The wait begins...

So I'm very excited to say that I have submitted my application to the University of Westminster! My current school will be sending out my transcripts over to the UK tomorrow, so now I just have to wait. I don't have anything to do now but wait which is kind of frustrating. I have no application to throw my focus into, to keep me busy. Now it's just...time. I'm going to try not to check the status of my application every single day (even though I know I will be notified when they make a decision by e-mail), and I'm going to try to keep positive and keep thinking that I will get in, not if I get in. I'll be very happy when the day comes that I won't have to say 'if' or 'when' anymore, but now it's just this weird limbo of not knowing anything.

It's weird...thinking about how I ended up here. I like to think that some things in life are fate or destiny, especially when it is a huge decision that can impact the rest of your life. While out with family yesterday, we started talking about our first few years in college, and spending it at a community college instead of a university. It was because of the community college I attended that I was able to go to London when I was 20. I could never have imagined almost 5 years later that I would have just submitted my application to attending graduate school there. I had no idea the journey that that trip abroad was about to take me on. I definitely consider that trip a turning point for me; it completely changed my career aspirations, my educational aspirations and ultimately lead me here to the biggest aspiration I have ever tried to achieve in my life.

Many times in the past, (and probably a few more in the future) I wish that things would be different. Living in Florida, going to community college, transferring to a university, moving back to New England and transferring again were not easy by any means. It's definitely not the path that most people take. Many times I do wish I would have done things differently. However, it terms of London, perhaps it was the path I had to take to get here. The journey has not been a walk in the park, not by any stretch of the imagination. If I had not moved to Florida, I would not have gone to that community college, and I would not have gone to London and I would not be here today. I would not be studying something I am so passionate about, I would not be looking to live in London, and I would not have visited the countries that I have. So sometimes when I do wish things had happened differently, I just have to keep that in mind. Everything has happened to bring me to where I am now. And I don't think it's any sort of divine intervention, or deity or supreme being that got me here (living in the South for almost 10 years, I feel the need to say that). It has been a lot of hard work, determination, disappointment, tears, and fear that got me here. At the end of the day, it was me and my need to never lose sight of what I ultimately want my life to be, and to accept the journey and that hard work that had to go into it.

The research has been done, the application filled out, the personal statement written. Now we see if my hard work pays off, and if London is going to be a large part of my life after all.

Amazing/terrifying

Image via here.

I've been a tad big neglectful of this blog as of late. School has started back up so I've been busy with that as well getting a bunch of lose ends tied up and things in order. I'm in this weird limbo right now where I am not inspired to write here or finish up my personal statement, and if inspiration to write does hit, it's at the worst time when I am not able to. I'm also waiting on my application references, so maybe once I get those I can kick finishing up this application into high gear.

Two friends of mine have made the move over to London last week. It's a weird feeling of so much excitement for them and a painful ache of longing and jealousy on my end because I want to be there, too. A year feels entirely too far away. At the same time, seeing their day to day pictures and posts keeps me motivated and keeps me looking toward the future.

A lot of people have been very supportive of my decision to go to grad school abroad recently. Family members, friends and my references have been very supportive of this decision which helps counteract the doubts that creep in at times. This decision is very much an amazing opportunity, but also completely terrifying too. I try to focus on the support from those around me, as well as deriving reassurance from this quote above when the terrifying side of this decision comes into play more than I'd like it to.

I'm at the point where, at the end of the day I just want to know if I am getting accepted. I'm trying to finish up this application so acceptance can come sooner rather than later, but with other things going on and not having inspiration to write, it's frustrating. It's always been 'if I get in' and now I just want to know. Once I know for sure I can start looking into paying for it (talk about terrifying.)

Westminster

Image via here

The premise behind this blog is talking about my journey applying, getting in and going to grad school in London, so I thought it would be fitting to actually talk about the school I am applying to.

After researching some schools, I decided that the University of Westminster was my first choice to apply to. They not only had a Master's program in Tourism, but were also located in central London, which were two of my must have's for a school. I had found other schools who also had tourism related programs, but were 30+ minutes outside of central London via the tube, and decided that those just were not options for me. I wanted somewhere where I could immerse myself in the hustle and bustle of central London and truly experience city life.

Westminster's main campus is located on Regent Street, however the campus I would be attending would be their Marylebone Campus, which is located right across the road from Madame Tussauds. I love that the campus is literally steps away from Regents Park. I can totally imagine myself sitting in the park catching up on some reading I have to do for class.

Another thing I like about the school is that the tuition is one of the cheapest out of all the schools I researched. With the pound versus dollar exchange rate, keeping tuition costs as low as possible is imperative. In fact, the tuition even with the exchange rate in U.S. dollars costs half of what the tuition would be if I went to graduate school where I am currently attending in the U.S.

I also like that on my program's page, they outline what classes you need to take and provide class descriptions so I can plan out what class I want to take as well as knowing exactly what the class is about and what I'll be learning. 

I also researched Westminster's postgrad housing options as well before deciding on it as my #1 choice. I liked that they provide housing strictly for post grad students as being 25 when I attend I am not interested in living with 18 year old freshmen. At first when I researched, Westminster had only 1 post grad housing option available. It is a beautiful Victorian building on a quiet street, funnily enough in the borough of Westminster, 10 minutes walking distance from Buckingham Palace! With that seemingly being my only option, living so close to the Royal Family was a-okay with me. 

Recently, though Westminster has opened a brand new housing complex for post grads near Kings Cross Station. Everything is brand new, but it's not in such a prestigious area and is more expensive than the other option. Each complex has pros and cons, but I'd be happy in either one. The fact that I quite liked each other Westminster's housing options was a plus in my book, too.

As it stands right now, there really isn't one big thing that I don't like about the school. Obviously calculating how much it will cost in the end was painful, but compared to other schools I've researched is could be a lot worse.

I'm almost done with my application. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm n the midst of writing my personal statement (the hardest part I think) and have to get my two references, then I can submit. After I submit, I will send my transcripts over to them to review, and then the waiting begins...

Santorini

Image via here

Greece, specifically Santorini, is the place I am without a doubt dying to go to the most during my time in London. I've been dying to go to Greece for so long (I feel like I say this about every destination, but it's true) and being in rainy, cloudy London would provide the perfect opportunity to jet off to sunny Greece for a few days.

One reason I like Greece so much is that it is an explorers paradise. It is pretty much a given at some point that you will get lost and that is very appealing to me. The maze of street and alleyways almost guarantees you will get lost at some point, no matter how good your map is. I find when you lose the map and have the goal to get lost, you usually discover the best spots and create unforgettable experiences. 

Another reason Greece is at the top of my list is, of course, the incredible views from the cliffs overlooking the sea. I always feel at home by the sea, so a place like Greece that provides such breathtaking views is a must go to destination for me.

Another reason Santorini is a must do for me are the colors. The blue hues of the water, the stark white buildings, the grey stone streets weaving their way through the cliffside, the way the red and pink colors of the flowers seem to be much brighter than normal as if the colors were digitally enhanced...Greece makes me appreciate the colors of the world more so than even before. If a destination can make you appreciate even the most seemingly insignificant things, even ones that you never really appreciated before, it is definitely an enchanting place to visit.

I would target my trip to Greece in late April or May, while the weather is good, but not overly hot, like it would be in the summer months. Also, going at this time I feel I would avoid the hoards of tourists that flock to the island over the 12 weeks of summer.

While on other trips I would try to keep accommodation as a cheap as I could, the accommodation in Greece is something I would want to splurge on. I wouldn't mind at all paying a bit more for a hotel with an incredible view overlooking the sea where I could watch the sunset every night.