'Kristin Bergene' & A NEW BAG!

So, I accomplished some things today. I accomplished getting out of bed. I accomplished getting into Kingston to accomplish some schoolwork. I accomplished making it my class on time at 18:00 (6pm) and I accomplished some stuff to help market myself better.

Our lecturer today was talking about social media, and frankly it brought me to the conclusion that I am not doing enough - cue laughter. I have no idea how to market myself, and I really never considered that it was something I should be responsible for. However, there was a very good point brought up which was if you have a pre-existing group of followers you are more likely to be published. This includes self-publishing, which I may just have to give a shot - eventually. Anyway, this has me planning out a new marketing strategy which involves making 'Kristin Bergene' the product I want it to become.

Once Jane from The Office (US) said: "Dress for the job you want." In a way that is what I am trying to do, I am making my name recognizable as a brand. A brand of what?

That is still to be determined.

But today I worked towards my newly organized ambitions - not new ambitions, just reorganized. I have two blogs for my professional life, two blogs that I have failed to touch seriously once arriving here in England. Today, I changed their URL's to a more appropriate name.

They have now become:

• Writing Portfolio: http://kristinbergenewriter.wordpress.com/
• Art Design Portfolio: http://kristinbergeneartdesign.wordpress.com

With their new names, I hereby swear to market them the "right way" - as opposed to just having them there in the background. I will dedicate at least one hour a week to spreading the word on 'Kristin Bergene' - which I think is plenty enough time for one week, considering I am still doing my masters. 

My responsibilities are slightly overwhelming. It seems this easy / fun blog is my best source of stress relief that can be played with between serious responsibilities. Well, this blog, traveling into London's center and shopping - speaking of which...

LOOK A NEW BAG!

I thought a sleek bag like this would be perfect to get me in the right mindset of a professional. As I stared it down, I imagined going on interviews with a pencil skirt and this guy. It seemed like an unbeatable confidence booster - mostly because both my planner and kindle fit inside beautifully, along with all my other crap.

Bring it on world.

xx, Kristin

The Thoughts of an International Student

Dear London,

Everyday - every weekday - it seems that I am hearing more and more from Kingston. It is a constant flow of term schedules, orientations, and twitter following suggestions. At the beginning of the week, it freaked me out. In the middle of the week, I was in an honest panic. But now, I have returned to a moment of calm.

The thoughts of being a student again, after being out of school for over a year filled me with excitement and fear. I love to learn. I love the institution of higher education. I love being able to control - to an extent - how I learn the material I am faced with. However, will I be able to control myself when I return to Europe? I have told anyone who had asked, or suggested their own desires, that rather than exploring Europe again I plan to hop on trains and see the countryside of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. But then my head goes - of course I will visit Italy again with Phillipa and of course I will return to Norway to see my family - and this time with pictures and better presents from america. Not to mention that I have to visit Amanda in Spain!

And I do fear that this chain will break my attention from my studies, the reason I am returning to Kingston - I think - to receive an impressive master's degree in Creative Writing and Publishing. Constantly, I fill my head with the thoughts and advice from my Aunt Sandy. The power of a master's degree on its own, plus the fact that I was courageous enough to travel to another to receive this degree IS A GOOD THING. I hate, hate, hate to be limited and this path I am on should make my limitations less - except with the whole dollar, dollar bills thing.

I can imagine that I am not the only worried international student, though the arasmus students - European International Students traveling to another European country for education - would not be faced with the temptation of most countries in Europe. Perhaps Ruthie and Stacey are in the same place as myself. Maybe I will make new friends, bonding over this constant cycling thought process in my mind.

ANYWAY - back to the emails. Now, I am aware that:

• I should be finished with my course between June 4th and June 28th.
• I also know what the Master Classes will be of and that they will occur every Monday from 6pm to 8pm.
• I know that after I finish re-reading Harry Potter, I will need to read Rebecca.
• I know that I need to create a new and private twitter account, so I can follow their suggestions easily.
• I know when and what some of the orientation events will be and have added them all to my calendar.

Though - I still do not know:

• when I will receive my loans
• how and when to buy my plane ticket
• what my courses will be
• where I will live
• and if my visa is as easy as I hope and think it seems.

These thoughts are still weighing on my mind and every time I run though them, I am certain I am missing one. Even now, I am sitting here thinking if I need to add something to that list, but nothing else comes to my nervous mind.

At this point, I can no longer say, "I am probably going to England this fall." I have made a promise I will not, and that I will spend a year learning amazing things inside and outside of the classroom. Fingers crossed that I am not forgetting anything...

Norway: 2009, Photographer: Kristin Bergene

xx, kristin