Friday 17 December 2010

Preparation. Preparation. Preparation.

written 1st December 2010:

When I decided to study abroad, I didn't know there was gonna be so much to do before hand. I know it sounds stupid cos it ain't some ten day holiday, it's me living in someone else's country, but we've got all these forms to fill and applications to complete and I swear things weren't so complicated with Francine when she went.

So anyways in the past two weeks I've had as many compulsory meetings, to collect things and fill in things and ask people things and the whole time I'm in these meetings I'm just thinking: "mate, like, just stick me on a SingaporeAirline Airbus and be done with it!" jheez.

That being said, left down to me things won't get done. We've reached December technically 31 days before I head off and I haven't bought my ticket and I haven't written to the LEA about getting some funding to help and I'm sure there's something else I need to do, I just don't know what it is.

And there's academic preparation! I've got an essay every damn week for 3 weeks, which is normal for some, foreign concept for me. So now I'm picking, preparing for and writing an essay question in the space of 5 days. I don't know if this intensity of learning will be good practice for Singapore (I hear they like to study hard out there and if the internationals over here are anything to go by, that's quite true!) all I know is that I don't like it.

Might begin a list of things to pack soon - that's preparation right? What's the weather like in Singapore in January?

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today. - H. Jackson Brown Jr. 

Thursday 25 November 2010

First Step.

Hey!

I'm Charlene Bello - few call me Charlene many more call me Bello. I'm studying Politics and International Relations at the great University of Manchester. It has taken me forever to write this blog. For the life of me, I don't know why. 

I'm going to Singapore in the New Year for a six month study abroad. It's going to be the most amazing journey of my life, so far, the first time I actually go somewhere without my family or friends (some university mates will be there but that doesn't count). So I started this blog because I want people to share my experiences. There's no point seeing all these extraordinary sights and thinking awe-inspired thoughts if they stay with just me.

I've recently developed a love for proverbs and inspirational quotes. I'm gonna try my best to make sure that each blog is supported by a proverb or quote because that's the most profound, most important speech we can make or hear, words of wisdom left by those who've seen it all and done it all many times before.

First proverb: A wise man who knows proverbs can reconcile difficulties. 

Well that's the intro... finally.