Brazil!

Hi! My name is Francesca "Frankie" Guedes and I am 14 years old. I live in Irvine, California and attend University High School as a freshman. I love to play soccer, cello, listen to music and spend time with my friends. I have recently been accepted in the foreign exchange student program with AFS. AFS (American Field Service) is an international non-profit voluntary organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help students develop the knowledge skills and understanding needed to help create a more just and peaceful world.

I will be studying abroad in Brazil, my first-choice country, so I am really excited. The exchange program is six months long; I depart in February and I will return in early August 2010. While in Brazil, I will be staying with a host family with a host brother or sister. I will be attending a Brazilian high school, and my "brother" or "sister" will help me get used to the Brazilian way of things at home and at school. I can't wait until February, I'm hoping to learn so much from my experience and gain a feel for the Brazilian culture.

The best part of going to Brazil, a country that is almost magical to me, is to learn the native language of my father. Unfortunately, almost all of my dad's family has learned to speak English, and I never got the chance to have a relationship with them in Portuguese. Although my family is excited for me, I know that they will miss me a lot, and I'm so happy that they are supporting me. I know that I will miss them a lot!

Although the cost of the program is pretty steep, my parents are supporting me and they will be covering the costs. I am also contributing my savings, $2100 that I have saved from allowance, gifts and money earned from babysitting and coaching. In addition, I have also been awarded a $1250 scholarship. AFS suggests that I head up my own fundraising efforts, as a way to defray the costs for my semester abroad, so I have created this blog entry with a ChipIn gadget that is regulated by AFS. It is a way for anyone to make a secure contribution that will go directly to my tuition account. Please know that even a small amount would help me, and your support and well wishes are greatly appreciated!

Thank you for visiting my blog, and please come back to visit this site often. I will keep this updated with the latest of what is going on during my preparations for Brazil (check in for information on where I will be placed!) as well as while I am abroad.

Tchau,
Frankie