Update...

My last post was 2 months ago, so now is probably a good time for an update. I'm sorry it's taken so long but I have been really busy with school. I'm cramming a whole year of school into one semester, so that I can leave in march and not have to finish high school when I get back. It's Christmas break though now, FINALLY! No school for 2 weeks! I go back January 4, i have about 2 weeks left of classes, 4 final exams, and then I am done grade 12!!

I don't know what I am gonna do for a month and a half. I've been trying to find a job to make some money for exchange but no luck yet, no one seems to want to hire me for only a couple months. So instead I've been shoveling and helping my mom lay hardwood floor to fundraise. Unfortunately, between laying the floor and trying to break the ice off the driveway, I pulled a couple ribs. It friggin hurts. It kinda feels like I've got the wind knocked out of me. So I'm out of commission for a bit, but at least it gives me time to write this.

Now to exchange info: I've started my visa application! It's quite long. With AFS, they send you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application. It's mostly to say your eligible to go to Japan (ex: you're not a criminal). You send that back to AFS. Then they send it to Japan, and then Japan issues you a COE. Once you get your host family, then you apply for your actual visa! I really want my placement! It's starting to drive me crazy waiting for some info about it. Also, a couple days ago I got my flight info! I leave March 23 at 11:11am (that's gotta be a good sign (~.^) ) and I get to Japan at 5:30pm March 24!

I've gotten to know quite a few awesome people going to Japan with AFS. I finally got in contact with the others coming from Canada who are flying over with me. It's getting me so excited!! There's about 95 days until I leave!! It still hasn't sunk in that I'm actually going to Japan for a whole year!

So that's about it for now. Hopefully I'll be getting my host family soon! It would be the best Christmas present ever!
Thanks for reading

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Jenny

PS I recently got my luggage for Japan. I love them, especially the lime green interior. It would be very difficult to lose these (-.^)

ACCEPTED!!

So, today I got an email from AFS with the subject CONGRATULATIONS! It stated that AFS Japan had accepted my application and that they have begun searching for a host family. Also, my placement is gonna be allocated to Central Japan, right where I wanted :D.
This is a huge relief. Being the pessimist I am, I kept thinking about the small chance that I wouldn't get accepted, but I don't have to worry about that anymore. I'm officially going on exchange to Japan for a year. (^.^) It hasn't sunk in yet, though it probably won't until I'm on that plane.

All I got to do now is wait for a host family, which could be awhile (>.<) I hate waiting... Meanwhile I need to find a way to fundraise some money. Why must exchange be so expensive... To everyone waiting to get their acceptance from Japan or wherever, My fingers (and toes −.^）are crossed for you!
Jenny

Interview!

So as you can probably guess from the title, I finally got my interview! My interviewer called me one night out of the blue and we did the interview right then over the phone. Most of the questions were pretty simple like my relationship with my family and responsibilities and my day to day life. She also asked some situational questions like if I was lost and had to take public transportation to get home what would I do? I said something along the lines of asking someone who works there or someone who seems trustworthy for directions/help.

She said I did pretty well, so now I just gotta wait for my confirmation from AFS Japan *fingers crossed*

On another note, I got a new computer for exchange/university. Its a 13" Macbook pro and I love it! The keyboard even lights up! (that fascinated me, tee hee). Yes I've gone over to the "dark side" or "light side", which ever you prefer. ~.^ (Mac vs PC thing).

Intro

こんにちは！
Hi! so this is my first post. (and it kinda turned into a mini rant, sorry 'bout that...)

I'm planning on going on exchange to Japan for a year with AFS.
At the moment I've been accepted by AFS Canada but I can't be accepted by AFS Japan until my application is sent over there. This can't happen until I get my interview, which is the prob at the moment. The volunteer who was supposed to do it way back in June has been putting it off. I've tried to set a date multiple times but it hasn't worked out. I just found out now(two months later) she's too busy to do it and now AFS has to find me a new volunteer SOON because the deadline for the application to be in Japan is end of September >.< Japan has already started looking at applications so hopefully mine will be one of them soon and they accept it *crosses fingers*.

There won't prob be many posts (at least related to exchange) for awhile because I won't be leaving until march. agh...6 1/2 months is such a long time to wait.