Sunday, October 17, 2010

★16★

I have the urge to update this blog everyday! But I resist because it isn't Japan related!! I should just go use my Ameba blog...it has cool emotes too~

On my exchange I will probably be updating this as everyday with short posts, like an idol blog, and the weekly long post! Because I have wanted to do it so many times, but haven't. I'll just have to wait till I go on exchange :(

Today I received the guideline packet from AFS :)

Yesterday was my birthday!♥
I am now 16!
Now that I am 16, a lot of unlucky things have happened though D:
And I feel old. I can't imagine myself being 16, like it's some unreachable age. I feel the same way about 17 and 18, but I never thought that about 14 and 15.

My mom gave me 4 lunch boxes. The cute kind from Japan~
There are two double layer ones, both pink, one with strawberries and one with trees, and two one layer one, green plaid and birds. Because I like having cute stuff like that, whether it be a lunch box, clothing, headphones, or even a pencil, I love cute girly things~ My tastes are also a bit childish...
I got some other stuff from Japan too~
My mom recently went to San Francisco and bought me all this stuff in Japan town.
Gosh if this were Ameba I'd be adding some cute hearts and sparklies~

Photobucket

I received $100 from my Grandma as a present to put toward my full tuition. I also received $60 dollars from a group of my mom's friends. I also have $30 of my own money so far.
Only $6410 more to go! Still a lot!

I'm gonna start applying for jobs now that I'm 16. I am going to turn my application in this week for a Toy Shop at the mall that is currently hiring.

Lately I have been reading other on exchangers blogs that after a while (several months) they developed a love-hate relationship with Japan. I already have a love-hate relationship with Japan though...haha...It's the same for me with America though too. But that doesn't mean I am any less determined to go to Japan!!! :3 hehe~ がんばりま~す!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

来たっ!

It came!
My passport finally came in the mail!
Yay~ It's so thin! And it smells funny~
But my passport picture is ugly!!! D:
Very disappointed with how it turned out!
I want to retake my picture and have it be cuter -3-
But I am really excited to have it!
I get excited over silly things like this...
Like buying a new facewash, or getting a magazine in the mail. It's not something big, but I'm still excited XD
lol

Friday, October 8, 2010

Off to Japan....well my application that is.

Earlier this week I was notified by AFS that my application was submitted to AFS-Japan. I have to wait 4-6 weeks for the results. I very much hope I get in! I'm worried I won't because of spaces available. I know that about 30 kids from the US went last year. Would the USA side even accept me (and give me a scholarship) if there was no space left??

緊張しています。。。

Saturday, October 2, 2010

SCHOLARSHIP!!!!

Unfortunately, I did not receive the AFS Yoshi Hattori or Toshiyuki Tanaka Scholarships that offer a full scholarship, BUT I did get a $4000 partial scholarship to go to Japan!!! OMG, I am SOOOOOO incredibly happy right now! My parents told me that if I didn't get any kind of scholarship, I probably wouldn't be able to go abroad next year, and I would have to wait till 2012, but now I have a partial scholarship!! I am so very grateful to my scholarship sponsor! I have to meet some requirements to have the scholarship apply to my tuition though. I have to...

1. Complete the Full AFS Application and Pay the $900 tuition deposit within one month.
I've already done that though! Yay! Step 1 complete!

2. Write a thank you letter to my scholarship sponsor
I am very grateful to them, so of course this is only natural and I have no problem with it!

3. After the program consider registering with AFS as a youth volunteer or contribute in other ways to AFS
I don't know what a youth volunteer does, but it sounds fun! Maybe I could even get community service hours XD haha

4. Submit an essay to your scholarship sponsor addressing the impact of your AFS experience
Easy enough!

Optional: Launch blog
I've already done that too!

I am going to get started fundraising the rest of my tuition now!