I'll Call it Home

Hey Everyone!

So I'm alive, but it's been a super busy past few days so I haven't been able to update you all on what's going on. I'm doing well but there is so much that's happened I'll try and tell you what I've been up too.

So the last time that I talked to you all I had just enrolled into the university. And now I have my classes all sorted out. It was a bit of a nightmare at first due to the fact that I really didn't understand the timetabling process here. Timetabling is basically just how a student's class schedule works back home. I had a class overlapping with another class so I had to drop one and pick up another one to make it all work out but it's all good now.

Last Sunday I went on a harbor cruise which was great fun. I got to see the bay and the harbor, as well as see the Hoe from the water. For those of you that don't know the Hoe is one of the biggest parks in all of Plymouth and one of the most scenic ones as well. As you can see with the pictures above and below.

But I learned a lot about the history of the city and how it was a huge naval town, and the fact that the Mayflower took off from here (which I already knew). But it was great to learn so much about the city and about the British flag as well. Fun fact for you all the only time you can call the British flag a Union Jack is if it is on one of Her Majesty's Ships.

I now have flatmates and they are all awesome, and want to see me have the time of my life here. I have six other flatmates, Tom, Rob, Sophie, Ellie, Katie, and Rose who are all great to live with. We have made plans to have thanksgiving here and they are all pumped to do that. They have also made me a list of British things that I need to do, and I got to cross one of those things off my list the other day.

I had proper fish and chips, and I don't think I will ever get fish and chips this good in the states. So I think I might have ruined fish and chips for me back home. Tip for everyone who is going to plymouth go to the Harborside in the Barbican, and get the fish and chips with just salt and vinegar and you won't be disappointed.

I know this is been a crazy update post but I wanted to let you all know I'm all good here and having a blast. I start classes on Monday so I hope to post more often because I will be a lot more structured on how much time I have on my hands. I hope you all have a great day, and I'll talk to you all soon!

Cheers!

-Tucker  

I'm here!

Hey everyone,

So after a long what seemed like two days of travel due to the time difference I've finally made it to Plymouth, England! It was extremely stressful and I still feel drained from the trip but it was worth it. So I started out on a flight from Logan International Airport to Halifax International Airport up in Halifax, Canada. My flight was delayed about a half an-hour due to some weather that had moved in when I was in Boston, so that made getting to my connecting flight a bit stressful. I had to get off my plane, to go through customs (got my first stamp in my passport though), get my luggage to get it on another conveyor belt to get it to my other connecting flight. I then had to go back through security, which I had never taken my shoes off so fast in my life. I then ran through the Halifax airport and I ended up catching my flight by about ten minutes before it left.

 That's when it really hit me "I'm on the way to England!", and I can't tell you how big the grin was on my face. I had a TV on that flight and saw Furious Seven before it came on DVD in the states. And I don't know why every comedian has to crack a joke about airplane food because it wasn't bad at all, well the breakfast was good. During breakfast I got a chance to talk to the women next to me, who just by chance was on her way to Plymouth Uni as well, and we got to talk about that.

I got off the plane about ten UK time and I was to happy to realize that it was it was five back home. It took forever to get through customs because of the amount of non-EU passport holders that were going through at that moment. I got through and went to terminal 3 to meet the Plymouth Uni students that were going to get me on my shuttle down to plymouth. I ended up having to wait, so me and a friend from the states, James, went and got some food, and I had real Guinness for the first time. I don't know if I'll be able to drink it in the states because it tastes so much better here.

After that we got on the shuttle, and started a five hour shuttle ride where I meet a few more people, of which was Jacob from Sweden, and Terezka from Czech Republic. But we all were stuck on that five hour shuttle ride so we slept, and tried to get to know each other. The whole ride I was just amazed at how beautiful the countryside in the UK is.

 But we made it here safe and sound. James and Jacob when out to the club that night, I on the other hand opted to stay in un-pack and most importantly sleep. The first night was a bit rough not being home, but it got a lot better. I did a ton of shopping last night and got enrolled and collected my BPR, all the usual stuff an international student needs to do. I finally got to see Plymouth Uni in the daylight and the pictures online don't do it justice.

Well guys I'll keep you all posted on what's going later this week. I just wanted to update you all on how I'm doing. So I'll talk to you all later this week!

-Tucker

It's Go Day!

Hey everyone,

This is just a quick little post to fill you guys in on whats up. I am currently sitting at the airport waiting to get on my plane. I'll be boarding in about 15 minutes so I'm pumped! A little nervous but thats only natural. I just wanted to let you guys know whats going on, and the next time you hear from me I will be sitting in my flat in Plymouth!

See yah,
-Tucker

Nerves and Packing

Hey guys!

So it's the day before I leave, and I'm really pumped about it. But with leaving comes nerves and just the goodbyes and to be honest I'm not looking forward to that. I think once I get through the gate I'll be good, but I'm just a bit nervous with traveling. Like I stated before its the first time I've left the country so I think thats one of the things.

The goodbyes on the other hand is something that I am not looking forward to. I've been doing the farewell dinners, (I'm actually going to one after I write this), seeing friends, and hanging with family I won't be seeing in a while, and to be honest it sucks. I love my family and my friends, and I hate seeing them get upset. But they need to understand that I'll be back in no time, and I have to do this for me. Yes tomorrow will be hard, but it just means that I have people back home that care and want to see me succeed.

Ok, now that I have vented I can tell you guys now whats ahead. I have to finish packing today and tomorrow, and later in the day tomorrow I will be going down to Lynn, MA with my family hanging at my Uncle's place and he'll drive us to Logan. I'll probably check-in there, and got through the gate. Its going to be a long night of traveling and won't end till around 7pm UK time on Monday, so I do have to say I will be exhausted.

But I just want to say thank you to everyone that's read this. I hope you have found this helpful on your study abroad journey. I'll be writing a post about the visa process shortly because I want you all to know how to not make it a headache like I might have. I also want to take a moment and thank all my friends and family that have pushed me and helped me get this far. If it wasn't for you I would not have got this fair. Well the next time I write I will be out of the country, and I will leave you with the exciting words of Bilbo Baggins, "I'm going on an adventure!"

Till next time,
-Tucker

  

Time to Start Packing

Hey everyone,

So pretty much all of things that need to be taken care of have been its been a nightmare trying to figure out the loan stuff, but I think we have finally figured it all out. So now its down to just getting everything together to start packing to get ready for my flight. Its crazy to think that in two weeks I will be flying to England and living there for the year, but I can't wait. To be honest I think I might feel like I'm going to overpack. I did today get on the Facebook page for my all and I think that I have found one of my roommates which is pretty awesome. I just wanted to let you guys know whats going on right now, but I'll fill you all in more as the next two weeks pass.

Have a good one
-Tucker