Examples of my 2013 photography

The truth is, I don't have one artistic bone in my body when it comes to drawing, painting, or carving things, as much as I've tried to be the next Picasso. However, I enjoy photography - when I was in Europe, the question I was most often asked was "Evan...what are you taking a picture of?" I have to say, sheepishly, that I took one picture from the front of the Eiffel Tower, but 27 pictures of pigeons. No subject is too mundane for me. Oh, and probably about 70 pictures of transmission lines, but that wasn't really about capturing the beauty of transmission lines (Hey - a girl's got to be able to compare European and American transmission lines, and she's not doing it from memory). I was ecstatic to receive a new camera for Christmas, so now I can take even higher-quality pictures of transmission lines (oh, and, well, I guess a famous monument or two thrown in there ;)).

Anyways, these are some of the pictures I've taken since the start of the year:

What can I say? My sister is VERY photogenic.

The product of camera effects and a side table.

Taken on a tiny walking bride in Virginia

Tree bark in PA

Blue winter sky!

Made from zoom, assisted by the presence of a bird feeder

The bank of a tiny creek

Reflections on the Application Process

Applying for foreign exchange scholarships is a challenging process – it’s not as idealized as you read on foreign exchange student forums and in Facebook groups. I know that, when I first became interested in applying for foreign exchange scholarships last summer, I would read discussions on forums between applicants that were so exciting. They were full of passion, intrigue, curiosity, hope, optimism, and reward. I have to admit, I read every discussion online between applicants that I could find, and I was extremely excited to go through the process. I wasn’t ignorant of the challenge of the process when I first read about it – I was simply willing to overlook the challenges the application process would provide in order to focus on what the final result would hopefully be.

The most difficult thing about the process is the waiting, which seems endless at times. You wait for the application to come out. You wait to hear whether or not you’re a semifinalist. You wait for your interview. You wait to receive either a rejection or an acceptance. Sometimes, it feels as though it’ll be years before you know whether or not you've received a scholarship.

Logistically, the process is time-consuming and challenging. I had to ask for five letters of recommendation, fill out two VERY thorough medical forms, which involved multiple pokes and prods from needles (keeping in mind this was before I knew whether or not I’d received a scholarship), and I wrote thirteen essays and created one video response. These things are far from the most challenging part of the application process – the not knowing is the most challenging part. You want this probably more than you’ve ever wanted anything, but you’re up against a great set of applicants and not everyone who deserves a scholarship can receive one. This really is true. At my CBYX interview, there were four of us. Just from talking to everyone about exchange and travel and working with them in the group activity, I could tell that all of my fellow applicants were passionate, ambitious people, and I wanted to give every one of them a scholarship. However, from that interview session, likely only one of us four will receive the CBYX scholarship.

It’s an uncertain process, but it’s every bit worth it. You meet some amazing people – both in person and through Facebook groups online, who introduce you to new opportunities and share your passion for cultures. You spend time dreaming about wonderful places that you might actually have a chance to go to. You follow your dreams and take a step that most American high school students never dare to take. It’s an uncertain process, but one that I would do again in a heartbeat even if my story ended with a handful of rejections.

While I applied for foreign exchange, dreams of foreign places became a reality. Exotic lands most people never venture to became books just waiting for me to open. I can say proudly, that I seriously considered or applied to the following countries: Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, Jordan, Turkey, Oman, India, China, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Portugal, Latvia, Denmark, Belgium, or Norway. I would have considered Iceland, Malaysia, and Indonesia, but unfortunately was not eligible for those countries. By considering those 30 countries, I was able to discover things through research about those countries that I never would have known before, things that make me more aware of the politics and culture of the world around me. 

You know what the funniest thing is? I’m most likely going to two countries that I never considered I could or would go to, and I'm so incredibly excited about these countries that I can't believe they weren't the first I thought of. In my very first blog post, I ended up by making a list of the countries I was planning to apply for scholarships to and thought I might end up in, and Senegal or Argentina aren't on that list. Neither is Portugal, or even Slovakia, which are wonderful second and third choices for me, truly countries I'd be ecstatic to go to. Senegal, where I received a CIEE Leadership Academy scholarship to exchange to this summer, was a country that wasn’t even on my radar, simply because I didn’t know of any program that offered in, until February. Argentina, my first choice country for Speedwell, where my application is now being sent, is a country on a continent that I never fully considered for months. When I looked at the 11 or so AFS countries I was eligible to for Speedwell, Turkey was my first choice, Egypt my second, and Argentina was the third choice I added because it was the country on that list that seemed the most “out of the way” besides my friendly Mideast countries. Before that, I hadn't given any thought to South America. Of course, I eventually ended up applying for Argentina as my first choice, Portugal as my second, and Slovakia as my third. Back in July, my absolute first choice country across all of the scholarships I planned on applying to was Oman. I never would have guessed that I now will likely be spending a year in Argentina! I must say, after all the consideration of countries, I feel like, whether I end up in Argentina or Portugal, my second choice, I'll be in a country that seems to be a great fit, and one that I am ecstatic to get to know the culture of! I couldn't be happier about the countries I'm going to (ask my family or close friends - I struggle to start sentences that don't begin with "In Argentina..."). 

Originally, I planned on applying to YES, NSLI-Y (if I was eligible, I was unsure whether or not I would be), and CBYX. I ended up not being eligible for NSLI-Y or YES. Instead of being disappointed about this, I focused my energy into my other applications. I ended up applying to AFS Speedwell (finalist), CIEE Leadership Academy scholarship (finalist), and CBYX (unknown; semifinalist at this point). 

Overall, applying for exchange scholarships is a challenging process, but you bet it’s worth it. My advice? Don’t hold back, apply to everything you’re eligible for, and keep an open mind about country choice, because you won't regret it. 

Looking to the Other Side of the Equator

Can you guess what this picture means?

Last summer, when I first found out about YES and decided I need to apply for a foreign exchange scholarship, I made a deal. When I knew what country I was going to or had a scholarship for a year program, I’d cut my hair. At that point, my hair hadn’t been cut in a bit over two years.

Since last summer, my hair’s grown a significant bit more. My old ends turned basically blonde, and my hair reached my waist, took forever to brush, and even got stuck in my tennis racquet often during my follow-though. Despite that, it was pretty, I have to say – a long, flowing waterfall of wavy, sometimes messy hair. Looking at my hair in this picture, I think you can make a guess as to my scholarship status.

I received the Speedwell scholarship. I was notified of my scholarship status on Wednesday, March 19^th, at approximately 5:50 PM. I was on Facebook, sending a message to a fellow Speedwell and CBYX applicant, saying that applicants to another AFS scholarship were beginning to hear back, so maybe we Speedwell folk would be next. The phone rang, and I hurried to get it – not because I thought I’d hear back about Speedwell, but because I have a habit of answering the phone quickly, or figuring out who’s calling. When the lovely volunteer told me she was calling from AFS, I immediately knew the purpose of her call.

I must say, during these months, I frequently thought of what it would be like to receive a call of acceptance. I imagined myself feeling relieved, like the burden of uncertainty of the past nine months had been lifted off my shoulders. Instead, I felt as excited as I did the first day I learned about foreign exchange.

Later that night, still slightly in shock, I wondered, “So what do I do now?” For the past nine months, I’d been counting down dates, hoping for acceptance, dreaming of notifications. What was I supposed to do now? Now, I was in the next stage, and the life of applying – of worrying about essay responses and interview questions, was over. Several times today and yesterday, I’ve caught myself starting to think, “How many days until I know?”, simply because thinking that has become immensely familiar.

Now, I feel as though I’ve transitioned into this new stage. Now, I’m hoping for acceptance to Argentina but thinking it’s fairly likely. I’m not holding back my dreams of exchange, I’m dreaming of Argentina, I’m dreaming of the life I could live and the people I could meet while recognizing that the life I live and the people I meet will be completely different from anything I could possibly imagine. I’m thinking of second passports, of visas, of packing, of Speedwell orientation in May (so, so excited), and of departure city orientation. I’m talking to my friends about going now, not about maybe going. We’re dreaming about places that will become real to us, not just exotic lands, because we have an opportunity that so many people won’t even think of as a possibility.

I am fourteen years old. I’m going to spend a year in a foreign land and a month in another foreign land. I’m going to learn so much and change so much and become so much more than I am.

I realized, assuming I am accepted to Argentina, I will have been to four continents by my 15^th birthday. For a thoroughly middle-class kid from a rural district of southern Pennsylvania, this is a dream come true, a dream that wouldn’t be possible without the wonderful Speedwell Foundation, AFS, and CIEE. I am always and forever grateful to these three organizations because they’re making my dream into a reality. When I think about becoming part of another culture, going to another country, and learning another way of life, there are so many people who say “No, you can’t!” These three organizations have shown me, “Yes, I can!” I’d like to thank everyone at these organizations. Words can’t describe the extent of my thanks and appreciation.

I would also like to thank those around me. To those who always thought I could, you helped give me strength. To those who thought I couldn’t, you helped give me motivation. 

A new phase of my life is just beginning.

Dream of Africa

I can't believe it.

I'm still, four hours later, kind of in a state of shock. I am, assuming I can thoroughly convince my mother that CIEE is reputable, going to Senegal. Dakar. Africa.

Amazing.

If all goes well, I'm going to Africa. This is a difficult concept to process.

When other kids dreamed of Britain and France, I dreamed of Africa. Egypt, Tunisia, Ghana, Nigeria, Namibia. Cairo to Algiers to Dakar to Kinshasa to Abidjan to Windhoek. I, must admit, for a long time, dreamed of a Lion King-style Africa, one with savannas everywhere and oddly shaped trees. Now, I dream of an Africa filled with diversity, cultural and religious diversity. I dream of quaint churches and roadside mosques, of highways, of savannas but also rainforest, of coastal plains. Now, if all goes well, I'm headed to a friendly West African land, filled with French and Wolof words.

I am so thankful for this scholarship. It's making Senegal possible for me, someone who, before today, could only dream of Africa.

54

"Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me higher" - Mando Diao

In 54 hours, I'll know whether I've been offered the CIEE Leadership Academy Scholarship. This is my designated beginning of the Speedwell Foundation Scholarship waiting period, as I have until the end of March to hear whether or not I've been offered this scholarship. For the past three days, I've been doing the hourly (that's a bit conservative - more like every 45 minutes) email check, and I'm rather exhausted with it.

I've been waiting eight months (just tallied that up) to know whether I've gotten a scholarship. It's hard to believe it's been that long because, as time has absolutely flew, though it's stood positively still at some points. Eight months of dreaming, waiting, planning, saving money, devising backup plans, of being disappointed, of being excited. Eight months of phone calls, emails, forms, essays, and recommendations. Eight months.

Through the beginning of December, I would ride my bike, probably about a mile to the Saubel's to buy some pastries, ride around town a bit, and ride bike. Sometimes, during these rides, my mind wandered to exchange and to the thought of the scholarships I applied to. A few days ago, it was finally warm enough to bike to Saubel's again, and once again my mind wandered to exchange. At that moment, I realized just how fast this year has gone by, how fast every year goes by, how fast my exchange year will go by. But, really, it feels like just yesterday that I googled "study abroad scholarships" by chance, back in early July, during the week between Chinese camp and my departure to Europe.

I've been waiting eight months. Now, I'll know CIEE by Friday, Speedwell within the next couple of weeks, and CBYX within a month. It's easy to be overcome by the excitement of this, the fact that I could be notified for two of my scholarships at any point.

I JUST CHECKED MY EMAIL I GOT A SCHOLARSHIP TO SENEGAL WHILE WRITING THIS OH MY GOD OH MY GOD I WAS TRYING TO BE CALM. I'm going to write later.