Me? Japan? 2009?

[Lady Aura]

[CENTER][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]So, I got a call from my mom this morning and she said that she got a letter in the mail from the People To People International Company.

It seems I've been offered to go to Japan next summer, thanks to my 8th grade English teacher.

~~~~~

Actual letter:

Dear Parents of Emily ---,

Emily is invited to become a member of the People to People Sudent Ambassador Program from the ---/--- area traveling to Japan is the summer of 2009. Emily was recommended for this educational travel experience by a teacher who recongnized your child's leadership potential.

Emily will benefit from traveling internationally while earning high school or university credit. Sudent Ambassadors represent their school, community, and country in Japan, experience new cultures and make lifelong friends. Emily will experience personal growth in the following areas:

[B]Confidence and leadership:[/B] Explore the Peace Pagoda in Tokyo and climb halfway up dramatic Mount Fuji, the spiritual symbol for Japan.

[B]Cultural understanding:[/B] Learn the art of the Japanese language and journey to an island sacred to the Shinto religion.

[B]World awareness:[/B] Gain a perspective of history as you visist Hiroshima's famous Peace Park, a memorial to World War II.

[B]Friendship and memories:[/B] Stay with a warm, welcoming local family, meet Japanese students at school, and take unforgettable pictures with your fellow delegates.

~~~~

When she told me about this, I almost collasped. Instead, I just started crying.

Although, I'm wondering why my English teacher would recommened me for this. I thought she hated me. o.O[/FONT][/CENTER]

[eleanor]

[font=trebuchet ms] Hey, that's awesome! Sounds like a great experience. Congratulations on being chosen.

Maybe your English teacher was hard on you because she say potential. :)[/font]

[chibi-master]

GO YOU! *brings out army of yaoi fangirls in cheerleading uniforms* o_O

*after cheer* Well, I hope you have a good time!:animesmil Urgh...I wanna go with you...:animecry: Aaanyway, sounds interesting! And don't we [I]all[/I] think that at least one of our teachers hates us and is wrong about it?:animeswea

[SaiyanPrincessX]

[SIZE="1"]Thats awesome, you will enjoy it I'm sure. I absolutely loved it and I hope to go back.

Do you know where you will be staying, and when/how long you will be there? I must warn you, the end of June through August is the rainy season, and its [i]very[/i]humid! Almost always cloudy during that time. :([/SIZE]

[Lady Aura]

[quote name='SaiyanPrincessX'][SIZE="1"]Do you know where you will be staying, and when/how long you will be there? [/SIZE][/QUOTE]


[CENTER][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]Not yet. My mom and I have to go to a meeting on August 12th and that's when we're gonna find out about all of those details.

I'll also need a company to sponser me. It's $1200 dollars that has to come out of my parent's pockets, unless I can get a local store or fast-food place to help with the payment.[/FONT][/CENTER]

[eleanor]

[quote name='Lady Aura'][CENTER][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]
I'll also need a company to sponser me. It's $1200 dollars that has to come out of my parent's pockets, unless I can get a local store or fast-food place to help with the payment.[/FONT][/CENTER][/QUOTE]

[font=trebuchet ms] In addition to sponsoring, if you're part of any youth group at church you can ask if you can hold some sort of bake sale to help raise funds for your trip. I know several people who have done that to sponsor trips like these. Good luck with everything.[/font]

[John]

I got a letter or two like that in high school, and I think they really hype up the exclusivity of those things; I'm not even sure how accurate the teacher recommendation thing is, although I never really peered into it too deeply.

I'm sure it's legit, of course, but 1200 bucks is a lot of money, and you seem pretty anxious to go. I'd encourage you not to get over-eager and to consider whether this trip will give you the experience you're looking for in Japan (remember, there will probably be more opportunities for you to take a trip there if you keep looking). But if you really think it will, and you're willing to dedicate yourself to raising the money, then bon voyage. :d

[yakiimo]

Congratulations!! Going to Japan is expensive (I'm saving up). I'd recommend the Lonely Planer Japanese Phrasebook for some useful phrases. There's also some not-so-useful ones... Found and Barnes and Noble!

If you have any questions about customs, I'm sure at least one person on OB can help you. It's a wonderful opportunity! <3

[SaiyanPrincessX]

[quote name='John']I'm sure it's legit, of course, but 1200 bucks is a lot of money, and you seem pretty anxious to go.[/QUOTE]

[SIZE="1"]$1200 is a lot, but thats the price I payed for my plane ticket, meaning Lady Aura, what do you plan to use for spending money? Will it be provided? These are things you need to know.

My whole Japan trip cost me $3,000. My plane tiecket was $1250, and I took an additional $1500 converted into Yen, plus $500 in cash just in case. Let me tell you, Japan is an expensive country. I found that if you buy Japanese its cheaper than if you want American food. But this also depends on where you're at.

I payed for my whole trip, but then again, I'm not fourteen years old either. I recommend a part-time job to help pay for this if your really serious about it. I don't know how eager a business would be to lend out $1200 to a fourteen year old to go to Japan. :/[/SIZE]

[Hisamtsu]

That is so cool that you get to go to Japan for the summer. I know someone who would kill to go to Japan for a summer.:smirk: And I would get a whole summer away from her.;)