I am getting even more excited to go to France because today I found out that there are concerts in Rennes and Paris (and other places). Not only are they French artists, but some American singers are touring in Europe also. Jason Mraz has a European tour and so does Ed Sheeran, even though he is European (British).

I hope I will be able to go to these concert when I am in France because I love music and I love going to concerts. I also love these singers!!! I will focus really hard on my school work so I can go see these shows. I am really dedicated to getting good grades as well as having fun!!

I’ll let you know how my plans turn out!

~Tara

I received my VISA yesterday in the mail. It is secured in my passport and now I can live in France for up to 11 months. I now have all that I need to go to Europe. I will buy clothes+ when I arrive and until then, I am going to have a wonderful time here with my family and friends!!!

More later.
~Tara

Yesterday, June 14, 2012, at 11am my dad and I went to the French Conciliate. After waiting a few minutes in line and after 12 minutes of handing over papers and finger scanning, I got my Visa for France. It was short and sweet and Iwill get the Visa in about three weeks.

I spent about a month preparing for last night and getting my special outfit ready, I was super excited and was freaking out so much!! Last night at around 6:30, my dad and I arrived at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, California to see the One Direction concert. There were two opening acts before the boys came on and they were both good. The second act was Olly Murs, he is so amazing and talented, both in vocals and dancing! The boys were so fantastic it was hard to control myself.

I had so much fun and I can’t wait until my Visa comes and until I can see One Direction again!!!

~Tara

Tomorrow I leave for San Francisco with my dad to get my Visa. I am almost packed and I am super excited. Getting my Visa will be interesting, I am stoked to see how the process goes. Since I leave tomorrow, this also means that the One Direction concert is on Thursday!!!! I am freaking out.

I will write more later.

~Tara

In six days, I will be in San Francisco, California getting my Visa for France. I have an appointment on June 14, 2012 at 11:00am. The papers I need to bring with me to CA were mailed to me and they should be here now. I believe everything I need is ready to go! Im so excited!!!

Coincidentally, June 14 a VERY special day for me! After I get my Visa, my dad and I are going to tour around San Fran then later that afternoon we will be heading to Oakland, California. You might wonder…why Oakland? Well, that is where my dad and I are seeing ONE DIRECTION’S CONCERT!!!!! I have been waiting to see them for this for almost a year. I’ve had the tickets for over a month and as each day goes by, I am getting more and more excited for the concert!!!

So, when I come back to Hawaii, I will have my Visa for France and I will have seen my all time favorite boy band, One Direction. Everything works out in the end!!

More later.

~Tara

Today there is a webinar for the students who are doing a semester or a year abroad. It is at 8pm Eastern time, so that is 2pm my time. Since I don’t have a PC, I will call in and be able to do audio instead of video.  This webinar will tell me about getting a Visa and more about the arrival in Boston. I’m not sure what else will be talked about so I will write more after the call.

~Tara

I just hung up with Marine, my host sister. We were video chatting on Skype. She sounds so nice and told me about my future school and what she does for fun. The school is a private school called St. Joseph. They live in the city called Laillé and they are very family oriented. Marine loves being with her family and friends. She is making me feel so good about going to France. She said I will go with her and her family on all their trips and we will be able to go to Paris, the Eiffel Tower, and Moulin Rouge. I am so excited about all this!!!

The time difference from here, Hawaii, and Laillé is 12 hours. So it is now 9pm here and 9am there. I am getting ready for bed and she just woke up. Marine also said I will Skype with my parents when I am in France because family is a big thing. That also makes me happy!!

Well, I am going to bed now. More soon!

~Tara

I was chatting with my host sister, Marine this morning and I was asking her a few questions about France as well as just talking to her. She told me that I will attend a public school called Anita Conti. It is 10 min away from her house by car. She goes to college close to my future school, so she will either drive me or I will take the bus. She mad me feel so good. She said she will stick to me like chewing gum, meaning she will always be with me, helping me. I will be a part of her family. Marine also told me we will visit Paris and an island in the UK. She is so nice and she is helping me become not worried about going. I sent her some pictures of Hawaii and she is going to send me some of France.

I can’t wait to talk to her some again. Until then, more later.

~Tara

I know I’m not even in France yet, but I have been asked what I am going to do after my year abroad. So here it is…I will either go somewhere else for my Senior year of high school or I will get my GED and go to college. They both sound good to me. I think is I do my Senior year, I want to stay with both of my parents. One option was move back to Hawaii with my mom and finished my Senior year with the class I started high school with. That sounds good because it would be “my” class, I just don’t really want to be away from my dad for so long when we are on the same continent. I would like to do my Senior year wherever my parents go because then I will be with them both for another year before I go off to college.

I already know where I want to go and what I want to study in college, so all I need is the good grades (which I have) and either a GED or a high school diploma with US History. If I do come back to the UNited States for my Senior year, I would need to have US History to get back into a school here. I would take that either in Summer School or be taught it in a different way. I am really excited to see how this all plans out! More later.

~Tara

Yesterday, My dad looked up, found, and bought plane tickets for June. He and I are going on June 13th to San Francisco to get a Visa for France. While we are there, there is also a concert that I have wanted to go to for a long time. So, this has nothing to do with my blog or France, but on June 14, 2012, my dad and I are going to see ONE DIRECTION in concert!!! I am soo excited and thankful. I have wanted to see them for a long time and now I will. I saw that there was a piece of paper taped to my door, and when I read it it said, “Visa appointment June 14, 2012” I saw the date and realized that was the same day as the concert. My dad knew that and was on his computer all day. I walked into the kitchen and he looked at me and said, “Tara, we are going to see the boys!” I literally screamed and cried as I hugged him. I was so happy!!! Now, I will get my Visa for France and see my favorite boy band.

So about France, we have plans in August with include, CA to drop off my sister at college, train to Chicago, train to Boston for orientation, and plane to Paris. I leave for Paris on August 28th. I am super excited for this summer, it is going to be extraordinary!!! <3 ~Tara