Host Family

I got my host family today! I was so excited to see where I'll be living for my year abroad. Julio and Crisitina Lima will be my host parents. I will also have two host sisters, Flavia and Ana. I will be living in Palmital- Sao Paulo, Brazil. I plan on sending them a letter soon to learn more about them and my host community.

Cori

Acceptance feels awesome:

So I finally got accepted into my program! I waited a month or so after my last post but I got the email last week saying that AFS USA and AFS BRAZIL accepted my application. I was so excited because now the real stuff comes into play. Like more fundraising and getting my host family and travel dates. Everything is slowly falling into place and I have had a lot of support from friends and family. Thanks for everything! I would like to specially like to thank Mara and Rich Bochart. They donated a small percentage of their roalties check with me and I'm so gratefull. Good Luck in Israel! I would also like to thank Kristel Stone. She has been a very big help in planning what to do next in fundraising and I appreciate her support and encouragement. I feel so blessed to have people in my life that care. thanks again for all the help!

Brazil Here I Come!

Cori

Full Application Done, Now I Must Wait...

So I finally turned in my full application in the beginning of August (I know it's a little late to tell you) but I have been waiting and waiting. I just can't wait to hear the news if I got accepted and get info on my host family and where I'll be going and my school. I especially can't wait to here about when I'm going to be traveling. I have a small range of days but it'll make me feel better knowing the exact day so I can start a count down even though I have been mentally counting down the months slowly. The months since I started this crazy adventure have flown by. It seems just like yesterday that I filled out the first application to get accepted into AFS back in the middle of March. Now to think I have only 6 months till I leave. It's kinda scary! I'll be starting school in a week and I'll only be completing 1 semester of school then I graduate. It feels like such a long time and yet the more I think about it, the more it feels like I'm running out of time to do stuff. I'll be missing all the good parts of senior year and right now it kinda feels like I'm going to be missing out and yet when I'm finally on my exchange I won't be thinking about my graduation ceremony, I'll be thinking about my new life in Brazil for the next year. AGH!! It's so crazy to think about!!! I'm going to make this the best semester of high school yet so then when I'm down in Brazil I can say that it wasn't a total loss and mom is happy as well that she doesn't have to sit through the long graduation ceremony at the end of the year and neither do so I guess it will all work out in the end. I know Brazil is going to be great and I can't wait so hurry up AFS! I excited to here the good news!

Cori

Won a Scholarship!!!

I just found out that I won a $1000 scholarship from AFS!!! It's called the Global Leaders Merit Scholarship. This has been so helpful and I'm so thankful for AFS for this scholarship. This puts me a lot closer to my goal.


Cori

4th of July

I was just thinking today about how next year at this time, I won't be celebrating 4th of July with barbecues and chilling with family around the bonfire. I'll be in Brazil probably be in school and it will just be a normal day, but this does give me a chance to share my culture with my future host family. I'll with definitely let you know what it's like next July 4th so stay tuned. :)

Sincerely,
Cori

Garage Sale

So I have an offical date for my garage sale. I will be doing it June 11th. If you have some free time stop by and check it out.

I'm looking for donations so if you plan on doing some spring cleaning and find some items send me an email with you name and list of items donated. We'll work everything out. If you have a busy week I will be happy to go and pick items up. All items need to be in by June 4th.

Thanks for all your help!

Sincerely,
Cori

Thank You Everyone

I am so grateful for all the help from everyone. I would especially like to thank my mom for all the work she has done for me and her willingness to let me participate in this program. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she gets ready to send me off on my own for the first time.  I really appreciate that you chose to donate to my program and I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my email and visit my blog. With everything that you have done gets me several steps closer to going to Brazil. Thanks for all your help!!!

Sincerly,
Cori

Garage Sale

So I am thinking about doing a garage sale to earn money for my trip. I haven't decided on a date yet because of some unfinished details for the summer (More info coming soon). I have a few item donations from people but I need a lot more. If you have any items you would be willing to donate send me an email at ppchlb@gmail.com and we'll work out the details. Thanks to everyone for helping me out so far! I'm getting closer each day.

Have an awesome day!!!

Love Cori :)

Matching Month

So April is all about matching and I'm not talking about the state standard you learn in school where a red square equals a red square. No I mean matching your donations! During the month of April AFS will match whatever donation you give (up to $500). So pretty much if you give $1 then AFS will give $1 also which doubles my chance of going abroad.

Thanks for all the help so far and don't forget to spread the word!

Cori

Starting an Adventure In Brazil

Dear Friends,

Thanks for visiting my blog! I'm so glad you were willing to give up a few minutes of your day to see what I plan in doing this spring. Well, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am currently a senior at Medina High School and Medina County Career Center. In February 2012 I will be leaving the United States to experience life in Brazil for a year through AFS Intercultural Programs. I'm so excited to learn about a new culture and a new language as well as share my culture with my host family. I hope to bring back what I learned and share it with everyone. Many people don't get the chance to see life in other countries let alone other states but I want to defy the usual boarder and let people know that there is life outside the United States. I plan to use this experience when I go off to college and later when I become a teacher.

Of course with any trip there is the fiance part. I currently babysit and I am getting a job to offset the cost of going to Brazil. With all the work I've been doing, I still need help. If you would like to help sponsor my program click the Chipin button to make a secure non-tax deductible donation. I know times are tough but any amount will help me get one step closer to my goal of traveling abroad. Thanks again for taking the time to visit my blog and read my posts. Have a great day!

Sincerely,
Cori