Less than a week to go

Hi!
Welcome to my blog!
I decided to start this blog to share my experiences of a month's exchange period with my English speaking friends.

Last year I began culinary studies, and pretty much from the start we were told that we have the opportunity to go abroad for an exchange period for free. I thought about it for a while and once my family encouraged me to take this opportunity, I went for it.

Last autumn was the official start; a large group of people sat in the auditorium, listening to people explaining what to do before leaving, what it is like to learn on the job abroad and what to do after the exchange.

Great Britain has always been very interesting to me, and I have visited London twice. The exchange is going to take place in King's Lynn, Norfolk, which will be perfect: a place I have never been to yet, and it's away from the busy world of London.

I was surprised to see that I was the only student from my class to go abroad for an on-the-job learning period, because I recall many others mentioning that this would be a great opportunity and that they were interested.

First everyone had to make a short introduction about the country they were willing to go to, and then comment on the introductions of at least three people.
My introduction concentrated on things I know most about the UK: British comedy (as my friends probably know) and food.

Next step was to make a portfolio. It had to include things both in English and Finnish, so I constructed an interview with myself, in which I told myself anything and everything I know about the UK, and why I wanted to go on this exchange.
I also wrote down everything I was able to find about King's Lynn. I was so happy to find things like what to do there on your time off, as they have Scrabble clubs, even a club where you can play games like D&D and other RPG board and card games and knitting circles. I'm tempted to take my knitting needles and some yarn with me...

The portfolio also had to include a glossary of words used in kitchens and specifically words I myself have to try and remember.
The portfolios were graded and mine got top marks, which was very exciting.

Next I met with the othet student leaving for Norfolk, she studies culinary in the youth side, while I am an adult student, of course.
We had to sign a lot of papers, most concerning funding, so we wouldn't have to spend any of our own money on any of the travel and living costs.

As part of the international course we have to attend an hour a week to prep our English. In the fall I couldn't attend due to evening classes I could not leave, aswell as a catering gig we did for an event that was organized at the business branch of my school, where I worked as a waitress with a few other classmates. Even though I don't plan to become a waitress, it was fun to see how that side works, too. Interesting, to say the least.

Last month the prepping class began again. I had better chances to go there, but no one would provide me with information on where exactly the class was held. I was told that I would be taken to the classroom from the info office, but when I went to wait there, nobody came. It wasn't until after an angry message to the course's leader that I finally got the information on where the class is held, and was able to attend a week later.

The prep class is just a bunch of Finns speaking to each other in English. I was grouped with an 18-year-old going to Germany and a 37-year-old going to Malta, and what we had to think about was what we would do if we were lost (and without a phone, apparently, since my answer to use Google Maps wasn't acceptable) or what we would do if we got robbed. Not exactly what I expected, because I thought we would concentrate on things like words and phrases used at the work places, because I know how to be polite and what to say when buying things and conducting myself in official occasions. What I struggle with is using the names of the equipment I will be using at work. The prep class should concentrate on things happening at the work places, not situations outside work.

And because I have missed one class and will miss the last one, I'm hoping I will be able to have my own English teacher to put a word in for me that I use English fluently.

I was told the funding would arrive at least a week before the trip begins. Friday morning, nothing. Monday morning, nothing. The other student did get hers, and I began to really worry about it. This morning I decided that I would give them until Wednesday morning before I would raise Hell. 9:30, around time I left for school, the funding arrived. Phew!

I still have a lot to do, as I already got the next on-the-job learning place at a café, for which I agreed to sign contracts on Thursday, and I'll have to meet with my "international studies" teacher, who has some more papers to give me. A lot of paper work. Then I'll have to pack and ultimately leave on the night between Saturday and Sunday, as my flight leaves at 8 am. Sunday is going to be very tiring...