Sorry

Hey sorry it took so long to update. I've been super busy since I got here and just forgot about updating. So I'll give you the rundown on everything right now.

Orientation was amazing we had tons of fun at both the California and Tokyo one. All the Americans got really close and are still in contact with each other. There are 25 Americans in Japan right now with more to possibly come in September as Semester students. The plane ride here was long. The just stuck all 25 of us on a plane with no adults so it was a little crazy.

I've been with my host family since March and it's been fun. This family is only my Welcome family though so i have to move host families again. I move July 15th. My new family seems really nice and they own a convenience store.

School is really fun too. All girls is very different then co-ed but i like it. All the girls are really nice and there are a lot of returnees from studying abroad or living abroad. I joined the tennis club at school because there is no rugby club.

My Japanese is coming along slowly. It's improving but I'm still not good at speaking and such.

I'm having a really fun time in Japan and will update again soon.

New ways to sponser!

As you can see the link to the AFS sponser website it now gone. Instead there is now a direct link to the gaget at the bottem of the page. It works the same as the link in on that web page did. 

My Family!

I know where I'm going! I will be living in Nerima-ku a Tokyo suburb. I have a new sister my age named Shiori and a brother my younger sister Katelyn's age named Kenta. I sent them and email so i hope they get back to me soon!

To California I go!

I am in the Japan program for sure now! Yah! I also know about my leave dates and orientation. I will be off to Los Angeles on March 16th. I will stay there over night with other AFS Japan kids. The next day its on to a plane bound for Japan! 

I have not been told about my family yet so I'm still waiting for where I will be placed. :(

Welcome!

Hello, my name is Erica Wheeler. I am a 16 year old sophomore at Wayzata High School. At WHS I am in many different activities. Right now I am part of Y.E.S., a volunteer organization, the Spanish club, and I also play rugby. I am taking my core classes this term so I have a very busy schedule.

I really look forward to going to Japan. I have wanted to go for a very long time. My mom has always talked about me and my sister studying abroad to have a unique learning experience and to learn more about the world. I wasn't really into the idea until we started to study Japan in school. I loved how the old culture blended in with the new. The more I learned about Japan the more I fell in love and knew I had to go. When I found out how hard it was to get into the Japan program I was worried, but when I got the call saying I got in I was so happy. I am so excited to be going away!

My family and friends are very supportive of me going away. They have done everything they can to help me be able to go to Japan. I have done a lot to get to go to Japan too. I have gotten another job, babysit often, and help with housework at my grandma's to name a few. 

I know that being a exchange student is a lot of work and responsibility but I also think it will be a lot of fun. I think of being an exchange student is a lot like being an ambassador in your host country but more important. Ambassadors talk to the adults who have a kind of preset opinion that can be hard to change but kid or teens are more willing to except new opinions. I want to be part of changing our world for the better.