July 2008 Archives

Hello everyone! So what have I been doing lately? To tell you the truth, not a whole lot (haha). I was suppose to have a "Ball" last Saturday but I wasn't able to attend do to a high powered storm that hit the north island hard causing horrible damage to houses and to electricity. Parts of Auckland were without power for 2-3 days. And because they were without power, they were not able to get water with pressure and they were not able to cook unless they had a fire. At my house outside of Hahei, we were without power for a little over a day. So therefore, because I did not go to the ball, my host mom and I had a "read off" in candle light. Read more.



AFS offers year, semester and summer programs to New Zealand.

After two months of waiting, I FINALLY got my visa papers!!! I am so relieved, but now I have to apply for my visa. I have to fill out forms, get tons of papers scanned and so much more. This is what I have to do: Consulate General of Italy in Boston It only takes three days to get a visa and I have an appointment on August 20th. If I mess up with any of the papers I probably won't get to go to Italy on time! Read more.

AFS offers year, semester and summer programs to Italy.

AFS offers year, semester and summer programs to Japan.

It shocks me to think I only have 4 weeks left here (plus or minus a few days). This past week was really really strange...but pretty awesome.

Thursday was a holiday, a catholic religious holiday actually - "Corpus Christi", so there was no school. Johannes and I met up at about 9:45 (and he was on time! gasp!) to take a train to Guimaraes, the "birthplace" of portugal. We wandered through the narrow (WET) cobblestoned streets, had lunch at a really nice restaurant - the beef was excellent, up to the palace where they had refurnished the rooms to make it how it would have been around the 16th or 17th century. He wanted to buy a sword but the giftshop didn't sell any, only plates =P. Read more.

AFS offers year and semester programs to Portugal.

So, I've been home for a couple of weeks now. What's it like to be home? In truth, it is quite strange. Things here are much more overwhelming and complicated. There is more of everything; more choices, more channels, more buildings, more people, more varieties...more of anything. I didn't turn on the television at all during my first week home. I was too intimidated...still take my shoes off when entering a home, I still feel the urge to greet people with a kiss on the cheek, "hæ hæ" are the words that leave my mouth but everyone mistakes them for "hi hi," afsakid is not vacating my vocabulary any time soon, and takk fyrir mig begs to escape my mouth after every meal. I accidently drink water from the tap all the time only to be horribly disappointed as it is neither ice cold nor clean and fresh. America simply kicks my butt on a daily basis. Read more.



AFS offers year programs to Iceland.

Hola!!!! Oh my goodness I am IN LOVE WITH ARGENTINA!!! Everything about it! My family is PERFECT for me! My little sister is the cutest thing in the whole WORLD!! She always asks me what I´m doing and what I want to do and I want to take her home with me! jaja Mi hermano Juan is so sweet and understanding as well. Mi madre is really nice and funny and sweet and I love her. My dad isn´t home a lot because he is a lawyer and doesn´t get home until late, but he is so sweet and has a smile that is priceless. :) I love it here! We live in a condo- type apartment that is very modern and nice, 7th floor with a balcony :) We live in the middle of the city, so the view from all windows is SO gorgeous. Read more.

AFS offers year, semester and summer programs to Argentina.

Hello all! I just got through an exhausting day of school. I taught a class in the morning and one in the afternoon and the students have so much energy that it's hard to keep up.

I have been in Phitsanulok, Thailand for three nights and I am slowly getting used to the routine 6 o'clock wake-ups and heavy meals. The food here, as mentioned, is very delicious. I think I've said the word, "aroy!" (delicious) too many times to count. I have also been told that the King of Fruit resides in Thailand! It is called, "durian" and it tastes fairly sweet.. but the smell 0_0, the smell is another story :). The Thai people joke about the bad smell of the durian a lot and once one smells it, one could probably understand. The Queen of fruit, one I have not tried yet, is the "mangosteed."Read more.

AFS offers year, semester and summer programs to Thailand.

India is much much different than the United States, but in a good way! Nothing is really bad, but just not what I am used to.

I have met my wonderful host family, and the host family of the other exchange student living in my same town! Everyone is so nice!

I have also visited my school which is very interesting, many of the other kids find me different and want to find out more about me, and want to talk to me. But sometimes they prefer to just look at me rather than to talk. But this will be easy to get used to once I actually attend classes, which will be on Monday, in three days. I also will wear a uniform to school, all the schools in India have uniforms.

Getting used to life here actually comes quite easily, as long as you are willing to try and adjust! Read more.

AFS offers year programs to India.

All of us here at AFS could go on for hours and hours about how studying abroad is a life-changing, awesomely exciting, must-have experience...but this time around, we'd rather hear from you! What makes you want to study abroad? Is it because, you want to improve your language skills, make new international buddies, work to increase peace and understanding?? Click below to post a comment telling us why and see what students like you have to say.

So after flying for about an hour we landed in Nagoya! IT was so cool but I was too tired to care I was in Japan until I saw all the neat signs! I took pictures but we:re about to eat so I:ll post later. ANd sorry if there:s any errors it`s hard to use a japanese keyboard...So anyway we took a Japanese style bath before bed which is a whole story in it`s own believe me then headed to bed on futons. WAking up in Japan felt so surreal! I loved it but then the orientation bored me to death and I kind of didn`t care about anything but sleep until I met my host family.

My sister Mika was very cool and we communicated slowly but it still was very fun. My mother also tries very hard to speak to me too and she`s taught me a lot. I love them all and I especialy love how they`ve treated me. It was the first day and I already feel like we`re family. Although yesterday wasn`t all good we went to eat sushi and I ended up being sick all night...but I guess that`s because I`m not yet okay with the transition of foods. Read more.

Anyway talk to you later! Ja matta ne.

AFS offers year, semester and summer programs to Japan.

Last week I did two things that I think would give me high points on participation at a foreign school: I gave a speech that was partly in Malay, and I auditioned for the main character in the drama play. Everyone loved the speech- I gave them a few lines to laugh at- AND I am going to drama practice everyday after school playing the main role. The play is an Indian version of Cinderella called "Ramasamy". Ya, ya, I know... I'm playing a guy's role. But, hey, it's not like there's a guy that goes to the school who can do it. (Remember, I go to an all-girl school)

Tomorrow, I'm going to my friend, Terry's house to sleep over.(she's Chinese) She's planning on taking me all around Ipoh, showing me "old town" and taking me to a big night market. I'm excited about that, and this Saturday there is going to be a Hindu Harvest festival called "Ponggal Festival". I'm getting an Indian outift to wear. It's called a saree...Read more.

AFS offers year programs to Malaysia.

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...
OK, so not true, but I am leaving tomorrow at 7:45 am to be at the bus stop at 8:15 so that I can have 15 minutes to say goodbye before the bus leaves at 8:30 to bring me to Paris, and the airport.

Everyone keeps asking me one of two questions : either "Are you excited to be leaving?" or "Are you excited to be going home?" The answer to one is "no," the answer to the other is "yes." I don't want to leave, but I'll be happy to arrive... does that make any sense? Not a problem if you don't get it; it's a tricky concept. Even I have trouble comprehending it sometimes. :) Read more.

AFS offers year and semester programs to France.