Pre-Depature Orientation

So yesterday, at 8:45 I had a pre-departure orientation (PDO) with AFS and everyone in our region and spent the day talking  about how to prepare ourselves for our journey. This wasn't just for CBYX scholarship winners, it was for all people who plan to study abroad this summer, upcoming semester or another year long program. I met many about 6-8 other students who are anxiously waiting to begin their journey as much as I am. It was neat to see what some of the places people had picked, there was a boy going to Egypt, a girl going to Switzerland, her twin sister was going to Paraguay, I believe one was going to Argentina for the summer, and a couple other places like Belgium.
Besides that the content that we talked about was a series of scenarios that we had to do right with our non-dominate hand to show how we can be taken out of our comfort zone, and we are just going to have to accept it. I also took from this activity that it also means that we need to be patient, when you right with your hand that doesn't normally write its not going to be easy, its also uncomfortable. Since I don't speak German, my first couple of months are going to be very difficult, and I will probably become fustrated with it but with practice comes perfection. The more you do trial and error the better you get at it, and your learning and growing as you do it.
After that then they separated parents and students.... It was about 70 degrees that day but in the building it was freezing, I thought my fingers were going to fall off. So the students (me) and the AFS volunteers went outside and sat in the sun to do our activities, we talked about adjusting to our host families, and our life at home. When I think about how my life is going to change drastically it really sinks in, I'm 18 years old and my parents give me the all the freedom of it, I have my own car, I go to school, go to lacrosse practice or games, and then I hang out with friends. As long as my parents know what I'm doing and that I'm safe they are pretty much fine with it. Although my parents used that as part of an excuse as to why I may not want to go because, they didn't want me to go, they do but they don't at the same time.... They know it will be a once in a lifetime experience and they are so proud that I did get this opportunity but on the other hand they don't want to see me go. Another thing that is going to be different is that my life will litterally change COMPLETELY in the week from leaving home and getting to my host family house. I've lived in the same house all my life, went to the same school with all of the same people pretty much all my life, never been on an airplane and I wont until I'm on it going to Germany! Its so exciting and nerve racking thinking about all of this but I can handle it.
So I've been starting to get a lot more papers that I'm going to hold on to and probably take to Germany with me.
Also; one good thing about me is that I'm so mellow, everyone is worried about what they are packing when they go to Germany and I'm not worried about it at all.
Back to what I was saying before..... I SPEAK NO GERMAN! The scary part of it, I've been using duolingo.com, and I'm on German Level II which isn't far at all, I'm writing down paper of words I may need that way I don't forget them and I've also been skyping with a girl from Germany that will be staying in America next year as a foreign exchange student. She has been helping me out with my German.

But overall, I feel the PDO helped prepare me more for my future endeavors  and it made my dad more nervous, it's really starting to sink in, and now all I can think about is GERMANY.
Still waiting for a host family, but hopefully I find that out next month or the one after that! I hope someday I can host students it seems so interesting having students bring their culture into the families they enter.

Things I haven't done

A list of things that I need to mentally prepare myself for:
-Flying on an airplane
believe it or not but I have never been on an airplane in my life, my first time will be the 8-10 hour plane ride all the way to Germany (and I am kind of nervous)
-Moving out of my house
I've lived in the same house my entire life, went to the same school with all of the same people since we were babies
-Learning German language
I only know how to speak English, and some Spanish that could get me by. I've been using duolingo.com to help me practice German, and I can't make it off of level 1. I have a friend named Carolin, she lived here last year on the CBYX program and she's going to help me learn some German before my arrival to Germany.
Hopefully when I'm in Germany I get to see her.

Although I feel like I'm going into Germany almost "blind" if you say because I know nothing, and everything that will be happening is going to be completely different I feel as if I'm prepared for the change, the challenges and the emotional roller coaster that will come along with leaving everything that I have ever known good-bye for a full year.

I plan to grow on this experience because not many people get to experience this, and I will not take it for granted  I'm forever grateful for this experience that will happen soon enough.

I have a busy couple of months before departure; Senior project presentation, graduation, work, work, work, practice german, all of the conference calls and orientations I will have to attend, graduation/goodbye party, along with spending time with my family and friends before I leave.

About me

My name is Nola Ries, I am 18 years old and I recently found out that I have been awarded the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Scholarship. So I've decided to blog about it. I'm very excited and have worked very hard for it. The application process included a medical exam, two teachers had to fill out surveys about me, six 250 word essays, a letter to your future host family, a passport, along with 8-12 pictures describing you. After that I sent in my application to AFS, later I was then emailed as a semi-finalist, I traveled to the University of Pittsburgh, and was interviewed. We sat in a room with people from AFS they talked about the program what to expect, during that time each applicant was taken into a different room where there was a panel of about five or six people they each went around and asked two questions, it was about 15 minutes, but what I suggest for future applicants, before you answer you question sit back and think about what they're asking, and what they want to learn from this question about you. Specific details help, even with your essays. After everyone was interviewed individually we were all taking back to do a group activity where we had to build a tower with a bunch of things but no one could talk, we used our hand motions and other things. They evaluated us during that time and after that it was over, it was about 3 hours long, but it went by quick. Then as more and more organizations where find out about their status of the scholarship, I waited until, Wednesday  April 17, 2013 I got a call in the morning saying that I had gotten a promotion from dietary aid to personal care assistant. After that I went to go prom dress shopping with a couple friends and at 9:30 pm I got another call saying that I had been awarded the CBYX scholarship. I started crying, I was so happy and couldn't wait to tell my parents. It was one of the best days in my life, and also one that will forever change my life. I couldn't be more thankful for all of the support that my family and friends gave me, along with all of the help during the application process. I had to attend a conference call on Monday night where they talked about what we should expect during the trip, and what aspects of it that should make us decided whether or not to accept the scholarship. I leave for Germany in early September 2013, (and I am counting down the days.) and don't return until July 2014. Its a really long time but I cannot wait to meet new people, experience new cultures, and how other people live. I know that I'm going to miss my family and friends but I know that they will all be here when I arrive home welcoming me. This experience will give me a chance to grow and find out who I really am. Now on Saturday I have a pre-departure orientation from 8-3 with all of the local AFS members that are going abroad not just CBYX winners.
Much love,
Nola