Ok, so it's not really 50. And to be honest, it's not that easy. But let's just say if you can apply for colleges, you can apply for study abroad. One of the reasons I chose to attend Trinity was because of its study abroad program. Or really, lack of a defined study abroad program. Trinity's program is pretty darn cool because they let you choose any other program around the country, or the world, to study with. Does UT have an amazing business program in China? You can go with them. Do you want to study the terrible outbreak of facial tumors in Tasmanian devils in Australia? Go ahead (my friend Carrie just did). Jacobean Shakespeare at the Globe? Check. In fact, that last option is a course I will be studying next semester. How does this all happen? Read on for a crash course in how to go to the destination of your dreams:

You don't even have to know where you want to study when you start searching. At the very least, know where you don't want to study. I had Asia, Africa, and eastern Europe crossed off my list. Think of where you would like to at least visit while you are studying (I knew I wanted to see France and Greece, but not live there for six months). Then think of what really wouldn't be possible with your classes (most people go sometime in their junior year, so you will most likely want to take something that works for your major). I went to the study abroad website, http://www.trinity.edu/departments/study_abroad/ , and checked out the possible programs I could go with. I originally had Chile, Spain, Italy and England on my list. I really liked the idea of going to a non-English speaking country and learning an entirely new culture. I later crossed off Spanish- speaking countries, because I thought I'd go for a whole new language. But then I realized getting closer to the time when I needed to be seriously picking my destination that, hello! I'm a newly declared English major and Drama minor! My favorite things in the world is theatre and literature, so where else in the world would I go but the epicenter of both of these things- London.

Your next step is to visit the Study Abroad office. If you are like me, you probably have a pretty good idea of the places you would like to go. Know when it is that you want to go (fall or spring). Also, if you are like me, you will take one of every relevant-looking brochure for the country you want to go to. These are really helpful. You narrow down what you want, and what you don't. Take classes from the program, or study at a university? Do you want the program to offer trips to other countries or regions? Is airfare included? Most importantly, how much does the trip cost? Your financial aid transfers to your study abroad program, but that you need to work out with your financial aid officer. And above all else, don't forget to talk about all of this with your chief financial aid officer- your parents. I was obsessed with the idea of studying abroad since I got to Trinity. I couldn't wait until I was a Junior. And I made sure my parents knew this. Of course, they had their healthy skepticism. But I was persistant. I made all of the decisions, did all of the applying, and made all of the appointments myself. It showed how much I wanted to this.

You will have several visits with the Study Abroad coordinators, where you pick your program, learn important information, and are guided through the application process. You apply very early and hear back late. It's nerve-racking, but as they tell you (and you will surely ignore this), if everything is in order, you will get in. Heck, you are at Trinity. You can do it.

And here I am, leaving for the airport in exactly, to this hour, in two days, on New Year's Day. I am so incredibly nervous and excited. I've never even been out of the country! So, kind readers, have mercy on me when you hear my first harrowing account of riding the tube, or trying to figure out how to navigate a Greek airport. Be sure to check back on this entry from time to time, I'm sure to update it with more relevant information as I think of it. Wish me luck!

Posted by Mandy at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I write this to you from my suitemate's laptop (HINT: Don't let your Windows crash during finals. You will not be happy). I'm really lucky to have lovely suitemates who let me write my 12 page papers on their computers (it was pretty win/win. They didn't get distracted by aim, I got my work done).

Tonight is the fourth night of Hanukkah! This year, the Jewish Student Association threw a fantastic Hanukkah party that had a great attendance. We told the story of Hanukkah, lit menorahs, ate latkes and played the dreidel game. Here are some pictures!

My friend Bryan being funny- you don't really blow out the menorah candles

So it is a Friday night during finals, so I'm off to study for my British Literature take-home exam. Just to give you an example of how my exams are, I had an acting performance, a spanish take-home final, a 12 page Jane Austen paper, a take-home British Literature exam and a take-home exam and a 5-7 page paper due for American Literature. Only the two literature exams and the shorter paper to go- wish me luck!

Posted by Mandy at 8:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The fourth floor of the library is quiet. Too quiet. Something is amiss. I must admit I'm a little bit worried. My laptop keys and some guy about 20 feet away moving in his chair are the only noises I hear. No cell phones playing stupid rap songs (you know you just listen to the whole song and never pick up- pointless), no loud slurping on Javalanches (the most delicious thing to ever come out of a library other than Jane Austen), and no loud talking about the most amazing plans EVER for Saturday night by girls with no reason to be here other than to morally support their "studying" friends.

It's about 5:30 pm on a Saturday afternoon. I trudged up here after lunch at 2 pm to get work done on my Jane Austen long paper. Yes, I have a paper about a topic relating to Jane Austen, yes, it is for my Jane Austen seminar, and yes, it was the best class ever (Daphne is in it too!). I will definitely go on about that one some other time. Back to the library.

On a rented laptop, I start filling in the gaps in my outline. 30 minutes pass, I check my email, and glance around. Even the guy at the desk about 15 feet behind me is quiet. I'm in one of my favorite corner comfy chairs, overlooking the wooded walking trail through the corner windows. The urge to take a nap is overwhelming.

Maybe it is quiet because the girl at the front desk just announced over the intercom that the library closes at 6 pm on Saturday nights. Maybe Trinity students just absolutely love to do their homework. Or maybe it is finals. Ending my fifth semester here, the safe bet is finals. Ahhh finals. The panic-striken, caffeine-consuming, glorious exemplification of the crazed college student. Some medicate with coffee, others food, or even alcohol. Most, like myself, just actually study. The library gets iffy this time of year. Some floors are dead silent. You so much as unwrap a granola bar and ten pairs of eyes will give you the death glare. Other floors, like the third floor (the entrance floor) are the designated break/social area. I either avoid this place or camp out for hours on end, only breaking for bathroom and another cup of tea. I'm annoyed that I have to pack up my things, but deep down I'm happy that I get to go back to my room and relax for a little bit. Near by, a guy groans and curses at the closing announcement. I notice how tense he is, how hurridly he types while hunched over his laptop. One word spoken around him would probably end something being thrown at a very high speed toward toward the perpertrator's head.

Quickly I gobble down my reward cookie for getting work done. He boy gets up and leaves. Good thing its so late on a Saturday, or else my noisy cookie wrapper would have sent me straight to Disruptive Finals Studying purgatory.

Posted by Mandy at 5:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)