Last semester, my life at Elon was H E C T I C, as I attempted to balance my school, work and social life (and stay sane while doing so). My commitments looked a little something like this…
SCHOOL
· International Relations
· Strategic Research Methods
· Media Writing
· Wilderness and Adventure Therapy
...trying to learn, get good grades and network!
WORK
· RA for 40 first-year girls
· Elon Outdoors Trip Leader
· Student Ambassador at the SPDC
· Elon 101 TA
SOCIAL
· Sweet Signatures A Cappella
· Alpha Xi Delta Sorority
· Leaders in a Global World LLC (Mentor)
· Intramural Soccer
…not to mention also making time for myself, my residents, Adventures in Leadership squad, friends and boyfriend!
This semester is about to look entirely different. Why? Because in one week I will be boarding a plane and traveling from MSP --> CPH. I am moving to a new city with lots of new people and I am feeling all sorts of emotions: excited, eager, anxious, distracted, curious, nervous, happy and everything in between!
I am beyond excited to be living in the Outdoor LLC with 20 other DIS students and eager to start the following classes:
Things I am most looking forward to:
· Meeting other DIS students from different universities
· Learning about Danish culture
· Hygge (I love all things cozy!!)
· Getting to know locals and spending time with my visiting host family
· Exploring Denmark and the outdoors
· My study tours to Sweden and Ireland
· Visiting new places with new friends
· Living independently
· Blogging and documenting my experience
· AND SO MUCH MORE!!
A bit more about me…
I come from a family of four: my mom Susan, dad Tom, 23-year-old brother Max plus our rescue dog Josie (age 2) and Wheaten Terrier Sasha (age 15).
I am a tea-drinker, pug-lover and avid list-maker (get ready for lots of lists in my blog!). I enjoy all things outdoors and adventure related, and often keep active by running (I'm running my second half marathon on Saturday!) and playing pick-up soccer. I am constantly striving to balance my desire to capture everything through videos and pictures (feel free to check out my Youtube and Instagram!) with my craving to live in the moment and practice mindfulness.
The travel bug hit me back in 2013, when I traveled to Sweden for the Gothia Cup. In addition to competing in the soccer tournament, we explored the blue lagoon in Iceland, took a train to Copenhagen (!!) and lived with host families in Malmo.
Since then, I have sought out every opportunity to travel. After graduating high school in 2016, I took a gap year and spent a couple months traveling throughout Southeast Asia and Western Europe.
Here a few highlights from my gap year travels…
Oh, what a time.
Now here I am traveling again, and this time I have the unique opportunity to study and live in a foreign country for a few months, and I am ecstatic!
This is my first time documenting my travels through a blog and I am excited to share my experience through this medium. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or feedback. Thanks for reading and I will talk to you soon.
Cheers to this adventure!
Very well done!