I had a couple people ask me how to make comments or suggestions on here, so here it is! Please don't hesitate to message me on Facebook, email me, or text me (if you have an iPhone-- the wifi allows iMessages to pass through when I'm abroad) if you have any questions about anything.
In order to comment on a specific post on this blog, you must first click on the post to go to its individual page and at the bottom, there is a large white box where you can type comments. However, if you wish to comment on the entire blog, at the bottom of the page there is a little pencil icon right above where it lists the "Labels" and "Location," and if you click there, you will then be able to comment on the main page. If you venture to a single post but wish to view the blog in its entirety, simply click on the name of the blog at the top of the page and it will redirect you to the main page.
Thanks! :)
Besitos,
Emma
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Pre-Trip Deliberations
Hello everyone!
This past December, I submitted my application to the Office of Overseas Study at Indiana University for the year-long program in Madrid. In February, I was interviewed by two faculty members and a previous student from the same program, and in March, I received my formal letter (email) of acceptance. I was absolutely elated to hear that I would be spending my junior year abroad! Soon thereafter, I was introduced to my fellow program-goers, advisor, and mentor, and it took off from there-- since then, it has been an absolute flurry of emotions and paperwork preparing for the trip. I had to collect a background check, medical check-up, apostille (oy vey!), financial statement, etc., and an appointment with the Consulate General of Spain in Chicago in order to prepare for the admission of my visa application. My mom and I road tripped to Chicago and stayed with my cousin, her husband, and adorable little boy overnight and I submitted my paperwork to the office the next morning. All of my paperwork was in order and, even though (as per Spanish standards) they were running a bit late, I was out of the office in a whirlwind of excitement and what seemed like an ages-long elevator ride down from the 15th floor.
Whilst awaiting the arrival of my visa from the Consulate, I am enjoying the remainder of my summer, working part-time, being an adoring new aunt, and stressing full-time about my departure, even though I know that I am prepared adequately for the trip. I occasionally receive emails from one of the multiple administrators of the program and every day, I check the countdown app I have on my phone to see how many days until I fly out of Indianapolis and arrive in my second home... Spain. In case you were wondering, it's only 37 days away. Ah, how I've been looking forward to returning yet again. There's nothing quite like feeling that it gives me-- flying over the ocean on the red-eye, watching the sun come up over the curve of the Earth, penetrating the dark of the night that we are leaving behind, and realizing that this flight will bring me to the place that showed me that I have the strength and ability to learn who I am and be comfortable and confident enough to be myself, even--especially--in a foreign language. Watching the dawn ascend from the far east, it's hard not to feel the wonder of the human experience-- of life. There's not a lot more humbling than seeing the sun rise over the ocean. It's absolutely breathtaking and I hope each and every one of you gets the opportunity at least once to experience something so... amazing.
Bear with me, I promise the mushy stuff is over now. If you can't tell, I'm ecstatic that I've received this opportunity and I can't wait to fly out.
However excited I may be, I realize there will be hardships. An experience as good as this will definitely bring difficulties and silver linings along for the ride. The mentor that has been emailing me this summer described some of the feelings I may experience while abroad for such a long time, and has given me un montón (a lot) of advice on how to cope and thrive. I know there will be good and bad days, but I feel that with my support system and mentor's advice on my side, I will prosper. Thank goodness for Skype, which will allow me to see my niece grow while I'm away and stay in contact with my wonderful boyfriend, who I'll wait not-so-patiently for to come visit me at the end of my trip. ;-) When I get back, baby Sara will probably be walking, which is a crazy thought! Hopefully I won't have missed out on too much during my absence.
Through this blog, I hope to give you all a bit of a peek into what I'm doing while in Spain and elsewhere. I hope this will also open a line of communication with my friends and family at home-- I'll be asking for suggestions on where you guys think I should visit when I have the time and money to do so!
Thanks for looking! Please feel free to comment on here, on my Facebook, or contact me through email for suggestions on what I should post or if you have any questions.
Mil abrazos,
Emma
This past December, I submitted my application to the Office of Overseas Study at Indiana University for the year-long program in Madrid. In February, I was interviewed by two faculty members and a previous student from the same program, and in March, I received my formal letter (email) of acceptance. I was absolutely elated to hear that I would be spending my junior year abroad! Soon thereafter, I was introduced to my fellow program-goers, advisor, and mentor, and it took off from there-- since then, it has been an absolute flurry of emotions and paperwork preparing for the trip. I had to collect a background check, medical check-up, apostille (oy vey!), financial statement, etc., and an appointment with the Consulate General of Spain in Chicago in order to prepare for the admission of my visa application. My mom and I road tripped to Chicago and stayed with my cousin, her husband, and adorable little boy overnight and I submitted my paperwork to the office the next morning. All of my paperwork was in order and, even though (as per Spanish standards) they were running a bit late, I was out of the office in a whirlwind of excitement and what seemed like an ages-long elevator ride down from the 15th floor.
Whilst awaiting the arrival of my visa from the Consulate, I am enjoying the remainder of my summer, working part-time, being an adoring new aunt, and stressing full-time about my departure, even though I know that I am prepared adequately for the trip. I occasionally receive emails from one of the multiple administrators of the program and every day, I check the countdown app I have on my phone to see how many days until I fly out of Indianapolis and arrive in my second home... Spain. In case you were wondering, it's only 37 days away. Ah, how I've been looking forward to returning yet again. There's nothing quite like feeling that it gives me-- flying over the ocean on the red-eye, watching the sun come up over the curve of the Earth, penetrating the dark of the night that we are leaving behind, and realizing that this flight will bring me to the place that showed me that I have the strength and ability to learn who I am and be comfortable and confident enough to be myself, even--especially--in a foreign language. Watching the dawn ascend from the far east, it's hard not to feel the wonder of the human experience-- of life. There's not a lot more humbling than seeing the sun rise over the ocean. It's absolutely breathtaking and I hope each and every one of you gets the opportunity at least once to experience something so... amazing.
Bear with me, I promise the mushy stuff is over now. If you can't tell, I'm ecstatic that I've received this opportunity and I can't wait to fly out.
However excited I may be, I realize there will be hardships. An experience as good as this will definitely bring difficulties and silver linings along for the ride. The mentor that has been emailing me this summer described some of the feelings I may experience while abroad for such a long time, and has given me un montón (a lot) of advice on how to cope and thrive. I know there will be good and bad days, but I feel that with my support system and mentor's advice on my side, I will prosper. Thank goodness for Skype, which will allow me to see my niece grow while I'm away and stay in contact with my wonderful boyfriend, who I'll wait not-so-patiently for to come visit me at the end of my trip. ;-) When I get back, baby Sara will probably be walking, which is a crazy thought! Hopefully I won't have missed out on too much during my absence.
Through this blog, I hope to give you all a bit of a peek into what I'm doing while in Spain and elsewhere. I hope this will also open a line of communication with my friends and family at home-- I'll be asking for suggestions on where you guys think I should visit when I have the time and money to do so!
Thanks for looking! Please feel free to comment on here, on my Facebook, or contact me through email for suggestions on what I should post or if you have any questions.
Mil abrazos,
Emma
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)