Hello everyone! Well I have a little bit of news, but nothing too exciting. I went to my pre departure orientation about a month ago. There were eight of us going abroad with AFS in the Dallas area, some for a semester, some for the summer, and some for a year. It was really fun, and I met a ton of cool people! As for the actual orientation it was mostly just talking about what to expect, what we are nervous about, advice, different scenarios, etc. I did learn one really important thing that I didn't realize and probably won't fully understand until I get to France. It was that exchange is going to be really really hard. I always knew that there would be certain difficulties when going on exchange, but never realized how exhausting it is going to be to have to listen to, understand, write in, and speak french, especially for the first few months. Going on exchange will be just as, if not more, fun and amazing as it will be difficult. Overcoming challenges is part of what makes it fun! None the less, I am still extremely impatient and excited to go to France! I also met a really nice girl who came back from Korea a few months ago (she gave me some good advice), and a bunch of exchangers who were hosted in Dallas this year. I even got to talk to two boys from France, which was really cool.
AFS sent me my travel info a few days ago: (click to enlarge)
You should arrive into New York no later than 4:00 PM on September 5,2012
Orientation Name : Hilton New York JFK Hotel
I also learned from AFS that we will have to pack for the whole year in one 44 pound suitcase. What a daunting task! Although it is definitely not impossible. Wow, I am so excited to meet all of the other students going to France! It is going to be so cool to have so many friends from all over the world. AFS sent me a notification that I need to begin the visa process as well. I will be applying for a student visa, and will have to go to the consulate in Houston with my dad to file paperwork and get everything sorted out. Well, I think that about sums it up. Oh I almost forgot, I got a part time job to earn some spending money and help pay the rest of my tuition. I am so happy and relieved! And I am sincerely dying to leave already... Only 90 more days!
À bientôt
Sydney
