Heartbroken

There are awesome parts about being an expat here in Singapore. I've explored that pretty well here on this blog- the food, the places, the school, the people. There are also things that are a lot harder here than they are elsewhere. See, I'm from a small town in Massachusetts. There are definitely exceptions to this, but for the most part, most kids go to university somewhere in New England. Even though they are "on their own", family and friends are never more than a couple of hours away. 

However, kids here in Singapore don't have that luxury. While some kids go back to Korea or India of wherever they are from, most go to the United States. That's 18 hours away by plane, and halfway around the world for general purposes. It's really exciting to go "back to America". Some kids haven't been back in years. We go from one bubble to another- the Singapore bubble to the privileged youth able to attend top universities in the United States bubble. It's pretty darn cool, when you think about it.

However, Nick flies out on Monday. Today was the last time I get to see him in a long while. 

I have concluded that I have never known heartbreak prior to today. 

SO MANY UNIVERSITIES!

Today has become a college search day, which is the strangest mix of fun, exhausting, relaxing, stressful and altogether time consuming. 

Though I'm considering both the US and the UK, I found researching UK schools to be much easier. They've got this great site called UCAS that's actually practical and easy to use, unlike the multitude of US websites (primarily the College Board). Anyways, today I've found about 9 universities I'm interested in, the top ones apparently being Leeds, Lancaster, Bristol and York. However, there are still loads of universities there, and the more I research the more I find. UK universities cost about as much as an out-of-state tuition per year, though it ranges considerably. Much cheaper than places like Sarah Lawrence that charges $60,000 in tuition alone!

US schools offer a lot of opportunities to take many different classes not tied to your major. However, it takes 4 years to get your degree at a fairly high cost, which is no fun. Then getting your Master's takes another two years....

Hard call, really.


Stupid universities. Why must there be so many of you? Can't you all get together, throw your best qualities in, and make Super University?