Free Advice #7
Dear Jessica,
I am in kitty withdrawal and I don't know what to do. I have had three cats in my life, one was put to sleep when I was young and the other two passed away in the last couple of years. The one cat that I could claim as my own has been dead for one year and ten months. I believe that I am ready to welcome a new cat into my life but I don't think that now is a good time. To combat this kitty withdrawal I am looking for alternative ways to include cats in my life. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Your fellow cat friend,
Kari
Dear Kari,
I feel you. Your situation is definitely a hard one. My cat passed recently, and though I immerse myself in cat blogs and see cats all the time on the streets of New York--its not the same as having a kitty of one's own. However, you saying that now is probably not a good time is a very mature and its really good you can recognize that. Cats are a big responsibility and require both love and care. They also don't usually like being moved around a lot and since you are still in college, you probably won't be where you are now for too much longer. Still, knowing you are mature does not make cat withdrawal any easier.
I think there a few things you can do. Cat withdrawal, at least for me, comes in a at least two parts. The first part is missing taking care of another creature and the second part is missing that warm body next to you when you sleep and the love/boredom in its eyes when you are petting it. Cats are sassy! To fulfill the first need, you could always get a low maintenance pet--like a fish. I have a fish and he's pretty sassy. Not quite like a cat, though: he doesn't fulfill that second need. For that I think you have two options: find a friend with a cat or find a cat to cat-sit. Good luck!
--
Dear Jessica,
I'm very confused about what to do in my life at the moment. I have been studying abroad for more than 5 years, moving from one country to the other. I did 1 year of degree in fashion design and then realized that graphics and illustration was something I was more interested in, and since I was quite sick of where I was, I decided to take a year out and moved to Paris, thinking maybe I might be able to study art there instead of going back to London. Recently I found out that I got accepted to a college (in Paris) which was very competitive and hard to get in. But I'm quite shy and not so talkative. I'm really worried about talking and communicating to the others who would be mostly French. I also have the choice of going back to London and continue my study in graphics.
Lately I find myself asking the same question over and over--should I just 'go with the flow' and stay here so that at least I can improve the language and study art? I guess its never a waste of time to study any foreign languages, even if I'm not that interested... or should I go back to London, sacrifice everything that I've done so far here, pay that much amount of money and finish my degree (2 more years for me). I do know that the college in London is supposed to be very good, it's got good reputation and great staff especially for that particular course. I know what the education would be like. However, I know nothing about the college in Paris. I just know it's quite prestigious in the art and design field, but the education would probably be very different. I think whichever way I choose, I'll probably learn something new and worthwhile. But since I can't choose both, it's been very hard deciding!
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Your situation sounds tough--but it sounds like you have a good attitude about it. No matter what you do, you will learn something new and worthwhile and it will be a good experience in one way or another. However, its good to remember its never too late to change your mind, especially about things like this! Just because you have spent the last year in Paris and learning the language, you do owe it anything. The same goes for the school, too. No matter how good it is (congratulations for getting in, by the way!), if you don't feel like it is for you, you don't owe it anything either.
Just from reading what you wrote me, it sounds like you might be happier back in London. It sounds like you feel more comfortable there and you not only know what to expect from the school, but you know it will be challenging. These are all good things. Also, you may end up appreciating London more after being in Paris. However, there is still the issue of the graphics courses you were sick of. Is there any way to take more arts-oriented courses if you return--or do you have to do exactly what you were doing before you left? Those are good things to keep in mind. Going back to London could be good, as long as you make sure you don't feel trapped again like you did when you decided to move to Paris in the first place.
As for staying in Paris: it could get good, too! Even though you are shy, I'm sure you French is not so bad (it is for sure better than mine). And if the school is a lot cheaper, you can always stay for a semester and see if you like it before deciding what to do. It sounds like you can return to London when you want--its not on a schedule. It will always be there. Hm. Maybe this is getting more confusing than helpful. I think there are a few things you need to think about for yourself, in this order:
1. Where will you feel most comfortable?
2. Which school will offer you with what you want to do?
3. Money
Note: I believe money should always come last. I'm by no means rich and never grew up that way, but I think that the other two things are more important when deciding what to do with your life! I'm sure no matter what you do--you will be fine. :)
--
P.S. Sorry this is a day late!
P.P.S. I've been thinking how to best wrap this advice thing up. My first thought was to put an anonymous form on the website so that people could write in more easily--but then I think that might let this go on forever. My second thought, which I am going to do is this: so right now I'm at my seventh week of answering questions--when I reach week 10, it's over. If you want to ask something and have been holding it in, ask now or forever hold your peace!
I am in kitty withdrawal and I don't know what to do. I have had three cats in my life, one was put to sleep when I was young and the other two passed away in the last couple of years. The one cat that I could claim as my own has been dead for one year and ten months. I believe that I am ready to welcome a new cat into my life but I don't think that now is a good time. To combat this kitty withdrawal I am looking for alternative ways to include cats in my life. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Your fellow cat friend,
Kari
Dear Kari,
I feel you. Your situation is definitely a hard one. My cat passed recently, and though I immerse myself in cat blogs and see cats all the time on the streets of New York--its not the same as having a kitty of one's own. However, you saying that now is probably not a good time is a very mature and its really good you can recognize that. Cats are a big responsibility and require both love and care. They also don't usually like being moved around a lot and since you are still in college, you probably won't be where you are now for too much longer. Still, knowing you are mature does not make cat withdrawal any easier.
I think there a few things you can do. Cat withdrawal, at least for me, comes in a at least two parts. The first part is missing taking care of another creature and the second part is missing that warm body next to you when you sleep and the love/boredom in its eyes when you are petting it. Cats are sassy! To fulfill the first need, you could always get a low maintenance pet--like a fish. I have a fish and he's pretty sassy. Not quite like a cat, though: he doesn't fulfill that second need. For that I think you have two options: find a friend with a cat or find a cat to cat-sit. Good luck!
--
Dear Jessica,
I'm very confused about what to do in my life at the moment. I have been studying abroad for more than 5 years, moving from one country to the other. I did 1 year of degree in fashion design and then realized that graphics and illustration was something I was more interested in, and since I was quite sick of where I was, I decided to take a year out and moved to Paris, thinking maybe I might be able to study art there instead of going back to London. Recently I found out that I got accepted to a college (in Paris) which was very competitive and hard to get in. But I'm quite shy and not so talkative. I'm really worried about talking and communicating to the others who would be mostly French. I also have the choice of going back to London and continue my study in graphics.
Lately I find myself asking the same question over and over--should I just 'go with the flow' and stay here so that at least I can improve the language and study art? I guess its never a waste of time to study any foreign languages, even if I'm not that interested... or should I go back to London, sacrifice everything that I've done so far here, pay that much amount of money and finish my degree (2 more years for me). I do know that the college in London is supposed to be very good, it's got good reputation and great staff especially for that particular course. I know what the education would be like. However, I know nothing about the college in Paris. I just know it's quite prestigious in the art and design field, but the education would probably be very different. I think whichever way I choose, I'll probably learn something new and worthwhile. But since I can't choose both, it's been very hard deciding!
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Your situation sounds tough--but it sounds like you have a good attitude about it. No matter what you do, you will learn something new and worthwhile and it will be a good experience in one way or another. However, its good to remember its never too late to change your mind, especially about things like this! Just because you have spent the last year in Paris and learning the language, you do owe it anything. The same goes for the school, too. No matter how good it is (congratulations for getting in, by the way!), if you don't feel like it is for you, you don't owe it anything either.
Just from reading what you wrote me, it sounds like you might be happier back in London. It sounds like you feel more comfortable there and you not only know what to expect from the school, but you know it will be challenging. These are all good things. Also, you may end up appreciating London more after being in Paris. However, there is still the issue of the graphics courses you were sick of. Is there any way to take more arts-oriented courses if you return--or do you have to do exactly what you were doing before you left? Those are good things to keep in mind. Going back to London could be good, as long as you make sure you don't feel trapped again like you did when you decided to move to Paris in the first place.
As for staying in Paris: it could get good, too! Even though you are shy, I'm sure you French is not so bad (it is for sure better than mine). And if the school is a lot cheaper, you can always stay for a semester and see if you like it before deciding what to do. It sounds like you can return to London when you want--its not on a schedule. It will always be there. Hm. Maybe this is getting more confusing than helpful. I think there are a few things you need to think about for yourself, in this order:
1. Where will you feel most comfortable?
2. Which school will offer you with what you want to do?
3. Money
Note: I believe money should always come last. I'm by no means rich and never grew up that way, but I think that the other two things are more important when deciding what to do with your life! I'm sure no matter what you do--you will be fine. :)
--
P.S. Sorry this is a day late!
P.P.S. I've been thinking how to best wrap this advice thing up. My first thought was to put an anonymous form on the website so that people could write in more easily--but then I think that might let this go on forever. My second thought, which I am going to do is this: so right now I'm at my seventh week of answering questions--when I reach week 10, it's over. If you want to ask something and have been holding it in, ask now or forever hold your peace!
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