Well, I think I have almost everything in order for my trip! I am looking forward to it more and more each day, but also nervous due to the fact the I'm traveling alone for the first time and also traveling to a whole new country/continent where I don't know anyone.
In order to go on this trip I had to get several things lined up;
1) flights
2) a place to stay (I used a website called homestaynetwork.org where they find and place you with a host family/person, I would highly recommend it)
3) Contacting the person who will pick me up from the airport and help me with any additional paperwork
4) lining everything up with the college(s) to make sure my teaching will count and I will be able to graduate
5) Contacting the principal (my supervisor) and my corresponding teacher to get to know them better and make sure they know I'm coming
6) Get all my money in order
7) Start thinking about packing
8) Get my visa
9) Get my Working with Children permit
I didn't realize all the steps and hoops I had to jump through in order to get everything lined up. I also procrastinate a lot so my advice is to NOT DO THIS! It adds stress that could've been prevented, but now I know.
While in Australia I have assignments that go along with my Student Teaching, but I am also in my Senior Capstone class at UND so I will have some assignments through that but it's all online so that's nice.
What I have learned during this planning process is to not procrastinate and to stay organized. I have quite a few papers that I need to make sure I bring with me, assignments that I have to stay on top of, and also the whole student teaching process so I am trying to get everything organized and in my planner before I forget about it!
I hope these blogs are interesting to friends and family, and also helpful for any study abroad students who are having questions and just need information in general.
The countdown is on....11 days until departure!!
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Thursday, August 10, 2017
One Month Until Departure
Since my last post I have been pretty busy. I finally booked my flight, I've finished up some last minute paperwork, and I have been in contact with the principal at the school I'll be at in Australia. I still have some odds and ends to meet but that shouldn't be too hard to accomplish.
This summer I have been at home working at the little cafe in Munich, North Dakota, mowing, and helping out people any way I can to help save up enough money for this trip. My family farms, so when harvest comes I will be running grain cart as well. During this time I have been trying to spend as much time with my family and friends as I can. That being said, I can't believe how fast this summer has flown by considering I only have a month left until I fly out.
I am so excited, yet nervous for this trip. I think the part I am most scared and nervous about is the flight there. I like flying, but it's a 15 hour flight and most of it is across the ocean. Once I have arrived though, I know/ hope everything will go well. This is way I have been preparing and have everything set up in advanced.
I am so thankful that I have been able to be in contact with the principal at the school where I will be. He has been super helpful, and he is actually the one who will be picking me up from the airport when I arrive which is comforting. It's been great because not only does he know what's going on school wise, he knows all the paperwork that I need to complete upon arrival.
My latest completion was paying my matching fees and other costs on the Homestay website that I am going through for housing. I had a couple questions when using this website, but the people in charge of it were super helpful and helped me get everything situated so now I just wait until they have found a family for me to stay with. My advice would be to have done this sooner, but I'm confident they will get back to me soon.
I hope all of this is helpful for soon-to-be study abroad students, and also entertaining for others reading for fun :) Hopefully the next time I blog I will have my living situations confirmed and everything else in order for this wonderful experience!
This summer I have been at home working at the little cafe in Munich, North Dakota, mowing, and helping out people any way I can to help save up enough money for this trip. My family farms, so when harvest comes I will be running grain cart as well. During this time I have been trying to spend as much time with my family and friends as I can. That being said, I can't believe how fast this summer has flown by considering I only have a month left until I fly out.
I am so excited, yet nervous for this trip. I think the part I am most scared and nervous about is the flight there. I like flying, but it's a 15 hour flight and most of it is across the ocean. Once I have arrived though, I know/ hope everything will go well. This is way I have been preparing and have everything set up in advanced.
I am so thankful that I have been able to be in contact with the principal at the school where I will be. He has been super helpful, and he is actually the one who will be picking me up from the airport when I arrive which is comforting. It's been great because not only does he know what's going on school wise, he knows all the paperwork that I need to complete upon arrival.
My latest completion was paying my matching fees and other costs on the Homestay website that I am going through for housing. I had a couple questions when using this website, but the people in charge of it were super helpful and helped me get everything situated so now I just wait until they have found a family for me to stay with. My advice would be to have done this sooner, but I'm confident they will get back to me soon.
I hope all of this is helpful for soon-to-be study abroad students, and also entertaining for others reading for fun :) Hopefully the next time I blog I will have my living situations confirmed and everything else in order for this wonderful experience!
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