My official acceptance! (the real one.)
"Hi Darcy,
I'm writing with some exciting news from abroad... I recently received word from AFS Argentina that they have reviewed your application and have accepted you into their Year Program Summer/Fall Departure. Congratulations!"
So this is it. Lots of feelings inside of me, not quite sure how I feel. But for better or for worse, it looks like I will be stepping onto a plane to Miami (and then on to Buenos Aires) in 113 days, on July 28.
Wow. (deep breath...)
But now we must pack up every piece
Of the life we used to love
Just to keep ourselves
At least enough to carry on
-"Holland, 1945" (Neutral Milk Hotel)
08 April 2009
29 March 2009
My Biggest Fear
It's terrifying how quickly the weeks disappear. They're peeling away before I can catch my breath. Nothing has ever scared me more than how fast time is slipping away...
21 March 2009
To Be Myself Completely
So lately, no news. Nothing! Hmmm I'm still kind of confused, but oh well, things are good.
I really don't know how I feel about my exchange. Most outbounds I've talked to are a little nervous, but mostly just extremely extremely excited. But... I'm... really REALLY nervous. I tear up just thinking about leaving! I know it will be great, know it will be the most amazing experience ever, blah blah blah, and I am excited, somewhere in there... But mostly just anxious and afraid.
Yea. I really, really, don't even know. It seems like before all of this exchange business came into my life, I lived simply and peacefully and happily. But I honestly have never felt feelings like these before (at least such strong feelings). My head spins and my stomach churns, and I'm going to Argentina for eleven months is always twirling around in the back of my mind.
A few months ago, I probably thought about my exchange once or twice a day- a fleeting thought. It was an exciting, adventurous thought that sent a jolt of adrenaline up my spine. But now I feel all shivery when I think about it... Sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way.
I think Belle & Sebastian's "To Be Myself Completely" sums it all up pretty nicely:
Well my heart has fallen down
Thought I'd talked myself around
But to be myself completely I've just got to let you down
Well I knew I'd say goodbye
Though it's not my time to cry
And forever and for no one I will let it all go by
And to be myself completely I've just got to say goodbye [...]
Still your voice calls out to me
Escort me to the harmony
I'm not sure what I will be
Find me in a bittersweet hello [...]
Though we say goodbye and wonder
What's to know and who's to blame
But to be myself completely I will love you just the same
And Neutral Milk Hotel's "Aeroplane Over the Sea":
What a beautiful face
I have found in this place
That is circling all round the sun
What a beautiful dream
That could flash on the screen
In a blink of an eye and be gone from me
Soft and sweet
Let me hold it close and keep it here with me
And one day we will die
And our ashes will fly from the aeroplane over the sea
But for now we are young
Let us lay in the sun
And count every beautiful thing we can see
Love to be
In the arms of all I'm keeping here with me
What a curious life we have found here tonight
There is music that sounds from the street
There are lights in the clouds [...]
And when we meet on a cloud
I'll be laughing out loud
I'll be laughing with everyone I see
Can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all
I really don't know how I feel about my exchange. Most outbounds I've talked to are a little nervous, but mostly just extremely extremely excited. But... I'm... really REALLY nervous. I tear up just thinking about leaving! I know it will be great, know it will be the most amazing experience ever, blah blah blah, and I am excited, somewhere in there... But mostly just anxious and afraid.
Yea. I really, really, don't even know. It seems like before all of this exchange business came into my life, I lived simply and peacefully and happily. But I honestly have never felt feelings like these before (at least such strong feelings). My head spins and my stomach churns, and I'm going to Argentina for eleven months is always twirling around in the back of my mind.
A few months ago, I probably thought about my exchange once or twice a day- a fleeting thought. It was an exciting, adventurous thought that sent a jolt of adrenaline up my spine. But now I feel all shivery when I think about it... Sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way.
I think Belle & Sebastian's "To Be Myself Completely" sums it all up pretty nicely:
Well my heart has fallen down
Thought I'd talked myself around
But to be myself completely I've just got to let you down
Well I knew I'd say goodbye
Though it's not my time to cry
And forever and for no one I will let it all go by
And to be myself completely I've just got to say goodbye [...]
Still your voice calls out to me
Escort me to the harmony
I'm not sure what I will be
Find me in a bittersweet hello [...]
Though we say goodbye and wonder
What's to know and who's to blame
But to be myself completely I will love you just the same
And Neutral Milk Hotel's "Aeroplane Over the Sea":
What a beautiful face
I have found in this place
That is circling all round the sun
What a beautiful dream
That could flash on the screen
In a blink of an eye and be gone from me
Soft and sweet
Let me hold it close and keep it here with me
And one day we will die
And our ashes will fly from the aeroplane over the sea
But for now we are young
Let us lay in the sun
And count every beautiful thing we can see
Love to be
In the arms of all I'm keeping here with me
What a curious life we have found here tonight
There is music that sounds from the street
There are lights in the clouds [...]
And when we meet on a cloud
I'll be laughing out loud
I'll be laughing with everyone I see
Can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all
05 March 2009
Official (official?) acceptance!
So! I am more or less officially accepted into the Argentina year program. (with an emphasis on "more or less")
Today in the mail I received a gigantic hulky thing from AFS. In it were the following:
-Two letters to me
-A letter to my parents
-A huge packet ("AFS-USA Guides & Orientations: The AFS Guide for Participants Going Abroad with AFS")
-Another huge (but slightly thinner) packet ("...The AFS Guide for Families of AFS Participants")
You can imagine my excitement. So I suppose this is my official acceptance, as the letter addresses me as an AFS participant and the packet gives tips (like a manual would) and details the pre-departure orientations (as well as the mid-year orientations). Wooooohoooo!
However, a slight disappointment:
"Your application has been sent to Argentina and is being reviewed by the AFS staff..."
Thanks. I kind of already knew that. In fact I've known it for awhile.
"After we hear back from the staff in Argentina we will contact you immediately."
Okay. So it's not the actual acceptance? Or what? How confusing.
"Once you have been formally accepted to AFS Argentina..."
So. This is the informal acceptance then?
But they gave me an estimated departure date- July 28-31! Whoooo.
Anyway, small annoyances, large happiness. Getting "the packet" definitely feels official. :D
Today in the mail I received a gigantic hulky thing from AFS. In it were the following:
-Two letters to me
-A letter to my parents
-A huge packet ("AFS-USA Guides & Orientations: The AFS Guide for Participants Going Abroad with AFS")
-Another huge (but slightly thinner) packet ("...The AFS Guide for Families of AFS Participants")
You can imagine my excitement. So I suppose this is my official acceptance, as the letter addresses me as an AFS participant and the packet gives tips (like a manual would) and details the pre-departure orientations (as well as the mid-year orientations). Wooooohoooo!
However, a slight disappointment:
"Your application has been sent to Argentina and is being reviewed by the AFS staff..."
Thanks. I kind of already knew that. In fact I've known it for awhile.
"After we hear back from the staff in Argentina we will contact you immediately."
Okay. So it's not the actual acceptance? Or what? How confusing.
"Once you have been formally accepted to AFS Argentina..."
So. This is the informal acceptance then?
But they gave me an estimated departure date- July 28-31! Whoooo.
Anyway, small annoyances, large happiness. Getting "the packet" definitely feels official. :D
27 February 2009
Finally, some sort of news...
What a boring blog! Sorry about that. I've really got nothing to report. Believe me, I'll be screaming when I do :)
So it's been six weeks (seven weeks on Sunday) since I submitted my app and had my interview. And I haven't heard anything from AFS for about a month, so I was starting to... well, not worry, but just want some sort of contact and acknowledgment.
And this contact came two days ago on February 25. My advisor emailed me the following message:
"Dear Darcy,
AFS Argentina is in the process of reviewing your application and have asked for the following updates.
--Please sign form 2 attached below.
--Please sent a copy of your most recent grades.
Thanks,
_____"
Erghhh. I opened the email excitedly, hoping it contained my official acceptance... But no. I have to say, I'm a little peeved (or just impatient!). I sent in my application long ago, so why hadn't these problems with my application been identified before? Needless to say, I scanned, uploaded, and emailed the new forms in a short five minutes!
Meanwhile, I'm becoming increasingly nervous. Yesterday was the official five month mark. Just five months until I leave for eleven months! CRAZY! Five months ago was October, and October literally felt like yesterday. Time has been flying by, and it's only flying faster.
My acceptance will surely come soon, and I can't wait! But beyond that, I'm so eager to receive my host family and especially, my host city! But I guess that's 3-4 months away.
So it's been six weeks (seven weeks on Sunday) since I submitted my app and had my interview. And I haven't heard anything from AFS for about a month, so I was starting to... well, not worry, but just want some sort of contact and acknowledgment.
And this contact came two days ago on February 25. My advisor emailed me the following message:
"Dear Darcy,
AFS Argentina is in the process of reviewing your application and have asked for the following updates.
--Please sign form 2 attached below.
--Please sent a copy of your most recent grades.
Thanks,
_____"
Erghhh. I opened the email excitedly, hoping it contained my official acceptance... But no. I have to say, I'm a little peeved (or just impatient!). I sent in my application long ago, so why hadn't these problems with my application been identified before? Needless to say, I scanned, uploaded, and emailed the new forms in a short five minutes!
Meanwhile, I'm becoming increasingly nervous. Yesterday was the official five month mark. Just five months until I leave for eleven months! CRAZY! Five months ago was October, and October literally felt like yesterday. Time has been flying by, and it's only flying faster.
My acceptance will surely come soon, and I can't wait! But beyond that, I'm so eager to receive my host family and especially, my host city! But I guess that's 3-4 months away.
16 February 2009
Waiting
Oooohhhgh. It's been five weeks. Five weeks and a day since I clicked "submit" on my full application. Five weeks exactly since I had my interview with my local AFS volunteers. Five weeks, and no official word of acceptance... yet!
They said it would take 4-6 weeks to be accepted. (Then again, I've talked to some other people who told me that... well... it can end up being more like 6-8 weeks!)
I know my papers have been sent off to AFS Argentina, so I guess that means I was accepted to AFS-USA... But, ohh, I would love to get the official "you're in!"
Not that knowing that will make much of a difference. I mean, saying "I'm going to Argentina," is like saying "I'm going to Europe" - there's such a vast range of landscapes. The true excitement will come with getting my host family in May or June so that I know if I'll be shivering in Esquel or sweating in Jujuy.
For now, I'm content with chatting it up with my Cultures-shocked buddies and the people I've met on Facebook. I've met a few people who I'll meet in Miami or Buenos Aires in July, and I've met some people who are leaving in just a few days.
Overall, I'm just... waiting. I bought a gigantic Spanish-English dictionary to help me with my homework when I'm there (for all of you wondering how I'm going to comprehend anything!). I got the Exchange Student Survival Kit so that I can hope to be prepared for this... er, daunting adventure. I checked out a stack of about fifteen books on Argentina from the library, and I'm attempting to boost my espanol.
I'm going to breathe a giant sigh of relief when I get the official "you're accepted" phone call/email. I will no longer have to say, "Well, I may or may not be living with strangers next year. I may or may not be going to a school in a foreign country where I don't understand anything. I may or may not be stepping onto a plane in July, waving goodbye to the only home I've ever known... You see, I might just be taking US history in California this time next year... Or I might be struggling with Argentine literature... Aahh well it's a tossup."
Not really a tossup.
Still...! :)
They said it would take 4-6 weeks to be accepted. (Then again, I've talked to some other people who told me that... well... it can end up being more like 6-8 weeks!)
I know my papers have been sent off to AFS Argentina, so I guess that means I was accepted to AFS-USA... But, ohh, I would love to get the official "you're in!"
Not that knowing that will make much of a difference. I mean, saying "I'm going to Argentina," is like saying "I'm going to Europe" - there's such a vast range of landscapes. The true excitement will come with getting my host family in May or June so that I know if I'll be shivering in Esquel or sweating in Jujuy.
For now, I'm content with chatting it up with my Cultures-shocked buddies and the people I've met on Facebook. I've met a few people who I'll meet in Miami or Buenos Aires in July, and I've met some people who are leaving in just a few days.
Overall, I'm just... waiting. I bought a gigantic Spanish-English dictionary to help me with my homework when I'm there (for all of you wondering how I'm going to comprehend anything!). I got the Exchange Student Survival Kit so that I can hope to be prepared for this... er, daunting adventure. I checked out a stack of about fifteen books on Argentina from the library, and I'm attempting to boost my espanol.
I'm going to breathe a giant sigh of relief when I get the official "you're accepted" phone call/email. I will no longer have to say, "Well, I may or may not be living with strangers next year. I may or may not be going to a school in a foreign country where I don't understand anything. I may or may not be stepping onto a plane in July, waving goodbye to the only home I've ever known... You see, I might just be taking US history in California this time next year... Or I might be struggling with Argentine literature... Aahh well it's a tossup."
Not really a tossup.
Still...! :)
07 February 2009
AFS Orientation #1
Milestone after milestone. Pre-application submitted. Full application submitted. Interview- check. And today, I attended my first AFS orientation!
This orientation was less for me and my benefit and more for the inbounds' benefit. There were roughly fifteen "inbounds" sitting in the room, along with AFS volunteers, my mom and me, and another outbound and her mom. After socializing for twenty minutes or so with the volunteers ("liasons") and the other outbound who is doing a short-term summer exchange in Europe, everyone gathered in a circle.
The inbounds introduced themselves (with their cute accents!), and they were from all around the world- Chile, Brazil, Austria, Norway, France, Italy, and several other countries. After "closing their eyes, visualizing, and reflecting," and completing a worksheet, they discussed their time so far (expectations fulfilled, expectations yet to fulfill, host family relationship, etc etc.) while I listened in. I introduced myself as "Darcy from _____ High School hoping to go to Argentina for a year!" (silence) :)
After that, the inbounds clumped into small groups to discuss their experience in more depth, and the volunteers set donuts and apples on the table.
I didn't learn much from my first orientation, and it was only about an hour and a half, and I didn't even get a chance to talk to any of the inbounds... But I'm glad I went. It's so exciting picturing myself having a similar orientation six months into my year in Argentina!
This orientation was less for me and my benefit and more for the inbounds' benefit. There were roughly fifteen "inbounds" sitting in the room, along with AFS volunteers, my mom and me, and another outbound and her mom. After socializing for twenty minutes or so with the volunteers ("liasons") and the other outbound who is doing a short-term summer exchange in Europe, everyone gathered in a circle.
The inbounds introduced themselves (with their cute accents!), and they were from all around the world- Chile, Brazil, Austria, Norway, France, Italy, and several other countries. After "closing their eyes, visualizing, and reflecting," and completing a worksheet, they discussed their time so far (expectations fulfilled, expectations yet to fulfill, host family relationship, etc etc.) while I listened in. I introduced myself as "Darcy from _____ High School hoping to go to Argentina for a year!" (silence) :)
After that, the inbounds clumped into small groups to discuss their experience in more depth, and the volunteers set donuts and apples on the table.
I didn't learn much from my first orientation, and it was only about an hour and a half, and I didn't even get a chance to talk to any of the inbounds... But I'm glad I went. It's so exciting picturing myself having a similar orientation six months into my year in Argentina!
The Beginning
Hi!
My name is Darcy.
I live in California, and I (hopefully) will be spending my sophomore year (09-10) in Argentina as a foreign exchange student.
I submitted my full-application on January 11 and had my interview with my local AFS volunteer the following day, January 12. As of now, I'm not officially accepted. Buuuut, I think I have a pretty good chance. Four weeks of the four-to-six week waiting period have passed, so I guess I'll know soon!
I want to keep a blog of my experiences throughout my eleven months (and before and afterward!) for my friends to read so they don't forget about me entirely (ha!) and so they can keep up with what I'm doing.
I've told several people about my soon-to-be adventure, and the same questions pop up. So here ya go. If you have any more, comment :)
FAQ
When are you leaving? Getting back? I'm leaving late July. Dates are not sure yet since I haven't gotten my "you're in!" call yet, but roughly late July '09 to late June '10. Long time... I know!
Why Argentina?! Well, one reason... I really want to learn Spanish! So I looked at the Spanish-speaking countries available for my age (not all countries accept 15-year-olds for some reason), and it boiled down to the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Argentina, Peru, and Spain. For some instinctive reason, I chose Argentina. It just seems to match me the best :) (Peru was my second choice.) And I love the idea of going to South America- I've never been there before.
Are you going to boarding school? Where are you living? Nope. I'm going to a regular, typical, normal high school in a regular, typical, normal city. I'm going to live with a host family.
Wait... so you have to live in someone else's house? Like, a random person's? Yea. Well, AFS interviews the host family too, so they're not exactly random. So I'll have host siblings and host parents and a whole new set of rules and expectations. But they'll provide me room and board for free, not to mention become somewhat of a second family to me!
Are you going to an English-speaking school? No. Regular, typical, normal, average high school... So all classes will be taught entirely in Spanish (except for my "English as a foreign language" class, haha!).
Then how will you learn the language? How does anyone learn a language? I guess it will be somewhat similar to how I first learned to speak English when I was a baby. Immersion, practice... I've talked to lots of people and most said they were more or less fluent in the native language halfway through the year, and definitely by the end of the program!
Won't you miss your family and friends? YES. Yes. Yea. Aaahhh. I'm probably going to be really homesick while I'm there and definitely a complete mess at the airport, and the weeks before I'll be crying nonstop... But... The way I see it, everyone I love will still be here when I return. No one's going anywhere. (deep breath... trying to convince myself.)
How do you feel? Aren't you scared? YES. More than you will ever know. Honestly, sometimes I just get so down about going on an exchange, so scared and frightened and emotional, but it will be good. When I'm there... settled in... it'll be good.
How can you just take a year-long vacation from school? Do any of your classes count? Though not a vacation... I doubt any of my classes will transfer over. (But it depends.) Most likely I'll spend the next two years of high school taking classes at IVC, taking online courses, and packing extra academic classes into my schedule in high school. Darn.
Are you going to have the Internet or phone when you're there? Yup. I'm not going to be isolated or anything. Email me at blueeyes@gmail.com, or Facebook me. Or call me, hahaha. I can still keep in touch and all.
Can you come home to visit? No. Actually, I can't. I won't see California for eleven months. (my stomach flinches just thinking about this...groan)
Umm... why do you want to do this?! It seems... difficult... Yea, but so life rewarding. (Is that worded right?) Looking at the big picture, this isn't something I can't not do. It's in my blood, and it's an opportunity I can't pass up. Language fluency, newfound independence and maturity and all that good stuff... an eye-opening experience... I just have to do it. Several months ago, I was struggling with the choice of whether to do this or not, aaaaand I think I finally just convinced myself that as hard as it will be, and as many tears that I will cry, everything will be worth it. You see... I never want to regret not doing this. So I'm going to take every chance I get. Whenever I feel nervous or stomach-squirmingly anxious I just remind myself of this, the big picture, everything I will gain from being a foreign exchange student... and I love it.
I didn't even know you could do this. Where did you hear about AFS? My fifth grade teacher's son was a foreign exchange student in France with AFS during sophomore year. After learning that it was possible for you to go away for a year, the idea stuck in my head, and... here I am!
Where's Argentina? What's the time difference? California is about five hours behind Argentina (referencing to Buenos Aires, the capital city). However there may be a four-hour time difference, depending on where I am placed. Not too much of a difference- it's not like I'll call home and wake everyone up!
Argentine flag:
Map of Argentina:
Argentina in comparison to the world:
Where are you living in Argentina? Don't know yet. And I probably won't find out for several more months... like, until May. Or even June. That's when I get my host family and begin the laborious visa process. However I gotta say that I am SO excited to find out where I'm placed... because Argentina is gigantic! I could be living in the rainforest, desert, cattle farm, big city, the freezing snow, an island, the tropical heat, the mountains, the beach, or on the borderline with the countries that touch Argentina- Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, and Bolivia!
This sounds cool. What's the website? Go here for AFS's international website and here for AFS-USA's website.
And finally, some quotes I love that make me happy about my exchange :)
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." -Helen Keller
"Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien
"A ship is safe in the harbor, but that's not what ships are for." -William Shedd
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -Caskie Stinnett
"Sometimes you have to go halfway around the world to come full circle." -Lost in Translation
I hope you keep up with my blog while I'm gone, keep in touch, and comment! Don't worry, it won't be all boring stuff like this :)
My name is Darcy.
I live in California, and I (hopefully) will be spending my sophomore year (09-10) in Argentina as a foreign exchange student.
I submitted my full-application on January 11 and had my interview with my local AFS volunteer the following day, January 12. As of now, I'm not officially accepted. Buuuut, I think I have a pretty good chance. Four weeks of the four-to-six week waiting period have passed, so I guess I'll know soon!
I want to keep a blog of my experiences throughout my eleven months (and before and afterward!) for my friends to read so they don't forget about me entirely (ha!) and so they can keep up with what I'm doing.
I've told several people about my soon-to-be adventure, and the same questions pop up. So here ya go. If you have any more, comment :)
FAQ
When are you leaving? Getting back? I'm leaving late July. Dates are not sure yet since I haven't gotten my "you're in!" call yet, but roughly late July '09 to late June '10. Long time... I know!
Why Argentina?! Well, one reason... I really want to learn Spanish! So I looked at the Spanish-speaking countries available for my age (not all countries accept 15-year-olds for some reason), and it boiled down to the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Argentina, Peru, and Spain. For some instinctive reason, I chose Argentina. It just seems to match me the best :) (Peru was my second choice.) And I love the idea of going to South America- I've never been there before.
Are you going to boarding school? Where are you living? Nope. I'm going to a regular, typical, normal high school in a regular, typical, normal city. I'm going to live with a host family.
Wait... so you have to live in someone else's house? Like, a random person's? Yea. Well, AFS interviews the host family too, so they're not exactly random. So I'll have host siblings and host parents and a whole new set of rules and expectations. But they'll provide me room and board for free, not to mention become somewhat of a second family to me!
Are you going to an English-speaking school? No. Regular, typical, normal, average high school... So all classes will be taught entirely in Spanish (except for my "English as a foreign language" class, haha!).
Then how will you learn the language? How does anyone learn a language? I guess it will be somewhat similar to how I first learned to speak English when I was a baby. Immersion, practice... I've talked to lots of people and most said they were more or less fluent in the native language halfway through the year, and definitely by the end of the program!
Won't you miss your family and friends? YES. Yes. Yea. Aaahhh. I'm probably going to be really homesick while I'm there and definitely a complete mess at the airport, and the weeks before I'll be crying nonstop... But... The way I see it, everyone I love will still be here when I return. No one's going anywhere. (deep breath... trying to convince myself.)
How do you feel? Aren't you scared? YES. More than you will ever know. Honestly, sometimes I just get so down about going on an exchange, so scared and frightened and emotional, but it will be good. When I'm there... settled in... it'll be good.
How can you just take a year-long vacation from school? Do any of your classes count? Though not a vacation... I doubt any of my classes will transfer over. (But it depends.) Most likely I'll spend the next two years of high school taking classes at IVC, taking online courses, and packing extra academic classes into my schedule in high school. Darn.
Are you going to have the Internet or phone when you're there? Yup. I'm not going to be isolated or anything. Email me at blueeyes@gmail.com, or Facebook me. Or call me, hahaha. I can still keep in touch and all.
Can you come home to visit? No. Actually, I can't. I won't see California for eleven months. (my stomach flinches just thinking about this...groan)
Umm... why do you want to do this?! It seems... difficult... Yea, but so life rewarding. (Is that worded right?) Looking at the big picture, this isn't something I can't not do. It's in my blood, and it's an opportunity I can't pass up. Language fluency, newfound independence and maturity and all that good stuff... an eye-opening experience... I just have to do it. Several months ago, I was struggling with the choice of whether to do this or not, aaaaand I think I finally just convinced myself that as hard as it will be, and as many tears that I will cry, everything will be worth it. You see... I never want to regret not doing this. So I'm going to take every chance I get. Whenever I feel nervous or stomach-squirmingly anxious I just remind myself of this, the big picture, everything I will gain from being a foreign exchange student... and I love it.
I didn't even know you could do this. Where did you hear about AFS? My fifth grade teacher's son was a foreign exchange student in France with AFS during sophomore year. After learning that it was possible for you to go away for a year, the idea stuck in my head, and... here I am!
Where's Argentina? What's the time difference? California is about five hours behind Argentina (referencing to Buenos Aires, the capital city). However there may be a four-hour time difference, depending on where I am placed. Not too much of a difference- it's not like I'll call home and wake everyone up!
Argentine flag:
Map of Argentina:
Argentina in comparison to the world:
Where are you living in Argentina? Don't know yet. And I probably won't find out for several more months... like, until May. Or even June. That's when I get my host family and begin the laborious visa process. However I gotta say that I am SO excited to find out where I'm placed... because Argentina is gigantic! I could be living in the rainforest, desert, cattle farm, big city, the freezing snow, an island, the tropical heat, the mountains, the beach, or on the borderline with the countries that touch Argentina- Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, and Bolivia!
This sounds cool. What's the website? Go here for AFS's international website and here for AFS-USA's website.
And finally, some quotes I love that make me happy about my exchange :)
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." -Helen Keller
"Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien
"A ship is safe in the harbor, but that's not what ships are for." -William Shedd
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -Caskie Stinnett
"Sometimes you have to go halfway around the world to come full circle." -Lost in Translation
I hope you keep up with my blog while I'm gone, keep in touch, and comment! Don't worry, it won't be all boring stuff like this :)
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