I'M IN!!!

This finally came in the mail today! I've been accepted! I actually found out earlier this week through an email, because the letter was taking so long to get here, but the letter is something I can hold in my hand and actually see that I'm in!

So.... what does this mean??? It means a hell of an intense year! This is what the program will look like...
I start this summer, in Madrid. I will be there for a month. I will live in an apartment that is privately leased, so I don't know exactly what that means. I only know that it was the cheapest option provided by the school. Also, it is guaranteed by the school that I will have my own bedroom, access to a fully stocked kitchen (meaning pots, pans, dishes and silverware) and full time access to a bathroom. Sounds ok.
The month of school entails 4 courses; yup, one a week! I'm definitely already feeling stressed about this, because it can ONLY mean that it will be very intense. Lots of information in a short time. I have already received sillibi for all my courses, and 3 out of 4 require pre-reading as well as pre-assignments, due on the first day of class. Yikes! Now that I know I am in, I better get on it!
So.... the full month of July I will be in Madrid. If you didn't figure it out yet, that leaves me with about 3 weeks of summer vacation not in Madrid, which means, no, I won't be doing any other traveling this summer. I really wish I could come to the States, but it just isn't in the cards!
Then, after the summer... I will take 2 online courses during the fall semester (something like Sept-Dec) and 2 online courses in the spring (Jan-May). Thankfully, this will be my 5th year teaching kindergarten, and third year in the same school. Hopefully, this means I will have an easier time teaching, and be able to make enough time to study.
Next summer, I will again do another month in Madrid. It will be the same set-up, four courses in four weeks. (That's right, no traveling next summer either.) I assume it will be the month of July again. The only difference? At the end of July 2008 if all goes as planned, I will participate in a graduation ceremony in Madrid! (Anyone fancy a trip???)
So... what other details can I throw at you. This course is offered through Endicott College, which is located in Massachusetts, USA. It is a program that is accepted by my university in Michigan, and will count towards me getting my professional teaching certificate. (When you graduate with a teaching degree in Michigan, you get a provisional certificate, and must within a certain amount of time teach for 3 years and get at least 18 credits of continuing education to get a professional certificate- which is the whole reason I'm doing all this!)

I am excited at having been accepted, and at the same time overwhelmed at what stands in front of me. It's been so long since I have to write a real paper! Ugh! I like to write....but come on, I like to write on my blog, writing papers is a WHOLE different story! The anxiety I feel about this (yes, I've already had my first anxiety nightmare!) is lessend by the fact that I know it will all be over in 13 months. Whew.

I hope this answers any questions you may have about what I will be doing with myself in the next year, and already excuses me for what will probably be a total lack of communication! :)

Now... off to ordering hundreds of dollars of books that will have to be shipped overseas, and see about a plane ticket...