It is right in the middle of finals week and yet, this trip is all I can think about. I need to focus… lol. I’m trying to nail down the last minute details, such as getting a travel physical from the school, get registered for classes at Oxford, make travel arrangements, etc. I’ve started putting stuff on my spare bed that I think I might need. We were told to lay out everything we need to take, then cut it in half since we have to haul our luggage thru the streets of Oxford from the point were the bus drops us off to the university. Apparently, it is quite a hike. How it can be any worse than rushing across NC State campus hauling a backpack full off books trying to make it to class is beyond me but we shall see I suppose.
We went to a final orientation meeting at school to prepare us for the trip and to get some pointers from students that made the trip in past years. They told us things like the laundry facilities there are outrageously expensive so we should brace ourselves for that fact. They also said get a converter for electricity because the UK runs off 240 volts and we run off 100 volts. Oh...here’s another little fact I didn’t know. They provide a bottom sheet and a duvet for us at the school but no top sheet. When I asked why, they said it was because the British don’t use top sheets. That is considered an American way of making up a bed. I never knew that. I can sleep in a blanket rolled up on a mattress so I don’t care but I thought that was interesting.
Well, time to end this and get back to studying. Be sure to send the link to this site to anyone you think would be interested. I need to build my subscription list and word of mouth is the best way.
Showing posts with label england. Show all posts
Showing posts with label england. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Step one....
Step one
I just got my passport for my trip so the preparations are well underway for my trip. My picture looks horrible of course, but I am told it is like this for everyone, a requirement almost. I have to raise some additional funds for things the grants and scholarships didn’t cover. It was suggested I build a website for fundraising but I am adding a link on here for donations. I keep meeting people from the UK and I flood them with questions regarding the differences in our countries and societies. They are all very gracious and most helpful. “Be prepared to drink a lot of tea” and “Carry an umbrella” have been the repeating themes so far. One guy tried to joke that the “It rains all the time” rumor is just a myth but his laughing out loud while he was trying to hand me that line of crap was a dead giveaway. I used near Seattle so it is all good. I am fully prepared to acclimate to that kind of weather. I know all about layering your clothes and wearing things with hoods. Besides, I’m a firm believer in dancing in the rain. It cleanses the soul.
I just got my passport for my trip so the preparations are well underway for my trip. My picture looks horrible of course, but I am told it is like this for everyone, a requirement almost. I have to raise some additional funds for things the grants and scholarships didn’t cover. It was suggested I build a website for fundraising but I am adding a link on here for donations. I keep meeting people from the UK and I flood them with questions regarding the differences in our countries and societies. They are all very gracious and most helpful. “Be prepared to drink a lot of tea” and “Carry an umbrella” have been the repeating themes so far. One guy tried to joke that the “It rains all the time” rumor is just a myth but his laughing out loud while he was trying to hand me that line of crap was a dead giveaway. I used near Seattle so it is all good. I am fully prepared to acclimate to that kind of weather. I know all about layering your clothes and wearing things with hoods. Besides, I’m a firm believer in dancing in the rain. It cleanses the soul.
My dream
The chance to travel abroad and pursue my education is a opportunity of a lifetime for me. I chose to wait until my children were grown to finish my college degree so I would have the freedom to give my studies the attention and time they deserved. I have found this decision to be a wise one, as I have accomplished much more than I ever thought possible. While I was a student in Georgia, I maintained a very high GPA and was inducted into the National Honor Society and placed on the National Deans List. This taught me I could accomplish anything I set my mind to with simple hard work and determination.
I chose Oxford as my Study Aboard destination for several reasons. First of all, it is a world renowned institution and I know my participation in this program would enhance my resume tremendously. As one of the top universities in the world, Oxford has been the choice for some of the greatest leaders in history, including Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, and our very own Sir Walter Raleigh. Bill Clinton even attended Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. The Oxford University website, http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/facts_and_figures/index.html, states, “Oxford boasts one of the most extensive global alumni networks in the world, with 160 branches in over 60 countries”. It would be the highest honor imaginable to be able to be associated with this caliber of students on an academic level. I am also interested in experiencing the teaching styles and academic excellence derived from a culture that is close enough to my own to make it comfortable but different enough to make it interesting. The experience of being taught by actual Fellows and Dons in the Oxford tradition of tutors spending one on one time with each student combined with classroom lectures is very appealing to me. As a CHASS major, I am required to take British Literature and European History. What better place is there to take these courses than in the very place they occurred?
Another reason I chose Oxford is its location. My mother’s family heritage has been traced back to the Royal Stewart Clan in Scotland and other family ties in Great Britain. The United Kingdom has always been a country of great interest to me and I would love to experience first hand the culture of my ancestor’s. I, like most Americans, tend to see my family as the people I associate with at reunions and gatherings. This opportunity will help me to see beyond those boundaries and to understand we are far more global then we comprehend.
I believe that studying abroad is something every Communications major should consider because in our careers we will be dealing with people from all over the world. If we limit ourselves to our own culture, we will not be able to truly understand others, were they came from, how they communicate, what their traditions are, what is important to them, and how we can bring all that together to accomplish our mutual goals. In this day and age of mass media and instant communication, we have to think beyond our borders and reach out globally. We are no longer restricted by our geographical boundaries in our personal lives or our business associations. Establishing connections and networks worldwide is vital to our success in any industry and can only serve to enhance our personal growth.
I chose Oxford as my Study Aboard destination for several reasons. First of all, it is a world renowned institution and I know my participation in this program would enhance my resume tremendously. As one of the top universities in the world, Oxford has been the choice for some of the greatest leaders in history, including Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, and our very own Sir Walter Raleigh. Bill Clinton even attended Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. The Oxford University website, http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/facts_and_figures/index.html, states, “Oxford boasts one of the most extensive global alumni networks in the world, with 160 branches in over 60 countries”. It would be the highest honor imaginable to be able to be associated with this caliber of students on an academic level. I am also interested in experiencing the teaching styles and academic excellence derived from a culture that is close enough to my own to make it comfortable but different enough to make it interesting. The experience of being taught by actual Fellows and Dons in the Oxford tradition of tutors spending one on one time with each student combined with classroom lectures is very appealing to me. As a CHASS major, I am required to take British Literature and European History. What better place is there to take these courses than in the very place they occurred?
Another reason I chose Oxford is its location. My mother’s family heritage has been traced back to the Royal Stewart Clan in Scotland and other family ties in Great Britain. The United Kingdom has always been a country of great interest to me and I would love to experience first hand the culture of my ancestor’s. I, like most Americans, tend to see my family as the people I associate with at reunions and gatherings. This opportunity will help me to see beyond those boundaries and to understand we are far more global then we comprehend.
I believe that studying abroad is something every Communications major should consider because in our careers we will be dealing with people from all over the world. If we limit ourselves to our own culture, we will not be able to truly understand others, were they came from, how they communicate, what their traditions are, what is important to them, and how we can bring all that together to accomplish our mutual goals. In this day and age of mass media and instant communication, we have to think beyond our borders and reach out globally. We are no longer restricted by our geographical boundaries in our personal lives or our business associations. Establishing connections and networks worldwide is vital to our success in any industry and can only serve to enhance our personal growth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
