Travel Central on GraciousJaneMarie
Travel
Book Reviews Travel Tips
Donate miles: http://www.miledonor.com/ |
|
Travel: Weblog: Notes on Studying Abroad - left column +Electronics Abroad Home: greenlightwrite.com featuring |
Travel Central on GraciousJaneMarie
|
||||
|
||||
October 29, 2005: I can't believe my mom (Nancy) tried to discourage me from buying the cute brown purse. It will be perfect for Europe. [The purse stayed home.] I am not going to take a practical (ugh) Ameribag like she does. That makes me sound fashion mad, but seriously. The upcoming semester abroad will be my third trip to Europe. I over packed before and I'll probably do it again, but I will be gone for months. I'll need all the links to home I can get. I got accepted at the University of Central England Business School last week, and we've been going nuts ever since. Actually, I was pretty frantic before I got the acceptance e-mail, primarily because I didn't have an acceptance e-mail. And I've wanted to study in Europe since I knew it was there. I'll be flying to Brussels in January to visit a friend for a few days before my classes start. My dad (Cary) used some of his American Airlines points to book my ticket; he used the rest so the family could visit me - or so they say. Mom's trip planning looks suspiciously like April in Paris to me. I do know the study abroad folks at OU cut things very close on the time frame for redemption of miles and hotel points. It generally has to be done months in advance, so we were very lucky to get flights that will work for us. I lost my passport several years ago and had to have it replaced in 24 hours. That replacement was only good for one year. Fortunately, I can get a new passport by mail.
My sister Caryn and I will be getting International Student Identity Cards (ISIC). I think even a high school student will get her money's worth, and I know I will. My friends and I are talking about the side trips we'll take. I hope to round out my semester with a week in Turkey. And I'd love to learn to ski in the Alps. Will the wages from my job as an experienced day care teacher be adequate to cover my expenses? Yeah, right. November 7, 2005: Today is the day I submit my housing request. Fortunately, I had lunch with Angie on Saturday. She's a UCE alum who told me which dorms to select and gave me tons of other advice. I talked (free via computer) with my very best friend Samantha who is currently studying in Antwerp. Sam said not to buy clothes before I leave because styles are different in Europe. There's some kind of boot everyone is wearing, but I couldn't picture it from her description. Sam was in Paris over the weekend. She said the violence is even worse than the news reports indicate. November 9, 2005: My friend Amber will be going to Spain. There are cheap flights from Birmingham to Spain. I'm glad she likes company. November 19, 2005: The parents and I went to a terminally long OU presentation about study abroad. They gave us a lot of information amidst time-wasting anecdotes. But the pizza was good, and I met a guy who spent a semester at UCE last year. It was reassuring for Mom and Dad when he began our conversation by saying, "When I was deported ..." [visa problems] I introduced Bomi, the only other OU student going to UCE, to my parents. Mom started on her travel tips after Bomi said she planned to take travelers checks and money orders. Do this instead:
November 22, 2005: Just to be on the safe side I checked the latest visa regulations for the UK (and other countries) on the US State Department website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1229.html. I won't be there for over six months so I don't need a visa - one less thing to haul around. December 5, 2005): We spent the weekend trying to figure out how to pay the ₤100 deposit due today. Mom and I forgot Europeans put the day first and then the month. We assumed 5/12/05 was May and that the deposit deadline hadn't been updated on my paperwork since the spring. Wrong. Fortunately, Mom was able to call UCE (after discovering the phone number listed had an extra zero up front - sort of like we put a one in the beginning of 800 numbers sometimes - the actual number after the international calling prefix and the country code began with 010 because the call was initiated from the US). The very kind Becky accepted a phone payment. And I have a room. Brilliant. December 14, 2005: Amber paid $60 to a birth certificate expeditor, and she still hasn't received her birth certificate. She has an appointment on Monday at the Spanish consulate in Houston to get a visa. But without that birth certificate, I don't see how she can get a passport in time. And her plane leaves January 3. December 20, 2005: Nancy's Note: Jill called yesterday to say Amber had her birth certificate and could I give her the name of the passport expeditor firm. But late last night, I realized Amber might have saved money by hopping on a plane and flying to Houston to get her own passport and then head to the Spanish consulate. Uh oh. December
27, 2005:
Jill is a conscientious and experienced day care teacher, so she must have cleared the expedition with her boss, but Houston is a long drive from here, and the Spanish consulate keeps your passport while they process your visa, mailing both passport and visa back to you, so what's a mom to think? January 2, 2006: Amber got her visa and passport from the Spanish consulate. But Samantha's passport and money were stolen while she was visiting a friend in France for the Christmas break. Sam's bad news led to a family discussion about money belts and neck safes. January 7, 2006: I have bronchitis. And I leave in a week. Amber is having a great time in Spain. January 10, 2006: We just ordered my Chunnel ticket, Antwerp to London Waterloo on http://franceguide.raileurope.com. The price was $86 for a one way youth (under 26) fare + $30 to overnight the ticket to me. That must mean this is a special fare for US residents. Or not. I did not opt for ticket insurance ($20) and will be traveling second class. Bomi and I are arriving in Birmingham a day early. The university said a watchman would let me us. Of course, I still have to get from London to Birmingham. And London Waterloo is not a station where I can pick up an advance tube/train ticket in a machine according to Virgin Trains (and all the other train companies we checked). So I will have to buy a ticket when I get there. Probably for more money, possibly double. And then there's the taxi fare from the train station. January 13, 2006: Mom had two tips. Well, she had thousands, but ...
January 14, 2006: Nancy's Note: Jill is about to board her flight from OKC to Chicago. Whew. There have been mishaps.
Now we get to settle back and watch flight trackers until we hear Jill is safe and sound in Antwerp with Sam. E-mail from Chicago:
January 15, 2006: Nancy's Note: When we went to bed, the flight tracker <http://www.flightview.com>, showed Jill's plane due south of Iceland. About 4 a.m., the phone rang. Jill and Sam were calling from Antwerp. They had connected at the Brussels airport, gotten the luggage and were back in Sam's flat. The adventure begins. E-mail from Antwerp:
January 16, 2006: Nancy's Note: We just talked with Jill via Skype. The connection was hard to set up, but that may have something to do with the fact that I had to plug the microphone into my USB port and do a quick software setup. Also, I was already listening to NPR, and there may have been a conflict with two audio devices. Anyway, we will work out the bugs. Jill took a short tour of Antwerp, but there will be no pictures until she gets to Birmingham and sets up her computer there. She said the shopping was very good - at least three H&M stores on one block! But the trendy boots are ugly. Jill and Sam will visit Bruges [Belgium] and Amsterdam [Netherlands] this week. January 21, 2006:
They are fine. No one was hurt. The kids were approached by a group of men in front of Sam's school in a nice neighborhood. After a short conversation, one of the men pulled a knife, while two of his buddies told him to stop. Someone went through Amber's pockets, finding nothing, and Jill's purse, removing her camera and 60 euros. We don't know any more details except police said Moroccan gangs were a problem in Antwerp, and this group had robbed at least three other people that night. And although Jill was carrying too much money (won't happen again she says), we think it was a good thing the muggers found something worth stealing. Frustrated men of violence are doubly dangerous. January 22, 2006: Nancy's Note: Jill called from the train station in Brussels to get Bomi's exact address in Birmingham. She was already exhausted from hauling her luggage (one 29 inch on wheels, one rolling carryon, and one carryon tote from the Delsey Helium line) luggage around.
She reported that UK passport control had been less than polite. And added the Belgian police officer who interviewed her after she was robbed had been upset with Sam, who lives in his building. Apparently using the bathroom at night is not the neighborly thing to do. (Sam got a formal citation for noise.) Seems there must be more to this story, but don't hold your breath. January 24, 2006: Nancy's Note: Jill arrive safely at UCE on Sunday night. Security let her into her room, but neither she nor Bomi had bedding. They were too tired to care. Yesterday, was the first day of orientation. Jill sent her dad an e-mail saying she had no Internet access yet, so we wait for details. January 26, 2006: Nancy's Note: E-mails are flying fast and furiously. A summary:
February 2, 2006: Nancy's Note: Jill has settled into school and classes have begun. We have still not been charged for her room, so I must call the bank again today as I think an attempt was made and rejected. A group of students went to Stratford upon Avon. The verdict from my seasoned traveler: "a bunch of cottages." Rick Steves dismissed it as a must-see also, but he was more polite. Jill made a Barcelona flight reservation from without considering train schedules or transit times. It looks like she will have an overnight eight hour commute between London Stansted Airport and Birmingham on the way home!
February 5, 2006:
February 13, 2006: Nancy's Note: We've been talking with Jill fairly regularly and sending e-mails about school fees, side trips in the works, fun with new friends and old, and cooking in the flat. Classes are not a major topic though she seems to be covering some useful material and enjoys expounding on it. Amber visited last weekend, and Jill had a date with a nice young man. She thinks she is popular because she does not wear her clothes too tight and because of her nice straight teeth. I believe there is more to her than that, but ... Most in flat meals are pasta variations from the cook's country of origin (Austria, Germany, Holland, US). Jill is using lots of tomatoes, and is proud of her red and white sauces. February 16, 2006: Nancy's Note: While we're waiting for details from Antwerp, etc., Jill and crew are planning trips to Manchester (because it's cheap) and Bath in the UK as well as to Berlin. February 23, 2006: Nancy's Note: Today is Jill's 21st birthday, and with any luck she has long since met up with Samantha and company in St. Mark's Square in Venice. Since this is also the beginning of Carnivale and St. Mark's is huge, I worry. When we talked yesterday, Jill had failed to buy a Venice Blue card as I suggested. She planned to take the bus and a vaporetto to St. Mark's, aka the Piazza Romana. You may have noticed we are still waiting for details on Jill's expeditions and adventures. I have nagged as both mother and editor, and await submissions. As for the birthday, well, surprise, surprise, she wanted money. We'll do our best on that front - who needs food? - but I did give her jewelry in Paris. March 5, 2006: Nancy's Note: Jill and I have been instant messaging and talking via Skype quite a lot, but there were no interesting things to report until I got the first (I hope) of the much nagged for e-mails detailing one of her adventures. The nags will continue until she is up to date. Jill is having trouble with her picture software so photos will have to wait. Jill's E-Mail about VENICE
March 22, 2006: Nancy's Note: We got back late last night from visiting Jill in both France and the UK. It will take me a while to write up all our adventures, but rest assured my daughter received several big nags about keeping up this page. Now, let's hold our collective breaths. March 27, 2006: Nancy's Note: We came home from cold, cold Europe to snow in Oklahoma! Jill wrote that her Skype was not working and her Internet access was not fast enough to reinstall the program from a download:
March 30, 2006: Nancy's Note: I spoke with Jill this morning. Her Skype is still out, and all her comments about places she's been are coming real soon. Also, her latest boyfriend is a lout. What did I expect? She leaves Saturday morning for Switzerland where the local currency is the Swiss franc. Bet Jill needs money. April 3: Nancy's Note: The school break odyssey began in Spain, not Switzerland. Here are Jill's e-mails:
April 7, 2006: Jill's latest e-mail:
Nancy's Note: Jill has kept costs down as much as possible by using dorm-like hostels or staying with friends of friends when she travels.
April 8, 2007:
April 9, 2007:
"The nicest people I've ever met have been in Lichtenstein and Austria." April 11, 2006:
April 12, 2006:
During the same time period Jill's father went to Salt Lake City without a coat. He was also caught in a snow storm. NK April 28, 2006:
April 30, 2006: Nancy's Note: Jill called a week and a half ago and fleshed out some of her e-mails. I took notes, but I'm having trouble reading them. I can't figure out the part about Vienna at all, but Jill did say they had seen too many museums. Here goes:
May 4, 2006: Nancy's Note: Just got an instant message from Jill. She is in Stockholm having an allergy attack. The plan is to work on her econ paper and take a ferry to Helsinki and back, which is cheaper than sleeping in a hostel.
May 14, 2006: Nancy's Note: Jill phoned home for Mother's Day - it was celebrated in March in the UK. She's planning her last trip before returning home in June. In the meantime, school and lack of serious funds are keeping her in the Birmingham area. A recent e-mail was domestic and said, "I made your chili today. Big hit ... Suzan and Sari loved it." June 11, 2006: Nancy's Note: Jill is home now. She completed her UCE course requirements and was in Scotland (see below) when the software behind this website (^%@& FrontPage) self destructed. It will be several more weeks before we recover and are able to publish her trip notes and photos. In meantime, we're following the World Cup under Jill's expert tutelage (thanks, Chris), and I've added a St Christopher's medal to her Charmed Life necklace (right column). July 25, 2006: Nancy's Note: Jill's grades came yesterday - she passed everything. She could have worked harder, of course, but she did learn practical business skills as well as life lessons. All in all, it was a semester well spent. And Tuesday, she moves back to Norman, OK, to finish up her undergrad degree at OU. January 2007 Trip Roundup: Nancy's Note: Back home to work and school and readjustment meant it took a while for Jill to complete this page. Here is Jill's final chapter:
Edinburgh is a nice quaint city that has pretty good shopping (though if you have been in the UK for long it’s the same chains as everywhere else). The castle on the hill is a great focal point. Be wary of the weather though. It was rainy and cold. After Edinburgh we headed to Inverness. This was about a seven hour bus ride, so it is quite a journey. Inverness is a lovely city. We stayed a fabulous bed and breakfast, which we booked the night before. We went to the area to visit Loch Ness, however we didn't see Nessie. There are a lot of tours, but we just took a bus to the loch, and then took boat tour and castle tours. Next we went to Durness. This is the most northern town in Scotland with a population of about 400. (We were told we must go because it is so beautiful.) Needless to say we were on another bus, this one very uncomfortable, for another seven hours. It was soooo cold because blew in from the wind from the sea, and I think both Suzan and I about froze. For us non-hikers, there was nothing at all to do. If you ever find yourself in Scotland in this situation, be glad the Scots have fine whiskey. (MOM I know you do not approve, but knowing fine spirits is a part of culture) On to the Isle of Skye. To get to Sky, we had to take the horrible bus back to Inverness - though we did pass the castle where they filmed the Highlander movies - and then another four hour train. On Skye we stayed in Kyle of Lochalsh. It was quite fun, but we had to take about an hour bus ride to get there, and let me say do not attempt to use a bus bathroom in the Highlands. I fell against the door at an inopportune time and was caught literally with my pants around my ankles. We did some horseback riding on Skye and then took another eight hour bus to Glasgow. I personally like Glasgow. The city centre is not at all industrial, but I did not see the other parts of the city, so I can’t judge the whole or weigh in on its less than glam reputation. If you are going to Scotland through England, take a train to Edinburgh and then look at different prices for trains, buses and planes. It was cheaper for us to fly back to Birmingham from Glasgow rather than take the bus or train. photos of Jill's adventures coming someday soon "Aack! Another billion unedited bytes." Cathy
|
800+ pages HOME greenlightWRITE.com Customer Service CHILDREN TEDDY BEARS HOME
AskCaryn.com (teens)
Let the US government know you'll be residing out of the the country - just in case you need assistance. Our link failed, so go to the US State Department website to do this.
|
If you like this information, please link to it instead of copying it. You may not display our content on a public bulletin board, ftp site, website, chat room or by any other unauthorized means. Thanks.
Copyright© 1999 - 2008 by Nancy Kamp, dba greenlightWRITE.com and Grace-Light.com. All Rights Reserved. International and US Federal Copyright Laws protect all material on this website, which may not be reprinted in any form in any media or hosted on any website. This document confers no rights whatsoever to its reader / recipient. No rights in any copyrighted material, whether exclusive or non-exclusive, may be transferred in the absence of a written agreement that is the product of the parties' negotiations, fully approved by independent counsel retained by Nancy Kamp and formally executed with manual signatures by all parties to the agreement pursuant to the statutory requirements of Section 204(a) of the Federal Copyright Act of 1976. Furthermore, anyone caught using our trademarks or copyrighted text, images, or jewelry and craft designs without permission will be reported to their billing company, their hosting company and any other related companies for account closure. We will also follow up with a copyright infringement lawsuit in accordance with the The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
Using the information on this site and linked to this site is done at your own risk. No promises or guarantees of any kind are intended or implied.
