My New Family

Finally! The long wait is over, and I have a host family. The past few months have been extremely difficult. So many other people have received information on who they are going to be living with in the upcoming year except for me. I am so relieved and grateful to have been chosen by a family. 

I currently work at Hershey Park Entertainment and Resorts as a food and beverage clerk. I had worked several long hours and was leaving to go on break. While I was off duty, I received a notification on my phone from an AFS volunteer congratulating me on receiving a host family. I immediately checked my email, and I had a message with all of the information. I was so overwhelmed with excitement and called my parents to share the news. 

I was welcomed into the Del Rio Pulido family of four. They currently reside in Tomares, a small town located right outside of Seville, Andalusia, Spain. From what I learned in school, it is in the south and known for its unbearably warm temperatures and picturesque features. My host parents' names are Agustin and Celia. They both have very successful careers. My mother is a lawyer, and my father is a pilot. They have two children; a daughter named Pilar and a son named Pedro. Pilar is a year younger and has aspirations of studying abroad like me. Pedro will be attending the University in Finland while I am there. They own a two story home with four bedrooms situated in a gated community, and I will be attending the nearby school IES Ítaca.

The email included a picture of my new family which I included below and informed me of everything I would need to know about the upcoming year. This moment seems all too surreal, and I cannot wait for this incredible adventure to begin.

Celia, Pilar, Agustín y Pedro

The Call

Today, I received the greatest news of my entire life. I awoke like I would any other day and attended school. Afterwards, my friends and I decided to get together to go to Rita's, the local Italian ice shop. It is the first day of spring, and every year we go because it is free. My parents called me while I was out questioning when I would be home, and I told them I would be soon. They usually never bother to call and trust that I will always be home at a reasonable hour, so I was on edge. Several hours later, I walked through the front door, and my mom immediately ran down the stairs. She had a telephone in her hands and said it was a volunteer with AFS. They wanted to speak with me so I took hold of the telephone.

"Hi, is this Bailee?"

"Yes, this is her."

"Hello. I have been given the great honor and privilege to call three people and inform them that they have been awarded the Speedwell Study Abroad Scholarship. You are one of them. Congratulations!"

Several months previous to this day I applied for the Speedwell Study Abroad Scholarship which offers 30 students in the central Pennsylvania area the chance to study abroad free of cost. Today, I got offered that opportunity. When I hung up the phone, tears started welling in my eyes. I was still uncertain whether or not I wanted to pursue being an exchange student, but as soon as I was awarded the scholarship, I knew that it was what I was destined to do.

The Start of Something New

My first blog post signifies the beginning of my adventure as I become an exchange student through AFS Intercultural Programs. It is a non-profit organization that offers international exchange programs in countries all over the world to help better one's understanding of other cultures. I first heard of this program from a friend of mine in school, and I immediately knew I had to get involved. Traveling the world has always been a dream of mine so I am beyond blessed to have been given the opportunity to do so during my junior year of high school. I am looking forward to sharing each and every moment with all of you!