I have one week until I leave! I just got off the plane from Chicago where I was vacationing/dropping my sister off at college. I'm glad I got to experience the RDU Airport before I use it again in six days. Now I know where to go and all that. On the flight home I had a nice chat with a plump man about how I was a leader and how education was going to save my life. He may or may not have been very drunk. I couldn't tell in the allotted time of our talk. He also may have been an angel, sent from heaven to set the prophecy of my life in order.
Gosh, I'm too plane-lagged to elaborate. Imma go take a nap.
Shout out to my Mimi if you're reading this! And to you too, Grandmother! I love you both!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Fifteen Things I Have Been Asked Repeatedly
In celebration of my imminent departure, I have comprised a list of fifteen things that have been said to me, repeatedly, ever since I announced I was going to Spain with AFS.
First off, the conversation would go a little like this: my mom and I run in to her friend at the grocery store. They say something like "this is your daughter?" and my mother responds, "yes, she is going to Spain as a foreign exchange student next year." Instant Shock. "Ohhhh my God that is wonderful!" And then they ask a whole bunch of questions, because they must know every detail. Don't get me wrong, I see no harm in asking me about a really great opurtunity that I am fortunate enough to partake in, but I have been asked these questions, always the same questions, every single day since December. If you're going to be a foreign exchange student and you're reading this, buckle up and brace yourself. Here they are.
1) You're going for the whole year? Really now, the general public finds it astonishingly hard to believe that a child such as my self, or any other person, for that matter, has the tenacity to leave good ol' Durham for a whole year. To think! The scandal!
2) Did you have to pay? Yes. I had to pay. I could've gone for a country with a scholarship but I chose the most expensive one just to spite my parents.
3)Do you come home for Christmas? Maybe it is just because I'm in the South, but some people honestly cannot comprehend that I will be away for the holidays. It would be a little dramatic to fly home for a week. Spain has Christmas, too.
4) Can your parents come visit you? Technically, they can. But there's a whole bunch of psychological stuff that says your parents visiting your new home throws you off. AFS doesn't recommend it.
5) What will you do about school? Now, that is a good one. I'm hoping to get credits for my classes in Spain--such as English as a second language--and I also took some online classes that I will miss in America. Hopefully I can come back and be a junior. Gosh, I've said that exact response so many times now it feels scripted
6) But won't you miss everyone? Of course I will. But not so much that I will turn down my year abroad. My friends and family will be there next year.
7) Isn't Spain's economy in the dumps right now? I'm surprised my friends know this. I thought I was the only one who stalked the Spanish news. Yes, Spain's economy is looking pretty bad. It is slowly improving. It will be interesting to experience.
8) Your parents let you do this? Yep.
9) Do you even speak Spanish? I've gotta admit. This one is a blow to my confidence because my Spanish is a little iffy. The asker always goes on to ask, "how many years of Spanish have you had in school?" Well, one, but my private tutoring should help a lot. The worst question is, "are you fluent?" Far from. The asker always reassures me, "I'm sure you'll learn super fast once you're there." Let's hope.
10) Will school be taught in Spanish? ....Yes. Is school in America taught in English? I suppose it is a likely possibility that I'll go to an American school in Madrid, or a bilingual school, but I prefer to rough it with the natives.
11) Will you, like, live with a family? Ahaha. This question is usually asked by my high school friends, bless their hearts. Obviously you know by now that I'm living with the Ballarin Sansonettis.
12) Have you ever been to Spain? Nope. So it better be pretty darn great there.
13) Will you pick up a cute Spanish boy? I'm sure not everyone there is a complete Lothario.
14) You'll be so tan when you get home! This is real. People think I'll be spending all of my time on the beach.
15) What if you get, like, kidnapped or something. I sure hope not.
So, just one more warning. If you are going abroad next year, you will be asked these to the point of insanity. But also excitement.
First off, the conversation would go a little like this: my mom and I run in to her friend at the grocery store. They say something like "this is your daughter?" and my mother responds, "yes, she is going to Spain as a foreign exchange student next year." Instant Shock. "Ohhhh my God that is wonderful!" And then they ask a whole bunch of questions, because they must know every detail. Don't get me wrong, I see no harm in asking me about a really great opurtunity that I am fortunate enough to partake in, but I have been asked these questions, always the same questions, every single day since December. If you're going to be a foreign exchange student and you're reading this, buckle up and brace yourself. Here they are.
1) You're going for the whole year? Really now, the general public finds it astonishingly hard to believe that a child such as my self, or any other person, for that matter, has the tenacity to leave good ol' Durham for a whole year. To think! The scandal!
2) Did you have to pay? Yes. I had to pay. I could've gone for a country with a scholarship but I chose the most expensive one just to spite my parents.
3)Do you come home for Christmas? Maybe it is just because I'm in the South, but some people honestly cannot comprehend that I will be away for the holidays. It would be a little dramatic to fly home for a week. Spain has Christmas, too.
4) Can your parents come visit you? Technically, they can. But there's a whole bunch of psychological stuff that says your parents visiting your new home throws you off. AFS doesn't recommend it.
5) What will you do about school? Now, that is a good one. I'm hoping to get credits for my classes in Spain--such as English as a second language--and I also took some online classes that I will miss in America. Hopefully I can come back and be a junior. Gosh, I've said that exact response so many times now it feels scripted
6) But won't you miss everyone? Of course I will. But not so much that I will turn down my year abroad. My friends and family will be there next year.
7) Isn't Spain's economy in the dumps right now? I'm surprised my friends know this. I thought I was the only one who stalked the Spanish news. Yes, Spain's economy is looking pretty bad. It is slowly improving. It will be interesting to experience.
8) Your parents let you do this? Yep.
9) Do you even speak Spanish? I've gotta admit. This one is a blow to my confidence because my Spanish is a little iffy. The asker always goes on to ask, "how many years of Spanish have you had in school?" Well, one, but my private tutoring should help a lot. The worst question is, "are you fluent?" Far from. The asker always reassures me, "I'm sure you'll learn super fast once you're there." Let's hope.
10) Will school be taught in Spanish? ....Yes. Is school in America taught in English? I suppose it is a likely possibility that I'll go to an American school in Madrid, or a bilingual school, but I prefer to rough it with the natives.
11) Will you, like, live with a family? Ahaha. This question is usually asked by my high school friends, bless their hearts. Obviously you know by now that I'm living with the Ballarin Sansonettis.
12) Have you ever been to Spain? Nope. So it better be pretty darn great there.
13) Will you pick up a cute Spanish boy? I'm sure not everyone there is a complete Lothario.
14) You'll be so tan when you get home! This is real. People think I'll be spending all of my time on the beach.
15) What if you get, like, kidnapped or something. I sure hope not.
So, just one more warning. If you are going abroad next year, you will be asked these to the point of insanity. But also excitement.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Two Weeks
It's official. I have (roughly) two weeks until I get on a plane for Madrid. Well, actually a plane to NY, NY to meet up with AFS and THEN on a plane to...Zurich, Switzerland. BUT AFTER THAT I FLY TO MADRID where I have a two day orientation before meeting my host family....anyways, the clock is ticking.
I got my Visa in the mail. Oh gosh, I cannot express how much of a relief it is to have my passport back. Turns out the Visa is just a page on my passport, with many blank available pages for further study abroad options. It's really cool looking. Seriously, I applaud Spain for making such an intricate design with the repeated word "Europe." I would upload a picture to show off, but that's probably illegal in some way or the other.
Well. That's all for now. I would just like to make the statement that the person/thing/place I will miss most while I'm gone is Suki, my cat. (My parents will be fine.)
I got my Visa in the mail. Oh gosh, I cannot express how much of a relief it is to have my passport back. Turns out the Visa is just a page on my passport, with many blank available pages for further study abroad options. It's really cool looking. Seriously, I applaud Spain for making such an intricate design with the repeated word "Europe." I would upload a picture to show off, but that's probably illegal in some way or the other.
Well. That's all for now. I would just like to make the statement that the person/thing/place I will miss most while I'm gone is Suki, my cat. (My parents will be fine.)
Sunday, August 5, 2012
One Month
Today marks one month until my departure for New York. I guess you could say that it's getting more real. The other day my Father and I went to get my awesome Samsonite suitcase. Seriously, the thing is like armor. And it was half off $380 at the Macy's! I'm attempting a 'pre-packing' packing run. Basically, I'm starting to choose what clothes and belongings I have to leave behind. While it sort of sucks, it's also kind of great, because I'll have to buy a whole new wardrobe in MADRID, SPAIN. Madrid is like, the shopping capital of Europe. Or of Spain, at least.
I've also FINALLY started Spanish tutoring. Three times a weeks for a couple hours at Starbucks, I meet with a girl with Cuban heritage and we go over how to say "I went to the mall yesterday." I know that verb conjugations probably aren't going to help me in the real world, but the tutoring is more for piece-of-mind. I use this company for all of my tricky subjects http://www.peer2peertutors.com/ and they're really great.
I finished my online English class last week, which is nice. No more three hours a day of sitting at my computer, yepee! I get credit for the class since it's from NC public schools. I'm trying to get credit for my year abroad so I can come back and be a junior. I need to take Calculus and Chemistry in Spain, and then maybe Civics and Economics, AP Gov, and some other Advanced Placements online next summer before school. I just reallllly hope I don't have to repeat a grade.
Oh, one more thing. I have no idea where I'll be going to school next year. Most of the other students know, but my host family doesn't know and AFS has sent me no word. I wouldn't be too worried, except that I plan to enroll in Bachillerato de Uno, the grade above the one I should be in, instead of Cuatro de ESO, or whatever it's called. I am concerned because I think these two grades are divided like high school and middle school, and may be in separate buildings/schools. So I don't want to get to Spain and be sent to Cuatro de ESO, because I doubt that grade has Calculus and Chemistry.
Oh, well. I'm sure it'll all work out in the end. Just make the most of it, Vivian. You're in the capital of Southern Europe, how bad can it be?
Until next time,
Vivian.
I've also FINALLY started Spanish tutoring. Three times a weeks for a couple hours at Starbucks, I meet with a girl with Cuban heritage and we go over how to say "I went to the mall yesterday." I know that verb conjugations probably aren't going to help me in the real world, but the tutoring is more for piece-of-mind. I use this company for all of my tricky subjects http://www.peer2peertutors.com/ and they're really great.
I finished my online English class last week, which is nice. No more three hours a day of sitting at my computer, yepee! I get credit for the class since it's from NC public schools. I'm trying to get credit for my year abroad so I can come back and be a junior. I need to take Calculus and Chemistry in Spain, and then maybe Civics and Economics, AP Gov, and some other Advanced Placements online next summer before school. I just reallllly hope I don't have to repeat a grade.
Oh, one more thing. I have no idea where I'll be going to school next year. Most of the other students know, but my host family doesn't know and AFS has sent me no word. I wouldn't be too worried, except that I plan to enroll in Bachillerato de Uno, the grade above the one I should be in, instead of Cuatro de ESO, or whatever it's called. I am concerned because I think these two grades are divided like high school and middle school, and may be in separate buildings/schools. So I don't want to get to Spain and be sent to Cuatro de ESO, because I doubt that grade has Calculus and Chemistry.
Oh, well. I'm sure it'll all work out in the end. Just make the most of it, Vivian. You're in the capital of Southern Europe, how bad can it be?
Until next time,
Vivian.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)