Firsts

Hallo!

So, i thought i would post a blog about when i first got interested into the program, accepted, when i got my country, hearing from my host family, getting departure dates, and all of that wonderful stuff! =]

Way back in October of 2008, we had an assembly at school where a person came and spoke to us about the rotary youth exchange program. As i was listening to her speak all about the exchange program, it really interested me. An entire year abroad?! How amazing would that be? But of course, i never thought I'd follow through with it. I spoke with one of my friends who were also interested, and we set up an interview with the Rotary Youth Exchange officer. After hearing much more about the program, i was greatly interested, my friend however, was not. I spoke about it to my parents, and we agreed i could participate in this program!!! About 3 weeks or so later, i heard i was accepted into the program. Thus began the application process, which took a very long time. Our applications were submitted in the middle of November, and we were all expecting our countries come December....

December came and we had not heard anything about our countries. We all felt sure we heard about our country come early January...Well, January came and was ending, and we still had heard nothing. We all checked our e-mails every day, each time nothing had changed. It was late January when we received an e-mail from our out-bound coordinators, telling us our countries have been selected, and our RYEO (rotary youth exchange officer) had our countries!!!!!!!
I received my phone call the next day from my RYEO telling me i was going to Germany!!!!!!!!! I was happy, and so excited, i could barely speak, other than "Yay!!!"

Once we heard our countries, a longer wait came. We had to wait for our host district. I found out my host district in March, and finally knew the "state" i would be. I was going to be in NordRheinWestfalen, rotary district 1810!!!. I was so excited!!!

In April, i got my first e-mail from my German Host family! I was so excited, and happy. they told me all about themselves, and my school, town, rotary club, everything. I would be living in Ransbach-Baumbach, a small area, near Montabaur. I was so happy, being able to communicate with them! I am so excited to meet them!! They seem very nice, i will also have 2 host siblings, though one will be in the USA during my trip.

In mid-may, i received my Guarantee Form back! This form told me my school, family, airport for arrival....and MY DEPARTURE DATE! I'll be attending a Gymnasium. Which is a bit like a college prep-school. Once received this piece of paper, things became real to me. I finally realized...oh my gosh, i am going to be across the world for an entire year!? I couldn't believe it.

A few days later i received an e-mail from my host RYEO. Which of course, made things feel even more real. I'm very excited to meet both her and her family!!

Currently, i am waiting for the travel company to contact me, i will then buy my ticket, and begin my list of stuff to pack, and begin getting more prepared for my year abroad!

My departure date is around July 24-ish. Depending on whether i will be attending the language camp. If i do not attend the language camp, i won't leave until early August.

So, the count down begins!!! This summer, i'll be studying my German like crazy, and hanging out with friends before i leave!

Destiny


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May 31st

I heard from it's your world travel today!!
That is the travel company that rotary is with, it guarantees cheaper airplane tickets, basically.

I found out i will NOT be attending language school. which means, my departure date is solidly set for August 10th, and arrive in Germany August 11th.

I am SO excited now! I was even given a list of stuff to pack all ready! Barely 2 mnths to go!!!

=]
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June 1st

I heard from my second host family today!!
They seem so nice, and very sweet!!

And they are pretty good friends with my first host family!!
wowowow!