May 2009 Archives

AFS Exchange Student Crystal: Getting Ready for a Year in the Netherlands

By AFS on May 29, 2009 4:16 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

So after anxiously awaiting for The Netherlands link on the AFS website to turn blue, yesterday it finally did. When I clicked on it there was a big 33 page packet for me to read about The Netherlands, and of course I read it all. It was interesting. I just have to wait about the Visa stuff, but from what I read I need a residence permit or something that I have to get when I get there. Anyways on to the interesting things - I got this huge packet from AFS that is my host family's application (: They sound mad cool, so who knows. I also added my host sister on HYVES! (it's like a dutch myspace type thing) Read more.

AFS offers year programs to the The Netherlands

AFS Exchange Student Hailey: Munchin' on Mangoes in the Dominican Republic

By AFS on May 28, 2009 4:13 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

MANGOES!!!!

It is totally mango season here. In Alaska mangoes cost bucketloads, but here there are millions of trees along the sides of roads and you can find them nearly everywhere, and free. My host mom said that with the money that a mango costs in the U.S. someone could buy a mango tree here. Or maybe two. So we have a huge basket full of mangoes in my house and I eat two or three a day..... :D and we have a mango tree, too, and a cherry tree and a guanabana tree (please don´t ask me what that is in English) that´s this weird looking green fruit with spiney things, and it´s white on the inside and has seeds that look like black almonds. Read more.

AFS offers year programs to the Dominican Republic

AFS Exchange Student Jessica: Contemplating her Return after a Semester in Australia

By AFS on May 27, 2009 11:15 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Today in California is my best friend Breanne's birthday. But talking to her made me think, will things be the same when I go home? I thought that maybe they could be at first. But talking to some of my friends- some for the first time since I left, the conversation was easy enough but how am I supposed to relate to them now? Part of me will always be there friend still, but the new part doesn't know. Read more.

AFS offers Semester programs to Australia.

AFS Exchange Student Eric: Cruising Istanbul with other AFSers in Turkey

By AFS on May 26, 2009 11:33 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

So, a group of fellow AFSers from all over Turkey decided to visit İstanbul over the weekend so I had no time to write. This past week was a lot of fun, I got to skip school, learn the bus system almost perfectly, and get absolutely no sleep. As I said I had two visitors, Kevin from Costa Rica and McKinely from the USA, stay at my house. We had to wake up early everyday to be able to catch the bus because I live really far away from the city and to get to the Bospherous by bus it takes up to 2 hours. Read more.

AFS offers year and summer programs to Turkey.

AFS Exchange Student Alli: Reflecting on a Semester in Portugal

By AFS on May 22, 2009 5:38 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

The AFS experience is nothing like I thought it would be. First of all,when I first left Alaska I couldn't even imagine being away from my family, because I have gone through my whole life with them around. Being away from them was by far the biggest change. With my family I feel comfortable, I can express my feelings, and most importantly be myself and relax.

I initially felt lost in Portugal without that constant comfort and support, but I managed to get by. Gradually I got to know my friends better, my family host family helped me with everything, and keeping busy kept me from dwelling too much on how much I missed them (there is a name here for missing somebody that cannot be translated. It's to have "saudades". I immediately knew what people meant when they said they had "saudades"). Read more.

AFS offers year and semester programs to Portugal.

AFS Poll: Where did AFS First Come into Your Life?

By AFS on May 20, 2009 3:20 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

AFS Inspiration: Where did AFS First Come into Your Life?

AFS Exchange Student Veronica: Skipping Around Europe from Hungary

By AFS on May 19, 2009 1:53 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Sziasztok!

I don't know how to tell it all to you, there was just so much happening. Maybe just some of the places that we went? Eiffel Tower, Brussells, London Eye, British Museum, to the Crown Jewels, Leeds Castle, Westminster Abby, uncountable cathedrals, Napoleons tomb, Pickadilly Circus, The Tower Bridge, Champs-Élysées, boat tours, Canterbury, markets, shopping streets, crépe houses, bakeries, french McDonald's, hostels, trailer parks, the Louvre, and so much more that just isn'tt coming to mind right now. I think the best was Leeds Castle, it was stupendous! Read more.

AFS offers year, semester, and summer programs to Hungary.

AFS Exchange Student Kathy: Getting Amped for Summer in Chile

By AFS on May 18, 2009 1:35 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Orientation was so much fun today, I got an AFS t-shirt! But really, the best part was being able to talk to the Returnees who just got back and were able to answer our questions and share their own experiences. So much advice in such a short period of time...

- Research as much as I can but don't have too many expectations,
- Make an effort to make plans with friends and be included,
- Pay attention to little pieces of culture,
- Always keep your safety in mind and use good judgment and common sense.

It was really cool to have the chance to talk to some of the other kids who are getting ready to go abroad. Read more.

AFS offers year, semester, and summer programs to Chile.

AFS Exchange Student Thomas: Hamburger Parties in Paraguay

By AFS on May 14, 2009 12:36 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

The single biggest piece of news is that I changed schools. My new school is 4 blocks away, and I really like it. It's a public school as well as a trade school, which would normally mean trouble, but entrance is based on test scores so all the kids are relatively motivated and nice. A couple of my classmates have actually said directly that they thought I'd assimilated into the class really well, so I'm feeling pretty good about that situation. Read more.

AFS offers year, semester, and summer programs to Paraguay.

AFS Exchange Student Amy: Icelandic Horses and Election Day

By AFS on May 13, 2009 11:34 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Saturday, was a pretty awesome day, personally for me, and also for all of Iceland. I went on a horseback riding trip with AFS, and it also happened to be election day where all the seats in the Alþing (parliament/legislature) were voted on.

Lara, an exchange student from Austria living in a town an hour outside of Reykjavík, came to my house the night before so she could stay here and be able to meet in Reykjavík for the horse trip. Then we woke up pretty early on Saturday morning so we could get to the AFS office at 9 for the trip. Then we met there, and got in cars to go to Hveragerði, a town like 45 minutes away. When we arrived in Hveragerði, we went to Eldhestar (the horse company which means like "fire" or "volcano" horses. There, we were a group of people from maybe 15 different countries, taught by Swedish people how to ride Icelandic horses. Icelandic horses are REALLY special! Read more.

AFS offers year programs to Iceland.

AFS Exchange Student Kendra: "80% Through and Growing up" in Italy

By AFS on May 12, 2009 11:36 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Percentages are funny things. They are completely scientific and completely without emotions. They do not take into account anything except the numbers. They don't lie to lessen the blow of what they are saying. They don't care if they are bringing good news or bad news. They give you the way it is without emotion. Tell you how it is and you have to accept it one way or another. Read more.

AFS offers year, semester, and summer programs to Italy.

AFS Student Exchange: Miranda Experiences French BBQ

By AFS on May 11, 2009 3:30 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Today after I was up and ready, I washed the lawn chairs with Pierre and helped my host mom prepare for the family BBQ. Around noon, Thomas and his family showed up. Then came Annick, Luc (who just got back from Canada), Grandma, Mme Noël, and Samuel (Annick's son). We ate the appetizers and Luc told us about his trip to Canada. Read more.

AFS offers year and semester and summer programs to France.

AFSer Veronica: Photo Update from Hungary

By AFS on May 7, 2009 3:50 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

See more photos on Veronica's Blog.

AFS offers year, semester, and summer programs to Hungary.

AFSer Hannah: Weddings and Waffles in Paraguay

By AFS on May 4, 2009 11:40 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

I just got back from the long weekend in Asunción. I didn't have class on Wednesday for a teacher's meeting, Thursday was some sort of Teacher's holiday, and Friday was "Día de los Obreros," which translates into "Day of the Workers" and is basically like Labor Day in the US. I took the Wednesday morning bus from Pilar to Asunción with my 10-year-old brother, Anibal. In Asunción, we went to my host aunt and uncle's house for a while, and afterwords he stayed with them and I went to visit my friend, Abbey, from AFS who lives in Asunción. Read more.

AFS offers year, semester, and summer programs to Paraguay.

Spots still available for 2009 Summer and Fall programs to Paraguay, apply now!

AFSer Lorielle: Ice Cream Delivery in Buenos Aires, Argentina

By AFS on May 1, 2009 5:05 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

One thing that's nice about Buenos Aires is that you can get just about anything delivered to your house, we just got some ice cream from Daniel's by telephone. Awesome! I just finished my sketches for my printmaking class, my markers ran out of ink, we were supposed to do 10, but I got 8 in (the last 2 I did, but they barely show up). Our next project seems fun. I like my painting class so far. I have my first paper due soon. Read more.

AFS offers year, semester and summer programs to Argentina.

« April 2009 | Main Index | Archives | June 2009 »

follow me on Twitter