Study Abroad Expo (very late, I know)

Last Thursday I attended the study abroad expo in the Thompson Library. I've always considered study abroad and so I thought it would be an interesting event to attend. I was right! Apparently, you don't need to be a junior or senior to study abroad (which I guess I've always known, but going overseas as a sophomore or even a freshman seemed impossible before). I found several programs that are intended for any undergraduate, regardless of their year. Many of them don't even have prerequisites, like taking a million years of a foreign language. I was most interested in the summer programs they had to offer. Two in particular seemed like they could be possibilities for this coming summer- one takes place in New Zealand and Australia, doing fieldwork in the rainforests and learning about conservation and forest management techniques. The second on is on the Turks and Caicos Islands, which are close to Cuba in the Carribean. For one month I would participate in marine biology intensive research, which would include lots of scuba diving and snorkling! The only trouble is that both of them cost around $6000, not including airfare. I think I'll start saving my money because these would be too good of an opportunity to pass up.