The worst part by far about going abroad is the wait. I have nothing to do for the next 10 days and most people are home for winter break. However, there are still a few good friends around which helps to pass the time (I just got back from a ski trip up north in Eagle River with Jessie and Tristan).Anyway, I am pumped for next semester what with all the backpacking, skiing, flying, mountain biking, travelling, and maybe even a few classes. Some of the highlights include:
World Ski Championships in Åre, Sweden: February 15 - 18
Ice Climbing in Maltbrännan, Sweden: February 24
Dogsledding, Ice Hotel, and skiing in Jukkasjärvi, Kiruna, and Riksgransen, Sweden: ~March 5 - 15
Western Europe: March 26 – April 21
London, England
Paris, France
Beaujolais Vineyards, France
Barcelona, Spain
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Florence, Italy
Rome, Italy
Venice, Italy
Vienna, Austria
Munich, Germany
Alps, Switzerland
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Eastern Europe: June 1 - 16
Helsinki, Finland
St. Petersburg, Russia
Moscow, Russia
Warsaw, Poland
Brasov, Romania
Sinaia, Romania
Split, Croatia
Budapest, Hungary
Prague, Czech Republic
Berlin, Germany
Copenhagen, Denmark
Also, if anyone knows how I can get to the North Pole for less than $13,000 it'd be awesome if you let me know. I also got a letter from the Swedish CAA Luftfartsstyrelsen (Swedish equivalent to the Federal Aviation Administration) that clears me to fly day VFR in Sweden. Seeing a country full of mountains, rivers and islands from the air should be amazing, I'm looking forward to it.
I'll be living in a Swedish dorm near the Umea campus, however, I won't know the address or have my phone number until I arrive in Sweden. Until then, there is email (schmudlach@wisc.edu). I'll do the best I can to keep everyone updated but I make no guarantees (you did see the list of things I'm doing next semester...and that's only the stuff I planned). Right now, I have to get back to doing laundry and getting everything ready to move into storage (parent's basement) for the next few months (thanks mom).
