I wanna wake up in Australia
... And this summer, I will!
When, on Wednesday, I met with the two people in charge Potsdam's end of the Student Teaching in Australia program that Potsdam does with Cortland, they told me that their decision about my application was that they were on the fence about making a decision. They told me that my written materials were great, but when I interviewed with them, I didn't appear that I was ready to student teach in a cross cultural context. I have a very strong feeling that their decision was going to be a "no" because they were giving me a whole bunch of information about another program where I would still be able to go to Australia, but not to student teach there. This other program is just a study abroad program, where I would go to Australia with a small group of other Potsdam students.
I spent most of the next few days thinking about Australia, and weighing the pros and cons of the two different programs. With one program, I would be over there nearly three months. I would be student teaching there, without my support system of my mom and my friends, who I talk to all the time about being in the classroom. The cost was about $21,000. With the other program, I wouldn't be student teaching there; I would do both of my placements up here near Potsdam. I would be in Australia for three and a half weeks. The cost is only $6,000. When it came right down to it, the main factor in my decision was the cost. While $6,000 is still a lot of money, it is a lot more doable than $21,000 is.
Last night I emailed one of the people on Potsdam's end of everything, telling her that I'd thought a lot about it, and came to the conclusion that the study abroad course would be a better fit for me than the student teaching abroad one would be.
In my school inbox this morning, I had this email:
which means that I'm going to Australia for three and a half weeks this summer!
... if I can manage to save up $6,000 by then.
I've got two different scholarships that I'm applying for. I'm really hoping I'll be the recipient of at least one of them (though both wouldn't be bad! haha). One is for $2,500 and the other is for $1,200. If I were to get both of those, that would be $3,700. Towards a $6,000 trip. And $2,300 is much, MUCH more manageable than even $6,000 is.
Aside from just scholarships, I'm also collecting cans and bottles (don't laugh, it adds up!), and have friends who are collecting them for me as well. I also am trying to figure out how to do a Hershey bar fundraiser. And then there are websites like gofundme where I could raise money. So there's that.
Australia.
This Summer.
I cried this morning though. I wanted so badly to call my dad and tell him about Australia. When I called my sister to tell her, I told her how I wanted to call dad. "He knows," she told me, "I know he knows." Nikki and I may argue and fight with each other way too often, but she really is the best sister. I needed to hear that, and she said it.
I can't wait until June!
When, on Wednesday, I met with the two people in charge Potsdam's end of the Student Teaching in Australia program that Potsdam does with Cortland, they told me that their decision about my application was that they were on the fence about making a decision. They told me that my written materials were great, but when I interviewed with them, I didn't appear that I was ready to student teach in a cross cultural context. I have a very strong feeling that their decision was going to be a "no" because they were giving me a whole bunch of information about another program where I would still be able to go to Australia, but not to student teach there. This other program is just a study abroad program, where I would go to Australia with a small group of other Potsdam students.
I spent most of the next few days thinking about Australia, and weighing the pros and cons of the two different programs. With one program, I would be over there nearly three months. I would be student teaching there, without my support system of my mom and my friends, who I talk to all the time about being in the classroom. The cost was about $21,000. With the other program, I wouldn't be student teaching there; I would do both of my placements up here near Potsdam. I would be in Australia for three and a half weeks. The cost is only $6,000. When it came right down to it, the main factor in my decision was the cost. While $6,000 is still a lot of money, it is a lot more doable than $21,000 is.
Last night I emailed one of the people on Potsdam's end of everything, telling her that I'd thought a lot about it, and came to the conclusion that the study abroad course would be a better fit for me than the student teaching abroad one would be.
In my school inbox this morning, I had this email:
 |
| "Hi Kimberly, I am glad that you took some time to think about your choices. I am really excited to have to travel with me as I think it will be life changing for you. Your next step in confirming is to submit your non-refundable deposit of $500 by December." |
which means that I'm going to Australia for three and a half weeks this summer!
... if I can manage to save up $6,000 by then.
I've got two different scholarships that I'm applying for. I'm really hoping I'll be the recipient of at least one of them (though both wouldn't be bad! haha). One is for $2,500 and the other is for $1,200. If I were to get both of those, that would be $3,700. Towards a $6,000 trip. And $2,300 is much, MUCH more manageable than even $6,000 is.
Aside from just scholarships, I'm also collecting cans and bottles (don't laugh, it adds up!), and have friends who are collecting them for me as well. I also am trying to figure out how to do a Hershey bar fundraiser. And then there are websites like gofundme where I could raise money. So there's that.
Australia.
This Summer.
I cried this morning though. I wanted so badly to call my dad and tell him about Australia. When I called my sister to tell her, I told her how I wanted to call dad. "He knows," she told me, "I know he knows." Nikki and I may argue and fight with each other way too often, but she really is the best sister. I needed to hear that, and she said it.
I can't wait until June!
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