Updates!

It's been a few weeks since my last post, so I figured I should check in. There are a few things that I can cross of my "Deutschland To-Do List" that I made last post...

1. Officially accept my co-op job. DONE. Had to accept it via email because the future boss and I couldn't arrange a time to talk. I just wanted to finally accept my job so I could breathe a sigh of relief.

2. Buy plane ticket. DONE. If you guys don't know what Student Universe is... you should probably check it out. http://www.studentuniverse.com/ They've got sick deals for students. I got my round trip ticke for $836. Not too shabby.

3. Find a place to live in Germany. Still working on this... I've made contact with a former ICP student that worked with WupperVerband and he showed me some useful sites for finding a place to live. http://www.wg-gesucht.de/ and http://www.immobilienscout24.de/de/finden/wohnen/wohnung_miete/index.jsp

4. Find a sublet for my apartment in Cinci. DONE. I owe this to the power of Facebook. All I did was make my status "Hey friends I'm looking for someone to rent my place for spring/summer" and within 15 minutes I was set. Yay technology!

5. Apply for Honors Grant. DONE. It's in the process of being reviewed!

6. Turn in forms/pay fees... still working on this stuff.

7. Start thinking about/planning European Adventures. I mean... sure I've been thinking about them, but not planning them yet. As of now I've got a cousin that will be in Ireland, and friends in Amsterdam and somewhere in France. That's about as far as I've gotten.

8. LEARN GERMAN. I'm working on it...

All in all I've done good work on my to-do list. Go me!

-Morgen

Deutschland To-Do List

I am on winter break right now. I know I should be relaxing... but I can't stop thinking about all the things I have to do in preparation for Germany. I'm going to make a list and maybe this will make me feel a little better.

1. Officially accept my co-op job (in order to do this I must have a chat with Gayle Elliott, the international co-op advisor)
2. BUY PLANE TICKET TO GERMANY (Merry Christmas to me!)
3. Find a place to live in Germany
4. Find a sublet for my apartment in Cincinnati
5. Apply for and Honors Grant (may have to self design an Honors Experience)
6. Turn in all necessary forms and pay all necessary fees
7. Start thinking about/planning European travel adventures
8. LEARN GERMAN

These are quite hefty tasks... listing them out did make me feel better.

I hope everyone is finding some time to relax over the holidays. Frohe Weihnachten und frohe Feiertage!

-Morgen

Welcome to my blog!

Hello! Hallo! Guten Tag!

Welcome to my blog! Or, auf Deutsch, Herzlich Willkommen auf meiner Blog... I think? I'm a 4th year Civil & Environmental Engineering student at the University of Cincinnati, and I'm participating in the International Co-op Program. I will be co-oping for a German engineering company (in Germany) from March-August. I am excited and terrified all at the same time.

"Why Germany?" you ask. Well, Germany is known as an engineering powerhouse, so what better place for an aspiring engineer to go learn? Also, Germany (and Europe in general) is a bit ahead of the curve when it comes to environmental and sustainability issues, so I figure I can learn a few things in that department as well. And finally, I come from German heritage and have always been interested in learning more about the German culture.

"But Morgen, you don't speak German!" you say. Well... up until this past August I didn't know German. (Still kind of kicking myself for not taking German in high school...). Over the summer I participated in the International Co-op Program's Intensive German Language course. This was a course that met everyday, from 9-4, for 6 weeks that essentially pounded the German language into my brain. I am still taking follow up German language classes up until the time that I leave. So, you're right, I don't really know German that well yet... but I hope to be fluent by the time I come back to the states.

So, in conclusion, yes I am a little crazy for taking on this challenge. I will probably get insanely homesick and will definitely get very frustrated. However, I know this will be a life changing experience that I NEED to have. I can't wait for the friends I will make and the places I will visit. I'm trying to get into the habit of blogging about my experiences now so that I can document as much as possible!

Welcome again! And, wish me luck?

More info on UC's ICP: http://www.uc.edu/propractice/uccoop/employers/employer_icp/icp_types.html