So I've done some updating!
I figure this blog is less about my study abroad adventures now,
and more about my actual life abroad.
So I may as well change things around - make a fresh start.
(And by fresh, I mean a much less of chaotic mess,
and with better pictures.
But hey, there's some good stuff in those past posts,
so as ridiculously long and unorganized as they are,
I just don't have the heart to change the way I wrote it then)
My life abroad.
I always thought that was what was supposed to happen,
but the fact that it actually is happening? Will never be real to me.
It's been a LOT of work.
A lot of tedious and terrible work.
A lot of planning. It seems that all I do is plan now.
Heather and I have been budgeting and house-hunting - all the time.
There are few things that frustrate me more than trying to plan life when you are on an entirely different continent.
Calling costs sky-rocket when you make international calls to estate agents.
There is also a 5 hour time change,
so I've been woken to up quite a few 5AM phone calls from agents who don't understand it's not 10AM here too.
There's also trying to understand all the extra fees we may be paying on top of our rent.
And speaking of rent, there's that ridiculous exchange rate.
For ever British Pound, we are paying around $1.60.
Which makes a £600 per month flat, over $1000 for us.
I have come to the conclusion that I will forever be comparing and converting for the rest of my life.
And there's no other way to describe that than just plain 'that sucks.'
BUT
We dug these graves with smiles on our faces.
I've never been so happy and motivated to do such annoying work though.
We just booked our flights last night - and I'll have to add it is a one way flight.
So it's officially OFFICIAL! As if it wasn't before when I applied and got accepted and have been doing everything else.
I have an official ticket an official one way and life in three months my life can start againnnn!!
While all of this is going on, I've still been living in Florida with my family.
I work as a nanny here. Like a professional babysitter.
And I get to hang out with some pretty amazing kids - I work daily picking up, driving around, and watching a 7 & 11 year old.
And I have to say, I absolutely adore them ♡
And for something that doesn't exactly sound like much of a job, I'm making pretty great money.
And with everything going on, making money is VERY necessary right now.
I've been living here for a little over 6 months now.
It's great to be in the sun and on the beach - incredibly relaxing, even when you have a not so relaxing day.
I feel like I've been on a really long summer vacation, which I guess with the fact I'm going back to school, I kind of have been.
But I miss Kentucky more than I ever thought I could.
It's very true that once you leave a place, you realize how special it is. Kentucky will always feel like my home,
And I will say without hesitation, I do think that Louisville is the greatest city in the country.
And speaking of, my best friend is coming to see me in two weeks after an entire year apart, and I can't quite explain how EXCITED I am!
I want to say the longest we've been apart is around 3 months since I left Louisville in 2009.
A very successful long distance relationship, I'd say.
So going an entire year, I'm pretty surprised one of us hasn't needed to go into therapy for separation anxiety.
Because friends who wear ponchos together, stay together.
The rest of my tiny group of amazing, amazing friends are also coming in July!
Makes me so happy.
These girls, who all have full time, real-world, big girl jobs, give up their vacation days to come down and see me because I can't afford to go up and see them.
Now, the beach might have helped a little with their decision to visit...
But I do have to say, I feel pretty lucky to have people like them in my life.
Paul McCartney started his 2014 tour this past month in South America.
He's coming to the USA in June-August.
I'll try to contain my excitement but
I'M SEEING HIM THIS SUMMER IN FLORIDA!!!!!!
I got to see him when I studied abroad in 2012, in the Royal Albert Hall.
And this past October, when I met him. When I shook hands with Paul McCartney.
Just saying that always makes me smile.
Anyways, it was all amazing (obviously),
but I have never experienced the full-blown, fire-exploding, confetti-shooting, Macca-fied tour.
I'm seeing him in Jacksonville at the end of June.
I don't think I have ever been so damn excited for a show.
I've never spent so much money so happily.
I leave for London on August 16.
I feel like my life has been put in pause while I chill out in Florida and figure things out.
I would have never imagined taking a 'gap year' and moving home before starting my life in the real world.
But I would not have changed a single thing in how everything has worked out.
I've got three months left here, and with so many big things happening, I've got a feeling it's going to be a great summer,
but it's also going to fly right by.
I think this is a pretty pointless post,
but my last post was in February.
So I figure with an updated blog, I might as well update it with a post.
So I'll just end this with some hopefully not-as-boring pictures of life these past few months.
