all my expectations...

ASE has this thing called CCE : a certificate of cultural enrichment...basically getting us involved in the lives of the people in Bath and in England. For credit, we have to write a kind of letter of intent, about our expectations and such.

Here it is :)

"My expectations for this semester abroad are quite high, as I’ve been looking forward to a semester like this for years.  I hope to gain valuable insights into the English culture, as well as tastes of cultures and places I’ll travel outside of England.  I hope that this semester can teach me to look at the world in a different way, with more curiosity and a greater appreciation for people, cultures, and ideas outside of America.  Through my classes, I hope to learn more about the history of this country. Through the Education Programme I hope to get as involved as I can in the school and help the students I’ll be working with as much as possible. I’ll learn more about the English culture from these Year 5 students than I would from all the classic tourist sites.  I think working in a classroom here is going to be an incredible experience; I’ll learn a lot about a different education system and I’ll also get directly involved in the lives of the English people.  I hope that I leave this country, not wanting to leave at all. I want to fall even more in love with travel and people.
To be honest, the one thing I’m worried about is running out of money and not being able to do all that I want to. I was fine leaving home and going to college, and I’ve never been horribly homesick in my life. I don’t think that’ll start now. It’s only been a week and a half, and I’ve fallen in love with everything in this country. Not once have I wished I were back in the States instead of here. 
I’ll have judged this semester a success not on my grades, but on how much I think I’ve changed and if I think I’ve changed for the better.  I’ve always thought that grades were important, but they’ve never made up the whole picture. Perhaps it’s because I want to go into a profession where the job market does not depend on perfect undergrad grades.  If I can look back on this semester with a happy heart, knowing that I got involved as much as I could, had traveled as much as I could afford, connected with as many people from Europe as possible, and relished every minute of the four months than I will be more than satisfied. "