Hi mom, you should let me be an exchange student!

I know what youre thinking, and that is “no way in

hell” BUT!!! I have solid evidence, reasoning, and purpose behind why I realllllly want to do this 😊

So where do I wanna go? South Korea of course. And I still know what youre thinking, and no, I don’t
want to go because of BTS. Im just the right age for the teen programs!! Here are some reasons I really
want to go:

 So as you may or may not have picked up, I want to be an art teacher in korea anyways so this
could give me a major learning experience.
 Develop lifelong leadership skills
 Learn a new language and culture
 Build lasting friendships with young people from around the world
 Become a global citizen
 I can use this as an opportunity to broaden my horizons.
 Discover and develop personal strengths like self-reliance, resourcefulness and confidence
 Gain a new, global perspective and gain a sense of social responsibility
 Meet remarkable people and build lifelong friendships
 Build better decision making, problem solving and conflict resolution skills
 Develop independence of thought and adaptability in dealing with the unexpected
 Gain a real advantage on college applications
 Enhance global career opportunities
 Food
 This can bring me out of my comfort zone and help me get out there
 This could help my mental state

There are two exchange companies that I have found that perfectly accommodate what im, no we, are
looking for. Rotary International Exchange and Youth For Understanding Intercultural exchange
program. I have looked into prices and applications. I have also looked into many of the requirements
and responsibility that’s going to come with it. Before we get into pricing, im going to discuss safety and
living.
So I know that you, with your motherly insticnt is thinking im bat shit crazy for wanting to fly across the
world to live with a family we have no information about or no gaurenteed safety. But don’t worry, im
here to gaurentee it lol. So exchange programs always do close, careful, and very very thorough
background checks on the host families. They make sure that these people that I will stay with for an
academic school year arent toe-eating, ankle-biting, brain-baking, blood drinking, psychopaths. These
host families are getting paid little to nothing for taking in someone like me. They are looking for
someone to share their culture with, opening their heart and doors to someone they are hoping to love
for the school year.
Also, if there are any kind of mishaps with a host family, the program organizers will be sure to put a
childs safely and well-being as the top priority. If the child does not fir in or feel safe, the program will
place the child in a temporary residence until a new, improved, and better-suited host family.
There are many people my age and many people that have since aged that say this is a once in a lifetime
experience. None of them say they regret it or that they never felt in danger or uncared for while
participating in the program. You always say that you want me to get out of here and do something you
could never. Well here we can take the first step in making that come true. For me, you, mammow, and
anyone else it may concern.
As for school, we will have to contact my current counselors and I will have to take a bit of extra
schooling before and after I get back from the trip to get my proper credits. While I am in korea, I will
still go to school of course, I will be enrolled in a local high school close to the host family. I will study
there and possibly get a couple of credits for school.
I know the kinds of responsibility this is going to come with. May I say that I intend to pay for most, if
not all of the fees and expenses. I can get a temporary job in korea when I am there. But in the
meantime, I can get a job somewhere around here and get the money I need in 16 months or less. There
are opportunities to apply for scholarships and when I say scholarship, I don’t mean like an einstein
smarts level. Its more just like a financial aid type thing. The point is, this trip is going to be quite
expensive but that’s okay because I hold full responsibility for whats to come. There is the scholarship
option and there are also fundraising opportunities 😊
I know hat youre probably like “wtf aliyia, this is something that you just decided to do overnight.” and
im here to say, not true. I have actually been thinking about this for a while because it something that
truly interests me.
Now back to expenses. So for the YFU, which is the only set price I have at the moment because I am
waiting to hear back from Rotary, would be $15,995. That’s an absurd amount, right? Wrong. Lets say I
made 8.25 an hour working a retail job. And a minor in TN can work 9.03 hours a day. I would earn an
average of $74.50. Multiply that by 4 days a week, I make $297.99 in a week. Multiply that by 4 weeks in
a month, I make $1191.96. Alright no, if I work for 12 months, a year, I would make $14,303.52. Just a
little shy right? Well if I work for 16 months, a year and ¼ year, I would make $19,071.36, leaving me
with 3,076.36 to use in korea. And all of this is just an estimate based on a minimum wage without
raises and promotions. If I got a raise or promotion, I would probably only have to work for a year, if not
less. Depending on what goes on. Now if I start a job at 16 as a sophomore in high school, I would earn
and have enough money a little after I turn 17 as a junior which is not that far away. On top of all that, I
could get a second job in the summer months, so half of may through July, increasing possible profits.
Secondly, I can do commissions for extra money 😊.
Nov, dec, jan, feb, mar, apr, may, jun, jul, aug, sept, oct, nov, dec, jan, feb
Now for some messages from the experienced:
http://blog.yfuusa.org/blog/momnastory2018
http://blog.yfuusa.org/blog/cap-yfu-about-crystal

Now if you have any questions, please feel free to ask 😊