What I will miss...

Over the last couple of weeks I have been writing my new novel. I haven't written properly in a few years and now seems like the perfect time to start again. I've just hit the 10,000 word mark, so another 50,000 words or so and I should be done.  

Anyway, this recent achievement has given me justification to write a new blog update. 

This is a list of things that I think that I will miss and the things that I won't miss on my year abroad. Once I have been there for a few months, I'm hoping to update my blog again and actually see whether I was right or not. 

(Please note: Tea is not listed because I am planning to smuggle all the teabags I can into the US). 

Things I will miss in the US

1. Family

A no-brainer really, but just in case you were wondering, I will probably crave being shouted at by my Mother at some point during my time abroad. 

2. Friends 

One of the big risks about taking a year abroad is returning to a year group that has already graduated. This is pretty depressing, especially when you spend two years getting to know your course-mates and you become pretty close. 

3. Livvykins 

She is the one person who has been through it all with me. The best friend anyone could ever ask for. The shoulder when I'm sad, the cuddle when I'm lonely. Love you Liv <3

4. Birmingham  

Everything from the outrageously cheap beer, hundreds of curry houses and horrendous train lines will be missed! 

...well apart from one thing (see other list). 

5. Cheese (Grommit) 

If there are any American's reading my blog, then feel free to correct me. However, I have heard from a number of people that American cheese is nothing to be desired. This is pretty devastating since I strive to get my five a day of cheese every day. 

Might bring my own cow and show them how it's done!

6. Not singing

So my timetable for next year has been confirmed minus one of the choirs (I need to audition for it when I arrive for it). At Birmingham, I would usually have six contact hours a week. At North Texas I will have 33.5 hours a week and this is without my singing lesson and the weekly departmental on a Tuesday. 

My Monday alone is 8am - 10pm and this involves eight hours of singing. By the way, this doesn't include practicing for recitals, opera roles etc. 

No, this is just my modules. 

7. England and being English 

Over the past couple of weeks I have particularly noticed the beauty of England, the distinct differences between Central London and the Devonshire countryside. I am incredibly lucky to live here and I will miss the pheasant shooting, allotment caring and horse riding qualities of my quintessential English family (I wish I was being remotely sarcastic). 

God save the Queen.

8. Sarcasm 

Again this is word of mouth, but I hear that a lot of American's don't have the same concept of sarcasm as the British. This could be problematic as I am fluent in the language. 

9. My size eight body 

I feel that this is self-explanatory. 

10. Security 

So yeah. 

Never been to America before. 

Never been to a foreign country by myself before. 

Never been to music college before. 

Never been to this music college before. 

Never been travelling alone before.

.... 

Things I won't miss in the US

1. Birmingham weather 

If it isn't raining, it's snowing. If it isn't snowing, it's windy. If it isn't windy, it's cold. 

One thing is for sure, it ain't gonna be bloody sunny. 

2. The Left Wing 

Recently I've started getting into twitter and I have a number of American followers online. A few of the Republicans on the page often refer to the Democrats as 'left wing' when hilariously, the Democratic party are probably more right wing than the British Conservative party. I will be interested to see how politics differ in America and I'm hoping to be involved on some level (even if it is purely educational). 

Safe to say, I will enjoy being in a country where I will not be accused of being 'Tory scum' because I have different political views to most of the Student Union... 

3. Writing my dissertation this year 

Ah Puccini. I have an extra year to think about you. 

What a babe. 

4. Cold student digs 

I think any poor university student can recognise this feeling. However, I've heard that coldness isn't a huge problem in Texas. 

5. Let's put all the deadlines... On the same day. 

Yeah music department. I'm talking about you. 

6. Cooking for myself 

I wish this was even an exaggeration. Feeling pretty happy that everything is catered for this year! 

7. The lethargic feeling I've had during second year  

For the majority of second year, I have felt tired, bored and uninspired. I'm really hoping that with three 8am starts and fourteen hour days, I will be able to shake this feeling I've had. 

8. Alcohol 

So I have two weeks before I turn 21 in America. In these two weeks I will not be able to drink legally (even though I have been for the past two and a half years). 

Of course, I could resort back to my younger, rebellious years, but I have decided that it's probably not worth the risk after several discussions with the year abroad staff. One girl who went to America and drank at a house party was arrested and forced to attend Alcoholic Anonymous sessions for the rest of her year abroad. 

There have been other cases where students have been deported or if they have been found to have been supplying to minors, given a prison sentence. 

... I'll pass on the wine for now.