Quick Update

Not much time to update the blog over recent weeks - full-on with work and also this (I directed 'Henna Night' - we go through to the final on 10th June).  

But last night I completed the first draft of my detailed itinerary for America.  Have sent it off to my allocated Mentor for his comments, hoping to meet up to discuss some time after the Jubilee weekend.  

I have also requested details of how to join Servas and successfully navigated my way through the somewhat Kafka-esque application process for ESTA ("If your electronic travel authorization application is approved, it establishes that you are eligible to travel, but does not establish that you are admissible to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Upon arrival to the United States, you will be inspected by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer at a port of entry who may determine that you are inadmissible under the Visa Waiver Program or for any reason under United States law").  

More to follow, especially when I've got a more detailed itinerary locked down. 

To Do

So, the fact that I'm actually going to America is finally starting to sink in, and that means lot of things to organise!

Over the next few weeks I need to;

- Finalise my itinerary and leave from work

- Start to arrange people to stay with

- Begin to make contacts with the companies I want to visit

- Draw up a budget 

- Work out how I'm going to get to and from (and around) each city

I've got a celebration event organised by the Scholarship in a couple of weeks at which I'll be able to meet my fellow 2012 Scholars and also the Trustees and past Scholars - all of whom I hope to be able to ask for advice and guidance on the above.  

It's all getting a bit real!

Going to America: Redux

Brief post, but just to say I had my final presentation and interview yesterday and just got the news that I've been selected as a Nottinghamshire Roosevelt Scholar for 2012.  

Obviously I'm incredibly excited and pleased and not a little trepidatious.  Lots of work ahead of me in terms of sorting a full itinerary and where I'm going to stay.  

More to follow!