I say 50 !

Hey y’all!

I haven’t been writing here for quite some days, but now that I’ve got holidays, I’M FREAKIN’ READY!
50 days left and I’m happier than ever!

So what’s new to tell? I’ve already got to know some people who are flying with me on August 10^th. We’re all going to be in New York for 3 days so we’ll be able to prepare, get to know and sightsee a bit, and then on August 13^th I’m going to fly to Oklahoma.

I’m so excited to go to New York! Since I’ve never really travelled before, I’m already excited about flying, but I mean, c’mon, it’s NEW YORK! I hope I will be able to save some money during the holidays so I can spend it in NY later on.

I think school begins on August 18^th.  I don’t know in which grade I’m going to be enrolled yet, though. On the sheet from my organization I named that I wanna be enrolled in class 12 (because some of my teachers recommended me to choose a higher level and said that it was easier to take a lower course later on than the other way around); I’m not sure in which grade I will be placed eventually but I will tell you as soon as I get the information.

Speaking of my organization, I don’t think I’ve written anything about it here yet. So, I’m going to fly with Kaplan, whose central office is in Frankfurt. Having gotten a scholarship, I was assigned to them, and I am really satisfied and content with them so far! We already had a preparation meeting with about 30 other exchange students some weeks ago, and it was fairly interesting! It’s helped me pretty much that some retournees were there, too! They were willing to share everything of their experience just as much as Kaplan was ready to answer every of the questions asked by us! Everyone was really kind, and I’m still in contact with some retournees and other students I met that day. Great people, that’s all I have to say!

I’m still in touch with my host family, we’re e-mailing/writing on facebook almost every day. I don’t write just with my host mom, dad and sis, but also with many other people like my host grandma, cousin, and with some friends of the family. Everyone is being SO amazingly kind and I have absolutely no doubt that I will love all of them when I actually get there. 

On top of that, I’ve just got access to view a sheet that was filled out by my host family. It it so great to get to know even more about their expectations and my new home! Reading this made me really happy; I’ve especially loved the photos of them, our house and my room that were attached. I have to ask my host mom whether it’s okay to post them here, if yes, I will totally do so.

Oh, by the way, concerning the map I posted earlier, my host mom told me that it’s not quite right, because we do have a shipping address of Newalla, but we don’t actually live there, just near there. But I think for an approximate overview it’s okay.

David, my host dad, told me that we have to go white water rafting when we get to visit my host brother in Colorado. I’m pumped already; such a great offer! This sounds like so much fun, and I can’t wait to see some states besides Oklahoma. Kacy even told me it was no problem for her to take me with her to Texas (where her boyfriend lives); that’s like the best thing ever! I’ve always wanted to go to Texas because I LOVE that state!

And oh my God, I haven’t told you the best thing yet. My host family made it possible for me to attend a Sugarland concert on October 8^th!! I’M FREAKIN’! They also like this band, and since I’m in love with them, we’re all going! SO HAPPYY!!!

Seriously, this is going to be my best year EVER. Although I know I’m going to miss everyone here, especially my closest friends & family members. Having counted the days down beginning from 100 days, and having arrived at day number 50 now, I’ve only realized once again how time flies. I don’t know whether I should be happy about that or not, but whatever. I know that with everything that will happen, you have to take things as they come & live in the present. So I’m just going to enjoy my anticipation!

Talk to you soon,

Anja xoxo

P.S. Kaplan currently hosts a contest, and you can win a 4 week trip to San Francisco! SCORE! So what are you waiting for? There you go: CLICK HERE

71 days left - EXCITED !

Helloo, helloooo :)

So at first, thanks for following me or at least for reading my first blog entry! It's really kind that you obviously want to follow the process of my exchange year!

With this blog I intend to keep y'all (my friends, family, internet friends all over the world etc.) updated referred to my exchange year in the USA! I write this blog in english because A. I also want my english friends to have the possibility to follow me, B. when I'll actually be in America I won't want to constantly switch from English to German and C. because I freakin' love the language. So either take it or leave it! ;)

However, I'm going to start talking about my exchange year now. :P

First off - woohoo, I was placed in Oklahoma! Okay, Oklahoma wouldn't have been my first choice, but I still think it's awesome! I urgently wanted to go somewhere to the Southern States, and that's where I got, so yeeha! 

I was told where I'll stay about 5 weeks ago, but I got the permission to contact my host family only 6 days ago.

And, of course, I immediately did contact them. I'm going to live in a rural setting which is about 30 minutes far from Oklahoma City, the capital city of Oklahoma, the village is called "Newalla". My school, which is called "Moore High School", is about 30 minutes from our house, too. 

 

Here you can see Newalla (red), Oklahoma City (purple) and my school's town, Moore (yellow).

In the middle you can see the Airport; I guess this is the airport they'll pick me up at.

I know, Oklahoma looks really countryish, and in fact it is, haha. But, omg, my host mom told me that they had 5 acres of land (which is about 20234.282 m² !!)! That is quite a LOT, but since I love rustic areas I think it sounds totally cool, and I'm pumped! Additionally, she told me that my host grandmother lived pretty close to us and that she had many animals like cows, donkeys and a horse, which is so AWESOME !

About my host family there's a lot to say, too. My host mother is 52 years old, my host dad is 53 years old and I've also got a host sister, who is 22 years old. I already contacted my host mom via e-mail, and I write with Kacy (my host sister) on facebook every day. They've got two dogs, including one Lab, and some chickens.

Moreover, some other family members wrote to me, too, and everyone is being soo nice and communicative! I'm totally happy and really glad that I'll soon be part of such a sweet family!

My only fear is that I'll be extremely dependent on cars to get to any place, which Kacy told me also was the biggest struggle for their former exchange students (they had already had 2 exchange students). But well, I love the countryside, so I think I won't run out of activities.

Well, there's so much more to tell about my family, but in fact I think it would be way too much if I posted all iof the nformation on here. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask (for example you can write me on facebook or simply leave a comment under this post).

Today I realized once more how glad I am to finally get the possibility to get OUTTA HERE. I mean, not just because of my village, but because of some people, too. I'm eager to get to know new people and to simply have a new start with 'em. No prejudice, no old afflictions - just new people that don't have a fixed image of you in their minds. 

Although the realization of how much I'll miss my family and my friends increases from day to day, too. I still can't imagine not seeing them for about a year. 

However, now that all of the tests are over, there's no obstacle anymore - America, GET READY !! 71 days!

Sidenote: When listening to the song "Wide Open" by Sugarland, I'm always somehow reminded of my exchange year and what's awaiting me. If you want to listen to it, too, click here.