So many chapters of my life are ending right now, and so many 'last's' are happening. My freshman year of high school is over. Never again will I pass my senior-or junior, for that matter- friends in the halls at school. Last night I ate my last dinner with my full family before I get back from Germany due to summer plans. Tomorrow will be the last time all four Paul sisters are together until, once again, I get back from Germany. Tonight I attended my last American high school event for over a year, and my last ever with one of my closest friends who is a senior. And on top of it all, the last ever episode of "The Office" was aired. The nostalgia brought on by all of this is overwhelming.
But then...at the same time, with every ending comes a beginning. Summer is just starting and then my sophomore year is waiting not too far ahead. When I get back from Germany, my sister Leslie will be entering her ninth grade year, and we will be in the same school for the first time since elementary. Who knows, maybe we'll be friends ;) And I can't wait to hear all about my older friends' college experiences. Before I know it, I will be eating dinner with a new family, my new family. I might have new siblings, and I will have a whole new, probably very different, high school where I will make many lifelong friends, I'm sure. All of this because, most importantly, in 70 days I will be leaving my home to begin a long journey that already has, and will continue to change my life.
Sometimes when I think back on good memories, times I can never go back to, I can get pretty depressed, but that's life, so the best thing you can do is force yourself not to dwell on the past, or even too much on the future, but to live in the present, because it's really all you have. You can't relive moments, and you can't live in the future, because it doesn't exist; it's just something we call time that hasn't happened yet, and when it does happen, it is the present. You will always be in the present. Every moment you are living is your life, so don't just let things happen, make things happen, so that when you do look back, it won't be with regret.
Today's Song: "Be Still" by The Killers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM3-AWhmI6w
Yours,
Anne
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Passport
So, I got my passport in the mail Friday (didn't have a chance to open it till today), which was pretty exciting. ..It looks just like they do in the movies! Unfortunately, my passport picture is hideous due to a miscommunication. Suffice to say I don't like people who don't warn other people when they are going to have their passport pictures taken, especially when said other people have wet hair and are wearing no makeup. But the guilty party bought me forgiveness white chocolate-covered pretzels, so it turned out alright.
This is getting more and more real. I received confirmation of CIEE's receipt of my secondary application, I have my passport, and next month the information packets will be sent out, and (hopefully)I will find out who my host family is going to be. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!
Language update: I've started studying German again, and am proud to say that I finally understand how to change article adjectives to the accusative form. Progress.
As much as I want to be leaving already, I know that I shouldn't wish away four months of my life; I am going to try to make the most of them. They will, I know, be fantastic months. I'm just so happy. I love my life.
Today's song: "Send Me on My Way" by Rusted Root
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qBTuwX9hj0
Till next time,
Anne
This is getting more and more real. I received confirmation of CIEE's receipt of my secondary application, I have my passport, and next month the information packets will be sent out, and (hopefully)I will find out who my host family is going to be. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!
Language update: I've started studying German again, and am proud to say that I finally understand how to change article adjectives to the accusative form. Progress.
As much as I want to be leaving already, I know that I shouldn't wish away four months of my life; I am going to try to make the most of them. They will, I know, be fantastic months. I'm just so happy. I love my life.
Today's song: "Send Me on My Way" by Rusted Root
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qBTuwX9hj0
Till next time,
Anne
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Greetings!
Hello! This is my first ever blog post, so just bear with me please. Anyways, my name is Anne, I'm currently a Freshman in high school, and I have received the Congress-Bundestag Scholarship (For more info click here: http://www.usagermanyscholarship.org/) This means I will be spending approximately ten months in Germany starting August 10th! After a 3-week language and orientation camp, I will live with a German family and attend German high school. I have wanted to be an exchange student in Germany ever since I was in sixth grade, when my family hosted a German girl for a school year. It is crazy to think that now I am in her place. I still don't think I fully have a grasp on the fact that I will be in a foreign country speaking a foreign language surrounded by strangers in four months, and will be there for a year. But I guess it'll register when I'm there...
So, this is how it all happened: I found out about this scholarship a little over two years ago when I was a seventh grader and knew I wanted to apply. For two years, I obsessively read every web page, blog post, and forum discussion about this program as well as watched many, many videos multiple times waiting for the time when I would be old enough to apply (it's a high school scholarship). Finally, this year it was my turn.
The application process involved writing many short essays, telling about my hobbies, memberships, and experiences, filling out basic info, and getting my transcript and two teacher recommendations. Very...thorough. I had a little scare there in January right before they started reviewing applications. I received an email one evening saying that my application was incomplete. They had only received one of my recommendation letters and they needed the second by morning or I wouldn't be considered for the scholarship. Of course, I started crying hysterically. I frantically texted and called my teacher, and we managed to get everything together in time, but...yeah, that's pretty much the story.
Thankfully, I look great on paper (not to brag...actually, yes, to brag), and was selected as a semifinalist in February. That was nice, but I was fairly confident (perhaps a little too confident) that I would get that far. I knew that the real decider would be the interview. Unfortunately, all the interview locations were really far away from where I live, so I had to settle for a Skype interview.
I was actually interviewed by the main lady over this scholarship (Juliette Van de Geer), which, for me, was like meeting a celebrity, but she was really nice. And I guess my interview went really well, because 11 days later (on March 13) I got the scholarship! I got home from school on the day the finalists were to be announced and immediately yelled at my sister to bring me my phone from where I'd left it charging for the school day. When I saw that I had a missed call from a number I didn't know, I couldn't believe it. I had an email too, which would have told me what I wanted to know, but I wanted to hear the words said. I called back and Juliette Van de Geer told me I got it. I just couldn't believe it. I proceeded to read the first two lines of my acceptance email, but I still wasn't really sure I'd gotten it (as if "We would like to be the first to congratulate you..." left room for other interpretation). I just want to know what made them pick ME over the others, as a Freshman no less. I just don't know.
Well, as life changing as this news was, I still had to go to soccer practice. This felt a little ridiculous, considering the situation, but I was not about to find out what coach would do if I was late. While I was on the phone and checking my email, I had my one of my sisters put my socks, shinguards and shoes on for me. I had to run to make it to practice on time, and I probably looked super crazy because I couldn't stop smiling and laughing. I kind of screamed at every semi-acquaintance that I met on my way to the soccer field that I was going to Germany. Crazy to think that random people I never talk to found out before my parents. When I got to practice, I was desperate to find more people to tell, so I told everyone I made eye contact with pretty much. I actually forgot to tell my soccer coach until the next day. Ha. He said we might have to start practicing someone else at my position (center mid). I told him yes, yes, in fact maybe I should just not play center mid at all anymore. He thought I was kidding.
Finally, I remembered to call my best friend. She was pretty shocked I think. I was too. Then I couldn't call anyone else because soccer practice had to start. Fate stepped in and Coach decided to let us have a super easy practice that day (which never happens) thank goodness. I talked to my older sister, texted and called some other friends, and finally, after I'd been home for about half an hour, remembered to call my mom (my sister had already called my dad). In celebration, I spent the night with my friend, Amy, watched so much TV, ate way too much ice cream, and basked in all the social networking love I was receiving.
I've spent the past few weeks completing the secondary application, which is what they use to place you with the best host family for your personality, applying for my passport, buying a plane ticket to Washington DC, where we meet for a pre-departure orientation on August 8th, resuming my online German learning, and making sooooooo many lists. I am also now the proud owner of my dad's old laptop which I have personalized with not one, but two, countdown extensions to the day of my departure. I'm excited.
However, there is much to do before I leave, like shopping and completing my pre-departure bucket list, and holding many, many going-away parties. Well, I just thought I'd introduce myself...in a super long, way too detailed blog post that probably no one will read. Ah, well, you can't have everything.
Oh, I almost forgot. With each blog post, I'm going to also post a song that I've been listening to a lot lately or that is just an awesome song that I can relate to at the time or something. Really, I just want to share my amazing taste in music with the world.
Today's song: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrfMMP2NTCE
Till next time,
Anne
So, this is how it all happened: I found out about this scholarship a little over two years ago when I was a seventh grader and knew I wanted to apply. For two years, I obsessively read every web page, blog post, and forum discussion about this program as well as watched many, many videos multiple times waiting for the time when I would be old enough to apply (it's a high school scholarship). Finally, this year it was my turn.
The application process involved writing many short essays, telling about my hobbies, memberships, and experiences, filling out basic info, and getting my transcript and two teacher recommendations. Very...thorough. I had a little scare there in January right before they started reviewing applications. I received an email one evening saying that my application was incomplete. They had only received one of my recommendation letters and they needed the second by morning or I wouldn't be considered for the scholarship. Of course, I started crying hysterically. I frantically texted and called my teacher, and we managed to get everything together in time, but...yeah, that's pretty much the story.
Thankfully, I look great on paper (not to brag...actually, yes, to brag), and was selected as a semifinalist in February. That was nice, but I was fairly confident (perhaps a little too confident) that I would get that far. I knew that the real decider would be the interview. Unfortunately, all the interview locations were really far away from where I live, so I had to settle for a Skype interview.
I was actually interviewed by the main lady over this scholarship (Juliette Van de Geer), which, for me, was like meeting a celebrity, but she was really nice. And I guess my interview went really well, because 11 days later (on March 13) I got the scholarship! I got home from school on the day the finalists were to be announced and immediately yelled at my sister to bring me my phone from where I'd left it charging for the school day. When I saw that I had a missed call from a number I didn't know, I couldn't believe it. I had an email too, which would have told me what I wanted to know, but I wanted to hear the words said. I called back and Juliette Van de Geer told me I got it. I just couldn't believe it. I proceeded to read the first two lines of my acceptance email, but I still wasn't really sure I'd gotten it (as if "We would like to be the first to congratulate you..." left room for other interpretation). I just want to know what made them pick ME over the others, as a Freshman no less. I just don't know.
Well, as life changing as this news was, I still had to go to soccer practice. This felt a little ridiculous, considering the situation, but I was not about to find out what coach would do if I was late. While I was on the phone and checking my email, I had my one of my sisters put my socks, shinguards and shoes on for me. I had to run to make it to practice on time, and I probably looked super crazy because I couldn't stop smiling and laughing. I kind of screamed at every semi-acquaintance that I met on my way to the soccer field that I was going to Germany. Crazy to think that random people I never talk to found out before my parents. When I got to practice, I was desperate to find more people to tell, so I told everyone I made eye contact with pretty much. I actually forgot to tell my soccer coach until the next day. Ha. He said we might have to start practicing someone else at my position (center mid). I told him yes, yes, in fact maybe I should just not play center mid at all anymore. He thought I was kidding.
Finally, I remembered to call my best friend. She was pretty shocked I think. I was too. Then I couldn't call anyone else because soccer practice had to start. Fate stepped in and Coach decided to let us have a super easy practice that day (which never happens) thank goodness. I talked to my older sister, texted and called some other friends, and finally, after I'd been home for about half an hour, remembered to call my mom (my sister had already called my dad). In celebration, I spent the night with my friend, Amy, watched so much TV, ate way too much ice cream, and basked in all the social networking love I was receiving.
I've spent the past few weeks completing the secondary application, which is what they use to place you with the best host family for your personality, applying for my passport, buying a plane ticket to Washington DC, where we meet for a pre-departure orientation on August 8th, resuming my online German learning, and making sooooooo many lists. I am also now the proud owner of my dad's old laptop which I have personalized with not one, but two, countdown extensions to the day of my departure. I'm excited.
However, there is much to do before I leave, like shopping and completing my pre-departure bucket list, and holding many, many going-away parties. Well, I just thought I'd introduce myself...in a super long, way too detailed blog post that probably no one will read. Ah, well, you can't have everything.
Oh, I almost forgot. With each blog post, I'm going to also post a song that I've been listening to a lot lately or that is just an awesome song that I can relate to at the time or something. Really, I just want to share my amazing taste in music with the world.
Today's song: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrfMMP2NTCE
Till next time,
Anne
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