From Shelter to Stuttgart: Amanda's Dream

Guten Tag, meine Freundinnen! Ich heiße Amanda.

I am homeless. 

I am disabled. 

I am queer. 

And I am starting over this fall in Germany. Stuttgart, specifically. I’ve been accepted to ABK Stuttgart, the state art college. I’ll be studying Conservation and Restoration of Multimedia. Film, photography, etc.

This consecutive Bachelor’s and Master’s program will give me the knowledge and training to help preserve history in film, both in still photography (my lifelong love) and moving picture film. They have recently revamped the program to include modern technology and digital video and stills. Anything media that captures images. 

I’ve dreamt of this program for years, but the reality was that I couldn’t afford it. Now I do have flexible income. I’m currently houseless, living in a shelter. I don’t have rent to pay, so I can save up. But it takes time. The political environment here in the US right now was the final nudge from the universe to make this move, as I’m a trifecta of things He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named and his cronies would like to make go away. 

But I need a little help. I drive rideshare, but I need a boost. Help me get my plans in motion. I will be moving a small amount of personal items (only furniture is a few small IKEA items, a treadle sewing machine, and a loveseat. Then a menagerie of boxes and bins. Then my cat Thursday and I will head across the US, and board a ship (I LOATHE flying and she’s almost 9 years old, and I don’t feel comfortable flying her. I also have some heart issues).

My plan is as follows:

-train then QM2 to Germany 

-do either rent-to-own a tiny house in wheels, or some other method.

-parking spot for it lined up.

-get acclimated

-school starts in October.

Ideally, I want to head over in August, but no later than mid-September. I’ll do my best to save up as much as possible, but I need to book my travel ASAP.

Here’s the approximate financial breakdown. I will be adding to my funds as well by working. 

Amtrak to NYC: $1749, three legs. 

Relocating cruise to Hamburg, Germany: $1600, est. 

Transporting my remaining belongings: $4000, est.

Down payment on a tiny house: $5000. https://tinyhouse-world.com/houses/tiny-house-emma/

Rent for a parking spot for house: TBD, but likely not more than 500€/month. 

Buying a Dacia electric car so I can drive Uber there. 

Would you help me achieve this dream? Help me get to Germany and follow my dream?