A Jump from July to January

That's some jump.  What is it, half a year?  Ouch.  That also is a frightening realization of how much time has passed in comparison to how much action that I've actually taken.  Well, in my defense, there has been some events which have occurred within the time span.  Although it's in this year where I'll guarantee the most progress.  With that, let's begin recounting what happened (AFS-wise) in half a year!

Summer 2010 - I'll admit, other than studying French.  There really wasn't that much being done.  Moreover, it was not exactly studying in a formal sense.  It was more of a watch YouTube videos, find French songs and learn them, watch films in French.  While it did help me progress to an extent, sometimes I understood the minimal words and it would be a complete blur and overwhelming.  Yet, it expanded my vocabulary and expressions.  Not to mention, the language I learned was more current than the stuff taught in French class at my high school.

Fall 2010 - The word of my goal of studying abroad spread out a little more.  I managed to also get one of my friends, named Florence, interested in the idea of studying abroad.  However, she wants to go to Germany, which is itself amazing too, it's just not for me. Hehe.  Nevertheless, she shared with me a nifty website that helped me progress considerably in French.  It's busuu.com and it teaches several major languages.  What I liked about it the most, however, was that it differentiated itself from other sites I've previously visited.  Rather than just constant reading and memorization, it actually demonstrates photos and audio clips and common phrases with the vocabulary.  I guess you could say it was like a basic version of the Rosetta Stone except brought online.  I learned more vocabulary and expressions (all modern) that I actually found to be useful.  Be that as it may, what I've come to appreciate over all was the interaction between the online community.  It's somewhat social as they have basic online profiles in which people can friend one another and chat with them.  For the most part in the beginning, I was getting requests to chat, helping others with their English.  Yet, the person to whom I would speak to often knew Spanish (which I already am fluent in) or another language which I really wasn't interested in mastering currently, (i.e. Russian, Portuguese).  Of course, I enjoyed aiding others.  It's just that I would like to be assisted in return.  Although, I really can't blame others as the French are 6 hours ahead my time in standard time.  Our schedules would clash, I imagine.
              Also in this time, I had my AFS interview.  In all respects, I was nervous.  I didn't know what to expect or how I would respond.  I tried my best to present myself as best as I could, but I knew it had to be done eventually.  I think it went pretty well.   Yet, that's just my opinion and I also believe I could have made it better, but that'll have to be in a future interview with a different situation.  Regardless, it motivated me to continue on with this endeavor.

Winter 2010/2011 - I guess you could say this is the current time.  Nonetheless, it's still has had some important events that I will explain (forgive me though, I don't guarantee its chronological order).  First off, I was emailed by my local AFS contact asking me about my progress with the Full Application.  After my delayed response, which I couldn't answer because of winter vacation and I wasn't home, I was prompted to get to it.  I also realized it was time to really start progressing with this as time starts to run short.  Consequently and ironically, it's also around this time where my academics have really suffered.  Of course, I don't plan on falling through the cracks, but I must prioritize.  It's just one of life's lessons.  I applied for my passport!  Mostly to save costs as applying while still a minor, but nevertheless, it's a step closer and I got that done!  Now to wait 4-6 weeks until it arrives.  Furthermore, I persuaded my mother to aid me with my full application with the personal information so that's now accurate!  Most of the online stuff is finished.  I just have to upload a picture of myself and do the cover page as well as get the doctor and school and rest of the written parental papers.  The deadline is March 1st.  Meaning, I gotta finish working on that.
        Scholarships!  Yes, I was informed by my local AFS contact that I can receive $2,000 as an AFS NJ scholarship, which is of course gratefully accepted!   I also applied recently for the Global Leaders Scholarship.  I know there's not that much to be offered this year given the current state of the economy. Yet, I expect the worst, but hope for the best!  Also, I went to my bank this month to open my first checking account and deposited my savings so far that I've accumulated inside.  Currently, I have more than $2,000 in my account as well.  Furthermore, my parents have agreed to pay $4,000 to my goal.  That means that so far, I've got $8,000!  Not too shabby, considering I still have time to raise more and that the tuition costs $13,000.  I've got about $5,000 left to fundraise/earn in a few month's time.  Scary, yes, but I believe it's doable!  Hopefully, to those who read this, you would help me obtain my goal by reaching out to me with any kind of assistance that would be sincerely appreciated.  =)  Which reminds me of how grateful I am to have a father who has helped me by mentioning my goal to his colleagues and even raffled off a TV in attempt to raise money for my cause.  Glad to report, it was a success!   I also plan on emailing AFS about my blog so that they can send me a widget illustrating my fundraising goals and how much I have and how much I have left.  On a side note, my school participated in an essay contest with a first prize of $5,000 with other prizes of smaller denominations.  I would be jubilant if I were to win the first prize.  Yet, it is what it is, and that's wishful thinking.  Still, I remain positive and I will remain positive!
        Worries.  Yes, I have them.  Frightful thoughts sometimes enter my mind and keep me from staying in my optimal mood.  However, I don't let them stay for long.  I sometimes wonder why I choose not to follow the "path" others may have set for me, including, being a top student, remaining within the area, taking these courses, doing this for college, following this for the better of me.   Yet, that may just be it.  Others have set paths for me, which I wouldn't follow as they weren't created by me.  I stand my ground in believing that this is my path that I will take and I intend on following suit.  Thus, I recently turned 16 and am now eligible for a job.  In reality, I've been yearning to be able to work for a while now.  It's just that with the current economical state, it's not as easy as it may have been in years past.  Either way, it'd be my first "real" job and that alone is something I've never experienced before!
         Finally, the silver lining.  While the worries that haunt me remain where they are, even some that I haven't written about here, there are some good things that come my way.  For example, I mentioned before about the Busuu chat?  Well, recently, some French teens have contacted me through there and we've exchanged MSNs/Skype's/Oovoo's/Facebook's/etc. Unfortunately, the 6 hour time difference is still there.  We (my French contacts and myself) both try to find good times for us to connect and talk.  That certainly has been my main driving force to really study French as well as having an excellent opportunity to think and compose in the language.  While it currently limited to writing, as weekdays I arrive home when they're about to go to bed, on the weekends we plan on possibly video or at least audio chatting with one another to practice both oral comprehension and (the "fun" part, moreso embarrassing for me) speaking!  I'll be sure to relate my experiences with that as I, for the first time ever, speak with a French native!
        The Finally after Finally, I recently attended two web AFS seminars.  The first was on the full application and the second on fundraising.  I really recommend any future AFS person, and my friend Florence, to attend those seminars as they've encouraged and motivated me to keep on going!

I'm really sorry I haven't updated in such a long time.  I promise that (when/if) I go abroad, I'll update at regular intervals as best as I can as well as make most of them substantially briefer than this one or the past ones.  I hope I covered all that I could remember, I apologize for such a long post!  Until the next one!

- Gello.