Day: July 16, 2014

Hello Paperwork

/ Laura Bingham

“Okay, so I’ve got the thumbs up to study abroad, now what?!”

The feeling of excitement, ecstasy and disbelief that coursed through my veins when I was first told that I’d be going abroad for my 2nd year of university has been replaced by an overwhelming sense of panic!

“OH DEAR!”

I can’t describe it really! It’s like I’ve hit a brick wall! I’ve been ragging on at 100mph since the start of university and now exams are over, holidays are over, and all seems quiet in the Bingham household! I don’t think that it’s quite sunk in yet, the fact that I’m going across the pond to begin a new chapter of my life, (well it isn’t really a pond, more like 3,612.61 miles across the Atlantic Ocean and to the Western side of Canada!)

Map of North America and Europe

Don’t get me wrong, YES I’m excited beyond belief, when I found out that I was going I started hugging everyone like a I was some sort of possessed life-size teddybear! However, I’m a tiny bit scared too! I will be away from the new amazing friends that I’ve met during my first year at Lancaster University. The family will also be missed, especially my furry feline friend Kitty. This time there isn’t any popping home on the train, which previously took about 2 hours, in order to escape my boy troubles at university or to hide from my upcoming exams! I’m just going to have to be mature and manage my entire life, practically on my own, in a foreign country may I add! I think that I can do that…

Anyway I’ve formulated a cunning action plan! Yesterday I purchased a notebook and decorated it solely for my year abroad.

image of a decorated notebook for Canada

This notebook is my plan in being super organised! I will not forget to book holiday insurance, book my flights or even to leave my passport within my underwear draw and realise this when I’m at the airport! No, this little book is my lifeline so I better not misplace it!

Now with all that said I better share with you my recent attempt at getting organised and putting everything in place for my year abroad.

Tah-Dah flights are booked

/ Laura Bingham

Phil, the guy that I’m going to Canada with whose also from Lancaster University, will happily tell you how much of a pain that I’m being at this current moment in time!

I’ve constantly been pestering him about the best flight deals or where to go for my insurance, when I could easily access this knowledge from the mighty search engine known as ‘Google’! However, Phil seems to have his head screwed on! That man has it sussed! I could do it on my own but I like the comfort of checking things through with Phil, after all it’s a learning experience for the both of us!

Anyway, I’m happy to confirm that my flights are now officially BOOKED! Yippie!

Image of the outside view from an aeroplane aeroplane

We fly from Manchester airport on the 30th August 2014! Which is only 6 weeks away, eeeeeck!

Unfortunately I’m sat on my own during the first journey from Manchester to Toronto, hopefully no one will fall asleep and decide to have a snooze on my shoulder.

However, there’s some good news! I’m sitting next to Phil during our 2nd flight from Toronto to Calgary on the air bus. Annoyingly, he’s nabbed the window seat though so I hope that he knows that I’ll be leaning across him with my binoculars and marvelling at the extraordinary views!

So all that’s left to sort now is doing some online shopping! I need some skiing gear! I’m hoping to battle down the bunny slops whilst I’m in Canada.

So that’s it from me now until I go (or something else interesting happens to me involving my year abroad)

Au revoir,

Laura xxx