6 weeks left...

Guys I have only 6 weeks left in Ohio before I have to fly to NYC, 6 weeks and 1 day until I fly to Switzerland and 6 weeks and 2 days until I arrive in Rome with all of the other amazing AFSers.

I am not sure how I feel about all of this, it is all happening really quickly and I don't know how to feel about this. I am in no way regretting my decision (in fact I haven't done that this far) but it just doesn't seem real yet. Going abroad has bee a dream of mines for so long and now that it is actually happening I am kind of taking it day by day. Time is flying and I haven't really realized it, all of this time I have been like "September can't come quick enough" and now I am at the end of July and reality still hasn't set in.

I think this may be because I actually haven't left yet but my mind knows that I am leaving for 10 months but the rest of me haven't quite got that concept yet (it's weird, I know) it's kind of hard to explain. I am nervous that something might go wrong, that my luggage might get lost, my classmates won't like me, or that I won't fair well with my host family. These worries are not consuming my mind but they are still somewhere in my cranium ^.^ Every returnee I have talked to says my exchange year will be the most emotional year of my life. They weren't lying, I am emotional and I haven't even left yet. 

As far as AFS news goes, I got 2 emails from AFS, one for my country conference call- where I can talk to other kids going to Italy and a returnee from Italy ( this call is Italy specific). The other email asking for me to go back to my doctor for another medical evaluation just to make sure I am still on the up and up. Well that is about all I have got to say at this point.

Arrivederci, Shayla

P.S. I still have to finish Rosetta Stone :(

I can see into the future...AFS is apart of it

 So besides my weird title I am making this post on where I see my future with AFS. If you didn't know my family hosted an Austrian girl 2 years ago (and we are still close) but I must say that besides my exchange coming up in 55 days, I am really inspired to work with AFS when I come back. I want to volunteer and help AFSers, I actually want to volunteer now (but I don't want to overwhelm myself,so I am going to wait until I come back) and I am going to try and fully commit myself to it.

 I even want to be one of those families that host a student every year!!! Really exchanging culture can be an addiction and I think I am addicted. Once I get older and have my own family, I want them to be AFSers, exchanging culture is such a beautiful thing! The people I have talked to now from different countries have really been nice and accepting of me, I love how exchange can connect people and create a bond you didn't even know existed.

 I haven't departed yet and I feel more mature, more aware. (I cannot seriously wait to see how I am when I come back!!!!) =D It isn't always easy (trust me when I hosted I found that out) but it is definitely beautiful and worth it!

 I signed up to go on exchange with AFS for 10 months but I am definitely NOT just going to stop being an AFSer after those months are up, I will always stay involved because I am just that passionate about it!!! I don't think I can truly express how happy/exciting/magical this can be, I might sound a little repetitive but really that is just how inspired I am! Thanks AFS!

Arrivederci, Shayla

Semester vs. YEAR

     "If there is one thing I could change about my experience, it would be the fact that I chose to only go for a semester. A year might seem overwhelming, but almost everyone I have spoken to who choose to go for a semester regrets not choosing a year long option. Heres why: after five months in Russia, I finally feel confident with the language, I can understand my schoolwork. I finally have started to make close relationships with people. Just as I begin to realize what I've done wrong, and what to do better, just as I am starting to fit in, it's time to leave. Of course, a semester is better than nothing, but if you can, go for a year."
-Past Semester AFSer to Russia

I just read this on a blog and and it keeps me thinking that I made the best decision to fully immerse myself in a new (to me) foreign culture for a year! I cannot express how excited I am in the blog about going to Italy in exactly 60 days. CRAZY!!! I feel so ready and unprepared at the same time (now I totally understand Taylor Swift in "22") but I never once regretted my decision so far and I think that is great!

I guess since there are no new updates I can say I am really happy to be apart of the 2013-2014 AFS Italy Group. Everyone thinks that I have spoken to are very nice and are just as excited as I am. Elliot (another participant) has this idea to make a YouTube channel account that all of us could add videos to document each of our experiences! Our motto, to be the best exchange group to ever come to Italy, which is definitely possible. It's crazy because I feel instantly close to them even though we never met (might also have something to do with our insanely long Facebook chats). The beauty of Exchange.

I will say one negative (which is not really negative, because it happens every summer) thing about departing in September is that I will be in the States the  whole summer and that is generally fun but guys keep flirting with me and I have to constantly remind myself that I cannot start a relationship because I leave in 60 days. But I can still have some fun, but just as friends!!!I am not complaining that is more of a missed opportunity, but I surely wouldn't replace Italy for that!

Weird fact: In exactly 1 year I am returning from Italy, I somehow feel sad about that and I haven't left yet! I can't wait to see the improvements from now until then!

Arrivederci, Shayla

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!