1.) I'm not yet an outbound exchange student, as I haven't applied or been accepted into the program.
2.) My parents haven't even said "yes" yet.
3.) I'm hoping to be a Rotary 2013-2014 Outbound.
Now, some of you may be asking? Well, where do you want to go? Or why the heck are you writing this blog when you haven't even applied to the program yet?
Well, my dream country is the beautiful Switzerland. However, I'd love to go to France, Belgium, Germany, or Austria, too! It all depends on how many spots are open and if I'm able to fill one of those spots.
The reason I started this blog now, only on July 24, 2012, was because I really wanted to blog on the ENTIRE process of being an exchange student. I wanted people to be able to read things from me filling out applications, me hopefully being accepted, getting a country, and of course the adventure of a lifetime that is going on exchange. There is a chance of course that I am not accepted, or that even my parents will not agree to letting me apply, but I write this from a point in time where the "if's" aren't exactly questions, but wishes that I beg to come true.
I also plan to create some Vlogs that I will post, documenting exchange things as well.
Now for a little story from the past...
Ever since early October when I actually began looking into exchanging, I haven’t been able to get my mind off of it. Everything I do now seems to be focused on what I’ll put on my application, what I’d be bringing with me, and things like that. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not like it’s the ONLY thing I’m thinking about, but when it’s not the top priority at the moment, it’s always in the back of my head.
A little info about trying to submit last year:
In early October 2011 I began to research exchange. Constantly. I’d be in Drama class or Math class looking up things on student exchange and becoming mesmerized by how much I seemed to want this. I asked my friend Sarah about it, and we came to the conclusion that it would be great fun if we were to travel together, live in the same host family home, attend the same school, and of course, exchange in England. Her mother was all for it, but her father was a different story. After a week, it was just back to me again, trying to exchange in a foreign country.
After some more research, I came across a program called “Rotary Youth Exchange”. I realized then that that was the program I had to go with. After completely stalking the RYE Florida website, reading pretty much EVERY blog of the Outbound students of last year, I knew I couldn’t wait to have my own Rotary blazer and my own blog on the website.
About half-way through October, I presented the idea to my dad. Without giving it a second thought, he shot down the idea and started saying how I didn't care about anyone but myself. I asked him if he was open to the idea, and he said, “I’m open to anything,” so I decided to wait it out. Every so often, I’d throw out a fact about the Rotary program or exchange in general to him in the car, and he wouldn’t say anything, usually, but sometimes he’d ask a question. Other times, like may others I've told about exchange to, commented on how expensive it’s going to be. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not like that at all.
Rotary Fun Fact:
Because it’s an all-volunteer program, the program costs are much reduced, and in contrast to other programs around the country and world, it seems the only thing you have to pay for is the expected, such as: Visa, Passport, Insurance, Clothes, etc. You don’t, however, need to pay for food or housing, as that is what your host family provides.
Now, skip forward about a week, and my dad says he’ll consider and think about it. Skip forward another week, and he puts down the idea all-together because he has “talked to some people.” AKA, people at his work who probably don’t know what they’re talking about in the exchange student field.
As this whole process had been going on, I’d been filling about my extensive application, complete with transcript, photo, and essay. The only things missing, however, were my medical and dental forms and my local Rotary club’s consent.
After being pretty much depressed the entire next week, I still kept bringing it up, in the hopes he’d change his mind in time. Didn’t happen. But what did happen was this: “I’ll consider it for your senior year.” At first, I didn’t want to go my senior year, and thought it was all over if I didn’t go my junior year. But then I started thinking about it. I’ll graduate early (not hard, seeing as I’ve got most of my credits already), and I’ll just go my “gap year” (between high school and college) but it really being like my senior year. Of course thoughts of, “How am I going to audition for college?” came into my mind, but I decided to wait that out and consult my Rotarians and some colleges about how I should go about this.
Anyways, as I wait for September 1st when applications will be out, I'll keep researching, reading blogs, watching Vlogs, and throwing out facts about exchange to my dad, who will hopefully come realize that this isn't something I want to do, it's something I've got to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment