My poor poor sad little blog. It barely got off the ground and has been floundering ever since. I desperately want to post but I've had a rough work week and cant tonight. I will definitely catch up. I can't promise not to fall behind again but we all know that's not true. I will do my best though.

Bad new blogger

I am a bad blogger. And a bad new blogger. I promise to catch up tonight. I've got a lot or exciting things going on I want to talk about. And I'm finally over my cold. More soon!

Whoops. Thursday.

I forgot to blog yesterday. Working full time is hard. And being sick is hard. So I'm exhausted.
But Thursdays blog is important. It's saving money. It's something I need to do. It's essential for future travel. And it's really really hard to do. There are people who don't need to save money or make a budget to travel. But I do. Most of you probably do too. And it's so so hard. But I'm going to try to give you tips that have helped me, mistakes I've made, and how to afford travel.
Firstly, make a budget. Budgets suck. They really suck. I am not good at following rules. Especially about money. I see something I like or want and get it. Instant gratification. But traveling means planning ahead. So budget. Categories: bills (essentials), savings, travel/other. We have to pay bills. We have to save money. I do not need to buy a couple new DVDs (especially at $20 each!) or a new shirt. I have to prioritize. And it's a daily thing. I have to tell myself I can have a new book or I can put the money toward a flight or a nice dinner or souvenir in Europe. It's hard for me to think long term because I really want something now. But saving now is so worth it in the end. Because I could have a new book or an amazing experience abroad. That is more important.
There are so many budget tips online including how to do it exactly. But do one and really try to stick to it. The rewards will be great.

Wednesday: future travel

It's going to be hard to list ALL of the places I want to go. But let's start with New York. I've only been to DC on the east coast. I've dreamed of New York. There are so many things to do.
I want to go to museums and Central Park. Brooklyn, the bridges, and the Statue of Liberty. I want to go to Rockefeller center and the Empire State Building. Depending on the season I want to see the thanksgiving day parade live and everything lit up at Christmas time. I want to go to a taping of the daily show. Meet interesting people. See ancient artifacts. Be where so much history is. That's what I absolutely loved about London. Among other things the incredible history. And being from the west coast even the east coast seems incredibly rich in history. I want to experience it all.
I would need about a month to see it all. I've thought it would be nice to live there for a time. Although no opportunity has showed itself and I hate the horrific seasons. It's totally romanticized in my mind and I want to see if it lives up to my expectations.
If you have tips or pictures that would be fantastic!

Tuesday Travel Tip

It's a quick one tonight. Something I read today. When booking the best deals for domestics flights are found 49 days from your trip. And international 81 days

That's pretty good. I have definitely booked outside of those parameters but it makes sense and is worth it if you are ready to book. Also remember that prices really start to go up two weeks before a domestic flight.

Monday: Pre travel info

Pre travel is so important. You need to be ready. I'm not going to get into the intricacies of packing just yet except to small pack light. No, really pack light. Now lighter. Seriously. You aren't going to want to lug giant suitcases up and down with only stairs and not an escalator or elevator to be found.
Pack light and then throw aside half that stuff. Girls on my study abroad trip brought huge bags and 5 pairs of heels. Don't be like them. That is ridiculous. I'm not sure in three months they wore one pair of heels. Maybe one. They aren't important and they take up too much room.
You can get buy with way less than you think. Don't plan just in case. Plan what you know you will wear. You don't need a snow suit or three heavy jackets. Layer. Being a few tshirts, two long sleeves shirts, and a good jacket. Done. It's really that simple.
Do what the experts say. Lay everything out and remove half. Then half again. You will find places to do laundry. You can wash underwear, bras, and socks in the sink. I did for 10 months in London because laundry is expensive. You can hang everything up to dry overnight. It won't have all the perks of home but it will work.
And you will want to shop abroad. Buy a shirt based on where you are or splurge on something in a fashion centric city. You will bring home stuff. So pack light at the beginning or you will regret it in the end

That's all for today but we've barely begun the pre travel packing and planning process. But don't worry. I love this stuff!

Sunday: Living Abroad

Here it is. The start of the first full week. No slacking now. I'm here to pass on my knowledge and wisdom. Haha more like help you learn from my mistakes.
Living abroad is tough. But it's definitely worth it. I just wanted to pass on a few differences.
A word about going through customs in the UK. Pick the right line. They get really mad if you don't. There is a specific sign for non uk residents. Even with a UK visa do not go in that line. They will seem gruff, look through your entire passport, and ask a dozen questions. But just be clear, honest, and know it will be over soon.
Ok back to my tips. I will probably have more as time goes on. And my experience is definitely Europe centric but these could work anywhere.

1. Everything is different. And I mean every thing. Even if you speak English and move to an English speaking country, or high number of English speakers, everything is different.
2. Take things slowly. If you are moving somewhere, even for a few months, there is an urge to take everything in at once. It's about the pace. When I first moved to London I wanted to see everything. And the first few weeks I did. But after I was tethered to going to school. Sight seeing became secondary. And I was so frustrated. I had papers to write, classes, research, etc. I was busy. But I took the time to prioritize. I wrote a list of the things I wanted to do, and planned the month. If a place was near school I went on Tuesdays. Otherwise it was one weekend day to study. And one to sight see. Or, more likely, drink a lot. Keep track of what you need to do, want to do, and make a schedule. It seems silly but it helps.
3. Similar to before. I made a list of what I wanted to see. And when I went there I would write down what day, time, favorite part. It was silly at first but I still have that paper and it brings back memories. This goes for museums, restaurants, parks, etc. I could see where I wanted to go again and what wasn't worth it.
4. Get a local phone. Even for a few weeks. I felt safer with a phone. Learn the emergency numbers. You will meet people you want to contact again. You can get directions. You can get apps. With a smart phone. I didn't have a smart phone but I had a limited plan with mostly texting and it had a built in radio. It was perfect. I could listen to local radio while I walked.
5. Take pictures. With your phone. It's always on you, you know it is. Not sight seeing pictures although those are important too. I took a picture of my street, the signs, the tube stop, everything near me. It helped when I was lost or needed to give a taxi driver my address. If I was walking somewhere new and saw a cute store that was closed I could take a pic and look it up later. I couldn't remember it all even if I wanted to but it was nice to keep track of things I wanted to do or look up later.
That's all for now. Except try to get an Internet connection as soon as possible. Internet cafes are only tolerable for so long. Make it part of your phone plan, share wireless with a neighbor, or sit at McDonalds for hours, just know once you get that situated everything will be so much easier. Well, first secure housing. Then wireless. Housing next week I promise!

Saturday: Europe

I studied abroad for 3 months in Europe. It was fantastic. I had an incredible time. I want to use Saturdays to talk about that time. The things I learned while traveling, tips, tricks, and things to do and not to do. It will be great. Europe is so worth it and the expense will not matter when you are standing on the Eiffel Tower or on the river Thames. I will talk about where I went, where I stayed, tourist things to do or avoid, and what it means to understand a culture and be a good citizen of the world.

Fridays

I'm so glad it's Friday. So so glad. Friday will be a good day on the blog too. I'm going to talk local. And take some liberties with the term local. I haven't been to very many places in the US. more countries than states.
So I will talk some about different cities I've been to in the US but mostly Seattle where I currently live and LA/OC were I used to live. There will be a bunch mixed I to that but I think it will be really fun.

Thursdays

Thursdays will be good. Totally applicable to my current life. It's about money. And saving money. And budgets. And affording travel. And priorities.
It's so easy to want to travel. It's harder to make it happen. There is real life going on. Travel seems harder to make true, to think its not make believe. But it can happen. I hope to get advice and give advice about traveling. And making it a priority. And getting the best deal. That's my goal with Thursdays posts. I want everyone to travel and see the importance. And this is we're you want to check for getting yourself there. Check back next week and let's travel!

Wednesday

Wednesdays will be fun. I'm excited. It's about the future. Where I want to visit someday. Where I would maybe like to live someday. It's fun to think about. I spend a lot of time checking out travel sites and planning fictional travel adventures in my head and now you can get in on the fun.
I also hope that by putting info out there about were I want to go someday I can get feedback on where you guys have been. We can have a good discussion about places and future adventures. See you next Wednesday!

Tuesday Travel Tip

Tuesdays will be fun. I'm excited. It's going to be tips. Actual information you may use on a trip someday. Something to help make your journey easier or your tip better. That's why I want to so this section. And feel free to add on! There is a ton of great advice out there but I hope to add from personal experience. So keep checking back Tuesdays for things I've picked up on, advice I've been given, or things I've learned the hard way that I want to pass onto you! Happy travels!

Monday- pre travel

This pre travel section is going to be very detailed. There is always a lot to do when you prepare for a trip. But it is all completely worth it in the end. I would say that first. You aren't just planning a trip. It's a trip that will change you. Somehow, in some way, hopefully, you will come back different. For the better. Because you volunteered or lived somewhere far from home. Or you went for.a week or two and tried to make their culture your own, to understand how other people live, how they find happiness. There is something powerful about traveling and I hope to convey that here. I would not be the same person if I hadn't travelled like I did. Didn't meet the people I did, do the things I did, or even look forward to future trips like I do because I know the rewards. I appreciate the benefits.

So. You have decided to go somewhere. Somewhere warm and tropical or cold and snowy. Somewhere with high cliffs or deep lakes. Somewhere you've only seen in your dreams, or felt compelled to set foot in. This blog will help get you there. And Mondays post specifically will help. It's everything before you need before land in a new place. Before you get that next stamp in your passport. It's tips I've picked up on or tricks I've learned the hard way. It's the essentials. Things to get done to create a perfect vacation. It can be tedious and not seem worth it. But when everything's in order, and you are ready to go, you will be glad to have taken these steps. So stay tuned next week for the start of all your pre trip questions answered.

Sunday: Living Abroad!

I'm hoping to make Sunday the day I talk about my experience living abroad. I lived in London for 10 months. It was one of the greatest things I have ever done and I'm so glad to have that experience.

However it also held a lot of challenges. It isn't as simple as packing a bag and finding a flat. There are so many steps and i plan to share my experience and detail the process. It definitely won't be the same for every country. England is known for having a difficult immigration policy and enforcement. They have good reasons for it but it's definitely a challenge. And once you jump through all the hoops it becomes an adventure.

Obviously the first step is deciding where you want to live. When I was a kid I didn't care, but I wanted to live somewhere else. And I had the perfect opportunity. I graduated from college a semester early and spent the time living with friends and working as a nanny. I wanted more. I began applying to graduate schools, wanting to study Sociology. I applied to UW in my home state, and USC nearby. On a complete whim I applied to the London School of Economics.

I had been to London once before for two weeks. It was a part of my study abroad program 2 years before. And I had fallen in love with the perfect city. Everything was charming. I loved the history and mix of old and new buildings. I was determined to go back. And to my complete shock, the week of my 23rd birthday, after getting rejected and wait listed from a bunch of schools, I was accepted to LSE. I thought about the offer letter for about a minute, called everyone I knew, sent it back in with a shout of glee and began the long 6 months that would get me to London. The program went from September-June (a ten month program, shorter than most) with the final thesis due in December. I was ecstatic! I would be getting my Masters in Sociology from LSE!

There was so much to do. A checklist came and I slowly started the process. I had to do several things at once, but first the complicated visa process. The US and the UK may be allies but they are not friendly for long term visa applicants. The visa application process had JUST changed so it meant additional complications just for me. And a new system for the two governments. I applied for a Tier 3 Student Visa. This meant I could be a student for 2 years before needing to change to another visa if I was going to stay longer in the UK. I also was able to work up to 20 hours a week, part time.

First (1) I needed money. For my program I had to prove I could financially support myself while in their country. I had other loans from undergrad too. But this was a priority for me. I had to cover the cost of tuition and additional fees for housing and other costs. The total needed was just about 40,000. It seemed like a lot, and it is, but the price of two years at USC would have been about 65,000 or more. And i would not be in London. Grad school is expensive but for me it was the right decision. That meant a long talk with the friendly people at Sallie Mae. I was initially approved for half of it, $20,000).

Then (2) I needed visa photo and finger printing. I went to Walgreens and took simple passport photos that i would take to the visa office. The fingerprinting was done by appt about 30 minutes from my home, in Santa Ana, CA, in July 2009. It was a long line of people wanting to change their circumstances. The unfriendly staff went over every detail of my paperwork, scanned my fingerprints digitally, and sent me away with a good luck and don't get into too much trouble.

Next (3) I made an appt with the British visa office 2 hours from my house, in Santa Monica, CA, the first week of August. They are only in big cities so I was glad I lived that close even. I waited about 20 minutes and a nice British woman said my background check and paperwork were fine BUT I needed to prove the full amount. I left without a visa and a furious call to Sallie Mae again. Luckily my aunt and uncle graciously helped me with the other half as I waited for the loan money to go through.

So (4) I was back the next week (difficult to get an appt) at the visa office with the full scary amount in my bank account ad all my paperwork in order. I held my breathe at the counter as she looked everything and finally approved it. She took my paperwork and my passport (scary). I went home finally believing this was going to happen.

(5) About a month later I received my passport in the mail. It looked just the same but with a full page devoted to a colorful British student visa. It was new and exciting and I was full of anticipation for what was to come!!!

So that's the visa process. I know it's specific to my situation but it does explain some of the steps in order to move abroad. The British visa system is complicated but any visa process has challenges that you can and will slowly work through to get where you need to go. Good luck!

A New Travel Site Begins!

I'm so excited about what my neglected blog is about to become. I lived in London for 10 months from September 2009-June 2010 and documented my adventure there. There were pictures, antidotes, and tips that made my stay full of adventure and fun. And this is where my idea began, to take what I learned in London and turn this blog into a place where people can get information on travel. There are hundreds of travel blogs but I think mine can hold its own. I love traveling and am so excited to share the things I know and learn with you!

As far as travel experience, when I was a Junior in college I studied abroad in Europe for 3 months. We didn't stay in one place, it was a moving program. We spent time in 7 countries, studied a few hours a day, and immersed ourselves in the different cultures. The program took us to England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, and Greece. We also had the opportunity to travel on weekends and I got to see Scotland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Portugal, and Egypt. Fast forward 3 years and I spent 10 months in graduate school in London, England. I have also traveled randomly, not with school. I've actually been to more countries than states. I am constantly thinking about where I want to go next.

The cities and countries I have been to have given me knowledge and first hand experience about how fantastic traveling can be and I want to share that with you. I will use this blog to share the details of my personal journals from traveling (first tip right there! journal!) as well as photos. I will post country information and where I want to travel next. I will share tips and tricks, what works for me on short trips and extended stays. That includes buying tickets, packing (my favorite before-i-leave task) arranging transportation, what to see/do, and generally how to have a good time. Not everything I say may work for you but I hope to be a voice for those who love to travel. And I have come to travel a certain way. You probably won't see a lot of five star resorts and first class tickets. While I would do that if I could afford it (maybe) I believe it's about spending time getting to meet people and understand cultures. It's not first class flights that will help you learn a second language or five star resorts that make you feel like a local. It's wandering around the city center into a small neighborhood, letting yourself get lost, reading the local newspaper, starting a conversation. I'm a naturally shy person but when I'm traveling I seem to come out of my shell. I try to take each day as it comes, not plan every detail, let each day fall where it may and enjoy the journey.

After my adventures in school I've recently settled into a semi interesting 8-5 job. There's the catch. Wanting to travel but needing money, and alternatively, having a job for the money and no time to travel. I'm trying to find the best of both worlds. I just started a new job but I'm saving every penny for my next adventure. I will share it with you, the fun of travel and what it takes to get there. I hope you stay tuned for what I have to say. Even with every travel blog/website out there I know I have something to contribute, because I have traveled. Everyone gets something different out of it. It's fun (and important) to share those experiences, to relive each adventure, and to plan the next one. Let's go!


-Sarah

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page. -St. Augustine