Acceptance

Hello everyone!

On Thursday November 19, 2009, I received a call from the Foreign Exchange program Youth for Understanding.
I was on the computer listening to a song by the artist Eiko by way of youtube. I had been hearing the song quite often on Japanese T.V. (the song's title is あの子の夢 by the way) being played as the main theme for the Japanese drama Welkame (no idea where the name comes from). While singing along, my dad abruptly interrupts my vocal session by suddenly entering my room and transfering the phone to my hand. Now as I hope you can imagine I was very confused, but when the phone speaker greeted my ear, I heard a message from a YFU representative stating...........


that


I was accepted into the program.



I have never been this happy in my whole life. I had been patiently (not really) waiting for months until the moment of absolute truth, and it came. The first post I wrote titled 'Anticipating', was really written based on my aspiration of being accepted, and as a result I had absolutely no idea whether I would be accepted or not. Now I know, and now I am the happiest little man alive.

I have yet to discover if I am the winner of the James Bradley Peace Foundation scholarship or not, but quite frankly I am just blissful that I am now offically accepted into the program. No more, "wondering if I am on the waiting list", "there may not be enough host families" or anything of the sort.
My dream came true!

Now, for any prospective exchange students who are waiting or will be waiting for their respective moment of truth, I wish you the best of luck and I truly hope (and believe) that your hard work pays off/will pay off!! Waiting is understandably the most painful part of the application process. The waiting causes so many negative thoughts and worries...but it is all beyond worth it in the end. And if you are not accepted, stay positive. There will be more opportunities later in life to go on exchange, and if you look at the whole thing positively, it is actually very beneficial if you are not accepted, lol. For one thing, you will have more time to study the language and research on foreign exchange!!!　だから頑張ってくださいよ！

Currently, I am actually working on figuring out my high school courses issue while I am in Japan. In September, I spoke with my guidance counselor at length about credits and classes, and she said I will finish off my sophomore classes when I return from Japan at the beginning of 2011. I also spoke with my local representative later that month, and I am currently figuring out courses (especially math and science) with other foreign exchange alumni/current exchange students on the cultures shocked forums. Since Essex High School only allows 2 credits of online study to be transfered onto my transcript, I am currently considering an online Math course (most likely Algebra II) while I am in Japan alongside my US History class which I am currently supposed to be finishing through BYU. Since I have only been studying Japanese for a year, I understandably do not have a high school level of proficiency in the language quite yet, and since I have a hard enough time not failing math when taught in English, I honestly do not see how I will survive a math class taught in Japanese. Of course, I will need to talk to my teachers in Japan if I cannot contact my Japanese high school beforehand.
Currently I am hoping they will give me some time to adjust to my surroundings and improve in the language before I am actually tested (if I even will be tested). I am told that Japanese science is literally impossible to follow if not fluent in Japanese, and Japanese Classics is precisely a sadistic nightmare, which sounds just marvelous. Apparently they learn even more kanji that is actually nonexistent in modern Japanese! JOY!

Well, as long as I can obtain a Math credit and maintain my knowledge in math, I am happy. Considering math is clearly my weakest point academically, I think it is what I should spend my second online credit on. I am currently being tutored and am studying math much more. It is not enjoyable, but I will stay positive!

Everything should become clearer in time. I will be attending a conference in Boston on December 6th, and I will also be meeting with the guidance counselor in charge of online classes at my high school.

Ok, NOW, I will sleep.

Thank you so much everybody! I will probably post again once I have my conference in Boston.

Stay happy!

-Oliver

Anticipating

Hello everyone!

My name is Oliver Nolte, and I will be going to Japan for a year starting in March through the organization, Youth for Understanding. I applied for the James Bradley Peace Foundation, along with full tuition in case I am not accepted for the scholarship.

Now I know this post may be somewhat unnecessary, but I just felt that I should start an introduction to my new blog NOW, while I am still an infant to the entire blog concept. I kind of want to see how I improve over the next year and a half in my blog skills.
I very recently made this blog yesterday actually, as an act of procrastination to avoid my English homework. I received the punishment however, by staying up until 2 AM finishing my reading of Huck Finn. I had a Geometry test today as well, and, well....goodness, I wonder how I will deal with Math in Japan. It is by far my weakest point in academics.

When I arrived home today, I actually talked to several other YFU applicants and recent alumni by way of facebook, who just went to Japan this summer/past year. It was very fun, and felt great to be able to talk with other eager applicants who are dreaming about Japan as well. I actually spoke with a particular applicant for quite a while today through facebook Henry!!!!), and we discussed the application process and acceptance. I have a small anxiety with the thought that I may be on the waiting list, and as a result may end up not being able to go to Japan. With all of the preparation and effort I have put into this ambition, being "rewarded" with denial would be beyond depressing. Right now, going to Japan is my main motivation, and the thought of being able to live in Japan for a year is what currently drives me in...academics.
I will try to stop worrying though, AND HAVE A POSITIVE MINDSET :D

Another fear I currently have is the thought of going to a Japanese school. As of now I have read ABUNDANT blogs of YFU exchange students in Japan, and just reading their posts of the first adventure into a Japanese school is enough to make my body all tingly. Goodness gracious! Making an announcement in front of a ton of students on a stage is a downright scary thought! Though actually, in a way I do hope that my school has me make the announcement/introduction as well, just to create some immediate prominence and have the students actually like, know what kind of person I am. This event should prove useful in making friendships! And then people will help me in Math!! Though I most likely will not participate at the same level as the other students in most of my classes (there is a language barrier), Math is a subject I will always need assistance with.

So these are my current thoughts a month before the truth will appear! This is all so nerve wracking! I...I WANT THE RESULTS NAO!!!

Thank you!