3 Months and Start of School

It is the start of the school year!  With that, comes the start of study abroad plans.  In October we have our first meeting about study abroads in general and then later in the month and November are two more meetings specific to Trinidad.  At the end of this month we already have forms due: classes to pick, university applications to fill out, passport photos to order…the list goes on.  Lots of required readings as well.

When we first arrive at Trinidad we have a few days to move into the Lodge and settle down.  We then have homestays for the weekend before going to Charlotteville, Tobago for a week.  The cottages we are staying in there are right on the beach with access to reefs!  I am planning on bringing my snorkeling gear so I do not have to rent it, despite the room it will take in a suitcase.  The cottage website shows some gorgeous pictures of sunsets; what other study abroad allows you to travel to paradise?

We have a J-Term course in January (a month long class taken every day that equals a semester long class) and UWI starts mid January as well.  Then there is not much until March 3-4, which is Carnival!  The trip ends May 17^th.  By then I will have spent 136 days (19 Weeks and 3 Days) in Trinidad.  I'll post more after our first meeting!

Getting Started

Hello!

My name is Maia and I am a freshman right now at Pacific Lutheran University.  I want to major in Communications.  I found out about the Trinidad and Tobago program when I came to visit Passport weekend April 2012.  Since then, I've fallen in love with it!  It's not just the location (although that is a plus) but the rich culture that permeates the island.  So many societies have built on top of each other over time and learned to coexist; where else could you go to learn about so many different people at once?

The Caribbean program is one of PLU's Gateway programs, meaning that you pay for your plane ticket and the rest of the fee is the room, board, and tuition you would pay the University if you were not studying abroad.  Compared to the other study abroads, this is a lot cheaper!  PLU also has gateway programs to London, Mexico, China, Namibia, and two different locations in Norway.  My roommate is hoping to do the London one this year; if I have the chance I would like to do it my Junior year! One trip at a time though...

The program runs from the beginning of January to mid May, meaning it covers J-term and Spring semester. For more information on the program, please check here!

I have been talking to the program director on and off since school has started and am working on my application to submit in the next few months.  Here's hoping everything works out!