COUNTDOWN TO KONSTANZ

So, as of right now, I have 33 days left until I get on a plane and arrive in Konstanz, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous! While everyone else is blogging about their trip and what they're currently doing and all the fun they are having, I haven't even left yet, so you get to read ALL about my pre-study dilemmas, woes and excitements, and hopefully can learn from the the mistakes that I definitely won't be making....yeah you're right I'm sure I'll mess up royally....a few times!

So already a few tips if your planning on studying abroad:

• pick two or three different locations to want to study in, like different country locations. My first choice was Russia, but because of the Moscow bombings it became a non-option because my parents were worried about safety, so I needed to pick some place else I really wanted to go to. So, if your first choice either gets closed out or something happens in that country and you don't wanna go, have back ups that you're familiar with!

• get to know as much about the country you want to study in as you can; weather, customs, history, neighboring areas/countries, food and attractions near-by. EVERYTHING. Because if you're going to France and your lactose intolerant, you might want to choose someplace else because so many of there foods involve butter and cream, and you'll be dying and study abroad won't be fun :( .. customs are also good to know so you don't look like an outsider and don't offend anyone.

• before you commit to studying abroad someplace, look into flight costs well in advance for the month you'll be studying abroad, because overseas flights are expensive, and you need as much time to save money for the overall expense of the trip as possible!

That's all the advice I have for now, until next time!

-Sam

Germany...HERE I COME!

Hi everyone! So, my name is Samantha and I'll be studying abroad in Konstanz (Con-shtan-ts), Germany this summer...and I am SUPER excited!

Before I get in to this really cool going to Germany business, let me tell you a little about me so you can understand how tremendous this opportunity is for me. I am the youngest of two daughters and was born and raised on Long Island, New York. I am a first generation American, my family comes from Germany & the Czech Republic and even with all of that heritage my out of country experiences are well...minimal.

I've never been to Europe or out of the North American continent for that matter. I've been to your stereotypical Mexico, Canada and the Carribbean which were amazing trips, however not my style. I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Europe and just TRAVEL, I took French in High School, I love Indian food and sushi, and Morocco and Egypt and on the top of my list of places to travel to. So, while Mexico and Canada are really cool, they were just to bland for me.

Originally my plans were to study abroad in St. Petersburg, Russia; however my parents were not so pleased with that and with a bombing in Moscow I decided the next best thing was Germany! I took German my first and second semesters at SBU and fell in LOVE with the language and everything German that I've learned, which is why I really want to go and just submerge myself in Deutschland. Maybe, if I like it, I'll move there after college and spend a year or two perfecting my Deutsch skills.

So with my plane ticket purchased, my mental suitcase packed, I have 49 days (and counting!!) left.