UK Visa-nization & Random Ramblings

Its official. I have my UK Visa! WOOP!  See (really bad) picture to the left.  I also took the liberty of covering up my important information.  I know there are creepers out there! I’m watching you!

I was also given a guide to the UK.  It’s thick.  You can hurt someone with it.  For real.  It goes into setting up your National Insurance number, getting set up with a bank account, which hostels are good, etc.  It also mentions that non of these things are easily done.  And I quote: “…the NI offices are often very busy with not very pleasant waiting areas.  Take a good book!” *Sigh*  I have a feeling my first couple of weeks are going to be hectic just trying to settle in.  Not to mention there are still so many things to organize on this end.  Like reference letters, resumes, travelers cheques, bank statements.  All the small things that you don’t really think about or remember about until they all pile up and you have no time left to complete them.

Also, I am trying to find a Credit Card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.  Nomadic Matt recommended the Capital One MC.  Which is great, except that it doesn’t apply to Canada.  Boo.  I think my best bet will be to just set one up upon arrival.  Thoughts?

So, my Visa only allows me to work for 12 months out of the 24.  However, I’ve never been one to conform, so I’m just going to keep working until they tell me to stop. *Smirk*

Another thing that really freaks me out is finding my way around London.  I’ve never been too great with directions and have relied heavily on others for this sort of thing.  I see a lot of random alleyways and sketchy buildings in my near future. I’m crossing my fingers and hoping for the best here.

Lastly, I want to extend a huge thanks to Geoff from Itinerant Londoner who has been sending oodles of helpful emails to guide me along my way! Thanks!

Reality Bites

Good news.  I’m alive.  

Bad news.  It’s all starting to sink in.

The honeymoon period of my love affair with England has ended, sort of.  It’s all starting to sink in.  The fact that I may not be making snow angels this winter, and the fact that my mom will not be brining over home made food when my fridge runs dry.  

I purchased a one-way, non-refundable ticket to London, England for January 14th, 2009.  I’m going.  There’s no turning back, and I’m scared.  The reason I have not updated my blog in the past weeks, or even read other people’s blogs, is because I’m a wuss.  I didn’t want to read about other people’s adventures while I sit curled up in the corner of my room breathing into a paper bag.

The fact is, I’ve bought my ticket, I’ve bought my travel insurance, I’ve bought my travel backpack (a Deuter – thank you Barry for your help), my rain jacket, my visa and in return I’ve sold my sanity.  I remember being so excited for this trip, and I know somewhere deep inside I still really am, but it’s being clouded by fears and anxiety.  Reality – I won’t have a job.  I won’t have a place to live.  However, despite all of that, I STILL somehow know that it is the right decision for me to make.

Anyways, enough with that.  Now you all know why I have ignored you all for the past few weeks.  Now I promise that I will spend the next few hours sitting on my computer updating myself on all your blogs and adventures.  Before I ramble on further about my past few weeks I would like to give a BIG shout out to Matt from Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site (you know why buddy, and p.s. we won)

So, what have I been doing the past couple of weeks? Working. Sleeping. Spending money I don’t have (another thing that makes me anxious). Watching WAAAAY too much Battlestar Galactica (don’t diss it if you haven’t watched it…the show is liquid cocaine). Catching up with friends.  And that pretty much sums it up.  Not a bad gig.

My best friend is now home from South Korea.  Unfortunately, for me anyways, she is leaving again in December for a long time.  She loves it there, and I don’t blame her.  On the bright side, the tickets to Seoul from London are cheaper than from Toronto.  

Thank you all for checking in on me! I’m alive, and I plan on being a better blogger.  I promise.  I just need to get to England so something exciting will happen

Looking for Anna?

She’s not here…well ok, thats a lie….she is.  Come back tomorrow for an update.