#yaep

[ashlynbradshaw-blog]

Apply for YAEP for the summer of a life time! (Video created by me)

[tealightsy-blog]

Two Days Until Departure

As I lie awake in my bed it has hit me that I will be departing for China in two days; right now I can only describe how I’m feeling as ethereal. Even when I was younger I felt the need to explore beyond my own boundaries, being that there’s so much out there to experience. This will be my first time on a plane, let alone going outside of the country. Not only that but I will be fully immersing myself in a culture vastly different from my own. Because of this, I’m both excited and nervous; however, I’m sure this experience will be both eye-opening and metamorphic. I’m very grateful that I’ve been given this opportunity and that I will be serving my home town as a Phoenix Sister Cities Youth Ambassador.

[ashlynbradshaw-blog]

What You Should Know

One thing you need to know about Grenoble is that it will steal your heart and blow your mind. Grenoble is the best of both worlds for someone like me. A city vibe with the city center and lots of people and things to do - AND the tallest and greenest mountains you could imagine! How could a place possibly get more perfect? People should know that Grenoble is nothing like Paris. For any future Youth Ambassadors (or anyone traveling to Grenoble), if you are expecting to go to France and all you imagine is Paris, do your research and get informed! We did not go to Paris during our time abroad, however, I have been fortunate enough to go a few years ago with my family. My 100%, honest opinion - Grenoble is better in every single way, shape, and form. If you enjoy doing touristy things then Paris is fine, but while in Grenoble, expect to be one of the locals. You will (hopefully) go to school, cafés, friend gatherings, experience the nightlife, etc. and get a true French teenager experience. If you are lucky enough to travel to the most incredible city I’ve ever been, here is my advice to you. Keep your heart and your mind OPEN. Things are different here than in America. Instead of getting frustrated - ask WHY. Take time to LEARN about the culture and customs here. Take time to UNDERSTAND the people and get to know them. Make efforts to speak French, as they are making just as much efforts to speak English to you. I’m not suggesting you to need to be fluent, but learn the common phrases that will get you by as they appreciate it so much. Don’t take your time here for granted. Everything you left at home will still be there when you get back. For however long you travel to Grenoble, just know it is such a short amount of time in the grand scheme of things, so ENJOY it. Enjoy every morning, every evening, every tram ride to the city center, every pastry and every spoon full of gelato you have because soon it will all be gone. Take pictures and videos. Memories DO fade. Don’t forget to capture your favorite moments to look back on and don’t forget to live in the moment. I hope it is obvious by this point just how important Grenoble is to me, and the lasting impact it will have on the way I view the world, life, cultures, travel, and people-to-people relationships.

[ashlynbradshaw-blog]

I’m so happy that the past few days the three Phoenix girls and the three Grenoble girls have all been hanging out together. The first two weeks all of us spent time alone with our counterparts and only had random run-in’s with each other. However, recently we have been doing many group activities which have made our days so much fun! In this video I went bowling with Iman’s family, Iman and I put on face masks, and the six of us played an embarrassing game of “What are the odds?”. 

[ashlynbradshaw-blog]

I'M MOVING TO GRENOBLE!

I have never been so in love with a place before. After going to school with Iman, and sitting in her English literature class it just reassured me about how much I want to study and travel abroad. Her professor had me read the last scene in the play they are learning which was really amusing! The fact that we walked around the city center before and after her ONE class today, and sat at a cafe with her friends, made me realize how incredible it would be to grow up here. This is a place I would love more than anything for my kids to grow up and attend school. 

The culture for teenagers here is unlike anything I have ever experienced before and I am just in awe. Riding the tram and bus everywhere is so nice and I love how it is the most common way everyone travels. Iman and her friends are so incredible to hang out with and talk to...they are so inclusive! I honestly don’t have words other than this is just the most amazing thing I have experienced. 

It is actually really insane that around 4 of Iman’s friends that I have met did a different exchange program in Phoenix and attended Central High for three weeks in February. We have a lot to talk about and I can tell Iman is so excited to go to Phoenix so she will have been to the same places as her friends who went this past year. Later in the evening we met up with Louis, a 2014 Ambassador for dinner and walked around the city center - it was really nice to see a familiar face. I never want to leave here, if I miss my flight home… it was intentional!

Also, I am recording videos every day, however, I haven’t had a single chance to begin editing because we have been on the go from 6am-1am without being home for more than an hour! When I get the chance to edit, I will, but as of now, I’m picturing the majority of the videos being edited back home in Phoenix!

[ashlynbradshaw-blog]

While our counterparts were in their 4 hour French final exam, we were left alone in the city trying to keep ourselves entertained. The topic of coloring hair came up and Avary decided she wanted to go purple! Since we couldn’t go to any of our counterparts houses without their navigation, we were forced to get creative. 

[ashlynbradshaw-blog]

Thinking Ahead….

As my time in Grenoble is sadly coming to a close, I remind myself that the summer is only half way complete. For those who do not know, after my three weeks in Grenoble, France, my counterpart Iman will fly out to Phoenix with the two other French girls for three weeks in Arizona.  Phoenix is what you could call the home base for Phoenix Sister Cities Youth Ambassador Exchange Program. That being said, for the entire month of July, the 26 Phoenix students and the 26 international counterparts from eight of Phoenix’ sister cities who  participate in the exchange, will be doing group activities, adventures, holidays, and more together. I am most excited to share with Iman my day to day life in America. After getting to experience hers for three weeks, I have noticed many similarities and differences between the way we go about our day, and I can’t wait for her to notice these things too. I know she is very excited to meet my friends, my family and my dog, Reece. Avary, Kaley and I have warned our counterparts several times about the extreme heat they will encounter in Phoenix, and are giving them plenty of packing tips. Phoenix is tricky to pack for because outside it is deathly hot, but inside any building it feels like you are in Antartica. They have been informed of this many times. Iman is so excited to travel to America, especially because all of her best friends went to Phoenix last year for three weeks in February for a different exchange program.  She talks about her excitement all the time - it is so cute! She always comments on how she “can’t believe she is actually going to America!” I hope all of her expectations are met because I know mine were exceeded!

[ashlynbradshaw-blog]

Today, Pauline, Kaley and I went to a lake about an hour away for the day. The water was the perfect temperature but the floor was so rocky and painful to walk on we didn't last long in the water! After we laid on our towels and took a nap, we walked to a near by store to buy chips and pineapple to snack on while waiting for Paulines mom to pick us up. For the rest of the evening I am back home with Iman - she is pretty ill and went to the doctor today. I feel as though I might have gotten her sick, oops:( We are going to eat dinner soon and just relax!