Update! 100 Days Before Departure

Ale (from Italy) and me

Norwegian cake from AFS potluck

Here's a lil short update! First of all, I was officially accepted into AFS Japan, and I know my departure date! American AFS-ers leave for Japan March 21st, and the orientation starts March 19th. My mother is thrilled, but also a little reluctant to let me go. My friends are also excited for me because they know how long I have wanted this!

And yesterday marks the checkpoint of 100 days before my departure! I am feeling so much joy and anticipation it's crazyyy.

Today, I attended a delightful AFS potluck party. I got to meet almost all of the exchange students living in Colorado and it was such a blast. Exchange students are the nicest and most welcoming people you will ever meet, I swear! I loved talking to all the teens about America vs their country, memes, you name it. I thought I might have been awkward, but that was not the case at all :)

Anyways, finals are coming up, and after that I am doing my first home schooled experience ever :O I'm only being home schooled due to credit reasons, because my normal school couldn't give me credits for the semester since I'm leaving in March for Japan. It's long and complicated, but it'll be a new (fun?) experience for me.

Hello! My Name is Camilla Pernell

I'm a 15 year old girl who loves singing, dancing, exercising, reading, and being with friends. I'm goofy, I make mistakes, and I always strive to be the best me I can be.

My friend, Dylan, and me

One particularly strong interest of mine is my love for studying Japanese. Japanese is a beautiful language that I've learned consistently since eighth grade, but have dreamed of speaking fluently since fifth. Now, thanks to the immense generosity of AFS (http://www.afsusa.org/), I am going to Japan for a year!

I know going to Japan will seem like a new life. After all, I've lived in in the same house for all my life, and I've known some of my friends since preschool. So when I think about my upcoming adventure, feelings of anticipation, anxiousness, and glee course through me. But most of all, I feel grateful for all the help I've received from AFS and my mom. 

Why Study Abroad?

Perhaps my most practical reason for studying abroad is fluency. I want to be able to read novels, watch shows, and talk to friends in Japanese. I hope to even become a translator in the future. I'm also excited to meet many new people who have grown up in completely different environments! I think people are amazing, so being able to experience such an interesting culture is the opportunity of a lifetime. I want to eat ramen straight from Japan, go to purikura, wear a uniform for the first time in my life, learn the fashion trends in Japan, watch interesting Japanese shows, and have a host family that I'll love. All of these reasons (and even more!) are why I want to go to Japan with AFS.

After the exchange, I hope to use my knowledge from Japan in assisting me with everyday life. I cannot wait for the surprises, challenges, and lessons I will learn. I don't know what to expect, which makes me even more excited.