Okay, so break is definitely flying by and I'm starting to realize that in 15 days I will actually be getting on a plane and peacing out of the U.S. for four months. Holy moly.
Yesterday was an eventful day in getting ready to leave. I finally (after a week and a half) went through all of the clothes that I brought home from school and sorted them into "Granada" and "Not Granada" piles (there was also a "This is not mine" pile... I'm going to miss living with 72 other girls). I also set up my webcam (which is SO COOL! I highly recommend them). Both Matt and my parents got them for Christmas presents, and a lot of my friends already have them attached to their computers. It'll be nice to be able to videochat while I'm gone-- curb the homesickness a little bit. We also installed Skype on my mom's computer and have successfully skyped from my bedroom to the living room.
The Morgans were extremely generous and lent me one of their biiiig suitcases to take overseas. I'm very relieved to not have to think about jamming four months worth of clothes into the carry-on-sized suitcase that I have.
I also got some fantastic news about my flight on the 13th. My BFF Stephen, who is the only person I've ever met who is as big of a Broadway nerd as I am, is on my flight! He goes to Wisconsin and will be studying abroad in Madrid. We're going to see if we can sit together. That would undoubtedly be a flight of nonstop showtunes with a few inevitable singalongs. The rest of the plane should probably hope that we have assigned seating and that Stephen and I are seated nowhere near each other. I'm trying to convince Stephen to go to London with me while we're in Spain to see the European premiere of Spring Awakening (which is in my top-5 favorite musicals of all time), but we'll see. He's going to the U.K. to see Britney Spears in concert but I think I might be able to convince him to make a return trip for our favorite Duncan Sheik musical.
Today is massive cleanup/cleanout/home improvement day at the VonderHeide house. We're finally getting rid of our de-bunked bunk beds (aka the bed I moved to once I got out of my crib) and getting big kid beds! Very exciting times at 124 Fuller.
15 days. Getting a little scary.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
T-Minus One Month
Well, I figured that a "one-month-until-I-leave" post would be a good way to start my blog. I'm starting to get simultaneously really nervous and really excited for my four-month stay in Granada.
The preparation process for studying abroad was pretty intense, which does give me a little bit of hope that I'm responsible and mature enough to be left in a foreign country. I did have to have Betsy text message me to let me know when everything was (meetings, paperwork deadlines...), but I've gotten pretty good at this whole thing over the course of the past two semesters.
Now comes the fun part-- actually getting ready for my trip. The idea of packing for four months is pretty daunting, but hopefully I'll be able to do it over the course of winter break.
I did just have a huge victory and figured out how to skype. For anyone who doesn't know, skype is a free service that is basically a computer-to-computer phone and it's FREE international calling (sweet). Soooo if anyone is interested in downloading skype to talk to me while I'm gone, go to www.skype.com and follow the instructions to download it. You need a headset to talk (or you can use it as a kind of instant-message deal), but you can get them for really cheap at skype.com or you can pick one up at Target or Best Buy (although I do think they are cheaper online). Also, U of I students can apparently get them at the Study Abroad Office (in the International Studies Building on Fifth between Chalmers and Daniel), but I've never actually seen them there. I also get really flustered and afraid to ask where they are, so if you have the courage, go for it. I'd love to talk to everyone while I'm away :-) I'll also be getting a webcam so I can videochat (also through skype), but more details will follow on that when I figure that all out.
Well, here we are. I feel like these 29 days are going to fly by.
The preparation process for studying abroad was pretty intense, which does give me a little bit of hope that I'm responsible and mature enough to be left in a foreign country. I did have to have Betsy text message me to let me know when everything was (meetings, paperwork deadlines...), but I've gotten pretty good at this whole thing over the course of the past two semesters.
Now comes the fun part-- actually getting ready for my trip. The idea of packing for four months is pretty daunting, but hopefully I'll be able to do it over the course of winter break.
I did just have a huge victory and figured out how to skype. For anyone who doesn't know, skype is a free service that is basically a computer-to-computer phone and it's FREE international calling (sweet). Soooo if anyone is interested in downloading skype to talk to me while I'm gone, go to www.skype.com and follow the instructions to download it. You need a headset to talk (or you can use it as a kind of instant-message deal), but you can get them for really cheap at skype.com or you can pick one up at Target or Best Buy (although I do think they are cheaper online). Also, U of I students can apparently get them at the Study Abroad Office (in the International Studies Building on Fifth between Chalmers and Daniel), but I've never actually seen them there. I also get really flustered and afraid to ask where they are, so if you have the courage, go for it. I'd love to talk to everyone while I'm away :-) I'll also be getting a webcam so I can videochat (also through skype), but more details will follow on that when I figure that all out.
Well, here we are. I feel like these 29 days are going to fly by.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)