ONE WEEK TILL MY FLIGHT

I cannot help but post on this day - even though I have recently posted about the interesting things on my to-do-list. But this particular day is really exciting because...

IN ONE WEEK I WILL BEGIN MY
JOURNEY HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!

Kaylan has so kindly agreed to picking me up at the airport next Tuesday night around 5:40pm, only to put me on the train the next day. I'll get to Albany sometime in the afternoon, where my Dad will bring me home and I can begin celebrating the holiday celebrations!!!

And this all happens in ONE WEEK!

Who is excited?

I am excited!!!!


xx, Kristin


ps: imagine my post the night before I leave London: stress? excitement? exhaustion? euphoria? 

9 Days till Home.

I am down to nine days and it is looking less and less likely that I am going to finish my Writer's Workshop assessment before I head home. While I have reached the word count, I am not yet comfortable enough to submit the piece. Although, it is certain I will never think it is ready and at some point I just have to let it go. The good news is I can email my assessment from New York, as long as it is postmarked with enough time before the due date of January 11th.


But let's rewind for a second:

This past Friday night we had a Christmas gathering at The Maple Leaf for those in the publishing degree - plus a few friends. As usual it was really wonderful to hang out with everyone outside of campus and in the centre of London.

Then Emma arrived on Saturday morning and I brought her around Kingston. She is officially the first person from Cooperstown that I have been able to show my London home = AWESOME. Later that night after a meal at The Albert pub, we met up with a few of my friends for Christmas Karaoke in New Malden. Even though I said I wasn't going to, I did end up singing three songs - The Elephant Melody from Moulin Rouge with Andi, Feeling Good by Michael Buble, and Baby It's Cold Outside again with Andi. If I do say so myself, we kinda rocked the house. I should also say I was only fueled on by a couple diet cokes - what caffeine does to me.

And to complete the weekend with a bang - I took Emma to my favorite cafe in London. We also walked through a Christmas market along the river Thames and there were so many cute / wonderful stands. I really would like to go back there before leaving London.


Anyway - back to what needs to happen in the next nine days. 

Thanks to Philippa for this great picture!

Other than my creative piece, I have a massive list of awesome social obligations and a pretty intense to-do-list. On Monday I have a Christmas Party with my publishing mates, tutors and the journalism MA students. I think it goes to show that here in England we party hard as much as we work hard.

On Wednesday I have a hair appointment at noon - which I really hope I do not forget. I cannot wait even nine more days, or at that point six more days, to chop off the mop on my head. I am thinking about two inches on the back and half and inch on the front. I lost the hair battle over the last three months in London. On Friday the newest Sherlock Holmes movie comes out, and I have already said I'd go with Ruth and I am really looking forward to it - dinner and a movie!


Other things I would love to do before heading back to New York for Christmas are:

• Have lunch / dinner with a few of my friends.
• Visit the Christmas Market along the Thames in the center again.
• See the musical BACKBEAT again - & my love Andrew Knott.
• Have a Christmas Market frankfurter from the Kingston market. 
• Finish my assessment - still hoping for this.
• Pack my suitcases for home - including carry-on & important paperwork. 
• Finish the little amount of food left in my possession. 
• Laundry - which is at least two weeks worth at this point. 
• A possible pub quiz on Wednesday - though I am not certain of this. 
• Visit the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland fair. 
• Spend as little money as possible!

This is no real particular order to this list, and also I may have forgotten a ton of things I wanted to add - which is probably for the better. I am going to try and not stress myself out, but knowing me - which most of you do - I will be ready to pass out on my living room sofa by the time I get home next Wednesday afternoon and eat a pizza.


Oh well, worse things could happen!

I am very excited about heading home for Christmas and seeing everyone!!! Except for Jenny, because she will be having an awesome time here in the United Kingdom instead - cannot say I blame her! 

Only nine days to go!!!

nine days...  

& a massive checklist...
& social obligations...
& my writer's workshop assessment... 

... nine days.

xx, Kristin

IT IS ALMOST CHRISTMAS!!!!

It is now December and the countdown begins:

• 16 days - I will be boarding the plane home.
• 15 days - I hope to hand in my writer's workshop assignment.
• 6 days - To find a place to live. 

Before then and now, I have two weeks of classes left, 5,000 words, several social events and - if luck has it - some food shopping because I am down to oatmeal. I am trying to learn how to say no to socializing, so this week I can spend my nights working on this creative writing piece. I made incredible progress yesterday and the day before, I just have to keep my energy up for the next 14 to 15 days. 

Also, yesterday and the day before I was at a publishing conference called Publishing Now - #pubnow. It was very interesting and we were filled with new ideas on where publishing could be headed over the next few years. 

• Day One: was a debate in the back of a pub on several controversial issues in publishing such as self-publishing, eBooks, the survival of traditional publishing, etc. - free wine included. 
• Day Two: was a day long conference were we continued to learn more about where publishing could be heading - even though the professionals admit it is hard to guess. Some conversations were even suggesting that eBooks are about to be old news and we are about to break into a new world of reading - free lunch and tea provided.

However, all of this future talk allowed me to realize something yesterday... I know where publishing might be going. I know there is a battle for traditional publishing - even though there is no way we will lose the paper pages of the book.  But, I have very little knowledge about actually printing books. Everything we are taught is about the future. Granted that is where I will be when I am working in publishing, but right now I need to know about how to print books. How many pages are allowed in the book, what are the requirements for setting up the pages in indesign, how do they send the pages to the printer, how do they work out cover designs, ect? 

Ask me about the future of publishing, I have several possible answers. 

Ask me about the present, I'll have to shrug my shoulders and pass on the question. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have found the current weakness in my education. I am planning on speaking to one of my tutors about it this week to ask if they can have a Master Class to give us information on the present publishing world and the details on printing. This is information we need. 

xx, Kristin

PS: Are you informed when I respond to your comments on my blog - because I do always try to respond!!! Because, I love you guys - haha.


PPS: Philippa is planning on getting a tree soon, and said I could help decorate!!! YAY CHRISTMAS!

Last Night

Quick Thought: It is my last night in this - my home - bed. 

Weird.

Countdown: 2 days


xx, kristin

Packing

Last night, I decided to pack.  

In fact I made it past midnight trying to find a home for everything in my suitcases. It was then I discovered I had plenty of room. I did not even need to use my space-bags. My only real concern remains to be the weight limit. The smaller, purple suitcase I delegated for shoes, jackets and sweaters seems like it could be a bit too heavy. I expect the charges could be quite large when I go through the airport check-in, but there are really few options. AND to be perfectly honest, there are so many more shoes and jackets I could bring - so, they should thank me, haha!

The reason for my desperate need to start packing last night came with the realization that while I do not leave the country until Monday, I do leave Cooperstown on Saturday afternoon. Between today and Saturday however, I have many last minute plans to say goodbye and to spend time with my parents. Today, I will be having lunch with Eric at Bocca - which is delicious. Today is also my Mom's birthday, so tonight we will be having a quiet family dinner. 

Tonight is also the gallery opening at The Smithy, which I must attend to support the hard work of my friends Danielle and Amanda, and say peace to my "Night Sky" digital art work. (For all those interested its sale price is $200). It will be the last time I see it for awhile and with any luck it will sell and I can donate the money to "Kristin's Graduate Fund." 

Tomorrow, I have to pick Hanna up from college so that I can spend time with her before leaving. Tomorrow there will also very a very small family gathering so I can see my Dad's side of the family with all my little second cousins. The rain will certainly put a damper on things, but I suppose I must get used to the rain. 

Saturday, we hope to leave for Albany around noon and I will spend the next three days chilling with my other family and getting mentally prepared for my massive flight coming on Monday. 

THIS IS ALL COMING SO FAST. 

It is really unbelievable how quick this summer flew by, I really do not remember the summer at all. A handful of times on the boat, and in the pool. A few more than a handful of times on my kayak. I suppose I worked the summer away, and I suppose I do have a lot to show for all my work with the replacing of items that needed to be done before I left - for example: suitcases. Not to mention the organizing, applying, and continuing to finagle all the details of this whole graduate school, thing.

With all that being said, I would appreciate at least two more hot days. Two days were I can sit in the sun and just read - but those days are numbered now. As soon as I get to England, I will have too much to worry about to want to sit around an read - like: finding a place to live, getting my schedule organized, opening a bank account, getting to log onto student space so I can see my timetables and everything else. 

Countdown: 4ish days.

xx, Kristin

ONE WEEK

Dear London,

We are down to the last week at home.

In one week - at the moment I started writing this post - my plane will be gearing for take off. And, while it's first stop is limited from Albany, NY to Boston, MA - it is still the beginning. So, it is easy to say that everything is dwindling to an end. Goodbyes have begun - though not forever - and packing is taking precedent from other daily rituals. 

It is appropriate that this week should be so wet and gray. 

I believe comfort is coming from the changes in my other friend's lives who have also spent the last year and a half in good ol'Cooperstown. Kaylan is now settling in New York City for her own graduate program at Columbia Teacher's College. She is as nervous as I am about being a postgraduate student. Eric has found an apartment in Brooklyn where he can start his ambitions in the city. It seems that we are all falling into our personal goals. It is a nice achievement.

For Kingston, I am down to organizing dates. It seemed from a moment of confusion over the weekend and this morning, I am unable to attend the seminar on being a postgraduate student - an international postgraduate student. It seems important right? But unfortunately the only thing I can do at this point is shrug my shoulders and sigh. It is no surprise to me that yet another struggle would arise in the 12th hour. If they do not have room for everyone to attend, it must not be exceptionally important. If it is, I will bribe my friends to take good notes with a nice cup of coffee - or tea. 

In other Kingston News: The publishing half of my master's degree has been filling me with much information about courses, reading lists, and an all day event on September 22 to introduce me to the program. Though, I will not be purchasing any texts until my loans come in on October 3rd - which will be a scary time with the loans coming out of my very empty home bank account. I guess this will be a good time to see if the library has those texts that I can glance over so I do not fall behind. 

The creative writing side of my master's degree has been relatively silent. The email where I was told to read Rebecca  - which everyone should know I LOVE - was the first and last email I received from them. Period. I sent them an email yesterday asking about the lack of incoming instructions, whether I am not on a mailing list I should be on, or if they just have not gotten around to sending out their emails. So far, I haven't heard anything yet from that email either. In response, I have settled into my new adapted personality. I have shrugged and sighed and will be patient - waiting for them to take their time, and tell me what I need to know. It seems that I am not the only facing silence from their faculty either - which is oddly uplifting. 

I am still without an apartment, though Stacey has found another good option which she shared this morning. It seems that we will have to provide some furniture - dislike - but the rent is super cheap - like - and it is both really close to campus - like - and Philippa - like. Of course, we still have to get there to take a good look inside, as the website has no interior pictures - suspicious. 

For banking - which is something I need to solve quickly once in the UK - I have decided to go with Lloyds. They have a classic plan, which has the simple things I need like holding my loan money and a debit card. A few things I must consider in banking is how to get funds from my English account to my American account so I can continue to pay my student / car loans while abroad. I hope this will not be another struggle, but really - I have to do, what I have to do. 

Saying good-bye is getting harder and harder. Obviously it is not forever, but for some it will be awhile. I think that with each bon voyage reality is coming more into focus - but hey, it is only one year. And, with luck I will be coming home for Christmas - I just have to save my pennys! This week is very busy with trying to see friends before Friday - when I will be having a dinner with family before traveling to Albany to say good bye to my more family.

I am sure this week will go fast. 

This day already went exceptionally fast. 

xx, kristin

PS: Word on the street is that some of you are struggling to comment on my posts. I have posted instructions on the process, and if you follow them closely you should find all your questions answered. If not, send me an email and I will see how to help. Click here to reach the instructions : How To - Comment. Note: if you reply to the email that is sent to your telling you I have posted, I will not see that. 

PPS: If people are asking for a link to my blog please feel free to forward the email I sent before, or just share this URL - http://kristinandlondontaketwo.blogspot.com/ - I do not mind. When putting together that email, I was not sure who would want to read this, and I was missing many email addresses of family members who may want to keep in touch.  Also - I'm shy - haha. 

Countdown Continues

Dear London,

I wish I had more exciting things to say than I am focused on packing, and that I hope I can fit all my shoes in one small suitcase, but the days are numbered. Now that my visa is done, loans are finalized, courses are signed up for, plane tickets are purchased, enrollment step one is completed, and Rebecca has been started, I have nothing left but to pack while that countdown to run outs.

Once in England my list is not so big - find a flat, find a bank, enrollment step 2, organize courses and, most importantly, remember how to cook. After my summer of accomplishments and busy work, this will be nothing - fingers crossed.

For the moment, I am left staring at two open suitcases with neatly piled clothes, a backpack and purse waiting patiently for their own undecided contents, and a laundry basket full of 'stuff' that must somehow be fit into my luggage.


The limit is 50lbs per suitcase. 


The challenge is packing for a year. 


Any advice?

Kochanie the last time I packed up for England, 2009 - BOY could I use her now!

xx, Kristin


PS: if anyone wants to play with spacebags and help me pack, just let me know when I can expect you - I've got hot coca!!