2019 Student Exchange Trip to Hanamaki, Japan
Don protégé
Hi, my name is Saraswati Hillis-Ericksen and I live in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
For the past five years, I've been working toward my goal of being selected as a delegate with the Sister City Student Exchange Program to go to our sister city in Hanamaki, Japan.
Even as a young child I always loved and was drawn to Japanese culture, from the Japanese animated shows I grew up watching to the various reminders placed throughout my town. This love has grown far stronger as I’ve grown over the years and persists to this day. Which had driven me to apply for this incredible opportunity. I have applied a total of three times: first in the 8th grade and I was not accepted, second in the 10th grade and I was still not accepted, and third and finally in the 11th grade and I was accepted!
In January of 2018 at the beginning of 10th grade I applied again and was denied my dream a second time. Then in February myself and my entire family became gravely ill from from the appropriately named Killer Flu. My dad and I recovered from said flu, but my mom...she did not...her condition worsened to the point that she needed to be hospitalized on the 15th. Four days later on February 19th 2018 at 4:40 p.m. at the age of 16 I had to face the reality that I had to say goodbye to my mommy, my closest friend in the world who understood me better than I even understood myself, and my other half...forever.
The 10th grade was a nightmare to be sure, but I managed to get through it thanks to the amazing support and understanding of my family, friends, and teachers. I somehow managed to finish the school year still on the honorole! Then in December came the next call for applications of the 2019 round of delegates to go to Hanamaki. I was determined to be accepted this time, I wouldn’t let my hardships stop me from realizing my dream and so I applied for my third and final time!
In January of 2019 my five year journey to be selected to go on this trip to Hanamaki finally came to an end!! I had done it...after wanting it more than anything else I now had it. Which next came the start to the new journey of overcoming one last huge obstacle. Which is coming up with the money for the expenses I need to pay in order to be able to go on this adventure the first week of June in 2019.
Below are the expenses I will need to pay for and crucial deadlines that are coming up:
1. $220 ( MET THIS ONE THANK YOU!)to get a passport in my hands in order to meet the March 14th deadline
(JUST AWAITING ITS ARRIVAL)
2. Mandatory deposit of $500 by March 1st. (MET THIS ONE ALSO THANK YOU AGAIN!)
3. Travel, (deadline and total amount needed unsure at this time); Air, Train, plus travel insurance, hotel & meals miscellaneous unknowns, and other travel needs including the gifts that I am required to exchange with my host family.
Here is the link for locals to buy tickets to the Cherry Blossom Festival fundraiser coming up on February 16th:
https://www.prekindle.com/promo/id/97934110363718817
Thank you.
For the past five years, I've been working toward my goal of being selected as a delegate with the Sister City Student Exchange Program to go to our sister city in Hanamaki, Japan.
Even as a young child I always loved and was drawn to Japanese culture, from the Japanese animated shows I grew up watching to the various reminders placed throughout my town. This love has grown far stronger as I’ve grown over the years and persists to this day. Which had driven me to apply for this incredible opportunity. I have applied a total of three times: first in the 8th grade and I was not accepted, second in the 10th grade and I was still not accepted, and third and finally in the 11th grade and I was accepted!
In January of 2018 at the beginning of 10th grade I applied again and was denied my dream a second time. Then in February myself and my entire family became gravely ill from from the appropriately named Killer Flu. My dad and I recovered from said flu, but my mom...she did not...her condition worsened to the point that she needed to be hospitalized on the 15th. Four days later on February 19th 2018 at 4:40 p.m. at the age of 16 I had to face the reality that I had to say goodbye to my mommy, my closest friend in the world who understood me better than I even understood myself, and my other half...forever.
The 10th grade was a nightmare to be sure, but I managed to get through it thanks to the amazing support and understanding of my family, friends, and teachers. I somehow managed to finish the school year still on the honorole! Then in December came the next call for applications of the 2019 round of delegates to go to Hanamaki. I was determined to be accepted this time, I wouldn’t let my hardships stop me from realizing my dream and so I applied for my third and final time!
In January of 2019 my five year journey to be selected to go on this trip to Hanamaki finally came to an end!! I had done it...after wanting it more than anything else I now had it. Which next came the start to the new journey of overcoming one last huge obstacle. Which is coming up with the money for the expenses I need to pay in order to be able to go on this adventure the first week of June in 2019.
Below are the expenses I will need to pay for and crucial deadlines that are coming up:
1. $220 ( MET THIS ONE THANK YOU!)to get a passport in my hands in order to meet the March 14th deadline
(JUST AWAITING ITS ARRIVAL)
2. Mandatory deposit of $500 by March 1st. (MET THIS ONE ALSO THANK YOU AGAIN!)
3. Travel, (deadline and total amount needed unsure at this time); Air, Train, plus travel insurance, hotel & meals miscellaneous unknowns, and other travel needs including the gifts that I am required to exchange with my host family.
Here is the link for locals to buy tickets to the Cherry Blossom Festival fundraiser coming up on February 16th:
https://www.prekindle.com/promo/id/97934110363718817
Thank you.
Coorganisateurs (2)
Saraswati Hilis-Ericksen
Organisateur
Hot Springs, AR
Larry Ericksen
Bénéficiaire
Larry Clive Ericksen
Coorganisateur