Here’s to having dreams and chasing them.
Here’s to fighting for what you want.
Here’s to standing up for yourself.
Here’s to being true to you.
Here’s to loving your life and those in it.
Here’s to making your own destiny.
Here’s to those who live their lives unapologetically.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
The D Word
Deported
That’s right I got detained and deported. Cool right? Hahaha not really. Not at the time but now it’s rather funny and a great story. Would you like to hear it?
Alright then, let me preface it with the fact that I’d started my Visa application in July when I applied for my CAS number… that was frustrating it took a month for me to get it. So by the time I actually applied for my Visa it was nearly time for me to leave. But I got it all done and sent it off… I didn’t know they needed my Passport…so off to France I went happy and hoping for a visa. Honestly I don’t know what I was thinking.
But alas I got a call when my application papers were returned and put on hold since they needed my passport. But I could enter the UK as a tourist for 6 months and that would be more then enough time for me to get it stamped over winter break. So I was off to London all happy and excited I was actually doing what I wanted.
Then I got held up at the border since I hadn’t put a date I was leaving… and didn’t have a ticket to leave… I then had to explain everything. So I got detained as I didn’t have my visa stamped.
I was frustrated. They searched my bags and what not asked me a lot of really dumb questions and the same questions in different ways. Like where I was going to school. Where in London was I going to school. What school I was studying at. It was annoying but I answered them all and apparently they decided I was indeed telling the truth because they cleared me from more questions and told me I was probably getting sent back to Frankfurt as that was the last place I was.
Now starts the fun. The place where you have to wait I swear looks just like a doctors office waiting room. White walls uncomfy chairs TV books and magazines. Although it wasn’t too bad it was just me and a two other people. They slept most of the time though.
By now it was after 21h00 and I should have been at my hostel by now. I knew my parents and boyfriend were waiting for a text saying I got there okay. But I couldn’t have my phone to text so I decided it was time I made a phone call. First I tried my mum’s cell… no answer. Then I tried the house phone… no answer. I’d forgotten my dad’s cell so the only person I could think to call was my older brother. I remembered his number because it’s one digit off from mine. So I called him up… it was awkward. I felt so retarded calling him and pretty much confirming that his I am not the sharpest crayon in the box. Apparently he was in the car and pulled over to take the number to call me at and called my mum.
Needless to say it turned into a total clown operation getting things sorted out for me. My boyfriend couldn’t call the number so my mum had to log onto my face book to talk to him. It all got sorted out… after about a dozen calls from my mum. And then I settled in for the night.
The detaining officer who had taken my info, Victor, had asked me how I felt that I was probably getting sent back. I told him I didn’t care, I had everything I needed to get my visa at a consulate or worst I had to fly home get it stamped and fly back. He thought it was funny that I didn’t mind. It was just a hassle I had to wait till 7h 15 the next morning and I got taken into custody around 20h00 that night.
I picked up a book I saw on the shelf (I had nothing else to do, they had all my belongings…). It was called Vlad so I started reading. Then Victor asked if I wanted to watch Amadeus with him and the other officer. It’s a funny movie and I obviously had nothing else to do so I did. We chilled in their office watching the movie. It was great craic. They thought it was funny that even though I wasn’t a threat or had a horribly serious reason to be deported that they were still required to do everything by the books with me.
I stayed up all night drinking coffee and reading. I was really hoping I’d be able to finish the book… sadly I only got to page 296 and I still had another hundred or so. It was super good so I’m going to have to go to a book store to buy it.
So 7h00 rolled around and two other officers came to take me to the plane. It was great! I got a personal escort even though they didn’t seem like they were paying attention to me they were chatting about some sport thing. I got to skip all the lines! And if you know anything about lines while boarding Ryanair you should think about getting deported. I didn’t have to wait to board and I got to cut people getting on the plane and on top of all that… I had my own reserved row! I got the whole second row to myself! Super cool right!
I landed back at Frankfurt Hahn. Now there’s more fun here! I had to wait for another personal escort off the plane to immigration. They looked at my passport and my papers on why I was sent back. They flipped through my passport and okayed me. So I grabbed my things and went on my way. Simple.
Now all I have to do is go to Düsseldorf. There’s a British Embassy there and I’m hoping to get my visa stamped there so I can be in London for late registration next week!
Cheers,
That’s right I got detained and deported. Cool right? Hahaha not really. Not at the time but now it’s rather funny and a great story. Would you like to hear it?
Alright then, let me preface it with the fact that I’d started my Visa application in July when I applied for my CAS number… that was frustrating it took a month for me to get it. So by the time I actually applied for my Visa it was nearly time for me to leave. But I got it all done and sent it off… I didn’t know they needed my Passport…so off to France I went happy and hoping for a visa. Honestly I don’t know what I was thinking.
But alas I got a call when my application papers were returned and put on hold since they needed my passport. But I could enter the UK as a tourist for 6 months and that would be more then enough time for me to get it stamped over winter break. So I was off to London all happy and excited I was actually doing what I wanted.
Then I got held up at the border since I hadn’t put a date I was leaving… and didn’t have a ticket to leave… I then had to explain everything. So I got detained as I didn’t have my visa stamped.
I was frustrated. They searched my bags and what not asked me a lot of really dumb questions and the same questions in different ways. Like where I was going to school. Where in London was I going to school. What school I was studying at. It was annoying but I answered them all and apparently they decided I was indeed telling the truth because they cleared me from more questions and told me I was probably getting sent back to Frankfurt as that was the last place I was.
Now starts the fun. The place where you have to wait I swear looks just like a doctors office waiting room. White walls uncomfy chairs TV books and magazines. Although it wasn’t too bad it was just me and a two other people. They slept most of the time though.
By now it was after 21h00 and I should have been at my hostel by now. I knew my parents and boyfriend were waiting for a text saying I got there okay. But I couldn’t have my phone to text so I decided it was time I made a phone call. First I tried my mum’s cell… no answer. Then I tried the house phone… no answer. I’d forgotten my dad’s cell so the only person I could think to call was my older brother. I remembered his number because it’s one digit off from mine. So I called him up… it was awkward. I felt so retarded calling him and pretty much confirming that his I am not the sharpest crayon in the box. Apparently he was in the car and pulled over to take the number to call me at and called my mum.
Needless to say it turned into a total clown operation getting things sorted out for me. My boyfriend couldn’t call the number so my mum had to log onto my face book to talk to him. It all got sorted out… after about a dozen calls from my mum. And then I settled in for the night.
The detaining officer who had taken my info, Victor, had asked me how I felt that I was probably getting sent back. I told him I didn’t care, I had everything I needed to get my visa at a consulate or worst I had to fly home get it stamped and fly back. He thought it was funny that I didn’t mind. It was just a hassle I had to wait till 7h 15 the next morning and I got taken into custody around 20h00 that night.
I picked up a book I saw on the shelf (I had nothing else to do, they had all my belongings…). It was called Vlad so I started reading. Then Victor asked if I wanted to watch Amadeus with him and the other officer. It’s a funny movie and I obviously had nothing else to do so I did. We chilled in their office watching the movie. It was great craic. They thought it was funny that even though I wasn’t a threat or had a horribly serious reason to be deported that they were still required to do everything by the books with me.
I stayed up all night drinking coffee and reading. I was really hoping I’d be able to finish the book… sadly I only got to page 296 and I still had another hundred or so. It was super good so I’m going to have to go to a book store to buy it.
So 7h00 rolled around and two other officers came to take me to the plane. It was great! I got a personal escort even though they didn’t seem like they were paying attention to me they were chatting about some sport thing. I got to skip all the lines! And if you know anything about lines while boarding Ryanair you should think about getting deported. I didn’t have to wait to board and I got to cut people getting on the plane and on top of all that… I had my own reserved row! I got the whole second row to myself! Super cool right!
I landed back at Frankfurt Hahn. Now there’s more fun here! I had to wait for another personal escort off the plane to immigration. They looked at my passport and my papers on why I was sent back. They flipped through my passport and okayed me. So I grabbed my things and went on my way. Simple.
Now all I have to do is go to Düsseldorf. There’s a British Embassy there and I’m hoping to get my visa stamped there so I can be in London for late registration next week!
Cheers,
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Back to Europe
I flew into Frankfurt because my boyfriend lives really close to the German boarder so the closest airport is Frankfurt. Needless to say I was excited because I’d be in Europe less then 3 hours and I’d have been in 2 countries already!!
My flight got in about 40 minutes early. But I hoped that it would take a while to get my passport stamped and get my bag so that by the time I got out my boyfriend would be there. I was wrong. Everything seemed to work perfectly for me. By the time I walked out with my bags I was still early… so I pulled out my phone to see where my boyfriend was. And turns out my phone decided not to work.
Naturally I started to freak out a little. I couldn’t get in touch with anyone. So I just stood right by where you come out from arrivals. And I waited… turns out Frankfurt is a huge airport so the fact that my boyfriend was late was because it was the parking lot is far from arrivals. And it was. We got lost trying to find it again. But I didn’t care. I was in Europe. I was with my boyfriend. I was out of the states!
So it was off to France. His parent’s house was 2h 30 from the airport. It was hard not to fall asleep in the car but I did it because I wanted to see what everything looks like.
I love the way Europe looks. It’s nothing like New Jersey… or anywhere I’ve seen in the states. It’s flat… but hilly and it’s green and pretty and the trees are different.
The coolest part of the drive… going from Germany to France was easier then crossing a state line. No tolls no nothing. Just a sign letting you know you’d entered France.
So we went to his parent’s town. It’s legit the cutest town ever. The houses are so cute and exactly what you’d think of as the stereotypical French house. They eat from their garden. They eat chickens and ducks they raise and it's just so pretty and quiet. It made the fact that I was in Europe even more real.
After staying a few days in Bambiderstroff we went to Nancy because his school started Monday and he still needed to move in.
The drive to Nancy is about an hour and totally pretty!!
And Nancy itself! I’ve walked around some parts of the city but it’s so freaking pretty! I wish I spoke enough French to go to school here. I love that you have to walk to get groceries. I missed all the walking I did in Ireland while I was home this summer. Now I’m happy to be back in Europe walking a lot… oh and I’m legal to drink…
So my stay in France has consisted of a lot of fun things. The list is as follows in order of how much fun it was
1- Seeing my boyfriend
2- Eating lot of Cheese
3- Legally drinking
4- seeing lots of pretty places
5- Eating yummy food
6- Seeing all the windmills!!
7- Driving to Germany
My flight to London leaves tomorrow evening. I’m so excited! Orientation is Saturday after which I will officially be a UK student!!
Cheers,
My flight got in about 40 minutes early. But I hoped that it would take a while to get my passport stamped and get my bag so that by the time I got out my boyfriend would be there. I was wrong. Everything seemed to work perfectly for me. By the time I walked out with my bags I was still early… so I pulled out my phone to see where my boyfriend was. And turns out my phone decided not to work.
Naturally I started to freak out a little. I couldn’t get in touch with anyone. So I just stood right by where you come out from arrivals. And I waited… turns out Frankfurt is a huge airport so the fact that my boyfriend was late was because it was the parking lot is far from arrivals. And it was. We got lost trying to find it again. But I didn’t care. I was in Europe. I was with my boyfriend. I was out of the states!
So it was off to France. His parent’s house was 2h 30 from the airport. It was hard not to fall asleep in the car but I did it because I wanted to see what everything looks like.
I love the way Europe looks. It’s nothing like New Jersey… or anywhere I’ve seen in the states. It’s flat… but hilly and it’s green and pretty and the trees are different.
The coolest part of the drive… going from Germany to France was easier then crossing a state line. No tolls no nothing. Just a sign letting you know you’d entered France.
So we went to his parent’s town. It’s legit the cutest town ever. The houses are so cute and exactly what you’d think of as the stereotypical French house. They eat from their garden. They eat chickens and ducks they raise and it's just so pretty and quiet. It made the fact that I was in Europe even more real.
After staying a few days in Bambiderstroff we went to Nancy because his school started Monday and he still needed to move in.
The drive to Nancy is about an hour and totally pretty!!
1- Seeing my boyfriend
2- Eating lot of Cheese
3- Legally drinking
4- seeing lots of pretty places
5- Eating yummy food
6- Seeing all the windmills!!
7- Driving to Germany
My flight to London leaves tomorrow evening. I’m so excited! Orientation is Saturday after which I will officially be a UK student!!
Cheers,
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Life in 30 Kilos
I feel like I have achieved the impossible!! I’ve fit everything into one suitcase weighing 20 kilo and one carry one weighing around 10 kilo. My room is no longer filthy… then again it’s no longer my room. I leave today and it feels rather amazing to have accomplished so much.
It was really hard when I was trying to finish packing this morning. I was still over weight and I was frustrated because I really didn’t have heavy things to take out and leave behind. I almost brought myself to tears as I laid everything out and seriously tried to think about what I could leave. It came down to having to leave clothes. I needed nearly everything else, I needed my backpack, my food (powerbars so I don’t have to buy food first thing) and other little odd things that will save me money when I first arrive.
But I did it and I’ll be on my way to the airport real soon. Everything still doesn’t seem real. I’ve been waiting for this all summer and here I am… actually doing it now…
Cheers,
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Life in a Suitcase
I seem to have put myself on a fast track to what I want. And honestly I’ve given myself whiplash with how fast I’ve been moving lately. I leave for Europe in a week. I’m going to spend 10 days in France with my boyfriend, then it’s off to London.
That’s the fun part. The hard part is packing. I’m taking US Airways over so I’ve to normal 50 pounds to bring in my suitcase. But from France to London I’m taking Ryanair, aka a discount airline. If you know of Ryanair you know how odd and shitty it can be. I’ve only got 20 kilos in my checked bag and 10 on my carry on. So that’s 60 something pounds. And I decided that those 60 something pounds would be my entire life.
I’d done a good over haul of my belongings before Ireland but now it’s official America won’t be my home for a while. So I’m cutting ties and getting rid of old baggage. I’ve got a goal of only leaving behind a tiny bit of stuff that I want to keep. Everything else must go. And it’s been very hard!
I don’t have weight or room to bring all of my favorite clothes so I’ve got to make a new pile of my favorite favorite clothes. Plus I’ve also got to think about practical things. Like what I’ll need for school, what the weather difference is. What I’ll need for the first few weeks out of the states. And what I’ll need till I visit for Christmas.
Hard questions right. Well I’ll show you what I have to deal with. I went around the house and tossed all my belongings into the sun room (my guest room I made). It never looks like this… except when I throw all my worldly belongings about…
A lot of…shit. Right? That’s what most of it is. Essentially it’s all just stuff. And I found a quote from Dr. Dyer that sums up my current situations wonderfully “Constantly remind yourself that you're here for a reason, and it's not to hoard a lot of material stuff"
It’s a lot easier when you think about it in terms of stuff. You can always get more stuff. You don’t need objects to remember.
So my piles of stuff have slowly started to get smaller… and smaller. No I just need to make them weigh 30 kilo…
Cheers,
That’s the fun part. The hard part is packing. I’m taking US Airways over so I’ve to normal 50 pounds to bring in my suitcase. But from France to London I’m taking Ryanair, aka a discount airline. If you know of Ryanair you know how odd and shitty it can be. I’ve only got 20 kilos in my checked bag and 10 on my carry on. So that’s 60 something pounds. And I decided that those 60 something pounds would be my entire life.
I’d done a good over haul of my belongings before Ireland but now it’s official America won’t be my home for a while. So I’m cutting ties and getting rid of old baggage. I’ve got a goal of only leaving behind a tiny bit of stuff that I want to keep. Everything else must go. And it’s been very hard!
I don’t have weight or room to bring all of my favorite clothes so I’ve got to make a new pile of my favorite favorite clothes. Plus I’ve also got to think about practical things. Like what I’ll need for school, what the weather difference is. What I’ll need for the first few weeks out of the states. And what I’ll need till I visit for Christmas.
Hard questions right. Well I’ll show you what I have to deal with. I went around the house and tossed all my belongings into the sun room (my guest room I made). It never looks like this… except when I throw all my worldly belongings about…
A lot of…shit. Right? That’s what most of it is. Essentially it’s all just stuff. And I found a quote from Dr. Dyer that sums up my current situations wonderfully “Constantly remind yourself that you're here for a reason, and it's not to hoard a lot of material stuff"
It’s a lot easier when you think about it in terms of stuff. You can always get more stuff. You don’t need objects to remember.
So my piles of stuff have slowly started to get smaller… and smaller. No I just need to make them weigh 30 kilo…
Cheers,
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