*Blink*
So this is pretty much it. I have no idea how this year went by so fast. Suddenly I'm getting on a plane and have no idea what to think or feel. Except I hope they have cheese with the on-flight meal. And chocolate. Even if it is breakfast.
I just turned in my dissertation. Felt a bit dazed when I saw the hard cover w/my name printed on the spine, just like a big-girl book.
Closed out my Barclay's bank account. My masters degree cost $22,000, which is $8,000 under budget. I kick trash. People should marry me for my fiscal skills alone.
Tonight my sweet friends are throwing me a goodbye party, and then someone will drop me and my bags off at the curb of the Leicester Bus Station.
And then the trek begins. Let's go over this, shall we?
12:15 am--Catch National Express bus to Gatwick Airport
4:00 am--Arrive at airport.
7:00 am--Check in for flight. Will be told that my luggage is too heavy. Will suck it up and pay the fines.
9:00 am--Fly to Atlanta. Take herbal sleep aids with in-flight meal. Lots of them. Live without water OR lip balm. Seriously, people. You think the terrorists are going to use lip balm??
1:00 pm--Atlanta arrival. Sit around for hours. Without lip balm. Because The Precious went to Alaska early, will not be seeing her. Will formulate half-baked answers to potential interview questions.
5:45pm--Fly to SLC.
9:05pm--Fly to Alaska amongst the fleece-wearers.
12:05am--Arrive in Alaska and terrify my mother with the sight of my dead, gaunt face, peeling lips, and grouchy demeanor. Wait 6 hours for luggage with half the population of Anchorage. Drive 45 minutes to house.
1:30am--Pass out in bed at the end of 34 hours of traveling.
12:00pm--Attempt a coherent phone interview for a UT library job. Will probably start a) sobbing, b) speaking in tongues, or c) snoring at some point during interview. Wish me luck with that, please?
The one thing I'm sort of not letting myself think about is how much I will miss everyone and how rubbish I am at saying goodbye to people. And I don't want to think about how much I will miss beautiful England and the color green. So I won't think about it right now. You'll get many a tear-stained post in the future about that, I'm sure.
Had better go check my bags one more time, but I hope people will still keep reading this blog when it's not all English and cool anymore and when it's just about this girl who got a masters degree so she could go live with her parents in the tundra.
Took this picture on Sunday in Bradgate Park. See why I want to cry?
I'm Steph, a librarian and mom of 3 (not sure how that happened). Let's chat books, food, Sumptuous Literary Adaptations, poop, knitting and maybe some crazy Mormon Feminism.
14 comments:
That sounds like a horrible itinerary. Then again, I start panicking about the idea of a 1.5 hour car ride nowadays, but since you only have yourself to contend with, hopefully all will go well.
BTW, have you managed to find that Friends episode yet? The one with the pretentious friend who thinks she's British and keeps using words like "rubbish" and "loo" and "pop to the shop?" Only thinking of you sweetie. Hey, it's kind of like being a missionary that has to reacclimate! Only much cuter and smarter for having gone...
So sorry you have to leave England! But congrats on being an excellent fiscal planner AND having a Master's degree. Also, fingers crossed for your UT interview. Because I think the SLCPL would be an excellent place to work.
Your itinerary made me tired just looking at it. So glad it's not me.
Doesn't it feel great to be done? I hope you go around introducing yourself as "Master Nemisis" instead of just "Nemisis"; I was tempted to do that. I think future employers would be impressed. Good luck with the interviewing!
Wow. It is hard to believe you've been over there a year. And yes, those pix of the countryside are beautiful, including all that you've posted in the past.
So, wait, we can't bring lip balm on planes? That is junk, pure and simple. Eric D. Snider still maintains that if the terrorists figure out how to use a pants bomb, we'll all be going around pants-less in the airports.
I know exactly how you feel. I didn't enjoy the AK to Germany and back trips either. Of course at that age my brothers and I would have food fights and torture our neighbors out of bordem. So I hope your trip is uneventful. Also good luck with your interview.
AuD
AmyJ...I already reminded/warned her to Americanize her vocab. She didn't appreciate my counsel. We'll just have to wait and see how long it takes her. Although, your comparison to RM's who forget they aren't in some foreign country might be the trigger that works. She's always had issues with that.
Nemesis, I don't know how it is in the London airports, but US airports are allowing lipstick-like solid lip balms. I checked the TSA website before I flew to Seattle. So in Atlanta, see if you can't pick up a Chapstick or something. And then slather it all over your face. I love how they said these measures were temporary. Like anyone believed that. Oh, another thing I learned on the TSA site is that you can also bring along up to 4 oz. of non-prescripton KY jelly. But no lotion. The gov't astounds me with its logic.
Can I borrow a thousand bucks?
Congrats on everything! :)
Hi Everyone,
If your interested and would like a look I've posted some photos from Nemesis's leaving party and from the coach station last night, or as it was technically early this morning. I'm not sure which as I'm currently ODing on sugar in a effort to stay awake at work.
Good luck. I hear the foodservice crew is not allowed to put drinks on the plane either...
Welcome Home, Nem! Although I nearly cried after that photo you posted, and I've never even been to England. I can't imagine what you're feeling about it.
Lots of good thoughts for your phone interview, and I know your family will be sooo excited to see you!
By the way...your parents live in the mountains, not the tundra.
I'm a little late to the party because Bloglines fouled up on me, but congrats on your MLS! I'm sure you will be awesome at using your super power information finding skills now that you have been given librarian street cred. I enjoy putting the initials of my degree after my name as a chance to boast to all my co-workers that I have an actual degree in library science.
I'm sure you'll do well on your interview despite your 34 hour flight home. If you sound a little loopy, they'll just pretend you're one of their patrons. :)
Remember England will always be waiting for you. I look forward to hearing your adventures in Zion. Utah is not boring it gave us Warren Jeffs for goodness sakes.
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