Watashi wa Madeleine desu, doozo yoroshiku.
In case you didn't catch that, I just said: "My name is Madeleine, it's nice to meet you" all in Japanese! Well if you haven't already guessed it, I am determined to go to Japan with the exchange student program AFS. You may be wondering: "Why Japan? What makes Japan so special?" Well let me tell you! Ever since fifth grade I have been in love with Japan. Like most obsessions with Japan I was introduced to its culture through anime, or Japanese cartoons. That may not seem like the best reason to love a country but let me continue. After a few years of watching anime I got into their music and fashion. I was amazed by how different it was from American pop culture. Finally in eighth grade I started really studying the history and culture of Japan. I read every site and book imaginable just trying to find out more and more about this country that seemed to have captured my heart. My mom considered this to just be another phase, that I would just read up on it and then find it boring but now, after four years, she seems to get that this is not a phase but a passion.
While on my journey to Japan I hope to gain all the knowledge that the websites and books could not tell me. You can only learn so much from others opinions, and I believe that you can only truly know everything about a country once you have been there and that is what I want to gain, a true understanding of Japan. Along with gaining I plan on giving back, not only to the people back home but to the people in Japan. I would like to tell all the curious Japanese people what it is like in America and how it differs from Japan. When I get home I want to be one of the AFS returnees that encourages future AFSers to do what I did and to join the AFS team, I also want to spread the knowledge around at my school, how could I not share something as amazing as going to school in Japan?
My reason for financial aid is a sad one. When I was in first grade my dad died in a car accident, leaving my mom and two kids to fend for themselves. My mom is currently the only one working in my household since I am not of legal age yet. Because my mom is still a single parent and feeding herself and two kids I am in serious need of financial help. AFS would be an amazing opportunity for me and the others that I can share it with and I would hate to miss out because of my dilemma.
In case you are wondering who exactly you are donating your money to, this is one of my most recent pictures. This is the girl you could send to Japan!
To sponsor my AFS program now, please click the ChipIn button.
