Bold As Love

So it’s just 2 days left til I depart to the land of the free and the home of the brave. Yes 2 days to the United States. America. As you can see from the title, that’s where I’m being placed. Sweet Home Alabama! Looking back to April last year which was when this all started. AFS volunteers came to my school and told us all about the YES program of which I already knew a little about from watching Field Trip USA. So there I was rushing to get application forms. Went home and told my mum about it and I filled it in. Of course then it felt like a small chance of me actually getting the scholarship. But hey, a 1% chance is still a chance right? Though I knew my chances were slim, I was secretly desperate to get it! And a few weeks later we were called up for interviews at the building where we make our ICs (IDK what that place is called). And yes I was nervous and unsettled but I just kept telling myself, “screw it! You’re good enough for this program!”. They called my name and another two people in the interview room. First question was already a hard one. “So what do you think Obama’s chance of winning the next election is like?” And I’d rather not tell you my answer as that would take me another hour of typing. Lets just say it was long. Really long. After that I felt pretty confident. But as time passed it felt more like I wasn’t going to get it. Until one day I got a call saying I was shortlisted and they wanted me to go for a selection camp and interview in KL! JOYYYY!!!!! So yeah I went through all that and I found out I was chosen to be in the program and that I’m now a YES Scholar! 

Form after form after form to fill in and medical stuff to take care of, I’m finally going! I honestly don’t know what to expect when I go there. But for now I know I have a temporary host family waiting for me there! The Jackson family! No not the insanely talented historical iconic and famous Jackson family if that’s what you’re thinking. Allison Jackson is the name of my host mum and she has two little boys with RED HAIR!! Carrot tops! And also I’ll be in Mountain Brooke High School and hopefully I’ll be put in senior year. IF that happens, I’ll be able to enjoy a real American High School Prom!! Exciting isn’t it? No? Okay. Hopefully I’ll make lots of new friends there and maybe join the school soccer team. Yes I said soccer. I’m gonna have to get used to that. The other thing I’m really looking forward to is….. CAFETERIA FOOD! I checked out the school nutrition program and lots of yummy food (at least that’s how it sounds like) awaits!! 

On the other hand though, leaving this country isn’t going to be easy (or is it?). I will definitely miss my family and friends here and my mum has already told me to contact her everyday when I’m there to make sure she knows I’m still alive. It’s gonna be a whole new experience there and as many ups as I wish to have, I’m sure there will be plenty of downs as well. My journey so far towards getting chosen for this program has already been a little crazy. And now it’s almost hard to believe that in 48 hours, I’ll be in D.C. Time flies and before you know it I’ll be back here. Back in Kuching. And when I do come back, I hope I come back changed. Stronger, Better and with a more open mind. To bring back memories and to share my stories about my experience. An experience of a life time that money can’t buy. That’s what I hope to achieve after I party in the USA.