The Philosopher Abroad

It’s been kind of an exciting and stress filled time preparing to leave. There have been quite a few questions: would my visa get back in time? There was a bill attached to the health care bill which modified rules on the way financial aid is distributed in the U.S. As a result, I didn’t get to apply for my visa until the beginning of August and finally received my visa with four weeks to spare. Talk about cutting it close! Then, I find out the accommodation office at school didn’t know for sure I was coming and, as a result, hadn’t allocated accommodation for me. Lucky for me, there was still plenty of space left, and I received information on where I will be living for the next year.

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Kind of nice, as I’ll be right in the center of the city close to both school and everything I could want in Sheffield. Plus, I’ll be close to the train station so I can make a quick exit to anywhere I want to go should I get bored.

So everything is finally working out and now comes the anticipation of just waiting. Sometimes I think this is the worst part of all because I know what’s just around the corner and can’t do anything but wait. Whatever comes will come, though, and all I can do is try to be at least a little patiend, if that’s possible.

I’ve been on the road before, but this time feels different. I’m nearly thirty. I’m preparing to enter the fourth decade of my life, and will do so this time in England. I want, more than anything, to be on the road. Yet I’m having mixed feelings about the whole thing, I must admit. Everything’s much more uncertain this time than it was last time. I’m leaving friends and I’m leaving everything I know and love, possibly for good.

Yet, deep down, I know this is something I have to do.

I belong on the road; I decided that a long time ago. When I’m on the road, I experience an intoxicating sort of freedom that I cannot achieve at home.  I feel like I can do anything at any time and be anything. It’s one reason I’ve picked a career path with a built-in three month vacation every year.

I’m nervous for many different reasons, but I know I can handle it. At this point, it’s merely a game of waiting out the next four weeks. On 17 September, I leave Louisville.

Cleaning out my storage shed where I’ve been keeping the accumulation of my material possessions from my 20s for the last few years has made it all hit home: it’s really finally happening. It will be an adventure, that’s for sure. I’m ready for it, though.