As I prepare to spend my junior year abroad in Granada, Spain, there are more than a few obstacles and emotions that I have had to overcome in order to ensure my safe (and legal) arrival in the country come late September.
However, when Netflix releases a show that I have been anticipating for a better portion of the year, it's hard to focus my attention on packing with the temptation of watching "The Defenders" instead, I decided to chronicle my road to studying abroad with my favorite defender; Miss Jessica Jones.
1. The Application
"Alright, I know that as a Spanish major I need to go to a country where I can take a bunch of Spanish classes and live with a host family that will only speak to me in Spanish. My school has three four programs, three in Spain and one in Chile. They all appeal to me about the same academically, but I'd prefer a program that has similar academic semesters to those in the United States so that rules out Chile. Toledo's program is only offered over the summer and both Toledo and Barcelona are expensive cities. Not to mention English is widely spoken in Barcelona... Looks like I have to fill out this entire application about why I've always only ever wanted to go to Granada!"
2. Waiting...
"I get it, the application takes time to process!"
3. And more waiting...
"I've still got two weeks left or so before Winter Break... They've got to let me know soon, right? Right?"
4. Until you finally hear back!
"Yay they accepted me! Prepare the endless tapas and paella because I am headed to SPAIN!"
5. But then... the VISA
"Why did I have to be an overachiever and do a program that is over 90 days? I wouldn't even need to get an FBI background search, pay $160, and sacrifice my left arm to Cthulhu before the let me enter the country."
6. Submitting the VISA application
"That was nice now that I've had the most stressful and expensive post office experience of my whole damn life."
7. Receiving the VISA
8. Buying a ticket
"Aw hell yes, look at me booking my own flight like a damn adult. International jet setter, that's what I am."
9. Having your flight re-routed because your original connecting flight was cancelled
"I am terrible at everything and cannot ever possibly be a functioning adult. Someone please help me... and by someone, I mean my mom."
10. Inevitably freaking out because preparing to study abroad can be overwhelming
"What do you mean I can't fit every single one of my favorite pairs of socks and all of my stuffed animals plus a ukulele, extra scarves, and at least eleven extra notebooks in my suitcase? Why didn't I just decide to stay on campus this semester with all of my friends? They've all already started their classes and I still have to wait until I get there to take placement tests!"
11. But then you realize that you're a boss ass bitch.
And you're going to have the best study abroad experience ever!
