Tag Archives: excited

The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Exactly one month from today I will be heading to Sydney, Australia, to study at the University of New South Wales.  I have just finished applying for my visa, this month I hear back regarding where I will be living in Sydney (either by Coogee or Bondi Beach), and also have received information on some of the events which international students can participate in while in Sydney.  Needless to say, the pre-departure period has been quite hectic, even more-so while taking a few Summer classes, and I can not wait to board my plane.

                There are events I am not looking forward to however, namely saying goodbye to my friends and family, missing my last season of Penn State football (though I know they will continue to dominate), and also being able to go horseback riding at my friend’s farm whenever I feel like it.  These experiences are a worthwhile sacrifice though, and I get to spend nearly six months of my life in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, by the beach, and have experience events which I would not have been able to do if I did not study abroad.

                I am hoping to learn to surf while in Sydney (with two of the nicest beaches in the world why wouldn’t I?), experience Oktoberfest on the campus of UNSW (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uh-Z67e38g), and just experience the culture of a different country and experience all that it has to offer.  Needless to say, I have high expectations for what I wish to accomplish while in Sydney and plan to make the most of this experience of a lifetime.

                I am excited for all which lays ahead of me on this journey and am truly blessed to get to have this experience in my life.  Before this adventure I have been reading the great American novel “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac, so I find it only fitting to end this blog with a passage from the book.   “Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go.  But no matter, the road is life.”


Location: University Park, PA

I’m Leaving On A Jet Plane

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Well, it’s official, I’m leaving for Italy in matter of hours! I’m a mixture of happy/sad/excited/nervous/anxious all bottled up into one. My suitcases and carry-ons are packed, and hopefully I didn’t forget anything. I said all of my goodbyes to my best friends from home the past few days, and it feels so weird – this is the first summer I won’t be spending with them practically every day. I know that I’ll still be able to talk with them semi-frequently over the summer, so it’s not necessarily bad, just different. I also am saying goodbye to my parents today, and it just dawned on me that I think this will be the longest I will have ever gone without seeing my family or friends… weird. In a good way, but still weird.

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my family last weekend at a phillies game.

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my best friends from home, circa 2009.

I must admit though, that my biggest concern right now is that I’m going to end up on the plane either a) next to a crying baby; b) next to someone who won’t stop snoring; c) someone who talks to me the entire flight (don’t get me wrong, I love to make friends on airplanes… but I’d like to be able to catch some z’s on the red-eye tonight); d) next to an anxious flier, who jumps or yelps at every patch of turbulence; or e) next to someone who smells terribly. Now obviously these are all worst case scenarios, and I have yet to really encounter any of the above – knock on wood – for long periods of time, & there’s a first time for everything… ha. But really….

So I will spend the next couple hours doing last minute things (IE: making ipod playlists, making sure I have food for the plane, charging my phone… you know, obviously the most important things), and then I’ll be on my merry way to Philadelphia to board British Airways Flight 66 to London, then to Rome. Meaning this will be my last post from the United States! Ahh. I still can’t believe that I’ll be in Italy tomorrow… totally unreal!


Location: Philadelphia, PA

Una Semana: One Week Until Puebla!

Hola! I’m Kelsey, an English/Spanish major here at Penn State, and I cannot believe that in one week I will be in Puebla, Mexico! It is so surreal. I mean, I’ve been intending on studying abroad during college since high school, but it still hasn’t really sunken in yet.

 

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Skyline of Puebla, Mexico! Photo courtesy of Picture Ninja

 

I’m really looking forward to a lot of things on this trip, though! For one, I can’t wait to majorly improve my Spanish conversation skills! It will be an incredibly valuable skill to have, both academically and practically.

 

Admittedly, I am a little nervous about getting homesick. It’s going to be a long seven weeks without my friends, family, or the comforts of home, but I’m sure I’ll be able to beat any homesickness that may surface and become a more independent person for it. Plus, I’m excited to gain new friends and meet new people. For one, I can’t wait to meet my Mexican family! My host sister contacted me on Facebook a little while back, and she seems really sweet! I have host parents, my host sister and her older brother, and even a Chihuahua named Benny!

 

Also, is it strange that the one thing I’m really not that worried about is safety? When most people hear I’m studying abroad in Mexico, the first thing they tell me is to be really, really careful. However, I’ve been told multiple times that Puebla is a safe and beautiful place, and I truly believe that it will be.

 

I guess I’m simply too excited to immerse myself in Mexican culture and learn about its history. The sites we’re planning to visit seem fantastic, and I am simply cannot wait for that authentic Mexican cuisine! It’s going to be interesting to learn about the Mexican lifestyle. I think it’s important to get outside of the “American bubble”, and I can’t wait to gain knowledge about our southerly neighbor.

 

Well, that’s about it for now. Hopefully I’ll be able to update frequently about my travels and experiences in Mexico! It’s going to be an amazing journey for sure!

 

-Kelsey


Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

2 DAYS TO GO

So, I leave in less than 48 hours! I still haven’t packed or done anything yet, though. I’ve been much too preoccupied with finals. However, as soon as my Physics final exam is over tomorrow afternoon, it’s packing time!

I’ll be arriving in Rome on Saturday, May 8th around 8:45 AM local time — I’m then going to get a ride over to my hotel, which is DIRECTLY across the street from the Pantheon. That will be sweet. The hotel is called Al Pantheon con Thomas Mann. I’ve heard that it’s not that nice of a hotel, but it was fairly cheap, and it’s very close to the place where I’ll be permanently living. We have that whole weekend free for the most part, in which I guess my friends and I will go exploring! I’m hoping to see a lot of Rome before my classes really start. I definitely want to check out a lot of the famous buildings and get them out of the way, because tourist season starts in June, so all of the really touristy places will be less crowded early in May.

Anyway, I will be permanently living in a former convent on the Piazza Navona. If any of you have read or saw Angels and Demons, It’s the plaza where the Cardinal almost gets drowned in the fountain, but gets saved by Langdon. (People seem to know exactly where I’m talking about when I add that description to it) I heard that the place is basically like a very small dorm room, which is totally fine because the window is going to look over the Piazza, so don’t pity me at all. I don’t plan on spending any time in the room anyway, since I’ll have so much to do while I’m over there!

My parents got me a digital camera, so I’ll be able to take a lot of pictures when I get over there. I’ll try to post them directly in this blog, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll figure something else out. It seems like the other Geobloggers were able to figure out how to get pictures on their blogs, so I bet I can do it.

Well, that’s all that I have for you guys for now! I’ll try to post another entry a few days after I get there and get settled in — and I’ll have much more cool stuff to talk about, so check back then!

Ciao!


Location: 520 E Calder Way, State College, PA 16801