Pre-Trip

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Hello to all!

First I wanted to thank you guys for taking the time to follow me on this adventure. I leave in about 30 days and there is still so much to be done! I am trying to figure out what to pack, my courses, my living arrangements, and travel goals. Its alot more planning than I thought! Those who know me well also know I am not a light packer, so the packing in itself should be interesting! Since the climate is almost opposite i'll have to take into consideration i'll be entering winter in NZ. (NZ has a rather mild climate, it never gets below 45 degrees, or higher than 75 degrees) Differently from here at PSU, I usually take about 5-6 courses which is anywhere from 15-19 credits per semester, yet in NZ ill only be allowed to take four courses. Im already anxious to see how classes will differ from in the states. I assume maybe they are more indepth which is why students are only allowed to take four, either way I am excited to be taught in an entirely new teaching style!

I will be living in Wellington, New Zealand, which is the capital! There are many awesome YouTube videos you can find which have great video clips of the city and all it holds, so definitely look those up! The unviersity I will be attending is University of Victoria, which is home to four campuses and about 35,000 students. As I was looking on the school website they have all kinds of things for students. Theres over 30 sports teams and 60 clubs, so there's no shortage of ways I can get involved and meet new people. I was previously in contact with the Field Hockey coach in NZ and she offered me a spot on the team to play, so that should be awesome! That leads me to my first goal😊 Fitness! New Zealand is known for its gorgeous scenery and active lifestyle. Already being someone who feeds off outdoor energy, I think this will truly be the perfect spot for me. Playing a sport, working out at the gyms, going on lots of hikes, and just trying to walk as many places as I can. I want to truly immerse myself into this culture and do as the natives do!

Also as I was reading up on other PSU students who are currently abroad in Wellington its getting me so excited to see how gorgeous the city is! Travel Travel Travel!! Apparently every weekend i'll be able to find a huge fresh fruit open market and along the harbor which is like a five minute walk from my flat, there is a large fish market where you can buy freshly caught whole fish (I believe they sell about twenty different types). Already im pumped! I really want to expand my diet when im abroad as well. Anyone who knows my family well, knows we live a very healthy lifestyle as a family and our house is filled with nothing but healthy food. As a child I thought I was tortured by that haha, but now as I get older I couldnt be more thankful for that. Besides what im used to eating, I hope to try alot of different kinds of meals. Ill be sure to take lots of pictures of my entrees before I devour them!

There is truly so much I want to accomplish by taking this trip. I've wanted to study abroad for quite some time but I never felt like I was ready to do it, but now I am truly ready to take on this adventure. I am so thankful to my parents for financially making these dreams happen and I am so eager to learn how God is going to mold me for the better through this tripl I hope to grow more independence for starters. Going to a foreign country alone and allowing myself to be open and immersed in a new culture is surely going to be life changing. I just want to try new things! Sometimes I feel like I get to used to my little "life bubble" that I dont take enough time to venture into areas of life which are out of my comfort zone. On our recent family vacation I was reading a MUST READ, called "Eat Pray Love." It is really an incredible book and the perfect novel for the frame of mind im trying to have before I go. I want to have an open heart and open mind and this book really got me excited to do that.

Theres so many people I wish I could bring along on my trip and you all know who you are😊 Yet as I mentioned before its a dream come true for me, and I dont think I could have picked a better location.
I hope to blog about three times a week and add lots of pictures, videos, links, etc. I can't wait to tell you all about my trip as I near closer and I hope you will all enjoy reading! I hope to be as reflective as I can being that this is a memory I hope to be able to read back upon. Thanks for your support!

Love you all!!

Erin Sterner

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