My name is Angel Salas. I am a native of Carson city, Nevada––pronounced Ne-va-duh not Ne-vah-da like so many people who don't live in Ne-va-duh like to call it. I am a candidate to be a foreign exchange student next year through Rotary International. This blog will be about my ups and downs with my exchange and the process of becoming an exchange student as so many blogs seem to leave that part out. I am also graduating a year early (meaning I am a jenior or sunior) to go through this crazy––dealing with people speaking to you in what seems like gibberish, great––as in meeting tons of new people and eventually be able to understand said gibberish, and ultimate life-changing experience that is foreign exchange.
Foreign exchange is something I have always wanted to do: I practically popped out of my mother's womb wanting to do an exchange. Ever since I was little, foreign cultures held my attention more than anything else. When I was 10ish, I was dead set on learning italian; it was all I wanted to do. Unfortunately, my passion for Italian died out, and I never finished those Pimsleur tapes my mom bought me. However, my passion for foreign cultures did not die out and at the age of 14 I began to learn French. Two years later I am at least conversationally fluent; I was even able to skip two years because I tested out of French 1 and French 3. Does this mean I am some language learning genius? No. Everyone has the ability to do so, all that is required is time and effort and I can tell anyone that is learning a foreign language that reading is the best way to go. READ, READ, READ. Not only do you acquire grammar and vocabulary but if you use audio books you can even practice pronunciation. You also don't have to go as fast as I did; I am just a super crazy aries that is overly competitive. Just remember that "Where there is a will, there is a way".
One of the other main reasons that I wanted to do a foreign exchange is to prove that I can be an independent, young adult and so that I can stop drooling in front of my computer wondering how cool Europe is. Furthermore, it is just so exciting to think about living in a completely new setting with a new family and a new language. You get that kind of excitement that just keeps you jumping up and down in your chair when you should probably be paying attention to the limit of something or other, the kind of excitement where you had the most horrible day and you are sure god hates you, but you automatically jump up because you realize you might not be here next year and you will be in heaven 2.0. That's the kind of excitement you get and that's why I want to be an exchange student.
To be an exchange student in France would be specifically exciting. I would be able to see the Eiffel tower,tall and lean, posing in paris, Claude Monet's paintings that challenge what even god has created, and all my awesome friends. I have had my heart set on it for a while, but deep down I also want to go to Poland: one of my very best friends was from Radom and he got my interest sparked in it. What has pushed me over the edge though is my friend Kasia who is our inbound from Poland. She is incredible funny and made me realized that, sure, I could go to France and speak french, but I can already do that. If I go to France, I will sort of be coping out on the genuine experience. I prefer to go to Poland so that I can learn a new way of life , live with a new family, and experience a new language setting.
Anyways, I wrote too much; I guess I like to hear myself talk : P. I hope you will be here along the way, and I will try and be as helpful to you as possible by chronicling every crucial step of the way to my exchange.
P.S we have district interviews in 2 weeks and that is where we get the final neigh or yay from Rotary.
Also, there is a glossary for terms you may not know. Don't hesitate to ask me stuff or email me!
See ya soon,
Angel Salas
