An Advanced Degree in Life (Or, Travel Planning)

I suspect that the lesson I'm supposed to be learning here is "Read everything. Research everything. Plan ahead (Really)."

- I moved to London. It took my mother and myself two full days to pack, and then my two brothers and various other family members jumped in and contributed to the final result, which was: two suitcases at 50 lbs, one smallish extra-bag fee (and not one big one I was expecting), and no overage charges. Sweet!

- Met the coolest future roomate EVER, found a place to live. Not so excited about the location, at least now have someplace to stay while searching for something closer to the school.

- Blind dumb optimism FAIL: you may not, in fact, get an international student visa while you are already in the country you're trying to legally move to. Doesn't matter how nonchalant or encouraging school staff are, either - it's still not going to work.

- Packing a suitcase less than a week after you've unpacked it bites.

- It's slightly depressing to meet lots of fabulous people who are official members of your MA and know you won't see them again for a week. You hope, pathetically, that they will remember you (and that you'll actually get back. Please please please!!!).

- Being squished into an inside seat on a chintzy airline that you did NOT sign up for with no room for your feet or carry-on under the seat also pretty much bites. The funny vegan neighbor who's impressed with your bladder control is at least a small plus.

- It's a mental and emotional blow to arrive at your destination knowing that the whole thing is riding on a wing and a prayer (shut up, I know) and discovering that an otherwise forgotten Federal Holiday is going to cost you a rather important day, knocking off half a wing and at least quadrupling the intensity of the prayer. A flight change and the attendant fee, plus the expense of loitering in New York for yet another useless day is likely. The credit card can't take much more of this.

- The late-night desk attendant at my old but perfectly acceptable hotel in a fairly scary area is a font of useful, though nearly unintelligble, information. I used to be good with accents.

- A PSA: LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS. FOOTLESS TIGHTS ARE NOT PANTS. MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE - WEAR PANTS.

My bed in the hotel room is nearly as big as the room - but I'm willing to bet just from sitting on it that it's going to be more comfortable than my bed back in London. So, there is that. I should have lots of down time in the next few days, and if I can get an Internet connection I might be able to get my journal entries from the last week or so posted. Plus pictures. And maybe get a T-shirt made: KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON. Just for fun.