I'm back from America..after a long overnight flight where I slept a bit but not enough, I finally got through to arrivals and just hugged Mum...it's nice to be back with my family :)
I had a brilliant time in America, placement turned out pretty good for the last few days where I got to help on a camp. I actually did work with kids and that's the bit I love and the bit I wasn't getting to do so I'm glad I stuck it out.
The other amazing thing is that I actually just lived away from home for almost 3 weeks :O
Considering a year ago I couldn't even stay a night in Oxford, this is pretty incredible! And I did ok as well...I think I cried once but that's it...and that's amazing for me!
I was with family, I had a comfortable place to chill out, watch tv, people to hang out with...I've realised that if I have that and I can talk to my family regularly (skype is a godsend!) then I'll be ok. I'm starting to realise that moving out properly after university is actually going to be ok :)
In other news: not sure what's happening with my Oxford house for next year...the landlords are selling it and we aren't sure if the new possible owner will want to rent it out or live there themselves. So we're thinking through our options...I can always stay at home....it's weird though, I'd just said that I hoped my placement would be in Oxford so that I could push myself to stay there more and then my house in Oxford is looking dubious, and my placement is probably going to be in South Oxfordshire.
So I'm still trying to work out God's plan here...but I'm ready and willing for whatever comes and I think he will bless me through that.
That's all I think, right now I'm trying to sort out my dissertation and the assignment from my america trip, and holiday club, and social stuff. New Wine is in less than 5 weeks and I'm looking forward to all the things happening between now and then :D
Much love xxx
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Monday, 21 June 2010
over halfway
I am now over halfway through my trip...and that makes it easier to relax and enjoy my time here. When I'm tired and not feeling very well (like I was at 5am this morning) I miss home more. but the rest of the time I'm doing ok :) it helps that I feel very comfortable in Angie's house.
So comfortable, in fact, that Jess and I took over the kitchen and made dinner last night :) Jess is a family friend of the Millers and I met her last year and we hit it off. This year she's actually staying here this week because her housemate is away and that's fun for me to have someone extra to hang out with.
Placement is going ok...I'm still not doing much which is frustrating. In the UK I would take the intiative and say 'these are my skills, I'm good at this so let me do it' (not to sound conceited, but I'm confident in my skills) but over here it could be done differently so I don't want to put myself out there and then get it wrong.
Mostly I've done alot of photocopying and moving boxes and observing the services offered, rather than actually doing much social work. But I've observed enough to get an idea for my assignment and the next few days I should be helping at a summer camp so I should get to do some work with the public.
I'm trying not to worry so much about it and just see it as a learning opportunity rather than as a placement that I need to through myself into 100%.
Since my last blog I've also been to a baseball game, seen Toy Story 3 (great movie by the way!), been to church, watched fireworks, caught lightening bugs, and made chocolate covered strawberries. Lots of fun things :)
It's weird because I'm happy and I'm enjoying myself, but I think that's only because I know in a week's time I'll be home. If I didn't know that I only had a short time left, then I'd find it harder, but because going home is getting closer, it's easier to enjoy every moment.
The plans for this week include: yummy food (one night Jess and I will be making dinner again which has been fun to plan), more placement (hopefully with more opportunities!), manicures and pedicures, movies, a little bit more shopping, and lots of very hot weather (there's a heatwave starting today!).
That's all for now I think
In other news: I might have a placement for next year- please pray that it's the right placement in the right place...it's getting harder to tell what God has planned for me!
Much love xxx
So comfortable, in fact, that Jess and I took over the kitchen and made dinner last night :) Jess is a family friend of the Millers and I met her last year and we hit it off. This year she's actually staying here this week because her housemate is away and that's fun for me to have someone extra to hang out with.
Placement is going ok...I'm still not doing much which is frustrating. In the UK I would take the intiative and say 'these are my skills, I'm good at this so let me do it' (not to sound conceited, but I'm confident in my skills) but over here it could be done differently so I don't want to put myself out there and then get it wrong.
Mostly I've done alot of photocopying and moving boxes and observing the services offered, rather than actually doing much social work. But I've observed enough to get an idea for my assignment and the next few days I should be helping at a summer camp so I should get to do some work with the public.
I'm trying not to worry so much about it and just see it as a learning opportunity rather than as a placement that I need to through myself into 100%.
Since my last blog I've also been to a baseball game, seen Toy Story 3 (great movie by the way!), been to church, watched fireworks, caught lightening bugs, and made chocolate covered strawberries. Lots of fun things :)
It's weird because I'm happy and I'm enjoying myself, but I think that's only because I know in a week's time I'll be home. If I didn't know that I only had a short time left, then I'd find it harder, but because going home is getting closer, it's easier to enjoy every moment.
The plans for this week include: yummy food (one night Jess and I will be making dinner again which has been fun to plan), more placement (hopefully with more opportunities!), manicures and pedicures, movies, a little bit more shopping, and lots of very hot weather (there's a heatwave starting today!).
That's all for now I think
In other news: I might have a placement for next year- please pray that it's the right placement in the right place...it's getting harder to tell what God has planned for me!
Much love xxx
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
two years down, one to go...
So I got my 2nd year results this morning...
B in Mental Health
B+ in Adults and...
double B+ in Placement!!!
I'm very happy!
means I'm currently on track for a 2:1 degree which would be amazing :D
I'm enjoying America :) Saturday I went flying with Colin and I actually got to fly the plane myself, alot of fun! I've had dinner with my friend Jess, been to church, had a manicure...and just chilled out.
Today was the longest day ever...got results, had first day of placement, found out my friend Caitlin isn't coming back to uni next year which just adds another dimension to the issues we're having with our house (i.e. our landlords are selling it) so after I got back from placement I had a long conference call with Caitlin, Claire and T to work through what we're going to do....not sure we resolved anything but it's looking more likely that I might be staying home next year.
Which is ok...it's weird that as soon as I vocalised that I was hoping for a placement in Oxford so that I could be pushed to stay there more, that was when all the house stuff started to happen...still working out what that means.
Placement was good, I enjoyed it, it wasn't amazingly exciting or interesting but it'll be alright for the next 2 weeks and I'm already seeing things I can put in my essay so that's good :)
Elliot got back from England tonight, he's been at mine whilst I've been here. It's weird having a teenage boy in the house again, but definitely makes the day funnier.
That's all I think. It's weird, I haven't had the tears of homesickness yet. I think that's because I've been able to just chill and it doesn't feel like a holiday. Plus I'm taking it in chunks...first weekend, first week at placement, second weekend doing fun things, second week of placement...and last weekend including when I go home. So that makes it easier...
Blog again soon :)
Much love xxx
B in Mental Health
B+ in Adults and...
double B+ in Placement!!!
I'm very happy!
means I'm currently on track for a 2:1 degree which would be amazing :D
I'm enjoying America :) Saturday I went flying with Colin and I actually got to fly the plane myself, alot of fun! I've had dinner with my friend Jess, been to church, had a manicure...and just chilled out.
Today was the longest day ever...got results, had first day of placement, found out my friend Caitlin isn't coming back to uni next year which just adds another dimension to the issues we're having with our house (i.e. our landlords are selling it) so after I got back from placement I had a long conference call with Caitlin, Claire and T to work through what we're going to do....not sure we resolved anything but it's looking more likely that I might be staying home next year.
Which is ok...it's weird that as soon as I vocalised that I was hoping for a placement in Oxford so that I could be pushed to stay there more, that was when all the house stuff started to happen...still working out what that means.
Placement was good, I enjoyed it, it wasn't amazingly exciting or interesting but it'll be alright for the next 2 weeks and I'm already seeing things I can put in my essay so that's good :)
Elliot got back from England tonight, he's been at mine whilst I've been here. It's weird having a teenage boy in the house again, but definitely makes the day funnier.
That's all I think. It's weird, I haven't had the tears of homesickness yet. I think that's because I've been able to just chill and it doesn't feel like a holiday. Plus I'm taking it in chunks...first weekend, first week at placement, second weekend doing fun things, second week of placement...and last weekend including when I go home. So that makes it easier...
Blog again soon :)
Much love xxx
Friday, 11 June 2010
I'm here!!!
I'm in America :D
Flight was pretty good, being at the airport on my own was weird but actually time passed quite quickly and I didn't feel lonely or anything.
Got through security fine although the woman said she didn't know why I needed a visa (me either but the US embassy said I did and I'd like to think I didn't pay that money or go to the interview for nothing!)
Was soooo good to see Angie and we chatted the whole way home :)
I managed to stay up later in the hope that my body might adjust a bit to the time difference but I was still awake at 6am (11am english time) but that was ok because I got to skype Mum & PJ.
It was so nice to talk to and see them, I haven't had a wave of homesickness yet but I'm sure it'll come. Seeing them was much nicer than just talking on the phone.
Today I get to just chill out at the house for the most part, which I'm actually really happy about. Previously on trips because they've been shorter we've crammed everything in, which is good because I got to do lots of things, but meant that I didn't get much time to just settle and recharge my batteries. This time around I have the time to do that and I'm looking forward to it.
Later this evening Jess is coming round (she's a friend of the family that I became friends with on last year's trip, lovely girl!) and we're going to go to dinner and see a movie and then she's staying over I think. It'll be nice to do just a normal friend thing, makes it feel less like a holiday away from home.
Tomorrow is the England vs USA football match, normally I wouldn't watch the football but since I'm here and Angie's son Elliot and his friend Sam are over in England and staying with PJ, it'll make for an interesting match! (Don't ask me how we managed to swap countries, that's just how it happened!)
The weekend is also looking like it's going to be pretty chilled out which is cool, I'm sure Angie and I will find stuff to do :)
Monday I start at placement which should be good, hopefully I'll enjoy it and it'll all work out.
I think that's all to say for now, I'm sure I'll be blogging regularly whilst I'm out here.
Much love xxx
Flight was pretty good, being at the airport on my own was weird but actually time passed quite quickly and I didn't feel lonely or anything.
Got through security fine although the woman said she didn't know why I needed a visa (me either but the US embassy said I did and I'd like to think I didn't pay that money or go to the interview for nothing!)
Was soooo good to see Angie and we chatted the whole way home :)
I managed to stay up later in the hope that my body might adjust a bit to the time difference but I was still awake at 6am (11am english time) but that was ok because I got to skype Mum & PJ.
It was so nice to talk to and see them, I haven't had a wave of homesickness yet but I'm sure it'll come. Seeing them was much nicer than just talking on the phone.
Today I get to just chill out at the house for the most part, which I'm actually really happy about. Previously on trips because they've been shorter we've crammed everything in, which is good because I got to do lots of things, but meant that I didn't get much time to just settle and recharge my batteries. This time around I have the time to do that and I'm looking forward to it.
Later this evening Jess is coming round (she's a friend of the family that I became friends with on last year's trip, lovely girl!) and we're going to go to dinner and see a movie and then she's staying over I think. It'll be nice to do just a normal friend thing, makes it feel less like a holiday away from home.
Tomorrow is the England vs USA football match, normally I wouldn't watch the football but since I'm here and Angie's son Elliot and his friend Sam are over in England and staying with PJ, it'll make for an interesting match! (Don't ask me how we managed to swap countries, that's just how it happened!)
The weekend is also looking like it's going to be pretty chilled out which is cool, I'm sure Angie and I will find stuff to do :)
Monday I start at placement which should be good, hopefully I'll enjoy it and it'll all work out.
I think that's all to say for now, I'm sure I'll be blogging regularly whilst I'm out here.
Much love xxx
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
1 day to go :)
Tomorrow I fly to America :D
hahahahahahahahaha....I'm excited!
I'm very nervous too...I've never flown alone before and never been away from home without my family for this long before. But I'm staying with my godmother and I have a few friends out there now and I have placement and it should be fine. I'm preparing myself for the homesickness though!
Right now however I'm trying to pack...except I have way too much stuff, in particular way too many clothes that I want to take. I'm going to have to do some editing and try and choose the essentials.
I did all my own washing (not a big shock, I do my own washing normally...) and then ironed some of my clothes (definite shock...I never iron...wasn't even sure how to do it!) and now my clothes are sat in piles on my bed waiting to be put in a suitcase.
I am excited, I definitely am, but it's a weird feeling...like panic and stress are in the back of my mind but not quite here yet.
Once I'm there it'll be good though :)
Much love xxx
hahahahahahahahaha....I'm excited!
I'm very nervous too...I've never flown alone before and never been away from home without my family for this long before. But I'm staying with my godmother and I have a few friends out there now and I have placement and it should be fine. I'm preparing myself for the homesickness though!
Right now however I'm trying to pack...except I have way too much stuff, in particular way too many clothes that I want to take. I'm going to have to do some editing and try and choose the essentials.
I did all my own washing (not a big shock, I do my own washing normally...) and then ironed some of my clothes (definite shock...I never iron...wasn't even sure how to do it!) and now my clothes are sat in piles on my bed waiting to be put in a suitcase.
I am excited, I definitely am, but it's a weird feeling...like panic and stress are in the back of my mind but not quite here yet.
Once I'm there it'll be good though :)
Much love xxx
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