The Waiting Game

It's been a quiet couple of weeks, after I found out that I was accepted into Sotheby's Institute of Art I thought that I was going to be busy filling out applications for visa's and such. That's not the case, nor will it be until mid April. When looking over the visa requirements I found that I couldn't fill out the student visa until the CAS (Certificate of Acceptance) number came from the school. As I found out they don't give those out until sometime in April. Now I know why they stop accepting applications in mid May, mainly because it takes forever to qualify for a visa.

Don't get me wrong, i'm still excited about London, I just wish I had everything filled out and done, I hate waiting, I hate that I probably won't be able to work and go to school. I can fill out forms for that and I can get a maybe get work visa, I have to look that up. Since the Master's program is only 14 months long it's very intense, which doesn't leave for much time to have a life. So hopefully I can volunteer and have internships once I get over there (crossing my fingers).

So while I wait I have to work on a couple of things, the first is write a paper to qualify for a scholarship, which is due April 1st, and i've only just begun, chalk it up to writers block. I haven't written a 2,000 word paper since I graduated from Eastern in 2009. The second thing I have to do is fill out the financial aid form, which I will get to once I get the paper done. The list goes on, but a lot of it I can wait to do, like fill out a loan application so I can have help paying for school. Another is to transfer my money to just one bank, so I don't have to worry about two bank accounts. The Institute has been helpful in replying to my questions, i'm glad that they stay on top of things.

So for now I just sit and wait and write a paper, it's the waiting game and I may not like it but I have to get used to it, because i'll be busy in no time. I also need to find a part time job, but there isn't much out there, so i'm glad i'm working for my mom, oh the joys of real estate. While I wait and write papers and figure out what the next couple of months are going to bring, I want to visit friends that are in New Mexico. I can't just hop on a plane without a care in the world because i'm pretty much living week to week, figuring out what my next move is.

Changes are a comin

It's been a while since I last posted, at least 5 months, since then not much has happened other then trying to figure out what i'm going to do with myself, because:

1. I realized after 5 weeks of backpacking around Europe that I wanted to travel more
2. I did not want to work in real estate my whole life
3. I still didn't have a direction that I was heading in
4. I wanted to do something different with my life.

I got to the point where I knew I wanted to go back to school for my master's degree, however I wasn't sure what it would be in. Would it be in photography, marketing, would I go back and get a degree in physical therapy? I was looking around at schools that offered photography and happened upon two or three, the first was University of Illinois in Chicago, which has a great MFA program in arts, especially in photography, another was Sotheby's Institute of Art which offered a Master's of Arts degree in Photography. After about a month or so of thinking about this I applied to Sotheby's in January, I applied, I had the interview and then I had to get 2 letter's of recommendation. Oh man did I screw up on that one, I didn't know about the letters so I asked 3 people to write them, and it took them about 2 weeks to get them in. I had to keep reassuring the Institute that things were on the way. Yes when it comes to having things together that isn't me. After about 6 weeks of waiting beginning from the interview and ending this Friday. The last 2 weeks I began to doubt if I was going to get in the program at all, I emailed them last Thursday and Friday morning they responded that I have been accepted!!!! How awesome is that? I get to live in London for 14 months, albeit on a very tight budget, as crazy as it is, I don't think it has truly sunk in yet. I just have so much to do, here's a little list.

1. Get a second job
2. Apply for a student visa
3. Apply for a work visa, if possible
4. Find a student loan that suits me
5. Pay the deposit at the school
6. Search for a flat

As hard as everything is going to be I am definitely welcome to this huge change and ready to move on with my life. I have found something that I truly want to do, this master's program is 14 months and I should add what exactly the Master's of Arts of Photography is


"This programme is aimed at those who wish to study in-depth the significance of photography in modern visual culture and to pursue a career as a specialist in photographic imagery and objects. 

The primary focus of the course is the critical analysis of the ways in which the earliest photographic experiments through to the latest contemporary photographic images have established a significant presence in private collections, public museums, commercial galleries and publishing. 

There is a varied programme of guest lectures by distinguished scholars and experts as well as study visits to museums, art fairs and collections in the UK and abroad. 

Graduates go on to pursue a variety of careers, often within the photographic gallery and auction network or the contemporary art world."


So what I want to do with this degree, which ties in nicely with my public relations degree is become a photo archivist, yes I do need to build up my resume but like I said i'm ready for something different. I'll update this blog every now and then with updates on how things are coming along, but definitely update it when I leave and move to London where i'll have adventures galore, whether it's exploring London or my classes or whatever.


It takes some people longer to figure out what they want to do, and that's fine, it took me a while to figure it out, but i'm happy I took my time.

Learning about Myself

When I was in Bruges I was asked if I was looking for anything while on my trip, at the time I was asked this I was looking through my bag, so at first I mistook that question, and then I thought for a second and said no. I may not have been looking for something but I know that I learned new things about myself. I'm already a seasoned traveler, thanks to my dad who instilled it in me at a very young age. However I never knew I could adapt so well to so much change.

I wasn't very good at navigating, in Berlin, Dresden, and Paris I had to ask for directions, but now give me a map and I can show you the easiest way to get to the place you want.

The first time something unexpected happened I fell apart, it can be very hard to figure out what to do when you're on your own. The second time it happened I embraced it, and I let the cards fall where they may.

I learned to remain calm when traveling, because when you get into the heart of a country trains don't announce stops in English, so you have to be on the lookout for your stop.

I've learned that stupid questions don't matter when you need help

I'm more trusting with people that I thought I was, I went to Scmilka with two people I had met the night before at Lollis Homestay Hostel in Dresden. Same goes for Bruges, Belgium

There are a lot of things that I wish I could have done differently, especially in Berlin where I should have studied the subway maps or talked to more people. Oh well you live you learn, sometimes you make mistakes.

I've learned to insert myself into conversations without seeming like I butted in

I took a self defense class before I went to Europe, so I think the fact that I knew I could hurt a person if they attacked me, I was more aware of people. I knew where I was going....most of the time

Traveling alone can be lonely, so if I wasn't hanging out with people then I was in the common areas, with other people on my computer.

I feel lost in huge cities, so I learned to take hop on hop off bus tours to help orient myself in the city, it was the only thing that could help me.

Looking back I realize in every hostel that I stayed at there have been at least someone or a small group that I could have hung out with longer or just hung out with. 

I don't have regrets, i'm so glad I did what I did, there are just some things I would do differently

I'm way too guarded when I meet new people

I found that i'm way more sarcastic then I intend to be when I meet someone who doesn't know about something so obvious, i.e. a monument or museum, and it comes off as uncaring or bitchy.

When i'm with people I feel comfortable with I still don't let down my guard all the way

I know myself pretty well, but now I know what i'm capable of, I want to do more traveling, it doesn't matter if it's with people or not. I want to experience new cultures and meet more people who are interested traveling.

What I learned about Traveling

I'm back home and i've sort of gotten used to the time change, Frankfurt was ok, I met 2 new people and went to a huge garden with them, but not much else happened in Frankfurt. I think after Bruges I needed to regroup. I did, sort of, i'm still regrouping. Anyway I wanted to share with everyone things I learned while traveling, not about myself, that goes on another blog. Here we go:

No matter how prepared you think you are for a trip, you always feel overwhelmed in a new and big city

Get advice from anyone who has had a Eurail pass, otherwise you're left to figure it out yourself, people who work in the ticket offices will explain, but because of language barrier you sort of understand but you don't really.

Always go ahead and reserve a seat on the train, otherwise most seats are reserved and you either sit in the walk-way or roam around the train trying to find a free seat. It only costs 3 euro's to reserve a seat, yes it can get expensive, but it's worth it.

Anytime you're in a new train station, either walk around the day you get in and know where everything is, or arrive early the day you leave and walk around.

Anytime something unexpected happens, embrace it, don't freak out, you always have other options.

Pack jeans, you may as well, everyone wears them, it's easier to fit in, it's ok if you don't have jeans, but you miss them after awhile, plus it can be cold in Germany, or anywhere.

If you didn't pack long sleeve shirts or enough socks, go shopping, like every blog says you can always pick up the essentials in malls

Trains are on a schedule, there are small boards in every train station, don't refer to your Eurail booklet, it doesn't always have correct train schedules in them.

French trains leave at the time they say, no sooner no later, if you're early great, if you're late, it sucks to be you.

Make sure to read reviews on hostels, otherwise you're stuck with a bad hostel in a bad neighborhood

It's better to reserve hostels before you leave on your trip, don't just show up at a hostel, because a.) most if not all hostels have reservation policies, b.) chances are the hostel could be booked up, and depending on the hostel, they'll point you to another and possibly help you book it.

You can always cancel a reservation that you made at one hostel and just reserve at another, at Hostelworld.com it's pretty easy

No matter how many people you meet, the majority of them are either Canadians or Australians

Beer from another country has more alcohol content in it, 8% or 9%, depends on who made the beer, so don't drink too much, unless you can handle it.

Always go to a clock tower or church
The church to rest and figure out what you're doing next
The clock tower to get spectacular views of the city, if there's something to climb in each city, do it

Chances are you'll meet someone from your hometown, I did, or you'll meet people who just met someone from Colorado a day or so ago.

Take chances with people, don't just write them off and think they're dodgy, if you do that you'll never meet and hang out with new people in every city, whether it be for a day or 3 days.

If you think that you're just going on a little nature hike, chances are you're wrong, and you'll end up hiking up a very steep hill.

The best stories come from unexpected people, don't know who Chocolate Dragon and the Key Master's real names are and you've been hanging out with them for half the day? It's ok, you might find out after a lengthy but awesome story at 2 or so in the morning.

It's ok to drink beer in the park, everyone does it

Going for fries? Do it at 1 in the morning with a little alcohol in you, they'll taste much better

Everything and I mean everything comes with fries, steak? comes with fries, roast chicken? comes with fries, Moules (mussels)? comes with fries

If you're on a budget just go for the mixed rooms, some hostels will end up putting girls together anyway, other hostels will do mixed rooms, sometimes you'll be the only girl in there or the desk booked you into the wrong room.

Ear Plugs are a godsend, people snore, loudly, people will come in at 3 or 4 in the morning making a lot of noise. Only drawback is you may miss your alarm

Don't bother getting up too early, nothing opens til at least 9:30 or 10 anyway. I thought I was going to get up around 7 everyday, I ended up getting up around 8ish everyday. Relax, that's why you're in Europe, right?

Most places are closed on Sundays and sometimes Mondays, it depends on what city you're in, so prepare to just sightsee or take a bus tour.

Bus tours or boat tours are the best way to orient yourself in a new city, so then you know where things are

Get emails from people that you meet in hostels, I didn't until the very end, because you may end up in their city and need a place to stay.

New Friends in Fun Places

I'm sad that my trip is almost over, but looking back i've had the best experiences, especially in Bruges, Belgium. I met two new friends, John from Glasgow, Scotland and Rebecca from Vancouver, Canada, and others that came in and out of the picture the last 3 days, Australians, Canadians, Irish, other Americans. The last 2 days in Bruges were awesome, the 2nd day was slow, especially after that long epic first day with the other American I met, Connor. 2nd day some of us hunkered down in the bar in the hostel, it was raining, I was going to do a bike ride, but no dice, didn't want to go out and get wet or cold. So new people new nicknames, i'm still not sure how the naming worked, and new stories to tell,  but no one will get any of that except for those that were there. I ended up going out to a club in Bruges, never thought I would do that, and the place was so crowded it was ridiculous, shoulder to shoulder with people, so the little group I was with went outside to sit and drink some beers, and it was just a great low key night, I never thought i'd be the person getting into the dorm at 3:30? in the morning trying to be quiet and not waking people.
The next day Rebecca, John and I decided to rent bikes and just ride, I thought we were going to the Holland Border to the beach, no, we followed John, and we ended up cycling to Oostend, which is 33 kilometers away. Yikes! But we did it! How many people can say they saw the Atlantic Ocean in Nice, France and the North Sea? in Oostend, Belgium, not many, I did and it was an amazing expereince. So after the ride we were all hungry and ended up at a little place that had food, we had a half a chicken each, and I though it was only going to be like a quarter, but it wasn't, it was literally half a chicken. We didn't cycle back we took the train and ended up in the oldest bar in Bruges (1515) drinking and playing scrabble, perfect end to a perfect 3 days, and going to a low key bar and eating a brat in the square, and then accidentally dropping said brat. Now it's time for Frankfurt again, which is where i'm at and started in and figuring out what i'm going to do the next two days.
Renting a bike in Bruges-Check
Eating Moules and Frites-Check
Eating Belgian waffles-Check.
Meeting people you can spend three days in a row with and not get sick of them priceless.

In Bruges

If anyone has seen that movie they know it's weird and the cinamatography is beautiful and it's a small place. What they don't know is that it's a tourist mecca and everyone comes here for only 2 nights, usually to drink and go up the Belfry. When I was waiting for a bus at the train station two girls came up to say hi to me, they were in the same hostel in Paris, I didn't remember who they were but faked like I knew them. I was tired at that point after the last week of spending 1 or 2 nights in a different city.

Being here for 2 nights so far has been the highlight of my whole trip, why you ask, because I spent the whole day on Spetember 22 with two people I met at the Belfry who are staying in the hostel i'm staying at.

So lets back up a little bit to how I met the two people, the day I had checked in, which was a Tuesday I had gone out to do laundry, yes I haven't done laundry since Munich, can anyone guess how long ago Munich was? Anyway after doing laundry I went to walk around town, and there are so many tourist shops, there were hardly any in Ghent, and there were so many people on the side streets, unlike Ghent, which was just eery until you got the central square. Where was I? Right i ended up having dinner in the square and guess what I had to eat. That's right I had Moules and frites, Mussels and fries, it was the one expensive meal that I was going to have in Europe. Mussels in white wine and cream sauce. Did anyone seen the movie Tremors? That's what the mussel shells looked like, the graboids, and the mussels themselves looked like little aliens from the movie Aliens. I know I have a imagination, but after that I tried not to look at them, I got a huge pot of the mussels, and I could only eat half. I have a picture which will go up on picasa later. After that I went back to the hostel and checked my email, when I went back up to my room, it was full of guys, great, another hostel room with roudy guys. After some of them departed one of the guys started talking to me asking what I was going to do the next day, who asks that? He seemed a little dodgy asking me that a couple of times, I kinda just wrote him off. Anyway the next day he asks me again, I said I didn't know and we went our seperate ways. At breakfast I was eating alone and there was this girl who came by and was going to sit by me, she kind of waivered for a bit deciding whether or not to actually sit down. But since the guy at the next table over was sitting with his chair far out she didn't and went to eat alone. I was going to ask her if she wanted to eat with me, but I didn't.

I went out to explore the town and I ended up at the Belfry and waited in line, lo and behold the guy from my room was there with some girl, hmm maybe his next victim? It was nothing like that, I ended up on the second floor with them. John is his name, we started talking, and when we got to the 3rd floor, there was the guy who played the bells in his own little room, it was pretty cool. Then we got all the way up to the top, 326 steps I think, and it was narrow, I mean really narrow. The view was amazing and i'm glad I went up, probably the last belfry i'll be up in for a while. When I got back down to the bottom, I met the girl who John was with,  it was the same girl from breakfast, Rebecca. I ended up spending the whole day with them, and another guy named Connor. We all headed out and about, no real plans just wandering, we ended up going to a museum about Bruges and then went to Half Moon brewery for a tour, it was pretty awesome, and you got a free beer at the end. I hadn't eaten since breakfast that morning and the tour was around 1, guess who got really really tipsy, if you guessed the girls, you were right, no one showed that they were. Connor the guy had to split for his train and Rebecca, John, and I ended looking for a pasta place to eat lunch, and we found it, after that I felt so much better. It was just the 3 of us after that and we pretty much stuck together the whole day, it's not every day that you meet people who are traveling alone and you don't get sick of them.

We went to a park, just because, had a beer or two with ice cream, it was actually flavored beer, i had raspberry. After the park we went back the hostel, I signed up for the free walking tour. We had an hour or so to kill and we split for a while, but the walking tour was pretty fun, I got to see windmills. After the tour, it was the 3 of us again and we ended up wandering around looking for dinner, no one could decided what to eat or where, everyone was kinda getting antsy or on each others nerves, your pick. The place we ate was a greek place, it was really good. After that we went back the hostel, had a couple of drinks because it was happy hour. That was my day and I couldn't have had a better day or met better people. Like I said before you don't meet people like that every day that you can just hang with and not ask questions repeatedly. Bruges or Brugge? is a very picturesqe place, I had gone on a boat tour in the canal the day I had gotten here, and I have taken so many pictures. Today it's raining, haven't figured out what to do yet, I was going to take a bike tour, but i'm not because of the rain. So I have 2 more days here and then I leave for Frankfurt. I'm sad that my trip is almost over, but it's been an amazing month and I would totally do it over again.
Sorry about rambling, but when you walk around aimlessly for a month it's just a stream of thoughts that go through your head.

What Day is it and What City am I in?

Ok I'm tired now, I spent the last 3 days in three different cities, let's see if I can remember where I was 3 days ago, because I was talking to someone and I coudn't remember a place I had stayed the night. Ok here goes, after I left Nice I went to Lyon, and after Lyon and that situation, I stopped in Dijon where I spent the night because I missed my connection. Ok after Dijon I got to Lille where I transferred trains to Brussels, which it turns out was only a 1/2 hour train ride. Anyway I got to Brussels and figured out the subway pretty easily and I found the hostel, I couldn't check in the room until 3 anyway, so I went out. I bought a backpack because mine was getting heavy, i've only bought a couple of things, maybe my packing is getting sloppier, who knows. Today I took the train to Ghent, which is only a half hour from Brussels and when I got to the hostel boat, yes I am on an old barge and it's pretty neat. Pictures on Picasa to come soon. Anyway after I was able to check in I went to find the city center, I got turned around like I always do. Luckily I have a very handy map, one that locals made, there are maps like these in Bruge, Brussels, and Dresden, that's all I know of so far. When I stood on a street corner to figure out how to get to the center there was a couple with their phones trying to figure out how to get there. I figured out what street we were on and from there we followed the map. Turns out all I had to do when I left the hostel boat was walk straight for a half mile. Figures, but it's easier to get lost. Anyway the center is beautiful, again pictures to come, and I took a little river or canal cruise, they really stuff people into the tiny boats. The tour was ok, but I know where I want to go tomorrow now. I have 2 nights in Ghent and then I head to Bruge for 4 nights, I think, and then to Frankfurt and then home. I don't think i've had a full nights sleep in the last month, ever. Oh well, i'll have time to catch up when I get back in the U.S. Also I would love to do laundry but there hasn't been any places with laundry in them, except in the hostel in Brussels, but the dryer was broken. I haven't done laundry since Munich....how gross is that?