Getting ready to go...

Only 10 more days in the States and everything is set to go...I hope. The applications have all been turned in and accepted, the passport and residence permit are current, housing is set to go, class schedule is set, and I'm already signed up for more than a few trips.

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).