One year at uni, 2 personal statements, 5 American institutes to choose from, two new sets of passport photos, 3 one on one meetings and numerous emails to the Study Abroad department, one accepted application to the Univeristy of Mississippi, one £750 bursary, hundreds of forms filled in, one trip to the US embassy, one visa obtained, 2 flights booked, one room in Reading rented out while I'm away, 23kg worth of my life packed into one suitcase, 10 pairs of shorts, one pair of flip flops, zero sets of hair straighteners, 5 bikinis, one folder of travel documents, one carry on bag and one laptop and I'm just about ready to go.
Despite having the most amazing first year at uni that I couldn't have ever imagined, my sole focus for the entire year has been organising my term abroad (ask any of my Pats lot!) The study abroad people have become top of my most frequently emailed contacts, I have had many hassling weeks waiting for the moment when Ole Miss accepted my application, then a short breath of relief before the paperwork continued.
This time tomorrow, I will have just about landed in Atlanta, and I will definitely be freaking out about finding my way around the airport ready for my flight to Tennessee and within a few hours I will have been given my keys and introduced to my roommate.
I honestly can't believe the time has actually come, even now I don't think I will quite realise what I'm doing until I'm unpacked in Oxford!
On Saturday, it's our welcome back pool party, about the only freshers event we'll get because next week it's straight into my classes and I don't even know what courses I'm taking yet.
As a final going away surprise, I returned home from Paris on Saturday to a big brown envelope addressed to me. Inside I found these
One of my bestest friends had written me a letter for every circumstance that I will encounter while I'm away and it is literally the nicest, cutest, most unexpected things I have ever been given and I will treasure every one. The time and detail that she put into each one amazed me and it will be so nice to have them with me, not only to open and read when the time comes, but so I have a piece of home with me. With one suitcase, I can't exactly take many personal touches to fill my room with so these will make my room look super cute dotted around as well as help me through hard times.
Along with our regular skype sessions I hope we won't miss eachother too much but I am so grateful to have such a thoughtful and special friend!!
I'll update you when I arrive but for now I will enjoy my last few hours at home with my dog (and family).
Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far, see you soon!!!
Em x
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