EXCITEMENT!

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post but it's been down to the fact that I've been SO busy!

I am so happy to say that I have been officially accepted by the Universidad de Leon AND have booked a flight to Spain. This momentous step means that I am definitely going!!

I'll be setting off on Thursday 8th December and will travel with three other lovely girls for about three weeks before heading to Leon.

There is still so much to do to before I leave though, and not a huge amount of time to do so. I have an appointment with the Spanish Consulate to apply for a student visa. I've had my finger prints taken by NSW Police and they're currently being processed by the AFP. Fingers crossed they are back in time for my interview!! I also need proof of funds, a medical certificate, travel insurance, returning flight booked and about a billion and one other things before they'll let me in!

Will write more soon!

Chao, Clare xx

Umm, so.. err... where's Leon?

Friends, family and acquaintances have all pretty much said the exact same thing  when I've told them about going on exchange. And to be honest with you, I still don't know a great deal about the city I'm going to call home in just a few months.

So for starters, Leon is in north western Spain, about 4 hours from Madrid and 3 hours to cross the border into Portugal.

It has a population of about 150,000 and from just a quick Wiki search, it is evident that Leon has a rich history and some SPECTACULAR architecture!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le%C3%B3n,_Spain

I've also had a little look at the University's website and Facebook Page. The photos are the campus look fantastic!

 The more I see, the more excited I become. I know it's going to be a challenge but this is also shaping up to be an incredible adventure!

More soon!

Adios, Clare xx

Forms, forms, forms!

The exchange process has barely started for me and already I am started to be overwhelmed by the number of forms there are to fill out! I am submitting my final application for the the university today which will then be sent of to the Universidad de Leon to approve. Here's hoping they say yes!

I've also filled out the numerous forms for the Australian Federal Police as today I am going to have a fingerprint check. I'm excited to get another thing out of the way but a little less enthusiastic about parting with the $145 police check fee.

I had to fish out the passport photos I took a few months ago (hideous!) and make copies of my passport, driver's license etc (also hideous!).

As I make more and more preparations, I am beginning to become a little nervous about money.

Expected costs:

• Flights - minimum $2500
• Accommodation in Spain - €650 per month if staying with a family. With current exchange rates, that's about $870AUD a month. $870 x 6 months = $5220
•   Program fee - $150
• Police Check - $145
• Insurance - at least $500
• Student Visa  - at least $200
• Travel afterwards with friends around Europe - minimum $4000

That is almost $13,000 and I haven't even added textbooks, additional course fees, day to day expenses, transport, trips in Spain!! This task is seeming IMPOSSIBLE!!


I'm in need of a good lie down I think!

Hasta pronto, Clare xx

So why Spain?

In 2009 I completed a three month volunteer placement in Cusco, Peru working at a disadvantaged primary school in the Sacred Valley. This was my first time over seas and was  the most incredible experience of my life.  was part of a group of 20 other Australians and we lived in small groups with local host families. Prior to leaving, I didn't know a word of Spanish, nor anything about the country I was about to call home.

I was supported by two excellent organisations;

Antipodeans Abroad - http://www.antipodeans.com.au/Home.htm

and

Peru's Challenge - http://www.peruschallenge.com/

When my volunteer placement came to an end, I traveled around Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina before returning to Australia. When I was overseas, I never once wanted to return home. In fact, I wished I could have stayed for another six months at least! After returning to Australia, I was extremely surprised to feel an intense homesickness and longing for Peru. I had fallen in love with Latin America and that was that.



Although initially enrolled in a double degree -  Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Psychology - I knew that this was no longer for me. In 2010 I began a Bachelor of International Studies majoring in Spanish. I've now  almost completed 2 years of Spanish study at university and have taken as many Spanish history and culture classes as possible.

My love for Hispanic culture is what is drawing me to Spain - to see where it all began. I feel nervous, excited, apprehensive and exhilarated at the prospect and know that despite all by preconceived notions, this trip will probably be like nothing I can imagine!

Adios, Clare xx

Hola!

This is my very first post and a surprisingly nerve-wracking moment. I should probably start by introducing myself. My name is Clare. Hello.

I've decided to start this blog to track my progress and document my thoughts/ideas/expectations as I prepare for, embark on and return home from an international student exchange to Spain.

 The plan at this stage;

Leave Australia in mid December and travel for a few weeks before beginning six months of study at the Universidad de Leon in Spain. I'm hoping to stay with a host family for at least three of these months  so as to make stronger connections, truly immerse myself in Spanish culture and develop my (currently shaky) language skills. After my university placement, I will hopefully visit some relatives in the UK before starting a short tour of Europe with two of my girl friends from Australia. I'll then return home at the end of July 2012 ready to start the final semester of my degree.

There is still so much to do before I can even leave the country, and I'll be posting all the ups and downs of each stage of the journey here! There's so much more I can write, but it will have to wait for now.

Hasta lluego, Clare xx