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

Moola Moola: Saving, big time.

In a time long since passed, when I was but a wee one, there was a credit union mascot named Moola Moola, who looked like this:

But actually looked like this: 

Occasionally he'd make appearances at the bank, to try to promote saving money to kids. I still have my old-school Moola Moola Club membership card floating around somewhere. And I thought of it today because a) he's pretty absurd, and b) saving money is touuuuugh.

I like the thermometer method of keeping track. It's super satisfying to mark in when I contribute a couple hundred here and there to the savings account, but let's be honest. Saving for school when one is already strapped with student loans is kind of... did I say tough?

Here's the lowdown on Scotland and this upcoming masters degree, financially speaking. A typical masters program in the US takes two years, which includes tuition ($USD) as well as two years of living expenses (housing, transportation, books, food, etc.). A typical masters degree in the UK takes one year at an international/non-EU tuition rate (£GBP) plus housing, food, etc. Even taking the exchange rate into consideration (it only looks good to those coming to the US from the UK and not the other way around), the program taking half the time saves me a bit of money in the long-run.

The issue is that it's UK immigration policy to have proof of all my funds for 9 months available up front, on request. Even though I'm allowed to work up to 20 hours a week on my student visa, there's no way a part-time job somewhere is going to help me out past the basics.

So I've been scrimping and saving as much as possible after eliminating a bunch of credit card debt and paying down my existing student loans. What a pain in the old arse that is. Too bad there isn't a real Moola Moola. 

But something marginally more exciting: I finally bought a suitcase. The biggest suitcase I've ever owned. I've only ever used the kind of medium-sized backpack/slash/duffel bags that make constant travel easier on me (and other people). I just know I'm going to hate lugging it around, but for once I needed something I could throw most of my wardrobe into. So I found a trusty old (I mean new) Samsonite at TJMaxx (I recommend them if you need basic luggage), and although I'm not ready to get packing yet, my cat certainly enjoys being in it in the meantime.

One last bit about saving that's been easy and cool: my mom had the idea that every time she got a five dollar bill, she would stash it away for fun money. I started doing the same, and it's amazing how quickly you can pack away $50 -- and then take yer bad self out to dinner!

And the saving continues... slowly... but surely.

The countdown begins: 

Days left until Edinburgh Move-In Day: 126