PDO, Travel Info, Visas, and Other Stuff

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

Scholarship!

Just a short post. AFS replied to my Global Leaders Financial Aid application today, and I will be receiving a $1,000 scholarship! This is fantastic, my tuition just keeps getting smaller and smaller. Thanks again to everyone who has donated so far!

More Info On My Host Family

I got an email from my host dad today! I was surprised to find that it was in english. Well apparently I will be receiving an AFS file with more information about my host family soon, but my host dad gave me a little info. Baptiste (the older son) is attending a university England to improve his english. Delphine is a student in a city in the west of France, but is currently studying in Switzerland for six months. And Constant (the youngest) is in Costa Rica with AFS right now and will return in June. I will be my family's fourth exchange student. Here is a photo of them:

From left to right: Delphine, Baptiste, Denis, Sylvie, and Constant

Host Family!

Bonjour everyone! I received my host family yesterday :). My dad texted me in chemistry to tell me and I was so excited I almost ran out of the room to go check my email! Sitting through the rest of class was torture. I will be living in a town called Châtellerault in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region of France. All I know so far is that I have a host mom (Sylvie), host dad (Denis), two host brothers (Constant is sixteen and Baptiste is twenty two) and one host sister (Delphine) who is nineteen. What a perfect birthday present! I just emailed them, and will update my blog with any new info I get, so be sure to check back. Here are some pictures I got from google and Wikipedia:

 The house is where the little A pin is in the upper right corner. It looks like it is on the outskirts of the town, closer to the countryside .

 I also want to thank everyone who has donated so far. Everyone has been so helpful. I honestly was not expecting to get this many donations and am so grateful for everyone's support! In other news I went to France with my school over spring break. It was so amazing. I knew I would love it but I didn't think I would love it this much! It made me even more excited for next year (which I didn't think was possible). 

My friends and me in front of the Eiffel Tower! 

 I cannot stop thinking about France and can't wait to explore the rest of the country next year. I am so ready for school to be over, I just want to be in France already! It seems so far away but I'm sure it will be here before I know it...

Bonjour

Bonjour tout le monde (hello everyone)! I'm Sydney and I live in Dallas, Texas. I am 15 years-old and a Sophomore in high school. I have been accepted to study abroad next school year (2012- 2013) with AFS Intercultural Programs. First I will tell you a little bit about myself. I am a part of my school's debate team, french club, cross country team, a member of student council, and a student ambassador. The reason I want to study abroad is to get to know a new culture, so I can be less ignorant about, and have a better understanding of the world around me. When I first started taking French in high school I didn't think I would like it very much, but soon discovered my love for the language and culture. I love to travel and have always been interested in other parts of the world. I cannot wait to spend a year learning about a new culture and language. By participating in this program I will challenge myself by going outside of my comfort zone. I also hope to learn about myself, and become a more independent, and mature person. 

Now you are probably wondering, what exactly is AFS? AFS is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a more just and peaceful world by providing international and intercultural learning experiences through a global volunteer partnership. They have been exchanging students throughout the world for over sixty years and are one of the most reputable exchange programs. I will live with host family, whom I have never met, attend a French high school, and could be placed anywhere in France, from a small village to a big city.

I am so happy to be afforded this amazing opportunity to go to school in a new country and become fluent in another language while learning about french customs. Everyone who I have talked to that is currently on or has been on exchange says that it is the best decision they have ever made. Studying abroad will be a fantastic experience, and is a rare opportunity.

Unfortunately, I am not one of the 1% of Americans who can just pull thirteen thousand dollars out of my parents' savings account without making a major dent. I have many plans for raising my tuition and I need to raise as much as possible. I plan on getting a job this summer, but that will not make nearly enough to cover my tuition, so I need your help! I know that times are tough, but if you would like to help make dream come true please click on the ChipIn button on the right side of my blog to make a secure, non tax deductible donation that goes straight to AFS and into my tuition fund. Any amount you are able to give is greatly appreciated. No amount is too small or too large. Every little bit adds up and brings me one step closer to my goal.

In addition to my tuition, I also must come up with the money to buy a ticket to my departure city, New York, so if you have a lot of airline miles it would be great if you would consider donating my plane ticket. If you are interested you can email me at sydneyfirsching@yahoo.com.

Thank you so much for reading my blog and please keep reading as my journey continues. I will try to post at least once a month from now until my exchange is over. Thanks again and feel free to send this blog to anyone you think may be interested in reading or helping sponsor my AFS adventure!

À bientôt

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2012-01-18/study-abroad-global-economy-travel/52650834/1