Fulbright Exchange!

I am moving to London.

Cheerio! 

I've probably said those words at least a hundred times in the last two and half months, but I'm still not sure if the reality of this statement has actually sunk in. In fact, I think I may still be doubting whether or not this is my life when I touch down at Heathrow in August. But luckily for me, it's true, and this is real. I've never been so excited and scared about something at the same time.

But before I get too excited about Big Ben, black taxi cabs, and British accents, let me back up a bit. On March 29, 2012, I got the most exciting email of my life, notifying me that Fulbright had found a potential match for the Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange program I had applied for months ago. I remember reading the email as I was sitting in my classroom and saying aloud, "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh" over and over again. My poor confused students who were just trying to finish up their "Hamlet" paragraphs darted looks to one another across the room, trying to figure out why I was having a freak out. "London," I said. "I think I'm going to London." And the next words out of my mouth? "I think I need to cry." I quickly printed out all the paperwork the Fulbright office had sent me, abandoned my student teacher to deal with the class, and ran down to the office. "I think I got a Fulbright," I said to our principal, bursting into her office. I honestly didn't believe it could be true; there was no way I could be this lucky. After months of planning and hoping and praying (I applied for the Fulbright exchange in October, had an interview in December, found out I was approved in January, and then just had to wait it out while they looked for a match), I had actually received the answer I had so hoped to get. Together with the office secretaries, we read through the paperwork, and sure enough, it was real. According to the paperwork, I was to trade teaching positions with Ms. Hiltunen at La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls School in London. As long as both she and I agreed to the exchange, and as long as our school's and districts also agreed, the exchange would happen. Luckily for both of us, my school and district are incredibly supportive of Fulbright exchanges, as is her school, so the match was approved!

My new school in London: La Retraite Catholic School for Girls

Fast forward a couple months and here I am, on the cusp of a grand adventure. I've Skyped with my exchange partner a couple times (even got to introduce her to my parents and my friends Reagan and Mike!) and we've emailed a ton. I've also been in touch with some lovely coworkers at my new school, as well as the Head Teacher (principal). They are all incredibly nice and welcoming; I can't wait to meet them in person. Also, my AMHS principal and I attended a wonderful Fulbright orientation workshop in Denver in May where we got to meet some of the Fulbright staff, as well as many of the other American Fulbright teachers preparing for an exchange and some amazingly helpful Fulbright alumni. The workshop answered a lot of my questions (and also made me think of so many more!), and it has really made the whole experience start to sink in. Also, after a ridiculous amount of stress and worry, I've just gotten my Visa, thank goodness! What a pain that was! As of August 1, I'll officially be allowed into the UK as a Tier 5 Government Authorized Exchange Migrant Worker! Woo hoo!

My exchange partner and I decided to exchange housing, which will be so great for both of us. I'm really excited to live in a city, which I've never done before, and her school is just a 20-minute walk from her flat, so I won't even need a car! Sadly, I can't take my sweet dog Pippy with me, but she is heading off to live my parents and her best friend Chance (their wiener dog) for the year. Now my next challenge will be figuring out how to pack up my life into three suitcases. Oh yes, and the impossible task of saying goodbye to my treasured family and friends.

I leave July 30 for a Fulbright workshop in Washington D.C., and after a few extra days of sightseeing with Christy, one of my new Fulbright friends, I'm off to England on August 7, and Ms. Hiltunen will arrive in Auburn on August 4.

Oh my gosh.

This is real.

I am moving to London.