There and Back Again: A Journey of Learning- Post 2: Preparations Part 2

So, for the past week or so I have been running around trying to make sure that I am all set.  Today marks 10 days out from departure, and I can't help but feel that I am missing something.   So it is time to check my checklist again and see if I am missing anything:

Documents:

• Passport done, I just need to make the required two copies.
• I also registered with the State department for my travels.   This is a must do so they know were I am and can contact me and or family if needed in case of an emergency. 
• I need to print my travel insurance info too

Health:

• All doctors visited 
• All immunizations up to date
• I need to finish with ASU travel health though
• Also I need to contact insurance company to authorize medications early. 

Finances:

•  I have contacted the University many times over the past two months to ensure that my aid will cover me.  It always showed a balance of $0 with a refund pending and then last week, a $4,000 charge appeared with a hold on financial aid.  They are looking into it. 
• Other than that, I still need to contact the bank and let them know I will be traveling so my accounts will not be frozen. 
• I still need to photocopy both sides of my cards, just in-case too. 

Accommodations:

• I have no idea where I will be staying that first night when I arrive in the UK.  I can choose by the airport, Windsor, or Oxford proper.  
• In truth, I will need to do the same for when I return home. 

Transportation:

• So this is something I may have dropped the ball on.  Everything says that I needed a Euro-rail and Brit-rail passes.  I should have done this two months ago.  It would have saved me money.
• I am sure I can still get around though without one, it might just cost me a bit more. 

Packing:

• There are many things to do still.  I have made lists, but they are changing.
• I goggled every possible checklist to make sure I have what is necessary for traveling abroad. 
• One
• Two   
• There are more, but you get the idea.
• The other thing is that this is a study abroad trip.  This means that there will be books to read and papers to write.
• I downloaded onto Google play all books that I could read that way.
• I ordered from Amazon those that I couldn't get on Google play
• I am still awaiting the rest to arrive. 

The problem with any of these things to yet be done, is I am out of town for work until next weekend.  So I will have July 3rd and if anything is open on July 4th, to get anything done.  

That is all for now.  More to come later. 

There and Back Again: A Journey of Learning- Post 1: About this Blog

This all began seven months ago, when I decided to apply for a Study Abroad program through ASU.  I will be studying Medieval and Renaissance Studies in Oxford through the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Department of English through ASU.   Here we will be studying the Middle Ages and Renaissance through History, English, and Theater.   The title of this blog seemed fitting based on the trip I am embarking on and the reasons why I chose this particular journey.   While I in no way resemble Bilbo Baggins on his trip through Middle Earth to find himself and help others, it is a journey of learning.   There and Back Again: A Journey of Learning is a blog that will describe the process of my journey from application, through the trip, and afterwards once I return.   

The reasons I started this blog chronicling this Journey are as follows:

Reason One:

As a teacher and adjunct professor, I do not have a lot of discretionary income, so even though I had to secure financing when I committed to this journey, I knew I would want to apply for any financial assistance for which I could qualify.  Therefore I applied for both scholarships and grants.    In this process we had to write essays describing not only why we should be awarded this aid, but what we would use the program for.  Once award granted to me has me chronicling my journey before and during, and another afterwards.l  Specifically I must show how I will use this experience in my classroom once I return to the states. 

Reason Two:

The second reason has to do with my profession.  I am a teacher, not just any teacher but a teacher in a multi-age self contained gifted classroom.  In my classroom we embark on cross-curricular project based learning.  I often combine Social Studies, English Language Arts, and Theater together in my projects. This upcoming school year we study Ancient Civilizations, Middle Ages, and Renaissance, so as once can see, this program is perfect for what I will be teaching.    As stated above I need to chronicle this part of my journey as well.  In addition, I will be completing my National Board Certification this upcoming year and this too will showcase my abilities to teach English Language Arts and Social Studies.   For this, I too need to chronicle my journey as an educator. 

Reason Three:

While I am on this study abroad journey, my school year will concurrently be beginning.  Many of my students had me last year and will have me again this year, while a great deal f my remaining students are siblings of prior students.  In my classroom we become a family and this means that this, my extended family would love to learn what I am up to while I am away.  Therefore, this blog will serve as a connection between myself and them while I am away and as an anchor for their parent to see what is happening in the classroom once I return. 

So let this journey begin!

There and Back Again: A Journey of Learning- Post 2: Preparations Part 1

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Today marks three weeks out from my departure for my program, Medieval and Renaissance Studies in Oxford through the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Department of English through ASU!  I have spent the past few weeks preparing for this journey.  The preparations for study abroad span many months, but the last month has been crunch time.  Let's back up for a moment to the first steps one must undergo leading up to the one month countdown. 

First I had to apply for the program.  This took place back in November, so seven months ago.  I remember the excitement when I received the email that his program was even available.  I immediately read it to my husband and his response before I even asked the question was, "You should apply and go!", this felt like I was supposed to do this. 

 In my former life, closer to twenty years ago, I went on study abroad trips and mission trips and traveled as much as possible.  I dreamt as I got older that another opportunity would arise, and some did but they never seemed right. They never seemed perfect for me, so I never went.  I had studied theater, history, and English in my past and even earned bachelor degrees in two if them.    I went on to open a non-profit theater and became a teacher and eventually an adjunct English professor.   I always hoped that one day I would either be studying in or teaching a program that offered me another opportunity.   Gratefully, now I have found one! So that is really the first thing, find a program that really works for what you want to study or are passionate about.  

The application processes was next.  For this, as a ASU student, I clicked the “Apply Now” button on the program I selected.  Next,  I signed the Acknowledgment of Application and was charged a $50 Application Fee.  Please note, this $50 Application Fee is non-refundable so even if I change my mind they keep my money.  However, if I did not get accepted into the program, this money would be refunded.    There are further things to do so my application was saved on My Study Abroad Login Home Page.  These items included: My tasks, signature documents, online forms, quizzes, and reviewing resources.

Next was the waiting game.  Luckily I only had to wait one month until I was accepted.  Once you have been accepted you must commit.  So here is the important thing, you have to commit to the program and its entire cost before you secure funding, unless you are independently wealthy or know someone who can personally fund your trip. That's right..... you will not know if you get financial aid and you will certainly not know about any grants of scholarships yet.   You also cannot back out of the program once you have committed to it.  This means that if your dreams of financial aid, scholarships, and grants do not come through, you still need to pay.  There are some extenuating circumstances that will let you withdraw, but you would still be responsible for the costs occurred by the Study Broad Office on your behalf up to that point. You will want to look at the cost sheet associated with your program to know what you will be paying out of pocket and what the Study Abroad office will cover on your behalf.  Please also review the Study Abroad Payment and Withdrawal Policies before you commit.

You will not be paying tuition to ASU but you will need to sign up for the classes once you have been directed to do so.  Instead, you will be paying your study abroad Program Fee, which includes ASU tuition for the number of credits offered in the program you have been accepted to, your accommodations while abroad only for the program, ASU overhead expenses, your study abroad insurance, and and study abroad program excursions. 

If you have determined, like I did that you can afford this journey, then click commit, it may be one of the best decisions of your entire life!