I applied for that YFU thing, i know the admissions panel werent very understanding....jerks...ohwell, i always knew i wasnt really going to get it when only 2 out of all the scottish applicants get a place, all the other places go to england...*grumble* and i had to go all the way to edinburgh by train for the interview.
I actually cried when i got the letter saying no joy....f***ers...
I ended up looking for a japanese penpal instead, and years later, i spent 2 months in Japan, living with my girlfriends family....i'll never get the full experience of a japanese high-school, the days of what little childhood innocence i had left are gone, so ill never get to experience japan like that.....but at least i got a future wifeh-chan out of it.
Seriously though i was totaly destroyed when i didnt get that exchange place....its arguably the one thing in my entire life i wanted sooooo much,
THE ONLY THING and i was denied....
Your getting to do something absolutely special man, your getting to visit a country thousands of folk your age (and older!) can only dream of, and it will give you alot of insight into yourself, so just enjoy yourself and keep your head up and if you ever get a bit homesick, just remember, your home is still there and will be there when it is time to leave.
Good luck!