Returnee Initiative and YES/CBYX Departure Orientation

 AFS events never cease to be amazing. I've been home for two days and I already miss being around other exchange students so much.This was the first time I went to this big of an AFS orientation and I really hope I will be able to attend more of these orientations in the future.

The first four days of my stay in D.C. were part of the returnee integration conference. I was focused on the returnee ambassador track so I got to work on giving presentations about my AFS experience. Now that I got to experience this conference I'm looking forward to my continual involvement with AFS!

The last five days of my stay in D.C. were spent volunteering at the YES and CBYX end of stay orientation. I can honestly say that it was honestly one of the most amazing weeks of my life. This is my first summer in two year not doing a study abroad program, but spending a week around more than 450 international students was just as fun. I was a group leader for the CBYX kids, but I also got to spend time around the YES kids. The orientation was focused on getting the kids prepared for going home and giving them an idea of how to handle reverse culture shock and the different circumstances they are going to face when they get home.

The two German Philipps and Sasha

In addition we got to visit the Department of State and the students had a question and answer session while we were there. Many students also got to visit their embassies or host state representative.

One of my favorite parts was the culture show on the final night. Each country put together a performance that ranged from traditional country songs and dances, a Nelson Mandela memorial, and the famous azonto dance.

At the Department of State

After spending nine days around so many amazing students and volunteers I have only become more excited for my year abroad in Morocco. I'm down to 74 days left in the states an I'm so grateful to be having all of these amazing experiences!

The Graduate

       High School is finally over. I am beyond relieved and excited for everything that is coming up in my life, but I know that graduations still has not quite hit me. Even though I have been looking forward to life after high school for quite awhile now, I know that a great part of my life is also ending. I'm not necessarily going to miss high school itself, but I will always remember the amazing experiences I had abroad and the people in my life that were always there supporting me during high school.

      Now that high school is over I just feel a big relief and I am looking forward to spending the coming year in Morocco!

Amazing Monday or What?

   Today was Earth day so it was already pretty exciting to begin with, but I got some pretty incredible news! I GOT ACCEPTED INTO THE ARABIC YEAR PROGRAM!!!! I'm going to be in Marrakesh, Morocco next year!

Continue Funding for State Department Exchange Programs!

Hello everyone! As you know through following my blog, State Department Foreign exchange programs have added so much to my life, and provided me with many amazing new opportunities. These programs provide students with opportunities that wouldn't be possible otherwise.

Right now there's going to be a hearing for continuing to fund state department foreign exchange programs. The Senate State-Foreign Operations appropriations subcommittee will hold its first hearing on funding for these programs tomorrow (Thursday, April 18th).

If you could take a few minutes out of your day to message your congressional representative, it would mean SO much to me and all the students who partake in these programs.

Click on the link for information on how to message your congressional representatives, urging them to support these programs:

http://capwiz.com/alliance-exchange/issues/alert/?alertid=62590541&PROCESS=Take+Action.

Thank you so much!

AFS Ashoka Youth Venture Week!

Dinosaur at the Smithsonian museum of natural history

 Two weeks ago I got to go to Washington D.C. for the AFS Ashoka Youth Venture workshops. My flight on Wednesday got delayed due to the "snowquester" (that didn't even happen), but I still managed to arrive right as Wednesday was ending. Many people had issues with delayed flights so instead of spending the first day in workshops I got to explore D.C. which included going to the D.C. 'mall,' going to two of the Smithsonian museums, checking out George Washington University, and going to Chinatown. I also got to go to Georgetown University before I left for my flight and the campus was gorgeous! Spending that day exploring D.C. has only made me want to live in D.C. more and I feel so lucky to have received this opportunity from AFS.

The Hope Diamond!

My day exploring ended with an "international fair" and it was amazing how well each country set up its stand. There were YES alumnus from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia so I got to practice quite a bit of Arabic while I was at the conference. The following days I went to the Ashoka offices and the workshops were absolutely incredible! In a nutshell (this is going to be the best quick summary I can give sorry, but three full days of workshop is hard to fit in) AFS is incorporating the ideas of initiating community projects from the Ashoka Youth Venture and is now going to encourage students while they are on study abroad and upon their return home to create a project that will create good in their community. I am so excited to begin to initiating this in the San Antonio chapter and wherever else in the world I end up being with AFS. This workshop was an incredible learning opportunity and it has taught me many things in regards to brainstorming and successfully focusing in on one specific project. I look forward to seeing the new and amazing things AFS students and volunteers will be doing!
      The good news of this month is that I was chosen for the AFS volunteer of the month spotlight! The article can be found here http://afsvolunteerblog.org/?p=40650
      Also, I am currently I a patiently waiting for:
       1. My Middlebury admissions status that will be released this 
Saturday!
       2. My NSLI-Y notification could arrive anytime until the end of April, but Arabic summer and Russian summer students already received good news so notification season has officially begun!
       3. I had my CBYX interview last week and now I am simply waiting to hear back.
        4. I will know about the admissions statuses for all of the colleges I applied to by April 1st! I know it's soon, but I can't believe the wait is nearly over.

Send as many good vibes my way as possible! Inshallah I'll have more good things to report on soon!
      

CBYX

     More good news! Today I found out that I am a semi-finalist for CBYX!!!! In my region 134 people applied and 64 students were chosen to move onto the semi-final stage. I will be hearing about my interview soon, and once the interview is over it will all be a matter of waiting. These next few months are full of finding out what the future holds for me, and I am looking forward to knowing with a surety how I will spend my first year after I graduate.Wish me luck!

Spanish Spelling Success

     This weekend I reached the pinnacle of my status as a language nerd. I won first place in the San Antonio Spanish Spelling bee. Each year teachers select two students from their school to represent the school in the spelling bee, one for the native category and one for the non-native category. The non-native category is defined as students who were not born in a Spanish speaking country. Even though it seems that the non-native category would be easier it was actually the one that lasted longer because non-native students tend to study more since they are not as comfortable with the language.
   I won through two words: otorrinolaringólogo and sanguijuela. The girl that received second place misspelled otorrinolaringólogo, luckily my mom had drilled that word into my head and made sure that I could spell it in my sleep forwards and backwards. After that I was given sanguijuela and it was all over.
    I am so grateful that my Spanish teacher opened up this opportunity for me and for the various people that helped me practice. All of those practices truly paid off and I feel so lucky to have this experience my senior year!