As I sit here typing this, it's hard to believe that the two years of waiting to study abroad has almost come to an end. When I first started preparing to go to Germany with Christy Burke in the Education Abroad office, I didn't think the day would come up so fast! But, I guess that's what happens when you are so busy! Before I head out, Gama asked if I could lay down some basic info on what my goals and objectives are whilst studying in Heidelberg, and why I chose Heidelberg in the first place, so, here it is!
Goals and Objectives
- Have fun! I spent so long preparing for this trip that I almost forgot why I chose to do this in the first place; to have fun!
- Experience something new everyday. People who have traveled abroad before me all tell me the same thing "try something new everyday; meet someone new everyday; don't waste the opportunity". I plan on following these tips everyday to maximize the awesomeness of my experience!
- Document the journey with pictures and a journal. This is something I've been planning on doing for a while. Besides posting on the blog for you guys, I will be keeping a journal and taking a TON of pictures. I think my grandma would appreciate it if I posted them on Facebook every now and then as well ;)
- Immerse myself in the culture. This one is important to me. Being from a small town, I never got to experience of growing up in a diverse culture. I plan on immersing myself in the culture of my ancestors and understanding where I came from.
- Travel, travel, then travel s'more. Man, I wish I won that mega-millions jack-pot this summer because I want to travel ALL THE TIME! I have been saving up a ton this semester and working two jobs to build up my bank account a bit so I can travel while I'm in Germany. I plan on traveling a lot through Athena with my program but a trip to Ireland would be ideal :) (Are you listening Santa Claus?)
Why I Chose Heidelberg
I chose Heidelberg for a few reasons;
- The History Heidelberg is one of the untouched treasures of Germany. Unlike most other major cities after WWII, Heidelberg was not in ruins, as Nazis used the area for vacationing (There's even a Nazi amphitheater I hope to find on a hike, nestled up in the surrounding hills). Because of this, Heidelberg, its famous castle, and its many-century-old downtown, remain untouched by modernization, at least architecturally.
- The School The European Study Center is one of the most highly-rated schools in Europe for studying abroad and our living quarters/classrooms are in a huge mansion!
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| My School/Living Quarters/Home! |
3. Its Location Heidelberg is located in southwest Germany is a great location to travel from. I'm an hour away from France, Frankfurt, and the Black Forest.
Keep an eye out in January for my next post!
