Saturday, October 18, 2008

10/18/08 Just got my scholarship!

As you probably figured out, I just a scholarship.  What you dont know is that it is an AFS scholarship.  For some of you, knowing that will bring dome bad news.  It means that I'm going to leave...for a entire year.  The scholarship was offered to either Italy or Spain.  Which is great because those are my top two destinations.  However, it is only a partial scholarship, so I have to raise the money for the rest.  My family has brainstormed and we have decided to hold two raffles.  The first is for two round trip flights to anywhere in the continental U.S.  and the second is for a week long timeshare trip to Orlando Florida.   We are planning on offering both for the price of $20.00 each, but nothing is set in stone.

AFS has listed several topics for me to talk about before I leave.  I will take this time to answer them on what I call the long term response.  That means how I feel so far from it happening.  Later I plan on posting a short term response, and if i find time, I hope to do it the day before I leave, but no promises.

What are you thinking as you prepare to study abroad?
Will I be able to pick up the language?
Until I do, how will communicate?
Will the people there like me?
Who will I be with,?
Will I like THEM?
What are your hopes/fears?
I hope to learn about new cultures
I hope to make new friends
I hope to learn a whole new language
I hope to learn more about myself

I worry they won't like
I worry I wont be able to adapt
I worry I will those around me down
I worry that I won't ever learn how to communicate properly
What barriers or challenges have you overcome in order to become an AFSer?
I don't have the money and I let that be my reason to not got for a while.  But after watching other exchange students I learned that could not hold me back.
Why have yo chooses to become and AFSer in High school, instead of waiting to study abroad when you're older?
For a while, doing an exchange program in college was my plan, but it doesn't give you the full exchange program you get from high school and as i watched the ones here this year who are in high school, I knew I had to go in high school.  Nothing else would do.
What do your family and Friends think about your decision to become an AFSer?
In the majority, most of my family and friends are really excited and happy for me.   My best friend however isn't.  She doesn't want to lose me, but i know that we will still be best friends in the end

'till next time
Bri