Cross-Country Runner

I booked my flight to London yesterday. I seriously cannot believe I’m leaving in just a little over a month. I have to admit I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. I still have to figure out how I’m going to handle finances. I don’t have a visa yet (though I have an appointment Wednesday to get my biometrics taken.)

I’m also in school fulltime. I have papers, and final exams, and I’m trying to work on law school applications. Not to mention, I haven’t even started packing. How do you pack for 6 months, to live in a country you’ve never even been to before?

I’m also really nervous about being so far away from my family. Mom being sick really woke me up. I rely on my mother a lot. She’s my best friend. I call her 3 times a day to ask her advice, rant about random things, and tell her I love her. When I was living in Washington, D.C. it was difficult being far away from her but I could still call her whenever I wanted without worrying about there being a time difference. I could go home to visit on a whim if I really got homesick. I won’t have the option to fly back to NYC when I’m getting sick of the rain and silly accents. I’m going to have to fight off the bell jar and its stifling distortions all on my own.

I’m not scared about living in a new place. That’s the part I’m the least worried about. I’m not worried that I don’t know anyone in London. Not knowing anyone has never stopped me from moving somewhere before, in fact, it’s what excites me the most. I get to start over, make new friends, and I have the opportunity to implement the lessons I have learned from old mistakes. For me it’s the anticipation of leaving that’s the worst.

Despite my nerves, I’m really excited that it’s almost time for me to go. I know I’m going to be fine and I’ll work out all the important details. This is how I get before every trip/move. I panic. I try to think about ways to back out. I cry. Then I get on the plane and I finally relax.

Until I get on that plane, I’m going to try my best to calm down and take in all the things I know I’ll miss about NYC and spend as much time as possible with all the people I know I’ll miss here.

*Expat readers: Do you have any advice on how to deal with the pre-move jitters?*

Sorry I haven’t written in the last couple of weeks. Life was hectic; my mother was very sick. Seeing her in pain, lying on the hospital bed was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I was planning on canceling my trip to London if things didn’t get better but luckily they did. She’s going to be okay. Thank God! I love you Mom!

Now that I’m back and the weather in New York is getting colder I thought I’d share my favorite fall recipe with you, pumpkin bread!

I hope you enjoy it.

Pumpkin Bread

1 ¾ cups of flour

1 ½ cups of sugar

¾ tsp salt

¾ tsp cinnamon

¾ tsp nutmeg

1 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

½ cup of vegetable oil

1/3 cup of water

1 ½ cups of pumpkin

¾ cup of nuts, raisins or chocolate chips (Use whichever you prefer. I always use chocolate chips.)

1. Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl
2. Add the rest of the ingredients

3.  Mix with an electric beater for 3-4 minutes.

4. Coat a bread pan with butter flavored non-stick spray

5. Fill pan about ¾ of the way with the batter.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. It may take a bit longer, stick a toothpick in the center of the bread   to test if the center is still wet. It should be moist but solidified.

It tastes the best when it’s warm!