Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Paid!
Finally, finally, finally I've paid for my trip. It took forever because I needed to wait on my student loan information. But now it is absolutely certain that I will be going to Argentina. :) Only about 7 weeks, too!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Pre-Departure Orientation
Today I had my pre-departure orientation here at the University of South Carolina. I was so excited because it meant that my trip was actually happening, and I was really interested to see where other people were going.
We got to Russell House, and had to sign in. They divided us into a few different rooms: Europe (English speaking), Europe (non-English speaking), Latin America and Asia, and .. well, I'm not actually sure if they had a Middle East and Africa room, but I would hope that some people were choosing to go there because I feel like those trips would be very eye-opening.
Anyway, it was really interesting to be in the room I was in. 10 kids are doing a first time USC program in Hong Kong, and so they were all together and already knew each other through their major; another kid was doing a study abroad program in Shanghai for 14 months - outrageous!; a few were going to Russia (which I always think of as Europe, but it's Asia too, I guess); and one other kid was going to Buenos Aires! Yay!
We learned a lot of things, and by "learned" I mean that they told me things that I already knew because I have over-prepared myself for this trip. I still have a lot of work to do, especially financially, to get everything in order for me to just hop on over to our southern sister-continent, but I felt really prepared and like I knew a lot. Especially because I talked to a few other students, one going to the Dominican Republic and the other Buenos Aires student (he's not going with CEA), who didn't really have a much information on their programs/had recently decided and hadn't done all their paperwork or spent the time preparing like I had. So, it kind of makes me feel nerdy for reading around so much, and it kind of makes me feel really good because I feel like the more I prepare, the more I'll enjoy it and settle in once I get to my program.
Another really exciting thing is that our calendar for our trip was recently put online! I'm so excited to have definite days for things now. We also have 3 excursions planned for our semester. One is a day trip to the Tigre Delta, which my grandfather talked about. He, for those of you who don't know, essentially sailed the world for work when he was younger, so he told me about the time that he was stuck in Argentina for three months. He also gave me the name of a man who he used to be in touch with, about 60 years ago, and asked me to look him up in the Buenos Aires phonebook. Anyway the Tigre Delta, from my understanding, is north of the city and it like a semi-Venice, Italy-esque town because a lot of it is canal-ways and you can take boat trips through the canals. Our second trip is to Iguazu Falls which is this huge chain of waterfalls that is on the boarder of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. It looks like it will be a spectacular time, and this trip is 3 days and 2 nights, so it should be fun to get out of the city for a little while (this trip is also the reason that I will need to be getting a Yellow Fever vaccine). Our last trip is to Mendoza, which is in the western part of the country. It's a region that apparently was one of the driest on the continent, until an advanced irrigation system; now it is one of the biggest vineyard areas! Of course, there is a very nice ski resort there, but we will be going just after the end of the ski season (the end of October), so I'm a bit depressed. But it's very exciting knowing that these exciting trips are planned for me, and I've also been researching and reading about good day trips (like Colonia, Uruguay, which is a water-taxi from Buenos Aires) and good longer trips, like to Bariloche and the Glacier National Park (a glacier hike?! I think yes! I've always wanted to try crampons!)
Finally, I'm going to chat with you a minute about how RIDICULOUS AT&T is about international calling plans: I have an iPhone. Let's be frank, I'm addicted to it. It barely leaves my eyesight. I use it ALL the time. A friend and I can be discussing something, and I question comes up - I just google the answer. And I love to text. And use my facebook and twitter accounts via my apps. Anyway, CEA offers us a perfectly acceptable cellphone, for free, with a calling rate of $1.09/minute to the United States. So, I just wanted to investigate and see if it was any cheaper if I got an international sim card into my iPhone. First, AT&T doesn't do that. But they do have international roaming... That means I can call the United States for $2.39/minute. WHAT?! So then they let me know that if I pay $5.99/month, the international roaming cost goes down, and my international calls to the United States are only $1.99/minute... Yeah, that's just outrageous. I love you iPhone, but you're going to be laid to rest for about 5.5 months. And as I was digesting this, they asked me if I would also be using the internet, and I was like, "oh, can I?" and they said, "sure it's (insert crazy price here for certain amount of mega-bites)." "For a one-time fee?" I ask. "Oh, no, it's every month." - Mind you, the crazy price was like $25 to almost $100. So it really does look like my iPhone will just have to deal with not being used for a while. Except as an iPod. Haha.
Lastly (this time, I promise!), 10 weeks exactly until I leave for Argentina. That's 70 days, baby.
We got to Russell House, and had to sign in. They divided us into a few different rooms: Europe (English speaking), Europe (non-English speaking), Latin America and Asia, and .. well, I'm not actually sure if they had a Middle East and Africa room, but I would hope that some people were choosing to go there because I feel like those trips would be very eye-opening.
Anyway, it was really interesting to be in the room I was in. 10 kids are doing a first time USC program in Hong Kong, and so they were all together and already knew each other through their major; another kid was doing a study abroad program in Shanghai for 14 months - outrageous!; a few were going to Russia (which I always think of as Europe, but it's Asia too, I guess); and one other kid was going to Buenos Aires! Yay!
We learned a lot of things, and by "learned" I mean that they told me things that I already knew because I have over-prepared myself for this trip. I still have a lot of work to do, especially financially, to get everything in order for me to just hop on over to our southern sister-continent, but I felt really prepared and like I knew a lot. Especially because I talked to a few other students, one going to the Dominican Republic and the other Buenos Aires student (he's not going with CEA), who didn't really have a much information on their programs/had recently decided and hadn't done all their paperwork or spent the time preparing like I had. So, it kind of makes me feel nerdy for reading around so much, and it kind of makes me feel really good because I feel like the more I prepare, the more I'll enjoy it and settle in once I get to my program.
Another really exciting thing is that our calendar for our trip was recently put online! I'm so excited to have definite days for things now. We also have 3 excursions planned for our semester. One is a day trip to the Tigre Delta, which my grandfather talked about. He, for those of you who don't know, essentially sailed the world for work when he was younger, so he told me about the time that he was stuck in Argentina for three months. He also gave me the name of a man who he used to be in touch with, about 60 years ago, and asked me to look him up in the Buenos Aires phonebook. Anyway the Tigre Delta, from my understanding, is north of the city and it like a semi-Venice, Italy-esque town because a lot of it is canal-ways and you can take boat trips through the canals. Our second trip is to Iguazu Falls which is this huge chain of waterfalls that is on the boarder of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. It looks like it will be a spectacular time, and this trip is 3 days and 2 nights, so it should be fun to get out of the city for a little while (this trip is also the reason that I will need to be getting a Yellow Fever vaccine). Our last trip is to Mendoza, which is in the western part of the country. It's a region that apparently was one of the driest on the continent, until an advanced irrigation system; now it is one of the biggest vineyard areas! Of course, there is a very nice ski resort there, but we will be going just after the end of the ski season (the end of October), so I'm a bit depressed. But it's very exciting knowing that these exciting trips are planned for me, and I've also been researching and reading about good day trips (like Colonia, Uruguay, which is a water-taxi from Buenos Aires) and good longer trips, like to Bariloche and the Glacier National Park (a glacier hike?! I think yes! I've always wanted to try crampons!)
Finally, I'm going to chat with you a minute about how RIDICULOUS AT&T is about international calling plans: I have an iPhone. Let's be frank, I'm addicted to it. It barely leaves my eyesight. I use it ALL the time. A friend and I can be discussing something, and I question comes up - I just google the answer. And I love to text. And use my facebook and twitter accounts via my apps. Anyway, CEA offers us a perfectly acceptable cellphone, for free, with a calling rate of $1.09/minute to the United States. So, I just wanted to investigate and see if it was any cheaper if I got an international sim card into my iPhone. First, AT&T doesn't do that. But they do have international roaming... That means I can call the United States for $2.39/minute. WHAT?! So then they let me know that if I pay $5.99/month, the international roaming cost goes down, and my international calls to the United States are only $1.99/minute... Yeah, that's just outrageous. I love you iPhone, but you're going to be laid to rest for about 5.5 months. And as I was digesting this, they asked me if I would also be using the internet, and I was like, "oh, can I?" and they said, "sure it's (insert crazy price here for certain amount of mega-bites)." "For a one-time fee?" I ask. "Oh, no, it's every month." - Mind you, the crazy price was like $25 to almost $100. So it really does look like my iPhone will just have to deal with not being used for a while. Except as an iPod. Haha.
Lastly (this time, I promise!), 10 weeks exactly until I leave for Argentina. That's 70 days, baby.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
In 3 Months...
... I'll be in Argentina!
We just passed the point where I only have three months left in the United States until I embark on my wonderful journey, and I'm getting more excited and nervous. Of course, I have a ton of great friends who are giving me advice and wishes, so that keeps things cheery.
I'm almost done with all my paperwork. I just have this pesky little financial aid disbursement form to fill out, and OF COURSE the Financial Aid office was closed this afternoon when I was over there. Pesky Fin. Aid workers...
But I did pick out my classes and get that signed off by my advisor and the Dean for College of Arts & Science - Political Science, so that's nice. I'll be getting 18 credits, which I thought I would be awarded 21 because of the extra month of Spanish, but alas I am not. Anyway, I'll be getting 6 credits in Spanish and I then have the pleasure of taking Art History - Contemporary Argentine Art; Anthropology/Latin American Studies - Argentine Culture and Traditions; Political Science/Economics - Latin America in the Context of Globalization (I think it will be my favorite, and it also sounds the nerdiest); and History - 19th and 20th Century Latin America.
So up until my leave date, all I have left to do is .. financial aid, actually pay, pre-departure orientation, and then all that packing mumbo jumbo. And I finally got my first paycheck, so even though it's not a ton, it'll get some of you some very nice Argentine gifts!
And finally, for real this time...
FUN FACT: Avenida 9 de Julio, wandering through the center of the Microcentre (downtown) is the widest street in the world at an imposing sixteen lanes.
We just passed the point where I only have three months left in the United States until I embark on my wonderful journey, and I'm getting more excited and nervous. Of course, I have a ton of great friends who are giving me advice and wishes, so that keeps things cheery.
I'm almost done with all my paperwork. I just have this pesky little financial aid disbursement form to fill out, and OF COURSE the Financial Aid office was closed this afternoon when I was over there. Pesky Fin. Aid workers...
But I did pick out my classes and get that signed off by my advisor and the Dean for College of Arts & Science - Political Science, so that's nice. I'll be getting 18 credits, which I thought I would be awarded 21 because of the extra month of Spanish, but alas I am not. Anyway, I'll be getting 6 credits in Spanish and I then have the pleasure of taking Art History - Contemporary Argentine Art; Anthropology/Latin American Studies - Argentine Culture and Traditions; Political Science/Economics - Latin America in the Context of Globalization (I think it will be my favorite, and it also sounds the nerdiest); and History - 19th and 20th Century Latin America.
So up until my leave date, all I have left to do is .. financial aid, actually pay, pre-departure orientation, and then all that packing mumbo jumbo. And I finally got my first paycheck, so even though it's not a ton, it'll get some of you some very nice Argentine gifts!
And finally, for real this time...
FUN FACT: Avenida 9 de Julio, wandering through the center of the Microcentre (downtown) is the widest street in the world at an imposing sixteen lanes.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thanks, Mom!
Today I put down my confirmation deposit, finally. It was eating away at me that it wasn't done yet because, of course, they say you can lose your spot on the program (while there are still more than two months left to apply to the program and I've only found one other person on facebook who is in the program I'm in)... but it still was.
So my mom gave me the money for my deposit, which would be why this post is a gracias to her. Now all I have to do is .. everything because I've put off a bunch of paperwork and the like.
Anyway, thanks Mom! :)
And, Argentina, here I come!
So my mom gave me the money for my deposit, which would be why this post is a gracias to her. Now all I have to do is .. everything because I've put off a bunch of paperwork and the like.
Anyway, thanks Mom! :)
And, Argentina, here I come!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
4 Months From Today...
... I will be boarding an airplane and flying through the night on my way to Argentina!
I'm really excited, but I know I have a lot of stuff to get together still. I need to find my flight and get a bunch of information for CEA approval and for the office of study abroad's approval here at USC. I don't want to think about all that paperwork right now though.
Instead, I'll tell you all how excited I am, still. Of course. It's not constantly on my mind, anymore, but it frequently appears there because a lot of course work I'm doing relates to it. In Spanish class we just did politics and social changes as a chapter, and I'm doing a presentation on one of the most famous Argentines, Evita Perón. In my conversational Spanish class, I've commonly been seen freaking out about how American I sound, etc. but my teacher has calmed my nerves because I'm starting to realize that when I'm confident about what I'm saying, I sound really good. Hopefully my time in Argentina will only improve that feeling.
So, I don't really have a lot to share - life has been AWESOME and I'm realizing how much I feel like I'll be missing out on something amazing here en los EEUU (that's the abbreviation for United States, or Estados Unidos), but I know I'll have something more amazing that I wouldn't want to give up for the world. At the same time, I just spoke today (for the first time in a while) with my friends, Stephanie and Holly, about their recent adventures; it makes me VERY jealous to hear, but I bet they'll feel the same way when I'm abroad and they aren't any longer.
For now, though, I am going to concentrate on school and watching the Olympics (Go Team USA!). I hope that when I'm in Argentina I'll become a big fútbol fan, so I at least have a sport to care about - seeing as I'll be missing out on the Red Sox!
http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/2010/03/feature/buenos-aires-text/1
Here's a link to a very interesting article about many different aspects of life in Buenos Aires - fashion, food, nightlife, etc.
I'm really excited, but I know I have a lot of stuff to get together still. I need to find my flight and get a bunch of information for CEA approval and for the office of study abroad's approval here at USC. I don't want to think about all that paperwork right now though.
Instead, I'll tell you all how excited I am, still. Of course. It's not constantly on my mind, anymore, but it frequently appears there because a lot of course work I'm doing relates to it. In Spanish class we just did politics and social changes as a chapter, and I'm doing a presentation on one of the most famous Argentines, Evita Perón. In my conversational Spanish class, I've commonly been seen freaking out about how American I sound, etc. but my teacher has calmed my nerves because I'm starting to realize that when I'm confident about what I'm saying, I sound really good. Hopefully my time in Argentina will only improve that feeling.
So, I don't really have a lot to share - life has been AWESOME and I'm realizing how much I feel like I'll be missing out on something amazing here en los EEUU (that's the abbreviation for United States, or Estados Unidos), but I know I'll have something more amazing that I wouldn't want to give up for the world. At the same time, I just spoke today (for the first time in a while) with my friends, Stephanie and Holly, about their recent adventures; it makes me VERY jealous to hear, but I bet they'll feel the same way when I'm abroad and they aren't any longer.
For now, though, I am going to concentrate on school and watching the Olympics (Go Team USA!). I hope that when I'm in Argentina I'll become a big fútbol fan, so I at least have a sport to care about - seeing as I'll be missing out on the Red Sox!
http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/2010/03/feature/buenos-aires-text/1
Here's a link to a very interesting article about many different aspects of life in Buenos Aires - fashion, food, nightlife, etc.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Quite a Shock
Now that I've been accepted, and it's all I've been able to mention for the past few days, I decided that I should take a good look at my pre-departure information online. As I was doing this, of course, I couldn't help but notice that in the sample budget for my program the tuition rose, and that was not the only thing. I was so shocked and upset because, essentially, the entire budgeted amount rose by about $5,000. I was so angry and upset, and I couldn't believe that this would happen to me; I had searched and searched to find an affordable program so that when I told my parents I knew what I want to do, I could tell them that it wasn't crazily out of reach. This threw a wrench into my plans. And when I looked at my bill, it said it didn't owe nearly as much as the sample budget showed, so I was severely confused. I immediately called CEA and spoke with a very friendly woman in the financial aid department about it. She explained that because I applied when I did, I was not affected by the increase in tuition to the company, but that I may have to budget more money toward general life expenses in Buenos Aires. I thanked the lady for her explanation and called my mommy, who was about to sit down to dinner. Like any good mother, however, she could tell by my voice that something wasn't right (I can't believe I'm that read-able!). Anyway, she assured me that all would be well and that I could still go to Argentina. So, for now, my trip is quite safe and I didn't start this blog in vain! Haha. I just thank my lucky stars that I applied when I did because a day or two later could have cost me a few grand. I guess I should also be thankful that I just got recruited to a new job, and I that I will be able to save myself a few hundred dollars to spend on who knows what (food) in Argentina.
Additionally, a strange thing that I learned from my pre-departure information... when Stephanie was preparing for France (http://grenobletwentyten.blogspot.com) and Holly for London (http://cttolondon.blogspot.com), they both went through somewhat complicated processes to get their visas in order. Instead of driving to Atlanta like Stephanie or having an issue with shipping like Holly, I just wait until I get to Argentina and get a tourist visa at customs. Then, when I'm at school I apply for an addition student visa, and I'm all set. Whew! So much for worrying about that one! (Although I'm sure it will be a ton of paperwork anyway, haha).
Just to finish off, I want to apologize to all the people that put up with me and my endless chatter about how awesome Argentina is going to be. When I'm procrastinating on work, it's what I google. I can sit on Wikipedia and CIA World Factbook for hours just reading about Buenos Aires and Argentina (and all the cool places I can go!). So, yeah, sorry guys! Slap me when I get annoying!
But! Fun fact: Iguazú Falls, on the borders of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, has a falling rate of 350,000-400,000 gallons per SECOND. Think about how it would feel to shower under that. Haha.
Paz y amor,
Caroline
Additionally, a strange thing that I learned from my pre-departure information... when Stephanie was preparing for France (http://grenobletwentyten.blogspot.com) and Holly for London (http://cttolondon.blogspot.com), they both went through somewhat complicated processes to get their visas in order. Instead of driving to Atlanta like Stephanie or having an issue with shipping like Holly, I just wait until I get to Argentina and get a tourist visa at customs. Then, when I'm at school I apply for an addition student visa, and I'm all set. Whew! So much for worrying about that one! (Although I'm sure it will be a ton of paperwork anyway, haha).
Just to finish off, I want to apologize to all the people that put up with me and my endless chatter about how awesome Argentina is going to be. When I'm procrastinating on work, it's what I google. I can sit on Wikipedia and CIA World Factbook for hours just reading about Buenos Aires and Argentina (and all the cool places I can go!). So, yeah, sorry guys! Slap me when I get annoying!
But! Fun fact: Iguazú Falls, on the borders of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, has a falling rate of 350,000-400,000 gallons per SECOND. Think about how it would feel to shower under that. Haha.
Paz y amor,
Caroline
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Accepted!
I told my friends today that I wanted to start a blog now that I had completed my application for study abroad. I said, "I want to because I'm excited, but I know I'll have nothing to write." Of course, hours later, I've been accepted to my study abroad program, and I have too much energy to wait on making a blog now.
So, hello. It is February 1st, and I have until June 19th until I start my semester+ in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Yet, here I am. Anyway, I just would really like to give a grateful shout-out to CEA Global Education. I applied to my program yesterday, faxed my transcript in at about noon, and was accepted by 8:30PM. So instead of waiting for a seemingly endless period of time, I found out within 48 hours of my actual application submission (and that was on a Sunday, folks!).
I'm not going to lie, I've wanted to study abroad for a while now. It's been hard seeing 2 of my best friends leave the country this semester, and I know plenty of other people also overseas. But now it's my turn and I'm so very excited. Although, the moment my parents told me I could apply, I became nervous. 5.5 months is a very long time to spend away from the places you know and the people you love, but I know it will be worth it in the end, very worth it. When I submitted my application, I told my family, "now it's out of my hands. What happens happens!" And now that I'm accepted, I'm nervous again. Haha. But really, I don't think I would have been accepted so quickly if it wasn't really meant to be. (And that's my thought on that!)
I'm sure I'll find a few things to write about inbetween now and the week prior to departure, such as visa application and class registration. And maybe I'll even give a low-down as to why I chose CEA over all the other, I'm sure, wonderful study abroad companies. But until then, IR Theory and Poetry await!
¡Buenos noches, señores y señoritas!
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