America With Kimberley!

Planning the trip of a lifetime - to go work in the music industry in Austin, TX.

[americawithkimberley]

OH YES

My sabbatical dates are confirmed, just need a letter from HR to get it in print.

1st Jan to 31st May. America in early Feb.

WOO BLINKING HOO!

[americawithkimberley]

Reservations

Some about going - how long do I go for? Original plan was 6 month, then I wondered if 3-4 months is more appropriate. I need to be able to sustain myself financially and if Mark and I ever get back together *fingers crossed*, it makes sense to make things work.

There's also some reservations to be made - I need to book into the ONLY HOSTEL IN AUSTIN before it gets booked up in January. They're not taking reservations online yet which is rather annoying.

Looks decent enough, and they have all kinds of social events so as soon as I rock up I won't find myself pottering about waiting to start work.

I can't get my visa or flights until October, which is fine - feels way to far away still at the moment. To be honest there's so much else going on in my life I can't really get excited for this, it feels like it's hindrance.

:(

[americawithkimberley]

I just found this video someone make of their internship with Do512 - where I'll be rocking up in January...so excited...(video by Do512Austin)

[americawithkimberley]

This will be me in January!

[dracheofficial-blog]

#austin #texas 6th street was awesome tonight! Coming back soon with friends. (Taken with instagram)

[americawithkimberley]

I love this city so so much. Gonna find me a nice American boy for a green card ;)

[americawithkimberley]

Omg this time next year I will be crispy.

[americawithkimberley]

Approval number 1!

I just had a one-to-one with my manager's manager about a few things going on in our office - nothing bad, just an office move to a new location that nobody is happy about. It's only 10 miles away but that's London Miles, its another 30 mins at least onto my hour journey to work, and it's barely on the tube...

Come November, we'll be working in a UB postcode in an office with no gym, no restaurants, no cafés, no bank, no hairdresser, no Vodafone charging points and probably no barbecue area. AND no nearby pubs. I know, I know - we're very, very spoiled here but after 4 years its become the norm. But in November/December, I'm looking at going away anyway

I dropped into conversation asking if he'd heard I'd asked for 7 months off as a career break and indeed he had. He said it is no problem, and he'll get me a bit of paper saying that I have a job to come back to after my time away! So that's me keeping my options open. Who knows, I may move back to Leeds and save for a flat deposit (one of my key plans) or come back to London for a little bit more work experience first.

SO EXCITED. That's the easy bit done. Now I need to get saving, get a visa, still haven't sorted my contract with my host company in Austin...

[ifeelitall]

Byebye #austin (Tomada con instagram)

[medixcine]

The slightest thing about Texas excites me its hard for you to understand, its hard for me to explain. Best way to put it; it’s like a girl that wants to go to paris she has her motives. I have mine.

People always ask me: whats in Texas, why do I want to go to Texas. Then they give me their know it all statements about Texas just saying their stuff about it.

Inside I say: 

I left my heart in Texas. My heart belongs to Texas. My heart is Texas. My heart says texas. TexasTexasTexas. Texas.

I don’t expect you to understand.

[americawithkimberley]

Teehee, made me smile.

[americawithkimberley]

Oh arse.

I've only gone and got myself a second internship for 10 hours a week at another awesome Texas music institution.

I can't wait 6 months for this.

[americawithkimberley]

[americawithkimberley]

[americawithkimberley]

Looking up train travel in the US, these being the routes available. No wonder everyone flies...and Texas...Texas is so huge. I feel landlocked already when I'll only be 4 hours from the coast. ONLY!

[americawithkimberley]

Coming out.

This week my big secret came out...a few close friends knew about my plans to go to the US, but I spoke to my boss about taking 7 months off, and she's going to look into it - there's the HR policy in place, so fingers crossed.

This meant I could be a bit more open about what I'm doing (obviously I'm ridiculously excited) and also ask people for advice - phew.

I think I'm going to come home to Yorkshire for most of December before I go to spend loads of time with my Mum/brother and visit a few friends in Newcastle too, wahey!

[americawithkimberley]

[americawithkimberley]

Behold, the last time I was in Austin!

[americawithkimberley]