Acceptance and Passport

Random fact: "The weather in the region is not as cold as many think. The weather usually falls between 30 and 70 degrees F."

I'm at home spending time with the family for Thanksgiving. I'm so thankful for this break! Anyway, Saturday I woke up to some very good news. As I was packing, I read my e-mail and received a noticed from my American study abroad advisor that I was accepted. So, I'm now one giant step closer to Sunderland.

Yesterday, I spent over three hours arguing with the people at the courthouse about my passport. Instead of letting us talk to the nice lady that knew our situation, we had to talk to this other woman that kept snapping at us about identification and such. As my mom and I waited for my dad to gather up the rest of my identifications, this nice elderly guy walks in and he must have been a customer service guy because he bent over backwards and jumped through hoops tyring to help us.

In the end, they once again griped about the photo (which the main passport people said it wasn't too light) and we filled out the rest of the forms. I seriously hope it works this time b/c this is such a big headache.

My Reasons

“The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."--Walter Bagehot

For a while, I have had a journal that I have been typing all my experiences in, but I think I'll go ahead and get a head start on the actual travel journal made specifically for my travel to England. I was accepted to join the study abroad program with about 29 other people last spring and while there are four people, including myself, traveling to England, I am the only one heading to this specific region of England. Everyone else will be heading to the center or south to my knowledge, but in a way I am sort of glad that no one else from this region will be attending.

It's contradictory since I'm all for the buddy system, but at the same time I don't want to be constantly chained to someone I know. Some people are flying together, but I don't mind flying alone as long as I get a window seat. My mom is afraid of planes in general and was born on 9/11 (not the same year I assure you) and my dad is really into safety, and after the attempted terrorist attack they have been frightened even more about my ideas to fly to England, but I have my motivations and I will be the first person out of my family to leave the country--not counting uncle Cecil during WWII--in possibly 200-300 years. At least, that long since anyone in my family has been back to the "Motherland".

My reasons for going:

1. I am majoring in Communication, but my focus is more on Media. Unfortunately, the college I attend does not have a practical Media Communication curriculum, so many people from my major travel here to take a few classes in Media Communication. Don't get me wrong, I love the major and especially impressed with the professors within my major, but it is more focused on theory rather than hands-on (which is expected in a liberal arts college).

2. I used to work for the newspaper before they went downhill. It was almost a rite of passage that the majority of the staff travel to this college and take a few media/journalism courses.

3. Both of my parents have British roots and my last name is very British. I am interested in Geneology and would love to maybe get a clue as to where my relatives may have lived, what their namesake may have meant (other than the research I have already done on surname and etymology sites), and what legacy they might have left. For all I know, this name could be like "Smith" in America or "Patel" in India.

4. Ok, frankly I did want to study abroad in more foreign countries, but when people hear you're an American...we have very few allies left. I knew that Britian and Australia were allies and while I love and know a lot about Australia (Darren Hayes!) I am also afraid of spiders (which 9 of the 10 top poisonous kinds live in Australia). Therefore, since I figured I wouldn't have to learn another language in Britain (boy was I wrong...I fear I might understand Spanish more) and that I wouldn't be shot for being an American (since guns are illegal) I decided to go there.

5. There have been so many people that went in the past that it is sort of inspiring. I have a sort of mentor I'll call Kay and there's currently a person within my major over there now. Kay has been so helpful with information about the town and she's so enthusiastic about the subject b/c she wants to go back, so she doesn't mind if I ask her a bazillion questions. I can't wait to become that kind of mentor to others. There are two people planning on going during the next fall semester and I told both of them that I'll be available for contact b/c I'll be able to connect on-line.

When I go to England, I'm going to hopefully have a weekly weblog so I can show all of you parts of England while I show my parents that I'm ok, my friends and future travelers that I'm doing well, and my professors and parents and other powerful people that I am indeed being a good little girl and their support has made a difference.

To those who have made tireless efforts to raise me, let go enough so I can take this trip, supported me, wrote referal letter after referal letter on my behalf (though I know that all of you were busy), didn't beat me upside the head for asking dumb questions such as "does nationality mean race", and helped me in any way possible--even if it was just saying "good luck" or giving me a cookie--I thank you. To future travelers, hang in there and don't feel dumb for I assure you I will make dumber mistakes or ask dumber questions than you will ever ask.