Introduction

Hi and welcome to my blog! 

My name is Emily, and I am a junior in high school.  I found out about three weeks ago that I have been selected by the Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad program to spend a year in Thailand.  Thailand was my first choice country, and I am extremely happy that I have been given this opportunity.  I have never even left the United States before, so I know that this experience will be challenging.  However, I'm ready to face the challenges of being a youth ambassador and exchange student in a completely foreign environment.
To explain how I got here... last fall I filled out an application for this scholarship, which involved essays, teacher recommendations, transcripts, and a letter to my future host family.  I was hopeful but not very confident as I submitted my application.  However, about two months later I found out that I was a semifinalist and headed to Chevy Chase, Maryland for an In Person Selection Event. 
The event, known as the IPSE, was one of the best experiences I have had this year.  I got to meet 119 other like-minded teenagers who were all passionate about changing their world through a program like YES Abroad.  Oh, and of course I had an interview there!
About a month after that, I was informed that I would be spending my senior year in Thailand after having been anxiously waiting in alternate status for two weeks. 
I created this blog to share my experiences with my friends, family, and those interested in Thailand or the Youth Exchange and Study program.  I'm thrilled to start my life in Thailand in a little less than two months, and soon I'll post more information about the YES Abroad program. 

ลาก่อน,
Emily