#yes abroad

[maebimhere]

Hi All,

So I’m working on my applications this thanksgiving break, and aside from a break I will be taking today to go see the Crimes of Grindelwald and visit the newly opened Muji in Portland, I’ve been slaving away on apps. I have a few categories of applications.

Gap Year Programs (these are all free/full scholarship!!):

NSLI-Y -> I’ve already submitted the application for this, to study either Korean (in Korea) for a year, or Arabic (in Morocco or Jordan) for a year. Its for 15-18.5 year olds, and I know all these programs are pretty popular for sophomores and juniors, so I would definitely be the oldest on the program.

YES Abroad -> I’m working on this now. Its a program where I would be doing cultural immersion for a year in a country with a high muslim population. I had to rank countries, so here’s what I’ve got:

Bulgaria

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Macedonia

India

Turkey

Jordan

Indonesia

Philippenes

Thailand

Malaysia

Ghana

Morocco (I’m not actually eligible for here because I haven’t taken french, otherwise it would be higher)

Senegal (Ditto about the ineligibility)

CBYX -> Germany? I don’t know as much about this, but I’m pretty sure I have a higher chance of getting in here. Haven’t started the app, even though it’s due in 3 weeks. It sounds pretty cool.

Au Pair

So I’m working on these, but they’re second two the programs, so I’m only going to get really serious if I get nos from all of the other stuff. I’m mostly looking in Spain and China, but I’m open to other places. I’ll update more on this once I start hearing back from the programs.

College

Right, so I’m applying to schools in the USA, but also the UK and Spain, and maybe somewhere else? I don’t really know yet, but I should. In the US, I have a working list of the 6 schools I’m applying to:

Western Washington University

Cornish College of the the Arts

Columbia College Chicago

Boston University

Columbia University

St. Louis University: Madrid Campus

I’ve visited the first two, and liked them both, and my dad did a masters course at Columbia so I’ve been around the campus while visiting him. I’m still looking at University of Oregon, University of Chicago, Haverford College, Guilford College, and Vassar College. My app for SLU Madrid is basically finished, I just have to submit it, and I just have to finish my Common app essay, then I can apply to Western.

I’m also applying to schools in the UK. I’m looking at scenography/set design courses, and still trying to figure out where I want to go, so I don’t really have a good list, I just have pretty much every school that offers the course. This is exciting, but I’m not very far into the apps, so I do need to work on these a bunch.

Finally, I’m looking at Spain. I haven’t really decided anything about this, other than I’d probably want to study languages/linguistics. But who knows? Maybe I’ll look at art schools. I’m more excited about this than any other college opportunity (except maybe SLU Madrid), so hopefully I’ll have more updates soon.

[rosewhiskey]

GAP YEAR

   Strange as it may seem for me to take a gap year after a year of full-time dual enrollment, I’ve planned on taking a year to travel for a while. I’ve been looking into several study abroad scholarships and working holiday visa schemes. So far, these are my options:

- National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)

- Congress- Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX)

- Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange (YES Abroad)

- Australian Working Holiday Visa

- New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

- Attempting exchange with the university I’m currently doing dual enrollment with this year?

- Just plain old backpacking around Eastern Europe, Central America, or parts of East Asia and SE Asia.

- A combination of a few of these.

     Please like this if you’re also planning to apply to any of those exchange programs (or just to take a gap year in general) and post about the process on your blog, so I can follow you! And if anyone wants to swap ideas or advice, just shoot me a message!

[taemstudy]

Advice from a NSLI-Y Finalist: The Interview

Hey guys! As many of you know I am a finalist for the NSLI-Y Seoul Summer 2017 program and I cannot be more excited! When I leave I definitely will be writing about my experience with the program and answering any questions anyone may have.

Because I have a little under a month until departure I thought I would share my interview experience and advice for all the NSLI-Y/Yes Abroad 2018 and beyond applicants who are as nervous as I was for my interview.

Just a little info on the timeline: I completed and submitted my application mid September, was sent semifinalist status in early December, received my interview sign-up early January and did my interview in late January of 2017. I would later find out about my finalist acceptance late March but that information will be explained further in a later blog post. 

As far as preparation is concerned, yes I did prepare, and I prepared a lot. I knew I wanted to be ready for any question I could possibly get during the interview, so I made sure to have mock interviews with friends and family (I’m extra like that) and also to really think through the true reasons I wanted to do this program. I was in a Facebook group chat for other semis/alumni in my area and I was able to get a lot of guidance over what kind of questions I would be getting and what kind of approach to take with my answers, so that helped too! Definitely don’t be afraid to connect with any alums or semis online because they may just help you a ton!

My best tip is to be yourself- so cliche I know- but its true! If you aren’t answering the questions genuinely then your interviewer can sense that which can lead to a very uncomfortable interview. All of my responses during mine were genuinely me and the way I would’ve answered the questions if it had been an everyday conversation- and in the end that’s what helped me to feel more comfortable with my interviewer. 

As far as my experience is concerned, my interview was held in a mall food court which made me a little more nervous if I’m being honest. I arrived at the mall and found the check-in table where another semi-finalist and a Moroccan exchange student were sitting. I asked if I could hang out with them and they both chatted with me happily while my interviewer finished up his previous appointment. Talking with them really helped me calm my nerves, so if you can talk to people beforehand, do it!

Then, my interviewer came to collect me. I awkwardly stood up to shake his hand (as most people had told me to do) and we went back to a table in the middle of the food court. I was so nervous about my interviewer not liking me but he was so nice and very funny! He made me realize that your interviewer never has it out for you and in fact is rooting for you! So don’t worry about them writing you a bad report- just do your best and they’ll do everything they can!

He first asked the basic questions like whether or not I had a passport, what program I applied for, why, where I lived, etc., then he started the actual questions. For my application season I believe there were 23 questions, though that number may change year to year.

As far as what kind of questions you’ll get asked, they change every year but they will all most likely have to do with what your future plans are/what you plan to do with the language you learn on program, what you would do in certain theoretical situations (ie problems with your host family), and also just describing yourself and how you cope with certain situations as well. 

My interview lasted about 45 minutes, (though I have heard of people having theirs be both shorter and longer) and I made sure to also ask my interviewer questions to make it seem more like a conversation, and not just a bland interview-make yourself memorable! 

After it was over I thanked my interviewer and he promised to write me a report that had as much of what I said as possible, and then walked me back to where my mom was sitting. I thanked him one last time and said goodbye.

Afterwards my mom took me out to eat as a reward and I left feeling okay but I regretted not saying more about my passions for the language which haunted me for the next few months (don’t be like me in that regard).  

Months later who knew I would’ve ended up with an acceptance letter in my inbox. 

If you have any further questions or need advice, my ask box is always open!

Have a lovely day,

-Carlie

[maebimhere]

Ahhhhhh. I just submitted my application for YES Abroad. I’m a bit stressed because I didn’t get anyone else to read over it, but my family/friend situation is a bit strained right now, plus everyone is super busy. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

[noxtheexchangestudent-blog]

A bit of an off day

Today started off great. I was pretty sick yesterday, some kind of body ache that caused me to be in bed for the better part of twenty four hours; however, this morning was great because it was gone!

But then the homesickness struck in full force for the first time since I’ve left. Usually, it would not be a problem at this point, but I think it finally hit me just how long I will be away from home.

“I can’t understand a word of anything here”, “it’s so hot I could boil an egg by taking it out of the fridge”, “THESE PEOPLE ARE FEEDING ME TOO MUCH!” (Yes, that is possible.) Are some of the things that made me not want to be here.

Furthermore, everything started reminding me of home. Everything. Well, except for that pig blood soup I saw at the market.

I was especially frustrated when I was at the neighbors’ with my host mom. They were all trying to say things to me, but I did not understand. They started trying to use Google translate, but you all know how that can be, and it was.

The day finally took a turn for the better around an hour and a half ago.

My host dad had repeatedly insisted that I play soccer with him and the little kids of the neighborhood (all of whom are his nieces and nephews, not including his grandkids) before today, but until today, he never gave me a time, so I have always missed the game. Today, thankfully, I was finally able to join them. For such a short-lived game, it was very fun. Dad and I lost 4-3. Phet, the only other teenager in the neighborhood, was on the opposing team, and he has quite a bit of skill.

For the first time since I arrived, I finally felt truly as part of the family.

Days like these, the off days, are sometimes the most meaningful days on exchange. I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world, no matter how much I may want to in the spur of the moment.

(Everything is fine, please do not contact AFS staff to check on me. That puts a lot of stress on the administration for no reason.)

[elephantssbreath]

8 weeks home

I’ve been back for a while now, but it feels like nothing. When I look through my old pictures, I can still smell the street food or feel the fresh air in Sikkim. I can perfectly remember the smiles of the kids in the Nathon Ka Pura village and hear their voices, which is heartbreaking in some ways. 

No, it’ not all sad. The first two weeks were rough...I didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning, and I would make the Indian food my host mom taught me to cope with my India-homesickness. It’s gotten better now. I started working at a summer camp in Tennessee, which I love. Some nights I still cry when I think of my friends that have dispersed all around the world now. AFS will break your heart, but it will also make you feel such an intense feeling of compassion and camaraderie between you and the other exchange students. It only hurts when it’s over. Lots of the other AFSers were saying that it’s not over unless we say it’s over, and we can still all stay in touch and make trips to see each other (somehow).

Returning is easiest when I am kept busy, which is why being a camp counselor has been so great. I love being able to work with kids, it reminds me of all that I’ve learned this past year while working with the children at the Navshakti Vidhyalaya school in Rajkot and in the Nathon Ka Pura village. I can soak up the sun and feel the muscles in my body start to get used to being active again like gears in an old clock. I feel so much at peace here, which means that I am not only physically feeling healthier, but I am also improving my mental state. There’s a lot of time for reflection here in the countryside. I understand faith differently now, and I can see that my morals are stronger now. I believe that in my actions, I show that I am a better person now than I was pre-exchange. 

I love India, and I love the feeling of being back “home”. They just contradict each other a lot.

[elephantssbreath]

A Comparative Timeline of Fashion Between India & the U.S.

Here is a much higher quality scan of my capstone project (a requirement of my scholarship program, the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program funded by the U.S. Department of State). I would recommend viewing it via the google chrome app Lumin if you are using google chrome, otherwise you can open the lower quality scan I shared earlier :)

[elephantssbreath]

Kerala - South India

Hello everyone! This is a video my friend from Canada made to document our AFS trip to Kerala in April :) She also made an AWESOME video for a local trip to the Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu & Kashmir, check out her channel on youtube!