Started with a cancelled flight, ended with barred entry to the UK for a year...

Well, that was a disaster. (In the words of Inside Out, which was an -amazing- movie!)

Unfortunately I won't be able to go to Edinburgh this summer, which is actually quite a disappointment since I had looked forward to it ever since I heard of the program... I feel it's going to be one of the bigger regrets I have looking back on my experience, is not being able to have done this. The research that I would have been a part of seemed really awesome, and the group members were really nice too... It's really just a shame.

I might be able to go to France instead, but I don't want to get my hopes up again. In any case, something will work out...

...No more Scotland?

Visa application denied. Honestly so discouraged and sad and frustrated right now...

Edit: Just feeling so empty and lost. I don't want your pity, and I don't want to worry anyone, but... I'm not okay.

I'll miss you less than I think I will.

Too many voices, all of them mine...

Thoughts

Second (and beyond) chances should be given, but don't be naive or stupid in giving them. Eventually, it has to stop.

It annoys me when people can't see their own flaws, or present them in a way that seems holier-than-thou without realizing, just because I find myself always acutely aware of mine. 

And there's another one.

***

Got my biometrics taken. Mailed in my visa application. All that's left is to wait (and maybe go back to California. Still TBD).

I got a box of salt water taffy today from Kirsten for always trying to make the department a better place. I feel amazingly loved and appreciated, but don't really know what she was talking about... But if you're reading this and in Princeton, feel free to let me know if you want some salt water taffy!

Oh, all the problems...

Update: Apparently we -don't- actually need a visa, but were supposed to go in as visiting students and not tourists nonetheless so IIP still screwed up in telling us what to do... Or rather, in failing to tell us what to or not to do... Submitted my online visa application, going to my biometrics appointment and submitting the paper copy on Friday, and hopefully it won't take too long after that for my visa to be granted and for me to head back to the UK... I've read reviews saying the consulate takes up to a month to post the passport and visa back even if the decision is granted in a week though, so I'm a bit hesitant...

I'll just try my best to enjoy my time here I suppose, and use it wisely in studying for the GRE or whatnot...

Scotland for a Day

Quite literally. So -after- having my flight not only delayed for 5 hours but eventually cancelled and rebooked to two days later, I finally get to Scotland and find out I don't have the proper visa to enter the country. You know, the visa IIP was explicit in telling me I didn't need. So now I'm sitting in the airport waiting to be shipped back to the US. Needless to say I am quite miffed with IIP and unhappy that 1) I have no idea whether I'll be allowed to obtain a visa now that I've been refused entry, 2) I don't know how long obtaining a visa, if possible, will take, and I'd be losing a lot of lab time as well as time exploring Edinburgh/UK/Europe and 3) I'll have to have multiple more 7-hour plane rides assuming I can even get back to this country.

This is absolutely ridiculous and I have no idea what IIP was thinking, trying to get us to trick customs into letting us in when they knew we needed a visa...

On the other hand, I had a lovely day - my flatmate Luke and Sarah, one of the other interns, took me around Edinburgh a bit and we grabbed dinner and everything. I'm bummed to be going back but I guess it'll give me a little more time with friends (and potentially family as I'll fly back to California if the visa is predicted to take a while) and spare time to study for the GRE...

Congrats Christie and the Class of 2015!

It was a very rainy graduation ceremony but you're done! So so proud of my roomie and all of the wonderful friends in the Class of 2015 that I've made throughout the years. You have all been so amazing and such role models. I can't even thank the PEF seniors and chemistry upperclassmen who have helped me through so much my first three years here. Best of luck with all your future endeavors and may you always remember to give back to Princeton in annual giving! =P