Second Week Thoughts

Rolling hills of the Cotswolds (image may not be used without permission Copyright Mastering Oxford)

So its been 2 whole weeks since I landed in England. Apologies for not writing sooner, its been a whirlwind. Let's just say the minute I landed I had problems. I found my way around fine, but since I didn't have a sim in my phone, it wasn't getting Internet. Which is where my e ticket for the bus to Oxford was.  You could see I had purchased a ticket, but the check in logo wasn't there. And I couldn't get another one because my debit cards weren't working in Heathrow. I nearly had a meltdown in the airport! Poor planning on my part, but it was all a learning experience. Fortunately for me, the driver let me on and I made it to Oxford around 10am. What I've found most interesting is that all the lovely feelings that I had about Britain before I got here have not re emerged. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate it here! I think I expected to land on my feet and start running head first into this new life but I ended up  landing on one foot, stumbling and nearly face planting.  So much I didn't account for. Like walking. Everywhere. My feet after the first week were raw. And needing cloth bags to swing over your shoulder so you don't cut your hands in two lugging groceries home. The fact that doors here are pushed open and not pulled. That because of all the moisture in the air I may never had straight hair in England. (It's the small things). Having nothing upon arrival. I knew this but to look in the loo and not even have loo paper there is enough to make you go mad after an 8 hour flight and some wicked jet lag.

But there are some things that I've come to love. Like grocery delivery. The smell of the English air (and the men). The fact that there are no bugs here. The sheer amount of history around me. The fact that I've only been asked about Obama once. My flatmates. Here is where I really lucked out. I've been placed with the weirdest, most wonderful bunch. There are 6 of us, I am the only American. 4 guys and 2 girls. Latvia, Romania, Croatia, Japan, France. 48 hours after meeting we were unbelievably bonded. ( I guess when your Romanian flatmate appears in his underwear 24 hours after you've met in the kitchen needing his brownie that's bound to happen) It hasn't been perfect, and we've already had some drama. And if it had been with anyone else, it could have ended a lot worse. The last thing you want is to not go home because your flatmates are being asses. But we are all committed to this being home, and after conversations and sleep it's on it way to being fixed. Like I said, I could not have asked for a better bunch of weirdoes.

Everything prior to 12 Sept seems like a lifetime ago and in truth it really is. When you uproot yourself, even if its to a place you love, don't expect everything (or anything for that matter) to go smooth. It's a shock to the system and you will need time to adjust (not to mention at least a week to get over the jet lag) Don't become discouraged if after a week you haven't made a solid friend or are still apprehensive about getting groceries on your own. Take a walk, make a date with you and your new surroundings. If you take it slow, you're bound to last.

My Plane Ride Playlist

You can't travel without music. At least you can't travel well. I've always been a play list girl. It's a yearly thing for me, whatever songs have meaning at certain times or events go into a play list, thus I have a memory of the whole year in music. And nothing deserves a play list more than a big trip. The biggest I've experienced. Some songs are cliched (Yes, London Calling), some remind me of the first time I went abroad (The Ataris was on non stop in Spain in '03), some to calm me (Everything London Grammar has put out) and some are brand new findings (Wandering=Amazing). What are some of your favourite travel songs? Let me know in the comments below!

One Week Thoughts

I'm sitting on the couch listening to the crickets outside while The Red Green Show is on in the background (the most Minnesotan show, even if it is from Canada). This time next week, I will be writing this to you in England. Most things are taken care of (still need to find that damned diploma), packing is looming (I'm a last minute girl) and the drama of leaving has finally died down. In saying goodbye, I've realized its really been 3 years of goodbyes, both to various aspects of myself that no longer serve me and to people, places and things. Saying goodbye to the place I considered home, saying goodbye to parents marriage, goodbye to the friends I've had since I was 5 because I no longer had anything in common with them, goodbye to childhood as things were sent to Goodwill and the house I grew up in was sold. Even goodbye to my bed and car! As depressing as it can be, I've looked at it as more of a spiritual cleanse. You can hang onto a lot of deep down stuff through the years, clearing things out clears out the negative.

This has been 5 years in the making. I could pinpoint exactly when this passion started. Sometime in 2010, maybe late 2009. I remember wanting to go, and wanting a sign from the universe. I put my iPod on shuffle and out of 2000 songs, this is the one that came on.

To say that I had a mild heart attack would be putting it lightly. But it was all the confirmation I needed. And my passion for all things British increased at a steady pace over the next 5 years. I look at what's to come and to be honest, I haven't allowed myself to think about it much. I'm owning that to the fact I didn't realize how much drama comes with saying goodbye to certain people! Things come out of the woodwork that you didn't plan on. But I have an long haul plane rid to think on it. It is life changing. An opportunity that many either don't or can't take. This will change me in ways I cannot even being to fathom right now. Will I love England as much as I do in my head? What if I somehow don't? I have no plans to come back to America, I will tell you that right now. Maybe I'll end up a permeant resident of the UK (I cannot tell you how hard that task is) or maybe I'll decide a Ph.D in Geneva is a good idea. Who knows. It's an adventure.

Off the Beaten Path

Sometimes when we travel, we can get caught up in the seemingly never ending list of sights to see in the usual cities on most everyone's list.  These attractions are crowded, expensive and have long waits. I'm not saying some of these aren't worth it,  but in an age where there are several documentaries on the Crown Jewels, is it really worth it to spend £15 and 2 hours of your time to see them in person for 10 minutes? In an age of "seen it, done it" more people are opting for adventures off the beaten path, away from the crowds, cameras and madness. This can enable you to "breathe in" your surroundings, and throw yourself into the moment without worrying about missing your allocated time to see this or that. 

Allow yourself to toss the itinerary and map, even for just a day and go find your paradise. It may be in a place you least expect. 

PS-Speaking of off the beaten path, check out this amazing video about some of the UK's most beautiful and least visited places.

Travel Itinerary-Frankfurt

As the take off day approaches, more and more little things have fallen into place. I managed to sift through all the student loan paper work and submit it without any errors the first time around! A major accomplishment since international students must submit loan paperwork the old fashioned way (think spreadsheets and very little electronic help). My visa is my last BIG hurdle, which should hopefully be taken care of by the end of the month. Although I still have a lot of little things staring me in the face (banking, cell phone, plane ticket, selling possessions) I've managed to make some fun plans for the first few months I'm there. The biggest of which is flying out to Frankfurt for a long weekend to the Frankfurter Buchmesse or the Frankfurt Book Fair. It's the largest book fair in the world and from what I could judge based off of the pictures, looks to be the next incarnation of Comic Con. People cosplay at these events! But it's also a fantastic opportunity to meet well established people who work in the industry and network your ass off. Which is exactly what I plan to do. Literary agent anyone? Have your been to Frankfurt? What are some things to do and see while I'm there?

Find Your Truth, Get Brave

Summer is in full swing here and I took a few weeks off to enjoy it! I just realized the other day that England doesn't really go above 75F very often, so my days of hot and sunny summer days are numbered! I am now only 2 months away from leaving!! Really, where does the time go?

I was conversing with Sarah from A Nonsensical Education the other day about bravery. What is bravery exactly and why do some of us seem to have loads of it while others none at all? TV and movies have told us that bravery is standing up to the bad guys, taking them down and in many instances saving the world. Or maybe it's standing up to a friend or fighting for what you DO want. The hero. Looked up to by many, imitated by even more. Lately though our focus seems to have shifted to the antihero, the everyday guy or girl who just happens to be in the right place at the wrong time. We tend to gravitate to people we can most identify with so that's no surprise there. They don't want or feel like they know how to be brave, they have to figure it all out as they go. As much as I love a good antihero movie, I stop and wonder about those acts of bravery that no one talks about or that is taboo. The act of finding out what is best for you and going for it.

This often involves stress, the struggle to figure out who you are, and lots of objections and what ifs. You could drive a person mad with what if scenarios. Inevitably you'll encounter a split audience. Brick walls will abound and your plans may morph a few hundred times. Fear will creep in, and that is the defining emotion that decides whether we will take the leap or not. Think of it like a universal game of truth or dare, only instead of picking one or the other, your choose both, first to find and speak your truth, then to be dared to face that truth head on. And just like the game you played as kids, there are always a few that would rather sit it out and just watch. They know they COULD participate, but what if the question is embarrassing? Or they're too scared to do the dare? No, no chances for these folks, and they will be sitting on the proverbial sidelines for much of their life. Others will take the truth, hoping to God it isn't too personal, answer (truthfully or not, who knows) and slowly slink back into the circle. They're in with the crowd, but don't yet have enough self awareness to jump in 100%. The vast majority of people end up right here, a condition of the play it safe dogma that seems to run rampant now a days.

Then there are the ones who yell DARE before the question is even asked because they are ready. They know all their truths are out there for the world to see and they are so ready to take on the challenges that the world has given them, even if that dare is to streak through the neighbors yard wearing only a giant cheese head (I live next to Wisconsin, I've seen it happen). Seek out your truths and get ready to 'streak' through life showing off all that is you. The universe will thank you for it.

PS-New signature!! Do you like?

Keep it Real

When I move to England in the Autumn, I'm not expecting Prince Harry to fall madly in love with me thus facilitating our move into Kensington Palace where I will become besties with Catherine. (Lovely thought though!) I'm fulfilling my dreams, but I have to continually practice keeping my feet on the ground while my head is in the clouds of what could be.

Don't get me wrong, dreaming is what got me here in the first place. I closed my eyes and jumped. I believe more people should do this. But even if you make it to where you want to be, don't expect every experience to be all roses and butterflies. Always plan and keep in the back of your mind that perhaps plans will change or get altered completely. You could start in England and end up in India. Or maybe what you have built up in your mind to be the end all be all of dreams turns out to be not what you imagined. That's OK. It's an experience that you were meant to have.

So what do you do when the rug gets pulled out from under you on your carefully laid plans? Breathe. Take a moment to acknowledge that things have changed. You've been rolling with the unexpected thus far, you will be able to keep the momentum going. PLAN--well, as best you can. You've been thrown a curve ball, no reason you can't at least mildly prepare for it. You'll feel better for it. Keep your sense of humor intact. It will keep you stress levels down and learning to laugh at the unexpected will help to put things in perspective for you.

Life puts you on certain paths for a reason, if plans change, don't assume the worst. You've either completed a phase in your life or learned all you need from where you are now. Smile and wave hello to the next adventure.


tea drops,

samantha