Where did I pack the...?

Here goes: one of the only posts I'll probably ever do that does not include a photo! I'm pressed for time, you see. And technology. I don't know where my camera is at the moment--oh wait, I do, but it's buried in a carry-on bag full of things I couldn't fit in my regular suitcase. In fact, I don't know where I put the toothpaste, but I'm trusting it's in one of the bags, somewhere...

In a nutshell, I'm about to depart! Thought I'd throw out a quick update since I suddenly find myself with about an hour to spare and nothing more to pack. I could cuddle with my cat for a while, but he's napping and it would probably just piss him off. I got in a really nice last-minute coffee date with my mom and nana, and said goodbye to my sister and her lovely coffee shop. That's one place I will definitely miss -- the regulars there are like none other. Seriously, just about everybody knows everybody. There's some serious value to a place like that.

I finally started getting "nervous tummy," which my sister corrected me (correctly) and called "excited tummy." Not really wanting to eat anything, feeling a little anxious about all of the little things that really aren't all that important, but somehow seem hugely significant right now: Is my suitcase below the weight limit? Do I really need to bring that extra purse? Is mascara considered a liquid? Where is the toothpaste?

All in all, though, I feel really good. I feel prepared, and that's about all a person can ask for when she's about to embark on a big trip. And not just a big trip, but a long stay. A move, but a university move, which isn't really the same thing--but kind of. I find that the more I tell myself to go with the flow, the better I feel. So, to leave you with, three little day-of-departure tips that I'm finding useful right now.

1) Daily routines are important. I was distracted enough this morning with packing that I totally forgot to put makeup on. And not that makeup is a necessity -- I don't mind not wearing it. But the point is that it's a regular morning routine, and I didn't do it. So, to my surprise, late in the morning I was surprised by my appearance in the mirror, and felt like I had forgotten something. Moral of the story: stick with your routine and you'll feel better about the excitement and uncertainty that lies ahead.

2) Do a last-minute cull. You're getting down to the wire and you think your suitcase might be a little heavy or overstuffed. Open it up and make a snap decision or two about a few things you don't need. If you're like me, your last week or so has been, at least in some part every day consumed by thoughts of what to bring, what not to bring, what fits, what's too heavy, etc. When you've got a deadline (ie. actually have to getcho bad self to the airport), it's easier to just be done with it. Stop thinking, just pull a couple things out. It's so much nicer to have a little wiggle room in the suitcase.

3) Take some time to just relax. Scan your Facebook feed, have coffee with your mom, read a book, watch TV... just chill. It's good to get your mind off things for just a moment--just to pause--and refresh a little bit before hopping on the plane.

See you there!

Kate x

What I've learned so far...

5 Tips from a Student Moving Abroad

...a continually evolving list about dealing with stuff and moving and the stuff of moving, as of 17 days before departure. ;)



5) Don't wait forever to get started. And by that I mean, waiting until the very last minute/day/week to sort through your apartment or house and try to get rid of everything all in one go -- that's tough. Unless you feel like donating everything, or paying boatloads (possibly for a boatload) to move your stuff somewhere far, far away. I've never been much of a knick-knacks collector or a media hound or anything (except maybe books), but when I thought I "didn't really have that much" to deal with, it actually came out to at least about twenty boxes and some furniture here and there, not to mention a bike and a couple of pets. It's hard when you've put down roots somewhere--even for only a couple of years--to come to terms with all that you've acquired.

Sell/give away/donate or as a very last resort, recycle/trash whatever you do not absolutely need. Every time I've moved, whether to locations near or far, purging has always been the most time-consuming and at times difficult part of the entire process. Moving is just physical labor, but having to sort through every little thing -- every drawer, closet, cabinet, dresser, etc. -- and then pare it down, deciding where it goes: it's draining. Make it a little easier on yourself by playing into your generous side and gifting things to people you know would be able to use them (but don't overburden them with crap that you're just too lazy to get rid of the right way; that's not generosity, it's just annoying). Donate whatever isn't all that valuable -- or maybe even stuff that is, if you really don't want to be bothered trying to sell it. eBay and Craigslist exist for a reason -- good for the big, bulky stuff like sofas and bikes.


4) Take care to keep the really meaningful things. In the process of decreasing the quantity of your belongings, don't forget: you're not a hoarder just because you keep old letters and photographs and the occasional ticket stub or somehow bizarrely meaningful chipped coffee mug. I've put away six fairly decent-sized boxes of valuable and/or sentimental books and keepsakes that I wouldn't trade for all the money in the world. Our lives are constructed of the people we know, the places we've gone, and sometimes the things we acquire. It's important to hold onto those things and keep them in a safe place if you're not taking them with you right away.


3) Seek out others who are doing the same thing as you. It's really helpful to hear from others who are in your same situation. How many suitcases are they packing? What do they expect to pay for airfare? What kind of accommodation do they have, and would that maybe work better for you than an alternative? Facebook is a fantastic medium for finding groups and other students who are going to the same school or city as you, and you can find friendly answers to questions like, "How does mobile phone service work where I'm going?" or "What is this neighborhood like?" What is the best bank for student accounts? How convenient is the public transportation? Likely your university website has plenty to help you out, but Facebook groups often offer opportunities for people who have been there already to give practical advice. And who knows, you may meet a few future friends!


2) Spend a ton of time with those who mean a lot to you. But respect those who want to keep a distance. It's really hard on other people in our lives, when we move far away from them. It's hard being the one left behind. And we're not talking significant others or even best friends, necessarily. It can be our parents, our siblings, or our coworkers. Spend a lot of time with the people you care about before you leave, and if you really intend to keep in touch with them, then reassure them of this. Sometimes, however, there is a tendency for those who know you're leaving to sort of... back off. It's done kind of unconsciously (I've done it, and I've had it done to me, so I know how it feels from both sides). Sometimes the person doing the backing-off is just ready to let you go; it's all relative to how long you plan to stay away. For a few months? Maybe not a big deal. A few years? A big deal. It depends on how close you are.

Respect that some people will want to stay in touch, and some people might not. Don't feel too offended if someone doesn't seem as interested in your move as others. For some people, it's just not their cup of tea. It's cliche, but worthwhile to remember, that some people touch our lives for brief periods and others stay with us as long as we live. It's just the way it goes. Don't force unnatural relationships when you leave; it keeps you clinging to home unnecessarily and makes it more difficult to get to know new people where you're going.


1) Keep an open mind. Wherever you're headed, whether it's someplace you've only ever dreamed of going, or you've been a handful of times already, be ready and open to everything. Remember that you don't have to bring absolutely everything with you; you'll be able to get what you need there, so it's not necessary to have every little thing ready to travel. And when it comes to experiences, it's imperative to be receptive and open to the new places and new people you will encounter. Like anywhere, at any time, you'll stumble across those you don't care for, but if you find yourself dwelling on the "bad" things or those that are different from home, you'll set yourself up for a totally crap time. Leave home with the realistic expectation that not everything will go exactly that way you've dreamed, expected, or planned, but that the experience is what you make it.

_._._._


These are points I've ruminated on quite a bit, especially after several trips abroad, including a study abroad semester in London several years ago. I hope they can be a source of, if anything, reassurance to anyone who is about to move far from home, whether abroad or just a few hours away.

Days to Edinburgh move-in: 18

Rummaging!

I really feel like I'm getting packed up now. I cleared out at least 10 if not more like 12 boxes and bags of clothes and household items to sell at this garage sale. I sold a good amount of it, too, but there was a lot of stuff and overall it wasn't very busy, so there was quite a lot left over as well. Regardless, it feels really great to get a lot of that stuff out of my apartment, and if not into someone else's hands at the rummage sale, then into a donation bin at the thrift store.

I got back home and started packing up my books and various sentimental things I won't be bringing along with me to Scotland, but that I want to keep. All in all, six-or-so boxes of stuff (books, mostly) at my parents' house and three suitcases (carry-on included) to Edinburgh is all I'll have, period. That feels good.

All I can seem think about right now, with moving in mind, is stuff, so I'm definitely ready to be able to drop it all off in my university flat and know the tedious/difficult part is over. Maybe I should take up a nomadic lifestyle; I feel it would suit me. ;)

Turns out that I'll be taking a few choice books with me, of course, including a Scottish Architecture book I found at my own bookstore today that happens to be on one of my class readings lists! Score.


Days to Edinburgh move-in: 20

Pare down and pare some more

The sun is out, the doors are open, there's fresh fruit in the kitchen and... I'm cleaning! I could say the last few months have been an extended exercise in the art of paring down.



Getting rid of things can be a tricky business. Anyone who has packed up to move, whether short or long term, knows what it's like to go through the wardrobe or the bookcases and try to figure out what's necessary to keep, and what can be gotten rid of. When it comes to space limits and the practicality of say, shipping boxes overseas (ahem, cha-ching), the reality of how much I can keep becomes apparent. I've got this to deal with:



And this:



And some more that's hidden in various places around the apartment. An eclectic collection...



There's a bit of (my own and others') artwork, too. One large one I started a few years ago and never quite finished, below. I thought I was being clever with the idea that "nothing is black and white." Commence snicker and eye roll.



My parents are loving and generous and are allowing me to keep a few boxes of things in an out-of-the-way closet in their house while I figure out where the non-essentials like my art books and vinyl records should go. It's the stuff I can't bear to get rid of because it's either very valuable, or special in some way, or sentimental. I also find that I'm entering that grey area of "student life" where I'll have a room in a flat for the next year, but after that year is up, I'll invariably be moving again -- and I haven't the foggiest idea where. It's wonderful that I don't have to give up everything I can't take with me.

Today, on my very first proper day off in weeks, I decided to go through my belongings one last time. I've become a bit of a bibliophile in the last four+ years, having worked as a bookseller at a used bookstore where the treasures were really treasures. I tend to lean in the artsy book collecting direction, which of course tends the bookcase toward a mass of oversized, beautiful, sometimes rare and altogether totally impractical books. Well, maybe not totally impractical. ;) I am bound to be an art historian after all, right? ;)



I've been through these shelves and crates before, culling as I went, but I'm down to the tough decisions, and I think I've finally made them. I'm keeping plenty of really wonderful items, but as for the other things that I may have been holding onto simply because I was accustomed to holding onto them, they're going to the used bookstore to find new homes. Some, like my beloved and ancient Salinger will not last much longer no matter what happens to it, since it's basically in pieces as it is.

  

My cat Porter was kind enough to keep a watchful eye from his overseer's spot on top of the microwave, and I'm happy to be able to spend this beautiful Friday getting some things done (and getting outside a little bit too).






He can be kind of a serious guy. But he may have been frustrated that I hadn't fed him any Fancy Feast yet today. It can make him kind of testy.

Hope everyone has a marvelous weekend!


Days to Edinburgh move-in: 36

Just a decoupaged Polaroid camera.

It might not seem like a big deal, but one of the coolest things about moving is having to go through everything. What to get rid of, what to keep, etc. Some of it's tedious, like clothes and furniture. But some of it's really fun, when it comes to sentimental stuff -- the photographs, knick-knacks, souvenirs, gifts, and so on. I'm not one for much of the knick-knacky stuff, so what I do have usually holds some sentimental value. That, or I've just had something for so long that I can't imagine not having it. Does that make sense?

So, I put on a record (Florence + The Machine's Ceremonials in this instance) and started excavating.

I went through a couple boxes of things from the last move. These were the things I thought I would keep forever, and mostly that's the way it turned out. I ended up reorganizing them into a box so they would fit better, and snapped a couple photos along the way. Nostalgia can be so much fun. Rediscovering and studying the things I've been given over the years, or taken, or kept for whatever reason -- it's that stuff that makes this whole process fun. In miniature, memories come out of the box, and then they go back in. Someday they'll be unpacked somewhere nice... :)

My favorite things have always and will always be old photographs. I don't have many, but my prized possessions include just a couple that my dad took back in the late 60s/early 70s in California, amongst others.



I even uncovered the pair of moccasins I made as a senior in high school for an anthropology course. We studied the Kiowa culture, and the big project was the construction (from scratch) of authentic moccasins. Deer hide, sinew (well, something like it), and awl. ;) Tehe. Anyone in my graduating class who made the moccasins wore them to the ceremony. They still fit!



I unearthed one of my many old Polaroid cameras (the others I'm fairly sure I've given away or lost at this point). This one I was possessed to decorate one day, with that lovely thing called Hodge Podge, and decoupaged modern art images all over it. See if you can recognize Mr. Warhol and Rrose Selavy, to name a few. ;)

If I could only get my hands on some [ahem, inexpensive] film, I'd love to be able to use this baby more. I miss being able to stroll into the nearest store and pick up a pack of film, albeit usually at more than a dollar per picture near the end there. It was worth it, though. I tried using The Impossible Project's imitation film, but I had a hard time with it. Perhaps more on my Polaroid fixation later...

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!


Days to Edinburgh move-in: 50

Juillet est fou!

What's happening to summer? Where is it gooooinngggg? And why is it so HOT? Thinking of cool, lakeside Glacier NP on steamy days like today...

Wow. The days are flying. And what am I doing? Nothing very picturesque, lamentably. Yet I've been busy. When I returned from my trip to Glacier NP, where I want to be still (hence the photo), I hit a metaphorical wall of shit to do. Pardonnez mon français. Let's be honest: I've been stressed. More than I should be at this stage of the game, but what can you do? So much is going on!

My visa application has been received at the New York processing center. Technology is so amazing these days -- that they can email me to let me know they've received it and when-about to expect the decision. The whole process is a huge pain in the arse (and expensive), but it's streamlined online as much as it can be, and I appreciate that.

Additionally, working two jobs is no small investment of time, especially two distinctly different kinds of jobs. It's not all bad, though. The money is nice. ;) And of course, there's the work experience in my chosen field of art history, however part time, that I can use in the future.

In other news, I've rounded up the vast majority of of my wardrobe into what will be rummage sale-bound in a month from now. Much of it I've priced already. Now it's a matter of going through furniture, kitchenware, home decor, etc. and weeding out all the things I don't want to hold onto until some later date in my fuzzy future. Bahh!

Right. Remember. Calm and cool, Kate, you're moving to the UK. Stop stressing. It's amazing.

For now, I keep an eye on the end of July, when my projects will be concluded at the art museum and I can focus on actually moving. And maybe partying a little ;) So here's to looking forward to August!


Days to Edinburgh move-in: 52

Take it or leave it

I really like clothes. I'm no fashion guru, and I don't read Vogue magazine every month, but I really like to get dressed. It makes it very difficult to think about parting with things-- even the things I never, ever wear (anymore). Additionally, I've never left an apartment without planning to return to it at some point, and therefore had to consider that everything must go. It has to be packed to take with me, shipped to me, sold at a rummage sale, donated, or simply thrown out.

Thus, the challenge begins. I attempted to "begin packing" by throwing all of my winter garments in my suitcase. Essentially, my suitcase now has two jackets and a ridiculous mountain of wool scarves, none of which I feel I can part with. My suitcase has taken up a home on my little-used couch and my cat loves to try to sleep in it.

I like to avoid throwing things out for simple environmental reasons -- if someone else can use it and it's still in nice shape, at the very least I'll donate it. It only makes sense, since probably half of my wardrobe consists of secondhand apparel anyway. So, I've been compiling boxes to price and try to sell at a garage sale, and a few more to simply donate.

Anyway. Today marks the beginning of a concerted effort to pare down even more than I already have. I feel that this process is best tackled a little bit at a time.

More challenging and intimidating in the take-or-leave decision department are my books and records. I've worked at a bookstore for the last 4 1/2 years, and in that time I've amassed a pretty decent library of art books, records and other various history books and niche items that I'm hard pressed to get rid of, so logistics will prove interesting. However, I think that's a challenge for another time...

Days to Edinburgh move-in: 73

A little of this, a little of that

My attention has been pulled in various directions today--my first proper nothing-needs-doing day off in weeks--starting with a lovely little message in my Edinburgh mailbox about setting up my student email and welcome booklets! Nothing gets me more amped than reading about the logistics and the practicalities of life in a new city. I know, I know, it sounds like it should be the opposite, right? Finding out where the closest grocery stores are, how to open a bank account, what the most affordable public transportation is, who will meet me at the airport and so on... it's all rather boring in and of itself. But when you're talking something like Edinburgh (or throw in anywhere from San Francisco to Tokyo to the two two hours away from you that you've always wanted to live in), even the little things sound like great fun.

At least to me. ;)

My youngest sister made from-scratch pancakes for my mom and I this morning, meanwhile discussing other logistics and practicalities -- the kind pertaining to camping in less than a week! So looking forward to my sibling road trip to Montana. We leave next Saturday!

And then, to top it off, after a quick trip to the store for dinner items and things like Off Deep Woods bug spray, I got home and popped in a CD I've been listening to constantly for the last couple of days. An odd choice, but so it is: Ralph Vaughan Williams' The Wasps performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. One of my favorite classical tunes is "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis" and second up is "The Lark Ascending." Kind of chill-yet-exciting classical stuff, very English, and just what I happen to be into today.

And on an English note, my other purchase of note from yesterday:

Great Houses of London by James Stourton, photographed by Fritz von der Schulenburg, and published by Frances Lincoln. It's an amazing, gorgeous book. It's no secret I'm a self-proclaimed Anglophile (it just happened), and although I don't usually find it necessary to own architecture and interior photography books (I love to look at them, but usually can't justify their cost) this one just drew me in. I just wanted to be in every single image. I want to visit all of these houses. I want to be in London right. now.

I want to be a lot of places right now, it seems. It's this summer, the weather, the plans and determination to go somewhere very soon. It all adds up. I've got the travel bug, full force! And of course I can't wait to share all that comes next.

Days to Edinburgh move-in: 76

Par avion!

It's really difficult to make a piece of paper look exciting, I know. But holy cats! I just got my first piece of real mail yesterday from the University of Edinburgh and for the very first time in this whole process -- even the filling-out-the-visa part -- I feel like this is actually happening. They sent me my ID card application, to which I have to affix a passport sized photo so that when I arrive on campus, I'll be able to pick up the card. My own UE identification card! Should I be this excited?

It's also the little differences that are so amusing -- the standard copy paper size in UK is A4, so all the papers are a little longer. It really is the little things, isn't it? Ha! I am really easily amused, it seems. Remembering these minute details brings me back to when I studied abroad in London seven (seven!!?) years ago, and it makes me all the more excited to get back to the UK and do it all again, except better. Cooler!

Glancing at the calendar, I realize just how quickly time is going to fly. I have so much going on between two jobs, my upcoming trip with my sisters to Glacier National Park, the UK visa process, and having to pack up and move out and away. All within a little over two months! Insane! I remember when I was staring at the countdown widget on my phone and it said something boring and uninteresting like "226 days"...

Days to Edinburgh move-in: 79

The good life

(photo)

I think I may be mostly back in Normal Mode after my luscious weekend consisting of my sister's marriage and Father's Day, all of which feels as if it was wrapped up into one weekend-long celebration of family and love. If I could sound any mushier, I would, because it was just that sweet.

I've been back at work for a couple days now, surprisingly surpassing the sort of back-to-work bewilderment that often accompanies the return after a few days off when I've been so totally mentally elsewhere. Only once did I sit blankly in front of a computer screen at one point and think, "What the hell is my password?"

Anyway. All is well! Fantastic, actually. Sometimes I wonder how it has come to be that I'm so damn lucky. Looking forward to camping with my sisters in about a week and a half -- we're headed on a sibling road trip to Glacier National Park in Montana! Simply can't wait for that.

And on the topic of not being able to wait, I'm starting to really anticipate the Scotland move now, considering I have an address to visualize and a suitcase that has magically filled up with scarves, sweaters and jackets. Other than that, how does one pack to move overseas? Is it better to pack suitcases or ship packages of extra stuff? I've packed for long trips, one that lasted a few months, but never to the extent that I was emptying an apartment and taking as much with me as possible abroad. This is going to be a learning experience... recommendations and suggestions are more than welcome!

The first stage of my UK visa application has been submitted (and paid for, yikes!), so next we're talking a new passport sized photo and a brief trip to Milwaukee in early July for what they call a "biometrics appointment," ie. fingerprints. Then I send all that paperwork mumbo jumbo, along with my passport, off to New York and get a visa in return. All in due time!



Days to Edinburgh move-in: 81

Packing up winter.

When I say I've packed all of my winter clothes already, what that actually means is:

There is a coat in my suitcase.

It's early days yet, at least as far as packing and actual travel planning goes, but I'm starting to think about it more regularly. In a couple months my sister(s), mom and I are hoping to have a rummage sale, in which I hope to get rid of a bunch of clothes I'll never wear again (or never wore in the first place). Sweaters and long-sleeved shirts have definitely passed their use-by date until next fall, so I could start packing a few things to get them out of the way. The catch is that starting to shove all that stuff in the case puts me in about-to-move limbo mode, and I don't know if I'm ready for that yet! ;)

This departure feels different than any other big move I've made because I don't have a place to come back to when term is over, like when I was an undergrad. No matter where I end up, or what I do after I graduate, I'm not planning to come back to the same place. I've decided to downsize pretty massively in order to accommodate the uncertainty and the very good chance that I'll be moving around a little in the next few years. One just never knows.

In about three weeks or so, I should have heard about my financial aid and student confirmation information from the University of Edinburgh, and then can apply for my visa in pretty short order. That requires a quick trip to Milwaukee, the nearest visa application office, for an interview. I'll hear about housing in July (pretty excited about that, actually), and then things really get rolling.

For the first time in this entire 1.5-year process (yes, it has been long and ongoing), I looked at a photograph of Princes Street, Edinburgh the other day and thought, "Holy cats! I'm going to be there! Soon!" It was a nice, exhilarating feeling--the kind I thrive off of when it comes to travel. There's nothing like that particular anticipation! I'm planning on shooting across the pond a few days before move-in to hang out in London, check out some galleries and museums, and revisit some old haunts. Can't wait to book my flight!


Days to Edinburgh move-in: 109