"Hawai'i has been such a great home, but I want to experience something different right now."

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Not many blog posts have really documented the stress, excitement, and anxiety of preparing for a study abroad. If it were not for my busy schedule this summer, I would not be so sane while waiting for my exchange in Hong Kong. Below is my whirlwind of a schedule:

 

MONDAY Part-Tme Job at University of Hawai'i from 730am - 500pm

TUESDAY Internship at Anthology Marketing Group from 900am - 400pm

WEDNESDAY Internship at the United States District Court (Hawai'i) from 900am - 400pm

THURSDAY Internship at Anthology Marketing Group from 900am - 400pm

FRIDAYInternship at Anthology Marketing Group from 900am - 1200pm

         Part-Time Job at University of Hawai'i from 100pm - 500pm

SATURDAYStudying for the GMAT from 730am - 730pm

SUNDAYFree Day

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Still, this business allows me to relax in a sort of masochistic way. The excitement and anticipation is still there but I am not constantly thinking about it. When I do find myself in that vorfreude mode (I hope you finally understand the website title), I work on my extensive financial management system on Excel that lets me record and project my spending over the next few months in order to fully optimize my funds The file includes weekly expenses, weekend trips to other countries, large ticket items etc. Being a type A person, I like to have some senes of certainty when embarking on something in order to iterate different scenarios to be prepared for anything (which is probably why I enjoy finance).

 

My Excel sheet has the following assumptions:

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Currency Exchange Rates such as New Taiwan Dollars, Japanese Yen, Hong Kong Dollars, Singaporen Dollars, Thai Baht, Malaysian Ringgit, South Korean Won, Macau Patacas)

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Flight Prices with Slight Inflation because I am always fiscally paranoid), projected food expenses (between main meals and the snacks I will be inhaling in the black hole that is my stomach

 

Accommodation Prices for Airbnb

 

Shopping Budgets because I can finally buy clothes without having to pay ridiculously high shipping prices (looking at you, Uniqlo)

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Miscellaneous Expenses (i.e. transport tickets, activity entrances, etc.).

 

Additionally, I have created mechanisms that help tell me if I am overspending or on budget as well as allocate my remaining funds for the rest of the exchange experience. Click here to download a view-only version of my financial management system.

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For those interested in my journey from normal University of Hawai'i student to prospective international exchange student, visit my Pre-Departure page.

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I CANNOT WAIT TO LEAVE HAWAI'I!

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