PLANS PLANS EVERWHERE ARE PLANS

    HOLY CRAP!
So the emailing has started; I've already been in contact with people from University College Roosevelt (henceforth known as UCR) about housing and rooms and rent and, and, and...
It really takes a lot to put something like this together.
         In case you didn't know that.
Now, I'm not saying I thought it was easy-breezy, but there's definitely a lot to think about!

NOTE: FOR THOSE WHO PLAN ON GOING ON EXCHANGE, BE PERSISTANT WITH EMAILS!!!

     If I have learned anything thus far, it's to not feel bad for emailing people, even if you do it multiple times a day. IT IS THEIR JOB TO HELP YOU!! The way I look at it, I'm the one going to a totally different country, jumping into a place that I've never actually seen before. I don't know how it works. BUT the person on the other side of the email does.
Have a question? Ask it!
Need information? Ask for it!
It is much better to be the annoying girl who is over informed than to show up one day, and have no idea what is going on.

On top of school info, Mom picked me up some books about Netherlands and Amsterdam. In my opinion, it is important to know as much about the place you are going as POSSIBLE!!! It will be a comfort when I land to know that there will be canals, that they ride a lot of bikes, etc, rather than be plopped down and go "WOAH!!!! WTF IS WITH THE BIKES?!"
       Get my drift?
Plus, the more information you get, the less worried and freaked out you feel, and you can actually start getting excited!!!!!!!
After all, I'll be there soon.
-Jennifer

The W's

     If you think about - and I mean REALLY think about it - blogs are a lot like relationships; you start off getting to know the person, and then you are able to understand their jokes, the way their mind works, how they view the world, what's important to them. If you find them interesting, you keep coming back for more. If not, then you move on to the next person/blog.

    If I go along with this little analogy I've got going on, I think I owe you, the reader, a little bit of an introduction to me! After all, if you are going to understand anything that will be posted from here on out, you kind of need to know a bit about what has lead up to the creation of this blog. Why am I tying this? What is the blog about? When will I be posting? Where am I posting from? Who is this girl?

WHO AM I?

    My name is Jennifer Cote! I am starting this blog as I'm finishing up my second year at Glendon College, the bilingual liberal arts college at York University. I'm an International Studies major and a History minor at Glendon in Toronto.

     I'm a really big fan of Chai Lattes, Disney movies, sappy romance novels and cats. I enjoy chocolate and Starbursts and love listening to music and dancing. My family - mom, dad, brother and sister, plus all the aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc - are the best people in the world; well, other than my chosen family AKA my amazing friends.  I love museums, learning new things about the world, and exploring.

     I began a journey when I arrived at University; I began to learn about the world, the people in it, the different ways of life, and my Adventure of Self Discovery began! The past two years are filled with opportunities to learn about myself, and it's kind of mind blowing when I compare myself today to who I was two years ago. If I have gained anything at school, it would have to be my growing sense of self. There's nothing as satisfying as feeling like you know who you are, or at least being on your way to discovering who you are.

WHY THE BLOG?

    As stated in my blog description, I have been accepted to Roosevelt Academy in the Netherlands for my third year of study. I have never been to Europe, and I am so freaking excited to spend the year learning in a different school, as well as exploring this beautiful continent.

    I know it can be hard to keep up with emails, and it can be a little exhausting typing out the same thing to different people - especially now a days, when not only do you send emails, but also answer, texts, Facebook messages, etc. My thinking is that a blog is the perfect way for those I love to keep tabs on what I've been up to - and  make sure I'm still alive - as well as sharing my feelings and experiences with those who may be considering studying abroad, or traveling Europe.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

    I will share stories about places I visit, things I see, feelings I have while traveling, talking about life in the Netherlands, stuff like this.

WHEN WILL YOU POST?

     This summer will act as my way to get into the habit of posting, as well as a way for me to share some of the prep that happens before going on exchange. I will try to post once a week, probably on a Saturday night. So make sure you check weekly for an update!!

 

I hope our relationship will continue to grow in the next year, and you will find these posts interesting and helpful!!
Feel free to comment with suggestions, thoughts, questions, etc.

 

I may not be there yet, but I'll be there soon!!!!

-Jennifer