STORY

I used to have a friend at school when I was in Prep class. Her family used to host students. When I asked her where they found the students to hots she said AFS. By that time I had no idea what AFS was. When I was in 7th or 8t grade I saw a paper about AFS on the wall. I was young to take the test, but I wondered why my brother never considered taking the test. I decided to take the test when it was possible. in 9th grade I saw the same kind of paper on the wall again.But i couldn't take the test that year because I was a day older than the dead line. Then 10th grade came and I saw the paper again. I started talking about the idea of taking the test just for "FUN" with my best school friend ILGIN. She really liked the idea too and we went to the counselor's office and took the application forms. In the first leg of the AFS test, which is written, there were 7-8 people from my school. I had no idea how I did in the test after I finished it. Honestly I didn't care whether I'd qualify for being an exchange student or not. I still remeber the day I learnt that I passed the written part.It was a really interesting day, because when we walked into the counselor's office she conguratulated my friend for passing the test. Then she said"you need to sign here BiLLuR". Then My friend and I looked at eachother and I said "I am Billur" My friend got somehow annoyed and left the room. Then I had an oral test to take. I didn't give any chance to myself. That day I remember waiting forever in a corridor in KADIKOY ANADOLU LISESI for my turn to come. I wasn't anxious at all. Because I didn't care. Luckily people who were in my commission weren't hard on me. The main thing they talked with me if I would live in a small town/village and where I would want to go. I said I would live in a small village(which I understood that I lied after coming to the US) and I said I would want to go to ITALY. They also where I wouldn't want to go. My answer was United States. Almost a month after the oral test they called my home and my mom answered the phone and she started screaming. At first My dad and I didn't get why she was screaming. Then she told us I passed the oral test and qualified as an AFSer. I wasn't as excided as everbody else. I never thought I would go because the coming year would be my senior year and I didn't want to miss my graduation. But somethings in my life wasn't going right accourdng to me and I wasn't ready for the OSS(college test) stress.So I decided that I needed to leave home for a year.I never considered to become an exchange student to meet with new people, have friends or learn a different culture(at least when I learnt that I was going to USA). When the day to choose which country to go came, there was a big conflict. My dream was going to Italy, but my dad said I could go to Italy anytime cause it was closer and he thought I should go to USA because he believed that it would be the best for my education. My second choice was Honk Kong, because I love Asian people and the asian culture. Anyway the last decision was mine, but the power was my dad's(he was giving the permission and he was paying for everything). He said I would eighter go to USA or I stay at home. I didn't want to stay home, so I chose to go to the USA. To tell the truth I didn't have any enthusiasm at all. I wasn't excited. I was anxious because I had no idea where I would be going. I had millions of questions in my mind. The day I learnt that I was going to SEATTLE area(which is also called AFS Greater Puget Sound Area)I fond myself screaming and jumping around in the house. Seattle was one of my favorite places in the US because of the Music potential.I was REALLY HAPPY. Then the orientation day came. First day wasn't easy,but later I started meeting with cool people. We became very good friends. At the end of the 3rd day we were like brothers and sisters. August 8th was teh day to leave Turkey for a year... The last hug from my dad, and the tear drops...(I still feel weird when I think about that moment.) After 28 hours I was in the orientation place. I felt so lost there. There were lots of people speaking spanish(I still HAte The Spanish club)and everybody seemed to be ignoring me. I thought "WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE!!!!!!!!" The next day I met with my host family. I knew them for a while by e-mails and chatting on ICQ. SO I felt really comfortable. First 3 days I slept... after 2 weeks we went on a 17 day tour to Idaho,Montana,Yellowstone,LAs Vegas, California, Mexico and Oregon. Sometimes I had hard times with them and they had hard times with me. That weekend was Bumbershoot weekend. I went to see "LIVE" on friday and We went to "Third Eye Bilnd" with all the other AFSers. It was a lot of fun. but 2 days after the FUN when I was in my 4th period on the first day of the school, my host parents came to school and said AFS was taking me out from that house. I was Shocked. My adventure started that moment. I moved to 2 different cities and changed 2 schools. I was in the Newspaper with my photo saying I needed a host family(I thought that newspaper thing was emberrasing... I objected to put my picture in the AD. But my objection didn't work.) Finally I moved to a small suburb called Woodinville and started going to Woodinville High School as a Junior. Because of my own resons I didn't mix with school and the students. I met with my exchange student friens and I was happy. There is only 1,5 months left to go back to Turkey. I have never regretted coming to USA (But sometimes I wished I went to Argentina). Being an exchange student is not easy. But I got to experience so many new things. I think this is really cool. I have seen so many places like San Francisco and Canada. I learnt so many things. The most important thing is I learnt to appreciate my country and my real family.

SOME AFS LINKS
The Official AFS page
AFS Turkey Page
The Page of my AFS Area
The Page of AFS Turkey Volunteer Charity
A message board for AFS Turkey Volunteers
A message board for AFS Turkey '99
AFS Volunteers' club page