London Re-Bound

It's been awhile since I've posted in this blog. I have been so busy building my other two blogs, working on my website and writing my book that I actually even forgot poor Dear New York existed!

Shame on me...

However, for those keeping up-to-date with me on here - my more personal blog - I have a few things I'd like to share:

• Kristinbergene.com - has been revamped, cleaned up and is now a very appropriate hub to my online life. I have a few more things in mind that I would like to add, but for now I am 100% pleased with how it's turned out after today's hardwork. Take a look and let me know what you think!

• My Return to London - My flight back to London is this coming Tuesday, 17 January. I'm leaving the good ol'east coast around 8:30pm and will land in the UK at 8:30am. You can just think about that time change and how it's going to kick my @$$ this coming week - I sure am. I think this is a good place to also mention that I've yet to start packing and that I've grown accustomed of going to bed around 2am - aka 7am UK time = screwed.

• New Year's Resolutions - I have this horrible idea of keeping track of my resolutions this year by posting them publicly online. I figured the guilt of showing the world my lazy side might keep me motivated to not let that puppy out this year. I'll be talking about how I'm going to try and keep a written journal, eat healthier, get more fresh air, finish the manuscript for book one in my trilogy, finish the illustrations of my children's book and many other things. You'll see in more in my up-coming posts. 

• My Book - I've made great progress on my book this week. I found strengths and weakness within it, and used both accordingly. Of course this is mainly thanks to a few great readers that have so lovingly volunteered their time and sanity to put up with my list of questions and dive into multiple drafts. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!

Well, that's all I have to say for now! The next time you hear from me on here I'll most likely be back in the UK - unless I need a distraction from packing and getting organized over the next day. 

Also, if you're wondering - I always have a list of my other blogs and websites in the column to the right of this post. All you have to do is scroll down a bit to see my writing portfolio, my art design portfolio, my last travel blog and even my twitter account. OR you could bookmark kristinbergene.com and get to any of them at anytime - including this guy!!! 

I continue to wish you all a happy and healthy new year!

xx, Kristin

One Month in London

I have hit the one month marker for my time in London. Last time - this is when I began to get homesick. This time - I am not.

I miss my family and friends - like whoa.

I miss my home and my car - for their small comforts.

I miss knowing where I am and where I am going - because, I am here now and haven't created the next goal yet.

But, I am not really that homesick. I have been in a weird funk, which could be attributed to homesickness, but in further thought, that does not seem to be the case. It actually seems more logical that I am trying to figure out how to balance be a student, being social, and being in London. I give up and, with exasperation, I fall on my bed to never rise - while thinking of the massive amounts of things I could be doing, or should be doing.

Okay, so I do rise.

I do go to my classes.

I do meet up with friends.

Etcetera. Etcetera.

But I am still funked nonetheless.

In other news:

• I am getting ready to by my plane ticket for the winter break. The dates I am looking at are the 20 to the 8th, but they might change. I am aiming to buy my ticket by the end of the week, so we will know for sure then.
• I am trying to arrange a time to visit my family in Norway. Right now we are looking at the week of October 31 - November 7. This is my fall break, when I should be doing work - but I'll just make sure to be a little more productive and a little less funked. 
• My friend, and fellow dork, Ruth and I have just bought our tickets for the STUDIO TOUR OF HARRY POTTER IN LONDON!!! I am beyond, beyond, beyond excited for many inexpressible reasons, which I don't think need to be expressed anyway. We will not be going until mid-April however, so I have to hold onto my pants until then.
• OMGOMGOMG! ... And now, this 23 year old is moving on ...

These current ramblings are no where near the mental state I thought I would be in after my first month. I guess this is the fun of trying new things, you never know where - or what - you will be in a month. One month ago, I was freaking out in an airport. I was lost between my emotions of being afraid to fly, and leaving my family. I had little, but dear, friends waiting for me here, and now I have more international friendships than I can handle. I was excited to see what this whole publishing thing was about, and to challenge myself as a writer, and now, I am more sure I will be a happy career woman surrounded by books. I knew I wanted to try living in a new place, start fresh, and now I know I want to grow up to be an American. I know want to be the New Yorker that I undoubtedly am.

However, some things never change, like my bewildering and obsessive love of Harry Potter. 

I am very certain the next month will go much faster. I will have more work, less time, higher ambitions and a larger appreciation of a good cup of tea. Also in the next month, I hope to get outside of London and see something new, perhaps make a solid trip to Wales or Edinburgh, maybe Dublin. Maybe I will just get on the train and head north, hoping I am lucky enough to find a small town, with a smaller hotel. I imagine northern England to be much like Cooperstown; right on the edge of a massive collection of culture and excitement - of which it absorbs - but still able to reamin calm, and friendly. 

xx, Kristin

Adjusting: Part 2

It is 7am London time.

It is 2am in my brain.

I have been waking up every 15 or so minutes since 5am.

Midnight - in my brain.

The weight of everything is pushing me into a little ball of exhaustion and sickness. My throat is burning, my nose is hot and I am unable to fall into that deep, restoring sleep. While the reasons for its onslaught are many - change in climate, jetlag, running around / being run down, the city setting, the unconsidered and sudden change in diet - I cannot help but think it might have something to do with overwhelming stress.

Approximately 40 minutes ago, I gave up trying to sleep. I told myself that later in this day, between meetings and life I would find a spare moment to find the sleep I missed. Shortly after this, I found myself in the den, chowing down on a bag of crisps. I have never been a stress eater, but after the third small bag I considered it as a realistic option.

Earlier - or more correctly - Yesterday, I posted everything I was trying to accomplish in the next week. From the leisurely 10/11am - 5/6pm work week, I went right into the real world and, without armor. Now with classes looming one week form this Monday, my entier body is caving under the stress.

Though, presently as I sit in this quiet and dark home it seems that I am alone on the stress-caving emotion.

In the next week I need to find a place to live. I need too. I need it to settle down. To unpack. To feel like I have finally found a good resting point fo the end of the means. To begin my course on the right foot, with a private place to work. My own space. All my current work seems impossible to complete till I find this place. All playtime desires are shadowed by the lack of it's existence. I just want to read, write and illustrate - also, sleep.

Even in my weakest moments of stress eating - the salt of those crisps still on my lips - I cannot forget that I am lucky to have the Adam's family who not only took us in, but also continue to offer advice  on what we are looking for. I am lucky to have made it to this point, starting the next year of my life as a student in London. I do understand that there are many who wish for the same experience, and have not yet found the way to make it happen.

Watching the sun's light brighten the buildings across the street, I sat alone in the den and restored calm. A moment to just think, and breath. A silent corner to reflect on this moment, while the sky turned from navy to a pale blue.

I am lucky.

I am overwhelmed.

And that is just fine for now. 

xx, Kristin

Dear London,

Welcome to my new blog created for a new adventure overseas!

As many of you know, I have made the decision to become a student again. On September 12, I will be heading off to begin a Master's program in Creative Writing and Publishing at the same university I attended as a study abroad student - Kingston University, London. It was the home-base of one of my most fulfilling life experiences. While as a study abroad student, I learned more about myself and being a citizen of the world than possible while staying in my comfortable state of existence in Cooperstown, New York. I believe with my return to the United States, it was clear to many people around me that I would work my way back to London – perhaps, even before I knew myself.

With regards to Kingston, I cannot say for certain how I discovered this institution, but many can attest to the fact I had discovered it in my sophomore year of undergraduate work. It developed into a goal of creating my future of working with books in publishing, and the written word in writing. After a semester at Kingston in my senior year of college, I had resigned myself to this path. Becoming a student again, for myself, is a very exciting and nerve-wracking decision. I know myself best as a student, and with that I know both my strengths and weaknesses. Right now, I am in a healthy state of mind about my current goals. The choice to do this program overseas is crucial. To be a writer and to work with books takes a certain level of empathy, experience and worldliness - being comfortable, without incident, does not make great literature. From the small bite I had before, I know that London is where I need to be in order to develop myself on at least those three strengths.

But do not think I am this weird statue of assured confidence – I am nervous as hell.

It has just become a fact to me, that in order to begin a successful path, this is the first step. Receiving a Master's in Creative Writing and Publishing, is the first step. The power of education is a worthwhile investment, especially when experienced by one who refuses to let it go to waste - which, is someone like myself. Right now, I do not know the answers, by next year at this time I hope to have a different response to the questions of – who, what, when, where, why and how. My habits of being stubborn, ambitious and determined have been the fuel for these goals up to this point – as much as they have caused conflict. I have gained much knowledge in the last several years.

When you do not believe in regret, every decision is worth its experience.

This blog is going to be a public record of my steps as I work on my goals – starting with being an international student in London. This time at Kingston, I will be at the university for a full year. The approximate time period of my studies will be from September 12, 2011 till June 28, 2012. I will be making worldwide connections and digesting worldwide information during this time. It will give me a chance to grow back into my independence. However, it will also be the longest extended period that I will be away from home – without the certainty that I will be home for Christmas.

As I continue to write on this blog about my time, I will be thinking of my family and friends at home. Each post will be a letter to you who chooses to read. I also hope that as you read my posts, you will comment – I will love to hear from all of you. Of course there is always the opportunity to Skype me or send me an email – kberg032@gmail.com – whichever option is more flexible to your needs.

Please stay in touch!

xx, Kristin

PS: This post will always remain here - Purpose of Blog.