course of study

in case you're getting curious, here is a link to my future department of study

joseph finds a new home!

joey had his kitty play-date today and i'm happy to say that it went very well. my friend has been kind enough to offer to house him for the year, and i couldn't be happier! i know it's going to sound redundant but her offer is such a relief and i am so, so happy that joey has a home for the next year.

i also just booked a hotel in manchester for the week that i move in. this means that i'll get to stay in london for a few days (they might as well rent me a room in the british museum) and then head to manchester to sort things out before i move in. i'm actually getting excited to move over there... although it still seems like that day will never come!

on another note, my mom's 50th birthday was yesterday, so happy half-century mumma!

visa success & moving out

i finally got my visa! it was a lot less stressful than i imagined it being, and it only took two days of running around. the first day i went to the embassy and was directed by the (very kind) security guard to get my biometrics done. i thought this was going to be a long and tedious process (the place looks like the DMV-scary!), it was actually very easy. it was also so cool to see my fingerprints come up on the screen!

after the biometrics were all done, i went back to the embassy the next morning to have someone go over my application. that took about four minutes, then they took my passport and told me to come back that afternoon to pick it up. i had my visa by 5 pm that day... and i was so relieved that it was easy.

i also just moved back to west laf. again, easier than i expected! joey has been having "issues" with mom's cat, kiki. well, not really even issues, but joey is just not liking the loud cat.

on the adventure front, i'm booking a couple nights in manchester so that i can get acquainted with the city before i move into the dorms. i'm really looking forward to sept 12! or should i say 12 sept...

good things ahead

things i'm looking forward to:

-nutella

-hedgerows

-double decker buses, although i've been warned not to sit on the to deck alone at night

-fish and chips (maybe... i'm at least looking forward to trying proper fish)

-cadbury buttons whenever i want

-rainy weather

-hot tea. lots and lots of hot tea.

-old libraries

-english countryside

-traveling the country by train

-cadbury buttons

-castles

-really long, uninterrupted BBC shows

-accents with many "please" and "thank you"s

-fresh scones (not pronounced scones, but scons)

-all the history i can handle

things i will miss:

-mexican food

-really really good brunch

-sunny, humid weather

-cicadas humming in the summer

-snow in the winter

-trees changing in the fall

-my cat (but he'll be in good hands i hope)

-LOST

-skyscrapers

-all the amazing people here, like you.

basic idea

Good... afternoon, as it were. I hope you found my blog (if you're reading this, you obviously have). The basic idea behind this blog is that I can keep you updated on my travels and whereabouts while overseas. I can also keep you updated on all the effort that goes into the travels-- right now, I've packed one suitcase and am working on the rest of my packing list. I also just picked out all my favorite photos from the past few years and had the genius idea to cut painter's tape into frames so I can put them up in my dorm! Unfortunately, that's the only genius idea I've had about moving back into a dorm... But if you'd like to see my street, here is the link!

View Larger Map

I certainly hope that works.

So, in order to wrap this up nicely, I'll be attempting to send this out to all my friends

and relatives that may want to see it. If there is anyone I've forgotten, please forward

the address to them. Thanks a bunch, and I hope you're having a good day today!

Right now, it's naptime for Joey and me.

testing... testing........