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!

Christmas!

Yesterday was Christmas day. It was awesome! Despite waking up on Christmas Eve to some torn up and destroyed presents, the "big day" itself was about as good as it gets. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, and seemed really happy with what they got. I got some great things: a table-top easel, some canvases, a really nice jewelry box, a necklace and chocolate (plus other stocking goodies!).

Today, we went to Christmas with my dad's side of the family. We played a fun little white elephant game with things my Grandma wanted to get rid of. From my godfather, I got a $30 giftcard to Best Buy and a student travel guide to Europe! The book makes me even more anxious to find out where I'll be living next year! I also got some money from my grandma, which is great and really helpful!

Tomorrow, I'm going with my mom to use a couple of giftcards, return a belt I bought myself and get one more gift for a friend. Then on Wednesday, I'm going to a gift exchange/sleepover at a friend's house, and then to another on the 1st. Good times are in store!

Bis später!

Time

Wow, look at that. There are just 10 days left until Christmas. It's amazing how quickly these days are going. I'm happy for because that means it's not going to seem like very long until my exchange starts. However, how quickly these days pass worries me a bit. I mean, if this year is going by so quickly, how fast will next year go?

Just a thought I had...

Bis später!

Getting My Letter's Out!

On Tuesday after school, I went around and delivered five letters. Four of the five took my letter, and one of those four wrote me a check (that one was a friend of the family and she was just waiting for a letter to give me the check). I haven't heard back from any of them, but I do have a few more to give out. So, hopefully I'll get some response!

On another note, it's weird how far away and yet so close all this is. I mean, sometimes I'm sitting there thinking, "Eight months? That's so far away! I have so much time! etc." Then there are other times where it's, "Wow! Only eight months and I'll be in a completely other country, living with people I don't really know, trying to make a new life for myself (however temporary that life is)." Those latter moments are kind of nerve racking, both positively and negatively. I don't think it's really hit home yet what this is really means. I don't think it will sink in until I find out where I'll be or even until the day I set foot on that plane.

In any event, I'm looking forward to this adventure!

Bis später!