Update!

Sorry I haven't been able to update our fundraising project in a while! So here's where we're at. We were able to raise about $200 in the first couple weeks and then the donations stopped completely. I feel so blessed that we could raise that much money in so little time, but we're still working hard to get more :) So if you haven't read my previous posts, here's what we're doing:
We're trying to get everyone to donate only $2!
All you have to do is click on the "Donate" button on the right. It would help us out SO much!

So what's in it for you?

We're going to be taking lots of photographs in Greece, so if you donate any money to us, we will make a homemade postcard with one of the photographs and send it to you as soon as we get back to the USA.
We will also be updating our blog while we are abroad so you can follow our posts to know exactly where your money is going.

More updates...

We are trying to look at some cheaper options to travel to Greece. Studying abroad is extremely expensive so we've been looking at some volunteering options as well. So far, I have found some programs where we can help wildlife conservation and save some endangered sea turtles. I would still prefer to study abroad, but it looks as though money is going to be very tight.
On another note, we are looking for more options on how to raise money. We could do bake sales or car washes, but are there any ideas that you may have to help us raise more money?
Please leave ideas in the comments section below.

Thanks so much everyone!

Easy Thousand Project

So I wanted to explain a little somethin' to you guys. Ashley and I are raising the money for this trip COMPLETELY on our own. We have applied for scholarships and grants, however it looks as though we will need to get the money in cash or through loans. So honestly, we need your help if this is going to happen at all. So I heard about the Easy Thousand Project and thought I could give it a try with my friends, family, and even strangers reading this blog!

 So our fundraising has begun! Here is what our plan is. If everyone who reads this donates just $2, we will only need 500 people to help us out! I know what you're thinking...500 is a huge number. But that's where Facebook comes in! Ashley and I will be posting the link to this blog on our Facebook pages and all we ask is that you do the same! By posting our blog to your wall, we can get as many readers as possible and hopefully, 500 of them will be able to donate only $2. I mean, think about it! I spend $2 a day on dumb things like bottled iced tea and fast food. It's not much money, but that's what it will take to send us on the trip of a lifetime: lots of people supporting us in what we are doing. So here's the cool part for you guys. If you help us out and give us just those $2, we are going to send you a homemade post card with a photo we took in Greece. We're going to put them together as soon as we get back from our trip. Along with that, you will be able to follow this exact blog and we will update it while we are in Greece! That way, you will see exactly what your money is doing for us.

 I can't even describe how much we want to go on this trip. We have never been outside of the United States but it's my dream to see as much of the world as possible. Please help us with this. We love you all! Remember to post this to your Facebook and just click the donate button on the right to make your $2 donation.

Info About Our Program

Helloooo! This is Allison. I thought I should tell you more about our study abroad program, Globalinks. Also, Ashley and I have planned our own traveling once we get there so I will show you some pictures of the amazing places we want to see! I'm a little bit of a planning geek (I enjoy budgeting and planning down to the last detail, so I think that makes me a weirdo). At least I know that I'll be going into the right profession after graduation! Anyway....about the program. ;)

This is a 5-week program lasting from mid-June to mid-July. The college we will be attending is an American college, but we would have classes with people from all over. We are able to take one or two summer courses that will transfer to our majors and we also have the chance to take an open sea sailing class (I'm all over that!). We would be staying in apartments near the campus and my program coordinator informed me that Ashley and I would most likely be able to room together, so that's pretty exciting! 

The name of the city is Thessaloniki and it is located in the northern part of the mainland. Mount Olympus can be seen from the entire city! I might just have to go say hi to my good ole' friend Zeus. Here's a picture of the view of Mt. Olympus and a cool monument in Thessaloniki.

An obvious place that we will be traveling to is Athens! We plan on taking a very long and very scenic train ride here from Thessaloniki. The Acropolis is the main thing to see there and I am so excited for it! I can just imagine all of the infamous Greek philosophers walking along the same roads that I will be walking on. Ahhh! I just can't wait. Here's a pic of the amazing Acropolis:

Next, Ashley and I have to see the beautiful island of Santorini. This is the place that you see the most pictures of: a blue sea with white buildings. Our plan for going to this island is mostly to relax and enjoy the beach and churches. There are no planes that fly to Santorini, so we will have to take a 5-10 hour ferry ride from Athens. Talk about stepping out of your comfort zone! Bring on the sun burn. Here is a picture of Santorini:

Our last stop is to none other than the island where Mamma Mia was filmed! Skopelos island. Once again, this will be a relaxing trip and we will visit many of the island's beautiful chapels. My plan is to go to the chapel in Mamma Mia and run up the steps with a red scarf singing "The Winner Takes it All" like Meryl Streep (see video). We can also take some kite surfing lessons here! Here's a picture of the famous chapel. There are steps going all the way up to the tiny chapel at the top. Maybe this calls for a donkey ride...

Here's the fantastic video of my plan. Start the video at 3:40 for all of the magic to happen.
Just ignore the Spanish subtitles. Hehe.

Another place that would be great to go to is Meteora. This is where hermits would go hide in their monasteries where other people couldn't find them. We will try to fit this place into our trip!

Once again, we will not be able to afford this without your help! Our minimum wage jobs only pay for a small amount :P Click the donate button to the right. ANY amount will help us. Even $5 could buy us a lunch of a yummy gyro :)
Give what you are able to. If you aren't able to, no worries! Just send your support, love, and prayers our way to help us find a way to go on this trip.

Welcome

Welcome to our new blog! For those of you who do not know us, we are Allison and Ashley. We're sisters who will both be attending Colorado State University in the Fall and we are planning an amazing trip to Greece in the Summer of 2013. We have exactly one year to raise thousands of dollars for this study abroad program and that's where we need your help! If you would like to help us to see an amazing country, just click the "Donate" button on the right. ANYTHING will help: whether it's $5.00 or $500. We need all we can get and we can't get there without you! This is an amazing opportunity and we couldn't be more excited about it. To visit the website of our study abroad program, go here: http://www.eurolearn.org/search/programs/programID561/#.T8VOHrD--Vo
We will be posting more information about our trip and how close we are to reaching our budget goal. Thank you all!