Another week or so has gone by. I still plunder ruthlessly forth, family-less, tired, and jealous of the twenty or so AFS France-ers who have already gotten their host families. I have not been bored, however. I spent the last week in Florida, hanging out by the beach and, best of all, exploring Harry Potter World in Universal Studios. But now I'm back to California, reveling in the last day of spring break, and, yet again, I lay in wait for the day my host family will chose me.
Besides the fact that most people don't get host families this early, I have found another reason to not have a family. You see, as a citizen of the UK and the US, I don't need a visa - for I can use my British passport. This is all fine and good - but in order to use this British passport, I first must renew it. I'm getting emails from AFS all the time asking where my passport is, but it just wont come! I check the mail every day, and it is fairly stressful. Who knew renewing a passport would take months? What if this is preventing me from getting a host family?
In other news, I only have seven more weeks of school left. Though I'm ecstatic for summer, I am unfortunately aware of the sluggish pace time seems to travel at when one is anticipating a year long trip to France. Seven weeks is minute period of time compared to the nine or so months that the school year consists of. But when I'm this close, so painfully near, minutes take hours, hours take days, and my trip to France taunts me from it's comfortable perch in my seemingly distant future.
Maybe I'll make a countdown chart. Anyway, I must go do my online classes. One of the biggest downfalls to preparing for this trip is, without a doubt, is the online classes I must take. Algebra 2 and Health have consumed by every waking minute that is not spent at school or extra-curriculars, taking me well into the early hours of the morning almost every day.
I'm tired of being a freshman.
Au revoir tout le monde.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
A Lot About Nothing
Nothing at all has changed since I last posted. This in itself disappoints me, though I guess it's good that I haven't died in a horrendous car accident, or worse yet, been kicked out of AFS France for whatever reason. As I sit here, listening to music and laughing to myself about the mounds of homework I must inevitably overcome, I am at ease knowing that yes, I am 100% definitely going to France next year. As you might guess, I can barely contain myself. But it also brings about a sort of melancholy feeling...
In my English class yesterday, we discussed the final exam, and exciting end-of-year deadlines that will be coming up in the next couple months. I looked around the room, at some of my best friends, and some people that I had only met this year, and was truly blown away by the importance of my exchange. What am I going to do without my best friends, field hockey, my family, neighbors, even my school? All the things and people I rely on every day without thinking about it. What will I do without the comfort and stability that I possess? Living in this town for almost my entire life, I've never been in the position where I had to make new friends when I'm out of my comfort zone. Next year will be so... new. As AFS says "not good, not bad, just different."
Even this cannot phase my excitement, though. Part of the reason that I am so ecstatic is how completely new this experience will be. I'm excited to gain a new sense of independence, to learn a new language, to experience something entirely on my own. I can't wait for this completely unique aspect of life, this experience that no typical high-schooler can relate to. I can't wait to see how making new friends, learning a new language, and being away from all that I know will change me as a person.
Anyways, enough rambling. I need to go find other ways to not do my homework.
In my English class yesterday, we discussed the final exam, and exciting end-of-year deadlines that will be coming up in the next couple months. I looked around the room, at some of my best friends, and some people that I had only met this year, and was truly blown away by the importance of my exchange. What am I going to do without my best friends, field hockey, my family, neighbors, even my school? All the things and people I rely on every day without thinking about it. What will I do without the comfort and stability that I possess? Living in this town for almost my entire life, I've never been in the position where I had to make new friends when I'm out of my comfort zone. Next year will be so... new. As AFS says "not good, not bad, just different."
Even this cannot phase my excitement, though. Part of the reason that I am so ecstatic is how completely new this experience will be. I'm excited to gain a new sense of independence, to learn a new language, to experience something entirely on my own. I can't wait for this completely unique aspect of life, this experience that no typical high-schooler can relate to. I can't wait to see how making new friends, learning a new language, and being away from all that I know will change me as a person.
Anyways, enough rambling. I need to go find other ways to not do my homework.
Monday, March 19, 2012
The First of Many Updates to Come
I got accepted into AFS France today! *whoot whoot*.
Over the past weeks, I haven't been able to get France out of my mind. I want so many things right now, for school to end, to get my host family, for it to be summer vacation. I'm tired of going to bed late and getting up early, and I'm tired of all of this waiting! I haven't gone an hour without being consumed in thought about France and everything that leads up to it. I've heard about how big a part waiting plays in the production that is foreign exchange... but I honestly didn't think it would be this agonizing. Waiting is a pure and imponderable mutiny, I tell you! A ruthless act against humanity itself, robbing me of my once so abundant motivation to carry out the mundane task that is the normal life of a teenager. Patience is for the feeble-minded. Not really.
When will it end?
Over the past weeks, I haven't been able to get France out of my mind. I want so many things right now, for school to end, to get my host family, for it to be summer vacation. I'm tired of going to bed late and getting up early, and I'm tired of all of this waiting! I haven't gone an hour without being consumed in thought about France and everything that leads up to it. I've heard about how big a part waiting plays in the production that is foreign exchange... but I honestly didn't think it would be this agonizing. Waiting is a pure and imponderable mutiny, I tell you! A ruthless act against humanity itself, robbing me of my once so abundant motivation to carry out the mundane task that is the normal life of a teenager. Patience is for the feeble-minded. Not really.
When will it end?
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Hi There!
Bonjour! My name is Niamh Doyle from Los Gatos, California, and I'm a freshman at Los Gatos high school. I am in the middle of applying to do foreign exchange in France for a year in 2012 through AFS- American Field Service intercultural student exchange program.
During my stay in France I will be completely immersed in French culture- from food, lifestyle, school, to language; France will become my way of life for ten months. I am very passionate about this experience. The benefits of exploring the world, trying new things, and experiencing different cultures are alluring to me in a way that I cannot explain. It will surely be an eye-opening experience that will change me as a person, as well as my knowledge of the world and my experience with different cultures. It will allow me to grow as an individual, as well as experience independence and growth in a world I know nearly nothing about.
However, this experience-of-a-lifetime does not come cheap. In the year until my departure I will scrape together as much money as possible to help pay for the trip. Any contributions would be greatly appreciated! I intend to create many opportunities in which I will raise money such as sales, various jobs, and more! But for now, this blog is the first step. No amount is too small, and it would be great if you could contribute! To sponsor my AFS program now, please click the ChipIn button. Merci beaucoup!
During my stay in France I will be completely immersed in French culture- from food, lifestyle, school, to language; France will become my way of life for ten months. I am very passionate about this experience. The benefits of exploring the world, trying new things, and experiencing different cultures are alluring to me in a way that I cannot explain. It will surely be an eye-opening experience that will change me as a person, as well as my knowledge of the world and my experience with different cultures. It will allow me to grow as an individual, as well as experience independence and growth in a world I know nearly nothing about.
However, this experience-of-a-lifetime does not come cheap. In the year until my departure I will scrape together as much money as possible to help pay for the trip. Any contributions would be greatly appreciated! I intend to create many opportunities in which I will raise money such as sales, various jobs, and more! But for now, this blog is the first step. No amount is too small, and it would be great if you could contribute! To sponsor my AFS program now, please click the ChipIn button. Merci beaucoup!
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