yea- STA can definately be more expensive- it depends on how much you are willing to save your sanity- i have a trip coming up in april to paris, nice and rome- and it was a pain in the a** to plan- so using sta for that was a good choice int he beginning b/c they planned everything for us- however- it got to be a headache when we had a lot of problems finding a hostel in rome- we're going over easter weekend- and sta's allotted hostels were mostly booked up- so we would book a place- pay for it- and then *oh wait* you can't have that place for some reason or anything- so basically we got out money back for that hostel we booked through them and found a place ourselves online.... so procede with caution i guess- if you want like a short trip or wahtever- definately do it yourself- its cheaper

exciting but deadly
 

Maybe now isn't such a good time for you to spend time living abroad, hun. Seems like as an American, overseas, you might be target to some undue hostility.

Re: exciting but deadly
 

Hmmm...probably not. I've lived overseas (Germany) for 5 years out of the past 7, and travelled around the continent a lot, and I haven't really experienced any anti-American hostility. No one I know has, either. Sure, you'll run into people who will ask you questions about war in Iraq or why (if) you support Bush, and maybe they'll want to have a little political argument with you, but you find people like that in America, too! Be smart, try to blend with the locals (ie don't dress glaringly like an American), avoid the random anti-war protests, and any American should be fine.

AlphaGamDiva, have you thought about Ireland? I just thought of that b/c England can be really expensive, and Ireland's probably still cheaper, but it's still English language. Do you speak any other languages? You could try to be a tour guide somewhere in Europe (leading the English-speaking tours of course!).

Also, if you're wanting to stay for more time than your visa allows: for a lot of countries, the 3-month or however long limit can easily be gotten around, you just have to leave the country for 24 hours. So if you stayed in England for 3 months, take a weekend trip to Paris, then come back and you'd be good for another three months.

good point
 

yea- thats actually a really good point- i didn't even think about leaving and coming back in- good advice:) and- also- ireland is def cheaper and its tons of fun (so i hear- one of my really good friends was just there for 3 weeks and loves it- she goes all the time) and also- the american thing- yea- i haven't experienced and ANTI- american hostility- i've definatley had people be inquisitive and ask questions- or they might be a little rude b/c they think i'm obnoxious- but after they talk to me- they realize that we aren't at all- so i wouldn't worry too much- travelling to europe on the other hand... with the bombing in madrid- i would be more cautious- but its not like you are going to be targetted- there are tons of americans all over europe esp spain- france- germany etc- so don't worry- just keep your eyes open and be smart:)

and also- those bombings are a terrible and sad event... however- they could happen anywhere- at any time... the fact that E.T.A. is getting more involved in their terrorist activities is a disgusting display of their want for distruction... but to be afraid of them is to let them win... just a thought....

thanks, guys, for all the info!!! i am really appreciative b/c i feel reeeeaaallly stupid about the whole thing.....basically, i wanna pack up and go for a while, but more than a week visit. ya know? i'm not into being a tourist....just kinda wanna soak it all up and work as whatever so i can at least survive.

-sigh-

but i am checkin out those sites and stuff right now....thank you thank you!!!!! :D will def get back to you all for further questions/updates! navane...i'll pm you soon!

Cool! The University of Bristol School of Law is excellent! You would do well to get accepted there!

My department, the Graduate School of Education, is located across the street from the Wills Memorial Building - that's where the Law department is located. I even interviewed for a job at the School of Law as a Postgraduate Admissions Assistant! The Wills Memorial Building is beautiful!! The entrance hall is spectacular and the Law Library is beautiful too! Check out a picture below if you haven't seen it yet.

Wills Memorial Building:


http://members.ispwest.com/navane/willstower.jpg


Wills Memorial Building as seen from a picture I took while atop Cabot Tower. My department is the yellowish building in the lower right corner! :cool:


http://members.ispwest.com/navane/willstowerview.jpg


Definitely PM Decadence and ask him for his advice about the University of Bristol School of Law. He's a law (pre-law?) student at Nottingham Trent Uni, but he did interview at Bristol. I'm sure he'd have some great insight regarding the topic in general.


Finally, do not hesitate to PM me if you have any questions regarding the University of Bristol or Bristol in general. I am just so excited to hear that someone is thinking of attending my university! :D


.....Kelly :)

If you have questions about hostels, let me know - two of my friends have studied in England (one at Oxford, one at City) and both of them stayed in hostels quite a bit. I'm also planning a trip to Europe with an old friend and we'll be staying in them the whole time.

I'm going to hijack this thread because I don't want to start a new one (and I promised James I wouldn't start any new threads as not to burden him)

Anyway, I am applying for British citizenchips (yay for mummy!!!) and I just found out that I qualify for irish citizenship (yay grandad!!!)

I am very excited about this. It's mt dream to move to the UK and now I can do it without a lot of grief. I am very excited and wanted to share.

Also, AlphaGamDiva, what have you found out. Are you going?

Let us know you're plans

I'm bumping this thread because I can!

Also I'd like to know if AlphaGamDiva has decided to go to England or not.

did you ever go?

London is the greatest city on earth - i'd like to move back there again at some point