medizumbacist

Tomorrow it begins again.

Thanks everyone, I hope everyone who is waiting hears back this coming week!
 
I'm not entirely sure of the date I'm arriving yet, but I think I'll get there around August/September? I'll be in Stockholm, let me know if that's where you're planning on visiting

Well, at T-50 minutes, I'm going to call it. No news from Norway today. Thanks, Scandinavia, thanks for leading a guy on. : P

That's nice to hear, thanks for that info! This ones for all you alternates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Hey, I have been looking into it. I am not familiar with Switzerland, but I know in Germany, You can buy prepaid sim cards from a lot of different places; I am probably going to go for Aldi's plan. you can by prepaid sim cards with calling, texting, and data.
 
You need to figure out what band Switzerland's cell phone systems run on. Actually, I think most of Europe runs on the same band, which is GSM 900 / GSM 1800 MHz . America runs on GSM 850 / GSM 1900 MHz. You can check the specs of your phone to see what bands it can run on. For example, I know the Iphone 5 from Verizon is one of the only ones that runs on GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 , so it is one of the best to use while abroad, from what I have heard.  From what I can tell, ATT's Iphones only can use the typica 850 1900 band that America uses. Again, you would have to check the specs of your phone.
 
I am a bit stuck, though, because I currently have a verizon Iphone 4, which only uses 850/ 1900. If I upgraded to the Iphone 5, I would lock myself into another two years of a contract, while right now, my contract is up and is month to month. I am planning on canceling my plan when I leave. Otherwise, I would have to pay full price for a 5, which is in the neighborhood of $600. I could buy one used, which would help bring down the cost. Apple is very likely going to produce a 5s this summer or fall, which should make the prices of the 5 drop even more. FYI, Verizon's Iphone 5 is also UNLOCKED (open to all carriers), and it sounds like Verizon is going to leave it that way. I don't know whether other cell companie's smartphones are unlocked.
 
I have bought into the Apple paradigm, so I will probably stick with it. I have already spent too much money on apps to switch to Android. I suppose I could for a year though. I believe the Nexus 4 also opperates the 850, 900, 1800, 1900 bands though. Again, you would have to search the specks of your particular phone to be sure. You'd also want to make sure that your phone is unlocked (usable on on cell phone carriers). Don't forget that it is now illegal in the US to unlock your phone if it is not already unlocked. Sucks.
 
Ugh. All this is also assuming you are goign to want a smart phone. Optimally, I would want one, I think it would be super helpful as I intend on traveling quite a bit. If you don't need a smart phone, you would probably be fine buying a cheap track phone or something.  I don't think NOT having any kind of cell service is really an option for me, though. I'm still trying to decide whether I really need a smart phone. First world problems. .. I tend to be on the disorganized side though, so my smart phone really keeps me on track.

just got my placement email. i will be in madrid!!!

Woo-hoo! Russia before Norway? That's crazy! So happy for you!

I got it!!!! Full grant to Russia. 
 
It just showed up in my inbox HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE???

haha actually sort of true...in my application I talked about how Zumba was a cross-cultural activity and how I wanted to lead zumbathon fundraisers showcasing some classic American and Cajun music, I think that's what won it for me!!

haha actually sort of true...in my application I talked about how Zumba was a cross-cultural activity and how I wanted to lead zumbathon fundraisers showcasing some classic American and Cajun music, I think that's what won it for me!!

Sweet! That's awesome that you are going to be in Zagreb! My family lives about twenty minutes from there. We should definitely try and meet up! have you been to Plitvice? Maybe we could take a trip there! Or Dubrovnik.. I have never been there!!
 
ETA's don't go to the orientation in DC, unfortunately. I was kind of excited about that, but oh well! German ETA's get one in Köln!

haha actually sort of true...in my application I talked about how Zumba was a cross-cultural activity and how I wanted to lead zumbathon fundraisers showcasing some classic American and Cajun music, I think that's what won it for me!!

Glad to hear that you have Zumba-d your way into Croatia. Success!

OH EM GEEE!!
I miss ONE day and so many announcements!!
I am SOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!
I'm so glad that you don't have to try and decide whether or not to go - your decision has pretty much been made for you, right?!
Agggh! So happy!! CONGRATS!
 
Where in Croatia will you be?

HOLY SHITAKE MUSHROOMS, I'M GOING TO CROATIA!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 
 
eh hem
 
yeah, I got it!!!!!!

Welcome friend! Congratulations on your grant!! See...we have nothing to worry about. *insert the Jedi mind trick*
 
It was a fruitful day for Fulbrighters, but a sad day for our nation. I echo the prayers for those in Boston.

Woo-hoo! That's great!! It's celebration time! So happy for you!

HOLY SHITAKE MUSHROOMS, I'M GOING TO CROATIA!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 
 
eh hem
 
yeah, I got it!!!!!!

I like to think that there's always a way to get what you want even out of a heavily bureaucratized situation. Even if it would be a faux pas, IMHO you should still take your girlfriend/de facto wife with you since, in the end, they'll just have to deal with it and you can probably find another place to live, maybe nicer than the tiny dorms. Do it for love! (maybe this is what Freddie Mercury was talking about when he sang "I'll look back on myself and say, I did it for love, love love love I did it for love!" Screw the naysayers.

DAAAAMN YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
 
*pouts in corner*

I just found this really really interesting and thought y'all might enjoy it too
 
http://convergemagazine.com/travel-young-5278/http://convergemagazine.com/travel-young-5278/
 
I've been playing with the idea of still taking a year off and moving abroad even if I don't get a Fulbright, I have Croatian citizenship and a lot of Zumba connections (I teach Zumba on the side...) in Croatia so I can legally work and I'm confident I could find work pretty readily if I did just take the plunge, but I don't know if I can justify putting my PhD off another year to just go and teach Zumba for a year, I'd much rather be doing real work related to my field, but I do REALLY want to move abroad while I'm young...again...I already took a year between undergrad and master's and moved to Australia...and then reading this makes me think I should just do it, ah decisions decisions! 

I just found this really really interesting and thought y'all might enjoy it too
 
http://convergemagazine.com/travel-young-5278/http://convergemagazine.com/travel-young-5278/
 
I've been playing with the idea of still taking a year off and moving abroad even if I don't get a Fulbright, I have Croatian citizenship and a lot of Zumba connections (I teach Zumba on the side...) in Croatia so I can legally work and I'm confident I could find work pretty readily if I did just take the plunge, but I don't know if I can justify putting my PhD off another year to just go and teach Zumba for a year, I'd much rather be doing real work related to my field, but I do REALLY want to move abroad while I'm young...again...I already took a year between undergrad and master's and moved to Australia...and then reading this makes me think I should just do it, ah decisions decisions! 

I'm the SAME WAY!  and I also sort of feel like people are jinxing it when they talk so confidently about it...I'm all like dude, keep your voice down!  cuz you know it's only jinxed if other people hear it...I'm very weirdly superstitious in a lot of ways...and yes I'm a physicist, it makes 0 sense...
 
I'm the SAME WAY!  and I also sort of feel like people are jinxing it when they talk so confidently about it...I'm all like dude, keep your voice down!  cuz you know it's only jinxed if other people hear it...I'm very weirdly superstitious in a lot of ways...and yes I'm a physicist, it makes 0 sense...

Damn you blizzard fan club!  I open my email and see one new email!  ah...not from fulbright but oooh, blizzard fan club!  I'll take a buy one get one blizzard!  except it's just an advertisement for their new blizzard flavor, which sounds delicious...chocolate covered pretzel, but for real, throw me a frickin' bone here!

yayyyyy!!! I was very anxiously awaiting hearing from you, I totally had that feeling like man, she's gotta get it, I'd give it to her haha, glad the selection committee agreed!  Congrats to all who heard good news from Germany!!