Introductions

Tuesday, 28 June 2011

Hallo Hallo Hallo!

I'm a Biology/Music college sophomore heading to DIS in the Fall of 2011!

Excited, much?

It's a mountainload of money to study abroad, but I think what I get out of the experience is worth (almost) any price.  I plan on staying with a host family to get the most cultural perspective as I can.  They all speak English, which for some people may be a blessing, but for me it is an obstacle.  The best way to learn another language is to be trapped in a place where no one else speaks your language.  Hopefully the Danes prefer to speak Danish and are willing to listen to my nonexistent Danish and help me struggle through.

Initially I signed up because this is one of the few/good study abroad programs for pre-meds.  DIS offers a LOT of core programs, and the one I'm studying is Medical Practice and Policy.  I don't want to give away details (mostly because I don't know any) so that you reader and I can discover the class as we go along!  (and maybe you'll want to come here too).  I just know it involves part of the class time being taught in a hospital, and the "lab exercises" are practicals in the hospital ward, including taking blood pressure/pulse, etc, etc, etc.

You know, for my school's study abroad pre-departure orientation, the study abroad director got up and said that she wanted us to be depressed.  AND BEFORE YOU GET ANY IDEAS, let me explain.  She had statistics showing that the great majority of students during their trip abroad will have a small depression very soon after they arrive, and a major depression point midway or more than midway through the trip.  The first time, it's an adjustment factor, missing home, etc, etc, etc.  The second time is really about discovering yourself.  I quote, "You learn about yourself when you're sad."  She wants us to come back knowing, not just another language or how to cook a new dish, but something new about who we are.

Having done a mini-study abroad last January in Ecuador, I can testify that her stats are correct.  So look forward to self-discovery :D.

Anyway, I still have time to go before I leave (of which I'll be spending prepping for and taking the MCAT), so please excuse me while I disappear into my work.

Toodles.

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As a sidenote, I am transferring my blog from another site which is too ancient for viewers to properly read my blog.  So ignore the listed posting dates.  I will write the original post date on the top.