Anticipation is high awaiting liftoff tomorrow. I really cannot believe the day is already here! Tomorrow I leave and make the 36 hour journey to Taiwan! ✈✈✈
So, what did I really get myself into at the start? And what did I learn?
At the beginning I was kind of confused and just flabbergasted that I had actually submitted the initial application $$. I felt comfort in knowing that I could jump-boat and cancel the application if I decided that it really wouldn't be feasible. I applied online filling out personal information, uploading documents, and making a list of schools I would like to attend. Asia was really on my mind - I had always wanted to travel there and so many countries that sparked my interest. Basically, the application had you choose the different countries/universities of interest, and you are then placed in one based off of your acceptance into their program and availability. Taiwan wasn't my first choice, but after coming to terms with the unknown and doing my research, I really think it was the best placement for me! This was my first lesson learned, I would have committed sooner and given myself more time to understand and do the application.
Time management was a huge thing. I thought I had more time than I did. After the program acceptance there was other small little deadlines for school required information and such through the website... and I was at least two days late on all of them. Definitely not my brightest moments. Thankfully the program was slightly flexible, but learn from me and stay on top of deadlines, not all programs will be so kind. When emails come asking for info, if you can't do it immediately, put it on a calendar with a reminder - this is what saved me in the end.
Besides continuing to take the online webinars for the program and filling out more information for them, my home college and my abroad university both wanted applications of their own. I was unprepared for this, but that's why you are reading this to learn from my mishaps! My home college had to have record of my enrollment, and the abroad university needed the same. But, of course with different requirements. Physicals, vaccines, and tests, were needed to see about the fitness of my mind and body before going overseas for a semester. I had a wellness exam, tuberculosis test, and consulted with a specialist to see what vaccinations were recommended/required for Americans headed to Asia $$. (I'm sure each college and university has their own test requirements depending on where in the world you are headed, and therefore won't be the exact same as mine.) Along with mind and body came my financial fitness in obtaining bank statements. There was quite the load of documents that I needed to obtain, which kind of surprised me. In collecting the documentation, I realized how important it was to have all this on hand, not just for studying abroad but for real life circumstances too.
After all the steps and applications were finished and verified, the program stepped back and it was now me connecting with my abroad university to get myself over there. It was my first time applying for a visa by myself, and I did it completely wrong. Later, my host university sent me specific instructions, so patience definitely would have saved me a little worry. In the U.S. different regions report to different embassies (which is where you apply for visas through), and in my experience now, different embassies can have slightly different requirements for documents. It is very vital that you know everything you need to send to the embassy ahead of time. I ended up having to request more documents from my abroad university at the last minute, which I felt bad for. So, don't feel afraid to call the embassy and ask questions, that saved me in the long run. And of course, different countries have different visa requirements; Taiwan required several documents to be sent directly to the embassy as well as an online application and fee, and the process took about a week to get ok-ed and sent back $$.
Then, I got my plane ticket $$. If you are a student traveler, or really any age traveler, and are looking for an amazing service, use Start The Adventure (STA) Travel website. It is a simple middle-man, with great customer service. And if needed, they let you pay off your tickets/hotels/tours in small payment amounts. They have travel advice, a 24/7 call center, quotes, blogs, and deals. I highly recommend them!
Lastly, I paid for student travel insurance $$. This was made easy through the ISEP program website.
Budgeting wasn't a new concept to me, but never had I applied it so much. I needed to save save save for six months and be ready to support myself for five months without a job. Yes, the exchange rate comes into play, but not having a steady flow of income when all you want to do is spend money on cool adventures definitely adds up. So, what the heck are the $$? Well, everything with the $$-sign next to it above was something that cost money. And did I mention that I still had to pay tuition and room/board too $$? So, along with preparing to be abroad, current finances took some initial priority for the six months as well. It added up to be more than I expected, but it was nothing that couldn't be overcome with a little more budgeting! I saved and funded myself without outside help by doing different odd jobs, and I believe that I have made enough to sustain and have fun abroad. If I could do it, you can totally do it too!
So, learn from me! Take time management seriously so when the deadlines start piling up you can be on top of it. And budget your money wisely. I went in thinking I may not be able to afford studying abroad, but it was definitely possible even with the limited amount of time I had.
I am getting butterflies for tomorrow! I'm kind of at a loss for words. So, until I can get them back, I will leave you with this: The next time I write, I will be writing from Taiwan!!
See you on the flip side,
Ayla
