One Week

I've been back in London for a week.

Most of my time has been trying to fix my sleeping, catching up with friends, figuring out the flat situation, reading (that's one trilogy and three books down for the week), and continuing to work on my book. I've now finished a solid 30 pages, and have another 40 waiting for me to mold. This would be a lot harder if I hadn't finished the whole book two years ago.

Good times.

I should be moving into my new flat this coming Wednesday. This is the moment where I ask you all to take a breath and say a little prayer that everything goes smoothly, and my next nine months will be blissful and trouble-free in this place. It shows me to get my first flat on my own in a foreign city, on the day my flatmate won't be in town. 

However, no one should worry too much because I do have a lot of support on this end.

Support - I always seem to need it. It's worse than just plain approval, because you need to rely on someone to be supported. With approval it's all you until you look back and see the nods and smiles. Maybe this is a new goal for myself, seek approval not support. It will surly force me to grow a little more and make my own decisions at the peak of choice making time. I'll stop worrying about other people when I need to make decisions for me.

... OR maybe I'm just being stupid - Can't blame it on not sleeping enough, haha.

Anyway, it feels good being back in London even though I do miss my friends and family. I'll have to start working harder on those train-tracks over the Ocean right onto Main Street Cooperstown. What would that be called: Atlantic Rails, West and a Bit More West Trains, Sunset Station? Ah well - building first, names later - although Sunset Station gives me a good idea for a shortstory.

xx, Kristin

Here's to 2012!!!

Cute, Cute Kochanie - 16 February, 2011. 

But on other news, I had a really wonderful 2011. Many productive experiences that I think will aid me in my future goals and many connections internationally. It is all I need to inspire myself to continue working this hard in the coming year:

• I got great experience that killed two birds with one stone at a newspaper - The Freeman's Journal. I learned a ton about publishing, and continued to develop my graphic design skills. 
• I had the chance to say goodbye to my best friend Kochanie, and was very lucky she passed before I left the country - it is still a raw and painful subject. 
• I continued my graphics experience at a custom t-shirt shop in Cooperstown - which was both fun and exciting. There is nothing better than the opportunity to tell off a tourist, or even reward them for considerate actions towards the locals. 
• In September, I got on the plane and landed in London. So far, I have put in three months to my degree and I could not be more happy with my decision to attend Kingston University. 

A new journal for new year - which is
something I've never done before.
I am using it to write down and
keep track of my resolutions. 

January 1st is a great day for reflection - but not just of the last year. I found myself flipping through old photographs on facebook, going back quite far into my past. My first months in London, the last year living at home, my last term at Oneonta State, studying abroad in London for the first time, and all my continued and beloved years in undergraduate. Each picture put a larger smile on my face, and I found myself longing to see old friends and feel the comfort of walking the grounds of Oneonta's green campus. I left this trek into my past with one, solid emotion - What a good life I've had. 

I have really enjoyed life, and I plan on continuing that habit. But, of course it is a challenge for anyone to accomplish anything without support - any type of support. 

My family and myself on the day I
graduated from Oneonta State - 2010. 

I am aware that not everyone is as lucky as I am to have the support of my family and this Christmas break has been the perfect reminder. The thing about family - that I believe should form some unwritten law - is their unconditional support. I do not even like to think of where I would be right now without them all holding my hand. Most likely, I would not be in London or trying to become a writer. 

The thing is, you can pick your friends, but you cannot pick your family - and that is only right. Family is supposed to forget, forgive and love. If this was not a rule than there is no chance my sister and I would have a healthy relationship, but thanks to the knot of family, we have a brillant relationship. It is the same knot that I feel when I get stuck in my writing, the pressure of our mutual commitment to each other and our goals. I can write, and I cannot fail when I know they are there to push me over the looming humps on my way. 

So, on that note: 

This letter shows why I need a blog - So, people can read what I am saying and I can edit easily.

"It will MAKE everything more meaningful!"

Alright 2012 - I don't want to kick your ass because that just seems kind of mean and underserving. Instead, why don't we mutually agree that this year will be as wonderful as the last - if not more wonderful - and we help each other get to the end successfully.

Though, I would like a job around September, so I can start paying back my student loans - in case you were wondering.

xx, Kristin

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Family and Friends,

I would like to start out this letter with a massive THANK YOU. Although I have said it before and I will say it again, the support you have given me has always been incredible. I know I could not be more blessed with the family I was given, and the friends I have earned. Even over here from across the pond, I can still feel the positive encouragement from you all. From taking the time to post a small comment on this blog, or on my pictures, sending me emails and letters, or finding a moment to skype with me, I am grateful for you all. 

Even though I am unable to sit around the dining room table today for the Thanksgiving feast, I am still thinking about you all and making my annual list of everything I am thankful for. Family, friends, the chance to return to London, the ability to continue getting my education, being lucky enough to have a home here in England, and having something to bring me back to New York, everything on my list makes me ecstatic. 

Nothing can stop me from smiling today. 

I wish you all the happiest Thanksgiving and the reminder that it is not the turkey that makes this day great, it is knowing you have a reason to be thankful. That is enough, and I have enough. 

H A P P Y  T H A N K S G I V I N G !!!

I love you all very much, and for those counting I will be seeing you in less than a month!

xx, Kristin

Starting to Head Out

Today is the first step of leaving the country. 

Sometime this afternoon, I will head to Albany, NY with my parents and my sister. Tonight, and tomorrow, I will be spending time with my Nisky family - which will obviously be fun!

Monday is my flight. I leave a 4:55pm from Albany International Airport - which isn't really that international. As worrying about this little blog will be the last of my concerns, I will post my flight schedule again for those who would like to keep updated on my traveling:


Monday 12th toTuesday 13th:

• Leave: Sep. 12 @ 4:55pm - Albany, NY to Boston, MA 
• US Airways, Flight Number: 4792
• Leave: Sep. 12 @ 9:30pm - Boston, MA to Reykjavik, Iceland
• IcelandAir, Flight Number: 630
• Leave: Sep. 13 @ 4:10pm - Reykjavik, Iceland to London, England
• IcelandAir, Flight Number: 454
• Arrive: Sep. 13 @8:10pm (3:10pm on the east coast) - London, England. 
• Heathrow Terminal #1

So now the interested will know, my exact schedule - perfect. 

The soonest you will hear from me on my blog might possibly be on my 9.5 hour layover in Iceland. I have this grand idea of going out and seeing Reykjavik, taking pictures and then posting them ASAP. However, that will be hoping they let me out of the airport - let us all hope they let me out. 

If not, I will spend 9.5 hours entertaining myself in what I imagine to be a very small airport. In that case, I may post about how entertaining I can be for 9.5 hours trapped in an airport. 

Either way, the next time I post will be on foreign soil. 

Bon Voyage! - to myself... I suppose, haha.

Love you all,

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. 

Here we go again!

So, yet again I've found myself with a compass directed eastwards. I will be attending a master program, yet again, in London, and yet again, at Kingston University. This time I will be a full time student, gaining a master's degree in Creative Writing and Publishing. If you are interested in my writing abilities, other than this unedited blog, you can check out this site I have created for a portfolio -- Beginning.

This blog is again to communicate with my friends and family to communicate with me. I still have skype (username: kristinbergene) and I can always be emailed (kberg032@gmail.com), but this is a way for flexible communication. Though unlike last time, I am not planning on updating daily.

As I prepare to head over, I will jot down notes of the process, but this is just the start.

xx, Kristin