El viaje.

So tomorrow's the big day - I'm all packed and ready to go, and only one more sleep separates me from the big move to España. All has gone smoothly so far, although I did have a bit of a scare earlier when I finally got around to weighing my suitcases (yes - plural!) and the scales read 50. 50kg? How could I have packed that much? Is that even possible? So I called my Mum up because I though I was going to have to unpack and down-scale, but luckily it turns out it was reading 50lb. Dear lord that gave me the fright of my life - I was stressed enough! Anyway - crisis averted and all is fine and dandy. I'm a bit nervous to leave - as I've been home for quite a while and have got used to home comforts - but at least I know that it should be a lot easier to settle in in Madrid compared to Russia. My Spanish is better, I've visited before, and it's just more international and therefore more familiar. They'll be Starbucks all around! Anyway, I'd better get back to triple checking the essentials. Hasta luego x

Aaaaaannnddddd I'm back.

Yes, I know, it's been a while. What can I say? I've been enjoying the comfort at being at home, in a country where people speak the same language as me and where the food is delicious. Actually, it's all been a bit of a whirlwind. I got back from Voronezh on the 14th, spent a rather dark Christmas in Kent (power cut!) and before I knew it, I was on a plane headed for Hong Kong on the 28th. I got to spend a week or two there, catching up and enjoying the (slightly) warmer weather before heading back to England, but this time getting off the plane and heading straight to Bath at 5am... fun times. Then, exactly 2 weeks later I was on my way back to Kent to take care of the final preparations before heading out to Madrid this Sunday. If I'm honest, I feel a bit like a gypsy - living out of a suitcase and not knowing where I am half of the time! Nah, it's been great - enjoying English food and relaxing, all ready for the big move. 

In all this excitement I forgot to upload a few photos that I meant to share from Russia - including our graduation party and our last few days there. I think that I've just been putting it off because I couldn't be bothered to write - so it might just be a photo diary with a few captions here and there. Anyway, it all feels a bit like deja vu in my bedroom - a complete shamble of packing and unpacking - I've basically just accepted that my room will be a complete mess until I leave on Sunday. I'm trying to do the same thing I did before going to Voronezh - packing early, leaving it a few days, taking it all out and going through it again and repacking it. It really is the best way to filter down your luggage and only take what you need. Anyway, I'd better get back to packing and sorting, and sorting and packing. Hopefully I'll update you before I leave the UK, but if not, te veré en Madrid!

Isobel

xx

18 days and counting...

I don't really know how to start this all off, to be honest I have been putting off writing this post for a while now in fear that it will get me all worked up and panicky. However, before we start, I will warn you that despite being a languages student, I am actually not that great at writing. Yes, I can tell you about what I've been doing and where I've been, but I warn you now, it will not be witty or charming in any way. It will simply be an overflow of my thoughts accompanied by some (hopefully) great photos that allow me to get away with my dull commentary. 

Anyway, the countdown has well and truly begun - my entire summer has been blissfully spent thinking something along the lines of "Oh yeah, I'm moving to Russia... in a few months". Until now, things have not really felt very real. Well as of 7th August (exactly a month to my departure) things have been seeming very real. If you know me through by beauty blog or in real life, then you will know that the 20kg luggage limit is freaking me out a little. I'm not exaggerating here, I have actually spent sleepless nights trying to convince myself that I only need to take one moisturiser - and it hasn't worked yet! What's more, Katya and I (one of my best friends from uni) have actually decided that we will take 5 nail polishes each, and converse before hand as to insure that we don't take similar colours! It's actually reached a new level of insanity! 

Besides having to live 'light' for the next few months, I am kept awake at night making more lists than you can imagine (my family have actually started to make fun of me!) Being based in 3 different locations (Hong Kong, my family house in London and my flat in Bath) makes life significantly more difficult when it comes to organising oneself. To add to matters, I am currently in beautiful Australia (which I am by no means complaining about!) but I feel a bit like a sitting duck. I can't really do anything here to prepare (and if you know me and how organised I like to be, you will know how much this is killing me!) However, once I hit the ground back in HK, the whirlwind will grab hold of me, so I'm trying to enjoy the calm before the storm here in sunny Australia, no matter how antsy I become. 

Right, I think I have subjected you to enough of my rambling today, but before I leave, let's do a quick status report;

Russian visa... check!

Russian revision.... (very) slowly but surely

Handy packing app downloaded... check!

Until next time!

Isobel

(18 days and counting!)

The Year Ahead

Hey guys,

So as many of you know I have a crazy year ahead of me. However, for those who don't know or want to know more, I have decided to compile this post to let you all know what's going on. So, if you didn't already know, I am studying Russian, Spanish and European Studies at the University of Bath in the UK. As a requirement of my course, the third year of study is a Year Abroad, where I have to spend a minimum of 3 months in each language-speaking country, as well as being abroad for the existing term dates. Over the last 6 months or so I have been planning non-stop and have finally got a pretty good idea of where I'm going and what I will be doing. So, I'm now going to let you guys see what I've been planning...

Ok, so like I said, I have to spend at least 3 months in both Russia and a Spanish-speaking country.

First Semester:

On the 7th September 2013, I am moving to Russia! The flights are booked and the visa application is in progress. I will be moving to a place called Voronezh (Воронеж), which is about 1 hr flight south of Moscow. I will be spending about 3.5 months there and will be studying Russian at Voronezh State University. As you can imagine, this is all terribly exciting yet absolutely petrifying! It's a completely different culture and of course, language, so it is going to be interesting to say the least. I will be staying with a Хозяйка (housewife/host), which will really improve my language skills (which need the help!) My return flights are booked for the 14th December, so I will be back in time for Christmas.

(Source: Google Maps)

Second Semester:

As you can imagine, the second semester isn't quite as planned out yet but I do know where I'm going and what I'm doing. I basically had the choice of going to South America or Spain, and ultimately decided to settle on Spain as I didn't want to pick up and South American Spanish that could end up confusing me. After my trip last summer, I fell in love with Madrid and knew that I wanted to return there. I have applied to study at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, a well know uni in the centre of Madrid. I am slightly less apprehensive about moving to Spain for a few reasons. 1). I speak much better Spanish than Russian, 2). I have been to Spain and am much more familiar with the culture, and 3). It is so much closer to home, both geographically and in ease (eg. I won't need a visa!) I will be moving out there at the beginning of February 2014 and the term ends in mid July, so I will turn 21 when I'm there!

(Source: Google Maps)

So those are my plans. I obviously haven't included everything but if you do want to know more then feel free to leave a comment below or contact me elsewhere.

Until next time,

Isobel

x

Bienvenida!

Hey guys!

Welcome my new blog! This is something that I've been thinking of doing for a while and I finally have gotten around to doing it. One of the main reasons for creating this separate blog rather than blogging on Isobel Rose is to enable me to document my upcoming year abroad, and for you to follow me on my travels!

So, what have I got planned for the year ahead?

JUNE: Barcelona (5 days)

JULY: Hong Kong (3 weeks)

AUGUST: Australia (2 weeks)

SEPTEMBER: Moving to Voronezh (Воронеж), Russia for 3.5 months.

FEBRUARY: Moving to Madrid for 6 months.

I won't be updating on here just yet as I am currently revising for my second year exams (otherwise I won't be going on my year abroad!!), so the first post you will probably see will be about Barcelona. 

Until next time,

Isobel x