Making the Deadline February 27, 2007

Things are going pretty well!
I think I will make the deadline!

Today I gave Mrs. Gibson the school recommendation form to take care of and Madame Hartman from NDCL also sent in her letter of recommendation today. I hope that Mrs. Leach didn’t do hers yet, because then I’ll feel bad. Oh well, can never have too many letters of reference (I also asked Asami-Sensei and Frau Reda).

Mum printed out (Or was supposed to, at least) the photo pages and passport-sized pictures today and she also filled out the scholarship application.

Last night we did the program agreement.

What is left:
Health application (Sending later)
Program deposit (Mum’s responsibility)
Get back the school recommendation form
Finish the introductory letter in Japanese (Waiting to hear back from Asami-Sensei)

So everything is pretty much under control!

I will be so relieved when I finally send it in…

ASSE Full Application February 24, 2007

So the phone conversation with Ben Hannan went pretty well. He’s really nice and helpful.

I got the full application pack yesterday and so I’ve been working madly to get stuff done.

So far I have the 2 biggest hurdles done – writing my host family letter and writing my scholarship essay.

I also got Helen (Thomas’ mum) to write a recommendation for me and I’m going to ask Asami-Sensei to write one for me too. Then I just need a school administrator/counsellor to do the other one.

The main problem is that I have to fill out a medical form, and I have no doctor or appointment to do it for me yet.
So I guess I’ll just have to get that in a day late, after I meet my new doctor.
‘Cause I’m meeting my new doctor on the day that the application is due.

Man, oh man.

Scholarships February 21, 2007

I still haven’t received the full application packet because I haven’t heard anything from ASSE yet.

I really want to apply for the 2 scholarships, but they’re due March 1. In one week.

So I emailed Ben Hannan, the directer-guy for ASSE Canada, and I’m supposed to call him later today to see what we can do about the situation.

Preliminary Applications February 12, 2007

So I’m sending in a preliminary application to Rotary, because, well…Why not?
They’re the cheapest program out there, because you only have to pay for your plane ticket and insurance – the rotary club funds the rest.

I’m still waiting to hear something from ASSE about my preliminary application, though…

And I also have AFS lined up as a back-up, because although there is mandatory fundraising ($5000), they are one of the best programs out there.

YFU doesn’t seem so nice anymore, because I heard that you have to write an essay at the end of the year…In Japanese! I’m just not confident enough in my ability to become fluent that quickly.