Well today is the last day in good old Minnesota ... last night of sleeping in my bed, seeing my friends and family, and being in the comfort of my own home ... but I am SO ready to say goodbye to all of those things and begin this amazing adventure! ONE DAY ... someone pinch me ... it is finally sinking in that I am embarking on this trip!!!
For my last day, I have last minute packing, some things to cram in, a pedicure date with my momma, and some last goodbyes. So far the goodbyes have been going well only because I know I will be seeing my family and friends when I return ... that's where some of the goodbyes are not so easy ... the goodbyes that I have been trying to put off until the last minute. This past semester, I have been blessed of being able to live and become great friends with people from all over the world. These are people that are studying abroad in America and are only here for a semester or a year and then go back to their countries. Saying my last goodbyes to them will not be easy, but I will cherish their friendship and all of the things I have learned from them for the rest of my life. Thank God for awesome technology that I will be able to stay in touch with them!
Whoa ... tomorrow begins the start of an adventure ... I cannot wait to see what South Africa will offer me. I ask for your prayers as I start this journey ... prayers for my safety, health, and for open eyes to embrace all of what South Africa offers me and has to teach me. I thank you again for all of your love and support! It is so humbling knowing that I have such a great support system ... it makes this whole process a lot easier! I will not have my cell phone over there, but you can contact me through skype (nicoledawn20), email (nicgrant20@gmail.com) and facebook (note that South Africa is 7/8 hours ahead!). I will be posting again when the plane lands either in Johannesburg or Port Elizabeth, South Africa!!!!!
Until then, Peace!
-Nicole
Monday, January 28, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
It's the Final Countdown...
It is now 9 days until I leave for South Africa.....9 days until I embark to another country, live in a completely different lifestyle, and be considered an international student. I remember when I first signed up for this trip MONTHS ago and thinking to myself, this day will never come, and it only felt like a dream. Now this dream is QUICKLY becoming a reality, and I am officially starting the final countdown!!!! 9 days! It seems completely surreal, and I have no idea how to feel about it. I have no expectations about what this trip will entail or how this trip will change me. I am going into it with a blank slate and knowing that I will leave completely different than how I came.
For those of you that are unfamiliar with South Africa, let me give you a brief overview of where I am going to be staying and what I will be doing while I am there. South Africa is located in southern Africa, and it is considered a first world country. It is extremely wealthy and beautiful. Its official language is English, but the country as a whole is composed of dozens of languages and people who speak more than one language. I will be staying in Port Elizabeth for 5 months while attending Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University during my 2nd semester of college. Port Elizabeth is located on the Southeastern coast of South Africa, so I will be literally living on the beach! I will be living in a place called Annie's Cove which is a 10 minute walking distance from the University. Annie's Cove is composed of dozens of apartment complexes, each apartment complex holding 8 students. I will be living with 8 girls from St. Cloud State; however, I will be next door neighbors with people from all over the world!
At this very moment, I am both extremely excited, but I am also starting to get nervous.....the unknown is always nerve-racking. I have no idea what I am getting myself into or what to expect when I get there. This will be the first time I will be living away from my family for a long period of time....I need to become independent and rely on myself for everything. I am a momma's girl, so not being able to rely on my mom for things will be different, but what a great growing opportunity! I am excited about a lot of things - living in a different country, meeting people from all over the world, living on a beach, having monkeys on campus (yes, instead of squirrels, the University has monkeys!), going on an African safari, and all of the other adventures South Africa has to offer! I am going into this trip wanting to embrace every opportunity I get and also living with no regrets. I only have 5 months to enjoy these new opportunities that I am not able to receive in America, and I do not want to come home regretting not doing something.
This is all for now, and I hope to be updating more before I leave!
Thanks for all of your support!
-Nicole
For those of you that are unfamiliar with South Africa, let me give you a brief overview of where I am going to be staying and what I will be doing while I am there. South Africa is located in southern Africa, and it is considered a first world country. It is extremely wealthy and beautiful. Its official language is English, but the country as a whole is composed of dozens of languages and people who speak more than one language. I will be staying in Port Elizabeth for 5 months while attending Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University during my 2nd semester of college. Port Elizabeth is located on the Southeastern coast of South Africa, so I will be literally living on the beach! I will be living in a place called Annie's Cove which is a 10 minute walking distance from the University. Annie's Cove is composed of dozens of apartment complexes, each apartment complex holding 8 students. I will be living with 8 girls from St. Cloud State; however, I will be next door neighbors with people from all over the world!
At this very moment, I am both extremely excited, but I am also starting to get nervous.....the unknown is always nerve-racking. I have no idea what I am getting myself into or what to expect when I get there. This will be the first time I will be living away from my family for a long period of time....I need to become independent and rely on myself for everything. I am a momma's girl, so not being able to rely on my mom for things will be different, but what a great growing opportunity! I am excited about a lot of things - living in a different country, meeting people from all over the world, living on a beach, having monkeys on campus (yes, instead of squirrels, the University has monkeys!), going on an African safari, and all of the other adventures South Africa has to offer! I am going into this trip wanting to embrace every opportunity I get and also living with no regrets. I only have 5 months to enjoy these new opportunities that I am not able to receive in America, and I do not want to come home regretting not doing something.
This is all for now, and I hope to be updating more before I leave!
Thanks for all of your support!
-Nicole
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