After countless weeks of change and growth, I am finally returning to my study abroad journey. I feel I have been truly blessed this summer, having the opportunity to spend time with friends and family, experience time teaching in a classroom, and go on miscellaneous adventures with many amazing people. However, as the countdown closes in, I'm beginning to feel like my long hiatus from taking care of travel duties was not the wisest decision. So many things left to do! Here's a brief outline of the work I need to complete in the next two weeks:
- Pack - and I don't mean just my suitcase! I need to pack all the things for my winter semester of college too because of weird living arrangements and time constraints.
- Shop. Travel sized shampoos, voltage converters, warm clothes, host family gifts, and so much more!
- Doctors appointments. Oh yeah, I need that second hepatitis shot and to make sure I have all of my medications...I hope they do rush appointments.
- Money things. Ordering travelers checks, looking at the exchange rate, alerting my bank account that I am not a thief and will be charging things in a foreign country for three months.
- Copies. Any important documentation (paper and digital) needs to have at least 3 copies made, just to be safe.
- Study. I should have been brushing up on my language skills all summer! Where did the time go?
- Goodbye. The hardest part of all.
Needless to say I am stressed beyond belief trying to wrap my mind around all these changes. If anyone reading this is a procrastinator, I'm sorry you can sympathize. Last minute emergency rushes to do EVERYTHING are the absolute worst.
Despite how unprepared I feel, a lot of progress has happened since my acceptance! I've fully paid off my program and have reached my financial goal =). In addition, I've been communicating with my host family via e-mail! I will be living with a 52 year old couple and their 3 cats just outside of the city of Grenoble. Their names are Genevieve and Christian. Genevieve works in social services, and Christian works in business. We have discussed things such as food and the weather, and they seem very excited to have me in their home for three months. They even asked if I'd like to ski the Alps! C'est magnifique!
My flight departs early on the 22nd from the Grand Rapids airport. I will spend almost 24 hours transferring planes and flying across the atlantic ocean to land in Paris for an orientation. After a few excursions with other API students, I will board a train to Grenoble, and meet Genevieve at the station on the 26th. It is becoming way too real!
I'm facing a lot of nerves, anxiety, and (most importantly) excitement as I prepare to leave home. API has provided me with a thorough online orientation which I can browse at my own leisure. My packet provides many reference materials on culture and language, and even gives interactive activities and videos to prepare me for my voyage.
I've been having a lot of fun browsing all the excellent materials they have provided. They even offer a section to read when you arrive in your host country to help deal with potential culture shock, as well as a post-study abroad orientation to returning home.
Whew! I will begin posting regular updates as my little snowball of progress speeds up. I can't wait to start my new adventure and write you a post from France!
<3 A.
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