So, uh...Two weeks left, huh?

13 days, to be precise. Either way, that's just impossible! The Year Abroad is something we were told about before we even applied for the course, and we've had the last two years to build up to it, but it's not something we ever thought would actually HAPPEN! Saying "When I'm on my Year Abroad,..." is like saying "When I go to Narnia,..." or "When England wins the Olympics,...", it just doesn't seem like something we'd ever actually see.

I suppose I should have seen the hints coming, though.

I mean, it wasn't for nothing that I went through the lengthy visa application process, after all. It wasn't for nothing that I shelled out £100 for an HIV test* which I would have had done way earlier if anyone had had the SLIGHTEST suspicion that I was a carrier. It wasn't for nothing that I filled out every foreign country I've been to in the last 10 years (with dates!) which was especially troublesome thanks to my (admittedly amazing) Interrailing trip at the start of summer.

But the idea of actually living in Russia, speaking, reading, eating, breathing Russian is just...

Actually, I guess it's not all THAT unbelievable. I'm not going to Ankh-Morpork or something, Russia IS a place which exists...

But again, it's the notion that it was always still so far away, right until it suddenly wasn't.

Am I feeling scared? Anxious would be a better word... Do I feel like I'm going to embarrass myself unbelievably at my first social encounter? You bet! But I'll be damned if I didn't think it'd all be worth it. I don't believe I've heard a SINGLE person tell me that the Year Abroad wasn't their favourite bit of the course or, at the very least, that they didn't thoroughly enjoy it. (And that's saying something, apparently someone I know's friend had to go through an appendectomy while in Moscow and the surgeon seemed...Less than professional. Several shots less than professional, let's say.)

So here I sit, considering how best to spend the next 11 days (not including today or the day I travel down). I like to think I'll spend it productively; revising my Russian, organising everything I could possibly need to, spending precious moments with friends and family. Though honestly, I'll probably just while it away watching Youtube videos and napping. And that's OK, I suppose, since I sure as hell won't have the time to do it while I'm in Russia! (Not if I'm doing my Year Abroad right, at least.) And besides, I need time to relax before the sudden upheaval this year will undoubtedly bring. So, with that in mind...

Bring it on!

Joe

* I have learned from Mr William Brockbank that there is, in fact, a far FAR better method for Northern types to get an HIV test: Book a train ticket to London WAY in advance to take advantage of cheaper fares, make your way to the Mortimer Clinic and you can get the test done for free, with instant results AND, for those of you what have trouble being poked with metal, the blood test is taken quickly and easily from the tip of your finger. Would've been nice to know that in advance, honestly...But hopefully someone else can make good use of this information!