33 DAYS

Wohooo!!! Yes as the title says 33 days till I leave for Deutschland. I'm nervous, happy, sad, but most of all excited! It's hard to actually comprehend I will be leaving and won't be back for so long. This month actually marks a year since I started investigating going to Germany, it's been so exciting to see something I've worked hard on become real.

So yes, last August I researched going to Germany. I looked into AFS(my Mutti's recommendation) and found the CBYX scholarship. In other words my lifesaver! CBYX sends 250 students from the USA to Germany each  year, 50 of them through AFS. These students program costs are completely covered, which equals around $12,500. I applied of course! I wrote numerous essays, got medical forms filled out, wrote a letter to my host family, and much more. I had an interview in February with other CBYX applicants from my state, there were 8 of us in all. I felt like I did decent except for one question. I regret not asking the panel of judges about their AFS experience. I had been so nervous I didn't even think of it.

Anyway, then the WAITING. I waited for a very long time or so it seemed. Then in April I got a email saying I had been chosen as an alternate for the scholarship. I was devastated, without the scholarship it was financially impossible for me to go. I was quite upset for about a day but then I was able to recover. I started making new plans for my blank next year when...I GOT A PHONE CALL SAYING I WAS NOW A FINALIST! I didn't even realize until after the call what this really meant. Best feeling ever.
Since then I've filled out many more forms...oh the joy of forms. I graduated high school, took a trip to Philly, hung out with friends, worked part time jobs, and lived life. I've attended numerous conference calls for CBYX and my last one is this Monday. It's on packing, the one thing I'm not looking forward to about the trip( I mean come on what if I forget something)

My next post shall be on my host family town and such. Would include it now but I'm not going to because I'm lazy :)
Tschüss!