Shit Just Got Real

This time next month I will be in a completely different country. So what, you ask? Well, I've never been in a different country before. The closest I've been to a different world is Queensland (feel free to insert interstate jokes here). A friend's dad told me last year that I was long overdue for one of those 'Sitting on a park bench in Nice is where I found myself' European trip. Well, I don't know if this is what will happen, but I hope that this new experience is the thing I need to step out of my comfort zone, because this trip involves a lot of firsts.

The Story so Far

I'm in the last year of my Bachelor of Communication and I'm majoring in Media Production. And for the whole degree, I've fallen into the same trap as I've always done: put study before work. This means that now I'm surrounded by peers who already have extensive work experience and I have no idea how to get it. But I decided that my New Year's Resolution from 2007 (That I would travel overseas) could be combined with my passion for learning and possibly give me some sort of start with media production and work experience.

The answer was a student exchange. It was my friend's idea but I thought, why not?

So I'm going to Manchester Metropolitan University and I start on September 21. Which is coming scarily closer.

The Small Stuff

That's definitely what I'm sweating at the moment, because while I think I'm extroverted and friendly and can easily adapt to new situations, I feel very socially awkward. And because I'm doing so much of it on my own I feel lost because I'm so used to having someone else sort out the details for me. So these are my main freakout starters:

How will I know to get on the plane?
How will I know to get back on at Abu Dhabi?
Will I know how to go through customs and Immigration and all that jazz?

Because I'm travelling without a Visa, will I get asked a million questions and get really flustered and refused entry?

And when I get to student accommodation, how will I cope sharing with strangers?

To all these questions, everyone I talk to says 'you'll be fine!' But I'm a massive worrywart. I will be freaking out about this stuff this whole month.

List Making

This trip has allowed me to indulge in a passion of mine, however, which is making lists. My to-do list is extensive but hopefully achievable in a month. The hardest one so far has been clothes. Check out the clothes list:


Coats
Pink and black tuxedo coat

Jackets
MIA animal print jacket
Grey fleece jacket
Black blazer
Black fleece motorcycle jacket

Cardigans
Black cardigan
Grey and black cardigan
Red 'ugly' cardigan

Knitwear
AIH Fang Club hoodie
Red 'ugly' jumper
Bonds grey sloppy joe
Grey sloppy joe

T-Shirts
White tee
Black tee
Grey tee
striped tee
Smiths t-shirt
Barbara Hulanicki t-shirt
Kylie and Jason t-shirt
Debbie Gibson tee
Old grey tee
advertising helps me decide
french canadien
kylie x tour
Breakfast at kathy's

Shirts
Black scooped neck long-sleeved
White scooped neck long-sleeved
Blue and white striped shirt
Black and white striped shirt
Black long-sleeved shirt
Millers long-sleeved shirt black

Tights
Glassons tights
Glassons shiny tights
Cotton on tights

Skirts
Black high-waisted skirt
Black ruffle skirt

Jeans/Pants
Black knit pants
Grey boyfriend-cut
Black skinny jeans

Pyjamas
Red flannel
Pink spotted pants
Green and purple striped
Pink zebra print
Grey cotton
burgundy trackpants.

Socks
White socks x 2
Black socks x 2
Sockettes for flats
Sockettes for jazz pumps

Underwear
Enough to make up seven days worth.

Dresses
Black sweater dress
Black button dress
Insight coloured dress
Black shirt-dress

Shoes
Black ballet flats
Black and white ballet flats
Black loafers
Black jazz pumps
Black and white booties
Black oxford heels
Brown oxfords
Doc martens

Bags
Hot pink
Brown
Black incredibly bad 2.55 knock off
Massive work bag

Accessories
Snake ring
Blue and gold ring
owl ring
silver beaded cuff
black and gold belt bracelet
gold fabric earrings
gold button earrings
copper button earrings
mickey ears studs
pearl earrings (tbp)
like a prayer necklace
Black bow hairclip/brooch
Raybans wayfarers
Raybans clubmasters
Black round sunglasses
Tortoise shell round sunglasses

Books
The Beautiful and Damned
The Great Gatsby
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Paint a Vulgar Picture: Fiction Inspired By the Smiths
Philosophy Goes to the Movies

This list will probably undergo many changes. And I think I need to get thermals and towels! How many towels?

I'm too used to using a washing machine and dryer whenever I need it. 'Coin-operated laundry' strikes fear into my heart.

Why Manchester?

Well, apart from London not being on the list for the partner institutions, Manchester was the next logical choice. Other than London and Wales, Manchester is a mecca for BBC programming. BBC currently has an initiative for filmmakers in Manchester. Life On Mars was one of the first programs made as part of the initiative and that show was amazing.

That's the official reason for my choice. The real reason is simply that it's Morrissey's home town. Going to the birthplace of someone you admire is so exciting, because you can see the location that affected them and subsequently their creative work. And Manchester was very clearly an influence on the music of the Smiths.

The thought of this gives me chills. But in a good way! And it was also Ian Curtis's home, too, which is amazing.

But the chance to make films in a different country is also really exciting, because for the first I know exactly what roles I want to take on and I know my strengths finally and doing this with completely new people is as exciting as it will be potentially challenging. As always, it's a matter of finding the right people to work with and not being afraid to communicate your ideas. I have some ideas for the courses I'll hopefully be taking, and I just hope that I get to work with people who really like these ideas and have interesting perspectives on how to shape them and turn them into a project we can all be proud of.

God, I sound like a wanker.