A Short Introduction

Here's the question everyone's been asking lately:

"Are you ready for your trip?"

"Ready" is a strong word. I have a long list of insecurities and apprehensions concerning my first trip abroad (by myself...for six months).  Here are a few of the things I'm worried about:

1. I've only been on a plane once, and that was with my high school Spanish class, so I didn't have to worry about silly things like getting on the right plane. And we didn't go to the Atlanta airport. This latter statement didn't bother me until the response to my saying "I switch planes in Atlanta" was unanimous cringing.


2. I've never used public transportation. I suppose if I'm gonna start anywhere, London is the right place to do it. The city's universally known for its buses and "tubes".

3. I'm American. The ultimate target for any native pick pocket or salesperson.

4. The University College of London (the school I'm going to). I took a peek at one of the syllabi for a class I want to take and. Freaked. Out. Silly me for thinking it's best to study English literature in the womb from which it was birthed. Then again, I tend to freak out every semester at my school in Missouri anyways. It may not be so bad...

5. British accents. Yes, they're sexy, but with my hearing problems I have a feeling everything will come through gibberish

6. Not seeing family or friends for six months (awwwww...). Seriously though, that's the longest I've ever been away from home.

7. I'm showing up late for orientation. So I'll have no fricken clue what I'm doing.

That's not to say I'm having second thoughts. After all, there are a ridiculous number of perks to studying abroad in England.

1. The weather (believe it or not, this is a good thing in my book, because it can't be worse than where I usually go to school)

2. London. Enough said.

3. Europe. Is. Right. There.

4. My nationality is an automatic conversation starter with strangers.

5. Using the words "rubbish" and "bullocks" non-ironically

6. British accents (This is more of a plus than a minus). There are a million different kinds too. I experienced 5 in a 10 minute phone conversation alone.

7. I won't have to deal with my home school's study abroad office for 6 months.

8. Post-Culture Shock, when I'll be able to realize what an amazing place I'm living in.

I'll keep you updated on the ups and downs of this trip as they come about. Wish me luck!