Interview!

I had my interview with YFU today! It was right after school, and I was a bit nervous, but my interviewer said I did well! There were a couple of times it felt like I was just answering how they'd want me to answer, but that's not to say I lied at any point. Whatever. It was pretty fun and it's excited to have finally gotten this far! I think my next step now is to just wait until I hear back from them (in April or May). From what I understand, this interview is also used for the CBYX scholarship. It's exciting I've come this far, but it sucks that I just get to wait. Oh, well, I'll get over it!

Bis später!

HOLY CRAP!!

I just got back from visiting with my great uncle and aunt. My tuition is now fully covered! I even have plenty left over for spending money, pre-exchange purchases and my visa. I don't need to worry about every cent I spend, now. It's a great feeling! Not only can I relax my last 7 months or so in the USA, but I think I'll have a pretty comfortable exchange!

Things are definitely going well! :)

Bis später!

Getting Closer! (financially)

I received a call from the Deutschstadt Heritage Foundation. I was told they want to give me $1000 toward my tuition! This is amazing! That means I have just over $3000 left to raise! I can't believe how close I am to getting there!

Also, they want me to pose in pictures of them handing me one of those fake, giant checks for the paper. It will be kind of silly, but it should be fun!

Bis später!

I see Funding in my Future...!

Wednesday, my grandma took me to see my Uncle Ralph (who is really my great uncle, but I suppose that's not entirely important to the story). He was interested in helping to fund my exchange to Germany, but he wanted to talk to me a bit about it first. Of course I agreed to do it. It would be kind of rude of me not to.

Anyway, I enjoyed myself, despite realizing just how inadequate my German is at the moment. Uncle Ralph said some things to me in German, but he was either talking to quickly or in too much of a dialect for me to understand all of it. Oh well. I have plenty of time to improve! Other than the whole German thing, he asked me some questions about the program, the scholarship I may be winning, what the next step is... things of that nature. My grandma, Uncle Ralph and Aunt Dorothy also talked a bit about other things, like family history, old family friends, and stories from their pasts. I have to admit, it was pretty cool being able to listen in on those conversations!

Also, I heard back from one of the organizations I sent a sponsor letter to. I first received an email and then a letter. In the letter, it said I'm invited to their next meeting this coming Tuesday, and that they want to hear more, but are interested in helping me. This is great! It's more of a response than I ever thought I would really receive. I'm excited, but kind of nervous about the meeting. I'm not too sure what will be expected of me. However, I'm really looking forward to it!

Bis später!

Deadline Extension

Well, I thought I would have my interview with YFU sometime after the 18th of December, which was the deadline date for the Congress-Bundestag (CBYX) scholarship. However, it seems that deadline has been postponed to February 8th. Fantastic. Now I'll have to wait until then to even think about my interview... Very un-fun.

Although, there is a bit of good about that. I heard on an exchange student online forum that, not too long ago, there were only 17 or 18 applicants to the CBYX scholarship through YFU. If that's true, then maybe the postponement is a sign of that. Maybe they extended it because there were so few applicants.

Whatever the case, I want to have my interview!

That is all.

Bis später!