So here is a pic. of my laptop. The cover is called "Sea Sky" I think?Sorry about the junk in the background of the second one.
The laptop's pretty sweet tho.
:3
So here is a pic. of my laptop. The cover is called "Sea Sky" I think?Sorry about the junk in the background of the second one.
The laptop's pretty sweet tho.
:3
Soon...
So tomorrow the woman who will be doing my home interview will be getting back from a trip. I'm really happy because I just want to finish with all my application stuff.
I am pretty ahead of schedule I think, and the app. has already been seen by my advisor but I guess they can't send in the whole thing until the home interview is done. I want to get it done with so that I don't have to worry about it up until the last minute y'know?
So maybe a few days after she comes back we will get in touch with her.
I'm some what nervous since I don't know what to expect with the interview, but I have talked to her before and she made it sound like it was going to be a nice casual thing.
On another note...My parents got me a laptop....!
I'm really super super super happy! I totally didn't expect it! They were like "Now we got this for you so that you have your own laptop for when you go to Japan. So take care of it"
It's juat a nice Dell laptop. And I love the features. My sister and mom both had one so I was sad I wouldn't have one of my own.
I will try to post pics of it when I can. Probably later today when I have time.
Anyways, Thanks for reading!
**Betania
I am pretty ahead of schedule I think, and the app. has already been seen by my advisor but I guess they can't send in the whole thing until the home interview is done. I want to get it done with so that I don't have to worry about it up until the last minute y'know?
So maybe a few days after she comes back we will get in touch with her.
I'm some what nervous since I don't know what to expect with the interview, but I have talked to her before and she made it sound like it was going to be a nice casual thing.
On another note...My parents got me a laptop....!
I'm really super super super happy! I totally didn't expect it! They were like "Now we got this for you so that you have your own laptop for when you go to Japan. So take care of it"
It's juat a nice Dell laptop. And I love the features. My sister and mom both had one so I was sad I wouldn't have one of my own.
I will try to post pics of it when I can. Probably later today when I have time.
Anyways, Thanks for reading!
**Betania
Japanese Lesson This Week
My Japanese teacher Akemi-Sensei has changed my lesson schedule for the summer as well as for my best friend Torrie who also takes lessons.
This is what it looks like:
Betania: lesson from 11:30-12:30
Lunch: Torrie and Betania 12:30-1:30
Torrie: lesson from 1:30-2:30
So we are both basically there for 2 hours. But it is soo much fun, and I also get to work in the kitchen while Akemi-Sensei tells me things to do around the kitchen in Japanese which REALLY REALLY helps my vocab.
This week we will be having lunch with one of her former students, Wyatt. I guess he wants to Japan a long time ago (he's in college) and will be going back sometime soon which is why he wanted to have lunch with Akemi-sensei before he goes...?
I think this is going to be fun, (just hope he remembers the date, ne sensei?), so I'll post about that and how it went with the practice. I'm really appreciating all the practice I can get.
Thanks for reading,
**Betania
This is what it looks like:
Betania: lesson from 11:30-12:30
Lunch: Torrie and Betania 12:30-1:30
Torrie: lesson from 1:30-2:30
So we are both basically there for 2 hours. But it is soo much fun, and I also get to work in the kitchen while Akemi-Sensei tells me things to do around the kitchen in Japanese which REALLY REALLY helps my vocab.
This week we will be having lunch with one of her former students, Wyatt. I guess he wants to Japan a long time ago (he's in college) and will be going back sometime soon which is why he wanted to have lunch with Akemi-sensei before he goes...?
I think this is going to be fun, (just hope he remembers the date, ne sensei?), so I'll post about that and how it went with the practice. I'm really appreciating all the practice I can get.
Thanks for reading,
**Betania
Thank You Letter
Here is my Thank You Letter I sent to AFS thanking them for my scholarship.
Sorry it's slightly long, i was having problems with indentation from the original so I had to just put an entirely new space.
Dear Scholarship Sponsor,
Words can hardly express how grateful I am for the scholarship money I have been awarded towards my exchange year in Japan. The fee for Japan is no small amount so every bit helps.
Since before I was born, my life has been a mix of cultures. My mother is Brazilian and my father is American. After my birth, my parents wanted to be sure that my Brazilian heritage was not lost to me and that I did not lose touch with my grandmother, aunts, and uncles who only speak Portuguese. My mother taught me Portuguese while my father, an American, taught me English. I have also traveled out of the U.S. to go to Brazil about every other year since I was born. Last year (2008) I had my 15th Birthday party, or Festa de Quinze Anos, which is an important coming of age party for a young woman in Latin American culture. That year my grandmother came to visit us.
I am extremely grateful for my parents’ decision to immerse me in the Brazilian culture. I have learned so much about the people and the life of Brazil. I will never forget or keep those years out of my memory; they have become a part of me. I can’t imagine myself another way. Now, though, I feel I am prepared to take the next step. I want to be able to experience the life and people of other cultures around the world. Japan is the leading interest for me.
The first time I had ever seen anything from Japan was when I stayed the night at my friend’s house five years ago. She had these strange picture books, comic books, that were written backwards. When I asked her she said they were “manga”, Japanese comic books. I soon found myself buying and collecting, reading and re-reading, even drawing these books. Different publishers included different things in the back of their books. One particular publisher had “Translator’s Notes” which gave marked explanations about things mentioned in the manga that were a part of Japanese culture with which an American might be unfamiliar.
First taking the challenge of learning to read manga right-to-left I began something that would affect me the rest of my life. Those books were the spark that helped to grow into the flame that is now my deep interest in Japan. Their culture is so different from America’s and every time I learn something new it keeps me wanting to know more. I have come a long way from where I was and for the past 4 years my life has been about Japan and how to get there.From taking classes in advance or extras to earn enough credits to graduate on time, to learning the language, the prospect of being in Japan has kept my life busy.
Going to Japan is the opportunity of a lifetime that not many get to enjoy. I am thankful for all the support my family and friends have given me. I am equally grateful for all of the knowledge my Japanese teacher, Akemi, has generously poured out to me about her Japanese culture and life.
I am most grateful to AFS for being able to provide the opportunity. I’m sure you hear these words of gratitude all the time but I hope it means something more every time you hear it.
Thank you all so much.
Sincerely,
Betania Pawson
Sorry it's slightly long, i was having problems with indentation from the original so I had to just put an entirely new space.
Dear Scholarship Sponsor,
Words can hardly express how grateful I am for the scholarship money I have been awarded towards my exchange year in Japan. The fee for Japan is no small amount so every bit helps.
Since before I was born, my life has been a mix of cultures. My mother is Brazilian and my father is American. After my birth, my parents wanted to be sure that my Brazilian heritage was not lost to me and that I did not lose touch with my grandmother, aunts, and uncles who only speak Portuguese. My mother taught me Portuguese while my father, an American, taught me English. I have also traveled out of the U.S. to go to Brazil about every other year since I was born. Last year (2008) I had my 15th Birthday party, or Festa de Quinze Anos, which is an important coming of age party for a young woman in Latin American culture. That year my grandmother came to visit us.
I am extremely grateful for my parents’ decision to immerse me in the Brazilian culture. I have learned so much about the people and the life of Brazil. I will never forget or keep those years out of my memory; they have become a part of me. I can’t imagine myself another way. Now, though, I feel I am prepared to take the next step. I want to be able to experience the life and people of other cultures around the world. Japan is the leading interest for me.
The first time I had ever seen anything from Japan was when I stayed the night at my friend’s house five years ago. She had these strange picture books, comic books, that were written backwards. When I asked her she said they were “manga”, Japanese comic books. I soon found myself buying and collecting, reading and re-reading, even drawing these books. Different publishers included different things in the back of their books. One particular publisher had “Translator’s Notes” which gave marked explanations about things mentioned in the manga that were a part of Japanese culture with which an American might be unfamiliar.
First taking the challenge of learning to read manga right-to-left I began something that would affect me the rest of my life. Those books were the spark that helped to grow into the flame that is now my deep interest in Japan. Their culture is so different from America’s and every time I learn something new it keeps me wanting to know more. I have come a long way from where I was and for the past 4 years my life has been about Japan and how to get there.From taking classes in advance or extras to earn enough credits to graduate on time, to learning the language, the prospect of being in Japan has kept my life busy.
Going to Japan is the opportunity of a lifetime that not many get to enjoy. I am thankful for all the support my family and friends have given me. I am equally grateful for all of the knowledge my Japanese teacher, Akemi, has generously poured out to me about her Japanese culture and life.
I am most grateful to AFS for being able to provide the opportunity. I’m sure you hear these words of gratitude all the time but I hope it means something more every time you hear it.
Thank you all so much.
Sincerely,
Betania Pawson
Question #5
Final Question:
#5
-What have you done, and what are you planning to do, to contribute to your fundraising efforts?
I have already started a bank account for any money I raise. Last year for my 15th birthday I asked for money to help for my trip to Japan. I received a lot from everyone in the form of cash and checks in my birthday cards. I am very grateful for their generosity.
I am still saving up on cash myself from holiday money and birthday money and allowance. I am cutting on my spending and have been applying to many places for a job to help with my fundraising.
Also I hope to soon get a "Sponsor-an-AFSer" widget and let people know about what I am doing and hoping to receive donations for Japan through that as well.
I have applied for and received a generous scholarship from AFS specifically for Japan. I will soon post the letter I sent AFS to thank them for the money awarded to me.
In addition my local chapter for AFS has been talking with us about a possible amount of money to be given to help me as well. Whether or not I receive anything from anyone, I am thankful for all I have received already and hope that I will be able to raise more money.
A big thank you also goes to anyone reading who has contributed money to help me with my exchange program to Japan. I can hardly express how much it is appreciated.
And that's all of my questions!
Hope that gave a little bit more information about myself and let everyone know a little bit more about me.
Thanks for reading,
**Betania
#5
-What have you done, and what are you planning to do, to contribute to your fundraising efforts?
I have already started a bank account for any money I raise. Last year for my 15th birthday I asked for money to help for my trip to Japan. I received a lot from everyone in the form of cash and checks in my birthday cards. I am very grateful for their generosity.
I am still saving up on cash myself from holiday money and birthday money and allowance. I am cutting on my spending and have been applying to many places for a job to help with my fundraising.
Also I hope to soon get a "Sponsor-an-AFSer" widget and let people know about what I am doing and hoping to receive donations for Japan through that as well.
I have applied for and received a generous scholarship from AFS specifically for Japan. I will soon post the letter I sent AFS to thank them for the money awarded to me.
In addition my local chapter for AFS has been talking with us about a possible amount of money to be given to help me as well. Whether or not I receive anything from anyone, I am thankful for all I have received already and hope that I will be able to raise more money.
A big thank you also goes to anyone reading who has contributed money to help me with my exchange program to Japan. I can hardly express how much it is appreciated.
And that's all of my questions!
Hope that gave a little bit more information about myself and let everyone know a little bit more about me.
Thanks for reading,
**Betania
Questions #3, #4
Question #3
-What do your friends and family think about your decision to become and AFSer?
I have been lucky enough to have a family that is so supportive of my wish to go to Japan. My parents have been very involved in finding ways to help me earn enough credits to graduate, work with my schedule to have enough classes and find a Japanese tutor for me to learn the language. Whenever I was down or felt like I might never finish all of my work my parents were right there to help me pick up where I left off and encourage me to move forward, to remind me of my goal
My friends have been equally supportive. I know they will miss me and they know it, too, but they wish me luck. All of my friends are rooting for me and hoping I will have a lot of fun.
I have been so fortunate to have everyone being so positive and being there for me when I was down or when I just needed uplifting.
Question #4
-What barriers or challenges have you overcome in order to become an AFSer?
One challenge is perhaps the fact that my plans went a little bad during the pre-app phase.
Before my parents and I had had more information about the Japanese requirements for the exchange program, my parents and I had decided that it would be best for me to graduate early. This seemed ideal because it would give me time when I came back, instead of having to jump right back into the school yeah when I returned. It would also take care of my having to catch up in classes when I come back after having been gone for 11 months.
We worked for a long time with my counselors and with my schedule, trying to figure out which classes to take and if I would need to take any summer school to earn extra credits to finish early.
One day we got a call from someone at AFS. I asked about different questions I had and when I told the woman about our plans for my going she told me Japan did not expect graduates.
You can imagine how upset we were; but it didn't mean we couldn't find a different approach.
This was certainly a setback though, as we had to go back and talk to the counselors and teachers and look back through all of our plans and ideas.
Happily we have found a different way; I have taken extra classes to make sure I will end with more than enough credits to be able to graduate with my class instead of ahead or behind them.
Although graduating ahead would be nice, every student hopes to one day walk across the stage with their class.
-What do your friends and family think about your decision to become and AFSer?
I have been lucky enough to have a family that is so supportive of my wish to go to Japan. My parents have been very involved in finding ways to help me earn enough credits to graduate, work with my schedule to have enough classes and find a Japanese tutor for me to learn the language. Whenever I was down or felt like I might never finish all of my work my parents were right there to help me pick up where I left off and encourage me to move forward, to remind me of my goal
My friends have been equally supportive. I know they will miss me and they know it, too, but they wish me luck. All of my friends are rooting for me and hoping I will have a lot of fun.
I have been so fortunate to have everyone being so positive and being there for me when I was down or when I just needed uplifting.
Question #4
-What barriers or challenges have you overcome in order to become an AFSer?
One challenge is perhaps the fact that my plans went a little bad during the pre-app phase.
Before my parents and I had had more information about the Japanese requirements for the exchange program, my parents and I had decided that it would be best for me to graduate early. This seemed ideal because it would give me time when I came back, instead of having to jump right back into the school yeah when I returned. It would also take care of my having to catch up in classes when I come back after having been gone for 11 months.
We worked for a long time with my counselors and with my schedule, trying to figure out which classes to take and if I would need to take any summer school to earn extra credits to finish early.
One day we got a call from someone at AFS. I asked about different questions I had and when I told the woman about our plans for my going she told me Japan did not expect graduates.
You can imagine how upset we were; but it didn't mean we couldn't find a different approach.
This was certainly a setback though, as we had to go back and talk to the counselors and teachers and look back through all of our plans and ideas.
Happily we have found a different way; I have taken extra classes to make sure I will end with more than enough credits to be able to graduate with my class instead of ahead or behind them.
Although graduating ahead would be nice, every student hopes to one day walk across the stage with their class.
Question #1, #2
Question #1
-Who are you? Why do you want to go abroad with AFS?
My name is Betania, I live in Ohio
I will be in 11th grade for the 2009-2010 school year.
I am planning to go to Japan for the Japanese 2010-2011 school year, in a year program.
I feel safe with AFS. AFS has a long history and has a lot of experience with student exchange. My dad first suggested AFS, I looked into it and I felt AFS was just the way to go.
I really want to go abroad so that I can experience different cultures. For many years I have truly wanted to go to Japan and be immersed in their culture. I want to improve my language skills for Japanese and I know from experience that the best way to learn any language is to be around it all the time, to get over the fear of making a mistake or two, and just go for it.
I absolutely love Japan and I think I'm ready to go and get an education that I wouldn't be able to get just from a textbook.
Question #2
-What do you expect to gain from this experience? How/what will you give in return?
I hope to gain a much better view of another place outside of the U.S.. I want to be able to be a good ambassador for the US and share culture with the Japanese people. I want to learn as much as I can about the world around me and see the views of different people. I also hope to gain many lasting memories of an amazing country so far away from home.
I want to be able to affect people even in the smallest way. I want to be able to share my knowledge of the US and maybe even my Brazilian heritage with the people I meet. I hope to leave a lasting, good impression on those I meet about Americans.
-Who are you? Why do you want to go abroad with AFS?
My name is Betania, I live in Ohio
I will be in 11th grade for the 2009-2010 school year.
I am planning to go to Japan for the Japanese 2010-2011 school year, in a year program.
I feel safe with AFS. AFS has a long history and has a lot of experience with student exchange. My dad first suggested AFS, I looked into it and I felt AFS was just the way to go.
I really want to go abroad so that I can experience different cultures. For many years I have truly wanted to go to Japan and be immersed in their culture. I want to improve my language skills for Japanese and I know from experience that the best way to learn any language is to be around it all the time, to get over the fear of making a mistake or two, and just go for it.
I absolutely love Japan and I think I'm ready to go and get an education that I wouldn't be able to get just from a textbook.
Question #2
-What do you expect to gain from this experience? How/what will you give in return?
I hope to gain a much better view of another place outside of the U.S.. I want to be able to be a good ambassador for the US and share culture with the Japanese people. I want to learn as much as I can about the world around me and see the views of different people. I also hope to gain many lasting memories of an amazing country so far away from home.
I want to be able to affect people even in the smallest way. I want to be able to share my knowledge of the US and maybe even my Brazilian heritage with the people I meet. I hope to leave a lasting, good impression on those I meet about Americans.
INFO+AFS
OKAY!
So I know I already have another blog.
Recently I recieved a scholarship from AFS (YAY!).
And to go along with the scholarship there are things I need to do, questions to answer and such. This will be my official AFS blog, more addressed to things about my AFS experience, while my other one will contain info on my ideas and experience and updates for my family and friends.
I know it sounds confusing and hopefully I dont get confused along with!
Im going to leave it at this for now. In my next post, which wont be too long after this God willing, will have info about me and some more things about AFS and what I need to do since I got my scholarship money.
If there are any other exchange students out there through WHATEVER program, Please let me know! And thats wether you have been somewhere already or if you are prepareing to go or hoping!
Thanks so much for reading!
**Betania
So I know I already have another blog.
Recently I recieved a scholarship from AFS (YAY!).
And to go along with the scholarship there are things I need to do, questions to answer and such. This will be my official AFS blog, more addressed to things about my AFS experience, while my other one will contain info on my ideas and experience and updates for my family and friends.
I know it sounds confusing and hopefully I dont get confused along with!
Im going to leave it at this for now. In my next post, which wont be too long after this God willing, will have info about me and some more things about AFS and what I need to do since I got my scholarship money.
If there are any other exchange students out there through WHATEVER program, Please let me know! And thats wether you have been somewhere already or if you are prepareing to go or hoping!
Thanks so much for reading!
**Betania
