Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.
— Oscar Wilde.
This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.
6 more months…
Currently watching Pocahontas and drinking Gingerbread tea. The lack of snow is ruining my Christmas spirit…even though the apartment is fully decorated.
It made me wonder…while I’m in Scotland will I have Christmas spirit or not? No family, can’t really decorate, and I don’t think Scotland gets much snow unless you’re more up north. I’ve discovered that Edinburgh has an amazing Christmas Market though, so maybe that will help! I could also just come home for Christmas.. or maybe I could travel to take my mind off of it! The latter really sounds more appealing…sorry famjam!
Aside from Christmas, I do have some updates! I told my mom, step-dad, and dad about my plan, and to my delightful and very thankful surprise they’re all on board and very supportive. Of course, being the parents they told me all the things I have to consider and think about first though. Like I haven’t been thinking about them enough already! They’re also very excited that they now have an excuse to go to Scotland. When I went with my mom two years ago she loved it as much as I did so I can’t wait to show her! My step dad is Welsh and that’s obviously not far from Scotland so that’d be something I’d love to show him as well. And my dad.. well my dad I don’t think has EVER had a real vacation but getting him to go to Scotland will be a little more difficult than the other two. He’s a real homebody, but I just know how much he would really love it.
The first thing people have been saying when I tell them about my move always mentions the weather, “It’s so rainy there! I hope you’re okay with never seeing the sun!” “Really, somewhere cold?!” It’s honestly kind of funny to me because they’re making it sounds so negative, but to me, that weather sounds absolutely perfect. I grew up in Northern Ontario so trust me, I can handle cold. I’m ridiculously pale so no sun would be a blessing and well rain I just find relaxing. What more could you ask for?!
Other than that, it’s still too early to apply for a visa, job, or flat so for now I’m just trying to pin point where in Edinburgh I would like to live and work for my first year. I’m thinking Grassmarket. It’s a little pricier but that’s because it’s in the core of Edinburgh. Since I will be doing a flat share the price honestly isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Especially since I was comparing it to London, where my sister was living. As for Aberdeen… I’ll figure that out later!
My goal to have saved is $5,000 so I’ve really cut down on my spending. Which hasn’t been all that tricky. I’m an avid shopper, I love clothes. That love for clothes tends to be expensive and take up A LOT of closet space. Since I’m already going to have to downsize I figured I better not buy more… as sad as it may be. Also, food. I eat out a fair bit, and I’ll admit its partially because I’m lazy. But since I’m trying to save and lose weight, making my food will have to suffice. So, if anyone has some fairly easy recipes please pass them along! I need to work on my cooking…
I believe that’s all I have for today. I apologize for the shortness of this post, not much has happened. I know, I know, I should be enjoying it while I can. Since in about three more months when the REAL planning happens I’ll probably be going insane. For now though, I’m going to spend as much time with the people I love as I can.
Well then… here we go.
So if anyone knows me they know I hate change. I’m a creature of habit, and anything else simply gives me anxiety. But, after day dreaming for 24 years I’ve decided to make one of those crazy day dreams become a reality.
Choosing Scotland was easy. Mind you I haven’t really been many other places but let’s just say that didn’t have anything to do with my decision…
The not so easy part is the process of being able to actually move there. The list of things “To Do” started at three simple bullets. No anxiety, no worries. Quickly it stretched to ten bullets and now I’m at an “easy” fifteen things to do before I can go.
Mind you some of these tasks are quick and simple done in a mere half hour. Others…not so much.
Now, while I’m excited like crazy and already planning places to see and things to do. I’m even already looking at flats (apartments to you Canadians.. see I’m basically already Scottish) and scouting potential jobs. I know, I’m ahead of the game. That’s just how I do.
But the more I try to do the worse my anxiety gets.
You see, I was always a day dreamer. A planner with no intentions of any of it actually being reality. There was always too many things that would get in the way. At least that’s what I told myself.
Stupidly, yet kind of a blessing in disguise, I drunkenly told my sister my dream of doing this.
My older sister, Trisha, lived in London for two years and honestly, she’s the one that gave me the idea and the belief that maybe (when sober) I could do this. She, also drunkenly, was on board.
The next few weeks I started to seriously consider it. Started to do my research and then next thing I knew, I was telling people about my little plan. The more people that thought it was an amazing idea the more serious about it I got.
Then, I took the big leap. The “no going back now leap.” I told my aunt, who is also like my best friend/second mother. I knew once I told her she’d give it to me straight. After a brief laugh she was on board. The laughter was caused by my insane history of indecision and saying I’m going to make some huge life change and then always chicken out. Now with her holding me accountable there’s no going back….
So! Here I am. Starting a blog. Also something I’ve always wanted to do. Two birds with one stone I guess, right? This is where I will be sharing the steps I go through as I check them off my “To Do” list, and where I’ll be sharing all my hopefully exciting adventures. I guess I’ll be using this sort of as a travel journal/planner? Maybe? Honestly, I’ve no clue. I’m just winging it.
Since I’m not really one for texting, and I loathe talking on the phone I have hopes my friends and family can keep track of me with this.
There’s my first blog post EVER. Not too bad I hope. Bear with me and maybe one day I’ll actually get the hang of this…
Angie's Scotland Adventure 