One Week..

            So there is about a week left until I leave California and I haven't really explained what the next few weeks have in store for me! So here it goes! On the second of September, I will drive from my home in Templeton up to Oakland to take an 11pm, 9 hour flight to New York City! (I will have a two hour layover in Boston) When I arrive in New York, AFS volunteers and staff will meet me at the airport and take me to the first orientation! I'll stay in a hotel with all the exchange students from America who are going all over the world! We will play games and have a blast! Then the next evening at 7 PM I will get on my flight to Paris with all of the exchange students from America who are going to France. Arriving in Paris at 8am, we will be met by AFS France volunteers who will take us to our second orientation where we will stay in a hostel with students from all over the world who are studying in France with AFS. The first day we have to rest and get to know each other. The next day will be September 6th, my 16th birthday! On the 6th, we will explore Paris and have a guided bus tour around the city! Then the following day, we will be leaving Paris by train or plane to go to meet our host families. I think I will be going to Lyon (the second largest city in France) where my host family will pick me up and take me to my host family's beautiful home in Lugny. Then I will start school! 

             I am scared, to be honest. Very scared.. and excited, and hopeful, and thankful, and happy. I am proud too, for pushing my self, no, shoving myself out of my comfort zone as hard as I could. I don't know what to expect really and that's kind of frightening, but I know that I can do this. I know that I am going to be SO happy that I picked up the phone and called Evelyn Volpa, the first person from AFS that I ever talked to. (Thanks to Mrs. Ewing for giving me the number in the first place, would have never been going without her.) All I had before that was an idea and an ounce of courage.

           It's really surreal that this is happening.. I mean I have been working toward this for about two years. I am so thankful for everyone who has helped me through this process, especially Sharon Bisso who is simply a wonderful woman and a perfect AFS volunteer. She has helped me immensely with everything I've needed. Also my family for supporting me in so many ways. Last but not least, my incredible friends for always encouraging me and insisting that they will be here for me when I get back. 

Keep checking back for more updates on my adventure! 

This has been a TERRIBLY written blog post, but... oh well.. enjoy! 

                                     A la prochaine,

                              Casey Galli

     

One Month..

I am exactly one month and 5,635 miles away from having my feet on French land.

      At this point in my journey, I dedicate every minute of my life to thinking about my exchange year in France... I just can't help myself! I am excited, scared and impatient. It has been about two years in the making. There has been a lot of waiting...and paperwork, and it has all been so worth it as I have already become an AFS student Ambassador without stepping foot out of the United States. I have met so many amazing people from ALL OVER the world (I mean places I had never heard of!) And my empathy has grown immensely. I have come to realize that the language and cultural boundaries of this world are meant to be challenged.
"It's not better, It's not worse, It's just different"
       I feel so lucky to not only be spending a year in France, but also because I get to spend it with the amazing Laferrere family. All they have shown me is kindness and I feel very fortunate that they are willing to accept me into their beautiful home for TEN MONTHS ( Like seriously, you've gotta be some nice people to do that..) I have spoken with most of my family and I can't wait to meet them in person!
      All there is left to do is wait, and saying goodbye will be hard but I am ready for my new life to start.
                                                                   A la prochaine,
                                                                        Casey Leigh