Thursday, June 23, 2011

Visa Stuff & Host Family Information

Hi Everyone!

It has been a while since I've posted on this blog because I have been SO busy with school, my job and the paperwork for traveling and living in Spain.

For those who do not know what the process is like for applying for a visa, it is time consuming. But Spain's visa process is much worse, if possible. For Spain's visa, you have to have several papers notorized, signed by your state, sent to the FBI, have a background check done and finger prints taken. In additon to all that work, you must make an in-person appointment at the nearest visa consulate. Mine is in Chicago so we will drive there on July 12th to pick up my visa!

On Monday of this week, I recieved an email from my host brother! One of the most anxiety-filled times of this whole process was wating for months to find out where I would be living and who would be hosting me. AFS did a great job finding me a family! I will be living in a costal town in northwestern Spain called Vilagarica de Arousa. It is located in the Galicia region of Spain. In my host family, I have a "brother" called Lorenzo, he is 16 and speaks very good English. I also have a "mom" and "dad" and another "brother" who is 9 years old. Lorenzo and his family seem very nice, I can't wait to finally meet them!!

My departure date is coming up quickly! I am flying to New York from Milwaukee, where we will spend a night and then fly out to Spain the next day. Before we get to Spain, we are making a stop in Switzerland and then flying to Madrid.

I'm feeling mixed emotions about my year abroad-part of me wants to leave right now and meet my family,another part wants to stay here and go to school with my friends in the fall. In my year away, I will be leaving my friends and family in order to live with a new family for 10 months to experience their culture and way of life. When our plane takes off from New York, it will be a bittersweet moment.

Follow me for Updates prior to my departure and while I am in Spain!

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