Long road to a long flight.

Originally I wanted to take this trip last year, but wasn't sure if I'd fail out of vet school in the mean time lol, so decided to hedge my bets and take it this year.  Well the potentially ironic thing is that there's still a very bumpy road - finals week to be exact - between me and Germany.  But all will work out in the end...or that's what I keep telling myself. (I should be studying right now...)

Been a bit of a process getting there.  Some awesome people helping us out along the ways, but as MAC DVM already posted, Financial Aid has been...less than thrilling.  Should definitely get that ball rolling early.  It's very much a hurry up and wait type of thing.  Also, pay attention to scholarship deadlines.  They sneak up on you faster than you might think while you're learning about just how big a granulosa cell tumor can get in horses.  And write them down too, because my dyslexic mind transposed a dual-digit number and I missed the deadline on two scholarships by several days.

Planning for the trip has been fun, but somewhat frustrating too because, well, it's completely new.  For instance, we don't have passenger trains and what not here (at least not in this part of the country), so I know less than nothing about all of that and what needs to go into it.  But for the most part, it's fun.  In fact, it might be a bit too fun because often I've found myself scoping out locations in Germany rather than studying.  However, I've also found myself cleaning my room, alphabetizing my bookshelf (in reverse order, of course), and other equally boring activities in lieu of studying, so maybe it's only relatively fun. :)

I will say that I wish I had spent more time studying German.  However, I've found it's extremely difficult to study two foreign languages at once (German and vet school vocabulary) so I can't fault it too much.  My understanding is that many speak English very well over there, so it won't be that big of a deal I'd hope.  I'm also awesome at charades, so there's that too.  But I'd much prefer my level of German to be somewhere around at least a first-grade level than what I have currently:  a few words, gestures, and grunts.  I believe 'beer' sounds the same in both languages so at least I won't go thirsty.

Not much else to say right now.  It will be a great trip with great people so I'm looking forward to it.  Certainly beats working all summer, regardless of how much my bank account disagrees.

Pre-Eurotrip/Finals Blues Blurb

18 MORE DAYS!

The pre-Eurotrip excitement has officially begun: the hostels are booked, the Eurail pass is in my hand, I have my awesome 65L hiking pack....oh yea...and 10 days of school with 6 finals thrown in between myself and the awesome, overnight flight to Frankfurt.  Sad day, but the torture will be over soon enough and then the awesomeness will begin!

THE FUN STUFF:
Overall, I am most excited about immersing myself in all the different cultures I will be surrounded with.  Trying the food, tasting the wine, taking in all the amazing history and architecture, talking to everyone I can....it seems almost overwhelming.  I hope to make some amazing, new friends while overseas that will come visit...not to mention shelter and entertain me should I ever want to return (I WILL!)

THE THINGS THAT HAVE SUCKED SO FAR:
Financial aid!!!!! Without the help of our awesome program coordinator, Joy, and Karen, in financial aid, getting funding for this trip would have been impossible.  Words of wisdom: start early. I began getting my finances in line for this trip last year so that I could have a jump on all the crazy hoops financial aid has us jump through.

THE BIG PRE-TRIP THANK YOUS:
Olivia!!!! Our AIB coordinator/German tutor is the best!  She has helped get us ready for this trip with language and culture lessons, plus lots more. Although it was sad that she had to leave, she got me really pumped for this trip even when it was ages away.
Dr. Wasser....well duh! We wouldn't be taking this trip if you didn't offer to keep doing this program every year. Oh yea, and did I mention the $1000??? Thanks for helping with the cost of this program.
TAMU CVM Dean's Office: THANK YOU!!! for the awesome scholarship donation to each person going on this journey.
AIB peoples: Thanks for coordinating all of this! This will be a once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunity that I know I will never trade for anything.
TAMU peoples: Thanks for helping bring all this together.  The nightmares of not getting financial aid to pay for this trip have stopped, and I don't feel like any of my paperwork is missing.

Anywho, that should be all the rambling for now.  Updates to come soon...since ya know, ONLY 18 DAYS LEFT!!!!