Alas, it is the night before I jet-set across the Atlantic to the land of scones, queens, and really posh accents. Am I nervous? Yes. Am I going to miss people? A lot. But this is a very good thing for me and it is a new adventure. I find that the day before any major event evokes feelings of anxiety - whether or not they feel justified. I begin to over analyze every minute detail and meaning of each emotion and wonder if my feelings are excessive. I've accepted that these feelings are normal, even if they really AREN'T that big of a deal and even though I KNOW that once I'm across the pond everything will seem... well... exciting. Right now it's the anticipation. The anticipation for WEEKS.
This extended trip (for a year) is a lesson in many things. The first, I believe, is an ultimate LIFE lesson: sometimes things are out of our control and all we have to do is wait and see what happens.
Let me explain.
Getting a visa to enter/study/work in a foreign country is a lengthy and ultimately volatile process. Once your documents are submitted you hope that you have given enough information and that the horror stories you hear from your peers (like getting rejected for a visa and missing the beginning of your program) will not apply to you.
A week before I was set to leave I had NO IDEA when or IF I was getting my visa. There was no one who could tell me. So - I had to wait. And once I DID get the visa - it was sent to the wrong address! Once again - things are out of my control.
Maybe that should be my optimistic mantra for the year:
Things are out of my control and I just have to live in the moment.
It's much easier said than done.
How's that for a pre-departure blog posting to assuage the pre-departure histrionics?
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