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!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
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!
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, January 15, 2013
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, January 14, 2013
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.
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, January 13, 2013
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!
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!
Saturday, January 12, 2013
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
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
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
2 years and counting
It's been just over 2 years. 2 years one month. Since I left London, my home for a year, my favorite place in the world. I miss it so much. I have days where I don't think of it at all. Then I have days like today where I look up my favorite places, talk to London friends AND use google maps to follow my route or look at my favorite park. It's been rough. Being in California hasn't always worked out-it's been a rough 2 years. I haven't had steady work, I have stayed in the same place for long, I haven't been very happy. California is feeling less and less like home. And I know that soon (maybe within a year or two) I will return to Seattle and start my life there. I miss my family when I am in CA and I miss my friends when i'm in WA. Neither way seems best. But I feel like i'm losing my closeness with CA. It's beautiful and I have friends here but they have had to move for what they think is best in their life and I might be next. Honestly Costa Mesa has always felt like home but not enough to beat out Seattle. And yes I am still hoping that there is a great job opportunity with a sponsored visa in London but that doesn't seem very realistic. Although I still hope every day for a few more years in London. So I will stay in CA, try to get back to London for awhile and end up in Seattle. There's the life plan. I also play to teach English, join the Peace Corps, and do other amazing things with my life. I want to put this last year with all of its challenges and frustrations behind me. But for now I am wondering what the future holds, where my path is going to go and what I'm going to do with my life. Hoping to move forward and see things for what they are, gain perspective and find happiness. It's all anyone wants.
But I'm beginning my 3rd year away from London and it's harder than I ever imagined to be away from it. I didn't think I would still miss it. Still want to go back even now. Still wonder if I made the best decision in leaving. So hopefully my path will get me back to London, will help me see friends, maybe find a job for awhile. To keep my family close and that my friends always know I care deeply for them.
Re reading this blog makes me happy and sad. I loved the adventure I had and yet I want more. I want so many things to change, and so many things to start, and things to make sense. I will continue to miss London so much and hope that I get to step foot in that beautiful city again. Only time will tell. And I hope it starts talking.
But I'm beginning my 3rd year away from London and it's harder than I ever imagined to be away from it. I didn't think I would still miss it. Still want to go back even now. Still wonder if I made the best decision in leaving. So hopefully my path will get me back to London, will help me see friends, maybe find a job for awhile. To keep my family close and that my friends always know I care deeply for them.
Re reading this blog makes me happy and sad. I loved the adventure I had and yet I want more. I want so many things to change, and so many things to start, and things to make sense. I will continue to miss London so much and hope that I get to step foot in that beautiful city again. Only time will tell. And I hope it starts talking.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)