New Things Going On

So there are a bit of updates I need to get through in this post. so I will just write them in seperate pieces ( haha like the book A Seperate Peace) and explain them that way:

Finances:

I am still trying to come pay my tuition, and with the help of friends and family, I know I will be there soon. Please remember my Sponsor and AFSer Widget is on the right hand side of my blog. Just click the "Chip In" button to donate to my tuition :)

Visa:

I am going to call my Vice Consulate on Monday and schedule an appointment for 3 weeks before I leave. I am doing the Visa by mail instead of going to Detroit because there is a Vice Consulate in Cleveland, which is like 20 Minutes from my house. I highly anticipate having to reschedule for a closer date because my placement is moving soooo quickly! I can't wait to get that over with.

Academic Decathlon:

For the past 2 weeks, I have still been going to AcaDec for the Summer Sessions to support the new players. I would have been the one of two returnees, and the other returnee won't show up. A lot of the team signed up not only to be on the team, but because I was in it. I have a feeling they are plotting against me in order to keep me from leaving! I love them all and I know they will do great without me.

Luggage & Packing:

Even though it is a little early to think about this, I have no clue what I should pack! I can only bring a 44lbs. checked bag and a carry on. If anyone knows some good things they are packing, please comment below.

Airplanes! Oh My!:

Ok Ok, so I know this should be the least of my worries, but I am still nervous about getting on an airplane. I feel like the only person in the world who has never been on an airplane before! I will be leaving my home on Sept. 6th with my mom and our good friend Rose to travel from Ohio to New York City by car. We will arrive that night and stay the night in New Jersey. In the morning we will probably do some sight seeing and bonding before I go to the Gateway orientation at 4 P.M. My mom can't be the there and that is the last time I will see her for 10 months... I think a tear just rolled down my cheek. We stay there until the night of Sept. 8th when we leave from JFK for Zurich, Switzerland. We get there at about 11 A.M. and the depart for Rome at 12:30 P.M. We officially land in Rome at 2:05 P.M. on September 9th, 2011!


Ok, I think I cover it all :) I am so excited and ready for this that it is insane. I will miss everyone here at the same time, so let's make the most of SUMMER 2011!

Unrelated Post!

I know this isn't about my exchange, but I have to say it; PATRICK THOMAS SHOULD HAVE STAYED ON THE VOICE! I was watching it last night and I can't believe he was sent home! In my head, I told myself he was definitely staying. I am still a fan of the show, but I was a little heart broken after last night's episode. Ok, thanks for dealing with my random post.

Ciao for now :)

Pre-Departure Orientation

I went to my PDO on Saturday and I had an amazing time. I got to meet the other two students going abroad from my chapter and we talked about doing a fundraiser. We are going to do a profit night at a resturaunt and take in some of the profits. We also thought of a car wash together as well. I noticed I am the only person in the world who has never been on a plane! This should be the least of my worries, but I really am nervous about that. One of the things we did at the orientation was right our name tags with our non-dominant hand. So since I'm a lefty, I had to write with my right hand. We also had to draw little pictures too. When we were done, our chapter leader asked us what was tough about it. Guess what? It was a representation on what we will experience abroad with a brand new culture :)


Oh, I also found out I don't have to drive to Detroit for my visa. Instead, I can go to Cleveland and visit the vice consulate. All of this seems so involved and crazy, but I have to get everything done.


I recieved a lot of information from Italy and I read through my welcome booklet. In the booklet, I read that there is something called exchange week. This is when you can go somewhere else in Italy for a week and stay with someone else. The only thing about this is you have to pay for it yourself and I don't know how much it would cost.


Speaking of different host families, I found out that I may not be switching host families after all. We will see what is going to happen though.


Ok Ciao for now :)

Really Interesting News!

Ok, so I just got an e-mail from AFS and they said I have what is called a  "Permanent Multiple Host Family Placement" which means I will be staying with two host families. My host family that I mentioned earlier will host me until January 11th, 2012 and then I will get a new host family most likely in the same community. This is actually really exciting :) I get to experience Italy with two different families!