Welcome to my first ever blog. I got inspired by my friend Diane who shares of a lot of similar traits with myself...one being - THE LOVE FOR TRAVEL. It is now exactly 8 days before my departure to the United Kingdom. I will be relocating there for work where I will be working in my company's business units European HQ.
As I'm getting ready - I'm realizing there is SO MUCH to do in order to prepare myself for approximately 2 years away from everything that is so comforting to me. The idea of not having a car for 2 years might be the most scary fact. I love to drive and feel like it's very important to do something quick (like grocery shopping). This is the American in me I suppose - something that I must learn to live without. Since the 8 day leaving mark - I have pretty much packed up my entire apartment and sent off a full-size truck's worth of belonging with my parents who drove to Milwaukee last weekend to help me move. I have very loving parents who are willing to store my stuff :). So far, I have packed up 4 large suitcases and 1 large carry-on worth of stuff. I would like to get this down to 3 (wish me luck). This should be no problem since I'm the type of person who can travel for a week with a backpack full of stuff. Just give me enough room for my Nikon D90 and I'll be the happiest traveler.
Since getting the notification of my relocation - I have been anxiously awaiting to book flights for weekend trips upon arrival to the UK. I have been spending countless hours online in the evenings looking up all of the cheap flights that fly out of London. There are so many websites and resources that I have found to be of great help. My favorite cheap airlines so far are the famous RYANAIR and EasyJet. A few nights ago I booked my first European weekend travel to Stockholm, Sweden for March 25th and tonight I just booked a weekend trip for March 18th to Oslo, Norway. So excited to add two more countries to my LIST! I have never traveled to Scandinavia and I'm sure that it will be very chilly in March (nothing I'm not used to in the windy city of Milwaukee). A word of caution to anyone using Ryanair though - watch out for hidden fees and shadyness as I would like to say. All in all though, they are CHEAP and I will be happy that they exist for my 2 year stint in 'old country'.
As some of you may know - this isn't my first time to Europe; in fact it's my 4th trip. As of today, I have been to these countries in Europe: UK, France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Czech Republic, and Hungary. I feel like I know how the European goofy systems work from my extensive travels and summer of studying abroad in 2007, but I still find myself learning. More to come on crazy facts of living abroad.
Tomorrow I'm getting back my baby. What is my baby? Well actually I have two babies - 1) My Nikon D90 and 2) My Passport with the newly received United Kingdom work authorization visa or ''cool looking sticker''. I cannot wait to have it in my hands and will be anxiously awaiting the FedEx delivery man's drop-off. I might go to the shipping and receiving dock first thing in the morning to get it (amongst all the packages that my building that consists of over 2,000 employees gets). They will think I'm crazy -- I know.
Friday is my last day of work here in Milwaukee (2 more days). I moved to WI a little over 2 years ago. This isn't my home -- but I have made it my home away from home over the last 2 years. I don't have any ties to this city what so ever; so I'm totally fine with leaving and am looking forward to probably coming back here in 2 more years. I will miss my downtown living and downtown working life and most importantly of all some of the people I work with. I have a good reputation with my team and will miss their company and laughs and daily chats. Most of all I will miss my intern and all of her help and the good management and leaders I have had which have made this expat assignment possible!! Thank you to all! I am having a going away lunch on Friday where I can see everyone and say my good-byes. I'm a little sad now thinking about it
Reaching UN country #100
Crossing into Zambia
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