Pre-departure thoughts: What are you expecting from this experience? What do you think your host country
and host culture will be like? What are you most excited about? What are you most nervous about?
Before leaving for this trip, I surprised myself at how nervous I wasn't; all the months leading up to the trip I figured that as it got closer to the day I leave I would get really nervous and want to back out of it. But I worked an incredible amount over this past summer for the sole purpose of funding this trip, so I think that once it came down to the time for me to leave, I was ready. The only thing I've really been expecting from this trip is just an incredible experience, and even within my first 24 hours here I've received just that. Within that "incredible experience" to be specific would be travelling around the country and maybe a few other places in Europe, a great education at a great university, and to enjoy as much as I can with the new people that I meet. I am most excited about October in Edinburgh. Autumn is easily my favorite season, so in Edinburgh it has to be even better. I am also equally excited for Halloween and the Christmas season here in Edinburgh as well. I'm from Georgia so I'm also very much looking forward to seeing some snow for once. The only thing that I'd say I'm nervous about is starting school, just because of being in a new environment with people I don't know, along with getting to and from uni on time via buses and getting used to figuring out which bus to take and when/ from where. Other than that, I am just beyond happy to be here, so I am and will continue trying my best to take anything that's thrown my way.
