[: I've been placed :]

Yesterday my Placement Information from Education First arrived in the mail, and I now know the basics of my host family. I'm so so happy and excited!
From what I gather the household will consist of me, my host mum, a 3 year old girly and at least one other exchange student [who I will be sharing a room with]. I'm very excited that I'm going to be staying with another exchange student/s, as meeting different exchange students is one of the main appeals to me of the whole programme.
Other information they've told me:
-> No pets [I'll just have to take photos of Tommy and Skye with me]
-> Catholic [yay! I was hoping for a somewhat religious family]
-> My school - Monaghan Collegiate School
I've also got a list of Megan's activities/interests and it looks like we should get along well!
Some info on my school:
-> A co-ed secondary school
-> Just outside Monaghan town
-> Current roll is 225 students [haha. Quite a contrast from Burnside Highschool's 3000ish]
-> School uniform [but a pretty nifty one if I do say so myself]
-> Irish, English & Mathematics are compulsory
-> I can't take drama which is a bit upsetting
It's gonna be weird, and very VERY different. But my gosh I am excited! So so SO excited!!
Until more news comes my way,
Rachel

[: Such A Coincidence :]

Just a quick entry to indulge in something pretty nifty that happened last night.
I was at a party and met Lars from Norway and Alex from Germany. Two students currently on the EF exchange to New Zealand! It was such a crazy coincidence! Lars and I spent what felt like a couple of hours talking about the whole experience. It was great because I managed to get a lot of my questions answered. I'm so so SO excited about it all!
Not long to go now.
-Rachel

[: My Second Family Awaits :]

Exciting news! I rung Angela in the Auckland EF office yesterday about some details, and she shared with me something I've been longing to hear for quite some time now. They've found my host family! Yay! I literally squealed and jumped around the house once I got off the phone. Haha. I haven't been sent any information to contact them yet, but it is on its way.

However, I did find out where I am heading. Monaghan. According to wikipedia "Monaghan's population at the 2006 census stood at 7,811 (including rural area)." 7,811 people!! That's only just double the size of my current High School! Haha. But I've read some information about the area, and it sounds like a very good place to head. It's the the administrative capital of County Monaghan (the bright green part in the picture below). County Monaghan is a county in the

Republic of Ireland. It is one of three counties situated in the province of Ulster without being part of Northern Ireland.

So now I must wait for the email address and whatnot to be sent out so I can contact my host family. It's so exciting! So very exciting!
AHHHHH!

In other news, school is becoming quite stressful as I have about eight internals to complete before I leave and I'm stumped as to were I should begin and focus my energy. But I shall get there!

Also, my school Leavers' Ball is the day I go on the camp, so I obviously won't be here for it which is a bit upsetting, but I AM going to Tofu's formal with her. So now I have to stress about: homework and gaining enough credits, getting all organized for my exchange, getting everything ready for the formal, spending time and enjoying friends and family before I leave them for a year [sob] and I'm sure there are a few other things that must be dealt with.
People's reactions to my news hasn't been quite what I would have expected. Mind you, it took a while to really sink into me what was happening. Maybe it is the same for them?

Anyway, that's my update. Can't wait to contact Rachel's Family #2. Haha.

Till more news,

-Rachel

[: So much to take in :]

Yes, I am aware it's only a day after my last post, but already there is more on the topic to share!
Eloise and I shot off down to the airport this morning to meet with other friends to welcome home our buddies who have spent the last three weeks in Greece and Italy. Waiting in the arrival lounge in anticipation and finally seeing their faces was completly overwhelming. Tears flowing in every direction I turned! And I couldn't help to run the situation parallel to how my departure/arrivals may be, and a huge glump of homesickness warped inside of me. I'm going to miss everyone so so very much! [I really had better leave them this blog address some point soon so they can keep posted. haha]
So, this morning I have finished reading to present all the paperwork I have and there's so much to share! At current the estimated date of my departure is some time around the 14th of August. I fly up to Auckland, and then from Auckland to England [via Australia I think]. From arriving I go straight to the Language and Cultre Camp which is a one week camp as King Alfred's University College,Winchester [just over a one hour drive from London]. It may seem a bit silly for me to go on a laguage camp when I already speak English fluently [what with it being my mother-tounge], but it's going to be a great way to learn about England, Ireland etc and also to meet so many people in the same situation as I. I can't wait! During the camp I study English, Geography, Life in Britian, and Current Issues. And most likely a day trip to London. YAY!
There was heaps of technical stuff to read through, all relating to visas and insurance and all that other lame stuff for parents to be left to. Haha. But also a lot of information on the schooling system, history of Ireland, the fads etc.
I'm starting to get quite anxious about finding out about and meeting my host family. I'm sure they'll be great, but it's hard to imagine a family other than my own that I'll be living with for a whole year! AH! It's all suddenly becoming so real!
We've even started to get some stuff ready that I'll be taking with me - luggage and stuff. Currently I'm after a photo album to take with photos of all my friends, their addresses, email addresses, dates of birth etc. So in a way I can take all my loved ones with me!
Phew, so much is happening!
Until updates,
-Rachel.

[: Ireland Overload :]

I received another pack in the mail today to do with Ireland, Irish history/culture/literature etc, and also I'm sure some forms to fill in. What I found overwhelming though was the fact that it was six months worth of stuff in just on pack. So I have not finished reading through it all.
It seems that recently Ireland has been popping up everything for me! Firstly, I have of course all my exchange programme stuffm which obviously is all linked back to Ireland. Then, on Thursday I was up til 1am doing my director study on Neil Jordan, and Irish director and two of the films I was studying, "Breakfast on Pluto" and "The Crying Game" where heavily heavily Irish. [And I strongly recommend the director to everyone. And those films! He is incredible]. Then lately I've been watching more Dylan Moran and Black Books, an Irish comedian. And today at worked I served at Irish family. It's everywhere I turn! Maybe it's just that my senses are tuned into now that it's going to be playing a huge part in my life.
In other news, I've told the majority of my friends. It's odd, the people I felt closest to seem to be the ones reacting less. Martini and Mark specifically are really upset. I'm going to miss them so badly. And Cyren [my boyfriend] is obviously devistated. He's just so fantastic, and it's hard to image I'll be spending a whole year away from him, everyone! Is it bad for me to already feel somewhat homesick?? I feel like such the bad guy for this, but I know it's going to be the most incredible experience!!
Ah...such is life.
My friends who went to Greece and Italy get back tomorrow, so I get to see them in at the airport in the morning so I had better get some sleep.
It seems everyone is off exploring the world these days.
And my turn is just around the corner =]
-Rachel

[: First Entry :]

Here we go!
I've tried doing this sort of thing about ten times over, but never managed to stick to it. However, with the changes in my lifestyle, and the adventures lying ahead of me I thought it'd be a good idea to attempt one more time!
My main reason for starting this blog is what I have lying ahead of me. In three months time I'm flying out of New Zealand and heading off to Ireland for a one-year highschool exchange. New country. New environment. New family. New school. New friends. New adventures. And it feels like it's just creeping around the corner!
I only applied about a month ago, and now everything is in full swing. I've already had a meeting, an interview, an acceptance, and the first two batches of paperwork sent out! I only wish I'd started recording the whole process from the beginning, but hey, better late than never!
It's really scary when I think about it. I'm only seventeen, and I've lived all my life in nice ol' New Zealand. I've had quite a sheltered upbringing [compared to others anyway] and have had no real trauma or anything. And then, in three months I'm going to leave everything I have here for something completly different. I cannot wait! But I'm dead terrorfied at the same time.
There are so many people I'm going to miss! My family, friends, boyfriend, pets...even my enemies! I don't want to have to put my effort into hating them from the other side of the planet!
Well, I guess this is enough of an introduction into my current situation.
I'm sure nobody is going to read this, but at least I'm documenting it all.
Here's hoping I stick to this!
-Rachel