An Inner Dialogue About Studying Abroad

Chelsea Schoen, Tower Staff
September 22, 2011
Filed under Uncategorized

One Random Night at 2AM During the Summer: HELLLLLL YES! I’m doing this! I’m going abroad! I can do it, I can totally handle a new language, a younger drinking age, and potential exotic boyfriends. I’m going to Buenos Aires. I went once before, I loved it…minus that one incident where I was pick-pocketed…but whatever! I’m wiser and older now. Okay, plan decided. Now it’s application time…though it’s late…and I’m tired…tomorrow!

Move-In Day: So excited! Back at school, back to independence, back with friends! And it’s syllabus week and I totally deserve to let loose after working all summer! I can look into my class work and club things later. Oh! And study abroad; can’t forget that…but that can wait, I have til October.

Second Week of Classes: It’s starting already. Why did I come to college? Waitressing was easy and simple; no papers, no reading, just money. It’s okay, I can do this, I’ll just read 50 pages of Socrates, study my Economics graphs, read 3 articles for my TRS class, translate a Spanish article, and I’ll start that Politics paper this weekend. Oh my god, I’m screwed. Not to mention, I haven’t even looked at abroad application…okay, this Sunday, I’ll start.

That Sunday: (Wake up and both walls are spinning inwards at me. Dizzy. Nauseous. Need hospital.

Following Week: On prescription pills for Vertigo and Labrynthitis. Beautiful timing. Now I can’t read or use my computer without brain spinning…even though I have work for all my classes…and that abroad application. Neat.

This Week: Back to classes, health restored. Finally feeling caught up on all my classes…and the countdown hanging in Opus lobby for Oktoberfest just happens to match my countdown for this abroad application deadline. Now that smug little German man is mocking me for my procrastination. (Insert crying fit where I call home and lie in bed depressed and hopeless.) Okay, I’ll email my professor for my recommendation on Monday, attend the Abroad 101 session on Tuesday, and start CUAbroad and IES applications that night.

After Abroad 101: So. Many. Emails. But my professor agreed to recommend me, I have all these forms printed and by this time, filling out name, GPA, CUA ID, etc. is cake! Now I just need to make an appointment for a degree audit, put in a transcript request, meet with my major adviser, pick my courses, meet with my abroad adviser, take the language assessment…@#$%. Cherry on top: CUAbroad office scolds me that it’s absolutely unacceptable to start my application in less than 2 weeks til deadline. (Insert second crying fit in bed with box of Goldfish and Hershey Kisses).

MORAL OF THE STORY: JUST START THAT NIGHT AT 2AM IN THE SUMMER, SAVE YOURSELF THE TEARS AND STRESS. LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCED.