Diary entry 10 - im going to america!?

So in my last blog I wrote told you guys that I had this crazy idea of going to America, then I talked about it with my boyfriend, and he seemed to have a lot of problems with it, so i just kinda threw it away. But he kept talking about it like "I can't wait till you get here" so I was like oh- he is fine with it? Well, I mean I have the money and most of the paperwork, I just can do it.

So I started doing research. I wanted to go to Tennessee for sure, but which city? Nashville is the most interesting, but also most expensive. It must be a city with an airport and public transport (yeah, I'm not used to it that there are just places without public transport?!?!)

so Nashville was kinda the only option, there is a small train in Nashville tho, so I looked where that went, and maybe it would be cheaper to book a hotel there + the train costs than being in the center of the city. But no, it was the same price over there. So then I rather sit in the city. 

Now that I have a city, I needed to know how long? I can take a max of 3 weeks free from work. I probably need a day off after the trip to die from jatlek. And how long can I go with the amount of money I have. Also, I'm probably gonna get home sick, since I got that in Brussels after 4 days. Not really that I wanted to go home. I just didn't feel safe in the hotel and city, so I longed for a safe feeling. That hotel there was in the worst neighborhood, but more about that later. So I decided 1,5 weeks. Then I talked about it with my family, and they were like, "what?! No, you should go at least 2!! It's America, it's far away!" so I agreed. I'm going 2 weeks

but when will those 2 weeks be? Well, I wanted to go in May because I can't handle hot weather, so June - September might be too hot. But I already had a concert planned of IC3PEAK in the middle of the month, and I have work at church which I can't get free from, I mean I can, but it's only once a month that I work there, and I can't go the whole church will be cancelled, since I'm irreplaceable there. So after that would be end may, beginning June. Which would give me about 6 weeks to plan this all. Which is good because I don't have a passport and idk what else I need.

Then I looked for transportation, since me and my boyfriend both don't have a driver's license. (like over here in the Netherlands, I don't need it. I can get literally everywhere by train, bus, bike. Not just everywhere in the country, but like everywhere in Europe)

but in America that's different, so Nashville has busses, and you can get a week ticked for 20 dollars, which is a steal honestly. So I need 2 of those.

Then I had to look for hotels, so I went to booking sited, but that was confusing, so I just went on Google Maps, and looked for places with a kitchen, since going out to dinner every day would be very expensive. But there were rarely places with a small kitchen. So then I looked for breakfast included. And I found some hotels. My price range was max 85 euros per night, for 2 adults. 

Also, it had to be close to a buss stop.

My brother recommended to look at Airbnb, but I didn't really trust that. I took a look anyway, and I found this place that was a whole private apartment with kitchen and garden and shit, and 15 minutes from a bus station, 95 a night but bro, a whole ass apartment???? It didn't have a lot of places left and was booked full. I immediately wanted to book to claim the open days, but I didn't even ask free from work yet! And if work says no, you don't get all your money back, since you had to pay immediately. 

So I massaged this man and asked him if he could keep the day's reserved for me for a week, so o could ask free from work. And he said okay! I immediately asked to work for 15 pays leave days. And the next day I got an okay! So I booked this guy immediately. Also, on Airbnb o could pay with iDEAL, which is the easiest way for Dutch people to pay online, I also have a PayPal, but that's it, no credit card. 

So I got a hotel! For only the second week…

So next I thought it was a good plan to look what paper work I actually need to get done, I applied for a passport in my city, which I will have to go there to make in a view week, and then it will be done a week later, this will cost about 75 euros. Next, I don't need a visa, but I do need an ESTA. Which is a form that shows the border control why I want to be in this country, and proof I will not be looking for work over there, getting that was 14 dollars. And it got approved pretty fast.

I also need proof of my doctor, so I can take my testosterone with me in the plane. And I need a paper proof of vaccination for corona (since you guys don't use the app we have over here in Europe 😩) then I also need a negative corona test. anddd I will have to get a new facemask. I keep forgetting you guys still have corona there like bro, just don't. I will be getting a booster vaccination before I go, just to be sure.

Now that I have that, I do need to actually get there, by plane. I'm going from Amsterdam to Nashville, but you need an in-between stop. And the trip will take between 12-15 hours. With the time difference, it's also really weird. Like ill leave at 10 and I'm at my first stop at 12 AFTER 9 HOURS OF LYING. So funny.

But on the way back I will leave at 11 am and will be home 8 am the next day!!! My whole day will be in the plane just because of the time difference! It's a 7-hour difference btw.

So I just found my plane ticked in Google Flights, and I will go with "American Airlines" 

then I went to look at another hotel for the first week, but they upped their prices in the meantime :(

so I started looking for something else. 

Then my boyfriend has found a place, next to a buss station, and free breakfast. For the same price. I'm not gonna tell the name yet, dont want any stalkers or anything, but ill give all details when I'm back. But on this site I could only play with credit card. So I asked my brother for his credit card.

I probably should get a credit card.. I'll look into that.

And I need a charger changer or something since you guys have different electric outlets, so I can't use any of my chargers there. 

Then I need a new suitcase. One with the right sizes. I get to take a suitcase and backpack with me.

A travel insurance.

A VPN.

See if I can get an American phone bundle.

And I want and extra battery for my camera. 

and thats all so far :)