11 days left with my family! Crazy to say that. I've started my goodbyes, my best friend went up to college the other day and I had to say goodbye to her until next year. It was sad but I'm also excited to see were our lives will take us in the next year. So many good things have happened within the past week. I won a fish at a fair, second time I have won fish within the past month. 3 in total and my dad was not happy because he has to take care of them while I'm in Germany.
But the reason I really wanted to blog was so everyone could know that I finally have a host family!
I will be living in Wolfenbüttel, Lower Saxony, Germany. I have a Dad, Mom and 3 sisters. The ages of my sisters are 25, 23, and 18 (my age). I'm glad I have a sister that's my age. My sister that is 25 goes to university and lives on her own so I will be living in her bedroom. This family seems like a lot of fun. In their application letter I read about how they like to go biking and walking. My mom does a lot of volunteer work throughout the community, she even helps teach sports. I know it will be easy for me to participate in sports. My dad does research for infection control, which I think is cool. I won't get to be with my permanant host family until the end of the first week in October because I go to a language camp in Celle, Germany and I will be living with a welcome host family. Either way I'm sure I get to meet so many new people and I'm so excited to be there.
I just want to leave now.
I started packing and it is hard. I have no idea what to take what to leave.... UGHHHH!
Anyways I can't wait for everything to fall into place.
ONLY 11 MORE DAYS UNTIL I CAN OFFICIAL SAY I'M ON THE CBYX PROGRAM!!!!!
I remember starting my countdown with over 70+ days on it. Where does the time go!
Friday, August 23, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Blogging
Well it seems that everytime I'm at work I sit here and blog.
I KNOW WHAT YOUR THINKING: << I'm not very productive >> but in my defence its 12pm at night and I'm here until 6am. Not much to do when your at work and the only person you have to take care of is sound asleep in the other room.
So while I'm at work I stalk old blogs of people that have already been in Germany or are there right now; this is me trying to prepare myself.
So when I came on to look at my blog I realized that the last time I blogged my countdown was at 78 days until Germany. When I look at my countdown its at
47 days! Its crazy how fast those past 31 days have went by! These next ones are going to go so fast because I'm going to be soooo busy. My graduation party is this Sunday, I'm also using it as a part of a goodbye party. Saving all this money for Germany because then I can have more fun :-) Or shop more atleast ;-)
I have 3 more weeks of work then I go to Conneaut Lake with my family for vacation for a week starting the month of August The following week I have my vacation to ocean city with a group of my friends. I'm so excited. I've been feeling so drained and over work lately. Then two weeks after that I'll be in the car ride to Washington D.C.
ON ANOTHER NOTE: Since I am used to working 10pm-6am I think that my jet-lag after the plane ride isn't going to be as bad as the others. YAY for working the night shift.
I didn't really have much to blog about. Got some more forms from AFS
I was accepted from AFS Germany a while ago. I'm good on vaccines. Everything is falling into place the only thing that needs to happen sooner is the month of July needs to end because I also know one thing for sure.
I will also enjoy not working while I'm in Germany. Two jobs since I was 16 really beat the "I want to work" thing out of me.
Until next time :-*
Nola
I KNOW WHAT YOUR THINKING: << I'm not very productive >> but in my defence its 12pm at night and I'm here until 6am. Not much to do when your at work and the only person you have to take care of is sound asleep in the other room.
So while I'm at work I stalk old blogs of people that have already been in Germany or are there right now; this is me trying to prepare myself.
So when I came on to look at my blog I realized that the last time I blogged my countdown was at 78 days until Germany. When I look at my countdown its at
47 days! Its crazy how fast those past 31 days have went by! These next ones are going to go so fast because I'm going to be soooo busy. My graduation party is this Sunday, I'm also using it as a part of a goodbye party. Saving all this money for Germany because then I can have more fun :-) Or shop more atleast ;-)
I have 3 more weeks of work then I go to Conneaut Lake with my family for vacation for a week starting the month of August The following week I have my vacation to ocean city with a group of my friends. I'm so excited. I've been feeling so drained and over work lately. Then two weeks after that I'll be in the car ride to Washington D.C.
ON ANOTHER NOTE: Since I am used to working 10pm-6am I think that my jet-lag after the plane ride isn't going to be as bad as the others. YAY for working the night shift.
I didn't really have much to blog about. Got some more forms from AFS
I was accepted from AFS Germany a while ago. I'm good on vaccines. Everything is falling into place the only thing that needs to happen sooner is the month of July needs to end because I also know one thing for sure.
I will also enjoy not working while I'm in Germany. Two jobs since I was 16 really beat the "I want to work" thing out of me.
Until next time :-*
Nola
Sunday, June 16, 2013
The countdown begins
Today on one of the groups for CBYX recipients a girl from AFS posted saying that we will start the program, which starts when we get in Washington DC for our three day orientation on September 3rd and then we depart the USA on September 6th arrival in Germany on September 7th. So with that I am no able to start and official countdown until I am no longer on American Soil! :)
No word on a host family, but I don't mind. I'm sure where ever I go it will be amazing & I'll have an amazing family. I also just set my date for my graduation party I set it in late July so it could also be kind of like a goodbye party since a lot of family and friends are out of town and leaving for college in early August.
So as for my summer goes I'm trying to practice some German, I know a few sentences but still not enough to even get me around if I was lost. I'm going to keep practicing this summer. I also have been working a lot and weird shifts I might add. My next shift on this coming Tuesday from 10pm-11:30am the next day it stinks but I'm making lots of money I can save up and enjoy using while I'm in Germany! :) When I'm not at work I've been doing many different things like I just ran & finished my first 5k it was so much fun & I'm so proud of myself. (I'm the third from the left see picture below)(#8740)
This 5k is where you run and as you are running they throw colored cornstarch at you. It was really fun and I had a great time doing it. I hope I can find some more like this. Maybe they have some in Germany? Maybe be able to talk my host family into doing it. These types of runs aren't competitive just fun, thats what I liked most about it beside that my registration money some of the money goes to the Ronald McDonald's House of Charities. I think its a great thing, and it helps get people health.
SO ABOUT MY COUNTDOWN HERE IT IS! :)
78 DAYS
No word on a host family, but I don't mind. I'm sure where ever I go it will be amazing & I'll have an amazing family. I also just set my date for my graduation party I set it in late July so it could also be kind of like a goodbye party since a lot of family and friends are out of town and leaving for college in early August.
So as for my summer goes I'm trying to practice some German, I know a few sentences but still not enough to even get me around if I was lost. I'm going to keep practicing this summer. I also have been working a lot and weird shifts I might add. My next shift on this coming Tuesday from 10pm-11:30am the next day it stinks but I'm making lots of money I can save up and enjoy using while I'm in Germany! :) When I'm not at work I've been doing many different things like I just ran & finished my first 5k it was so much fun & I'm so proud of myself. (I'm the third from the left see picture below)(#8740)
SO ABOUT MY COUNTDOWN HERE IT IS! :)
78 DAYS
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Graduated!
So the other day I completed high school (American), because next year I will be going to high school in germany but I figured I'd post a few photos of family and friends so you all can see a little more of me.
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| My friends Devin and Matt |
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| Before graduation, my friend Dakota |
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| Dakota and Arlainia |
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| My big brother Travis |
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| Some friends from school |
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| My whole family |
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| Heather and Kaylin |
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| Jt |
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| Best friend since 5th grade, Amanda |
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| Dakota and Ali |
Thursday, May 30, 2013
UPDATE :-)
Okay so right now I'm pretty much playing the waiting game with everything, I'm pretty good at it though ;-)
I recently got an email and AFS Germany had requested somethings to be re scanned, no big deal. Got all of that completed. AFS in Germany is now looking for host families for all of the exchange students.
--Although I wish I knew where in Germany I will be living I will be patient because these things take time and you can't rush a masterpiece, right?
So today is my last day of my senior year of high school, in America. I am excited to begin school in Germany and learn how the school systems are different!
I recently got a new job, well actually just started doing a newer thing, it pays more, which means I can save more money for Germany. I'm now a personal care assistant through senior independence. I take care of the clients of senior independence its a really good job.
Since I already had my PDO up until I go to DC we will have those monthly conference calls. Its the end of may, haven't heard anything about one in June yet. Its always interesting listening to all of the information they give you during those conference calls.
As for my host family gifts I found little packets of little american flags, cheap, and I figured my future family might like it. There is lots of american flag stuff out due to memorial day.
Some other things I learned for a packing list, which I semi-started... is that in Germany Ibuprofen and other pain relievers.
When I sit here and mentally prepare myself things that I know that I will always need to remember is that no matter how much I will sit there missing my family, or upset because something happened that I wished hadn't happened all I need to do is sit there and remember
IF ANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS I SUGGEST YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AMAZING PROGRAMS THEY OFFER:
go to:
afsusa.org and check them out. It may change your life!
xoxo, Nola
I recently got an email and AFS Germany had requested somethings to be re scanned, no big deal. Got all of that completed. AFS in Germany is now looking for host families for all of the exchange students.
--Although I wish I knew where in Germany I will be living I will be patient because these things take time and you can't rush a masterpiece, right?
So today is my last day of my senior year of high school, in America. I am excited to begin school in Germany and learn how the school systems are different!
I recently got a new job, well actually just started doing a newer thing, it pays more, which means I can save more money for Germany. I'm now a personal care assistant through senior independence. I take care of the clients of senior independence its a really good job.
Since I already had my PDO up until I go to DC we will have those monthly conference calls. Its the end of may, haven't heard anything about one in June yet. Its always interesting listening to all of the information they give you during those conference calls.
As for my host family gifts I found little packets of little american flags, cheap, and I figured my future family might like it. There is lots of american flag stuff out due to memorial day.
Some other things I learned for a packing list, which I semi-started... is that in Germany Ibuprofen and other pain relievers.
When I sit here and mentally prepare myself things that I know that I will always need to remember is that no matter how much I will sit there missing my family, or upset because something happened that I wished hadn't happened all I need to do is sit there and remember
I am blessed to have this amazing opportunity and it is once-in-a-lifetime thing. Something many others can say they have never done or never will get to do.I just want to take this time to thanks the sponsors of the CBYX program, AFS USA, and AFS Germany without all of your hardwork, the volunteers, host families, and other connections this awesome experience wouldn't be possible!
IF ANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS I SUGGEST YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AMAZING PROGRAMS THEY OFFER:
go to:
afsusa.org and check them out. It may change your life!
xoxo, Nola
Sunday, April 28, 2013
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.
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.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
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.
-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.
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