Previously I have mentioned that I applied for the Kennedy-Lugar YES scholarship which allows us to go abroad to the USA for half a year on an academic exchange program which is totally FOC and a rare chance that many students will kill for right?
Here's the deal. I got the scholarship.
And I am in America now.
Sometimes I stare around at my host family's house and wonder whether all of these are real, and wonder whether I am still dreaming. I am actually in South Carolina surrounded by thousands of Americans and tens of other exchange students. I am actually in an American high school and enjoying senior year ( yep, like what you see in High School Musical ).
And my host brother will strangle me every time I ask if he's real.
So this is real.
The plane flight from KLIA Malaysia to Heathrow London was brutal. B R U T A L I tell you, but it's worth it. I was stashed in the the window seat and every time I want to go out and pee, I have to scramble through a very sleepy Karen and an absolutely expressionless Saktesh so I tried to hold my pee in as long as I could. It didn't actually work out.
The flight was approximately 13 hours and it was freezing by the time we reached Heathrow. It was 10 degrees below zero and we actually breathed smoke whenever we go outside! London is awesome, but the currency is a pain in the arse! One pound is actually 10 ringgit ( sweating bullets even thinking of it )!!!
It was then another 6 hours of checking in and baggage scanning at the airport before we board United Airlines to Dulles International Airport USA.
By time we reached the Youth Conference in Washington D.C USA, we're all nearly half dead from exhaustion and jet lag with fatigue.
We had an orientation for two days in the Youth Conference and we had quite a lot of snowball fights there. The freshly fallen snow was destroyed by all 43 of us in a wink and we practically destroyed the lobby with our snow prints and flakes of ice ( guilty look ). Lovin' every moment in USA!!
But it is COLD!!!!! But I made 3 snow angels all the same. :p
After the orientation, we were divided into three separate group with different plane and bus boarding time to our respective host states and families. I was arranged into the bus "Crackle" in which it's boarding time was 5:30am in the morning. I was in the group with Sakti, Saktesh,Karen, Ashie, Bella, Suzanne, Priscilla, Kat and a couple others. Kat and I were strayed from the group earlier because we are going to the same state and our flight is the same. There were lots of hugs and well wishes and soon we're off!!
There are butterflies in my stomach when we landed in Florence Airport. The flight was brief ( thank god, the plane is TINY!!! ). I saw three golden headed people inside the airport and my local coordinator waiting for me. OH MY GOD.
Mama, Keri and CJ was waiting for me!! Oh my gosh!!
Here's the happy picture of my new American family!
From the right : Keri, me, Mama and CJ!
This is my room.
I know, I know, it's pretty right? :p
Okay, I'll stop here for the moment, more to follow up as I'm so tired now!!! LOVE AMERICA!!!!
