Study Abroad, Facebook and College in General

So first of all, I deactivated my Facebook. Yes I know shocking. I just felt like I needed a bit of a break from it so its gone for now (probably will be back eventually). It feels pretty good, going through a few withdrawals but hey I feel like this will be much healthier for me. I usually only wasted time on it really. The people I want to keep in contact with I have their numbers. The main thing I am missing is the black milk fan page but I could still look at it while being deactivated so I guess it works out. (probably healthier for my wallet anyway)

Okay, now onto bigger and better things! I am going to study abroad! I am very stoked. I have had a couple meetings and I have started my planning. I don't plan on going until Spring 2013 so I have plenty of time. I'll be completed with German 2010 by the time I leave and I think I will have all the money saved up by then. I did the math and to have all my funds ready to go with a little of spare time I am going to need to average $210 a month in savings. I think I can pull it off, yeah for October and maybe November I wont be able to make a ton of money but I have some saved from my financial aid that kinda counts. Once Christmas season is in full swing I might have more luck with my part time ushering job with the theater department. For now, ushering with the athletics department I get about $35 everyother week yuck, but hey its money.

I am so excited to study abroad though, with the direct transfer program that USU has set up it will be way cheaper to go and they have great support so it will be really easy to get everything squared away before I even get on the plane. I am planning on attending the University of Innsbruck in western Austria from March to July. I am not very anxious at all about it. The study abroad office takes such good care of you that its pretty simple and not too daunting. I applied for a scholarship through NSCS (national society for collegiate scholars) which I joined last month. There are also sever study abroad scholarship I am planning on applying for once the date gets closer.

In Innsbruck I will taking literature classes while enjoying my time abroad. I love how pretty Austria is, especially Innsbruck, I mean just look at it!

Ugh! So gorgeous! And Innsbruck is literally a few hours via train to Milan, Venice, Zurich or Munich! So traveling would be really easy and not too expensive. The city itself is beautiful with old archetecture and churchs combined with old squares and small family owned shops. I am very excited!

My German 1010 class is going fairly well considering that I study 2-3 hours a night. I am bound and determined to learn this language! Hopefully before I get there so I don't feel overwhelmed. Went to a tutoring session today and it helped a bit, I think I need to be more confident and I need to work on listening to German more...I wish I had some movies I could watch in German that would be very helpful. I was thinking I might buy a German-English bible so that I can practice reading comprehension more.

Speaking of the bible, I have been feeling really great about God lately (not intending to preach) and I have felt a bit sense of relief since I have started attending Alpine Church. It feels so great to be learning more about Christ and I feel much more confident in myself and in his love for me. I don't feel quite as lost now as I did before. I think it also helps that I am meeting a lot of kids my age who are really involved with CRU (crusade for Christ in college) and it helps me to see their conviction and its great to be around a group of such loving individuals. My friend Brad has in particular been very kind and understanding over the past few weeks, he is helping me learn a lot and I am vastly impressed by his knowledge of scripture. It feels great to be in this place in my life where I know who I am and I am connecting with myself and with God more.

So life is pretty good right now, by no means perfect as life always throws you a few curve balls but I feel satisfied and comfortable. Life is grand and full of endless possibilities.

Auf Wiedersehen!
Carly