Hello, I thought it would be nice to add some info, links, and photos about Iceland. I made a blog on Tumblr where I have a lot of pictures and other lovely things having to do with the country I'll be visiting.
Here's the link: http://hazelsicelandexchange.tumblr.com/
Hooray.
~Hazel
Friday, December 16, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
My AFS Exchange
Hi! My name is Hazel Videon, I live in Bozeman, Montana. I am fifteen and a sophomore at Bozeman High School. I am currently in the process of applying to go on a foreign exchange with American Field Service (AFS). I recently submitted my application and I am still waiting to get the results back. If I get accepted, I will travel to Iceland, Sweden, or Norway. My first choice country is Iceland, but I will be happy where ever I go because I think it will be an interesting, fun, and rewarding experience to spend my junior year in high school in another country.
I have always been interested in travel and other cultures. I have been to Europe with my family when I was younger, and my eighth-grade class took a trip to Ecuador two years ago. In Ecuador our class stayed in a school in a small village and spent time playing with the kids, hiking in the mountains, and visiting an open market. I thought that going to Ecuador was a great experience and a challenge because I met lots of nice and interesting people, and nobody spoke any English so I had to use my limited Spanish skills to try to get around. I think that going on an exchange will be very similar to this, once I know which country I am going to I will need to work hard to try and learn as much of the language as possible. I think it will be great to learn a new language by immersion; there was a study done that said that a person can learn more in a few months of language immersion than they can in three years of class-room learning. It would be fun to come back to the U.S. knowing Icelandic! :)
As well as learning languages and meeting new people I think that by spending a year in another country I will gain independence and maturity, and I will get better at handling stressful situations. I will also gain more knowledge of the country's culture and customs, and share my own with them as well as bringing new ideas and stories home upon my return.
This trip sounds great, but the price tag doesn't sound so good (totally worth it but still!). The whole trip costs $13,500 plus domestic travel, and spending money... Through this blog, my goal is to raise up to $5,000 which would be wonderful! I have other fundraising planned - and I am definitely going to save every little bit of money that comes toward me - but this can be a big part of covering my expenses. Every contribution will help immensely, no matter how much money it is. All of your donations are hugely appreciated! To sponsor my AFS program please click the Chipin button. If you know anyone who would be interested in reading this blog and contributing please send them this link:
http://hazelexchange.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much for reading this blog and showing interest in helping me reach my goal! I will continue updating this blog in the future before and during my exchange. Thanks again!
:) Hazel
I have always been interested in travel and other cultures. I have been to Europe with my family when I was younger, and my eighth-grade class took a trip to Ecuador two years ago. In Ecuador our class stayed in a school in a small village and spent time playing with the kids, hiking in the mountains, and visiting an open market. I thought that going to Ecuador was a great experience and a challenge because I met lots of nice and interesting people, and nobody spoke any English so I had to use my limited Spanish skills to try to get around. I think that going on an exchange will be very similar to this, once I know which country I am going to I will need to work hard to try and learn as much of the language as possible. I think it will be great to learn a new language by immersion; there was a study done that said that a person can learn more in a few months of language immersion than they can in three years of class-room learning. It would be fun to come back to the U.S. knowing Icelandic! :)
As well as learning languages and meeting new people I think that by spending a year in another country I will gain independence and maturity, and I will get better at handling stressful situations. I will also gain more knowledge of the country's culture and customs, and share my own with them as well as bringing new ideas and stories home upon my return.
This trip sounds great, but the price tag doesn't sound so good (totally worth it but still!). The whole trip costs $13,500 plus domestic travel, and spending money... Through this blog, my goal is to raise up to $5,000 which would be wonderful! I have other fundraising planned - and I am definitely going to save every little bit of money that comes toward me - but this can be a big part of covering my expenses. Every contribution will help immensely, no matter how much money it is. All of your donations are hugely appreciated! To sponsor my AFS program please click the Chipin button. If you know anyone who would be interested in reading this blog and contributing please send them this link:
http://hazelexchange.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much for reading this blog and showing interest in helping me reach my goal! I will continue updating this blog in the future before and during my exchange. Thanks again!
:) Hazel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)