To do list...

Well this Thursday will be seven weeks until I leave. Things are beginning to fall into place. I have a few more things to set in order, and then I will be all set to go...

Now if I could just get to making those lists. Why on earth is that so difficult.

I also need to plan for my dinner, get a hotel booked, go shopping, and wrap my mind around what I am doing. This is becoming more and more emotional every week the closer it gets. Thats ok though, its all apart of the process.

Well...

Ok. So the visa has offically arrived and I now have it in my possesion. So now that all the legal things have been settled, I now get to focus on what needs to happen before I leave. I am going to have to buy a ton of stuff, but i need to make a list.

I am currently feeling a little overwhelmed. I need to make a list of a list of things to do before I leave lol. And then break it down to a time line.

But now that the most stressful waiting process is over, I am now into the stressful "I hope I have everything" process. Which reminds me, I havent been vaccinated yet... Oh how fun!

oh boy... to be continued. (hopefully next time won't sound so stressed)

Visa!

I found out a few days ago that my visa has been processed. This is quite exciting for me. I think its great and now it means that I am officially legal.

And this also means that my process is done. I am done. I have nothing more to sign and get done on the legalization process. It is OVER!

Now, I must get the smaller details together. I think I am up for the challenge. I also need to finalize my class schedule and figure out what I will be taking. So far, I will be taking 3 classes. I think I am content with that. I'll let you know for sure what it is I will be taking.

Well thats all the up to date information I have for now. Stay tuned, I will let you know when I get more information!

Doors

Today, I have just realized how off track I have gotten. So many things have been going on and I have not had a chance to really focus. I have so many thank you cards to send out. Every time I got to do it, I get distracted. I need to go home and do that tonight. I feel absolutely awful that I have not done it yet. I am a mess with this right now. Maybe if I cleaned up, I could foucs and get myself together.... HMMM... What a thought. Just know, that if you are reading this, I have NOT forgotten. Life has just been extremely hectic lately.

And just in case you wanted to know, tomorrow is my moms birthday!

And I need to stay on top of my dates because I have yet to finish enrolling in my courses. That would be so easy to do if the faculties all posted the classes at the same time. But no, they each have their own date. I am so across the board on what to take. I have registered for two classes, which I have yet to let my advisor know about... do that in an email.... now.

Now thats done. So far I have registered for Modern Czech Theatre and Development and Development of Ethnic Relations in the Czech which may roughly translate to 10 hours! How great would that be to have 3 classes!!! Oh my! I may like this too much. I think they will both be extremely exciting and informative. I actually like both topics and since I dont know much on the area, this will be a good eye opener for me. And I want to take the Czech for Foreigners course, but I dont know how many hours that is.

A few days ago, I realized just what I have gotten myself into. My first realization came when I had to get insurance. That was not the problem, it was reading about getting my body back to the states if something were to happen to me... and insurance would gladly pay for it. It hit me that I am going to the other side of the world, by MYSELF! I have to do this on my own, look out for myself. Be independent. I then realized the other day that I leave in 2 months and I will be away from all things familiar. And what am I honestly going to do when I cannot understand the language.

Hahaha I will be that kid pantamiming on the street trying to figure out how to get back to my dorm from the centre. How great this is going to be. Lol. And then one day when Im all stressed out and feeling down, someone will ask me a question in Czech and I will actually be able to answer. And I will feel like I have conquered the world and really proved to myself, I can actually do it all. This is the only thing that keeps me desiring the thing that seems so ridiculous.

This is an adventure that is beyond me and I have no idea what to expect, what I may encounter, or what will happen. I have such high hopes and dreams of what this may bring for me. This is just the open door for where the rest of the world is going to take me. I have no desire to sit still, my heart is bleeding for more, life, adventure, experience and possiblities. There is NOTHING I cant do. Im determined.

The Beginning of Traveling to Brno

So I have finally decided to write something. I know for sure I will not be able to write all the time, but I definitely want to start. And not all the time will they be extensive, but I have to start somewhere. So basically, I will be posting about life and preparing for Czech and how things are going.

So many things have happened since I started this Study Abroad experience. I started in March, and it is only June, and life seems to have been extremely busy and full of adventure. I dont think I have ever spent as much time in my car driving all over the city to get things done.

Last week I was finally able to send out my application for my visa. I am so happy that is done. I have been so busy trying to fill out papers and get all the legal stuff done. I am now able to focus on other things pertaining to the trip. I can now start reading books, booking accomodations, picking courses, trying to figure out how to say "hello" in czech. Ugh. This is certainly a marathon. But thats ok because I signed up for it.

I was on youtube looking at videos of erasmus students... Do they ever actually study or go to class? I think they go in liking to drink, and possibly come out alcoholics. That is absolutely riduculous. And from what I hear from my new friends, which I will talk about later, they say people who go to their uni's (what they call universities) are all partiers and do not take the semester seriously and go to have a good time... last time I checked, it was STUDY abroad. lol Im done with that rant.

I wanna tell you about my friends!!! So I was on facebook (maybe addicted) and I was looking at student groups. I found a group, ERASMUS Brno. I have already met a ton of students who will be working or studying in Brno. They are so nice. Not everyone is going to Masaryk, some are going to the shoool of technology. But either way, it has been great. These people are from everywhere all over Europe. They have helped me so much. It is so nice to talk to other students who are going through the same thing that I am and they are able to give me advise. They have been there to answer my questions and they have been so great with calming down my fears about my first abroad experience.... And they inform me on shopping- less expensive and a great selection... this may be a problem. I dont think I have enough suitcase space for the shopping I will be doing. Oh the agony!!!!

I got to meet with Kate last week, she was so extremely helpful. I needed that. She sat down with me and helped me plan out my visa process. We went over everything, then she explained some details to me about the trip. I told her I will be landing in Vienna. She told me I should probably stay in Vienna over night and try to enjoy the city while fighting jet lag. I think that its brilliant, so yes I am now looking for hotels in Vienna. But still have yet to figure out how to get the train from Vienna to Brno. Why oh why do we only speak English... this just baffles me. The rest of the world speaks more than one. Now I must deal with going in blind.... ugh this just irritates me to no end.

Anyway, I think that this journey is going to be extremely wonderful, I expect to come out differently than when I go in. Culturally aware and ready to take on the world. I need this experience. I need the push.