Most of you probably already know in exactly one month I move to Brussels, Belgium to attend graduate school. I was inspired by a friend to start this blog to keep family and friends updated about my new life since I'll be so far away and won't see most of you for awhile. :( I want to take this opportunity to encourage all my loved ones to keep in contact via Skype, email, FB, text, smoke signals whatever! Name a social networking site or technology and I probably have it (I'm a tech junkie) so please don't hesitate to contact me for a welcome chat with a loved one from home. I'm always available via email but otherwise the time difference from PST is 9 hrs. I have made a personal commitment to try to set up Skype (Facetime) dates with friends a family once a week at minimum but please feel free to do the same!
Now all the mushy lovey stuff is done here's a quick breakdown of whats going on!
- Booked a flight in April with Virgin Atlantic (my fav airline btw) for DIRT CHEAP! I leave from SFO on September 3 at 8pm.
- After a painstaking expensive process that involved fingerprinting, tax records,FBI background check and vaccinations I have received my student Visa allowing me to live, work and study in Belgium for 1 calender year! I danced around the kitchen when it arrived I was so happy! Pic below :-)
- Sold all my furniture, kitchen items etc... from my old apartments
- I have accepted my offer (completed all the paperwork) from the University and will register for classes soon. More on that when I complete registration but I have already mapped out my classes
- Set up financial aid
- I have read 2 of the text recommended on the suggested pre-reading list for my courses
- I have connected with more than 30 future classmates already via facebook.
- Set up drink dates with 3 friends that live in Europe
- bought a beautiful new luggage set for an unbelievable price
- My brother and his girlfriend bought me a passport cover as a good bye gift ( I know sweet right!)
I could go on but I think you get the idea, I'm over prepared! But as my mom loves to say "fail to plan, plan to fail". Yes mom occasionally I listen :)
The one thing left on my list and the one currently causing me tons of anxiety is housing. No student housing is provided and I cant seem to find an apartment. Renting a private apartment in a foreign country in a city you've never been to is exactly as hard as it sounds! :( At this point I may book a hotel for a few nights and find a place once I arrive. That's what is recommended by the University as well as current and former students. OK enough of my droning on and on below are some pics ofmy preparations so far!
 |
| My Visa! its soooooo pretty! |
 |
| My new luggage set. Nice right? |
 |
| My itunes gift card that I saved so I can download some music and a movie for my flight! |
 |
| My flight kit. Slippers and a travel pillow for my loooooooooong flight! |
 |
| Adapter kit form apple for my ipad, macbook and iphone.Thank you Ebay! |
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed!
Love,
Crystal
