5/23/13
I adore France and everything about it, but I wish actually GETTING to the country was easier! I am currently swamped in paperwork to fill out for my visa and I am very confused on what to do.
For those of you who are planning on going to France or plan on going on any exchange in general, visas suck and there's no way of getting around them. You have to do the work or else you're not going! I know it'll be worth it in the end but right now I just want it all to be over with.
Thank god we have direct contact to the travel agent- Emily Voorn is an angel sent from heaven.
That's all I have for now; navigating my way through paperwork.
~Effy
P.S. Today marks 90 days!
Thursday, 23 May 2013
Monday, 20 May 2013
Departure.
5/20/13
Today marks 93 days until I depart from Portland Oregon and 96 days until I arrive in Paris, France.
Honestly, it's so incredible that I'll be arriving to Paris in a matter of months. Traveling like this is something I never imagined myself doing until I was much, much older and had a very expensive vacation that I would only do once. Now I'm filling out a student visa worth 11 months. I'm talking to my host families and host club. I'm researching my city. I'm studying the language even harder than before. It's all becoming so real.
Also, the visa process is not simple. For France, you have several permission documents and approvals you must fill out (most of them in French....) and you need copies of several types of ID's. For me, we need to collect all of the documents, such as the consulate approval form, parent permission form, passport, passport photo, copy of ID, etc. and mail them to the Rotary travel agent in Seattle. Her name is Emily and she works for countless hours sorting all of the countries' visas and travel requirement. Props to Emily!
So in the mean time, I am currently finishing that up so I can mail it in and get ready to see the French consulate on July 22nd in San Fransisco. I'm very excited for our appointment. I love San Fransico and it's a big part of the exchange process.
That's all for now!
~Effy
Today marks 93 days until I depart from Portland Oregon and 96 days until I arrive in Paris, France.
Honestly, it's so incredible that I'll be arriving to Paris in a matter of months. Traveling like this is something I never imagined myself doing until I was much, much older and had a very expensive vacation that I would only do once. Now I'm filling out a student visa worth 11 months. I'm talking to my host families and host club. I'm researching my city. I'm studying the language even harder than before. It's all becoming so real.
Also, the visa process is not simple. For France, you have several permission documents and approvals you must fill out (most of them in French....) and you need copies of several types of ID's. For me, we need to collect all of the documents, such as the consulate approval form, parent permission form, passport, passport photo, copy of ID, etc. and mail them to the Rotary travel agent in Seattle. Her name is Emily and she works for countless hours sorting all of the countries' visas and travel requirement. Props to Emily!
So in the mean time, I am currently finishing that up so I can mail it in and get ready to see the French consulate on July 22nd in San Fransisco. I'm very excited for our appointment. I love San Fransico and it's a big part of the exchange process.
That's all for now!
~Effy
Sunday, 19 May 2013
Salut!
My name is Effy and I'm a part of the Rotary Youth Exchange program.I live in Portland, Oregon and I am going to Angers, France for my junior year of high school. I'd like to use this blog as a way to keep up with my friends and family at home.
Because I have a 90 day rule where I cannot have direct contact with friends and family, I want them to be able to see what I'm up to in a passive way. I will post photos, videos, give weekly, if not daily reports, and give you guys a good understanding of what life is like while I'm away.
Now, I do not depart from Portland until the 23rd of August, but I thought it might be interesting to start my blogging now to give an analysis on what it's like to do visas and preparing to leave.
For those of you wondering, the word "marin" means sailor in French. I am obsessed with nautical things and the idea of sailing and traveling, because you can go ANYWHERE in the world by sea. I like to think that I am a sailor. I also love the beach, sea life, mermaids, and so on, so the theme fit.
I really hope those of you who plan on frequently checking up on my blog are pleased with my updates. For now, it will most likely be just boring stuff about visa documents and passport stuff. The only exciting about that is going to the French consulate in San Fransisco, but that's not until July!
Anyways, this is the start of my voyage. And to that, I say: Allons-y!
~Effy
Because I have a 90 day rule where I cannot have direct contact with friends and family, I want them to be able to see what I'm up to in a passive way. I will post photos, videos, give weekly, if not daily reports, and give you guys a good understanding of what life is like while I'm away.
Now, I do not depart from Portland until the 23rd of August, but I thought it might be interesting to start my blogging now to give an analysis on what it's like to do visas and preparing to leave.
For those of you wondering, the word "marin" means sailor in French. I am obsessed with nautical things and the idea of sailing and traveling, because you can go ANYWHERE in the world by sea. I like to think that I am a sailor. I also love the beach, sea life, mermaids, and so on, so the theme fit.
I really hope those of you who plan on frequently checking up on my blog are pleased with my updates. For now, it will most likely be just boring stuff about visa documents and passport stuff. The only exciting about that is going to the French consulate in San Fransisco, but that's not until July!
Anyways, this is the start of my voyage. And to that, I say: Allons-y!
~Effy
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