Whew!

Hi, I'm Acadia and I am a future AFSer. I'm 17, a senior, and I live in Eureka, Montana. My DREAM is to go to Ghana. It's hard to explain why, except that it's something that's been brewing inside me for a while. Like the excitement of finally graduating, it's like that... but bigger. I've heard amazing things about Ghana, about how the people are so genuinely nice there that you shouldn't be surprised if you leave a bit of your heart there. Sounds like my kind of place! I have always, always wanted to travel, but the last thing I want to do is a be a tourist. I want to be part of the culture and learn and experience everything about the place. I know that AFS is a program I can do that through safely and still have a spectacular time. My dad went to New Zealand through AFS and is really excited about me going. Most of my family is really supportive too. I'm not doing the "normal thing" after high school and going to college, but I think going abroad is a WAY better idea. I know that when I come back to the States if I want to go to college I will be more prepared mentally than any right-off-high-schooler could be.

I expect to gain a lot of friends living abroad for so long. Even through difficulties like different languages and different ways of doing things, I'm a social butterfly, I know that I will make tons of friends. I expect to gain a new perspective on my whole life really, I know that sounds crazy, but I do expect it. I have a few ideas of what I want to do after I come back; join a dance company, go to college for Education, travel a bit more... who knows? I am hoping that when I return from Ghana (or where ever I end up going) that I'll have learned more about myself, and I'll feel confident in taking another big step in my life. My friends are pretty thrilled that I'm going abroad, of course they want me to write and all. I know that it is possible because I have a friend who Is living in France and she always writes me. I have moved around a lot, so my friends are pretty scattered about the country.

The challenges of becoming an AFSer are large. I'm leaving in September and the challenges I've begun to face everyday are still daunting. The difficulty of getting the application done, and applying for scholarships can be overwhelming. Especially during the school year, with all the tests and classes going on on the side, not counting extra-curricular things. Also the constant thought of "this time next year, I'll be in a different country" can be scary and exciting. I haven't even left yet, but I am still having a great time just getting ready for it. It will be the experience of a lifetime.

Going to Ghana is more expensive than 3 cars. 10,900 dollars is hard to think about. I so far have worked over the summer, raising about 2,000 dollars and have won a 4,300 dollar scholarship from Global Leaders. I plan to take a job in the summer again and work as often as possible. I still have a lot of money to raise.

GHANA GO TO GHANA!