Thank you so much!

I know I already have a "Thank You" post, but I needed to make another one because I don't think the first one was enough. I have been SO lucky this year, that I must thank all the people who have helped me. I am not sure if it's okay to write names, but if you are one of the people that helped me, you will probably know when I am referring to you :)

My friends and I applied to more than one study abroad program together, but our main goal was to go to South Korea with a full scholarship. Three of them made it, yay!!! I didn't make it to program :(, but fortunately AFS accepted me (YAY!!!). But all throughout these program applications I received help from my teachers, friends, family and an AFS staff. My teachers helped me with so much despite being so busy. They took the time to revise my essays, write recommendation letters, and answers my questions when I did not understand something. I am also so thankful to my Summer Opportunities Counselor and to the AFS Student Advisor that helped me. Even if it was their job to help me with the applications, I am so grateful to them for being so patient with me. But there was also people that helped me so much despite not knowing much about me. Not long after I began fundraising money to pay my program tuition, I received several generous donations, even from people I had never met before. I am especially grateful to them for believing and trusting me so much that all they needed to do was to read my letter before deciding to donate.
I am so happy! I had no idea people could be so kind and generous!

Thank You SO Much!

Thank You!

Hello AGAIN! The most awesome thing happened a few days ago....I reached my fundraising goal!!! (YES!!!) And all this was thanks to two people whose names I unfortunately don't know. Two people donated through the ChipIn button, helping me with $1,500! Unfortunately I do not know who they are. This past Saturday I went to a graduation ceremony to support one of my friends, but on the way in my teacher told me she saw that I had reached my goal. She said someone had donated all the money! At first I thought she made a mistake since I had checked the night before. All throughout the ceremony I felt anxious. I wanted to call my brother so he could check for me, but I didn't even have my phone with me! As soon as I got home I checked..and it was true!!!!!

Thank you SO much dear donor!!! Since I found out, I have been trying to find your name and contact information, but it turns out I won't be able to know until the end of the month...If you are the person that donated, I want to tell I am SO thankful to you! You just helped me tremendously! I would really like to contact you as soon as possible and thank you formally. PLEASE leave me a comment or email me (alexiavianey94@yahoo.com) anytime. And once again:

Çok teşekkür ederim!
Thank you so much!

My Host Family!

YAY!! I have a host family now! They are from Karadeniz Eregli, which is on the border of the province of Zonguldak. It is along the West Black Sea coast, which is even better! Zonguldak has many beautiful beaches and more than half of the area is covered with forests. I have lived in Houston for seven years now, but I have only been to Galveston once :( This summer there will be no more dirty pools, only natural beaches! yes!! Zonguldak has warm and humid summers, so I get to have a break from Houston's hellish summers. I love Houston, but well....it gets TOO hot. It snows in Zonguldak between December and March, too bad I won't be there...I wish I could go to Turkey for a whole school year, or at least a semester, but its too late to apply. I wonder if my family would let me apply for a year...hmmm.

I was not given much information about my family other than their names, address and a few other details. They are Muslim and they are only a family a three. It turns out my dad and my host dad were born on the same year and even better, my host sister was born in 1994, so she is just six months older than I am! My dad is an engineer (Wow!) Although I was only given very few information about them, I am very excited. I also have to take them gifts, but I am not sure what kinds of things I could take. A dynamo shirt? I could also make them something...I love making crafts, so I'll probably do that. Now that I have their information, I have to contact them. I could call them, but well....I only know a few words in Turkish...so that might not be a good idea. I am already writing them a letter. This is when Google translate and dictionary translate become highly useful!

Now that school is over (YES!!!!!!!), I promise to update this blog even more. Now I want to find out more about the city I will live in, so expect a lot of pictures. I also LOVE foreign music, so I must find singers! I will post their music as soon as find them :)

Sponsor an AFSer!

Summer Home Stay in Turkey

Hello! My name is Alexia Sanchez, I am a sophomore at YES Prep Southeast and this summer I will take part in a summer home stay in Turkey for 6 weeks.

For years now, one of my major interests has learning about foreign cultures through their language and culture. In the past I took introductory Italian classes, joined foreign films clubs and successfully completed my first semester taking a Korean language course. Thanks to the Global Leaders scholarship I was awarded, I will be able to pursue my passion for foreign cultures beyond the classroom. I have been given the opportunity to travel internationally this summer through AFS (American Field Service), the world’s oldest high school exchange organization whose sole mission is to work for a more just and peaceful world by providing international and intercultural experiences like the one I was offered. After moving to the United States seven years ago, I realized moving to a new country with a different culture and customs is an adventure in itself and now I am more eager than ever to experience it again through this cultural opportunity.

Through this cultural exchange program, I hope to develop language skills and a better understanding of a different way of life. I strongly believe that learning about foreign cultures is a critical step to increase my global awareness. While abroad, I will be able to combat stereotypes in foreign countries and then use my experience to become a better leader in my own community. I will be leaving from New York in late June and will be abroad for about six weeks. But even after this trip, I plan to continue to pursue my interest in foreign cultures all throughout my remaining years in high school and subsequently in college. After I get back from my summer program, I will continue being involved with AFS by either applying to travel abroad again or becoming a volunteer and giving presentations in my school to share my experience and encourage other teens to participate in such enriching opportunities.

While Global Leaders is awarding me a partial scholarship, I still need to raise over $2,000 to actually be able travel abroad. I am responsible for covering the rest of the tuition, the domestic airplane ticket to my departure city, visa costs and extra spending money. I cannot raise the necessary funds without your help, which is why I ask you to please donate money to help me begin this adventure. I do not ask you for an specific amount, anything would be helpful. No matter how small, your donation would make a difference. I understand if you are not able to help me financially, but I will be very grateful for your good wishes and encouragement.

Teşekkür Ederim
Thank You!

P.S. Please forward this to anyone who you think would like to help. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and for your support. If you would like more information, please contact my AFS Advisor, Alex Flood at 1-800-237-4636, ext. 1514 or aflood@afs.org. You can also contact me at alexiavianey94@yahoo.com.

How to Donate -
Please make checks out to: AFS USA – TX Gulf Coast. If you wish to direct your tax- deductible donation to a specific student please affix a post- it note on the check indicating the student. Mail the check to: AFS TX Gulf Coast c/o Debra Tholen 2158 Chilton Rd. Houston, TX. 77019. Acknowledgement letters sent upon request for amounts over $100. Questions: Call or email Debra Tholen, AFS TX Gulf Coast Sending Coordinator at d.tholen@comcast.net / 713-894-8528.