First Week is Over

Hey everyone,

So it's been a little bit more than a week since I last told you all what was going on, and the reason being is that I have been a bit busy. When I say a bit I mean really busy, because classes started last week, and I had a huge project that I had to finish by friday worth 50% of my grade. But other than that this first week went really well.

On monday I started classes with ENT 100 which is Introduction to Enterprise. The class is about how to become an entrepreneur, and the different forms of corporations an entrepreneur can form. It is a great class, it just came at me real fast with our first presentation being due last friday. Needless to say it was stressful, but I got a good group of guys as partners and we got the project and presentation done very well. We got a 2.1, which for me was an A back in the states.

Above is a picture of my first classroom at Mast House which is one of the University buildings that isn't on main campus. It's a nice 15 minute walk from my house which is nice in the morning. I feel like a morning commuter to be honest. Mast house is down on the Barbican so it has some beautiful views first thing in the morning to be honest, well more like all the time.

Then I also started my second class here (I start my third class later this month), and I really like this class. It's STO200 Introduction to Operations Management, and it's the biggest class that I have ever had to far. It's a lecture hall of over 100 people, and for this small town boy from the sticks it's a bit of a change. But the lecturer is really good so far I just need to read and study everything that he puts online and in his lectures I should be fine I would like to think. 

Things are starting to calm down with classes here and I'm getting into a pattern which to be honest I think I need. I have joined the ENACTUS here in Plymouth which is great and I'm really looking forward to working with them and seeing what I can create.

And my flat is still great, the girls in the flat above me are awesome. There flat and ours have diner with each other on sunday's, and it's nice makes me remember all the family diners that we have back home.

And I continue to walk around Plymouth here I keep seeing more and more beauty from around the region and its nice. I can see why people from PSU want to stay here, and not leave. I saw the Mayflower steps the other day and it made me think that in 1620 the first people to come to my country set sail from here. I took a minute when looking at the monument of what Plymouth must have been like when they set sail and it really put things into perspective for me which made me think about how thankful I am to be here.  

  

But that's what's happening now I'll keep you all posted on what's going on throughout my time here, and all the adventures that I'll be going on well I'm here. I hope you all are having a great day wherever you're reading this. And remember Stay Classy.

-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

A Lot Has Happened Real Fast

Hey everyone,

So a lot has happened since I've last posted, and that have been the reason I haven't posted on here since then. So now its time to give you all a bit of an update.

So first things first I had my interview with Homeland security to get my biometerics done so they could be sent to the UK to get my BRP made. For those of you who don't know what a BRP it is a biometeric residency permit, which will be my id well I'm in the UK. I have been told that I have to get it within the first 5 days that I am in the country.

So after I got the biometerics done I found out that I had put the wrong name on my application. No I didn't put another name besides my own, but I forgot to put my middle name on my application. The reason for this is because you need to write your full name as you see it on your passport. So keep that in mind for any of you that want to study abroad and need a visa.

After dealing with that I had to ship the whole application down to the UK consulate in New York in order to get it processed. I shipped everything that I needed to ship with my application and within a few days it was processed and approved, but silly old me I forgot to send a shipping label on the return envelop. Because of that I had to find a place that would make a pdf file of a shipping label to then email the label to the consulate. I hope its being shipped now because I kinda need my passport and visa before my flight.

And yes I have booked a flight. I'm flying with Air Canada, and I have one stop then I'll be in London. After I get to London I kinda hang around there for a bit then I board a bus to go all the way down to Plymouth. So I will have a lot of traveling to do that day.

But the only other thing that I had to get down was a loan, and I'm only saying two things about that. One, its super stressful, so if you know you need a loan to study abroad do it a lot earlier than I did. Second, I love my grandpa Ed who is my cosigner and didn't let a year and a half of hard work slip away if I couldn't get money.

So I have two more weeks in the states then I am off on this journey, and I just can't wait. I will miss a lot here and I know I will be homesick, but I know I will have the time of my life when I go to abroad so I can't wait.

I want to take a second to thank all of you who are reading this and who have helped me get to this point. I am taking this opportunity with both hands and running with it. I know this is a once in a life time opportunity and I am not going to waste it. I hope those of you reading this have found this helpful on your own journey to study abroad. But the journey has just begun and I hope you keep reading to see my journey through my eyes.

Stay classy,
Tucker

A Little Stress but Good Stress

Hey,

So to be honest I am just a little stressed out about all of this study abroad stuff more than usual tonight. I have my interview and my biometric scans tomorrow in order to get my visa. I just want it to go through smoothly so I can finally book my ticket and start packing. I mean I know that its just a step in the process but I still hope nothing goes wrong at this point so I can get it on time so I can travel smoothly in order to go to Plymouth on time. I have my interview in about thirteen hours so we will have to wait and see how things go, but I'm sure that it will go smoothly. I'll update you all tomorrow on how it went.

All the best

-Tucker