Lalala...la lala la...

Mrs. Vander Wilt and I finished the Pre-Departure Orientation a week ago. Good stuff, all cultury and all of that.
Hannes goes back to Germany next week, and Megan leaves for Europe next week. Laaameee......

And I still have no Host Family. I do, however, have a Host banner. At the bottom of the page. Check it out.

Then read the book.

Culture Trekking

AFS sent my a book called Culture Trek - in it, 6 'paths' to help me understand cultures and the differences between them so that when I'm in a new culture I know why things aren't making any sense to me.
This is a chart showing my 'sense of satisfaction' over the course of my trip. So, basically, a few months into my trip I'll become very very dissatisfied- this is the stage where kids give up and go home. Luckily, ya'll know me better than that! It's all based around the fact that other cultures respond so different from how you expect them to respond that it eventually breaks down your cultural instincts - it gets to the point where you can't do anything that was once automatic without slowly working it through. Then, as you begin to understand the culture you're in more, your instincts build back up around the existing structure.

Then you go home. And nothing is as you remember it. The host country seems like a much better place - you understand it much better and think the home country should be the same. On top of that, you miss your host family more than you missed your real family when you were there - you knew you were going back to your real family, but when will you ever see your host family again? Then the cultural instincts thing happens again.

So, basically, if you think I'm messed up now? Wait till I get back. Hoo-boy!

The Local Gals Chip In

The local AFS chapter has kindly granted my a $2500 scholarship. For which I had to write exactly ONE paragraph that probably didn't tip their decision at all.

I wish all money was that easy to come by!