Study Abroad
Aaah. At this moment, life is good!
When a very dear friend was killed in an accident last fall, we looked at the example of her life and could easily believe that she probably wouldn’t have had many regrets. The beauty of how she lived life led us to the conclusion that more opportunities need to be seized, more chances need to be taken, and life must be enjoyed!
When Kris & I received an invitation from her former German professor to participate in a study abroad program in Germany this summer, it seemed only like a wishful-thinking kind of prospect. We debated, discussed, and dreamed about going. We weighed the pros and cons. We talked about the if-onlys and what-ifs. I was probably more cautious about going than Kris was. If viewed from a purely financial standpoint, it would be sensible to forget about going.
I thought about the quote from Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.” I knew it was true. This study abroad opportunity seemed to be tailor-made for us. Most programs are at least 6 weeks long—this one would only be two weeks. It would focus on history and culture. We would learn the ropes of travel in and around the city of Berlin.
After much debate, Kris & I decided that this simply was one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that needed to be seized. After all, sometimes being sensible isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. We would probably regret it for the rest of our lives if we turned it down.
We filled out necessary paperwork and enrolled in the study abroad program. We also applied for the study abroad scholarship. A lady that was in the office when we picked the applications up said that her son had applied for it and got $250-300. And she didn’t even think that his letter was very well written. Could we hope that maybe…? She thought that we might qualify for $250-500. It was worth a try. We filled the applications out and sent them in with our best pleas for a scholarship of any size.
Since then we have ordered and received international student IDs. We went to the AAA office after class one day and got free passport photos for our IDs. (AAA memberships do come in handy every once in a while. I’d really rather not use the membership for the more unpleasant aspects anyhow.) I had Mom get my passport out of the lockbox at the bank.
And then Thursday arrived. I arrived home from work shortly before 6. As I approached the door, I saw an envelope at the front of the stack of mail in the mail slot. It had the university’s emblem in the return address area. I knew that there was a possibility it could be news about the scholarships. I grabbed the mail and as I headed down the stairs I asked God to please make it good news.
There were two envelopes in the stack of mail. One was addressed to me and the other was addressed to Kris. I dumped all of my stuff on the bed and grabbed the envelope with my name on it. I opened it and there, in black and white, was a beautiful letter congratulating me and telling me that I had been approved for a $600 scholarship for the study abroad program.
I couldn’t believe it. I had only expected to possibly get $300, if that. A double blessing!! I had actually given up on getting anything at all—had planned to pay for the whole semester myself. It was like being handed $600 extra spending money for the trip.
I grabbed the phone to call Kris and tell her my wonderful news. Her phone was busy. I tried several more times and finally left a message for her to call me. A short time later the phone rang and it was Kris. After a bit of torture, I gave her the news.
She wanted me to open her letter to see if she also had qualified for a scholarship. As I was opening it, I told her that it would really stink if she got more than I did. She made some sarcastic remark just as I laid eyes on her letter. Her letter was identical to mine, except where mine said $600 her letter said $1000. Wow!
As much as I wish my scholarship were as big as hers is, I’m not even bitter about it. I’m so grateful for $600. I haven’t gotten an abundance of scholarships during my college stint so it feels like a gift. A wonderfully generous gift.
Now, I’m rarin’ to go.
When a very dear friend was killed in an accident last fall, we looked at the example of her life and could easily believe that she probably wouldn’t have had many regrets. The beauty of how she lived life led us to the conclusion that more opportunities need to be seized, more chances need to be taken, and life must be enjoyed!
When Kris & I received an invitation from her former German professor to participate in a study abroad program in Germany this summer, it seemed only like a wishful-thinking kind of prospect. We debated, discussed, and dreamed about going. We weighed the pros and cons. We talked about the if-onlys and what-ifs. I was probably more cautious about going than Kris was. If viewed from a purely financial standpoint, it would be sensible to forget about going.
I thought about the quote from Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.” I knew it was true. This study abroad opportunity seemed to be tailor-made for us. Most programs are at least 6 weeks long—this one would only be two weeks. It would focus on history and culture. We would learn the ropes of travel in and around the city of Berlin.
After much debate, Kris & I decided that this simply was one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that needed to be seized. After all, sometimes being sensible isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. We would probably regret it for the rest of our lives if we turned it down.
We filled out necessary paperwork and enrolled in the study abroad program. We also applied for the study abroad scholarship. A lady that was in the office when we picked the applications up said that her son had applied for it and got $250-300. And she didn’t even think that his letter was very well written. Could we hope that maybe…? She thought that we might qualify for $250-500. It was worth a try. We filled the applications out and sent them in with our best pleas for a scholarship of any size.
Since then we have ordered and received international student IDs. We went to the AAA office after class one day and got free passport photos for our IDs. (AAA memberships do come in handy every once in a while. I’d really rather not use the membership for the more unpleasant aspects anyhow.) I had Mom get my passport out of the lockbox at the bank.
And then Thursday arrived. I arrived home from work shortly before 6. As I approached the door, I saw an envelope at the front of the stack of mail in the mail slot. It had the university’s emblem in the return address area. I knew that there was a possibility it could be news about the scholarships. I grabbed the mail and as I headed down the stairs I asked God to please make it good news.
There were two envelopes in the stack of mail. One was addressed to me and the other was addressed to Kris. I dumped all of my stuff on the bed and grabbed the envelope with my name on it. I opened it and there, in black and white, was a beautiful letter congratulating me and telling me that I had been approved for a $600 scholarship for the study abroad program.
I couldn’t believe it. I had only expected to possibly get $300, if that. A double blessing!! I had actually given up on getting anything at all—had planned to pay for the whole semester myself. It was like being handed $600 extra spending money for the trip.
I grabbed the phone to call Kris and tell her my wonderful news. Her phone was busy. I tried several more times and finally left a message for her to call me. A short time later the phone rang and it was Kris. After a bit of torture, I gave her the news.
She wanted me to open her letter to see if she also had qualified for a scholarship. As I was opening it, I told her that it would really stink if she got more than I did. She made some sarcastic remark just as I laid eyes on her letter. Her letter was identical to mine, except where mine said $600 her letter said $1000. Wow!
As much as I wish my scholarship were as big as hers is, I’m not even bitter about it. I’m so grateful for $600. I haven’t gotten an abundance of scholarships during my college stint so it feels like a gift. A wonderfully generous gift.
Now, I’m rarin’ to go.
posted by Sharon @ 6:03 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Way to go Sharon! Good luck on your adventure. Don't chase any schnuck boys while your there! :)
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