Preparing to go...

So I’m currently sat writing my first official blog post on the plane over to the US, where I’ll spend the next (nearly) 10 months studying. I’m feeling a mixture of very nervous, and VERY excited. Since finding out 6 months ago that I had got the scholarship, and I was ACTUALLY going to get to study in America (a lifelong dream- seriously sad I know) it feels so unbelievably surreal that now, here I am, finally on my way over.

I thought I would write a blog post about what I’ve done in preparation to go over the last few months so anyone else wanting to apply for the scholarship, or wanting to study abroad knows a little bit more about what to do and expect. I think I’ve collated enough tips and tricks from my own experience to at least provide some of you with some help! To make it a little simpler (and to make it look a bit nicer) I’ve split everything into three categories, so here we go:

Do the boring bits early:

The most tedious and annoying part of the whole process was the VISA. I thought I was being super organised starting the application procedure 2-3 months early, but considering I didn’t actually get my passport stamped and in my hands until less than a week before my flight, I think it’s safe to say that it ended up being pretty last minute and a lot more stressful than it needed to be… Although I had applied, and even interviewed early, I had forgotten that I would need my passport to go off travelling in the summer holidays so I couldn’t send it off to get stamped until the end of summer, meaning if there had been any major problems, it would have probably been too late to sort out. Moral of the story: GET YOUR VISA SORTED OUT EARLY.

Other basic, kinda boring things you need to make sure you do: Check you’re up to date with all your jabs and medical ‘stuff’ check your passport is up to date, and know what you are going to do about mobile phones and money before you get here.

Talk to people who have done similar things:

Hands down the most useful thing I did was talk to people who had been on the scholarship before me. I skyped last year’s scholar while he was still at Evansville, and I talked loads to a family friend who had been out a few years before. They told me what kind of things to pack, what to expect, and were able to answer all the questions I had about University and America life. I also watched multiple videos and read lots of blogs from people who had also studied abroad in America.

Luckily for me, in my last week at home we had an American friend staying with us. She was SUCH a help as she reminded me to pack basic things I’d forgotten like a plug converter, and also told me what kind of presents and British chocolate Americans liked so I was able to bring some British 'goodies' out with me.

Saying Goodbyes

The hardest part about leaving was saying goodbye to friends and family. However ALL my friends are going their separate ways across the country and the globe, and although most of them will still be able to go home in the holidays, it’s nice to know I’m not the only one so far from home. I made sure I saw everyone I wanted to say goodbye to over summer through coffee dates, camping weekends and picnics. Saying goodbye to the family was tough but also exciting as I know the next time I see them will be in New York at Christmas!!

Saying goodbyes to old friends might have been hard, but it also means saying hi to new friends very, very soon which makes me very, very excited…