Orientation was yesterday. Very helpful. Learned lots of things about being safe while abroad. Also got to talk to Katy, a design student who did the same program last Spring. She was very helpful and nice and answered many of our questions! Turns out we probably won't know what classes we're taking until the day before classes start. Every thing in Wanganui is within walking distance. Buses are an easy and cheap way to travel the country. We should spend at least a week on the South Island, and if we go to Australia we should skip Sydney and see other places that are less touristy if we want to experience more culture.
Another thing I should mention is during Orientation a psychologist spoke about culture shock and the kinds of things we'll be feeling. Like at first everything will be exciting, new, and fun. Then we might experience a down period because we don't fit in and will feel homesick. Then it will go back up because we'll start "getting the hang of it". Then back down. And up. And down. And up. Ultimately returning home and experiencing reverse culture shock, where our family and friends have inside jokes without us etc. I think this made Liz a little sad.
The whole thing made me feel a lot better about it all. I'm less nervous/more prepared.
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