the beginning

hello everyone!

I hope this post finds everyone well. As most of you know I am going abroad for a semester with the International Honors Program (IHP). This semester I will be visiting Switzerland, India, China and South Africa to learn about their health care systems. There are 34 students in the program from universities all over the United States. While we are abroad we will be staying in hostels, dorms and home stays. This program does not allow us to bring computers so all of my school work will be done by hand. In each country we get to do a case study which includes field work. Although I am very excited I am also very nervous. I have received all my visas, vaccinations and pills and am almost done packing my one suitcase I am allowed to bring.

I will try to post on this blog as much as I can throughout the semester however my internet access may be limited in some places. I would really love to hear from everyone throughout the semester. Please keep me updated on your life, even if it is just a short e-mail! I am going to start using my g-mail account so e-mails can be sent to barbarappetersen@gmail.com (note the extra "p" for my middle name and the sen!) or barbara_petersen@brown.edu.

I can also receive letters (but not packages) at the following addresses:

Switzerland - Saturday January 17th to Tuesday January 27th

Barbara Petersen

IHP c/o Geneva Youth Hostel

28-30, rue de Rotschild

1202 Geneva - Switzerland

India - Wednesday January 28th to Thursday March 5th

Barbara Petersen

IHP c/o Environmental Support Group

105 East End "B" Main Road

9th Block, Jayanagar

Bangalore, 560069 INDIA

China - Friday March 6th to Friday April 3rd

Barbara Petersen c/o Li Xinhua

International Exchange and Cooperation Office

Central South University

Changsha, Hunan 410083

People's Republic of China

South Africa - Saturday April 4th to Thursday May 7th

IHP c/o Chris Colvin and Natalie Leon

For: Barbara Petersen

7 Alfred Street

Observatory 7925

Cape Town, South Africa

Well, I guess that is all for now! I can't believe I am leaving in just 4 days!

love,

Barbara