Somewhere Above the US (8:00 PM)

**I'm posting this a day after I wrote it, as I was unable to post it at the time.

My last post was 13 days to departure, and now I’m on the plane. Those days really flew by. Of course, they didn’t feel like they were flying by when each day was happening, but here I am, eating complimentary pretzels in the sky.

This past week has been really great spending time with friends and family. I’m not the best with goodbyes, but luckily they’ve all been pretty good, save a couple. I’m just so thankful that the people in my life are so supportive of me.

All of yesterday was spent running last minute errands and PACKING. So much packing. I cannot believe I fit three months worth of clothes and products into one large suitcase, a backpack and a small duffel bag. However another part of me feels like I packed too much… I probably did. Better safe than sorry, right?

After all, I can’t really comprehend how long I’ll be gone. I know that I’m going away for a while, but three months? The longest I’ve been away from home is a little over a week, and that was at a place I knew well with people I’ve known my whole life. I’m going to be in a whole other country, 4000+ miles away from my life in Wisconsin. It’s crazy!

I truly am very excited for this experience. I can’t wait to step off the plane into Heathrow Airport, like Love Actually! (My favorite movie ever.) After that, I’ll be taking a shuttle into Canterbury, where I’ll be dropped off at my homestay! I’m staying with a lovely woman named Muriel and I’m really looking forward to meeting her.

I’ll be writing all about my first day in Britain tomorrow, but for now I’m going to try and get some sleep. Thanks for reading!

Departure: 13 Days. Destination: Britain

"When you get off the plane in England, you'll feel as if you've come home."
~Eric Hegge (Dad)

Hello! My name is Renee Hegge, and in two weeks I will be beginning my adventure as an American study abroad student in the UK. Through this blog I hope to share my experiences with family, friends, those who stumble across it, and with other students interested in studying abroad. This is my first blog, so here goes!

A Little About Me

I am a 19 year old college student based in Madison, WI. I am going to school to become a graphic designer, a career path that I am so ecstatic to be on. I am interested in art, music (specifically piano), photography, dance, and theatre. In general, I am an optimistic, outgoing, determined, happy person. I can't wait to begin my study abroad experience!

The Call: Wanderlust

Why did I decide to study abroad? 

Studying abroad has always been something that I have wanted to do. My dad studied abroad in Seville, Spain, shortly after college. My stepmom studied abroad in London during college. Both have always spoken so fondly of their experiences. That, among many other things, inspired me to look into studying abroad.

At orientation for Madison College (June of 2012), I came across a brochure for the Center for International Education at the college. With encouragement from my mom, I looked into it. Specifically, the study abroad program in Canterbury, England, at Canterbury Christ Church University.

And so began my obsession. 

The Application Process

I should probably mention that I am incredibly determined when I set my mind to something. I am also a planner. To the extreme. I WOULD study abroad in England, I had to make it happen. I did research. I gobbled up many, many BBC programs on Netflix. I became an Anglophile (a person who greatly admires Britain). Studying abroad in England was my number one priority.

I would have filled out the application right then, but it wasn't available for the Fall 2013 program at the time. So, I kid you not, I practiced filling out the application using the one for the coming Spring program. I got my passport by October. I had many meetings with Tammy, the amazing education abroad coordinator at Madison College, discussing application requirements and my goals. I had everything planned out. Everything I did was getting me one step closer to England. I submitted my completed application in April 2013.

And on May 29, I opened my email to this long awaited message:

So worth the wait.

Goals

While on my adventure, I will be completing assignments and reading about strategies for successful study abroad in Maximizing Study Abroad (Paige, Cohen, Kappler, Chi, and Lassegard). I am also partaking in an online course through my home college, "Perspectives on Study Abroad." 

The first exercise is to state my personal goals for my study abroad experience. I have many, but here are a few:

• To immerse myself in a culture different from my own
• To make lifelong friendships
• To take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. Carpe diem!
• To grow as an individual in ways I wouldn't have if not for this incredible opportunity
• To learn to better go with the flow when things don't go as planned

By the end of the semester, here's hoping each goal will be complete!

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to keeping you updated on my adventure!