G'day Mates!

University of California, Education Abroad Program: Australia
-Immersion program where you live and go to school with the locals, versus with a UC specific course set and housing.

Now, the biggest problem is figuring out what campus to go to....
I have at least 3 options:
1) University of Sydney
2) University of New South Wales
3) University of Western Australia
4) La Trobe University (Melbourne)

I've been looking at possible classes (they call them "units") I can take, since I need to have a total of 24-quarter units (4-6.0 semester classes). I've been looking at each campus, in various departments (they call them "faculties") and am having some trouble. I also have to make sure they are all UD, and that I meet any pre-requisites. Sometimes I just get lost....

1) U of Sydney: great location, but very cosmopolitan. Lots of International students and immigrants from Asia. This is also basically of THE biggest, most attractive cities in NSW, and a popular destination (Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, etc). As far as a cultural aspect, I'd probably be getting less of the actual "locals". As far as classes go, they have a wide variety of units ("units" = "classes/courses"; "course" = "major") of interest spanning multiple faculties.

2) UNSW: again, great location, same basic qualms as Sydney, as Sydney is in NSW, and the campuses are not very far from each other. Despite all the cosmopolitan stuff, I do want to see and do a lot of things in this region, so being there for the program would make this easier. The units here are comparable to U of Syd, but lacking a few (as I need 24-qu).

3) UWA: Western Australia (Perth). Far from the cosmopolitan Sydney/NSW on the East coast. This is said to give one a more cultural, local experience, as its less of a "destination" like Sydney. I'm still looking into units here, but I've found a few good ones so far. Don't know too much about this region. Another thing, is this campus is less impacted because its less cosmopolitan and touristy/international hotspot, so getting into the university wouldn't be as much of an issue as with the previous two campuses. Can't remember how impacted La Trobe is.

4) La Trobe: Based in Melbourne, SE Aus in Victoria, still somewhat cosmopolitan, and is known to be "in competition" with Sydney... haha. Blogs argue which city is "better" (its kind of like comparing SB and San Diego). Anyway, a nice city, and near the campus there is a Wildlife Sanctuary where they let students volunteer. MAJOR PERK. The website says that have a Zoology degree, but the classes are seriously lacking (in my opinion). I have not found anything worthy of my time, that I haven't already taken the equivalent of at UCSB.

So yeah. I have lots of books on Sydney, because at one point I had planned on moving there for a year with a former friend (big flake, big mistake). So I have more knowledge of Sydney and the surrounding areas. The flights are also a little cheaper ;) I also have a great book called "Watching Wildlife Australia" that tells where to see all the cool wildlife, which is really what drew me to choose Australia for my term abroad (other options were limited, due to language restrictions, and I don't think I want to take biology classes in Spanish.... but how cool would that be!?). So, the wildlife is everywhere, and I want to travel. A lot of stuff seems to be on the East coast, but generally a good distance North of NSW.

Not sure there was a complete thought there, but basically I'm not 100% sure where I want to go.

'Ere blow the winds of change...

In regards to a previous post, vis à vis, "Kiwis attack!", I believe I have been able to resolve the majority of the issues preventing me from a semester abroad at the university of my choosing:
1) Paying rent. Since I have an "in" with the landlord, and we're not on a yearly lease (month-to-month) we could move out. Meaning, Richard would find another place (this was his idea) for the duration of my term abroad, and after I return, we merge again. This relieves the idea of my having to pay rent both in SB and abroad.
2) The UC fees are included in program cost estimates, and financial aid and scholarships are available and can apply directly to the program. As they say on the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) website - you can take your financial aid with you!

So there. I just have to tell my parents. The term I intend to study abroad is the Spring semester for 2013. The timing might conflict with graduation, but I can push my graduation to the end of summer or something (this is on the list of things to talk to my counselor about). I plan on doing an immersion program, so I can get the most out of the country's culture and lifestyles, as opposed to just being around other UC students (which would prevent me from gaining as much cultural experience! Its like what the tourists would do vs what the locals do, and I want a local's perspective).

Basically, Richard and I had a long talk, and it came down to him reminding me that its something that I want to do, and that I would regret not doing it (for a while I was convinced it would not be possible, so I gave up). We agreed that it would be a great experience for me, and he wishes he had done it in his college years. So I'm applying this spring for next year. I'm working on planning out all my UD major courses to have those completed by the time the program starts (ie, be done with those in the fall quarter). I am also researching where I want to go, and what courses are available to me, that would count as (most likely) elective credit. I have lots of questions to take to my counselors.

I started my tax returns already, and started my FAFSA, but am waiting on the 1098-T form from school to make sure I'm not missing anything. Sadly, that's not ready yet, and I wanted to submit everything as early as possible to have the greatest chance of getting financial aid.

As for this quarter, I'm attempting to manage intro genetics, ethology and behavioral ecology, and an american institutions requirement, american art history from 1860-1920.

WOOT!

Name change.

Welcome to the world of advancing technologies....

One of my classes uses a blogger account as the class website and we have to contribute through out the course of the quarter. Hence the name change revealing more than I normally would online.

It's a neat idea, as an interactive website, which is better than when Denise added us on Myspace for English 103 at SBCC. Sharell was her #1 friend for a long time! Ha ha :)

School so far has been good. Ended up successfully crashing the terrestrial vert class and lab I wanted, so the schedule has worked out nicely. Easing in to the flow of things, but it will fly by! Only 10 weeks????? What am I supposed to do? Learn to speed read? On the bright side, the majority of my textbooks and required reading are interesting enough to keep me motivated, but one of them puts me to sleep. Which is sad because I'm interested in the topic, but they use language that runs on with big complex words and sentences that I just get lost. Who are they trying to impress anyway?

That's all for now. Peach.

Kiwis Attack!

I am seriously contemplating a study abroad, however it brings up several potential issues. The big ones being:
1) Having to pay rent at home while I'm away
2) Spending the time abroad costs about as much (depending on the program and location) as an entire years tuition at the UC campus.

Mostly, as you see, are financial constraints. Much to consider.

But I really want to go. The adventures would be unbelievable and as a biologist I feel this would be exceptionally beneficial to possible careers and life experience.

Or blah blah blah because its late and my brain hurts.

Want. To. Travel. Before. Passport. Expires.


End.

Degree Number 3??

All I can say is, "thank you Jens for posting my grades so quickly"



BECAUSE I PASSED O-CHEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
C in lecture and A in lab. WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I'm so flippin' stoked that I could do backflips, except that I don't think I physically can.... so yeah. BUT YAYAYAYAYAYAYYYY!!!!!!!!


Ok that is all. Continue about your lives as normal :)