Before My Adventure

My name is Ian Kronquist, I am 17 years old, and I am homeschooled. I have been taking classes at Portland Community College for the past several years, and as part of my education I am planning to study abroad in Turkey next year with AFS, the American Field Service Intercultural Exchange Program.

I am leaving for Turkey next September for ten months. I hope to learn about Turkish culture and become proficient in the language while staying with a family and attending a Turkish high school. While I am abroad I will serve as a representative of the United States and American culture. When I return I hope to bring with me another culture's perspective and view of life to share with my friends and family. I hope to promote intercultural understanding between Turkey and the United States in light of the stresses between the West and the Middle East.

Of course, such an amazing experience comes with a price tag. Part of this journey is learning how to support my ambitions and raise funds. I have already applied for and received a merit scholarship, but I still need to raise $5,000 to cover the cost. You can help right now by making a secure donation using the ChipIn! gadget at the top of my blog. I am very excited about this experience, and I hope that you will support me.

Why Go Abroad?

Individuals have impact. Youth exchange doesn't just offer courses in a foreign language or a chance to escape from suburban America. When I go abroad, I will be an ambassador for intercultural understanding, communication, and respect. This can be achieved one student at a time. If we learn to respect each other, we will view each other not as Americans and Turks, or Christians and Muslims, but as people. It seems hard for an individual to make a difference, but if one never gets involved nothing will change.