The Fight...(Continued)

Okay so when I first decided I wanted to study abroad all of the SIU representatives I talked to told me that my financial aid would cover the cost. LIES! When I filled out the form and took it to the financial aid office, they told me that that was not true. I would only be getting like 1/6 of my normal financial aid. THEN the lady (who, by the way, tells me something different everytime I talk to her) told me that my total, for fall only, would be $26, 963!!!! I immediately burst into tears and left. HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO COME UP WITH THAT?!

Next, I started getting all of these deadlines from the company I am travelling through, Australearn, for money I owe. They wanted $400 the day my application was approved and I was accepted into the program. Next, they wanted $1,500 (with financial aid-without they would have wanted $5,000). Then I had to buy my planes tickets with were almost $2,000. Then I had to buy my visa, which was $540. Last I had to buy my adventure day which was $130. So I need money fast. I had to get a loan for $4,500!

Because I was so strapped on money, I decided to only pay the things I absolutely had to, and that dropped my price down to $19,242.50. Which is no better. After I did that and subracted my financial aid and my scholarships I calculated that I would need to come up with $6,757.50 this summer. We are still waiting to find out how much my mom will get in her parent plus loan. I am hoping for $3,000. That would be fantastic because then I will only need to come up with $3,757.50. I feel like that is much more manageable.

I have a summer job my cousin Tommy gave me working in one of his loans centers. I'm so grateful because otherwise I would have no chance whatsoever to earn this money I need. I also decided to write family and ask them for help. I didn't want to do it because I know everyone is basically broke right now, but I did, and I have already heard that some of my family is saving for me. I don't know what I would do without them. It's times like these when I really feel lucky for having family that supports my decisions-even if they dont necessarily agree with them (*cough* grandpa and grandma *cough*). But they love me=) lol.

So now I am researching the city and Victoria and finding things to do and just reading up. Melbourne is so amazing! It has like 3.5 million people in it and is very well known for being extremely hot then extremely cold all in the same day! I want to go everywhere! They have a zoo, an aquarium, and a sanctuary relatively close to me. I want to volunteer there but I guess there is a huge waiting list.

On another even more exciting note-it sounds like my grandpa is going to come visit me during my midsemester break!! He has always wanted to go there and by then I should pretty much be a native Victorian;) Especially because I plan to buy these two books I came across. One is a city guide to Melbourne and the other is a guide to the things to do throughout Victoria.

Okay, well I am going to get back to work. (Tommy, if you are reading this, I am also working diligently on getting people to bring me their hard earned money.) Love you! Bye! =)