I leave in THREE DAYS. AHHHHHHH. Freaking out a little bit. Not going to lie. Honestly, it still doesn't feel real. I'm sure it will as soon as I get on the plane, but right now it just feels like I'm packing for some cool trip. Which in a way I guess I am. I've had my going away party. Said most of my goodbyes. Given many hugs and promises for postcards. Now I just have to savor my last few days in the place I call home. All too soon it will be ten months before I step foot back inside my house. Crazy.
A few weeks ago I finally got my HOST FAMILY!!! Well, welcome family, but same thing. I will be living in Gaziantep, Turkey which I am thrilled about. It's where I really wanted to be. I have two host parents, and two little sisters. One 8, one 4. I have exchanged emails with my host mom a few times, and they seem wonderful. I can't wait to meet them :)
I don't really know how to feel right now. Excited. Terrified. Mystified. This is something that I have been dreaming of for years, and now it is finally becoming real. It took a ridiculous amount of work to get here, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't even begin to say how grateful I am for this scholarship. If it wasn't for YES, I wouldn't be going anywhere. I would be wallowing in a generic american high school, plodding through my day to day classes. But now, I get to see a wonderful country. Learn a new language. Try new foods. Go face to face with a misunderstood religion. I know the year ahead is going to be challenging. I will be homesick. I will get frustrated. But at the same time, it will be so incredibly rewarding. I can't wait to begin my journey. So with that, I will leave this be. Most likely, my next post will be from Turkey. Istanbul probably. Unless I don't have time that first week with settling in and whatnot.
With love,
Olivia
I thought this was very fitting.
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