Dear Future A-SMYLER's

I wanted to write this to you guys and share my American experience with you.

First, let me tell you a little about myself and how I became one of the proud members of the A-SMYLE program. My name is Anja and I turned seventeen in January, which means I'll be third grade of high school in September. Last fall I heard about a one-semester exchange program at my school. At first I was excited because since I started learning English, one of my greatest dreams had been to go to US. So, you can imagine how happy I was. But (there are always some "buts") then I heard that only fifteen students from whole Serbia including Montenegro will be able to go! Wow! Only fifteen! I was like, no way that I'm going to make it! But I decided to give it a shot and who knows maybe I'll be the lucky one.and here I am.in America .writing this to you guys and feeling so jealous of you that are going to stay here for the whole year, but also happy for you to see and experience all and even more than I have.

I remember that afternoon like it was yesterday. There I was, doing what I do best (and love best) playing tennis with a wonderful sister of mine when my cell rang. And guess what? It was a call from American Councils! Yes. I was selected! I couldn't believe it! I was so pessimistic and now they are on the phone telling me that I'll be going to US in two months! Wow! I swear that was definitely one of the happiest days of my life.

It was the first week of December. There we were all fifteen of us in one cute, little hotel in Belgrade at a pre-departure orientation. We were all sitting in the hotel's lounge when a guy from American Councils called me to come and sit with him because he had something to tell me. That was it. I knew it. They must have found me a host family! And they did! The host family was in Alaska , and guess what the name of the town was? North Pole!!! Ahem! After that I was completely positive this was just a big joke! Me! To Alaska ! Come on! What am I going to do there? Play with the polar bears? Help Santa with next years presents?! Am I going to live in an igloo!?! Yeah, all of that went through my head in that very moment. I have to admit I was so disappointed. I didn't even consider Alaska as an option! I was positive that next six months are going to bee the toughest six months in my life! I was sooo wrong.

Today's date is June 12 th . I'm lying in my bed (actually it's my host dad's grandchild Lindsay's bad); I have one more week left. I cannot believe it. It seems like time is running so fast and I cannot catch up. I remember it was like last week I had my "going away" party and just in a few days same old people are going to be there to welcome me back! It just isn't fair! I still have so much left to do! So many things I want to say to those kids I met here that who knows when I'm going to see again. But I'll keep in touch with each and every one of them. These kids made this six months unforgettable. They brought laughter in my life. They made my circle of friends wealthier..

Ok, so I can no longer wait to tell you that three of my four greatest dreams had come true during these six months.

First of all there is my trip to America and the whole exchange thing I told you I've wanted to do since I started learning English. The whole experience was much, much better than I could ever imagine it to be! I had the most wonderful host family in the whole world! Trust me, even if I was told to pick a family I want I'm sure I couldn't chose a better one. Both my host mom and dad are just the most kind and pleasant people I have ever met. I didn't have any host siblings because all their daughters (there is four of them) are grown up and do not live with them any more. They treated me like a part of the family. T

Beside my host family being so nice and kind, I found kids in school very pleasant too. From the first day I came they've been acting friendly and they were all getting so excited every time I said anything about my home country. They were asking all kinds of questions and they were really interested in our culture, our schools, music, and sports. I taught them plenty of things about Serbia . But they also taught me some things about America and helped me understand and appreciate their culture. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. I wanted to warn you about some silly questions you might be asked. First of all do not expect many Americans to be familiar with Serbia and Montenegro . If you say Yugoslavia , than some of them might have a clue where is it. But most of them will think it's somewhere in Russia ! But my advice is just to be patient and calm and not to be offended by them not knowing too much about Europe . So I drew them maps so they could see because, as you know, a picture is worth thousand words. The other thing I wanted to warn you about is shyness. Do not be surprised if you get scared to open your mouth for the first few days. Even if you are very talkative (as I most certainly am!) you'll probably get in that weird phase I was in for five-six days or so. I was terrified. I thought my English wasn't good enough so I basically limited my, by the way not that bad vocabulary, to YES, NO and OK. But after few days I was again good, old, never-shut-up Anja. So if that happens to you, do not worry. It won't last but a few days until you actually start thinking in English.

Ok, so I can keep writing here about my first dream like forever, but I'll just let you guys live your own one and I'll be moving to dream #2. Professional Tennis Tournament. Since I've been playing tennis my whole entire life, naturally one of my greatest dreams was to see professionals playing live. And I did. I never thought I would, but I did! That happened during the spring break. There was a tournament in Palm Springs , California and some of my friends from the athletic club I played tennis in were going so they asked me if I wanted to come with them. Wow! Can you imagine how happy I was!? Wow! That's like the second "dream-come-true" in like three months! I felt like I was in heaven! Oh and by the way that was another thing I wanted to tell you about. Some more advice, be involved in as many extra curricular activities as you can! You play sports- try out for the school team. You're good at singing-sign up for the choir! Trust me, not only will you have fun and enjoy the things you like doing but you'll also have a chance to meet new people and make some really good friends. At least I did!

Dream #3. Disneyland ! Since I was a little kid I've been dreaming about going to Disneyland . I was more thinking about the one in Paris , but this time it turned out even better. The real one! The one in California ! Yeah, yeah. what can I say except that truly is the happiest place on earth! Thanks to my wonderful host parents I was able to make my childhood's dream come true.

Finally, don't be sad or disappointed if you get the place you didn't expect and maybe don't even want to go. Just think about all the new and great things you can do there! And once you see all the great things America has to offer you, don't be shy or embarrassed to accept them! Live every day like it is your last! That's the only way you can feel alive!

P.S. I'm sorry, but I have to tell you this. I saw the Northern Lights! It was the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen!

Anja