Of Schedules, Syllabi, and Teachers

I just got home from the first Global Citizens Program meeting that I've been able to attend! It was a good thing I could make it considering the details that were covered.

First, a schedule of events, of sorts. There's an orientation scavenger hunt when we first get to London which sounds interesting. Hopefully it will involve running around London taking pictures with random things! It's probably not, but hey, a girl can dream right? We have classes Monday through Thursday (AKA FRIDAYS OFF!), one class per day. We're all hoping that it will provide for lots of free time, especially considering that the format is lots of participation, one paper / presentation and a final exam!

We got various syllabi, which were exciting if you're a dork like me! The Business Dynamics syllabus is pretty basic, as is the Macroeconomics syllabus. The syllabus for Britons at Work looks a lot like the Britain section of my Comparative Government class at NDA, which will be magnificent! And last but certainly not least, British Culture and Ideas. The selected readings look awesome, especially Satanic Verses and The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. Fun stuff!

The resumes of our professors are HEAVY DUTY. Do they have resumes. I was excited to see that one of my professors is from Nottingham, which immediately made me think of Alan and his brilliant work in Robin Hood. (Anyone have a spoon handy?) I'm most impressed, however, by my Business Dynamics teacher, Nigel Vincent Knight (how British does that sound?). He's been an economic adviser to Parliament, the Royal Family, and the HSBC. Very impressive.

So overall, it was a great meeting. I'm sooooo excited for London and can't wait for the pre-departure orientation meeting with the London contact person, who arrives next week! Hooray!

Homeland Security!

So today was my appointment to get my "biometric data" (aka fingerprints) taken to go along with my Visa Application. It was not easy! You need a special ticket to get into the building. With some difficulty, my Mom and I did locate the Office of Homeland Security. Thank goodness for GPS systems (or Jane, as I affectionately call mine). The very non-threatening looking guard let us in, and I had to leave my mom in the waiting room. I went to the receptionist desk, and was scrutinized along with my passport picture. Good thing I got new ones taken, my hair was much much shorter and I didn't have glasses then (regardless I still look rather creepy in my passport pictures). Before I knew it, I was shut in a tiny cubicle getting my electronic fingerprints taken. Now I can finally have my fingerprints manipulated like on CSI ... oh wait ... I guess that may not be a good thing. Anyway, it took all of 10 minutes; a lot of driving for such a short appointment! So now all I have left is to put everything together and send it to the UK Visa office in New York. I suppose that I should keep my fingers crossed that I won't be denied by the Brits!

VISA of the Non-Shopping Variety

Well, I've finally managed to finish my UK Student Visa Application. I consider completing it a small miracle. There are only so many ways I can assure people that I'm not, in fact, a terrorist and explain that my parents are American. If a study abroad program is in your future, DO NOT PROCRASTINATE with your application. There are a ton of questions to answer. They're all super specific. Now that I have finished it, we need to find an office in Philly to submit my finger prints and various supporting documents.

The next big task is to schedule an appointment to meet with the EUSA London contact to discuss potential internship sites. I'm so excited. I'm going to try to get an internship somehow related to publishing, theater or film. Past Villanova students have been placed with the BBC, which I think would be absolutely amazing.

I cannot wait for it to be January 4th, but with October almost gone I don't even want to think about how fast it's really going to come. It's CRAZY! But everyday in Business Dynamics class, sitting next to Krista, makes me more and more excited! I can't wait to actually post about Londony things instead of logistics and longings!

While Waiting ...

So I was reading James Barbour's blog last night. I have just met him after seeing A Tale of Two Cities in New York. (This has only strengthened my desire to find Alan, while in London. British actors are soooooo cool). I've changed the template for this blog to match the one that he uses!

Anyway...I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. It seems like just yesterday that it was my first week at Villanova...and now we're already on fall break. Krista and I have booked our flights to London. We fly out on the 4th of January, and I am in the process of applying for my London Student Visa. I absolutely cannot wait to be in England. The anticipation is the hardest part, I hope.

On a completely unrelated note, I advise anyone reading this to see A Tale of Two Cities. I've always loved Charles Dickens and this is a brilliant musical. If you can manage to see it with the original cast, even better. Words can't describe the talent of that cast. It's right up there with Les Mis. I'm trying to get my parents to see it with me again before I leave for London. Fingers crossed!