The next morning, we had a visit at the Malmo Borgarskola and a meeting with Andreas Lejon from EducationUSA.  Andreas had been the inspiration and the logistical support for our trip to Sweden and I was excited to see him again.  Andreas and I met at the OACAC conference over the summer in California and I was looking forward to the visit to his school on year.  Once at the school we met some great students and we gave a couple of presentations.  After the visit we had some free time, so we walked down to a very nice lake in the center of Malmo. 

After our trip to the school we headed back to the hotel to relax before having dinner. As both Father and I like Italian food we were in search of a good Italian restaurant.  We walked around for a bit, but we finally found a nice restaurant that was crowded, which is always a good sign that the food is good.  We then went back to the hotel as we had a busy day on Friday the 13th.

On Friday, we were planning to visit schools in two different countries.  Our first visit was at Katedralskolan in Lund, Sweden, and we met with Josefin Burge there.  She was a wonderful host and she gathered a group of students from Katedralskolan and the schools in the area for our presentation.  She also explained the history of the school and the school was founded in the 11th century, which is just amazing.  Josefin was delightful and excited to hear about our universities.  She is a career advisor and she has not attended many presentations from US schools. It seems we were the first universities from the US to visit the school and this has been a common theme through Sweden. Overall, it was a very nice visit to Katedralskolan and I enjoyed my time at such an old school.

After the visit, we had to rush back to the train station as we had to make our way over to Denmark.  The train ride with muliple connections was a little longer than I thought and plus, we had to travel over a vast body of water to get there.  I thought this was a nice beach, but it surely was a little too cold to be spending time on any beach. 

After the trip across the lake and another train connection (plus having to change money) we ended up at our next school, Birkerod International School, almost an hour late.  I was so upset with our tardiness and I was very apologetic as I do not like to be late to school visits.  The counselor Elisabeth Fonnesbech Nehammer was very gracious, even though we were so late and she was able to gather a large group of students for our presentation.  Not only did she gather a group of students, she also gave us a ride back to the train station after the presentation, which was very nice as it began to rain.  Once at the train station, we boarded a train to our last school visit in Scandinavia.  We visited the Copenhagen International School and met with the counselor, Kristina Dodier.  We were only able to meet with one student and the counselor, as the school was closed from Swine Flu.  I feel like I have been avoiding Swine Flu all travel season and I have been lucky to stay healthy throughout my travels this year.  By the time we got back to the hotel, we had visited three schools, traveled through four cities and two different countries. The whole day was about 11 hours long.  Needless to say, we were tired, but we managed enough energy to go have another nice Italian dinner.  I will close this blog of my trip through Scandinavia with another picture from the lake in Malmo.  You might begin to realize that I enjoy viewing animals and taking pictures of them.  I surely see a few animals during my travels and I thought this duck was enjoying himself (or herself) on the lake even though the weather was not so nice. 

I will write from Germany soon as this current trip will continue for one more week.  Thank you for reading and take care.

After riding on the trolley, we were dropped off at a stop that was within walking distance from the International School of Gothenburg.  Once at the school we had a room full of students who were eager to hear about the US education system and specifically our universities.  The students mentioned that we were the first universities to visit them this year and as a result of such few universities visiting Sweden, our presentations throughout Sweden have focused on how to choose a US University, as well as presentations on our individual institutions.  As you can see from the picture below, the students were very happy to hear about our universities.

After the school visit, we headed back to the trolley stop and I noticed how beautiful the city of Gothenburg looked, so I decided to take another picture of the city.  Even though most of the days have been cloudy so far, I have been very impressed with the architecture of Sweden as well as the hospitality of the Swedes.  I feel the Swede are very helpful with giving directions and they are very pleasant people to speak with.  I surely have enjoyed my time thus far in Sweden and I must say that their public transportation system is far superiour to what we have in the United States.  I hope you enjoy the pictures and I will write again from our last city in Sweden that we are visiting, Malmo.

This year, we used a scanner to easily import student data. Students attending the fair could have a bar code printed that contained all the data they wanted sent to colleges, then when they found a college they were interested in, they could just have the college scan their bar code. It was very futuristic!

College fairs are a lot of fun, and they are a great way for students to learn more about lots of different colleges in a short period of time. When I am at a college fair, there are some VERY important things I need to have with me:

Water

Especially important this year - hand sanitizer!!

The rest of my time in Chicago was a lot of fun. I discovered a brand new section of the city which I am in love with! It's call "Old Town," and it's full of great restaurants, shops, and fun things to do. I really loved it here:

Before I knew it, it was time to head back to the east coast. The travel season flew by after that! I went to many high schools in the Hartford and Boston areas and met tons of great students. I met Chad from East Hartford, who is applying ED, and Max from Beaver Country Day, who was dressed up like a rabbi for Halloween! I grabbed this great shot from Farmington Town Hall in Connecticut:

Most of the staff is back in the office now. We have received MANY applications already and we've started plugging away at reviewing them. I've got a good number of early decision applications from all over my territories and I've started to review them this week. Since we added early action this year, we've received HUNDREDS of EA applications! The deadline is still a few weeks away (December 1st), so I'm sure there will be many more coming. The first ED-I deadline is next Monday, so if you're thinking about ED-I, there's still time to get your applicaiton in.

I think that's all for now. As always, let me know if you have any questions! Happy fall!!

Kristy

 After going through customs, we boarded the express train to Stockholm Central.  Once there we checked into the hotel and I went to the train station to buy tickets to get to our school visit.  So, we arrived in the morning and we had our first appointment at 1:00pm.  We had to travel to Sigtuna to visit a great school there and then head back to Stockholm Central for a presentation at the Fulbright Office.  Ms. Antonietta was very helpful at the Fulbright office as she provided me with contact information for most of the schools in Stockholm.  After the presentation at Fulbright and a lovely chat with Ms. Antonietta we were very tired, so we went back to the hotel. 

The following day was also very busy as we had three school visits.  Our first visit was at Jensen Gymnasium followed by a visit to Danderyds Gymnasium. 

After Danderyds, we had to head back to Stockholm Central in order to exchange some money and head to Kungsholmen for our last visit of the day.  The walk to Kungsholmen was very nice and during that walk I noticed the most beautiful police station. 

After passing the police station, we traveled a little further before reaching the Kungholmens Gymnasium.  Once there we met with the guidance counselor and IB coordinator, Mr. Mike Powers.  We had an excellent visit with Mr. Powers and we were able to meet many staff of the school. 

After the visit, we had to rush back to the train station in order to catch our train to Gothenburg.  While at the train station, I saw the cutest dog and it reminded me of my colleague from Bryant.  Ms. Donna Lamirande, who works in our office, has a beautiful dog as well and I thought I would take this picture for her because I know she is reading my blog. What a cute dog waiting for the train to Gothenburg!  Talk to you soon...

Campus looked absolutely beautiful as always and I especially love the Fall season in New England.  The leaves were still on the trees and the vibrant colors were soon to disappear as the winter months are right around the corner.  I am excited for winter though as I am an avid skiier and I cannot wait to take some pictures from up on the mountains over the next couple of months. 

But, my time in New England was short lived as I had to get ready to fly again on Sunday.  I finished some e-mails and then went to the gym at the end of the day on Friday.  I have missed the Chase Athletic Center this travel season and especially the upstairs gym.  After the gym I went home to begin packing again and packing is something I surely will not miss for awhile. 

Finally, Sunday came and I was heading to the airport and I need to stop by to take some pictures of our beautiful campus for all of you to see.  I hope you enjoy and I will write soon from Europe.  Take care.

Fall foliage has reached its peak here on campus and I couldn't help but snap a couple of shots on my walk in from the parking lot this morning:

I feel so fortunate to come to work every day at such a beautiful and special place - inside and out!

Although it's hard to believe it's November already, a big reminder of the time of year is that our application shelves are quickly filling up. Ever wonder what happens to your application once it reaches our office? Well, first we open, sort and date stamp all of the mail. Here's a picture of one of our Admission Fellows, Dan, going through some of the mail:

Then we put all of your application components into our computer database, then into a folder, which goes on our "application wall." Once an application is complete, meaning we've received everything required to review and make a decision, the file goes to the admission counselor responsible for that applicant's high school and the reading process begins! After spending 8 weeks traveling all over the country, it is so rewarding to come back to the office and review files of students we have met during our travels.

Two of our application deadlines are rapidly approaching! Our Early Decision I deadline is November 16, 2009. If Bryant is your first choice school and you know unequivocally that you want to be a Bulldog in the fall, then Early Decision is the option for you! It is a binding option, with decision notification by December 16. You will receive an estimated financial aid package (as long as you've completed the FAFSA4caster) and scholarship information. Then your application process is done!

If Bryant is high on your list, but you are not ready to commit to Early Decision, then Early Action might be the best option for you. The deadline is December 1 and you will receive your decision by mid-January. But you have until May 1 to make your final decision. So you get the decision up front, but the extra time to weigh your options and decide.

If you have any questions about Early Action vs. Early Decision, please feel free to email me at bfarias@bryant.edu.

This Red Sox fan just can't let this post go by without throwing in a "Go Phillies!"

That's all from Bryant for now...

Beth

Beautiful, isn't it?  I could watch this show again and again, and I actually watched it two nights in a row. 

The next day, I had to return to the IIE office as I left my business cards there the day before.  You know you have been traveling too long when you leave random things around the globe.  There is a running joke in the office about me leaving articles of clothing on past trips around the world, but I seem to be leaving card types behind now. 

Anyway, I was able to meet with the head EducationUSA advisor this time, Ms. Michelle Mak, and we had a lovely chat.  I then headed to the Hong Kong International School (HKIS), which must be one of the most beautiful locations for a school.  Since I had some time to get there, I took the subway and the little green buses that fly around Hong Kong.  All total, it cost $11.50 HKD, whereas if I took a taxi it would have cost over $100 HKD, plus the adventure of taking the little green buses was an added bonus.  The visit was really nice and they have a very large counseling staff there, plus an intern.  I enjoyed meeting all of them and we had some great conversation.  I then headed to the bus stop to go back to the subway and then to the hotel.  At the bus stop, I met HKIS student (Felix) and his friend (Charles).  We rode the bus and subway together.  I told them about my blog and they wanted to be a part of it.  Thank you again Charles and Felix for keeping me company while traveling and thank you for your willingness to join the blog.

My last day of school visits was also busy and I resorted to taking the subway, a few buses, and taxis to make it around Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.  I visited the Canadian International School in Aberdeen and I found an even more beautiful location for a school. I wish I went to a school with this scenery out the window!

I then visited the Island School and finally, the American International School.  I will be sad to leave Hong Kong tomorrow as I surely could live in this wonderful city, but I am heading back to little old Rhody.  I am excited to spend some time on campus this weekend and get ready for my last trip of the year.  Thank you for reading and I will write soon.  Take care!

On my first full day of school visits, I crossed the river to the Pudong side and I visited Concordia International School, Pinghe International School (with mostly Chinese students) and the Shanghai American School (SAS) Pudong.  I really enjoyed my visit to the Pinghe International School as I was able to meet some great students.  However, the counselors from SAS (Pudong) and Concordia were extremely nice and spent a great deal of time with me.  After my three visits, I then returned to the hotel to get ready for dinner that night with two great friends from the Shanghai American School (SAS) Puxi, Mr. Kirk Mitchell and Mr. Shaun McElroy (see picture below). 

We really enjoyed our dinner on the Bund, and I must thank Shaun again for all his support both in my travels to China this year. Mr. McElroy also provided me with the idea to begin blogging a few years ago and I was able to get my first glimpse of an i-Phone as a result of our friendship. 

The second day of school visits was on the Puxi side and I firsted visited Shanghai Singapore School.  Out of all my school visits in Shanghai, the greatest number of students who attended my presentation at this school. So, I decided to have them be a part of my blog as well. 

After two full days, I decided to take a relaxing evening in the hotel before an early train ride to Hangzhou the next day.

I arrived in Hangzhou around 9:00am and I knew the Phillies/Yankees game just started, so I rushed to my hotel to watch a couple of innings before going to my first visit at 10:00am.  I then received an e-mail from the counselor at the school that he would have to postpone my visit to later in the day as his daughter needed to be taken to the hospital.  She was doing much better by the time I visited the school at 2:00pm.   At Hangzhou International School to visit I met with Mr. Michael Maki, the counselor, before speaking with students.  I enjoyed meeting the students and the great chat with Michael after the presentation.  Michael then tried getting me a taxi, but as the time was late, I had to take a tuk-tuk to a busier side of the city.  I have included a picture of the tuk-tuk ride and for anyone that has never been in a tuk-tuk, you need to try it! 

When getting out of the tuk-tuk, the sun was setting very nicely and I wish I was on a beach looking at the sunset, but unfortunately, I had to see an American icon standing in the way.  Of course I was not eating there and I was able to get a taxi to my hotel where I could enjoy some real traditional Chinese food.  

I am excited to visit a new school, the Hangzhou Foreign Language School, tomorrow, and I will also take a bike ride on the great lake of Hangzhou.  I will leave you with a beautiful picture of the Bund in Shanghai and I will write more in a couple days from my favorite city in the world…

I also visited Mengying and her father's former school, the Nanjing Foreign School.  I had a full presentation for the students and I enjoyed visiting the school and spending time with their counselor. 

Earlier in the day, I visited the other famous high school from Nanjing, the High School affiliated with Nanjing Normal University.  The counselor at the High School affiliated with Nanjing Normal University, Ms. Congrong Guo, was also very hospitable and spent the afternoon introducing me to her school and treating me to a great lunch.  I am so glad that I stopped here in Nanjing and I hope you enjoy the pictures of my school visits and the city. 

Talk to you from Shanghai and take care.

After meeting with the students for a couple of hours, I decided to go to bed early as I knew I had a long day today.  Today, I had five schools to visit and I started my day with a visit to Yew Chung International School of Beijing. Yew Chung has many campuses through China and Hong Kong.  I then went to a school I never visited before Beijing International School (BISS) and then I visited the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB).  I am always impressed by WAB and their students.  The campus is very colourful with beautiful scenery.  I had a table in the student hang out area, which reminds me of the Rotunda at Bryant.  From my table, I was able to hear the band perfectly that was playing.  The school had such a festive feeling with it being a Friday and a big Volleyball tournament happening that day.  Also, there were a few bands playing and the students I chatted with were very impressive.  But, the band was the most impressive as it seemed the whole school was just hanging out listening to them, teachers and all. 

After visiting WAB, I then visited another prestigious school in Beijing called the Beijing Royal School.  This school had a big stature of Confusius and it also reminded me of Bryant, as we have our very own Confucius Center within our China Institute.  The China Institute is involved in bringing Chinese Culture and Language to our campus and the greater community of Rhode Island.  We have a number of Chinese cultural events throughout the year at Bryant and I have tried my hand with Chinese 1, which I must say is a very difficult language.  As I am struggling with the taxis here, I wish I was able to remember more of what I learned :-) 

Finally, I was able to spend a great afternoon and evening with a good friend Su Yan, who I have known since my first trip to Beijing.  She also had the opportunity to visit our campus in Smithfield.  Su Yan took me to a great restaurant for Peking Duck and she also introduced me to a great local school called October National Day School.  Below you will see a picture of us at the school together.  I then was able to meet her daughter, who I met three years ago.  She works for a CRI, which is an education on-line education media provider here in China.  We took many pictures together and it was fun learning about her company.  She also interviewed me about international students.  I did not get back to my hotel until 9:30pm, so I must say that is was a very productive day in Beijing.  I am off to Nanjing tomorrow and I will surely write from there or possibly during my next stop in Shanghai.  As always, thanks for reading and take care!