7 Days Left

It does not seem real yet. I find it hard to believe that in a weeks time I will be on a plane somewhere between LA and London. Leaving behind all my friends, family, and everything I have ever known.

I am having freak out moments every time I am reminded of my reality. This morning I received an email detailing how to get from the airport to my dorm. My initial reaction was 'I don't want to do this anymore. What was I thinking? I can't do this.'

I have to talk myself down. Lately it has been happening more often as my days left in Orange County countdown, but I just have to remind myself that God is in control and through Him I can do anything.

I have not started packing. But I have placed some clothes (like coats and business attire) in a pile ready to be packed. Plus I finally have luggage so I don't have to carry my belongings onto the plane. I don't think the security officials, flight attendants, other passengers would approve.

Time to get back to not packing.

Until we meet again,

-Maggie the traveler

I Have a Home

Since the school year ended, information regarding London has been slow to come. Now that the beginning of the semester is less than a month away, emails are steadily arriving in my mailbox. The latest batch includes a list of contact information of the other CSULB students. A second email listed the address of the residence and my mailing address for the next four months.

This makes me excited as now I can look at maps and see exactly which neighborhood I will be living in and where the local tube station and shopping is located.

This makes me nervous too. I have a place to live and what I am about to do is becoming more and more real each day.

Until we meet again,

-Maggie the traveler

One month...

Success

I am in. My visa has been issued and all my information was returned to me. I was nervous about having all that information just floating around out there, but now it is home, safe with me.

This summer is flying by and I am having trouble keeping up. This weekend I get to go be a corner worker at the MotoGP race at Laguna Seca, my brother's wedding is a month away, and I leave in a month and a half.

Until we meet again,

-Maggie the traveler

P.S. Check out my other blog, Through the viewfinder, to track the progress of my independent study project as it transforms into something of value.

Visa or Mastercard?

Because of my internship, I am required to acquire a student visa. There was so much that I had to send in, it made me nervous. They wanted my whole life it seemed. Some paperwork I sent in included:

• 3 months of bank statements
• 3 months of pay stubs
• My passport
• School transcript

Sending some of this made me nervous but I guess they want to know who is coming into their country to work.

It is amazing to think I only have 52 days left until I leave. At least Manda is leaving the same day I am so we can count down together.

I have so much to do before I go. I need to sit down and sort everything out.

Until we meet again,

-Maggie the traveler

More Pictures

Here are more pictures my graduation weekend including the party.

Lots of the family showed up.




And some of my friends stopped by




I also got a copy of a picture taken at the graduation.

Now onto London...

Until we meet again,

-Maggie the traveler

The Final Countdown

Cue the music: My choice is "The Final Countdown" by Europe. How appropriate.

There are only three months remaining until I am off on my European adventure.

Graduation was last Friday. It was very fun, especially since we got to sit by who we wanted to within our department. I followed the ceremony up with a party on Saturday which was a blasty-blast. Lots of the family came and Andy came down from Portland which was fantastic. Also a lot of my friends came which was fun. It was cool having the open house style so one group of friends were there and as they left another would show up. Now time for pictures.







More pictures to come later of the celebrating.

Until we meet again,

-Maggie the traveler