Jadę na legalu!

A więc tak.. ostatnie dwa dni spędziłam w Warszawie. Mam już wizę, więc nie muszę płynąć na kładce :) Wizyta w konsulacie przebiegła bezproblemowo, jednak to wszystko wyglądało zupełnie inaczej niż się spodziewałam.
Najpierw tłum ludzi czeka pod drzwiami, wpuszczają po kolei, po jednej osobie, zabierają Twój telefon i dostajesz plakietkę z numerkiem, aby móc go potem odebrać. Przechodzisz przez bramki, ochroniarz sprawcza Twoją teczkę z dokumentami, kurtkę i w moim przypadku także buty!
Następnie udajesz się do przeszklonego tunelu, gdzie wraz z innymi ludźmi czekasz aż wyczytają Twoją godzinę, gdy w końcu to się staje dwaj mili panowie naklejają naklejkę (dziwnie to brzmi, ale ok) na Twój paszport i do środka wkładają Twoje dokumenty.
Potem schodkami w dół udajesz się do dużego pomieszczenia, które wygląda jak poczta. Podchodzisz do pierwszego okienka i Pani odbiera Twoje dokumenty oraz pyta się o cel Twojej podróży. Większość osób dostało także swój numerek, jednak ja miałam udać się do okienka nr.12, gdzie Pani Amerykanka wyczytuje Twoje nazwisko.
Cała poczekalnia obwieszona jest plakatami z Barackiem Obamą w towarzystwie rodziny, prezydenta Komorowskiego, innych polityków etc. Jedyną dostępną lekturą są magazyny turystyczne różnych stanów np. Missisipi, Iowa, a w monitorze uśmiecha się do Ciebie ambasador, konsulat, Polacy którzy opowiadają o Stanach etc.
Gdy Pani wyczytała moje nazwisko (miała z tym lekki problem, ale sobie poradziła) podeszłam do okienka i zaczęłyśmy sobie swobodną pogawędkę po angielsku (gdzie dokładnie jadę, czym zajmują się moi host rodzice, moi rodzice, kto finansuje mój wyjazd, czy kiedykolwiek byłam już w USA). Pobrała moje odciski i powiedziała "your visa has been approved". W przeciągu 3 dni mam dostać mój paszport wraz z wizą.

Last 2 days I spent in Warsaw. Finally I have my visa, so I can legally enter to USA.  I didn't have any problem in embassy, but all meeting looked different than I've expected.
First you're standing in crowd outside embassy, when you finally enter you have to give your phone and you get special number to receive it back after meeting. They're checking your briefcase, jacket and in my case also shoes! 
Next you're going to tunnel made from glass and you're waiting with different people when they call your hour (for me it was 9,30 AM). When you enter they take your passport and put special sticker with code on it. Later you're going downstairs to big room which looks like post office. You're coming to window and embassy worker takes your passport, documents and asks why do you need visa. Most of the people get there special number, but I just had to go under window nr.12 and waiting when American woman will call my name.
Waiting room is full of posters with Barack Obama (with family, polish president and other politics). The only thing you can read are turistic newspapers with Missisipi, Iowa etc. On big screan American ambassador, consul and Polish people are talking to you about US.
When consulat worker called my name (with small problem) I went to the window and we started little talks (where am I going, what my hist parents and parents are doing for life, who is paying for my trip, have I ever been to US before etc). She took my fingerprints and said 'your visa has been approved'.

Ambasada USA w Warszawie/ USA embassy in Warsaw:

W końcu kupiłam bilety na mój lot. Wylatuję z Berlina 12 sierpnia o 12:40 i lecę prosto do Newark gdzie odbywa się moje Orientation. 14 sierpnia lecę stamtąd do Buffalo. Udało mi się uniknąć przesiadek, więc przynajmniej się nigdzie nie zgubię :)

Finally I've bought my tickets. I'm leaving on 12th August at 12.40 PM from Berlin and I'll fly straight to the Newark where I have my Orientation. On 14th August I've got flight to Buffalo. Luckly I don't have any changes during flight, so I shouldn't lost :)

Placement!

Nareszcie! Mój długo wyczekiwany placement! Wczoraj około 6,30 wygrzebałam się z łóżka, spojrzałam na telefon a tam e-mail od jakiegoś Mike'a. Nie miałam bladego pojęcia o co może chodzić, ale gdy zaczęłam czytać moje oczy robiły się szersze i szersze. To był e-mail od mojej host family! A więc jadę do Lancaster (przedmieścia Buffalo) w stanie Nowy Jork. Bałam się, że trafię do jakiejś wioski w Kansas czy Montanie, a będę mieszkała 20 minut drogi od Buffalo, 30 minut od wodospadu Niagara! Mega!

Niedaleko mojego domu znajduje się miejsce, w którym odbywają się ciągle rockowe koncerty (w tym sezonie letnim 30 Seconds to Mars, Goo Goo Dools, One Republic etc). Mój hdad jest wielkim fanem hockeya, więc z pewnością zobaczę wiele meczy! Rozmawiałam z nim wczoraj kilka godzin i wydaje się bardzo sympatyczny, z moją hmum jeszcze nie rozmawiałam, ale także wydaje się wspaniała!

Finally! Yesterday I got my placement! I woke up at 6,30 and I had a look for my phone. There was an email from Mike. I had no idea what's going on, but I've started reading and my eyes were bigger and bigger. It was an email from my host family! So I'll live in Lancaster (suburbs of Buffalo) New York State. I was afraid that I'll go to village in Kansas or Montana, but I'll live 20 minutes from Buffalo and 30 minutes from Niagara Falls! Awesome! Not far from me is placed club with life concerts (for example this summer plays there 30 Seconds to Mars, Goo Goo Dolls, One Republic etc). My host dad is huge fun of hockey, so I guess I'll be on matches very often! My both host parents seems amazing, so it'll be great year!

Mój przyszły dom/ My future house:

Moje host psiaki/My host dogs (Miley& Cooper)

Buffalo:

Waiting, waiting, waiting....

Nadal czekam na moją host rodzinkę, ale i tak staram się już przygotować do wyjazdu. Wczoraj odbyłam rozmowę z dyrektorem i wychowawcą. W międzyczasie otrzymałam całą masę dokumentów z biura (w tym CIEE Students Handbook). Jest tam wszystko - DOSŁOWNIE! Opisane są tam wszystkie zwyczaje Amerykanów i to jak ja powinnam się zachowywać, od standardowych - jak wyglądają obowiązki domowe przeciętnego nastolatka, jak wygląda życie szkolne, po bardziej niecodzienne - jak postępować w przypadku molestowania, jak powinno się ubierać czy jak wygląda randkowanie.

I'm still waiting for my host family, but I try to prepare myself for exchange anyways. Yesterday I was talking with my principal and class teacher. I've also received documents from my travel agency (visa and CIEE Student Handbook). There is EVERYTHING! Some conventional tips - how should I behave in school, how my houseworks may look like etc, but also some unconventional - how to behave in case of molestation, how should I dress and how dates looks like. 

Na stronie organizacji "Why Not USA"znalazłam ciekawe porady dla wymieńców (po angielsku, ale trzeba się przyzwyczajać) :)
On the website "Why Not USA" I've found interesting tips for exchange students :)

Before You Arrive

• "Be ready for a really big CHANGE."
• "Accept differences in life and traditions."
• "Talk and be nice to everybody and you'll make friends in no time. And then live and enjoy every minute!"
• "There's nothing really to prepare for, you just need to have an open attitude towards new 'strange' things and talk about differences with your family."
• "I think future exchange students should think about what it is going to be like here, that anything can happen. They have to be strong and ready for the most strange, funniest and happiest things. This is a dream from which you suddenly wake up, and it is real."
• "Forget your home country way of life and open yourself up to a completely new lifestyle.”
• "I would tell them to be open-minded and very extroverted (there's no time for shyness!), and try to enjoy their experience from the first moment--time goes by fast!!"

Advice On First Entering Family and School

• "Try to be as tolerant as possible. Be courteous and helpful, thoughtful in every aspect of family life."
• “Get ready for everything, bad and good. You can't stereotype a family. Be understanding and kind; help with the work at home and you will get favors back.”
• 'They have different views and rules that you are going to have to adjust to as soon as possible. So be prepared to change your way of life."
• "Have an open attitude and be ready to adjust to the host family. Treat the host family as your own. Be yourself."
• Try to become part of the family and be in the house as if it were your own."
• Try to join several activities in or out of school (track, youth group, et cetera)."
• "Don't be too concerned about certain problems at the beginning of the year--many take care of themselves."
• "Be patient.”
• “Observe, obey, help whenever you can, smile, show you are happy, share your feelings."

Advice On Adjusting To Family and School

• "Show your thankfulness and appreciation and make sure that the host family notices it!! Always ask whether or not you can help. Make a deal with the kids or even with the whole family that everybody always tells openly and frankly when you bother him or her. Don't let resentments build up."
• "Read a lot of American books and be prepared for a strong interest in people, feelings, and local problems. You shouldn't dream all the time of being in Manhattan or Hollywood because you may be in a rural area without many activities and the absolute necessity of a car."
• "Be prepared to be criticized, but don't criticize yourself too much."
• "Your family pays for you, takes care of you, and gives you rights. Expect to take on duties/chores.”
• "The relationship can go slow and with some difficulties, but don't despair. Try to be always optimistic.”
• "You need to study English. Don't be shy! Open your mind. And try.”
• "Try to make a little effort to help with your family; they'll give you almost everything you'll want. Sometimes, I hated my host sister and brother but I got to know them better with time and now I love them. I learned to be more open in the world and in the society by accepting new ways of life.”
• "Don't have too high an expectation of your host family or the school. Don't be angry with your host family and think that they don't care if they disagree with you in some matters. Just be patient."
• "Learn to adapt to your host family's life, but don't try to change it. Let them help you when you need them but don't make them solve all your problems."
• "After a given time life goes on normally and you are not the stranger anymore.”
• "Be open minded, talk a lot, and stay with your host family as much as possible but without forgetting your friends. Work every day. Be yourself. Have patience, especially during the first couple of months. Remember that you are living in their house."
• "To communicate everything and to appreciate everything the host family does for us. And sometimes get recharged with the patience to be able to put up with some children."

Always Remember

• "Do anything, even if you don't like it very much, to understand your new situation, country, friends, customs.... These are going to last for a whole year and this is a long time to be displeased. There's so much to learn and to see, to discover; try to enjoy every minute 'of it, of its beauty and charm--who knows when you'll be able to come again to the U.S.!!!"
• "You cannot really say with words what this has been. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will affect you forever."