Two Posts, one day oh my!!!

So now that I have motivated myself to begin this blog for real, I've decided I should try to update it rather frequently and possibly with information about how I got started on my journey, and then with information about my journey here.

I'm a French and International Studies double major, scheduled to graduate May of 2012 from Northern Michigan University. I chose my majors because I find other societies fascinating, and I think that sometimes, America sucks. Yes, I live there. Yes, my parents live there. But, there are so many areas of the world that have a much better take on how to live their lives. That's what I wanted to study. I wanted to know that there was more to life then the view of a 21 year old yooper, who had only left the country once to visit Canada in the 4th grade. I wanted to explore more than the woods and Lake Superior.

I began my study abroad adventure by talking to the two lovely study abroad advisers at Northern. Susan and Miriam were very helpful on my search to study abroad. As was my department head Tim Compton, and Angie the ever appreciated IPO secretary. When planning to study abroad you MUST see these people they can answer any question you have and are amazing resources.

The next step really is choosing a program. There are hundreds out there. I choose to go through International Studies Abroad because they had the exact program I was looking for offered the months I was looking into and offering the credits I needed. ISA is not the only study abroad program out there and they don't offer every country but it's nice to look at more than one program and see what is offered there is nothing wrong with comparison shopping. Especially when it comes to something as important as choosing where and how you want to spend a month to a year or maybe more of your life.

After finding a great program comes the fun part. Funding, again the IPO will help you out. But contacting financial aid is a necessity. Also looking into things like NMU Foundation Scholarships and the Gilman Scholarship. Maybe even a Fulbright Scholarship. My advice on any of these scholarships is to apply early! Really early. I started my whole process about 4 months before I left for France. Barely enough time to fill out all my applications.

After these steps comes the packing part. Which you need to figure out all for yourself, since I'm really not sure how I shoved everything I need for these two months into one suitcase and a back pack (P.S. my suitcase probably would have fit in the over head...) So that part, the buying the ticket part (again kids comparison shop!), and the kissing your family good bye part is all your own. As is how you live ot your study abroad.

This is just the basic post on how to get the Study Abroad Ball rolling specifically tailored to NMU if you have any questions or comments on what you'd like to see in this blog please let me know. And don't be afraid to add me for more of my adventures as a pseudo-Parisienne.

Yeah...we visit her at least 2 times a week. Not really pretty in the day time. but gorgeous at night.