Winter Break

Not a day has gone by over break, when I haven't told someone new about my trip. It is very redundant but I get more excited each time! Everyone has such positive feedback about what a life changing experience it will be and how it will put me a step ahead when applying for jobs. It doesn't seem real that I will actually be going. 

I have started to look into getting things set for the trip. I have talked to the bank about international fees, picked out my suitcases, started this blog, bought a travel alarm clock, and began thinking about shoes and clothes that I want to bring. I know it seems early but when I head back to school on Jan 8, I won't be home again for more than a couple of days before leaving, so I have to get things together. 

I have also gotten my act together for this semester. I ordered my books and started to invest in "teacher clothes". I don't know how I feel about having to look nice and professional every day. I will be taking in my car soon to make sure that I won't have problems driving to the school in the snow. 

And, In between all of that, I have loved hanging out with my friends almost everyday. I still need to catch up with some, but it has been a great week! 

An Exciting Time!

I started this blog so that my friends and family can follow me when I study abroad this spring.

I have a lot to catch you up on.

I was accepted into a teacher assisting program in South Africa. The trip will be six weeks and take place from March 17-April 30. 18 students were accepted into the program and two of them are my best friends. We have two faculty members that will be traveling with us and they are awesome! We will be staying in Stellenbosch, which is 30 miles from Cape Town. Stellenbosch is a college town so there will be many students my age. It is also wine country so we will be surrounded by wineries. It looks beautiful in the pictures!

I will be assisting in a primary school and traveling when the students are on holiday. South Africa has a very different schedule than American schools. We will be in the schools for the first week of the trip except for wednesday and friday when the students are on holiday. Then the following two weeks we will be on holiday before returning to our placements. We will be zip lining, shark tank diving, going on safaris, and sightseeing during holiday. We will be assisting in a classroom that is on the english track so language won't be a huge barrier.

We are living with 2-3 students in a family's home. Some families even have guest houses. I hear that most families have maids and are super nice! I cannot wait to meet the families and see what their life is like.

We had our first meeting as a complete group and it was awesome! Everyone on the trip seems really nice and I am excited to get to know them better. The meeting was a whirlwind. Talking about flights, rooming, holiday trips, packing lists, meeting the other participants, and getting general information. There is so much to do to prepare for this trip and not very much time.

This next semester is going to fly by. There are so many exciting changes that are happening all at once. I am placed in a 4th grade classroom in Grand Rapids Public School for 10 weeks. I will be going there in the mornings monday-thursday and all day on wednesday. I will have class Monday afternoons, Tuesday and Thursday nights. My South Africa meetings will be on Wednesday nights. My classes will end the day before I leave for South Africa. Also, the day after I get home from South Africa I will be moving into a house downtown. I don't know how all of this is going to work out but I can't wait to start moving forward to a new chapter in my life. I do have to get ready over winter break for all of these events because I won't have time in between.