Pre-Departure Meeting SDSU

On Saturday Dec. 1, 2013 I attended a manditory pre-departure meeting for SDSU located on the SDSU campus. The meeting lasted from 10:00am-3:30pm and was jam-packed with information. It was a tad bit overwhelming but I feel like I learned a lot from the meeting especially from talking to a native Brazilian and an alumni to the ISA Brazil program.

Some of the things I learned from the meeting its self were about culture shock, health and vaccines, and safety. The topic of culture shock was the most unnerving. The SDSU study abroad team said it is natural and should be expected that students, or people in general for that matter, when they arrive in a place where everything from the street signs to the bathrooms are different they experience a phenomenon called culture shock. The symptoms are similar to depression, and can take places around 1-2 months after arrival when all the hype and excitement of being there has faded away some, and the reality that you don't know anything or anyone has set in, another contributing factor is home sickness. When I heard this it made me nervous for my experience abroad, but then I realized that around that time (1-2 months into my trip) I will have family and my boyfriend visiting me, so I don't think I will have a harsh case of culture shock if any case at all. Plus I need to remind myself to always keeps a very open mind and enjoy every second while I am there because it will be over faster than I know it and I will regret not enjoying every once of it I can.

From the Brazilian native and the ISA Brazil alumni I learned a lot of useful site specific information as well. The first and for most is that I need to save more money!! Because I am going to want to travel around Brazil and neighboring countries while I am over there. Another exciting fact is that I will only be going to school three days a week most likely (Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday). That is amazing news because that means I will be able to take weekend trips all over the country. They also talked about safety and recommended that I bring my electronics, however leave my laptop at my host families house (do not carry it with me to class) and when I am carrying around my camera or GoPro, to keep it under my shirt or hidden when i am not using it, not to flash around electronics because that will just draw unwanted attention. Another recommendation they had, were to purchase the ISA cell phone they offer, they said that was the best deal, they also said to purchase a bus pass because you use public transportation to get everywhere. Finally the ISA alumni highly recommend that if I want to learn Portuguese, that I need to start teaching myself the basics now, and sign up for the intermediate Portuguese course in Brazil, because the beginner's course is too easy and I won't learn much while I am there. I am not sure how I feel about that thought, because I need to learn a lot (the basics) before I leave in order to be able to simply keep up in the intermediate course if it is anything like the language courses at SDSU. I need to speak with someone more in-depth regarding the rigor of the classes in Brazil.

All in all I am very excited for my trip, and the pre-departure meeting made it feel a little bit more real. My finals for the fall 2012 semester are next week, then I will be done with class until I leave for Brazil. That is when the true count down of days will begin!

Meeting Friends!

I am so glad there is an ISA facebook. I have met three girls already who are going on the trip in the spring as well.

Right now my to do list is:
- get my visa
- figure out a cell phone plan/ wifi plan for when I get over there
- make a list of things I need before I leave so I can ask for them for Christmas

So Excited :D

Empty Bank Account

ITS OFFICIAL!

I am going to Brazil for sure! I bought my plane ticket! I paid for the trip!
(I don't have any money now) BUT IM GOING!

I met a girl who is going in the spring as well on the ISA Brazil Facebook and the trip is starting to feel more and more real!

My mom is asking me what I need to get before I leave so I can ask for it for Christmas. It is crazy! :)

I am really excited because my fall semester ends in 3 weeks and then I be able to focus on researching Brazil, traveling around, and learning Portuguese before I leave.

Payment Due Nov. 15th

It's official, my bank account had been emptied. I no longer have any money to my name... but I am GOING TO BRAZIL! It had definitely not officially sank in yet. It still feels like a dream, but I was looking at the Facebook site for Brazil and the pictures made it feel a little more real. I also have the hand book for Brazil now, so I am excited to look through that and read about where I will be going!

p.s. not going to lie, I kind of had a mini panic attack when I pushed send to give away all my money! :\ mixed feeling but still really excited!

Nov 15th is Approaching

So there is some very sad news... Christina can't come with me to Brazil in the spring. There were multiple factors that played into her decision (financial) :( it was a very depressing day. But I decided that I am still going to embark on this endeavor!

There has been a series of forms and paperwork that I have needed to fill out and turn into both the SDSU study abroad office and the ISA program. Right now I have about three different forms left to turn into the ISA office (which are all due on Nov. 15th!) Then I will be one step closer to studying abroad! I still need to get a Visa which should be interesting ( I have to drive all the up to LA to get that). I also have to purchase my plane ticket, which is going to be CRaZy!! But it is all coming along smoothly except for the financial aid situations, but that's a whole different story...

I'll check back in soon :)

Count down: 4 months until departure

This is where we are headed to in February 2013. We will be staying in Florianopolis Brazil, an island off the southern tip of the country. 

August 2012

Prep work is still going into the application process. Christina and I are getting ready to fill out our application for ISA tomorrow! I am really excited to take this step and be even closer to officially be going to Brazil!

Wish us LUCK