AnO UWP CaSt A'2010

January 2010

kurkhuliano@gmail.com (AnO`) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:02:00 +0000

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to write about my future plans regarding UWP. I postponed my participation for January 2010. Yep, that's faaar away:)

So, I'll start my preparation in late spring I guess.

If there is anybody in my future cast (I think there are still very few of them) contact me:)

I'm still fundraising, so it would be great if anyone is willing to donate:)

AnO`

..eNd FoR nOw..

kurkhuliano@gmail.com (AnO`) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:19:00 +0000

Hey guys,

Thanks everyone for visiting my blog.

But have a bad news, at least for me:)) Due to some family matters unfortunately I had to cancel my participation for UWP July 2008 program. I am so sorry that I can't be the part of the Cast B, because I was waiting so much to travel with cast be. I postponed my participation for the later programs, I not sure for now in which one I will participate. But still at least I know that I will definitely be in one of the future casts.

So for now I will continue studying and next summer I will graduate with the BBA degree:)

Wish all Cast B members luck, great time and great experience for the upcoming semester.

Yours,

AnO`

.......................

kurkhuliano@gmail.com (AnO`) — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:33:00 +0000

Decided to write something in the blog, just feel like writing now. Can't wait til the 11th July comes. And it will be my birthday on July 12, I'll be becoming 20:)

I booked the visa interview at the US consulate for the June 2, so now collecting some papers to take to the embassy.

Yesterday my final exam schedule was announced at the university. The last exam is on July 1. Want to finish the exams sooooo much!!

And thanks a lot Leo for your comment:) and many thanks to European office of Up with People for your support:) especially my admissions councler Inger, because she helped me a lot during my preparations and all the other stuff:)

Have to get back to my studies now.

AnO`

Updated Tour Schedule

kurkhuliano@gmail.com (AnO`) — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:53:00 +0000

I just received visa package from Denver, as I have to obtain visas for all countries. And among the papers I found a detailed tour schedule. I was really excited:P
So here is the tour schedule:D:

USA
Denver, CO - 11 July-11 August
Peublo, CO - 11 August-18 August

Mexico
San Jose del Cabo - 18 August-25 August
La Paz - 25 August-1 September
Tepic - 1 September-8 September
Guadalajara - 8 September-15 September
Hermosillo - 15 September-22 September

USA
Nogales, AZ - 22 September-29 September
Albuquerque, NM - 29 September-6 October
Durango, CO - 6 October-13 October
Provo, UT - 13 October-20 October
Jackson Hole, WY - 20 October-27 October
Sioux Falls, SD - 27 October-3 November
Waukesha, WI - 3 November-10 November
Peoria, IL - 10 November-17 November

Philippines
Manila - 17 November-1 December
Subic Bay - 1 December-8 December
Cebu - 8 December-15 December
Manila - 15 December-16 December

So, sounds really cool:))

AnO`

Ticket to Denver

kurkhuliano@gmail.com (AnO`) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:12:00 +0000

Today I booked a ticket to Denver at last! I fly from Tbilisi on 10th
July at 6 AM, then two stops in Athens and Atlanta, and in the evening
I'll be in Denver. Unfortynately I had to book a ticket for 10th July,
because the flight on 11th was much more expensive.
But that's ok, in the worst case I'll spend a night at the airport:)

So just the visas are left to get. I hope they'll grant me that tiny piece of paper:)))

AnO`

Tour Schedule. Version 1

kurkhuliano@gmail.com (AnO`) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:36:00 +0000

Today Up with People announced the tour schedule of July 2008 program:) cool. well, I found this information on their web site:

Cast B 2008

Denver, CO: July 11-August 11
Colorado: August 11-14
New Mexico: August 14-18
Arizona: August 20-25
Mexico: August 25-September 21
Arizona: September 21-19
New Mexico/Colorado: September 29 - October 6
Utah/Wyoming: October 7-20
South Dakota/Minnesota/Wisconsin: October 20 - November 9
Illinois: November 9-16
Philippines: November 16-end of tour

***Dates Subject to Change***

The schedule is a bit mixed, I mean like first traveling in US, than in Mexico, than in US again, etc. So I'll have a huuuuuuugh job to do about the US visa. Doesn't sound very well. I hope i won't have problems at the US consulate:-)

That's all for now:)

AnO`

busy.. busy..busy..

kurkhuliano@gmail.com (AnO`) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:30:00 +0000

Last weeks was kind of tiring. I had to do some stuff at the university. Nothing interesting..
I filled part of the Up with People enrollment forms and sent them to Denver, but part of them is still left.

At last I decided about the song I'm going to record. It's a quite simple Japanese song from one of the animes and is called Nastuhiboshi (Summer Star). And I don't know anything about music editing and that kind of things, so it will be tough...

This weeks I'm going to make all the medical tests and visit doctor too. And get the police clearance too from the police station. I think i'll be done till the end of this week with the enrollment forms.

This week is really tough at the uni.: two midterms, two case studies and starting of MarkStrat game. And some other stuff too, so I hope I'll be alive next Monday...

Well, I think I'll finish for now, I have to get back to my case studies.

Write next time..

AnO`

time's passing so slowly..

kurkhuliano@gmail.com (AnO`) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:11:00 +0000

It was 27th February when I sent Up with People Scholarship applications, with 3 essays and 4 other papers. I won't get the answer till the end of March. Times passing really very slowly. But I have lots of things to do till then.

2 days ago I received enrollment forms. I have to get some papers for that too, like Police clearance, health insurance, etc. Above this all I have to visit doctor and make a tuberculosis test.

But the funniest thing is that I have to record my singing, although I don't have any experience or talent. That will be something...!

I started to collect papers for US visa too. Fortunately I have to arrange only the US visa, and UP with People stuff will manage the rest. They say that we'll visit Mexico and Thailand or Philippines. The tour will be really great, if I get the scholarhip and travel. I can't even imagine what it will be like to bethe part of cast B 2008. If I manage to cover all cost and travel with the cast, this year will be the best in my life.

Getting US visa is really something. Two forms to fill. Book plane ticket. collecting many many papers. and it costs $131, I think it's a bit expensive, but still.

Yesterday I received a brochure from a university in Japan. The courses are really good. But it costs at least $10000 a semester to study and live there. But some scholarship are available there too. So I am plannning to arrange a semester exchange there for the next summer, if I get some financial support. It will be cool I guess, because I love Japan and always wanted to visited. And now living and studying in Tokyo for 3 months sounds nice:)

Well, I guess I'll finish for now,

so write next time..

AnO`

Starting..

kurkhuliano@gmail.com (AnO`) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:51:00 +0000

Well, this is my first entry in this blog.. no, in the blog, so I think I'll start with introducing myself.

My name is Ana Kurkhuli, but everyone calls me Ano. I am from Geogia, a tiny country somewhere between Europe and Asia. I am 19 and currently I am a Junior at business school, studying business administration.

During these 19 years of my life I found that I am a very changeable person. I mean everything. My interests change once ot twice a year, my moods change few time a day. I like novelties, I like challenges and I like traveling.

Unfortunately I don't travel much, maybe lack of time or finances, but still..

Well, the reason why I started this blog is because I'm going to travel with Up with People starting this summer as the member of Cast B 2008, but let's start from the beginning.

Five months ago I was surfing in the net and suddenly found a site where it was said that i could travel around the world with many other young people from around the world. That was really intriguing. I was a volunteer for a month in Germany with student from around the world, community working, cultural exhcange,etc. I really liked it, actually that was the greatest experience in my life. And now I am finding a program where community impact, cultural immersion with international travel and performance is combined.

Yes, it was Up with People (you can see information on www.upwithpeople.org if you are interested)...

Of, course I applied immediately. Usually I am not a very lucky person. I mean I applied for the program but I didn't think that I would be lucky enough to be accepted. You always need a bit of luck.

So, in two weeks they contacted by email sending me an online interview form. I had to answer few questions and send the form back. I was really motivated, really, really, and it took me 4 days to answer the questions. I tried hard... and I sent. It was said that they would contact me within a week or two. and I waited.

One month passed without answer.

And suddenly, when my hopes almost vanished they sent me an email stating that they wanted an online interview. That was really cool. The online interview went well. I talked to my admissions councler, who was very nice. We talked for about 20 minutes. She said that the interview was quite short, but she had already found out what she needed and kept saying that I had the qualities they were looking for in participants.

And in a week, on 6th October I was accepted.

It was really cool, I mean it, the feeling that I succeded on my own, that they wanted me because of what I was. It made me positive about everything, because usually people around don't understand me quite enough, and now knowing that I was needed really inspired me.

That's nice but it was only the part of the challenge. The second part was fundraising. And funraising in Georgia Really S**KS. I'll explain.

1. Foundations (that give scholarships for education programs) - First of all I emailed them, all of them. NO answer. I resent them emails. Still no answer for 2 months. Okay. I phoned them. Most of them told me that they don't give scholarships for non-degree cultural exchange programs like the one of Up with People after explaining them the main concepts of the program. They fund only master and Phd ones. I managed to meet with few of them but without any reasult, without any hope left. But I still don't give up...

2. Businesses (companies) - the same no answer and no need for sponsoring this kind of programs. BUT some of them said that they didn't have funds left. That was smth new.

3. Saving Jar - yes, but doesn't help much, only $100 for 3 months...

4. Selling the souvenirs to frineds- collected only $90. Not very generous friends:)

5. Sponsor a day - this one failed completly, because the day costs approximately $100. No chance.

6. Ok, now i'm going to work part-time. But i'll collect max $400 if i work for 4 months. Salaries are law here especially for the part-time jobs.

So my fundraising s*cks.

I also aplied for the UWP scholarship but i'm not sure if they will give the full scholarship ($14250)
But I don't give up. Really. I cant let go this chance. I won't forgive myself if I will:)) So I'm doing my best to fundraise here.

I think I have already written a lot for today.

I hope you like this blog, if no please tell me why so I could correct my mistakes.

So, see you soon

AnO`