Exactly one month from now, I will be on a plane to London's Heathrow Airport -- that's right, across the ocean, all the way to ENGLAND! I will be spending a year studying abroad at the University of Kent in Canterbury (Canterbury Tales, anyone?), about an hour southeast of London. I thought I would start a blog documenting my experiences for everyone to read rather than sending off updates via e-mail that may never be read.
At this point in time, I have learned that it's best to let go of the stress that comes with such a great opportunity. It will all work out one way or another. I packed up and moved out of Student Housing in Fort Wayne so I could be home for a few weeks at the beginning of August, but have been back to school several times since in many failed attempts to get things in order. I most joyfully accepted a scholarship I applied for back in January -- the Withers Scholarship -- that will greatly aid in the expenses as it covers standard tuition and student fees for an entire year. While I will still be an IPFW student during my time abroad, I obviously will not be enrolled in courses on campus, and the scholarship committee needs proof of enrollment to grant me the money. On my journey to getting this sorted out, I discovered in the English Department that I am not considered a student at this time, and need to take a placeholder course in England in order for them to make sure I can graduate without complications. Needless to say, I've been in almost every department on campus the past few weeks and have ended up in the very place I began. I have no doubt that all of this chaos will be worth it, but I'm looking forward to being at a place where everyone has their stuff together. Even from halfway around the world, the staff at Kent has helped me more than I could ask!
I've slowly been making my way through piles of documents and books, that I should have read long before now, that advise me on what I should do to prepare for my experience abroad. They are interesting, but mainly concern language and cultural barriers. Fortunately, I speak English, and can agree on many of the pet peeves that citizens of other countries have with Americans. I do not mean to sound ignorant here, as I do expect a great deal of culture shock, no matter the similarities between the UK and the states.
I also went, or should I say am still going through, the process of getting my Visa. For those of you who need to apply for this document and live in Indiana, be advised, there is NO way to contact the office in Indianapolis. Everyone will send you back to a website that can do nothing but offer you advice on SSI and immigration appointments if you're coming into America. Also, you do not need an appointment if all you need is your biometrics (fingerprints and a picture) taken and that in itself is quite silly as it could be done just as easily at your hometown police station. How immigrants to America figure out how to obtain their citizenship is beyond me, they make it quite impossible. But I digress. Read paperwork carefully, as it will tell you exactly what you need and do not need. I did not need a recent passport photograph for the biometrics appointment as I had thought, and as a result of poor skimming, have a rushed photograph in which I look like a drowned rat. Continue to thoroughly read directions in submitting your supporting documents to obtain your Visa and make sure you send the right things -- or they'll send it right back to you.
At this time, we're still looking for flights. More on that later.
Again, I'm sure once I step off the plane and settle into my life in England all of this stress will be long forgotten!
Perhaps the line I've heard most in telling people that I'll be studying abroad is: "Why England?" This is usually followed by comments concerning the gloomy weather and, well, mostly comments about the weather.
In response to everyone's curiosity, I'm going to England because I can. I have the ability to do so at this time and I don't want to let it slip away. From a very young age, I remember watching the History and Discovery channels and reading an old set of encyclopedias and always finding Europe to be the most interesting. I love history, and Europe's is rich. I love British Literature and British music and British accents. But the thing about Canterbury is its location. I'll be about 2 hours from Paris, 3 from Germany, close to Scotland and I can even cheaply hop a plane to Ireland. Ultimately, I want to experience new places, new people, and new ways of thinking and living. I know that living in Europe is going to strengthen not only my independence, but just about everything else as well. While I would love to travel to (nearly) every part of the world, I feel like, first and foremost, I was meant to visit the United Kingdom. And that's just what I'm going to do!
Until then, I'm pondering how on earth I am going to pack a year's worth of necessities into a 50 pound suitcase and trying to squeeze in as much time as possible with those I'm going to miss the most.
I hope this finds you all well and ready for another school year, work day, or whatever it is you fancy.
Besos,
Aly
