HERE!

So all that work did accomplish something! I am finally in France, it's amazing.

Here is my journey so far:

Left my mom and sister in New York after a few days of last minute bonding time.

Meet a bunch of people from all over America (literally from Hawaii to Maine).

Flew from New York to Paris. (Had a very nice flight too, watched Avatar and tried to sleep)

Got to the hostel.

Meet people from all over the world (but mostly Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Poland).

Saw PARIS.

Got on a bus headed for a train. (Meeting more people from Italy and the Philipines)

Took a train to my host sister (and the rest of the AFS chapter). Then we had a picnic.

Drove to my new home.

And since then I have gone to school, had volleyball, went shopping, and out with my host sister and new friends. OH and I've had some of the best food ever! (and some of the worst...)

But I'm going to keep trying new things, learning as much french as possible, making friends, seeing France, playing volleyball, and most importantly EATING!

Woah, I haven't written for a really long time. I've been very busy with work and getting ready to leave.

So today something important came in the mail, my VISA! It was pretty much the last thing I needed to leave the country and get into France.

Oh, and I got a host family. They seem like the perfect fit for me.

I'm already to go. Just need to get on the plane. And finish packing..

France, here I come!

I just found out that I have been officially accepted to France!! Yay! So I am, for sure, going to France in the fall. Now all I have to do is wait to be placed with a host family.

The fundraising going. I've given the forms to a lot of teachers and classmates and a few said they're interested so hopefully I'll get a few orders.

Well that's all for now, have a good day!

Spring showers bring... Fundraising flowers??

YES. AFS has given me the oppertunity to do a fundraiser, all the proceeds go to my tution. So what it is is I'm selling perennials and annuals. The flowers range from Snapdragons to Bleeding Hearts. And they seem really inexpensive. So if you want some let me know I'll put a list up below with all the flowers and the cost.

Thanks

PS If you have any questions let me know!



Perennials: Item - Variety / Color
@$7.00
BLOOM IN SPRING
____ Aubrietta – Whitewall Gem / Purple
____ Dianthus – Sweetness / Pinks
____ Dicentra (Bleeding Heart) - Spectabilis / Rosy Pink

BLOOM IN SPRING / SUMMER
____ Delphinium (Larkspur) – MF Dk Blue / Dark Blue

BLOOM IN SUMMER
____ Astilbe (False Spirea) - / Burgundy Red
____ Astilbe (False Spirea) - Fanal / Red
____ Echinacea (Coneflower) - Magnus / Rose Pink
____ Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) –Arizona Sun / Orange Red
____ Monarda (Bee Balm) – Pink Supreme / Pink
____ Nepeta (Catmint) - Walker’s Low / Blue
____ Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan) - Goldsturm / Yellow
____ Salvia (Meadow Sage) - May Night / Violet
____ Sedum – Angelina / Yellow

BLOOM IN SUMMER / FALL
____ Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy) - Becky / White 4 /
___ Sedum – Autumn Joy / Bronze

$8.00 @
GRASSES – BLOOM IN SUMMER
____ Calamagrostis (Feathered Reed Grass) - Karl
Foerster / Green - Tan

$22.00 @
____ $25 Gift Certificate to Eisele Greenhouse in Lakeville, MN


Annuals
10" Hanging Baskets
Bacopa Sun or partial shade ( White)
Begonia-Non Stop Shade ( Red, Yellow, Apricot )
Bridal Veil Sun ( White )
Ivy Geranium Sun ( Burgundy/White, Pink, Red )
Lobelia-Trailing Sun ( Blue )
New Guinea Impatiens Sun ( Red, Pink, Coral )

Flower Pouch Impatiens -- assorted colors

Patio Plants
14" Tomato -- Husky Red
12" Geranium -- Red

Bedding Plants $4.00 per 6-pack
Pansies 6-pack, Assorted Colors
Alyssum 6-pack, White

$4 Annuals (4 1/2" Pots) (Note: Any mix of $4 plants can be purchased for $36 a dozen)
Begonia-Non Stop ( Red, Yellow, Pink, Apricot )
Dahlietta ( Burgundy, Yellow, Dark Pink, Red )
Daisies ( White, Yellow )
Double Impatiens ( Red, Pink, Violet )
Geraniums ( Red, Rose, Violet, Coral, White )
Gerbera Daisy ( Orange, Pink, Red, Yellow )
Wave Petunias ( Purple, Blue, Pink )
Spike
Vinca Vine
Springeri

$2.50 Annuals (4" Pots) (Note: Any mix of $2.50 plants can be purchased for $22 a dozen)
Tomato ( Big Boy, Early Girl, Cherry )
Pepper ( Green, Jalepeno, Yellow )
Begonia-Wax Shade ( Red, White, Pink )
Coleus Shade Assorted colors
Impatiens Shade ( Red, White, Rose, Lavender, Coral )
Petunias Sun ( Red, White, Pink, Purple, Varieg. Purple )
Salvia Sun ( Red, Blue )
Snapdragon Sun Assorted colors

Snow's Melting

The sun's out, the snow's melting, water levels are rising, birds are chirping. If you haven't noticed, spring's coming!
Today's my first softball practice and I'll be in it until the end of the school year.
Yesterday I went to an AFS meeting and realized that in less than six months that will be me!! (Hopefully)I still have yet to be excepted,yet. Right now France is reveiwing my application and should let me know pretty soon. But I probably won't know who my family will be until the summer.
Speaking of summer, I'm going to be a lifeguard again, and now I'm going to be a WSI, water safety instructor. I love teaching teaching children so it should be fun.
School is going, French classes are good. I like my teacher and I like being able to "carry on" a conversation in Frenglish. (French and English)I'm working on it a lot and my teacher says I'm going well.
So ya, nothing too exciting I just thought I'd keep you updated.

à bientôt!

My Story

I thought that last blog sounded a bit stuffy, so I wanted to summarize it and add a few more details.

So I'm sixteen years old, a lifeguard, a volleyball player, and a cook.

And now I'm on my way to France.

I've wanted to be a foreign exchange student since 6th grade, I remember getting packets, from my sister, about AFS. I was mesmerized by all the possible nations I go go to. I could go anywhere in the world; speak any language; be with any people; eat any food; and all I had to do was fill out a form.

Well, turns out I had to do a little more work than that to go abroad. Like I had to study really hard to get good grades, I've had to put off homework to complete AFS things, I've probably spent more than ten hours straight completing my application, I'm taking AP classes so that I can graduate with my grade, and I've been working my butt off to learn French.

And that doesn't even account for what I'm going to miss while I'm gone. My first day of 11th grade, freezing cold football games, a season of volleyball and softball, Thanksgiving, Christmas, my golden birthday, Mother's day, prom, my last day of 11th grade, and just being with my family and friends for a whole year.

But the thing is comparing those loses to going to France is like comparing a penny to a million dollars, well at least for me. I believe that the things I experience, good or bad, while aboard will shape me and give me a better understanding of our world.

That's all I really want. I want to learn about the French culture, their morals and values, how they prioritize their lives. With that understanding I want to share with family, friends, and anyone else that will listen what is truly important in life. The things that will make your day a red letter day are the things we should be doing as much as possible.

I also wanted to hit on the whole fundraising thing. I really haven't been fundraising, but I have been working, a lot. Any job apportunity I have been presented I have taken. I want to work and I love to get paid for a good days work, but the thing is, it's not enough. So if you are willing to there is or there will be a ChipIn link that you can donate to. Any amount of money is helpful and all of it is appriciated.

Thank you, please leave comments and questions, I'd love to hear from you!

Hi, I'm Abi. I play volleyball and softball. I love to swim, snowboard (just started yesterday), hang with friends, cook, and read in my free time.

I want to go abroad with AFS because my sister was an AFSer to Paraguay when she was my age. Her experience with AFS was one of the best times in her life and I would love to have that experience. I have always known I wanted to be an exchange student so AFS was my first choice.

I really want to gain a better knowledge of other people and I want to get to know myself for who I truly am. I hope to give the people I am living or going to school with a more realistic idea of how some Americans feel about the rest of the world.

My family and friends are all excited for me to get this opportunity. It is not something that comes up everyday and they want me to have a great experience while I'm away. My mother, of course, doesn't want me to leave her, but it must be done.

To become an AFSer the major barrier I have to overcome is the cost to go. I love going to new places, meeting new people, and trying new things. So besides the language barrier, which I am working hard to shorten, I think I will thrive at my new home.

So far I have completely finished my AFS application, set up my school schedule for when I return, talked to my counselor about my credits, got my passport, and had my interview. All I need to do now, from what I understand, is to get my host family, buy a ticket and get myself out to DC or NYC to get on a plane to Paris, France.

Since I just completed my application I have not started fundraising yet but I did qualify for a partial scholarship from AFS Global Leaders. I need to raise about $9,050. It's a lot, I know. But I figure I'll just chip away at it piece by piece.

You can help, any donation - even $10 - makes a difference. If you just can't give money then help me spread the word about my blog. Please forward it to any or all of your friends. And feel free to add me on facebook.

Thank you so much for taking an interest in my blog and have a great day.

Au revoir!!