Of course I'm at work right now, but I enjoy it. I am working on football graveyard shifts to basically babysit the Oregon State University Football players while they have football camp. I'm working a lot but in 40 days, 8 hours, 25 minutes and 54 seconds I will be mucho happy that I have been working so hard. Right now, as in right now, the United Kingdom Pound is $1.64 to 1 which is great! I will take it! I've been doing a lot of worrying lately about what how I'm going to figure out all of my costs when I get there. mostly concerned with how I'm going to pay rent and tuition because I only get loans 3 times a year. However, I've done a lot of talking with the University of Aberdeen over the phone and through emails to different departments and I have finally gotten everything straightened out! They will work with me as an American student and my 2,000 GBP scholarship will be automatically applied! One of my greater friends who is working on her Masters from Royal Holloway University in London, has really been me out a great bit on understanding how her loans worked and how mine should. I LOVE STACEY! as much as I've been worrying about everything its still nice to have someone by who has gone through the same thing so she has calmed me down quite a bit! So the biggest thing I am worried about now is getting my VISA and getting my passport and supporting documents back from the UK Consulate. other stuff is small beans compared to that.

Hilary who has got to be one of my bestest friends ever (I know.. it sounds juvenile but its how I feel) poor girl has been getting the brunt of all my worries.. not that I'm taking them out on her but I'm whining a lot. but getting a VISA is sad/long/angry work. but so rewarding after that way I can enter another country and not have to worry as much as getting turned back.

Needless to say I am getting really excited to get to the point of where I am actually going to be leaving. There are a lot of things I want to take with me but I know I'm not going to be able to. I may have to ship myself some of my books that I need but I'm really trying to downsize. Plus I have to worry about getting a storage unit and I have to move everything I own before I leave. so I will be living out of a suitcase for a little bit but thats ok!

I have a huge feeling that everything is going to be extremely hectic once I get there and in a way I wish I was leaving earlier but I think that September 21st is a good date. I am also really excited to be doing correspondence with James Cassidy (an amazing prof at O.S.U.) about what I am learning in Scotland in comparison to what I've learned here in the U.S. and also just to inform. I think it will be really awesome for OSU soil students to hear and see what goes on in other countries because the soils classification system we use here is NOT international. A lot of people think that it is but nope it's very different each place you go. the UK alone has 4 major classification systems for soils depending on what region you are in. so this will be quite an adventure!

Things I am super excited about:

• ASDA carries refried beans.. Old El Paso brand! I wont have to bring any!
• Christmas in a different country!
• My birthday will probably be spent alone but I have lots of plans to go to museums and have a day on the town
• fish markets! I don't eat fish but I like to walk through fish markets.. It reminds me of Seattle's Pike Place
• having millions upon millions (extremely exaggerated) of coins.

anyway.. I better do something with my self and come out of the clouds goodmorning to Oregon! Oh and I'm glad it rained finally!