But I need that extra pair of shoes...

It's never too soon to begin thinking about packing. If you start putting aside things now that you will need for the trip it won't be so hard to put everything together when May 19th approaches. Start planning to mix and match clothing so that you will not overload yourself with unnecessary items. REMEMBER, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR BAG! Be comfortable, first and foremost, and WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES!

We will be enforcing a strict one checked bag policy for the trip (plus a carry on and purse/coat). This is for your own good. You will be lugging your bag all around the UK and you won't be able to carry lots of luggage. So, the mantra of the trip will be, pack light, be creative, wash your clothes. You can always pack a few clothes you want to discard on the trip to replace with new finds.

Here's a long, preliminary list of things you will want to pack.

GROOMING NEEDS (small sizes - you can always buy more!)
-Small pack of Kleenex
-Hand sanitizer (travel size)
-Deodorant (small)
-Toothbrush
-Toothpaste (small)
-Shampoo/Conditioner (2 travel size should work)
-Comb/Brush
-Soap
-Skin cleaner (if used)
-Skin, Hand lotion (small)
-Make-up (keep is simple!)
-Razor
-Hair Dryer*
-Hair Curler*
*These things try to share with a friend

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
-Day pack you can use as your carry-on item; select a bag that is easy to carry and keep track of
-Travel Alarm Clock (can share with a friend or use your cell if you are going to carry it with you)
-Small folding umbrella (essential!!!)
-Sunglasses
-Book for reading
-Medium size bath Towel
-Washcloth (you may want 2)
-Plastic garbage bag (for laundry)
-Money Belt or similar

CLOTHING (remember you can buy things as you travel if need be!)
-Londoners wear A LOT of black. Keep your clothing simple. Don’t wear shorts, as it will be cool, and you will also stand out even more as a tourist. Sneakers (or trainers) are also another marker of tourists; decide if you want to wear them or not.
-Coat, preferable one that can have another layer to keep warmer, and water resistant
-Warm layer, such as sweatshirt or sweater
-Underwear (enough to last 5 or 6 days worth)
-Sleeping clothing (bring something that is not revealing but comfortable)
-Socks 5 pair
-Shirts 4 or 5
-Pants (or skirts, etc.) 4 or 5 (one ‘outfit’ might be ‘dressy’ for evening wear)
-Shoes (1 pair everyday that are very comfortable; 1 alternate pair (if wanted) or pair for evening shoes)
-Hat or scarf (if desired)

PERSONAL/MEDICAL NEEDS
-Any prescriptions that you use
-Medicine of any kind taken regularly
-Extra pair of glasses (if you have them); extra contact lenses if you wear them; contact lens solution
-Sun Block (travel size)
-MEDICAL "PACK" consisting of:
-Band-Aids and Mole Skin (for blisters!)
-Favorite antacid (if you use one)
-Antiseptic or ointment such as Neosporin, or bacitracin (you can share with a friend!)
-Aspirin, Tylenol, Excedrin, etc…
-Throat lozenges, cough drops
-Anti-diarrhea medicine
-Chewing Gum
-Small water bottle
-Converter for electrical items (consider sharing with a friend!)
-Watch

STUDY NEEDS
-Journal, Pencil(s), Pen(s) a small set of colored pencils or pens might be ideal – but you decide
-Camera with power cord and extra memory chip
-You may want to bring an envelope to collect items, or some glue to add items to your journal or….???
-Any readings you need to finish up
-Your presentation notes

DOCUMENTS
-Extra Xeroxed copy of your passport
-list of family and friends’ email addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses

A roof over our heads.

You've been waiting to see where we're staying, and here it is! For the duration of the trip we will be staying in hostels to keep our costs as low as possible. You will be sharing a room with up to 7 other students on the trip, and you'll have your own cozy twin-size bed.

All of the accomodations we've book are right in the heart of things. The hostel in London is St Christopher's Inn - The Orient Espresso. This hostel is right in the heart of London, just south of the famous London Bridge. To get to our hostel from Heathrow (the airport), we'll tube (London Underground) into the London Bridge station, and walk to our hotel.

In Glasgow we're staying right in the city centre! Check out the Euro Hostel Glasgow. When we arrive in Glasgow we'll walk to our hostel.

In Edinburgh we're staying in a hostel right in the heart of the city, at the foot of the famous Royal Mile. We'll be staying at the St. Christopher's Inn - Edinburgh. When we arrive in Edinburgh at Waverly Station we'll walk to our hostel, just a short ways away.

Our accomodations MAY include breakfast, but we're still checking on that! Stay tuned.

Meeting Tuesday, February 10th, 7-30 PM - Jenkins 1110

Hi all!

We are getting ready to buy airfare and put down deposits for the trip. We need to meet to talk about details about the trip and to start getting ready!

We are also still looking for a few students to join us on the trip. Students from outside the School of Art and Design are most welcome! Email Annie or I (or post a comment here) if you or anyone you know has questions or wants to join.

We'll see you Tuesday at 7:30!

The Top 24

Hi all! Annie and I have just finished ranking the pre-applications to the England/Scotland Study Abroad Trip. Remember that you MUST apply for the program through the Office of Continuing Studies using this application, put down your $75 non-refundable application fee, and a $500 deposit on the trip by Monday, January 12th, 2009. The deposit is essential for securing our rooms and airfare!

For those ranked below number 20, come January 13th, if the top 20 have NOT filed their applications and paid their fees the remainder of the list may apply for the program! As a reminder, all applicants must have a minimum 2.0 GPA (per the Office of Continuing Studies) to go on the trip.

We ranked the applicants based on degree, program, GPA, and essay. And, here's the ranking!

1. Dan Willett
2. Megan Rohr
3. Travis Bartlett
4. Joseph Grubbs-Hardy
5. Anne Mauser
6. Amber Josey
7. Mary Howell
8. Sarah Fish
9. Christian Dorian
10. Elizabeth Wetzel
11. Kendall Walston
12. Paul Nissenbaum
13. Jennifer Bryant
14. Allison E. Smith
15. Michel Butterfield
16. Malarie Reising
17. Karen Crowson
18. David Little Fichuo
19. Elizabeth Pike
20. Katie Miller
21. Kim Vought
22. Megan Otto
23. Jessica Wrenn
24. Nicole Beasley

Did I miss anything at the meeting?

Hey People!

For those that didn't/couldn't come to today's meeting, here's what went down. We handed out a packet of info that describes the trip in much more detail. We have made a PDF of the document for you to download here. Please print this off, read it, and share it with your family and friends! Also, you can check out pictures from my summer 2008 trip to England and Scotland on Shutterfly here. It has images of many things you'll see during our travels. Take a look and get excited!!!

Survey Monkey : See the previous post for more details!!!!

Passports: If you don't have a passport you will need to get one! For those that are not US citizens and need special visa's make sure they are up to date. Our travel dates are:

May 25 2009 - June 9 2009.

To get a passport application visit your local post office. Kate and I also have them, so email us if you want to come by and pick one up. Or, you can go to the US Department of State to get an application here, or find out about the fees here.

Deadlines : (in chronological order)

Wednesday December 3rd: Last day of classes for Fall 2008

Completion of Survey Monkey. On December 9th check back to the blog to see if you are in the top 20. If not, don't despair! Tuesday January 13th is the day when you have the opportunity to

join the trip if folks in the top 20 haven't registered. First come first served!

Monday January 12th: 2nd day of classes for Spring 2009

Application fee ($75-) and Deposit ($500) due at the Continuing

Education Office. Office 100H East 3rd St (in the Self Help building)

Monday February 2nd:

First $ installment of Trip : $2063 to the Continuing Ed. Office

Monday March 2nd:

Balance of Trip : $2062 to the Continuing Ed. Office

Financial Aid:

For those that know they need to apply for Financial Aid, do not put it off! Demetria Felton is the Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid. Please contact her: feltond@ecu.edu

Some folks asked questions about the Rivers Scholarship. The deadline for this program is February 25, 2009. You can find a link to the application on the right in this blog.

If anyone has questions about the trip, or if you family and friends want more details about it, then add a comment to this post! Annie and I check the blog regularly and will post responses quickly. If you have questions, we have answers.

Remember: Don't forget to do the survey!!

Application Procedure for Study Abroad: Survey Monkey

We will be administering a small survey to gather information about all the applicants (You!) and some information that speaks to aspects of the trip so there will be no surprises. Things such as deadlines, dollars, dates and what you hope to gain and learn by participating in this trip.

Please access the following link to apply by Wednesday December 3rd: Click Here

Once you have filled the small survey, we will be posting a ranking of applicants based on admission criteria to the course blog by Monday December 9th.

Good luck!

Pull it, haul it, carry it...

We are going to be on the go during our trip, hauling our luggage up and down stairs, through Tube stations, onto trains, and through the urban streets of London, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. Packing light will be key (don't worry, we'll help you decide what you need to take and what to leave at home!). I am investing in some new luggage for the trip, because I destroyed my last bag during the summer hauling it across the UK. This time, I'm purchasing a bag that can be carried with a handle, slung on my back as a backpack, or rolled. This type of convertible bag makes hauling all your stuff around much easier, I think. I'm also picking up a new 'day pack' to be used on our Scottish Highland excursion and to be used as a bag to carry around the city if need be. If you're interested, take a look at my wish list.

My new bag:
The Eagle Creek CrossRoads 22

My new day pack:
Rick Steves Veloce