane, saying a temporary farewell to my life here and starting a 4 month stint in Harlow, England.

It's gonna be good.

We're really getting down there now! In 13 days, I'll be boarding the plane, on my way to England. It's a little unbelievable, but it's actually happening! I'm getting close to having everything ready. I have my universal plug for my laptop so I can use this in England, as well as update during various trips that I'll undoubtedly take. Tomorrow, I have an appointment to get my computer set-up for their wireless system and to make sure everything is up to date (which I'm pretty sure it is).

Some things I have left to do:

- Call my credit card company to let them know I'll be travelling and ask what the rates are for foreign currency. Some companies charge for the conversion.

- Based on that, go to the bank to get some Canadian dollars changed to pounds.

- Call my cell provider and tell them that I'm going to England. Therefore, I want to know if I can keep the number for when I get back.

- Go to the doctor to get enough prescriptions for four months.

- Go over the British curriculum documents so I can have an understanding of what to do there.

- Buy a suitcase.

- Pack.

There are a few other things, like shopping, figure out how batteries work there (can I just buy some?) for my camera, etc, as well as a few other small things. I also have my Backstreet Boys concert, my going away part, seeing various friends for coffee, family things. It's going to be a busy two weeks. Good thing I'm done work now.

Time's getting short! Getting excited now :).

Amy

Less than 30!

It's less than 30 days now until I leave for the UK. I'm getting more and more excited as the time continues to count down. I can't believe that in a month, I'll be in England! Wow! I'm excited about the internship too, teaching all these little kids, getting to know them and having an influence on their life. It's going to be amazing!

The Visa has arrived, tickets are paid for and book, accommodations are paid for...there's very little stopping me for getting there. Some exciting things to look forward to (besides the trip/internship):

- Lacuna Coil! They're having a UK tour during September/October. I need to check out the dates and where they all are and find the best time to go. But excited about seeing them!

- Traveling! There are several places I want to see while I'm in Europe. Thanks to the week-long breaks, I should be able to see something.

- Emma! Hopefully, I'll finally meet Emma! We've known each other for something like 10 years maybe. It'll be great to finally see each other off a computer screen. I don't know which of the weeks I'll see her, or if we'll be together in Spain or the UK. More things to work out.

- Walking down the street and have people know of the bands I listen to. Ok, that's just me being a nerd.

I think that's all for me right now. I need to get going, go to bed so I can go to work. More work = more money.

Until next time,

Amy

Almost ready!

Well, things are almost done! My visa application is sent off, and while it took longer than I thought, it's done! I got there in time for my appointment, but the guy was running like an hour later. Once I finally got in, it was pretty simple. He basically went over my forms to make sure I have everything signed, took my picture, took my finger prints and went on. He didn't take my soul, which I thought he might :P.

Of course, since it's the way it goes, there was a snafu. We thought that we'd give our applications to Hayward, our main contact here in St. John's/on campus, and send them all together but apparently we couldn't do that anymore. That sucked because now, we have to send a pre-paid, self-addressed priority post to them in a priority post envelope. They won't take Express post, which means paying over $60 to send it off. Grrr.

But, now it's off! Assuming that things go well, which I don't imagine happening, I'll get my visa sometime this week. Then, it's just saving my money, getting things packed, probably getting some new clothes until it's time to go!

'

I know what school I'm going to! I'll be attending Fawbert and Barnard's, either in Kindergarten or Grade 3. I'm liking that it's about a block away from campus, which is pretty cool.

I'm thinking about having a going away party before I go. I'd have to open my house to fit everyone in. That's what sucks about having a small house. I'd have to invite my friends, friends from work and friends from school who I'm close to. I can't invite all 75 of my class because I just can't fit that many people :P. I might stop work on August 20th, ask to work the morning shift, have the party in the evening and then go to the Backstreet Boys concert on August 21st. That leaves the week to get everything ready.

I think that's all I have to update for now.

41 days and counting....

Getting closer

The ticket is booked, the biometrics appointment is made...the flight is only 50 days away! In 51 days, I'll be in Harlow. It's kind of surreal to think about! The only problem now is the Visa application. I can't seem to pay for it, probably due to a computer error. I'm contacting the other girls to see how they paid, since...well, I should be able to pay!

I'm really excited! I'm a little scared too, since, well, I'm going to a new country, a new continent! I'm also nervous about flying over water, since I have a fear of water. But it's still exciting!

Right now, I'm working as much as possible so I can have more money while I'm gone. Now, it's time for lunch, then I'm working again.

I'll keep you all posted as the days get closer.

It's only 50 days away!

Amy

Me vs. the universe

Boy do I have updates, and it seems like the universe is working against me.

First of all, seems like things will be ok with the bank. I've been back since, have been approved for my loan and was told that I should have the money in a week. Thank the lord.

But, it seems like I'm being screwed over in a few other ways. Applying for a visa is not easy. I have to get biometrics done, which I guess they take your finger prints, soul, first-born child if you have one, and ask everything to make sure you're allowed in the country. Fine and dandy. As far as I know, I'm innocent. However, the site wants me to give them my visa application number. I don't have that, since I printed the forms off. I'm not really sure what they want, but it's been worked on.

Second of all, I know when I'm going! We're taking a direct flight from St. John's to London, which is awesome! That means I can probably at least see my friend Angela getting married, and no overly long time waiting in another airport. Woot woot. Unfortunately, it means flying out at 9pm, getting there at 6:30 am (London time) and going straight to campus. Will. Need. Coffee. Anyways, what sucks is that I need my ticket paid for by Thursday. Now, I get paid Thursday, so that's all well and good. But, I'm working 3-11, and our cheques don't get to us until at least 1. This is also a big check: 11 8-hour shifts, Canada Day and minimum wage went up. This should mean a bigger check that I can pay for my ticket with. However, I have less than a 2 hour window to go get it, deposit it and go pay for it. Not fun. I'm going to see who's working that day, see if maybe I can tell them I can't make it until 4. Should be fine. Right?

Well, that's all the updates so far. As the days get closer, there'll probably be more. I'll keep you all posted (if anyone's reading, that is!).

Amy

There's always something

There's always something that wants to prevent me from going to Harlow. Mostly, it's financial. The deal is that the Visa people want reassurance that you won't be a drain on the social system in the UK and that you have money in case of an emergency. Makes sense. And of course, I will have that money, through a combination of my job, my student loans and my line of credit. We have that part established.

Now, here's the fun part. I go to apply for a student line of credit and I'll probably get about $7000. That's not too bad, and while more would be nice, that's more I have to pay back. Since I only have to pay the interest while in school, and then take seven years to pay back the money, it's really not so bad. And, combined with the rest, I'm positive it'll be enough. So what's the issue?

Well, they won't finish the application/I won't get money until after I register. I register July 19th. The biometrics/visa people will be here on July 15th. I sincerely doubt that I will have $4000 in the bank before that date; that's just a month away!

I've e-mailed someone at MUN to see if maybe I can get a letter for the bank asking to go ahead with the processing, but I haven't heard back yet. There's a meeting Wednesday, and if I'm off, I'll ask then. If not, I'll probably give him a call and asking. I remember them saying that if there are little issues that they'll try to work around them. Should I be surprised that I'm the one with issues?

That's the update for now. I was going to post about some things I was thinking about the other week but I was busy with work and then I got the stomach flu. I'll keep you posted though.

Until next time,

Amy