Final Exams and Final Goodbyes

This past week and weekend have been full of studying, packing and starting to say goodbyes. Last week I took my finals in marketing and business ethics and I also found out that my group came in 2nd out of 13 teams on our marketing pitch!! I was so excited to hear that all of the hard work and frustrations were worth it.
My little study desk.
Friday Ali left to fly home to Texas. It was so weired having someone actually leave and reality began to set in that time here is really over. I am going to miss these friends I've made so incredibly much. That night Sam, Mike and I exchanged a few small Christmas presents and went out for our last dinner all together. We had a fun time just hanging out and talking about trying to plan a few trips to see one another. I really hope they end up coming to visit me in Nashville like they say they will. And I told Sam that I will certainly be coming to visit Chicago sometime in the near future.
Mike got me a cute picture frame and a nice Australia book.
Sam got me a HUGE Starbucks coffee mug.
Other than some more studying this weekend for McRae's exam I have been a busy bee at packing and weighing my luggage. I was fortunate enough to fit all of my things into 2 suitcases, but upon weighing them they were way over the 70lb weight limit...so now I'll be paying extra to bring home a third bag via Quantas and extra to take bags over 50lbs onto Southwest....oh well, it has to be done. And don't make fun because some peoples Christmas presents are in these bags, okay?!?! That is my justification.

These are my bags, packed and ready to go- see you all Wednesday at 5:10!!

Counting Down the Days

Last week during one of my marketing group meetings I was surprised with some lovely flowers from Mom and Jimmy. It was so nice to feel special and get a little love from home. The marketing project ended up going about as well as it could have given the circumstances. I hope we did well because I've been studying for the final for the past couple of days and I'm worried that I'm not going to do that well on it. I just hope I pass the class and I'll be happy.
On Thursday night my friend Mike was helping throw a Christmas party down in Manly so the girls and I got dressed up and went to celebrate the holiday season. It was tons of fun-probably one of the best nights I've had in Manly and it made me even more excited for Christmas to get here and me to get home!!!! Only 9 more days until I'm on my way home. I can't believe how quickly the time has flown by.
The other morning Sam and I decided to take the 30 minute walk out to North Head. It was really relaxing and the views were beautiful... I should have been going there all semester! What a hidden secret.
Today was Jan's 23 birthday. Last night a bunch of the German study abroads, Andria and I as well as a few Swedish girls all got together to celebrate. We ended up playing SingStar, which I love!! We had a such a fun break from all the studying that we've been doing lately.
(Andria, me, Insa and Bastian)

It's bittersweet thinking about leaving. I'm ready to be home and especially see all of you for Christmas, but at the same time I am going to miss the friends I have made. I have had so much fun with everyone and although I may see Sam again in the near future since she lives so close, I don't know when I'll see Insa or some of those from Germany or Sweden again. I'm so glad I have had this opportunity to make some friendships with so many wonderful people. It has been fun!!

Computer lab weekends and marketing projects

I haven't written in a while because there hasn't been a lot to say. The past week has been devoted to working on a marketing group project. The project is developing a marketing plan to promote the sports management program here at ICMS. It consists of our written marketing plan (group paper, 3000 words), a 15 minute marketing pitch (once again, group work) and our promotional advertisement (we came up with a video....and it is no good). All of this work- none of which I know what I am doing although I became "team leader," at least I guess that is what you can call me since everyone refers to me for guidance, answers and tasks and I am also doing the bulk of the work- it is worth 50% of my grade in the class. The other 50% is the 3 hour, hand written short answer and essay exam. Uh-oh. I am trying my best here, but it is hard. Yesterday I was in the computer lab working on the paper from 11am to 4:30 pm and then today from 11:30 to 4:30. Not to mention the work that I did before we did before I even began writing the plan. And since I so proudly admitted that I was a communications major at the beginning of the term I am now writing the marketing pitch. Unfortunately, writing a speech and writing a pitch are rather different. It involves different objectives and a very different approach to the situation. Let's hope I do well because I would at least like to pass the class.
Other than that these next two weeks will involve studying for my finals, all of which are 50% of my grade and are cumulative over the term. At home I hardly have to worry about studying for finals because I typically already have an A in the class, and the final is not worth all that much. Here it is a different story and I don't know what to expect. I haven't taken a single test since I've been at ICMS and I hear they are hard. Grrrrreat. Eh, oh well. Beach by day and a little studying by night. At least I know that I can write complete sentences in readable English. I have to be a step above all of these ESL students. Seriously, I have been correcting the group papers, I know their writing is B-A-D.