5 Months Until I Leave!

There was no "hmm.. studying abroad would be cool, maybe that's something I'll consider..." There was no contemplating if I would rather do my junior year of high school at my current high school or in another country. There was no "Mom, Dad, can I study abroad?" It was me having an epiphany that studying abroad was an option, deciding right away that I was going to, and calling my parents from Costa Rica to tell them I would be studying abroad my junior year.

Of course I've always enjoyed traveling, but I never realized I actually loved it and was bored without it until last summer (summer 2009) when I went on a month long trip to Costa Rica. I went with 17 other teenagers (including my best friend Asha) that were all brought together by a company called Walking Tree Travel. It was the most exciting 30 days of my life! We did something new everyday, things such as; learning to salsa dance, seeing breath taking waterfalls, going on long hikes, living in the rain forest, learning to surf, zip lining, living by gorgeous white sand beaches, seeing active volcanoes, white water rafting down raging rivers, and living with host families. We lived in a very small town called Las Brisas for 17 days while we worked on a service project. We each got to live with our own family, which was intimidating at first, but turned out to be the most memorable experience ever. It was amazing to see complete strangers take us in with such loving arms. I was treated like family 100% of the 17 days. Everything about the trip was amazing but the best part was the rush I got from being someplace new everyday! And that's when I realized I didn't just enjoy traveling, I loved it more than the average high school life!

I know exactly where the payphone is in Monteverde, Costa Rica where I first said "mom, I'm studying abroad my junior year." She probably thought it was just something I was saying because I was in the moment of traveling, but I was dead serious. I said the same thing a week after I got back from Costa Rica, this time she took it more seriously and said no. But I said "don't worry mom, you have a year to get use to it, but I promise I'm studying abroad next year." It has been about 8 months and I am proud to say I have changed her mind. :) So thanks mom and dad for helping me make this happen and signing all the forms you had to sign on the application, even though I know its so hard to let your baby go!

My Adventures Begin...

Hey Everyone!

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Grace and I am currently a sophmore in high school outside of Chicago. After months of anticipation and working on my application, I recently found out that I have been accepted to study abroad with AFS (American Field Services) in Italy. I will be leaving in September 2010, and returning in July 2011. I am very excited and looking forward to the 10 months I will be spending learning about the Italian culture, but this experience is going to cost my family a lot of money.

I have started fundraising to help pay for the cost. I have made a deal with my parents that they will pay for a third of the cost, I will make a third by woorking, and I will fundraise for a third. The total cost is $12,000.

I currently work at a local cafe, baking cookies. I plan to be a pastry chef when I'm older so this is the perfect first job. I also babysit at my church every Sunday and for other families. Since September, I have saved up $1,300.

Over the next several months I will be writing this blog to tell you about my past travels, my preparations for Italy, and I will write while I am in Italy.

To sponser my AFS program now, please click the ChipIn button.