Moving abroad soon, are you? Just finished up college? Grad school? Or just quit your day job? And now you’ve got some time to spare before the big trip?

You’re lucky, they say.  You’ve got time to relax, they say…

Perhaps you’re one of those people that relishes long stretches of free time. Good for you!  That’s fantas! But, if you’re anything like me free time is your nemesis. When I have nothing to do, my mind implodes and I start questioning everything in my life.

 

…EXPECTATION

 

 

…REALITY!

 

Right now, I’m living in my hometown. Now that I’m done with my courses at grad school, I feel really out of place here. Nothing new to see, nowhere new to go. Oh and here’s a guilty confession: Since I only work one day a week as an ESL tutor, my parents are pretty much paying for everything I do. I’m happy that they’re so supportive. But I wish I could be independent; Right now I feel like a large teenager.  One who buys herself way too much Starbucks to boot.

To make matters worse, I hate anticipating the move away from my man. I’m trying to stay positive about the whole situation, though.

Waiting to move abroad just sucks sometimes, to be honest.

If you’re curious about what my hometown is like, take a look at this shot I took when out for a walk on the local greenway:

 

So yeah, I’m kind of in a weird mood and felt like throwing something out here on I Like Airplanes. I hope you appreciate these five To Dos.

 

 5 To Do’s In Your Hometown When Waiting To Move Abroad

(It was going to be the 10 Things, but I couldn’t think of enough.)

1. Avoid all nostalgia-catalysts.  The word “nostalgia” has Greek origins: nostos means a return home and algia means pain. When you’re about to move abroad, these are two things you don’t want, people.

2. Take selfies. The act of the selfie is inherently basic. Yet the perfect nostalgia antidote.

3. Pack. Unpack, repack, repeat. Quandaries are endless.

 

4. Multi-task. Don’t have anything of actual importance to do? Have no fear! You can replicate the feeling of being actually engaged by adding an additional three or four activities to any given task.

 

5. Start studying for the LSAT, GRE, or GMAT. What better way to focus on the bright and prosperous future than to work towards an (additional) advanced degree?

There you have it!