Anywho, enough of a rant. Today it is only three weeks, 21 days, until both D-day and my B-day. I will be at the airport checking in in three weeks time. What?? In a way, I am so incredibly shocked that the time has gone so quickly and that I already have to leave. But in another way, I feel like the past few weeks have been in stop motion extra slow time in a sort of space time continum and I've been waiting forever for the actual moment of departure to arrive. There's a couple of last minute things I have been stressing about sorting out. But luckily I seem to have gained a handle on most of these and am not really worried about anything. Except for my baggage allowance at the airport. I considered maybe buying just 3 extra kg of weight so I could bring a few more shoes or coats home but it was going to cost me 80 pounds for just three!!! So that's not really an option. I also considered just stuffing my hand luggage full and trying not to wince or fall over when trying to lift it into the overhead locker. But, apparently, they've now started weighing hand luggage in lots of airports and if it gets to be over 10kg then I'm in big trouble. I'm taking home Christmas presents as well, so there's even more extra weight. Then I was advised that maybe I should ship a load of stuff home. But knowing the way things go in this country, it'd cost me an arm and a leg to pay for just one box. So, here it is, the only solution: I have to give a load of stuff away to charity (if I can find a drop off point) or else just throw perfectly good clothes out. First world problems.
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| Think I finally understand what Hall and Oates are singing about... |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tJoIaXZ0rw...and you can bet I'll have just the same spring in my step as Joseph Gordon-Levitt when going there.
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| Totally Photo Jacked... |
Student Loan Company have sent me, along with every one else currently surfing the graduate wave of misery and worry, a lovely letter with the threat of a cheery fine, if we do not make sure to tell them ASAP about why we haven't gotten a job in the U.K and/or signed on to benefits. As someone currently abroad, I have been expecting this letter- which is a mix of panic and excitement on their part, like some Beliebers accidentally at a One Direction concert-with much apprehension. Thank goodness for mothers! My mum has replied to say, 'I'm sorry that my daughter has not filled in and signed your form straight away, she is returning home in a few weeks so please just wait until then.' I wish they'd just learn that, there's no point whatsoever of me filling it in just to say that I am signing on...or in the glorious and extremely rare chance that I do get a job, there's not a snowball's chance in hell that I'll be earning enough to pay off my loan anyway so I'm only going to be replying to say 'Sorry, I can't pay the loan back'...which they're already aware of...so it all seems a bit arbitrary! Is it just me? This is, however, one of the happiest things about moving home. They'll be able to track me much easier when back in the U.K so their letters will hopefully stop when they see that truly I am not in a very well-off financial situation.
Lately though I've been reading this book 'What Color [sic] is your parachute?' which is the worldwide best seller for job seekers...and it's amazing! I've gotten such new clarity about what I want from life and where I want to be and who I want to be there with, and that's why I've only started looking for jobs that I feel I will really be happy in. Because isn't that the most important thing? It's actually easier, I think, when you've never been rich, and never had the brains to be a doctor or a good lawyer (note the good...) or an astronaut so was never going to have a wealthy career, and you've never really desired to be rich, because I'm finding it pretty okay with myself to just look for happiness rather than money. And most importantly, I want a chance to use my key skills: creativity, sense of humour, planning, and charisma..and I'm just hoping something shows up that let's me use all of these.
I also wrote a list of every lesson I've learnt while living here...and it's an illuminating list, that's for sure, with upwards of 10 life lessons learnt. I'm really proud of myself for learning.
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| OH BOY!!! |
I've been some fun with friends...and, as can be seen in this picture, I'm attracting a high calibre of interesting and unique people.
Two questions: *Does man A have a mini torch around his neck??
*Does man B have a brush in his hands or has his air guitar suddenly materialised as a real life guitar??
Everything here in Basel is so beautiful at this time of year and it is a stunning place to experience my favourite time of the year. The lights are just astounding. And they've really gone all out with the Christmas market. Plus, Starbucks has a festive coffee here that is unavailable in the U.K. Cranberry and White Chocolate Mocha. Haven't tried it yet, because I'm still trying to work out whether I find it gross or yummy. It looks really pretty when someone orders it...but cranberry makes me think of the preventative measures of my parents to stop our dogs ruining the grass when they pee....and one time I had a white chocolate hot chocolate with a TAD too much water and it was...DISGUSTING! So, not really geared up to try it yet. But I will. For you guys. So, that's really it for this week's entry, I will finish with some dialogue from a favourite movie of mine. Bonus points to any readers who can NAME. THAT. MOVIE.!
"You keep on living the dream, Tim."
"DONE!"
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