Help Lena Survive Study Abroad
Donation protected
Hi everyone!
In less than three weeks from now, I'll be saying goodbye to the U.S. to study for a semester at the University of Canterbury on the South Island of New Zealand.
More than half of the students at my school, Muhlenberg College, study abroad. Between the number of students going each year and tuition exchange (meaning that the semester's tuition will remain the same as if students are on campus), I assumed that study abroad would be affordable and attainable for all students. As it turns out, I was very, very wrong.
I’ve worked hard taking on extra shifts at both of my on-campus jobs to secure my plane ticket, housing deposit, visa application, and all of the other surprise fees along the way, but as my departure date rapidly approaches, I've realized that I’m left with enough grocery money for only about 3 weeks of my 5 month program.
(I thought it was going to be 5 weeks, but my visa application was just processed, eating up about 2 weeks worth of grocery money.)
I've been dreaming of studying overseas for years, and found an absolutely perfect program. Not only will I be taking a creative writing class for my English major while completing all of the general academic requirements I need in order to graduate on time, but I'll be taking courses in subjects that aren't offered at my school in PA, such as Forestry.
One of the things I am looking forward to most is the chance to continue the research that I started in my first two years at Muhlenberg. Between taking classes in subjects like Social Work and Criminal Justice, and having a lighter course load than I typically do at 'Berg, I'll have the chance to revisit my studies of gender-based human rights abuses, this time with resources offered by another institution and perspectives from another country.
Asking for money is not something I've ever been very comfortable with, but it seems I've exhausted all of my other options. I also feel it important to reassure anyone who's considering donating that this money is not going towards unnecessary or superfluous expenses; with no meal plan, nearly everything will be going towards basic groceries for my 5 months abroad.
Thank you so much for reading this and considering contributing - I can't tell you how much every single dollar is appreciated (but I can try in a thank you note)!
If you’d like to follow my adventures (and see if I survive), I’ll be posting pictures and stories on my blog, which you can find here:
http://lena-schneider.blogspot.com/
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Thanks again!
In less than three weeks from now, I'll be saying goodbye to the U.S. to study for a semester at the University of Canterbury on the South Island of New Zealand.
More than half of the students at my school, Muhlenberg College, study abroad. Between the number of students going each year and tuition exchange (meaning that the semester's tuition will remain the same as if students are on campus), I assumed that study abroad would be affordable and attainable for all students. As it turns out, I was very, very wrong.
I’ve worked hard taking on extra shifts at both of my on-campus jobs to secure my plane ticket, housing deposit, visa application, and all of the other surprise fees along the way, but as my departure date rapidly approaches, I've realized that I’m left with enough grocery money for only about 3 weeks of my 5 month program.
(I thought it was going to be 5 weeks, but my visa application was just processed, eating up about 2 weeks worth of grocery money.)
I've been dreaming of studying overseas for years, and found an absolutely perfect program. Not only will I be taking a creative writing class for my English major while completing all of the general academic requirements I need in order to graduate on time, but I'll be taking courses in subjects that aren't offered at my school in PA, such as Forestry.
One of the things I am looking forward to most is the chance to continue the research that I started in my first two years at Muhlenberg. Between taking classes in subjects like Social Work and Criminal Justice, and having a lighter course load than I typically do at 'Berg, I'll have the chance to revisit my studies of gender-based human rights abuses, this time with resources offered by another institution and perspectives from another country.
Asking for money is not something I've ever been very comfortable with, but it seems I've exhausted all of my other options. I also feel it important to reassure anyone who's considering donating that this money is not going towards unnecessary or superfluous expenses; with no meal plan, nearly everything will be going towards basic groceries for my 5 months abroad.
Thank you so much for reading this and considering contributing - I can't tell you how much every single dollar is appreciated (but I can try in a thank you note)!
If you’d like to follow my adventures (and see if I survive), I’ll be posting pictures and stories on my blog, which you can find here:
http://lena-schneider.blogspot.com/
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Thanks again!
Organizer
Lena Schneider
Organizer
Salem, OR
