Buy plane tickets or keep my kidney?

"Plane tickets are expensive." Thank you captain obvious! "Finding the right ticket at the right price. Kayak, search one and done." Really? No. I have to keep searching and then if I find a good deal I have to check on it everyday to make sure it doesn't sky rocket! I am buying the tickets tomorrow so I need to make sure that I don't have to make a emergency run to the hospital to sell a kidney. :) I do know that buying the tickets will make the trip to Ireland seem that much closer! I have a count down going! 75 days 16 hours 52 mins and 25 secs to go! It's getting closer and becoming more real! I have a friend who is in Europe right now and so I'm going to grab feedback from her about what to pack, things I might need or didn't need to pack.

Today I bought my own luggage! Shopping at TJ Maxx does give you brand names for cheap! I got a 28" Grey and Orange Nautica for $50! I nick named it Nauti! I now have my own luggage, not just using my parents. I feel so grown up! Well if I don't have to sell a kidney I'll let you know.

NAUTI!!

More good news!

I needed to upload a lot of documentation to the Gilman to accept my scholarship by June 6th. A lot. So I freaked and didn't know what most of it really needed, certain forms and what not. I emailed my study abroad adviser and was like, HELP! She was very helpful, we got all of the things I needed uploaded and submitted. I will be receiving the money within 3 weeks. One clause I thought was weird was that I had to fly a US Carrier. Which is way more expensive than Aer Lingus or similar. Oh well, I will still get there. When my adviser and I were just about done she said, can I ask you a question? I said absolutely. She asked if she could set up a press release for me. I was excitedly surprised! She said that since I am the only person in Montana to receive such a prestigious award, she wanted the community to know that it is possible for students to achieve what ever they want academically. There is not a limit to what a student can do. I told her that I would be honored to be in a press release.

In doing research and watching videos about Gilman scholarship awardees I found out that the Gilman is a legacy. Once an awardee, awardee for life. Many students have been invited to parties, embassy, and even the White House. My adviser told me that if I get invited, in the US or abroad, for me to go! She said that it is one of the best things I could do. I definitely think that things are falling together for be better than ever! It was Nov 2013 and I told myself that it would be cool to travel to Ireland and study Drafting. By Jan 2014 I was in the program and filling out paperwork, applications, writing essays and figuring out financial aid. Even with this amazing awesome scholarship I still need more funds to make my trip not put me in further debt. I am doing all I can, more scholarships, fin aid at the university and prayer.

I am sure I will be fine but anything helps. Studying abroad is not cheap, but the experience I will be getting I don't think I could put a price on. I love learning, traveling and most of all architectural drafting! I'm unbelievably excited!

Goodnight