ELLO LONDON!

I made it I made it I made it!!

After 30 hours awake, two airplane meals, several card games, and a few embarrassing phrases, I finally landed in Heathrow earlier this morning. Thankfully most of my group was on both of my connecting flights, so I didn't have to embark through customs alone.

Leaving for the last leg of our trip out of Atlanta

The flat looks great. London looks great. I even unpacked.

More photos soon to come! Now I'd like a good nap...

Here's a fun story

AND some great news!

Today ended a lengthy period of anxiety in my preparation for this trip. I've been awaiting my passport's delivery for over a week now. Even more so, I'd been waiting for it for more than a month before that...only to realize it had been shipped to the wrong address. Rejected by my campus apartment. And sent back to NYC. To a high-security office with no direct lines to the public. You can imagine my panic on Christmas Eve when I realized it may not be in my hands by January 9th... And, of course, no offices are open on that day. Or for the rest of the week, in my case.

After many emails, a $30 phone call, two nightmares, and a very cheesy (but effective) letter to the consular, I have received my passport at my home address. Visa stamp and all. [For future reference--the visa timeline is very long.] Now I can continue to worry about my suitcase and its contents... which are arguably equally, if not more, important.



I'm going to London, ya'll.

First step

Hi all!

Welcome to my blog :) This is the first one I've done, really, so I'll appreciate your patience and mildly restrained criticism during this process. I've actually always wanted to start one, but I never had a purpose for it. Or enough interesting things to say...

Until now.

Well, until 19 days from now.

I am currently a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I am studying Accounting (well..right now) and also participate in an amazing business program entitled Global Leadership Scholars. One of the program's benefits is a study abroad semester in London, UK. (London, GB? London, England? I need to know these things!) I am excited to say that I'll be travelling abroad with 26 of my favorite classmates in a matter of weeks to begin the semester that students before us claim is "life-changing"..."best time of your life"..."you'll hate Knoxville when you come back"..."I still hate Knoxville after going 2 years ago"... Well, regardless, these months should be amazing. We will be taking two courses taught by UT professors and will also have an internship in the London area. Everyone is assigned a position respective to their major, though I have no idea where I'll be placed yet. 

I love international surprises!

While I'm beyond excited for this opportunity, I know I'll miss everyone in the States far too much. (Lookin' at you, family, friends, daily greeter at Field of Greens) I want to stay connected and keep everyone updated at the least!

I'll be using this blog to post my doings, happenings, thoughts, events, photos, complaints, and random moments of "I just love this place. Can I stay?" Watch out for all of that.

Also watch out for Harold

Harold is an elephant. My trip traveler. Like one of those gnome projects, except way better and not cheesy at all. This is his first close up, taken in my hometown of Paris, TN.

We'll be seeing the real Eiffel Tower soon enough!

XO
Amanda