California Dreamin'

So those of you who know what's been going on will know exactly what I'm about to say. For the rest of you Earthlings, I shall fill you in.

Around a month ago (Feb 14th to be precise) the section of students from year 1 wishing to go on exchange for a semester abroad got told where they'd been placed. Now, we all had to pick 3 choices from the list of over 60 partner universities stretched from North America, Europe, Africa to over in Asia and Australia. So, naturally, I think I can speak for the entirety of the exchange module when I say we weren't expecting to get our first choices so it was crucial to get our 2nd & 3rd ones right.

After a very long and draining elimination process I dwindled the pile of possibles down to my three. These were; San Diego State University, Brock University (Ontario, Canada) and the University of Southern Maine.

So there I was, casually going about my non-conformist's day, when my friend text me to let me know the list had gone up. 2 days early! So obviously everyone's rushing to get to the office just to see where they got and I'm there walking along thinking "hell yeah, Canada here I come."

So Imagine my shock when I see this picture;

Name: Antonia Carr

Partner University: San Diego State University

And suddenly I get a whole new meaning to the "holiday" of St Valentine. To say I'd put SDSU down thinking I'd never get it, but still putting it down to say I'd at least tried to get there... My year has been truly made!

So now I'm in the middle of the official application process (I had to do an initial process to apply for the exchange) to SDSU itself and come the 22nd that will be sent off and I'll be waiting on my acceptance letter and visa papers. This gives me ample time to browse through my new purchases!

Naturally a travel guide of the state was a must. So is a travel journal to document and record the whole thing! I've also made the decision to start a vlog so my folks and friends may keep up with what I'm doing. Though this wont start until the process properly starts! My term starts on the 20th August though so it'll be coming round fast!

Until then, I've taken up a new habit of listening to any song with the word "California" or similar in it's name/lyrics. This has formed the catalyst of many happy moods!

For now, 5 months and counting,

A very excited Carrskid,

Rowling's Ecstatic Apprentice!

Backdated Birthday!

Part 1

So, just over a month and a halfish after my birthday, I finally have time to share with you what a joyus event turning 19 was. (Trust me, there's good reason for the delay which you will just have to wait to find out about!)

My birthday naturally had to be split into two parts this year, I was home for my mum's birthday but had to return to university for mine. BUT, this meant I got to split my presents out over the weekend and was also able to have a birthday cake! It happened to be a rainbow cake which, I personally was more excited about than my actual birthday!

However, that was nowhere near as exciting as knowing I would be getting this rather sexy specimen collection of books, which, I had no choice but to open early. They have remained at home and so naturally aren't on my shelf. Which is probably a good thing considering I've had to now take ALL my books off of said shelf due to the predictable less than par student accommodation I current rent and the subtle moisture seeping from my walls. I can't wait to move!

I know, This is the sexiest set of books I've ever owned. I miss them dearly while I'm here at university and often forget I own them. IT's a nice reminder and jolt of happiness to return home to seeing this waiting for me! Despite various people out in the Amazon universe stating they've had problems with the adult versions of Harry Potter, mine appear to be perfect :D How could they not be really?! Following the Harry Potter theme, I also received this amazing necklace from my sister which now has pride of place around my neck constantly. It has replaced Tiffany. But the anything HP related, would. I'd actually spent quite a long time browsing Etsy.com and seen this longing for it and never thought my sibling would have had the same idea. Forever grateful! :)

Part 2

After this already exciting intro to my birthday, I then returned to university the night before the day and luckily, it happened to fall within refresher's week! Still had lectures but they happened to be the introductory ones so managed to spend most of the day shopping and finding something to wear for the night time shinnanigans. Little did I know while I hopped off to attend said lectures, my friends decided to get me the pretty dress I'd intentionally set aside to buy after uni :D I also finally got the giant badge I'd missed out on having on my 18th. Plus jelly belly jelly beans.

I was then also delightedly surprised by my housemates giving me a Tinkerbell mug, it's pride of place currently on my makeshift "dressing table" rather than my shelf. I'm avoiding any chance of my things being ruined by the dreaded burnt orange walls that encapsulate my current life!

So, I can quite honestly say I was pleasantly surprised about spending my birthday over in the west side of the country rather than in the east and had a fantastic few days with some of the best friends and family in the world!!

Naturally, my shelf of interesting things subsequently became bombarded with an array of assorted colourful pieces of card. Normally I don't care much for cards as people only tend to look at them once and then find their way into with the bin or very dark draws for years on end to then be thrown away when the mass 5 year clear out happens. This time, I was very thankful for their presence!

For now,

Carrskid,

Rowling's Apprentice.

Thinking

My dad suggested I search this in Google for a little inspiration on a very big matter playing on my mind. It speaks in many volumes, but I think perhaps I've a different interpretation than the one he was hoping for. Consequence of giving a poem to an English student for guidance.

If you think you are beaten, you are

If you think you dare not, you don't,

If you like to win, but you think you can't

It is almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost

For out of the world we find,

Success begins with a fellow's will

It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are

You've got to think high to rise,

You've got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster man,

But soon or late the man who wins

Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!

- Walter D. Wintle

For now, and still thinking;

Carrskid,

Rowling's Apprentice.

There's NO Place like Home

So I'm writing this now I've arrived home for the christmas holidays, naturally, I'll back track a little.

After our plans to spend the last night of term at the union with everyone, a couple of my friends decided to go home early and so we decided to have a very festive sleep over instead, containing The Holiday and the very handsome Mr Jude Law, 13 going on 30, chinese and finally, snowball, after snowball, after snowball!

On the 16th, my last night in my university house I began packing to leave the following day. For the majority of the night however, my room looked alot like this;

Eventually, I managed to contain the necessary essentials in just two suitcases, two cardboard boxes and my handbag. I'll state now however, half of that was necessary for my side trip to my boyfriend's house for 5 days before making it home for christmas.

I then finally made it home, after a lovely brief encounter with the boyfriend's mother, at around 6pm on the 21st (yesterday), only to be woken this morning by my mother, to help put the food shopping away. Welcome home.

For now,

Carrskid,

Rowling's Apprentice.

Christmas Content

Over the past couple week's I've accumulated a couple new additions to my shelf, typically following the christmas theme given that these were given to me in my last week before returning home for the holiday.

First, I received my very first christmas card from one of my best friends at university :) Obviously this isn't a permanent addition to my shelves but I felt like sharing it with you anyway since I rarely do cards, let alone christmas ones!

My second addition happens to be my very first christmas gift this year from two of my housemates. The bag contains a bottle of black forest flavoured vodka, which they flavoured themselves, along with a stick of kinder chocolate, which happens to be my favourite chocolate! Needless to say, I was surprised and very happy to be given this. I do however have a problem with never consuming these types of gifts because they become rather nice homely ornaments instead.

The third, which I value alot, happens to have been a random gift from another of my friends. Coincidentally, it happened to be something I was minutes away from buying myself, so It's a good job I didn't visit the Yankee Candle shop before meeting up with her on the day! It's the aptly named Christmas Eve candle and I've absolutely adored it ever since my sister bought herself one two Christmases ago. Since then, christmas hasn't smelt right without having this particular candle being lit every day the entire week before the day! Now, not only did I have my own small version for the lead up to leaving university for home, but now I'm back, my sister has bought one of the HUGE jars this year, just to keep the festivities going!

So far, this christmas is slowly getting alot better! Now I'm finally back home, the festivities are flooding in to my door. Quite a contrast from the lack of christmassy feeling back at university, but I suppose that was always going to be a given. There's really no place like home!

For now,

Carrskid,

Rowling's Apprentice.

I'd like to include this post as a general showing off moment of where I live. This lovely find, believe it or not is attached to my campus with just a short woodland walk connecting them, populated largely by squirrels! (never before have I experienced so many of the creatures (makes sense that our mascot is in fact a squirrel) and acorns and oak leaves in one place!) To put it bluntly, I'd never seen an acorn in the physical word, nor an oak leaf (other than drawings obviously) so this excited me ALOT!

The first full weekend spent here was extremely sunny and so I naturally took the opportunity of spending a day roaming round the woods with my camera just to share this with you. I feel extremely lucky to live with this on my door step. Naturally this would be pretty inspirational to those of you who are generally interested in classic novels and wish you were Lizzie Bennet. I personally find it inspirational due to this:

I personally recognise this as my own local scene from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in which he saves Sirius from the dementors. Naturally I found this amazing! :D

Pinch Punch Happy Holidays!

As everyone is aware, it's the 1st of December and officially the start of the annual countdown to my favourite day of the year. Given that yesterday was then obviously the 30th November, I purchased something new for my shelves of interesting things :D my uni advent calendar.

After receiving a message from my mother asking if I'd bought one for here (and informing me she'd bought one for at home) I decided I'd better be quick and get one! It's nice to know mum bought me one too, and when I eventually get home on the 21st I'll enjoy my backlog of 21 chocolates!

Now it's been a very taxing and stressful day at uni so I shall reward myself with my chocolate for today. I resisted this morning so I could take a photo with the image still in tact :)

Merry run up to christmas everyone!

Carrskid,

Rowling's Apprentice.