Studying abroad can be an excellent way to supplement your education during high school and college. Not only can you earn school credit towards your home institution but, sometimes, it can actually be cheaper than your regular tuition and fees (great way to sell the idea to your parents!). I studied abroad twice during my time at U.C. Berkeley and loved every moment of my study abroad trips to Australia and South Africa. If you are looking to study abroad, be sure to check out the links below or post questions in the comments field:
StudyAbroad.com - a reputable site that contains a database of study abroad program. It's a great place to start since you can search by time of year, school level, and even opportunities to volunteer and teach abroad.
Cooperative Center for Study Abroad - I am an alum of this program. I did the Australia Biology program in December 2002/January 2003 (listed as the Australia Winter program online). This program was unique in that I did it over my school's Winter Break and got units that transferred back to my home university. It is definitely good for someone who is looking to do a short program or who does not want to miss any full terms at their school.
UCLA Summer Travel Study - I am also an alum of the UCLA Travel Study program. The school does multi-week session each summer to various destinations with UCLA professors traveling to teach the course. I did the History of South Africa program in Summer 2003 and absolutely loved it. Nothing compares to learning about a historical site in your textbook and then visiting it that afternoon. I was able to take three classes on this trip so I got almost a full semester of credit and was able to graduate early from college!
Just some general notes and advice on studying abroad:
-Be sure to check with your academic advisor before booking a trip. They will review your program details and let you know if your academic credits will transfer.
-I highly recommend doing a program; in fact, I wish I would have spent an entire semester abroad. When else in your life can you live somewhere for 4-6 months without moving your entire life?
Please post any questions on the topic--I am happy to answer them!
Happy Travels,
Kristina
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Why I Love Traveling
Last night, I met up with my friend Leslie who I met on my recent trip to India and Nepal. We decided to try Dosa, a new Indian restaurant in San Francisco, and then went to see Slumdog Millionaire. The film was excellent! One of my favorite parts was recognizing places from the movie that I had been to. I love making that connection...from the Taj Mahal to one of the trains, knowing that I had stood in that same spot.
Moments like these remind me of why I travel. I love being able to make the connection--whether it's a place or even a specific meal or drink that I first enjoyed abroad. Leslie and I tried to re-create one of our favorite Indian meals at Dosa but, since they specialize in Southern India cuisine, and we were in the Northern region, they didn't have our favorite meal (Naan and lentils) on the menu. I am sure we can find another restaurant in town to satisfy that craving!
Moments like these remind me of why I travel. I love being able to make the connection--whether it's a place or even a specific meal or drink that I first enjoyed abroad. Leslie and I tried to re-create one of our favorite Indian meals at Dosa but, since they specialize in Southern India cuisine, and we were in the Northern region, they didn't have our favorite meal (Naan and lentils) on the menu. I am sure we can find another restaurant in town to satisfy that craving!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Your Passport to the World
Before we get you all excited about traveling, you need one key document: a passport! It can take a few weeks to get one, so keep that in mind when planning a trip. If you're under age 18, there are a few extras step you need to take.
Once you have your passport, it will be valid for ten years. And trust me, the renewal process is much easier!!
Worldly Wegscheider's Tip: If you're like me, you're going to run out of pages in just a few years. To get pages added (it's free except for postage each way), you need to complete the DS-4085 form.
FIRST TIME APPLICANTS:If you will be getting a passport for the first time, you will need to visit one of over 9,000 Passport Acceptance Facilities. When you have your appointment, you will need to bring:
- Application for Passport, Form DS-11
- Proof of US Citizenship (original birth certificate works great)
- Proof of Identity (ex. driver's license)
- Application fees (note what type of payment the office you are going to accepts beforehand--some only take check or money order, some take credit card too)
- Two 2" x 2" photos (get this done at a place that specializes in passport photos)
- You will also need to have your social security number handy for the application.
Once you have your passport, it will be valid for ten years. And trust me, the renewal process is much easier!!
Worldly Wegscheider's Tip: If you're like me, you're going to run out of pages in just a few years. To get pages added (it's free except for postage each way), you need to complete the DS-4085 form.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Wegscheider!
Greetings and thank you for visiting my blog. My name is Kristina Wegscheider and I LOVE to travel. I started this blog so I can share my travel related tips and create a forum for people to ask questions (both destination specific and general travel questions). Travel has touched my life so much that my goal is to inspire other to get out there and explore too!
So, you might ask, how did this all begin? I got my first passport at a young age (my mom had to hold me for the passport photo) since my father was from Austria and we traveled there a few times during my childhood. In middle school, I took two school trips (Washington D.C. and Florida) and also discovered what frequent flier mile programs were (I joined American AAdvantage at age 13 completely on my own.) In high school, still more domestic trips. Once college rolled around, my whole life changed. My dad passed away and, in a way, I felt like he passed the travel baton to me. He had traveled around the world at a young age and, at age 19, I decided to continue his legacy. On December 26, 2002, I found myself en route to Australia for a study abroad program. I met one of my best friends, Jerri, and also discovered my love for learning about new places and meeting new people. From then until the present day, I have hit about 35 more countries and all seven continents. I have had all types of experiences traveling and I cannot wait to share them all with you.
Happy Traveling,
So, you might ask, how did this all begin? I got my first passport at a young age (my mom had to hold me for the passport photo) since my father was from Austria and we traveled there a few times during my childhood. In middle school, I took two school trips (Washington D.C. and Florida) and also discovered what frequent flier mile programs were (I joined American AAdvantage at age 13 completely on my own.) In high school, still more domestic trips. Once college rolled around, my whole life changed. My dad passed away and, in a way, I felt like he passed the travel baton to me. He had traveled around the world at a young age and, at age 19, I decided to continue his legacy. On December 26, 2002, I found myself en route to Australia for a study abroad program. I met one of my best friends, Jerri, and also discovered my love for learning about new places and meeting new people. From then until the present day, I have hit about 35 more countries and all seven continents. I have had all types of experiences traveling and I cannot wait to share them all with you.
Happy Traveling,
Kristina
Me, at age 21, stepping foot on the Antarctic continent.
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