So Long, North America!
Pre-Departure: What are your goals for your international experience?
South Africa: Pre-Departure: “It’s Finally Time” by Daria Gausman
Costa Rica: Pre-Departure: “Departure Anticipation” by Savannah Daniels
https://wp.wwu.edu/puravidadaniels/
Departure Anticipation!
Here are some things I’ve been thinking about:
- What do you hope to gain and how much research have you done on your host country and culture that will better prepare you for this experience?
- I hope to gain many things, mostly knowledge of Costa Rican historical impacts, the social dynamics of the Costa Rican people and a deep appreciation for Costa Rican Culture! I have done an immense amount of research in several areas surrounding Costa Rican life, food, historical context and current legislation. I know that this research is not the entirety of the country, as well as surrounding countries.
- What are you most excited about? What are you most scared or nervous about?
- I’m most excited about the food, language, and people. Specifically, I am very excited about Afro-Latinx communities in Costa Rica. I know that within Costa Rican culture there are different segments of the culture that vary between populations, and I intend on learning about this differences. I’m also nervous about the entire experience! An excited, joyful nervousness, but nervousness none-the-less.
- What strategies have you implemented that will allow you to overcome these challenges and take full advantage of your opportunities?
- Since I have completed so much research on Costa Rica, I have a better basis of comfort for myself. Things like gestures, cultural norms, slang, and social disparities are all things in the back of my head to the coming experience. These researched areas will not overshadow my interactions but they will give me a little more confidence with social interactions.
France: Pre-Departure: “The Start of Something Great” by Sebastian Zgirski
https://sebiontheworld.wordpress.com/2017/05/30/the-start-of-something-great/
Hello!!! Thank you so much for deciding to read this blog, it means the world to me! As I finish up my spring quarter here at Western Washington University, I find myself extremely excited for the journey I’m about to undertake. This summer I will finally be fulfilling one of my childhood dreams of going to France. I will be studying abroad in Lyon, France, for 4 and a half weeks earning credit for my French minor and traveling as much as possible. After the end of my program, I intend to travel for a bit and make my way to Poland where I will visit family and an old childhood friend for a few weeks, and then finally head back to the States. This will leave me with about 2 months in Europe.
Denmark: Pre-Departure: “June in Copenhagen” by Megan Dale
https://juneincopenhagen.tumblr.com/
One week from tomorrow I am driving up to Vancouver, BC to catch a flight early the next morning to Copenhagen, Denmark. WOW! To see this all come together has been so surreal to me. It still doesn’t feel real. I’m pretty sure it won’t feel real until I am sitting on that plane. Maybe not even until I touchdown in Copenhagen (honestly though, maybe not even then).
Germany: Pre-Departure: “In Preparation” by Joyia Squires
A Guide to Housing: Navigating your Housing Situation Before & After you Study Abroad
Are you excited about study abroad, but stressed about navigating your housing situation – before you leave, while you are away, or when you return to WWU?
We are here to tell you that it IS possible to work out housing during the school year and that you are NOT limited to only summer programs. Education Abroad, University Residences & Off Campus Living are here to help you navigate your housing situation with resources and tips!
South Korea: Pre-Departure: “Thoughts Before I Go” by Allison Ogle
http://boldnewadventures.weebly.com/
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I am so excited to go to Korea and begin my student teaching! I’m really hoping to learn a lot about the Korean language and to have a unique experience within a school. Because I will be teaching in an elementary school, I am excited to gain more experience and pick up some new skills in working with students who are English language learners! I am also excited to learn about Korean culture and how it is both different from and similar to my own culture.
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Tanzania: Pre-Departure: by Tara Quattrone
Pre-Departure
In two days I leave for Tanzania, Africa where I will be studying abroad for the next four months. One of my biggest draws to participate in this study abroad is my desire to travel. I want to see the world, and Africa is somewhere I have never been. In this country in particular I feel the culture is so beautiful different that it appealed to me over other places. I feel like traveling gives you more ability to learn what the world is really about. Sometimes we get too stuck in our own little worlds we forget how many other little worlds are going on around us. Also how different these other little worlds can be. I want to show myself these new places, and ideas and see how I can grow and truly become who I want to be.
England: Pre-Departure: “Preparing For Take-Off” by Mikayla Lawrence
Thailand: Internship: Pre-Departure: “So Much to Do, So Little Time” by Alexandra Rose
I landed in Seattle only a month ago, and today I started packing to leave again on Friday. It has been a whirlwind of just over thirty days. Landing the night before Thanksgiving after almost three months in Madagascar with Stony Brook University‘s biodiversity and culture study abroad program, I have just begun adjusting to the cold and rain here in the Pacific Northwest. After four weeks of unpacking, writing a research paper, catching up with friends at holiday parties, and spending time with my family, it is time for my next adventure!
Israel: Pre-Departure: “T-Minus Three Weeks:” by Maytal Abramson
T minus three weeks
December 18, 2016
With three weeks remaining before I leave for Israel, I’ve decided to do some pre-departure reflection about my goals, worries, etc.
Australia: Exchange: “Pre-Departure ” by Danika Mogensen
Pre-Departure: What are your goals for your international experience?
Estonia: Internship: “Pre-Departure” by Dong Dinh
Hey everyone! Thanks for tuning in. At the moment I am waiting at the airport waiting for my flight to leave. It is pretty exciting and scary at the same time. (I ran into a big glass window while trying to text, so tip: Don’t do that) This first blog I hope to detail out what I am expecting and why I would be going abroad.
Austria: Pre-Departure: “Leaving for Vienna” by Katherine Holdcroft
Take the Phone Off the Hook and Disappear for Awhile: Leaving for Vienna
Before departing on my year long stay in Vienna, I have millions of thoughts flitting in and out of the subconscious of my everyday. The troubling thing however, is that until quite recently none of these thoughts had any real connection to going abroad. It wasn’t until about a week ago, that the wet blanket of realization wrapped itself around my sunburnt shoulders, and two words rang loudly in space between my ears, shaking me to my core, “I’m leaving”.
Chile: “Pre-Departure” by Sarah
https://almostbilingual.wordpress.com/
Pre – departure
Waiting has never been an activity I enjoy. As my departure day nears I have already had a hectic stream of emotions. Anxiety. Fear. Excitement. Wonder. Joy. These emotions are filling in my time before I board a plane and cross over to the Southern Hemisphere and land in Santiago! Once there I will be studying Spanish at Pontifica Universidad Católica de Valparaíso and staying with a host family in Viña del Mar. My home will be close to the beach (I found this out using the creepy Google Earth to locate my nueva casa for the next few months.) I am very excited for this and can not thank my parents enough for the support they have given me. I will use this opportunity to completely integrate myself in Spanish and learn to love another country. I cannot wait! Hasta Luega, cuando estaré en Chile!
Spain: Pre-Departure: “Phase 1 Preparation Time” by Nick Gillett
PHASE I: PREPARATION TIME
Leading up to my very first European adventure- I am frantically attempting to gather every possible thing I might need or need to know for studying abroad. In a matter of days I will be hopping on a plane to the beautiful Spanish city of Barcelona, where the dreary Washington weather will be thousands of miles away and the Mediterranean climate will be patiently waiting. As I will be traveling outside the country alone (another first), a lot of thought has gone into this trip. For ten months I have been pursuing intel on what to pack and with six weeks in Europe and a thousand places I want to go; my idealistic and realistic ideas have to find a common ground.
South Korea: Pre-Departure: “Adventures in South Korea” by Taiya Brown
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I wrote this while I was on the airplane to Korea! I will work on posting some more current updates shortly. |