Amelia Bradshaw studies abroad

August 2076, Andy and Claire Bradshaw are 51, Amelia is 21.

(This post is part story update/ part gameplay notes on studying abroad!)

Claire reads in the news that Lakeside Heights' financial experts are predicting an economic downturn in the coming years (courtesy of slower skilling by corduire at MATY) where it could prove to be very hard to find good jobs. Andy and Claire feel that since they can afford it, they want Amelia to have every opportunity she can.

Lake City University has begun a brand new study abroad program with Takemizu Academy in Takemizu Village. Students will enroll for a year-long course, costing $6000 (compared to $3000 a year at LCU) - airfare, lodging, and food is additional. But the hefty price assures a studious and relaxing atmosphere where students can focus their attention and excel!

(study abroad is made possible thanks to base hood university mods by Lion (and Argon) at MATY)

Andy and Claire break the news to Amelia over dinner, and Amelia is not happy about it. The problem, as they expected, is that Alon can't afford to go abroad with her. This isn't a problem as far as they're concerned. They don't think their daughter needs to be tied down, especially at this tender age, and especially to the kind of guy who would mess around with his girlfriend's cousin.

Much crying ensues.

With flamboyant hand gestures, Andy is able to convince his daughter that there is a whole wide world out there, and that Alon will still be here when she gets back. Amelia finally agrees to go.

Amelia moves into the Offices for Study Abroad on the LCU campus.

(This is just a simple 1x1 lot, a resting stop/gathering place for all the students who will be studying abroad in the year. I have my study abroad students living in their own residence so that when they go away, there won't be other students unable to be played left at home. Also this enables students who might not know each other well enough yet to go on the same trip together, which they would not be able to do otherwise. Make sure you book a long enough trip for the amount of semesters you want to play. I use the 6 night/7 day trip for two semesters.

Before the trip, each student should be equipped with one of Inge's electronic prisoner tags, so that they aren't caught wandering around the neighborhoods when they should be half a world away. You'll want to do this before they leave, because if your residence is a hotel, you wont be able to access their inventory while they're there.)

Amelia says goodbye to Alon. There is kissing as well as promises of "I'll call you every day, every hour, every minute!" And of course, since a year apart is a really long time, they make time to say goodbye properly ;)

Awww, don't look so sad, Amelia. You're going to have a blast!

(setting up for study: Amelia's hotel room has a computer already where she can write her term papers, and room to spawn her a semester tester. Her semester bar will turn into a vacation bar, but that's okay because you can mark time by the semester tester popup. Don't forget to place the gold record!

(the essential hack closet!)

To get the reward items and other residential only items like the college adjuster onto these foreign community lots proved to be quite tricky. I had the lot zoned as a residence, had LCU's university president buy the lot as a vacation home, unlockcareerrewards a bunch of times, place the items there, stay-things shrub before she sold the lot back, enter the lot again and change zoning to community)

note: if you place a gold record on the community lots where they'll be visiting, they can even go to class from community lots just like on the real uni campuses.)

Takemizu Academy exists on two lots, the residence hotel, and the college hall. Students are also free to wander the rest of beautiful and quaint Takemizu Village.

Courses offered at Takemizu Academy include: visual arts, drafting, music, classical dance, science research, medicine, robotics, speech, botany, astronomy, agriculture, toy crafting, flower crafting, and sewing.

Benefits provided to Takemizu Academy students include: spacious rooms each with its own computer and bathroom, a quiet patio in the back where students can relax and enjoy a cup of tea, fully functioning communal kitchen, housekeeping (or shall I say worthless housekeeping?), and students in Takemizu Village are permitted 72 hours per semester whereas LCU students only get 48.

So Amelia settles into life here at Takemizu Academy, goes to classes, does her assignments, works on her term paper, and will take her final, just like at home.

And she calls home to tell Alon how much she misses him.

You just might even have a coach stop by and tell you to work out while you're having tea, or encounter a visit from streakers, mascots, or cheerleaders. I don't mind them at home at LCU, but at Takemizu Academy, I ban them with the visitor controller, because it's just not that kind of place :)