Nothing new, Just the same excitement!!! :)

   Okay so I don't really have anything new to talk about but I have to talk about the excitement I am feeling right now ( and no I still don't have a host family which only makes me build up more expectations to what they will be like)!!!! I am seriously making so many friends and that is because exchange allows you to meet so many new people!!! And it is crazy because we all click and that is just the magic of all being future exchange students!

   Like all things in this blog you will see that it is really hard to understand what I am talking about unless you are an exchange student, but seriously I couldn't be any happier right now in my life! Exchange is already starting to change how I look at my own city that I've lived in for basically my whole life. I used to just not really pay attention to the details in my city but now that is all I do when I look outside, wondering if I will miss this or how different it will be in Italy! Words can't really express how happy it is to know that I will leave all of this behind and get to build new relationships in Italy and make my relationships here stronger when I get back.

   My peers sometimes question why I would go abroad my senior year of high school, but after switching to home school for eight months my Junior year because of surgery. I knew I became slightly too mature to go back to some of my fellow classmates at school. I mean they thought it was cool to break a teachers colored pencils when she was absent, like GROW UP. And to be honest I have wanted to go abroad since the first time I heard about it my freshman year of high school when Ms. Gamble came to my Spanish class and did an AFS presentation, which lead me to hosting the following semester and now going abroad. But back to the "SENIOR year" thing, I read all of the time when returnees come back they couldn't really connect with their classmates and that they really missed their host country and the freedom they had. (the freedom was especially hard to adjust to with their natural parents) and volunteers actually suggest senior/gap year. When I come back from Italy I will be 18 and graduated I will be able to visit when I want to and help prep me for my college years anyways. Some go their sophomore year but I think you will be a little bit immature, but to each its own. I thought I knew it all my sophomore year but now that I am older I can see that I definitely didn't. Most students go their Junior year, but Junior year is the most important year of high school and then you would have a lot of work to do your senior year (which will not be fun) so I don't regret leaving my senior year!!!! This will be the most memorable year of my life :)!!!

Arrivederci, Shayla

10 Commandments of being a Foreign Exchange Student

1) Adapt or fail
2) Ask or be ignored
3) Be lively and active
4) Always be considerate, helpful and appreciative towards your hosts
5) Be punctual
6) Give 100% of yourself and share self and culture
7) Maintain a neat appearance and keep your surroundings orderly
8) Plan ahead and coordinate with your hosts and their schedule
9) SMILE every chance you get
10) Strive to earn the respect of others

I just found this and loved it!!!! Hopefully when I'm in Italy, I can use this to help me while I'm there.

I am also making a Youtube channel (I currently have one but hate all of my videos; therefore, I will make another channel) to vlog my exchange. I will try to make a video soon so I can post it on here ;) I think that I can choose which method (blogging vs. vlogging) I enjoy most once I am in Italy. I think documenting my experiences will be great for my memories when I come back to the states after my exchange!

That is all for now (and can you believe July will be here tomorrow!?!)
Arrivederci, Shayla

Travel Notification!!!

    FINALLY!!!!!! I mean just in case you don't understand the title, I GOT MY FLIGHT TO ITALY!!! I am so happy to finally know exactly when I leave because it just makes things more real. I have to fly to fly from NYC to Zurich, Switzerland and after about 4 hours worth of layover I will board my flight to ROME!!!! I am supposed to arrive in NYC on the 4th of September and be there no later than 4 p.m. (which I see 2 flights that will allow me to get there before 2 p.m.). I also have my baggage allowance which is 1 checked in Luggage up to 44 pounds and 1 carry-on up to 22 pounds. I am not a virgin flyer, I've have been on airplanes several times and I always over pack; however, I am determined to actually pack lighter which is a challenge within itself because I always feel like I will miss something.
  
    Also, my gateway orientation site is at the JFK Hilton Hotel, I am so excited to meet all of the other Americans coming to Italy this year as well!!!!

Carrier Name	Carrier No.	Direction	DEPARTURE			ARRIVAL
			Location	Date	Time	Location	Date	Time
Swiss International Air Lines	17	Departure	JFK - New York - John F. Kennedy, NY	5-September-13	6:05 PM	ZRH - Zürich - Kloten	6-September-13	8:05 AM
Swiss International Air Lines	1736	Departure	ZRH - Zürich - Kloten	6-September-13	12:30 PM	FCO - Rome - Fiumicino	6-September-13	2:05 PM

                                                                      My flight!!!!

The best thing is that at some point within these next 69 days (not like I'm counting or anything...ok I am) I will get my host family, which is going to make me soooooo happy! So many good changes coming into my life, I am seriously so blessed!!!!

Well that is it for now until next time!
-Shayla

Taking Care of Buisness

Hey!!!! It has been a little while since I last blogged and well that is because I have no updates from AFS-Italy. I don't have a host family and I don't have my travel notifications. But in 77 days I leave to go to NYC ( I know that because of another girl's orientation date) for my gateway city orientation. And time is flying by when I think about it, I mean June is almost over. WHAAAT??? It feels like it just started, I am happy about that but at the same time it feels like awhile from now.
Even though AFS has not sent me any new updates, I have been making a lot of friends from all over the world. I am becoming more global and I am sharing the same experiences with other kids who knows exactly what I am feeling. Which at this point is an extreme amount of happiness!!!! :) I mean after all I do know that I am moving to Italy for 10 months, and the beauty of going to Italy is that no matter where I am placed it will be beautiful. Just to show you some of "La dolce vita" (the sweet life)

These photos are from various places around Italy and none of them look bad to me!

Anyways, back to making friends. Majority of the friends I have made are also going to Italy this year for an exchange, but I have also made friends that are in Italy and coming to the US and other foreign exchange students from Europe going to other places (because we are all in the same OMG stage before departure)

I also want to talk a little about AFS in general (for those who are looking to go abroad with an organization) AFS is an amazing organization and they have given me so much support. Today some of my local chapter's volunteers invited me to the welcome picnic for the students coming to my area in late August (one girl is from Italy!!!) which I am going to go to! But back to the topic AFS has so much support for their students and they really truly do care about how you are preparing for your exchange and connecting with returnees, or if you have concerns or questions. It really speaks volume to their reputation. I mean I've hosted before and even then my family received support but when you are an outbound student you are making sooooo many changes in your life and your emotions change so much about exchange and to have so much support before I even leave is just something that I am really blessed to have. AFS is the best decision and is the best exchange organization! GO WITH AFS!!!!

I also got some questions from a few friends about the process so here is a general overview:

1) Browse www.afsusa.org and look at their programs, blogs, scholarships and returnee testimonies and see if it is something for you!

2) Fill out the Preliminary application ($75)
3) Start working on your full application (which requires a lot of info)
4) Do an in-home interview
5) Complete and submit your Full Application (it may have to be sent back to you for corrections :p)
6) Get accepted by your host country
7) Get flight information and Host family information
8) apply for your visa (every country had different requirements, AFS will notify you about yours)
9) receive visa
10) Get ready for the time of your life

Also, somewhere along the way you will attend Pre departure Orientations (PDO) at your local area team, Gateway city, Arrival city, and in your host community.
 So there is a lot of elements to going on an exchange but once you complete each step you kind of forget about how much of a pain it was to begin with.

Speaking of pains, I had so much stress these last 2 1/2 weeks because of school credits and for a second I thought I wasn't going to be able to go to Italy (I cried like a baby) but I have it all figured out and I am taking 2 English classes (British literature and Intro to Shakespeare class) at a local college to equal 1 high school credit English so I can graduate on time! I have to thank my mom and my sister like 100000000 times, because they really worked it out for me! Some would panic at going to school during the summer, but I already knew I was going to have to and I have cute guys in my class ;) I also took the SAT June 1st, fingers crossed for a high score!

So that is all for now, if you have any questions you can email me at sjd41496@yahoo.com or go to my tumblr page and ask me question shayladavis.tumblr.com (I have a question page on there)!

I'll update you when I get an update!