Visa Application Time

I finally got my guarantee forms back last week! So now I'm in the middle of my visa application process! I was excited to get my forms back at first... but then I looked at all the stuff I had to do, and I just wanted it to be done and over with! All the stuff that's still needed seemed like a very intimidating list at first, though now it doesn't look so bad.  I'm glad that I already have a passport that I got last year, so that's one less thing I have to do. I still have to:

1) See my doctor again so he can sign a medical certificate that says I have no contagious diseases and stuff like that. 

2) Get some passport-sized photos for my application

3) Completely fill out the application

4) Possibly get a police clearance

So once you break it down it's not so bad. 

Then I have to mail it off with my original passport, 2 original copies of my guarantee forms, 2 original copies of my application (pictures included), medical certificate, police clearance (if needed), and $252 Canadian.

But the visa application was very confusing... but a little help from people who have done it before really cleared up a lot.  I just need to verify a few more areas with my travel agent, then I'll be done that part. 

In other news, I sent a letter to my host mom last week!! It's all in French, since I'm not sure how much (if any) English she speaks.  I can't wait for her reply!!

I am so excited! I'll be there in about two months! Time sure flies. I am almost done with high school here! I graduate on June 28th and I can't wait to be finished! I wonder if high school in Belgium will be much different than it is here.  I know it will be a great learning experience though. I wonder what sort of classes I'll be taking... I hope they're easy and that I'll be able to pass them all! haha. But I also don't want to spend all of my time there doing homework. I will try in school, for sure, but that school year wont really count for me.  I mostly want to use it as a way to help me learn more french and make new friends. But I do sincerely hope I will be able to understand and learn things from my classes as well. 

I'm very nervous and self-conscious about my french-speaking abilities... It's so hard to understand people unless they're speaking very slowly.  I hope my host families will be patient with me. I'm sure I'll pick a lot up very quickly, but still. 

I'm so excited for my parents too!! While I'm gone, they might be host parents for a boy from Brazil! I'm just sad that we won't have an exchange student in the home when I'm living there! They've never been host parents before, and I know this will be an amazing experience for them. I think it will help them have a more inside view on what I'll be going through while I'm away as well.