1.25.2010

Acceptance by France and Why I Like AFS

Sorry that it's been so long since I've updated this. I've been very busy.
Once again, I am writing this instead of doing things that need doing. But I am okay with that. I'll probably regret this choice tomorrow morning when I wake up and realize that I STILL haven't done laundry (laundry being one of the other things I could be doing right now). BUT I DON'T CARE. I got some stuff to say.

First of all, here is some excellent news:
I got a call about four weeks ago from AFS saying that I have been accepted by France. I still don't know where I'll be living (I won't find that out until I get my host family assignment, and that won't be for a few months), but I do know that I am going to France. For sure. It has been confirmed. So that's GREAT!

Here is something else I have been thinking about:
I've gotten a few questions about why I'm choosing to go with AFS next year. Like instead of just going and living with friends of friends (or relatives of friends, or friends of relatives of friends, etc.). And I answer those questions feeling a little stupid, because I honestly didn't really think about trying to set something like that up.
But when I think about it, I have absolutely no regrets about signing up with AFS- it is clearly the best choice. I really want the exchange student experience, which is something I wouldn't necessarily get living with a family I knew. And although AFS is expensive, it is really worth every penny. They are very thorough in making sure that everything is comfortable, that I'm happy with my arrangement, and that I'm well-prepared for my year abroad.

I think my favorite thing about AFS is the community it builds. There are SO many people all over the world who have connections with AFS. I had no idea how huge it was until I became a part of the program. Everywhere I go I meet people who have been involved with it: the guy who cut my hair a few weeks ago hosted a German exchange student his junior year, the guy who took my blood at the Red Cross spent a semester in Belgium in high school, a woman sitting in front of me at a play overheard me telling my friend about AFS, and turned around to tell me about her experience as a student in Germany, and then introduced me to the student she was currently hosting. Not to mention the conversations I've had with the AFS students at my school. These people are EVERYWHERE. It's insane.

So that is why I already love AFS. It seems like the biggest, greatest diplomacy mission in the world- what better way is there to make connections with other people all over the globe? By being involved in this program I won't just make connections in France, because I'll be interacting with people from all sorts of different countries along the way. I'm so excited for this experience.

A lot of random people at school have told me that they have read my blog. I wonder what they think of me................

That's all. Bye!

Nora

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To donate to my AFS tuition click on the Chip In! link to the right -->
It only takes a minute!

1.10.2010

Some Things

Hello, world. I am writing a blog post because there are other things I should be doing, and I don't count doing this as procrastinating. Also there are some things I have to say.

I started a Facebook group for my whole going-to-france thing just to make people aware that it was happening and to spread this blog around. We'll see how that works. I know it is pathetic that I have raised a whopping $28 with this blog (1% of my goal!), but it really doesn't bother me that much. I feel the need to say that for some reason.

So those are some thoughts. In other news, I FOUND OUT MY BLOOD TYPE. Finally. It's
Okay so that image didn't work out as well as I wanted it to. I can't figure out how to get the border out of there. And make it bigger. But what really matters is that I now know my blood type, and therefore am now able to go to France. That is the important thing here. So YAY! That happened.

Anyways. Blogging is such a funny experience. Mostly the part about not really being able to tell if anyone is even reading what you write. Either no one is reading it, and that's embarrassing, or lots of people are reading it, and that is also kind of embarrassing. You really have to put yourself out there, and it's pretty intimidating. Of course, this blog isn't super personal so I'm not worrying myself with all that too much, but I can't help but feel a little strange about it. I can't wait until next year when I will actually have real things to write about. French things!

That is all I am going to say right now. There are some more things I want to write, but I will save them for later because I want to keep my posts shorter than they have been. I don't want to scare away the 2 or 3 readers that I may or may not have.

Bye!

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To donate to my AFS tuition click on the Chip In! link to the right -->
It only takes a minute!