Tomorrow, August 16th, I will turn 22! 22 just seems so much bigger than turning 21 for some reason. I’m hoping that my 22nd year can be super awesome - I’ll be studying abroad in England, graduating, and who knows what else!?! I don’t have any specific plans tomorrow, but maybe I can spend it reading BECAUSE I’M FAILING AT #BOUTOFBOOKS Y’ALL! I’m just too busy this week and have been reading less than normal. NOT COOL. Hopefully I can remedy this on my birthday :)
Oh, and speaking of studying abroad, I’ve figured out what I want for my birthday from YOU - yes, YOU! Don’t worry though, it won’t cost you anything :) You see, what I’d really love is for your travel advice. Come the end of September I’ll be heading off to the UK to the University of Essex until mid-December to finish up my history degree! However, I’ve never really travelled before except to a work conference with colleagues last year and so I’ll take all the advice, tips and tricks that I can get! General advice is great, but I’d also love specific advice regarding:
- packing tips? I have one 26 inch suitcase that is fairly wide and will have a carry on bag.
- navigating an airport by yourself? HOW DO YOU DO IT?!
- anything I MUST bring while studying abroad?
- anything I must SEE/DO/EXPERIENCE in England? I’m also looking into travelling to Ireland & Scotland as well
- random question: what is the dress code like in the UK? Canada is pretty relaxed, and my university even more so, although I do wear quite a bit of business casual stuff…
- anything else I should know about travelling to the UK or travel in general?
Thanks so much and I can’t wait to read your comments!!
Happy Birthday!!! Sounds like you have an amazing few months ahead of you!!!
ReplyDeleteI have no real advice as I am not well traveled...I've never been of the east coast (US) but I will say...have fun, make friends, see as much as you can and take lots of photos!!!!
Happy birthday, my favourite bloggy friend!!! <3 I hope your day is GREAT and you are getting super excited about study abroad.
ReplyDeletePS, I hope you share some of this advice with me... I am nervous/excited about all of those things on your list! :)
Happy birthday! What an exciting thing to be doing this year--I'm definitely going to live vicariously through you for a while. As for travel advice?
ReplyDelete1. Weigh your suitcase and carry-on at least ten times. You want to be sure that it's not overweight, because the penalty fees are astronomical.
2. International fliers should always allow for extra time as much as possible. For a flight to Hong Kong, I arrive at the airport about 3, 3 1/2 hours before takeoff. It's always better to be bored waiting for your flight than rushing through an unfamiliar airport terminal without a minute to spare for grabbing a snack or reading material.
3. Don't forget to have at least $50 exchanged for the pound BEFORE your flight, in case you need to make calls/deal with any emergencies stepping out of the plane.
4. Wear layers! Sometimes the airport will be freezing, but the plane itself is boiling hot or the person next to you crowds your space. A comfortable shirt, jeans, sandals (for easy removal at security) and a light cardigan will work wonders.
5. Eat before you fly, because airport food is ridiculously priced, and you may not like the plane menu.
I can't give you much advice re: living in the UK, but you should ask my friend @samanthalin! She's been studying in Durham for the last year and she's doing her PhD in Belfast this year. She'll have lots of helpful tips. :)
Happy birthday! Definitely leave plenty of room in your suitcase for the things you'll want to bring back with you. And VISIT WALES! It is just to the west of England and is where I studied abroad. :) And see Northern Ireland as well, if you get a chance. And have fun!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Randi! I definitely want to try and visit Wales - it sounds magical, and I really really really want to visit Northern Ireland if it is safe at the time because I want to go to Belfast and visit the new and awesome sounding Titanic museum!!!
DeleteI actually got to stay with family friends in Belfast, so they took us on a bit of a tour- we did a black taxi tour and also drove along the coast and visited the Giant's Causeway (which is a bit out of the way, but definitely worth the visit if you can manage it!). We also visited the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Holywood, which is a suburb of Belfast, and that was really cool as well! I'd suggest northwest Wales, though I'm a little biased. ;) If you visit Cardiff, there's a really great living history museum there called St. Fagan's.
DeleteHappy Birthday ! Oh, how exciting, that you are going to the UK. You'll have to get all the awesome British covers of books.
ReplyDeleteI've never traveled much, so I won't be of much use. I always check out Lonely Planet to see what there is to do. I'd take advantage of being so close to France and go to the Louve. Have Fun !
Thanks Kat! Also, I like where your head is at with travelling - books, haha ;) I've tried out various guidebooks from the library and I do think Lonely Planet is my favourite - and they have a great website too. Thanks for the advice!
DeleteHappy birthday. England is great so youl love it : ) also in the uk we all dress very casual, i have even occasionaly seen people in my uni lectures wearing the same stuff they sleep in (no joke) if your going to essex uni i recommend watching a few episodes of a tv show called the only way is essex, it will give you an idea of what to expect. Good luck : )
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could give you advice, but I'm not much of a traveller. Just have a great time.
Happy Birthday!!! How exciting that you'll be studying in ENGLAND! Lucky you! Maybe you'll have a Stephanie Perkins moment!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could give you some tips, but I've only traveled within North America! If you see Kate and WIlliam, be sure to give them my love! ;)
Good luck! Have fun!
Thanks Kristilyn! Haha, I just might die if I had a Stephanie Perkins moment, although all my friends are trying to convince me to fall in love with a British boy, but I'm a bit of a cynic and don't believe that would be practical when I'm only there 2.5 months, LOL! Also, I'll be sure to pass on your love if see Kate and William... if I can pick my mouth up off the ground ;)
DeleteDon't worry about the dress code, it's definitely very casual. As for must-see places in the UK, I can mostly give you tips about whatever's close to the north of England, as that's where I went to grad school. There are many beautiful areas there, but they'll be out of the way for you in Essex. Then again, I know that folks from the US and Canada are far less daunted by distances than us Europeans :P ~
ReplyDeleteIf you do make the trip up north, the Lake District is every bit as gorgeous as they say, York is well worth visiting (and Haworth, where the Brontë parsonage is, is not too far away), North Wales is stunning, and then there's of course Scotland. Edinburgh is my favourite city in the world (well, so far anyway) and perfect for book lovers. Oh, and if you go to Northumberland, make sure you visit Alnwick. You have not only Alnwick Castle (where Harry Potter was filmed), but also Barter Books, a train station converted into a used bookstore. I repeat that: an ENTIRE TRAIN STATION. Here are some pictures I posted last year: http://www.thingsmeanalot.com/2011/05/barter-books-or-does-this-place-really.html If you're curious about what any of the other places I mentioned look like, the "Travels" tag on my blog is full of pictures of my UK rambles.
Don't worry too much - you'll have a fabulous time for sure. Also, Happy Birthday :D
Thank you so much Ana! Haha, yes since it can take 20+ hours just to get out of my province, I'm much less daunted by a few hours here and there to visit a few places. I'm sure the UK will seem small compared to Canada!
DeleteWow, I'd love to visit Alnwick Castle, and a book store as big as a train station? AMAZING! Your photos are gorgeous. I've added it to my travel wishlist now. I'll also be sure to explore your other travel posts.
Thank so much for the advice & birthday wishes :)
HOW DID I MISS YOUR BIRTHDAY?
ReplyDeleteI am terrible!
So um, Happy Late Birthday!
Hope you had a good day!
It won't be long till you're in the UK! I'm soo excited for you!!
As for tips;
1) pack warm clothes! Expect rain :p
2) You will get through the airport fine, just follow the signs and don't panic. I am a bad flyer, and I flew to Canada (irony much?) and back when I was 18 so I know you'll be fine!
3) you MUST see me. :P We will make it happen. I'm thinking I should meet you in London and show you some awesome touristy sights - like the eye, dungeons, leiscter square, trafalgar square waterstones... etc
4) The sourthern coast has GREAT beaches. If you have time and a nice day, I'd say visit Brighton -nods-
5) you can wear WHATEVER :-) We have no uniforms, we let people wear what they want, when they want. (the only exception to this rule is nudity but really, who wants to be naked when the weather is so cold? :P)
6) English people can be ruder than Canadians - especially so close to London, unfortunately but we also have a very ironic and sarcastic sense of humour...
You'll do fine! :-)
I also can't believe you're only a month younger than meee! :D
Faye