Capturing Memories (3)

My Bunny Spot.

Capturing Memories (2)

Oh, Peanut butter.

Capturing Memories (1)

My Family (Brother, Me, Mom)

Capturing Memories (0)

So I have decided to finish off my last month in the U.S. by remembering everything I'll be leaving. Each day I will be posting something about a person, place or thing that I'll be missing while I'm gone. I hope you enjoy my dedication to the little things in my life.
Sincerely,
Cori

Leaving Soon!

So I'll be leaving in a little over a month. I'm so excited to soon be living with my host family and experience what life in Brazil is like. I have been talking to my host mom and sister and they are very excited to meet me. Everything has happened so fast the last month. I have almost finished paying for my program and I got my visa information. I have made plans to go down to Washington D.C to get my visa all taken care of. This is the hardest part of my trip. Brazil consulates require lots of documents and it takes time to get them together but I'm ready for whatever challenges are thrown my way because all this hard work now will pay off in the end when I'm enjoying my time in Brazil. I want to thank everyone who has made this experience possible. I appreciate all the help! I would most like to thank AFS and all the help they have given me. They are really there every step of the way and are very knowledgeable in every respect. Thanks again AFS for everything!

Soon to be writing from Brazil,

Cori

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