Leaving Marietta has been harder than I thought. I'm not quite out yet. I will be making the 500 mile/9 hour trek back home tomorrow.
Finals are done.
I am approved for my visa.
My classes are scheduled. The middle of the week will be really hard but I have no classes on Monday and one on Friday. That will make some room for travel time which makes me happy :-).
I started my count down to Australia calender yesterday.
My room is finally packed up and in the room after three days. While doing this I realized that my big suitcase may not be big enough for me while I am there. I will probably be looking for one when I get one, whether to borrow or buy I don't know, but probably borrow if I can.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
29 Days
Lots to update on.
First, had an awesome 21st birthday filled with Australian Wine, count down calendars, Aussie money and bar hopping kangaroos.
Last Tuesday, December 1st (My B-Day!) I had a meeting with the three main people in the MC Study Abroad Office. There were 6 out of the 12 total people planing to leave next semester at the meeting as well. Included was one of my sorority sisters that is also planning to study abroad. They gave us a lot of paper work to fill out, along with a lot of other general information about culture shock and what is considered appropriate and inappropriate in other countries. Also we were given some information about our specific countries and how to keep ourselves safe.
I applied for my visa last Thursday. The website said that it takes about 48 hours to get approved so I should find out tomorrow if I am approved. Also if i get to be randomly selected to have a medical exam before I leave.
On Friday the 4th was the my last day of classes before exams. It was also the day that my sorority sister and I threw a "Send Off" so that we could have a last time to hang out with our friends in a relaxed environment. It went off pretty well and I think that everyone who was able to come had a pretty good time.
Yesterday was sorority Holiday party and our officer transitions. It was very bittersweet because while I was around people that I care so much about, it was the last time to see them without a huge amount of stress due to finals this upcoming week. It was also the last time that I was able to see the Class of 2010 all together.
Today I made my Marietta Choir debut in the 83rd performance of Handel's Messiah. It was the first time since sophomore year in High School that I has sung in a concert and it was very fulfilling and so much fun. My favorite part was when during the Hallelujah Chorus everyone in the audience stood and sung along. However, today and the concert causes me a bunch of stress because I needed to schedule my classes this afternoon due to the time difference. I was able to rush home at around 5 p.m. (8 a.m. Aussie time) and schedule. However, because the online schedule is so different I still can't tell if I am registered or not. I have an e-mail into the university but all this was AFTER I read the information packet sent by my program provider.
Anyway I hope that everything goes O.K. because if it does I will have no classes on Monday and one on Friday. It will make for a bad mid-week but at least it will leave some time for travel despite not having a semester break.
Tonight is Midnight Breakfast and I do believe that the craving for pancakes is calling me!
29 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First, had an awesome 21st birthday filled with Australian Wine, count down calendars, Aussie money and bar hopping kangaroos.
Last Tuesday, December 1st (My B-Day!) I had a meeting with the three main people in the MC Study Abroad Office. There were 6 out of the 12 total people planing to leave next semester at the meeting as well. Included was one of my sorority sisters that is also planning to study abroad. They gave us a lot of paper work to fill out, along with a lot of other general information about culture shock and what is considered appropriate and inappropriate in other countries. Also we were given some information about our specific countries and how to keep ourselves safe.
I applied for my visa last Thursday. The website said that it takes about 48 hours to get approved so I should find out tomorrow if I am approved. Also if i get to be randomly selected to have a medical exam before I leave.
On Friday the 4th was the my last day of classes before exams. It was also the day that my sorority sister and I threw a "Send Off" so that we could have a last time to hang out with our friends in a relaxed environment. It went off pretty well and I think that everyone who was able to come had a pretty good time.
Yesterday was sorority Holiday party and our officer transitions. It was very bittersweet because while I was around people that I care so much about, it was the last time to see them without a huge amount of stress due to finals this upcoming week. It was also the last time that I was able to see the Class of 2010 all together.
Today I made my Marietta Choir debut in the 83rd performance of Handel's Messiah. It was the first time since sophomore year in High School that I has sung in a concert and it was very fulfilling and so much fun. My favorite part was when during the Hallelujah Chorus everyone in the audience stood and sung along. However, today and the concert causes me a bunch of stress because I needed to schedule my classes this afternoon due to the time difference. I was able to rush home at around 5 p.m. (8 a.m. Aussie time) and schedule. However, because the online schedule is so different I still can't tell if I am registered or not. I have an e-mail into the university but all this was AFTER I read the information packet sent by my program provider.
Anyway I hope that everything goes O.K. because if it does I will have no classes on Monday and one on Friday. It will make for a bad mid-week but at least it will leave some time for travel despite not having a semester break.
Tonight is Midnight Breakfast and I do believe that the craving for pancakes is calling me!
29 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Long Time, No Talk
I can't believe that it has been almost a month since I last updated. I know I promised to update more frequently than this, but life has been very hectic this past semester.
Anyway, so much has happened since the last post. I had a great Thanksgiving/Birthday Celebration and of got lots of cool stuff!
My Birthday is tomorrow and seeing that I am going to Australia and that it is the big 2 1 I got some interesting gifts and thoughtful celebratory gestures. On Thanksgiving day my Mom surprised me with a bottle of good Champagne, M&M's wrapped in tool inside of a plastic up. They were SWEET.
Then on Saturday while celebrating with the other side of the family I got another bottle of good Champagne and cookie cake!
Thanks to my parents for the sweet Australia gifts that included a bottle of Australian wine (put in the bag upside down, courtesy of my father :-) ), and a count down to Australia calendar that starts on December 11th. I also got Australia for Dummies with Australian money used as book marks. Then last but not least, an empty box provided by my cousin. Don't worry It had a promise of a combined Birthday/Christmas gift to be given on Christmas.
Planing updates:
I'm back at school and continuing to get things set for leaving on January 4th. Right now the count down is at about 31 days. I have a call into AustraLean for a question regarding my Visa but when they call me back I can get going on that.
I am attending a meeting tomorrow afternoon with all the other students that are planning to study abroad in the spring. They said that it will be a short get together to make sure we have all the necessary forms filled out.
Anyway, so much has happened since the last post. I had a great Thanksgiving/Birthday Celebration and of got lots of cool stuff!
My Birthday is tomorrow and seeing that I am going to Australia and that it is the big 2 1 I got some interesting gifts and thoughtful celebratory gestures. On Thanksgiving day my Mom surprised me with a bottle of good Champagne, M&M's wrapped in tool inside of a plastic up. They were SWEET.
Then on Saturday while celebrating with the other side of the family I got another bottle of good Champagne and cookie cake!
Thanks to my parents for the sweet Australia gifts that included a bottle of Australian wine (put in the bag upside down, courtesy of my father :-) ), and a count down to Australia calendar that starts on December 11th. I also got Australia for Dummies with Australian money used as book marks. Then last but not least, an empty box provided by my cousin. Don't worry It had a promise of a combined Birthday/Christmas gift to be given on Christmas.
Planing updates:
I'm back at school and continuing to get things set for leaving on January 4th. Right now the count down is at about 31 days. I have a call into AustraLean for a question regarding my Visa but when they call me back I can get going on that.
I am attending a meeting tomorrow afternoon with all the other students that are planning to study abroad in the spring. They said that it will be a short get together to make sure we have all the necessary forms filled out.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Don't worry Mom, it's legal
Video found on Youtube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6XdIXW46rk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6XdIXW46rk&feature=related
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Procrastination
I found this website right after I clicked submit for my last post.
http://www.aussie-info.com/identity/language/
http://www.aussie-info.com/identity/language/
Beginning
How do you start the first post to a new bolg? It goes without saying that I have no idea so, where better to start than the beginning.
I am currently a Junior at Marietta College and I am deep within the planning process of what I hope to be one of the best experiences of my life. Two months from today, I will be leaving the United States for the "Land Down Under" and studying abroad in Australia for the spring 2010 semester.
I got the idea to start this blog from a friend of mine, who is quite into blogging himself. I thought that it was a great idea considering I was always told by my world traveling grandfather to write at least something in journal every day of your trip. I tend to trust him because seven continents and over 200 countries later, you learn a thing or two about travel.
While I can't promise an everyday entry, there should be fairly regular posts from me, as I am on the computer almost constantly. Besides, having a blog about my travels will give my expensive laptop a break from homework, Facebook and Farmville. That's right I said Farmville. I don't care who laughs, I like it! :-)
My goal with this is to keep friends and family up to date before, during and after my trip. Never fear friends and family, I will e-mail you too but because I am horrible at returning e-mail, texts, phone calls, and everything in between this hopefully provide for a more steady stream of updates.
If I get some time in the next couple of days, I will write a backstory post so everyone is caught up on where I am concerning planning and such.
Cheers!
P.S. this is not an official blog of Marietta College or Bond University. I am just a humble student writing about my experiences.
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