So, I decided today to share with you all how I got from being a normal teenager in New Jersey to preparing to live in Italy for 6 months. In short, my AFS journey. :)
It all began exactly one year ago. It was just a normal day, I was relaxing and doing my thing. Suddenly, I heard a friend of mine say "God, I just can't WAIT to go to Italy!" It sounded like an interesting conversation, so I joined. When I asked her why she was going to Italy, she told me she'd be studying abroad in Italy for the second semester of her junior year through the AFS program. I could slightly remember her saying something about studying abroad before, but I wasn't quite sure. I, of course, gushed on "how cool it'd be to study abroad in Italy" and how I was "soooooo jealous of her and hoped she had a good time." Fast forward a couple months, and it was a boring Saturday morning. I was home alone, nothing good was on TV and I felt like I needed to do something! So, of course....I surfed Facebook. -____- anddddd.....I came across my friend's most recent Facebook status. Low and behold, it was about Italy! It peaked my interest, and I had nothing better to do, so I pulled up afsusa.org and began reading. And reading. And reading. And READING. Ladies and Gentlemen, I was on that website for 4 hours!!! And I absolutely fell in love with the program. I quickly filled out the request sheet for a catalog and began writing down important facts. I made a decision that day. No matter what, I was going to Italy. Soon after I got the catalog, I began to drop hints about studying abroad to my mother. She was pretty hesitant, but supportive. She discussed it a bit with my Dad, in order to warm him up for my "presentation". You see, I really wanted to go abroad. And when I really want something, I become so what of an overachiever. So, I did a bunch of research on AFS, which resulted in a 42 page power point. Yeah. If anyone is reading this and wondering how to convince their parents to let them study abroad, watch for my next post, I'll put it up for ya! :) Anyways, I sat down one night, and asked if my dad could watch my powerpoint and decide if I could send in my preliminary application, which was due that night. Surprisingly, he said yes - and didn't even see the powerpoint! I was kinda disappointed that he didn't look at the powerpoint, seeing as I had put SO much work into it, but my excitement at having permission to study abroad far exceeded that! :D The past 10 months have been a whirlwind of guidence department meetings, rushing to meet deadlines, and stressing out about grades. But this Wednesday, when I get to Doubletree hotel and officially begin the AFS study abroad program, it'll all be worth it.
This past week has been the beginning of the end for me in so many ways. I've started packing, getting my school work done, finishing classes. I've begun to say goodbye to friends that I won't see again till school starts in September. Today, the 4th grade sunday school class I assistant teach threw me a little going away party, complete with a very cute bag, chocolate cake, and a homemade card shaped like a heart. I've been with these kids since they were in second grade and I've come to think of them as "my kids". I don't know what it's gonna be like waking up on sundays and not being able to go and see what kind of things they're gonna do today. And next year, I'm going to have my last year with them, me being a senior and them being 5th graders. I don't know if I'll be able to say good bye to them again.
Honestly, besides realizing that I won't be able to see my kids once a week, it hasn't truly hit me that I'm really going to Italy. I'm not crying. I'm not nervous. I'm not getting homesick. I'm...indifferent. It doesn't feel like I'm actually leaving. Which, I guess, is normal for me. Usually, it doesn't hit me that something is happening until after it's already happened. So, expect a post in about a month with me freaking out. :P
Now that I am in the final crunch, expect more frequent posts. I right to vent, so I'll be frequently updating, telling you guys what's what. Comment if you have any questions or just want to say hi!
La vita รจ bella.
Jacki
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