T- Two Weeks!

It's just t minus two weeks until I leave for Edinburgh! I've been working hard and have finally found a group of girls (I hope) to go flat hunting with and then leave with for the year! They are:

1. Caoimh - she's 23 and getting her LLM in International Law; originally from Cork, Ireland
   
2. Sophie - she's 22 and getting her PhD in Chemistry; originally from around Belfast, Northern Ireland
   
3. Louise - she's 26 and getting her MSc in Global Health and Public Policy; originally from Cambridge, England

I hope we all get along! I've been talking to Caoimh since around May and Sophie and Louise in just the last few weeks but they all sound so nice! But who knows what will happen when we all come together. My hope is that we can all spend time together occasionally for nights in and out, share a supper or two, and just have someone to talk to. I'm pretty sure we're all nearly in the same boat not knowing anyone pretty much. Although, luckily I will now know someone in the UK! My cousin Julie and her husband are moving to England in October so I can't wait for that! I have already reserved Thankgiving with them :)

It's been getting pretty stressful here already. Being an American going abroad, I feel like there's so much stuff I need to get ready. Stuff that I wouldn't need to do if I was just going to graduate school somewhere in the US. I officially had my last day at work yesterday (YAY!) so now I have time to focus on everything. This week I plan to:

• Organize all my Scotland papers
• Change my auto-insurance
• Cancel my health insurance. Since I'm going back to school full-time, I get to mooch off my parents insurance again. Thanks Obama!
• Head to the bank to do some paperwork stuff
• Get car washed and buy a car cover
• Go to the eye doctor
• Get my hair done
• Go to the gym every day (please, please actually do this!)
  
• Clean, clean, clean the house (see below for reason why)

This Saturday we're having a going away party. Well, we've really just been wanting to have a party so we made that the reason! We got a new patio so it better not rain! Should be fun. I can't wait to see all my friends and family one more time before I leave.

European Studies

Since my last post, a few things have happened on the Edinburgh stand. I decided to apply for the MSc in European Studies, a program I never realized they offered. I got very excited about the program and was expecting to have to wait three months to hear back from them like I did for the MSc Gender History and MSc Social and Cultural History. My rejection came within a week and when I asked why, they said my degree was more relevant to Creative Writing, my GPA was below their minimum admittance, and my personal statement did not reflect enough personal interest or knowledge in the program.

I was really upset when I got this news, a lot more than I thought I would be. Before I found out why, I thought it must be some kind of mistake because it's the first year the program is running and I thought they'd want an eager applicant like myself. The program director even encouraged me to apply! I knew I couldn't give up without a fight. I wrote back, letting them know the program director told me my undergraduate degree was relevant and that although I had a 3.36 in my undergrad, I've had a 4.0 in my graduate studies thus far. I rewrote my personal statement because I realized I didn't put forth as much enthusiasm as I should have. I think I was so excited about the program and wrote the personal statement so fast, I didn't think about it - I just wanted to get my application in ASAP.

Well, they reconsidered my application and now I have a conditional offer to the MSc European Studies program! Yay! I must successfully pass my postgraduate certificate I'm currently finishing up this semester with a satisfactory GPA. I'm not sure what that GPA would be, but I'm striving for another A. I'm officially halfway done with my class which is an HR class called Organizational Development and Change and is pretty boring. I just don't think it will be too relevant towards my professional goals. My professor has only returned one assignment and our midterm is due this week. Crossing fingers!

On the 19th, University of Edinburgh is having a presentation sort of thing for all international applicants in DC. Mom and I are going and I'm super excited! I know it's just for *applicants* but I hope it will give me a chance to meet a few people.

Six more months now!

This post is in loving memory of Gambit, who passed away about two months ago. He is thought of constantly and will always be missed. He would have been a year old on April 8th, 2010.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays! May your travels be safe and well.

9 Months To GO!

I can officially say that I will be attending the University of Edinburgh next September! I got my official conditional offer this morning (they want proof that I finish my graduate certificate which I'll be done with in May) and went in and accepted it. It's really happening!! AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! Time to start adding in "u"s and "m"s and "e"s, changing "c"s and "z"s to "s"s and removing some "l"s in order to fit in!

I am colourfully excited for this programme to instil information in my brain.

I keep trying to roll my "r"s but it's just not happening.

I believe I have all the financials situated. My next step: accommodation.
I had originally just planned to stay in a dorm but now I'm having second thoughts because I realized that really only international students live on campus since Scottish students have no guarantee. Too bad. I am now considering some type of private accommodation.

We've been officially snowed in over here on the east coast (twitterly known as the dcsnowpocalypse). We got about two feet over Friday - Saturday. It's so beautiful! I think we'll FINALLY have a white Christmas. Work was closed today and then I'm off 12/25/09 - 1/3/10.

2009 has gone by so incredibly fast! I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.

Two Down, One To Go

After not hearing from anyone for about a month (it has been 5 weeks now since I heard from Glasgow), I decided to check in with Edinburgh earlier this week since I couldn't find anything on their website that told me how long their average decision wait time was. After having some difficulty even finding who to e-mail, I found a general e-mail who forwarded me on to the actual department I applied to. I heard back from them Friday morning apologizing for the wait. Of course, I sent in my applications when they were welcoming the new recruits I guess but I've been told my application has been expedited and I should hear my decision within a week (and if not, to check back). I'm nearly dying of anticipation! It's been nine weeks as of Friday since I've applied to my schools so I'm ready to hear!

Coincidentally, I did get my offer of acceptance to University of Birmingham this morning! It is the program (International Studies) I always imagined doing (which makes it sound like I've always dreamed of grad school so I should say 'the program I've imagined enrolling in these last five months) and would be best for my prospective career (study abroad/international education) but I believe my heart is set on graduate school in Scotland. No idea why.

This Thursday, we celebrated Thanksgiving in America. It's a great time to be with family. I love the tradition (the history it's based on...we'll ignore that for now - just like they do in history class!). It's my second favorite holiday after Christmas. It definitely sets the tone for the holiday season. My nearly entire family traveled out to our house. They got to see our newly remodeled kitchen and we got some new furniture as well. It was a crowded bunch, as always when we're all gathered in one place. It consisted of:
-Mom, Dad, and I
-Uncle Jimmy and his friend John who was in the area visiting
-Aunt Ann, Uncle Roland, and Christine
-Aunt Helen
-Aunt Mary, Uncle Joe, and Carolyn
-Aunt Rita, Uncle Dan, Danny, and Victoria
-Aunt Eileen, Uncle Andrew, Matt, Erin, and Kevin
-Aunt Christine, Uncle Livingston, Danielle, Madison, and nanny Pamela

That's 26 in total. Possibly a new record! If only my cousin Kelly, her husband Nathan, and their children Natalie, Sara, Mallory, and Trent could join us but they were off in KY hosting their own Thanksgiving now that they've got a growing family. And my cousin Julie is off living in Germany with her husband Andreas being all German and crafty :) We just got to see her last month as she was in America for two weeks before the holiday season blew up the travel.

Not including my mom's side (which consists of only 5 people now - quite small compared to my dad's) that's my entire family. I love spending time with them. Already, I've got two Christmas-y days scheduled for December!

I've had off work since Wednesday and although it went by slow at first, this much needed break is almost over. One more month until winter break though where I have off between Christmas and New Year's! The decorations for Christmas went up today :)

28 days until Christmas!!

Alaska Schedule AND GLASGOW!

The schedule for our lovely Alaska vacation has pretty much been finalized. I'm so excited. TWO WHOLE WEEKS OFF OF WORK!!

Day One: Fly to Anchorage, AK.
Day Two: Leave Anchorage and drive to Kenai Peninsula.
Day Three: Kenai Peninsula.
Day Four: Kenai Peninsula.
Day Five: Kenai Peninsula.
Day Six: Leave Kenai Peninsula and drive to Girdwood.
Day Seven: Girdwood.
Day Eight: Leave Girdwood and drive to Talkeetna.
Day Nine: Talkeetna.
Day Ten: Leave Talkeetna and drive to Denali National Park.
Day Eleven: Denali National Park.
Day Twelve: Denali National Park.
Day Thirteen: Leave Denali National Park and drive to Anchorage.
Day Fourteen: Fly home.

I think that sounds like a pretty nice trip! It doesn't seem like we'll be running around/driving too much like we did one year in Canada. We're going during the summer so there won't be any night, meaning we won't see the Northern Lights which kind of bums me out because I think they would be absolutely amazing to see! Oh well...guess that's just an excuse to go back.

I have two upcoming trips I hope to plan for the spring:
1. Visiting my friend Allison in Chicago, IL where she is going for grad school.
2. Visiting my friend Meg in Columbus, OH where she is going for grad school. Hopefully my friend Bri will come too. These ladies were my roommates from when I studied abroad in Ireland in 2006. They're pretty awesome and I'm so glad I've been able to keep in touch with them. We've been trying to see each other once a year. In 2007 we met in Saratoga Springs, NY, in 2008 we celebrated New Years in Cape Cod, MA, and last year we tried to meet up in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN where Bri goes to grad school. I made it but Meg's flight was canceled for snow. That weekend led to my first awful adventure trying to get home. Therefore I have a feeling a spring trip might be better.


Great news regarding Scotland - I've been accepted to University of Glasgow! I'm so excited!!! Still waiting to hear back from University of Edinburgh and University of Birmingham. I CAN'T WAIT!

Applications

My applications for graduate school abroad have officially been filled out! I submitted my applications to University of Edinburgh (2 programs - Gender History and Social and Cultural History), Glasgow (a general History program you can sort of tailor to your preferences and specialize in your own thing), and Birmingham (International Studies general program) last week and mailed out some application materials on Friday. I have no idea how long it's going to take to hear back - hopefully about just a month - but I can view the status of my Glasgow and Edinburgh applications online so that's helpful. Please cross your fingers. I got great letters of recommendation from my professors and I hope I wrote a few good personal statements. The university I'm most worried about getting into is Edinburgh...they state the normal GPA is a 3.4 usually for undergrad and I had a 3.36...I do however have a 4.0 from my grad coursework so maybe that will count for something.

If this grad school thing does work out, I've got a lot of money to start saving! It wouldn't be too bad if it wasn't for the conversion to the pound...that pretty much doubles everything. I'm thinking I need about $30,000. Not sure if that's possible. I'll definitely need a loan. Any federal loan recommendations I can use abroad?

A few interesting things coming up while I wait - this weekend we're celebrating my cousin Kelly's birthday with a 'roast' and next weekend is my friend Caitlin's wedding. The following Thursday is my birthday! 23. Old.