Revisions Out

Here Comes the Wait

     Just finished my revisions for my full application to the Japan Spring Year 2013-2014 program! Now enters the virtue Patience! In the mean time, I will be scraping up $1,500 for the tuition installment due on the first of November, just in case I'm not offered a scholarship. Never hurts to be prepared! I'm going to write a letter about my cause and send it out to all the civil groups in my town to see if I can get any donations. I've got a plane ticket that costs around $2,000 estimated. There are a lot of things I need to save up for. If you'd like to make a donation, mosey on over to the right of this page and you'll see a donation box called "ChipIn". This is a tax-free, safe donation. Any amount is greatly appreciated!

Tying Up Loose Ends

Revisions Have Come!

     My revisions came by email today! They came a lot faster than I expected, I'm thrilled. Fortunately, I only have about four or five things to correct. My doctor forgot to stamp the 3B form, I need an explanation sheet of my schools grading system, and some other minute details. Also, I finally paid off my deposit! That's done and out of the way! Now comes the long wait to hear of the scholarship winners. I have to send in my essays tomorrow. I'm so nervous! I know that even if I don't get the scholarships, I'll still be going no matter what! 

P.S: If you are going on the year program to Japan, 2013-2014, there is a Facebook page where some of us gather and share our knowledge and our experiences! It's a great way to get to know the other students going on the trip with you. If you'd like to join, follow this link. If you are going on the semester program, follow this link. I'm a member of both, so feel free to ask me any questions! If you have any other questions about the AFS program in general, or are participating in another program (China, France, Italy, etc.) you can post your questions or comments here! AFS faculty and staff will answer your questions. 

Ja, mata ne! 

Recent Updates

The catalog I received from Robin.

Interview with Robin Frank

     I had my interview at last! A kind lady named Robin came all the way down from Kansas to interview me. To top it all off, she was on crutches. I am very grateful that she was willing to make a two hour drive here and back. It went very well. She asked some questions about my personality, my favorite foods, my relationship with my family, and whatnot. After she left, I felt that this was all the more real. It's really something when you know you're going to Japan!

Full Application

     So around last week I finally submitted my full application! Just today I received an e-mail that AFS had received my application and I that would get an e-mail sometime next week pertaining to my revisions and so forth. I hope there aren't too many! I'm so excited to have finally heard back from AFS. Every update brings me closer to my dreams. As for my $900 full application deposit, I only have $110 left to pay. I'm waiting on a $150 check to process into my PayPal account so that I can pay the deposit in full. Then it's waiting for the scholarship results! They'll be announced sometime mid-October. I hope I win one!

One of my commissions, "Zou-san" sold for $50.

Fundraising

     As of this week, I've raised $1,215 from my artwork auctions on Facebook. This has been a great way for me to raise money! It's paid for my $75 preliminary fee and my $900 full application fee. I have around $250 left towards my tuition. Plus, if I get donations from my blog, that will help big time! I've changed from the summer program to the year program.  Although my Chip-In button is set to a limit of $3,000, I am raising $5,000. Once I get close to $3,000, AFS is going to switch out the old Chip-In button for a new one. 

   

New Friends

Miyabi, myself, and Mew at cabaret at my community theater!

     Last week I got a schedule change in one of my classes to prepare for my trip to Japan, what with graduation requirements, and I made quite a discovery. At my school, we have four foreign exchange students: Angela from China, a girl from Brazil, Miyabi from Japan, and Mew from Thailand. I had no idea Miyabi and Mew were at my school until I walked into my new class and saw them sitting together at a table. For about three days I observed that no one talked to them, helped them, or even made any attempt to befriend them. That's when I decided to be that person. I asked if I could sit with them at lunch, and Mew replied with a soft "Yes." They are very shy and hardly spoke when I first met them. Now, after just a week, they've opened up and have shown their true personalities! I help them do their homework a lot, and translate things for Miyabi. I don't know any Thai, unfortunately, but Mew understands English better than Miyabi. Poor dear! 
     This has been an amazing experience. I'm so glad I got the chance to meet them! From observing their experiences as an exchange student, it really helps give me an idea of what my life in Japan will be like. When I come back in February of 2014, I'll know exactly how they felt. 

Update!

Just received a call from an AFS advisor and I was told that the nearest volunteer was in Wichita, Kansas. That's awesome! If they are willing to take a two hour drive down here to Enid I might be able to go on the spring trip to Japan! I'll have to raise up the $13,200 though. I've raised about $730 by selling my paintings on Facebook, and I'm getting a part-time job. I'm so excited!! I've been wanting to go to Japan for years! I'm going to apply for the scholarships too. I already have my essays written. Wish me luck! 

Japanese Lesson One

Basic Overview

*Pronunciation

     Japanese pronunciation is fairly easy and straightforward. If you have ever taken Spanish, the vowel sounds are nearly identical. Here is a list of the Japanese vowels and their pronunciation:

あ a  "ah" as in "mama"
い i   "ee" as in "me"

う  u  "oo" as in "moo"
え e  "eh" as in "medicine"
お o   "oh" as in the Spanish "no"

     In Japanese, unlike English, vowels don't have special pronunciations when they are placed next to one another. No "magical" sound change happens. The only exception to this rule is in the case where the short vowels become long vowels. I will go over this later. But as a rule for now, each vowel gets its own sound. Don't blend the vowels together like you would in English. Here are some examples for you to practice with! Try memorizing the hiragana vowels. (I will go over this later, as well.) Disregard trying to understand their meaning, most are just meaningless vowel combinations.

  

あい ai    ah-ee

うえ  ue   oo-eh

あお ao    ah-oh

いう  iu    ee-oo

あえ ae   ah-eh

あおい aoi  ah-oh-ee

TIP: Make sure you're not pausing between the vowels. You can say them in one breath, just make sure you aren't coming up with some crazy sounds!

Here is another list of hiragana to practice pronunciation with:

か ka      ka "kah"

き ki     ki  "kee"

く ku    ku "koo"

け ke   ke "keh"

こ ko    ko "koh"

  

かい kai

あき aki

けお keo

こい koi

えき eki

くこ  kuko

おき oki

See you Monday! Ja, mata ne! (See you later) \(^-^*)/ 

 

Konnichiwa, Mina-San!

     I'm a sophomore in high school, living in the small town of Enid, Oklahoma. For the past six years, it's been my dream to someday travel to Japan and experience their culture. Ever since I was ten years old I've been learning everything I could about Japan and its people: history, holidays, language, mannerisms, customs, and other cultural aspects. Japan is a vastly different world, and it draws me in like a moth to a flame! I just can't get enough of it. 
     Now, I've finally taken the initiative to become a foreign exchange student; however, the tuition is very expensive. I'm using a program called AFS-USA (formerly known as the American Field Service), and the tuition for a year high school program in Japan is $13,200. This is a large sum of money that I can't simply afford. I have applied for scholarships, but even this does not guarantee my trip to Japan. 
     Thus, I have created this blog to help raise money towards my tuition. To make a donation, please click the "ChipIn" button, which is a secure, non tax-deductible donation. I have been auctioning my artwork on Facebook in a public group called Japan Trip Fundraiser. So far, I have raised about $500. When fall rolls around, I plan to paint and sell pumpkins. For the chilly months, I am crocheting scarves. I have a long ways to go, but nothing will deter me. It is my dream to join these two worlds together and help others better understand what Japan is all about! There is so much to learn from this country, and I hope to create a bond that will last a lifetime and beyond. Thank you for your support! 

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