Almost 3 weeks

This blogging thing probably won't work out. I'm WAY too lazy, just check my facebook instead.
Anyway I've been here almost 3 weeks and it's already had it's ups and downs. My first week here was not that great and I was very homesick. Second week things started out good and stayed okay. Week 3 looks like it will be very good and fun! I now have a group of friends and it really makes all the difference plus this weekend I have an AFS orientation with all the other people here in the Netherlands. I'm sooo excited because all of the American AFSers are really close and I can't wait to hear about all of their experiences so far.
Right now I'm in my second week of school. School is so much different but I think I'm getting the hang of it (hopefully...). The schedule is different every day and I have to be at school and get out at different times every day. I'm taking a LOT of classes so I'll just explain each one (Don't know whats going on most of time anyway)
Nederlands - Dutch. Enough said. Very boring because I just sit there and have to do my stupid dutch AFS worksheets. poopy class
Geschiedenis- History. Right now we are watching a movie (Valkyrie) so I actually know whats going on because movies here are in English with Dutch subtitles.
Wiskunde - Math. I'm really good at math but all we do is FREAKING WORD PROBLEMS!!! WHYYYYY?
Levensbeschowing - Religion. This class seems really interesting. Too bad I can't understand any of it. The teacher gives me work in English though so it's all good.
Gym - Same. Stupid I don't like sports.
Maatschappijleer - Society and current events. Seems interesting I can do some of the work though the teacher usually explains it to me after class.
Frans - French. Okay foriegn language I don't know taught in a foriegn language I don't know. Why I'm in this class I don't know.
Muziek - Music. I can follow along because I already know everything he teaches us (Middle c, really??)
Engles - English. My favorite class because I can actually be a student and participate.

I might be missing one but I think that's it.
In the time being things are looking great and I hope everything works out well.

Berlin and Bass Guitars

My host fam found me a bass!!!!!! They are so sweet! I can't wait to meet them!
I'm also going to Berlin on September 14 for three days with my class!!!

What else...
I started a Rosetta Stone Dutch program. It's actually really fun and I've learned alot from it.
Thanks Carlo :P

Almost a week til I go to Santa Fe!!!

Doei!

For the lesser informed...

Alright here's the latest:

• SCHOOL!!!! Just picked out some of my classes, for next year. School starts on August 30, and we will be taking a class trip to Berlin for three days during my third week!!! I'm REALLY looking forward to that. My school is called Elzendaal College and it's in the city of Boxmeer. http://www.elzendaalcollege.nl/ That's the school's website. Beware though, it's all in Dutch....
• Also here is the website for the town I'll be in, Ven-Zelderheide. http://www.ven-zelderheide.nl/ It's all in Dutch too....

Even newer news

So today I got my flight schedule!!!!!! YAY, it's all getting so real!
Anyways I will be leaving on the 18 of august, but it is mandatory that I be in NYC on the 17. That day I have a big orientation, which is also really exciting because they're really fun!
So from NYC I will be flying to Reykjavik! YES! ICELAND! Kind of random I know.
From Iceland I go to Amsterdam!!!!!!!!
And in Amsterdam I have a four day long orientation.
Not exactly sure whats going to happen after the orientation though, my host fam will still be on vacation so I will have a temp host fam. So we will see...

Tot Ziens!

News

Okay so these are the latest developments:

MY TUITION HAS BEEN PAID!!!!!!!!! I was succesful in raising 2,000 dollars towards my tuition with everyone's help! Thank you so much:
Lewis Kirk & Family
Carson Family
Gilbert Kirk
Stancie Chamberlain & Dan Guittierez
Monica Savino & Dustin Aldridge
Jim Garrett & Christine Becker
Melinda & Lee Hipp
Auchter Family
Anderson Family
Jeff Robinson
Dixie Waters
Stephen Lanb
Mark Barnette
Will Samson
Lucy Bujnoch
Brad White
Cynthia Hallowell
Becker family
David Markham
Virginia Hostetter
Joanne "Chicks" McGowan
Allen Barnhill

Hmm what else.... I've been chatting with my host fam and they are great!
SCHOOL'S OUT!!!!!
I'm getting more excited by the day, and there are only 66 days until I leave!!!!

Dag

p.s. Happy drieendertigste verjaardag, Matt Bellamy!!!

First Contact

So I emailed my host family this week and they sent a nice letter back. The seem really nice and I can't wait to meet them.
The father is a plantbreeder, the mother is a nurse and a masseuse, the son is 15 and plays soccer, and the daughter is 12 and she plays clarinet too!
The town I'll be in is called Ven-Zelderheide and it right on the border with Germany. The population is around 800 so I'll be going to school in another town called Boxmeer which is 9 miles away. That also means I'll be riding my bike 18 miles a day!

I'm hoping I'll get to go to Germany a bunch because I will be literally 2,000 feet away!

HOST FAMILY!!!!!

I can't believe it! I got my host family!!!!  It's a mother, father, son, and daughter both younger than me. Although the son is 15 too.
They live in the south, and the area is called Limburg. And the town (of 800 people!!!!) is right on the border of Germany.
I'm so excited!
I'm wondering if I should email them, or just wait for them to contact me....

Updates

So I haven't made a post lately so I thought I would now with all of the new updates (the few I know of).
First off, FUNDRAISING! It has been going great, I think so far with all the donations the grand total is about $1,825!!!!! My goal is 2,000 and with my own money I have much more than that! I'm so grateful for everyone that contributed, I plan to send out Thank You's in the near future. So count on those!

Also I had a really big meeting last Saturday. It was alot of fun and I got to meet everyone that is going abroad next year in Houston plus some exchangers spending their year here in the US. There are only five of us, that are going for a year; one to France, one to Norway, two to China, and me!

Other than that I have 8 school days left and finals next week then schools out!!! I'm very excited, but I have so much to do this summer.

I'm also trying to be VERY patient, about my impending placement. I hope I find out where I'll be soon...

Tot ziens!!!!!!

We DID it!!!

Yay!!!! Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess what??? We raised over $500 dollars in april so that means $500 will be matched for my tuition!!!!
Thanks to everyone who made it possible!
Love You,
Rach

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay! I've FINALLY been officially accepted to AFS - Netherlands! Here's the email I recieved this afternoon:

Hi Rachel,

Congratulations! AFS-Netherlands has just accepted your application!  

Next, AFS-Netherlands  will match you with a host family*.  This can be a complex process and may take some time.  It is common for host family information to arrive during the month prior to your departure. So, if you don't hear right away, don’t worry, this is normal.  Once we have confirmed the details of your host family placement, they will be available on your AFS Account, so feel free to check there for updates.

Hooray!!!! Before I recieved this email I was told I had been accepted by word of mouth from the AFS volunteer at school, but I wasn't 100% sure if it was positive. But now I for sure know I will be in the Netherlabds next year! It's gonna be great!

Anyway, the next big step in this whole process is finding out who my host family will be. As they stated in the email, this may take some time. (Hopefully not THAT looong) But once I hear any info whatsover I will be sure to let you all know!

In the mean time I have SOOOO much to do. This summer I'm going to be taking at least two online courses so I can return to HSPVA for my senior year, get my visa, plan fundraising opportunities, and take driver's ed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And hopefully visit most of my family this summer toooo!

Love,

Rach

Some news!

Okay, well this actually isn't the news I was planning on recieving, but good news anyways. Here's what AFS sent me today:

During the month of April, AFS will match dollar-for-dollar any non-parental contributions made to your Sponsor an AFSer Online Fundraising account, up to $500. This means that if you can find people outside of your immediate family to contribute to your AFS tuition you could turn $500 into $1,000.

So good news, nonetheless! I also emailed AFS today about my application since I haven't heard from them in quite some time (7 or 8 weeks when they said 4-6). (I'm trying to be pacient) So when I hear back from them I will definitely keep you posted! :)

Rach

Hallo

Hallo! It's Rachel! Many of you know that next year I might be in the Netherlands! The purpose of this blog is to show you why, and once I get there what I might be doing. I'm also glad that you are interested in my studying abroad!
There are many reasons why I chose to study abroad. For one, I want to gain a greater perspective on the world and understand different cultures and lifestyles. I believe that one must understand the world we live in, and accept all of the people inhabiting it. In my opinion studying abroad is the best way to understand other people, and to get to experience life and school outside of your comfort zone.
While I'm abroad I'm hoping to learn. Not only another language, but about myself and my home. When I'm abroad I'll learn what makes my home so special and what makes their's. As I stated above, one of the most important things for me to gain from this experience is a greater perspective of the world. In return, the country I stay in will learn as well. They'll learn Americans aren't as bad as they seem (lol). BUt most importantly they'll also gain a greater perspective of the world from me.
As most things do, it costs money to go live in another country! (Can you believe that?!?) It would also be great if you could help! In one sentence I can explain why I need help financing my program; It's expensive. But that's where fundraising comes in to help! I already have some ideas up my sleeve. For example, I'm thinking of having a dinner where I would sell tickets. I'm babysitting and I'm trying to find a part-time job. (Could anyone help me with that?)
Well anyways, I dont' want to bore you with too much financial talk, so I'll just leave a picture of myself. But before I do If you would like to help me (financially) yourself you can do it here! You can sponsor me, so please do! To sponsor my AFS program now, press the ChipIn button. It would really help. Thanks!
Love, Rach