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!

Pre Departure Orientation

Heyyy guys, I had my local PDO yesterday and it was very interesting.It was all AFS oriented and we went over all the rules, a cultural iceburg and some general cultural differences. So there were 8 outbound exchange students,4 for the year and 4 for summer programs. There was a girl from Yellow Springs going to France for the year (we'll see each other in NYC!), another girl going to Spain for the year (i didn't talk to her at all, but i guess she'll be in NYC too), a girl to Argentina for a year, a girl to Argentina for a summer (who admitted she left out the fact that she was vegitarian so she could get accepted to Argentina, which was confusing?), a boy to Chile for a summer, a girl to France for the summer and another girl going to Spain for summer(both really didn't talk much at all) and I was the only one to Italy.
All in all it was very informational and there were returnees 2 who went to Italy for a year, but stangely I didn't talk to them at all, I got Mike's email and the Other girl's blog which I've checked out. The only returnee I really talked to was Frankie (who was awesome and I just really liked him) who went to France for a year and he is now a student at UC. There were also exchange students who were in my chapter this year from other countries, Hungary, Spain, Italy (I didn't talk to her though), New Zealand (with cool leggings from Black milk), Ghana, and a country that starts with a B that I can't pronounce. I really liked the exchange students especially the kids for New Zealand, Ghana and that one country that starts with a B.
After the morning session we ate Subway which Frankie sat with me, and then the parents left then we went back to Orientation around 2:15 which was a little boring because I was the only kid really participating in the activities almost everyone else was just quiet, which is weird because I know when I go on exchange I can't just stay to myself and be quiet I gotta be very open, which they even told us at orientation, so I am a little concerned for them, moreso the girl going to Spain for a year because she literally said nothing the whole entire time????
We had a whole sex, drug and rock and roll talk. Basically they said that AFS' only rule against sex is if you get pregnant or if you get someone pregnant. Drugs was to tell us we can't do drugs, and the only medicine we could bring was prescribed medicine. They even told us that in surrounding districts that AFS inbound students here doing exchange in the US were being sent home for smoking weed. So they said if you AFS finds out that you are driving, hitchhiking, or doing drugs then you get sent home within the next 8 hours. SO DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID! Then we talked about smoking and how to drink responsibly especially since in Europe the legal ages are like so much younger. I am 17 and will turn 18 in Italy. So I can already legally smoke, drink beer and wine in Italy. This doesn't really scare me because I am a responsible person, but I think Spain and Argentina's drinking ages are 18. Either way, they stated if you have "the pit" or gut feeling about someone, or if you don't trust them then don't drink with them.
For the last hour we did this Sinbad activity and this story was called something like Abigail Alligator Story, and after that activity people take things and think to much into it. I also realized people have lower standards as far as morals go. So I just totally drained after the activity, and then it was time for us to go! Thank you Jesus, I literally got up super early got lost on the way to UC and did an orientation that lasted all day. I was too tired to really do anything, so now I am done with Orientations until September when I am officially an exchange student. But I am glad all of the first steps are done but in no way am I relieved by all of the stuff I have to do this summer. Summer schools, SAT,ACT, Visa application in Detroit, and packing stresses. I really hope that I get my host family soon and my travel info so I can book my flight to NYC and get all of that out of the way. Oh also there is end of the year exams for school! Yay!!! My summer is going to be so funnnnn.....ha. Well I haven't done Rosetta Stone since Wednesday so I will do more of that and studying.

I'll update you when I get updated~ Shayla

Rosetta Stone will be the death of me!!!!

So as you can probably guess I started Rosetta Stone today because Italy gave me my login info. And let me tell you I had no idea that Rosetta Stone was only in the targeted language, no translations. So the whole entire program is in Italian and there is no english! Umm... Yikes! haha I haven't been doing too bad which I have to thank my 3 or 4 years of Spanish, because some words are the same or very similar but spanish is spanish and Italian is Italian and I am still very lost on some things. I obviously started on level 1 because I don't want to jump the gun and I am glad I did, my account will expire on November 30 of this year and there is 5 levels. I only have to complete 1 level, if not then I pay 50 Euro to AFS-Italy but i am like 1/5 done with the level anyways and it is my first day. So no real worries about that.

I also got a package thingy from AFS with general papers of the whole entire AFS process, rules, tips on packing and booking domestic flights and a lot of other info. I only read like 15 pages but I actually learned some stuff, it is not country specific. AFS-Italy will send their own Guide books with info on culture and language and all that good stuff.

Yeah it's self explanatory

 

Nothing else to talk talk about, so until next time.

-Shayla

Accepted by AFS-Italy

So, today around 1p.m. I got got on my email and I got an email from AFS-USA saying:
Hi Shayla,

Congratulations! AFS-Italy has just accepted your application!

Next, AFS-Italy will match you with a host family*. This is a complex process and may take some time. It is common for host family information to be provided during the month prior to your departure.

I was excited because it is Official that I was going to Italy, but I kind of already knew I would be accepted. But it only makes things more real. I mean I didn't even realize that I depart 3 1/2 months from now until my mom was talking and said it. Wow, I am really unprepared because I truly have 1 million things to do, and I am so happy that Italys depart in September instead of July or August. Again I have to wait but this will probably be one wait that I am so happy to experience because I know that AFS-Italy is looking for me a family in Italy(smiles at the computer).

I am soooo happy this is really happening and I have to wait to get my online Rosetta Stone login info, which some kids are not very happy about doing, but I on the other hand am very glad that AFS-Italy not only gives us Rosetta Stone but that they also give me a language tutor for my first few months there. As I read through current AFSers in Italy blogs they all say they didn't get the hang of the language until like 4 months in and that was just for conversations, so now I am really glad I am doing a year instead of a semester. I already started learning Italian on my kindle with the Babbel app for Italian, and I am doing okay at it, but it is getting more and more difficult.

I also got a letter in the mail with the information about my local PDO at the University of Cincinnati but it was more like directions, and who was going to be there. A lot of kids say that PDO's are boring but the kids from my chapter actually really enjoys it! So I am actually really excited to go because I want to learn all of the info I can before I go to Italy.

My emotions about going abroad is varying minute by minute. Obviously I am more than excited about going, but some moments I realize that I will not see my mom for 10 months and I think about how much I'll miss her, even my siblings. But, I never ever felt like I didn't want to go (I mean this is all I would talk about doing for the last 2 years) but I realize that this is not a vacation or a time to just go partying every night (no matter what my friends think lol) I am going to study a new life, culture, language, be around new people. All very exciting but I know that it will be work, I am not going to pretend that it will be easy because I know it wil be hard. But I seriously have dreams now of me waking up in Italy which makes me happy because I have never been in Europe.

Something that also registered in my head is that I am not going to be able to listen to hip hop music over there as I do here, which is a little sad because I love music but it is not a huge issue, I mean that is what itunes and youtube is for. But I am excited to actually get an authentic taste of Italian food. YUMMY!!! I am concerned that I will gain a ton weight while I am in Italy so I hope I can take up a sport or go to a gym, If not I will have to hold back on binge eating Italian food. And I can't wait to try gelato and go to a disco! The more that I talk about Italy the more ready I am to go!!! I don't think there really is much else for me to talk about for now... I will try to update how my PDO goes and all of that fun stuff.

Arrivederci,
Shayla


Also a song that I fell in love with is called Young and Beautiful by Lana del Rey. It is like my life in a nutshell. And it is on the Great Gatsby soundtrack, enjoy!
http://youtu.be/o_1aF54DO60

Some updates on things to do before departure and expectations

So, I didn't really expect to hear from AFS in awhile because I just turned in my application 6 days ago. But then I got some emails from AFS today and I was like "Woah this is happening quicker than I thought" but when I think about it I did submit my application very late. Anyways, the first email I recieved was from my application advisor stating:" I am attaching a new form from AFS-Italy, which you should get filled out with the help of your school counselor. It would be ideal if you could get this form completed and email it to me by the end of next week (May 10).

AFS-Italy wants to know what courses your US school would like you to take while on program."

It came with two attachments, one of which was the form that asked about classes. So now I have to go to my counsler again about what classes he wants me to take. The thing is I will be abroad my senior year so I only would need 20 credits to graduate, the only credit I would need to graduate would be 1 english credit (which I am taking this summer) so the form also states if there is no preference that I could write down the classes I would like to take. YAY!!! even though I am not guaranteed these classes I write down, I am happy to know that they will put it into consideration when choosing a host school for me.

Then literally an hour later I got another email stating that I will be applying for a Type D, Visa for Minors also including "Please review Step 1 and Step 2 IMMEDIATELY to book your visa appointment, as the spots are filling up quickly." (eerliy similar to turning in my full application) they also gave me a website with the steps I should take to get a visa and also told me to book my appointment between July 29th to August 7th. I have to say I was extremely shocked getting an email talking about visa stuff because I thought it would come later, like in the summer. It just made things really real time is ticking and I have a lot of stuff to do before taking off to Italy in September. I checked the website that was given and figured out that the Consulato D'Italia for my jurisdiction was in Detroit. I was hoping I wouldn't have to travel far but there is also a honorary consulate in Cincinnati (which I hope I can go to instead) because I don't want my mom to stress out about driving 4 hours to Michigan.

After I tried to research what I will need (still in limbo about that) I got an email from my advisor like a half hour later stating that she was just checking in and she wanted to make sure that if I had questions to direct them towards her. Oh and she also said, "Additionally, setting up an appointment at your Consulate is something that you should do by the end of this week." (TIP to future applicants, AFS is very on top of trying to get all the info in quickly, so please stay on top of that or else it will stress you out.)
Back to the email, I knew they said spots were filling quickly; however, this was way quicker than I thought considering today was Wednesday so I basically have 2 and 1/2 days to schedule appointment. So I have to figure out whatever I am going to do tomorrow far as which Consulate I am going to and when. (another note: the application process can be very long and consist of a lot of waiting if you complete it earlier, but once mid Spring comes, the process really picks up and you will stay busy with exchange things.)

On a funner note The Greater Cincinnati AFS Chapter is having their pre-departure orientation (PDO) this month on May 18th at the University of CIncinnati which will be like 10 or 12 of us there. I am so excited because I do not know any of the other outbound students in my region so I hope we will click and get along. I heard it is all day, and the morning portion parents can participate in but the afternoon is just us students. (I know this is a shot in the dark, but I hope someone else will also go to Italy this fall or at least come to New York in September. I have to wait and see) I haven't gotten a letter yet, but this was all explained to me at my interview at Olive Garden (where i got a large scholarship) but when I get the letter I will write about it. I am sooo excited to go to it because it will be my first pre-departure orientation of many to come!!!

Also, I had a random moment when I thought about adaptors, and sure enough I will need to buy adaptors because Italy had different wall prongs, so I purchased 2 for $13 on a website called TravelSmith. I also am on the Facebook group with the other kids from all over the world coming to Italy this September and they all seem really nice & I can't wait to see them in Rome. Something commonly discussed is host families, one of the most exciting emails I cannot wait to recieve. I honestly have no expectations because I don't want to picture a host family and get a total different one and somehow get upset. Also, which region people want to stay in, I'll admit I do kind of have a pre-mature picture of where I would stay but I try to erase that because I don't want to dream of staying in a beach house in Sicily and end up in somewhere in the north. Personally both the north and the south will make me happy! And I will also get to experience both worlds because AFS-Italy has exchange week so I will end up in both regions either way. It is crazy to dream that a year from now I will be almost fluent in Italian, with a family, friends & only 2 months left of exchange. However, that is a year from now so I will have many memories before May 2014. In addition, I will make a video blog during the process and hopefully be able to keep up with it.

I also found this video on Youtube of the current AFSers in Italy you have to watch it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpKugs15wwc
Just when I thought I couldn't get more excited to be an AFSer.

Ciao
Shayla