How it began....

I have dreamed about going to Japan for years. So when I came to college last year and heard about the study abroad program, I knew this was my chance to see Japan. I leave for Nagoya on the 31st of August and right now I am practically clawing at the walls with excitement. Although, I'm a little sad to be leaving all my friends and family, and a bit scared to be traveling to a foreign country.  I've gotten many compliments about being capable of studying abroad so early in my academic career. To be perfectly frank, there were times during this process when I felt like I was on a raft full of French crazies on sea of murky water.* So if you are trying to study abroad and feel like this too, rejoice and know you are not alone! It has been a long journey, getting everything ready, but I know it will pay off. I hope you will stay and read about my travels.

Alright, for anyone looking to study abroad here is a quick step by step list to having a great trip:

1. Pick a program from your school. If your college doesn't have a study abroad program see if they will be willing to work with you to create your own. For example, my school offers exchange programs to sister schools or through the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP): http://www.isep.org/. So if you want to study abroad in Botswana, but your school only lists Europe as a possible destination, DON'T give up. The is always another option.

2. Finances.  They can be scary. I mean all those numbers and estimates. Eeeck! If you can afford to pay for a trip yourself, then CONGRATS you have escaped this tricky step!!  If not, then you and your financial aid advisers will become very close. (I'm pretty sure that mine is ready to strangle me.) Start planning your trip at least a year in advance because you will need time to apply for scholarships. Some scholarships have deadlines as early as September, so hurry!! If you are wondering where to find scholarships the simplest thing to do is to Google them. Seriously, just try "study abroad scholarships for [insert country name]". However, I will post some links later for the websites that I used. Also, don't forget to ask your school for a list of scholarship links. : )

If scholarships fail, don't be afraid to take out a loan. Student loans are one of the most affordable and this is an experience that you cannot duplicate. As my Honors Program director said, "You'll take out many loans in your lifetime, for your first car, your first house, but this is the one that you will never regret or forget."

3. Getting into the program. I know what your thinking "Wait, why would  you apply for financial aid before you get into the program?" It may sound crazy but trust me. You may not be notified until months after you initially apply and each missed scholarship is missed opportunity.  Different schools have different program acceptance policies, so again you will need to contact your program director for details. You may be asked for letters of recommendation or an interview, so be prepared.

  

4. Details. Once you finish getting in and funding your program you will be almost done. You'll need to purchase a ticket, and tie up any loose ends.  If you are alright with waiting or if you are only studying abroad for a semester, try a round trip flight. It can save you some money depending on your destination and what airline you fly with.

5. Preparing yourself. Studying abroad is a big step. Take the time to research the different culture and mentally prepare yourself as thoroughly as you pack your suitcase. You will experience culture shock to some degree during your trip. This step varies for everone, but it is one of the most important ones so don't forget to make time for it.

Thank you for reading this and please check out my Facebook group and Youtube channel so that you can catch all of my adventures. Ja mata.

*For anyone who is not an art major or if you just didn't know the French raft reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raft_of_the_Medusa