Thank you for applying to the ACU International Exchange Program...

When I applied to study a double degree in Theology and Global Studies I knew there was an overseas component, but I didn't know the details. Once accepted, enrolled, and attending my orientation I realised that meant a full semester abroad either studying or doing an internship. The prospect of living overseas for four months was pretty exciting, but I still had over a year before I needed to think about the details.

But that time wen't very quickly and towards the end of last year I needed to submit my study abroad application to ACU. I chose to study abroad because the process is easier to organise through ACU than an internship, and I really like the idea of studying in another country. And I very quickly narrowed down my preferences - any partner university near Pittsburgh would do. One of my closest friends in the world lives in Pittsburgh and I haven't seen her since the day after her wedding in Malaysia, way back in 2015. I selfishly saw this as an opportunity to be close to her and her family. AND I would get to travel to North America for the first time!

Christine and I at her wedding in Malaysia in 2015.

The only problem was ACU's policy for Global Studies students was they could only preference ONE university in the United States of America. So that's what I did. These were my preferences:

1. Gannon University, Erie PA, USA
2. Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome Italy
3. Ateneo de Manila University, Manila, Philippines

I put Gannon first for the reason already mentioned, Rome second because I was learning Italian last semester and I love Italy, and Manila third because I met the president of Ateneo at a conference last year and thought it would be an alright third preference! We were told to pick each preference as if it were our first and that there were no guarantees of even getting one of our preferences.

Applications closed in mid-December and I knew offers would come out in mid-January. The second week of January rolled around and I decided I would check my email every day, but knew I probably wouldn't get an email until the following week. BUT THEN IT HAPPENED!

I was babysitting... Two were having screen time and two were happily playing on the floor. I had sat on the couch watching them and thought I should check my email. I hadn't received any notifications, but sometimes my phone doesn't get them... So I opened the Outlook app and there it was: an email for ACU International. I was so excited and so nervous... I knew I wasn't guaranteed my first preference, but I was really hoping it would be. I was so nervous it would be somewhere else. I opened the email praying that it would say that I was going to the US. I started reading and read the first part multiple times... 

Dear Rozlyn,

Thank you for applying to the ACU International Exchange Program.  We are pleased to inform you that after reviewing all aspects of your application, 

I was trying to make sure I was reading it properly so I kept reading it over and over... You have to remember I was on my phone so it was multiple lines of text! Eventually I moved beyond that part...

Dear Rozlyn,

Thank you for applying to the ACU International Exchange Program.  We are pleased to inform you that after reviewing all aspects of your application, our team has allocated you to Gannon University, USA.

I read it over a few more times just to make sure what I was reading was correct. I cannot describe how relieved and excited I was! But all of a sudden I was off the couch jumping up and down so excited! And then I had to explain to the kids I was babysitting why I had a sudden outburst! Eventually I calmed down and over the next few days began to share my very exciting news!

It's been 2 months since I found out that I am going to the States. Over the next few months I will be doing lots of things to prepare and will be sharing about them here!

If you want to find out more about ACU's Bachelor of Theology/Bachelor of Global Studies Program, check it out here.

Here's a picture from Gannon at the start of the year! It should snow while I'm there! I've only seen snow once (twice if you count the time my Nan and Pop brought some back from a holiday in the freezer for us) so I'm pretty excited!

Posted by Gannon University on Tuesday, 22 January 2019