Finding The Celebration In My Everyday

Thursday was Thanksgiving in my head, but in Austria it was just a Thrusday where I was lucky that afternoon classes were cancelled. I expected this day to be some sort of big event for me. I would be sad, or I would just stay in bed all day and mope, but I am happy to say that is not what happened at all. Ever though this thanksgiving was really different than the ones spent with my incredibly large (and loud) family, it was still one to remember.

When I woke up on the morning of thanksgiving it was sunny and significantly warmer than the day before. This simple condition really set the tone for my day in a very positive way. 

When I got to school I shared some "pumpkin spice candy corn" with my class (which they liked significantly more than I do) and got to tell them a little about the fall and specifically thanksgiving in the USA. Once my classmates found out I was missing an important holiday in my life they were all quick to wish me a happy thanksgiving, and some of my friends even decided that we should go and eat Chinese to celebrate. These small moments with my class made me realize that even though I was not at home, thanksgiving could still be something special. 

When I got home I was really expecting to go into my room, and eat some of my American candy to "celebrate" the holiday that was so special to my life, but that didn't happen either. My host parents knew it was a big holiday for me so my host father prepared a special meal for me. Turkey breast in gravy with cranberries in it served along side knödel (which are kind of like stuffing) using a recipe he found on the internet. And it was all delicious, and the gesture was so sweet my heart was truly warmed. 

The next day was not filled with a late night, and early morning spent in the mall with a million other cranky people who really just needed that cheap tv, outfit, necklace etc... Instead I spent the day in school. Again. But after school I found more holiday cheer surprisingly working its way into my life. As always the Christmas season was not allowed to start for me until the day after thanksgiving, "Black Friday". So to kick off the season of my favorite holiday I visited my first advent market and saw all kinds of beautiful holiday treasure and lots of other junk too! My host mother and I even rode a Christmas roller coaster while my host cousin and host aunt waited for us outside. This bit of Christmas cheer really. Roughy my mood in general to a new, high, level because... CHRISTMAS!

Once I had enough of the wonderful holiday market I head home to enjoy a little more thanksgiving fun. I was really excited to show my host parents what a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is all about, so I popped some popcorn, acquired some jellybeans and prepared some toast in order to make this a totally authentic experience (ok, I forgot the pretzel rods). My host parents were delighted by the little details I put in to make this a little more fun for all of us. And to be honest since I was a little kid I have always wanted to eat popcorn, toast, and jellybeans for thanksgiving (just like Charlie Brown). This was a funny thing to do, and I realize that but to me sharing this movie and having this silly dinner made me really happy and it felt like I was enjoying the holiday in yet another exciting new way.

Although this thanksgiving was not spent with a turkey larger than a baby surrounded by people so loud you can't even hear your own thoughts I began to thinkl maybe the fundamental qualities of this non-typical,thanksgiving day was not so different than that of the thanksgivings I had enjoyed at home. Although the people were different and the food was not so extreme or traditional I still spent my holiday surrounded by amazing people who went out of their way to do something special for me; and for that I am so thankful. 

And to all my family who read this; I can't wait to be back with all of you next year. I think one quiet thanksgiving is enough to last a lifetime. 

Why Everything Is Worthwhile

Coming up to this holiday that is so important in my family and culture, I expected to have nothing short of a miserable day. However when I really thought about what thanksgiving is for, the name is in the title. This year, although I am not spending the day at my grandmas house with all of my cousins enjoying a very typical thanksgiving feast, I realized I have SO MUCH to be thankful for. So to list a few...(this list is pretty "exchange-centric")
1. I get to spend a year in Austria
2. My parents are amazing!
3. My host parents are (also)amazing!
4. Even from 7,165 Km away a simple conversation my best friend can always brighten my day
5. The other exchange students are the nicest group of people I have met... EVER
6. Today the sun was shining. (Most days it rains. )
7. I have a nice working umbrella.
8. Public transportation! (seriously how did I ever live before?)
9. I get to play music ever week.
10. I have been able to travel with Rotary and with my host family.
11. My sweet Grandma writes me a nice letter, every week.
12. I can basically understand German.
13. My classmates are all so nice.
14. I don't have to take any tests in school!
15. Austrian bread is incredible.
16. My host brother lets me use his Netflix.
17. On Thursdays I get to sleep until 9am
18. Thanks to my exchange student friends I always have someone to talk to...who really understand.
19. CHRISTMAS IS HERE (aka the advent markets are here and I cant wait to check it all out, but clearly I had to wait until after Thanksgiving. Everyone knows the Christmas season starts on Black Friday)
20. I got a free $10.00 gift certificate to book outlet!
21. My English class. (I miss feeling intelligent in school)
22. Baby Sloths on YouTube... Have you see how cute they are? No matter what kind of day....

23. My Austrian friends.
24. The incredible amount of support and interest my family, community, church and friends have take in my life.
25. Routine. Call me type-A but I love that my life here is regular. And not always extraordinary This is normal life and its incredible.
26. My siblings. Seriously, they are great; first friendships most worthy opponents in an argument, and quickest to come to my aid if I ever need anything.
27. FFA. Seriously I have no idea who I would be without this incredible organization.
28. My church family. They are my biggest supporters and it is so cool to have such a big, supportive "extended family"
29. My Austrian hosts take really good care of me (and they can cook!)
30. I have a great place to live.
31. My parents were brave enough to let me go on exchange. And really I think there is no way to really experience a country like really living there.


So that is my condensed list. Some of these things are funny, or may seem trivial, or are really fundamental in my life (hence my parents are on the list twice); but above all of these individual things I am SO grateful that I have sooooo sooo many amazing people in my life, incredible experiences, and a great promise for the future! I am so thankful to have so much going right in my life these days, so even if my day is a little hard, or I cant be with my family for thanksgiving, or my baby sister is getting old without me I feel above all thankful. The "Holiday Blues" has to take a backseat because with so much to be thankful for, how could my days be anything less than spectacular?

Also, side note, if you want to hear anything about Austria, the experience, rotary youth exchange, ANYTHING, please ask me. I'd be happy to share!

TIME FLIES

MY EXCHANGE IS OVER 1/4 !!!

Yeah that is about half as freaked out as I feel about it ... I really really really can not believe how fast time is going and I really did think if I ever blink again my year will be over.  I really am not sure what to write about today but felt as today (ok, really yesterday) marks 3 MONTHS of me being in Austria a post is necessary. So I guess I will give you a little bit of my reality. 

For the most part every day here is the same. 
Here is my schedule:

• Wake Up-6: 30
• Get out of bed- 6:45
• Eat Breakfast- 6: 55-7: 05
• Brush Teeth / Throw books for the day into my Backpack- 7: 05-7: 15
• Drive to the Train-7: 15-?
• Train to School- 7:24
• Tram Ride 7:30
• School- 8: 00-2: 00 (average somedays as late as 6) 

Classes Vary day to day but include a wide variety of subject none of which I am required to do the work for (ok I do all of the work for art, gym, and English) I have MANY pauses in my school day as follows: Monday-Tuesday 1 Hour 2 Hours-Wednesday-3 hours. Thursday-Friday-none and 4 HOURS. 

• Get home (between 1:00 and 6:30)
• Dinner / lunch (Usually Consisting of Schnitzel Which is one of the most delicious things ever, knodel, or someother Austrian specialty)
• Read / Youtube / Netflix Whenever I finish eating-8: 00 
• At Which Point I go to bed. Occasionally if I eat early in the day I eat some bread with cheese in the evening and sometimes not. 
• Repeated every Monday-Friday (with the exception of days with a Rotary trip)

All of this routine can be boring and repetitive and even a little lonely sometimes. HOWEVER I dont feel bored, or lonely or trapped in routine, instead of feeling negative feelings; I feel EXTREMELY blessed! Every morning I wake up in Austria is a day I am excited to have on everyday adventure and I am ready to enjoy. Because like I said before my time here is fleeting and I need to enjoy every minute of it.

Welcome To Another Life

It has been a LONG time since my last post... and I am happy to say life has gotten in the way. Since my last post a lot has changed; I have started school, made some Austrian friends, become way more competent in the German language, joined an Austrian community band, and even celebrated my 18th birthday! All though all of this changed, of coarse there are still challenges here and there including when I don't understand my classes, or cannot participate in a conversation because it is too fast for me, or when my sister celebrated her birthday and I am not there. Even though all of these things are hard I still feel this is absolutely the right place for me to be right not. For every minor negative moment I experience here I have 30 positive moments big or small.

Like I said at the beginning the biggest new experience I have had since my last post is that I started school! Here I attend a "gymnasium". A Gymnasium is sort of like our high school, there are differences but it is really too long to explain here. If you want to know I can explain when we speak in person again ;) Although I am really NOT going to explain the structural differences between Gymnasium and American High School I will list just a few differences that are important to understand. 

• You stay with the same students all of the time (except for Languages, Art or Music, and Geometry or Biology)
• You do not switch classrooms, the teachers come to you every hour.
• Your schedule is not the same every day.
• Really not the same I get out of school between 1:30 and 6:00.
• You take way more subjects in a week but not nearly as in depth.
• You do not have a lunch break in school but instead take a 15 min. break to eat a sandwich and on longer days you have a 1 or 2 hour pause to go to a cafe (or SPAR the grocery store) with friends.

My school, which is called the Fadinger Schule (fadi.at), is located just in the center of Linz and is surrounded by culture in the form of buildings older than my country,  Museums, and numerous other things that never cease to amaze me on a daily basis. Because I am an exchange student (whose classes really count for nothing) I am not forced to take all of the classes and my schedule is kind of sporadic and often includes hour long pauses in the middle of the day. During these pauses I have discovered the real, authentic, incredible part of being an exchange student and that is to explore and experience all there is to experience in your new home. Through these mid-day wanderings I have discovered some very incredible places including parks, outdoor markets, quaint shops and so many other places I never would have found if I had been looking. These are my everyday adventures. There is nothing more peaceful than to wonder with no destination. This. Is. Freedom.  That is why i am here. This is why I love it here (Ok also the bread...that makes me love it here too)

With all of these new changes good and bad my life is very different than it was when I left, but I still feel the same motivation I did when i stated my year. I still want to learn, to explore, to meet people, and to speak German. And with this motivation I will continue to live out my life here; maybe I will blog more often; or maybe life will keep getting in the way. Whatever happens I cannot wait to see what comes next. (and I cant believe I have been here for 2 months already :o)

Is this the real life, or is this just fantasy

Today is officially the one month "anniversary" of my journey to Austria. One month ago today I started out for Austria and never looked back. The experiences I have been blessed with here are absolutely unreal; I have eaten a real Bavarian pretzel--in Bavaria, I have ridden in a boat--through the canals of Venice, I have tasted the best Gelato in the world--In Italy, I have been in the alps, through Munich, In Venice and Verona, I have been inside buildings hundreds of years older than my county, I have tasted the real Linzor Torte that Linz is famous for, I have visited Cathedrals blessed by the pope himself, and most important and authentic of all the experiences; I have become a member of a real Austrian Family. My time here is only beginning yet I feel already that this will be one of the best years I have had so far. My experience here in the short 28 days have been so unbelievable. My mind and emotions are all over the place between excitement, enjoyment, (and yes maybe even a LITTLE missing home) but mostly I just think that soon I will wake up and this will all be a dream. If I blink, it will be gone. I cannot believe I have been here for a month already and experienced so much. I cannot wait to see all of the extraordinary and everyday adventures that will come in the next months. This is real life.

                                                            This is me standing by the world famous Rathaus In                                                            Munich. I spent only a day in Munich because my host cousin was                                              looking at an apartment--but that one day was truly incredible and a dream come true!

 Welcome to Italy!!Where I spent a wonderful "ladies holidays" with my host mother, host Aunt and Host Cousin. We had a great time experiencing so much in only 6 days. It is amazing to me that there really are vineyards everywhere just like you see in the movies (but so much better!)

 

This is one of the famous Venice Canals. We took a train to Venice form where we were staying (by Italys Largest lake) for the day. We enjoyed walking around the city, seeing the churches, and each others company for a lovely little day trip. It was especially cool that we got to ride in a taxi/ferry type boat through the canals.

Here I am. Standing where the gladiators once stood. This is the arena in Verona(pictured below). The whole time we were here my "host Cousin" Esther kept saying "think about the gladiators here, think about them coming in here..." It is really incredible to be in a place like this with so much history that I honestly cannot even imagine.

And lastly me, in Venice again. Every spot here was so beautiful. This picture though for me shows how truly happy I am. I love it here and anxiously await my next adventure (which is school btw... I start next Wednesday)

Austria First Impressions/Language Camp

Well I have been in Austria for almost 2 weeks now in Linz/Puchenau for 2 days, and Altmunster for  12 days so far. This is the longest I have every been away from my family but I am having an amazing time so far! I cannot  even begin to say all of the things that have surprised me so far, but here is my attempt at a list

1-the toilets, they have 2 buttons... What

2- the light switches are outside of the rooms... How does that make sense?

3- the food..... ALWAYS BREAD!!! (Not a bad thing... But still...)

4-cafe culture! Always cafés, always coffee, always relaxing good times.

5- how different the German is here. In school you Learn "Hoch Deutsch" or high German. Here they do not speak German, they speak dialect.

6- how all of the stereotypes, and what they told us were wrong.

   

Before I came they told me so many things about "Austria" like this minimal list: 

A- Austrians are reserved, they will not quickly connect with you, and you will have a hard time.

  Why this is wrong: my host family is amazing. They welcomed me with warm arms and really made me feel already like a part of their family. Everyone I have met so far here (both Austrian and exchange student) has been incredibly friendly, helpful, and amazing. 

B- they don't wear shorts

   Why this is wrong: ok so this one makes me mad.... I did not pack shorts because they "don't wear shorts here" which is complete bull crap! I wish I had brought some because I am wearing all winter clothes and SOL. (Unless I chose to buy more... Which brings me to my next point. 

C-everything is so expensive in Austria. 

    Ok so it is kind of not that expensive. It is not cheap, but if you are smart it is not terrible. I bought a coat and some other things at the mall (which was amazing) and did not pay even as much as I would in the US so it is really not that bad... 

As for things I have done/ enjoyed already there can be no list but I can tell you that they exponentially outnumber the negative things. The experiences I have had here so far are amazing!

And that's what I got for now. I have been truly enjoying my time in Austria, although it is very odd to be in a country that is not so "wifi centric" as he US. it is however a nice change of pace to go for long walks, enjoy the scenery by the lake and to spend time... ACTUALLY TALKING TO PEOPLE!  I love it here. The language barrier is kind of difficult but fortunately I have been in an intensive German course for about 2 weeks now, and I hope that will help out a lot!  I was with my family only 2 days before the camp, but after this is over (Sunday) we will head off to Italy so hopefully that will be a good chance to get to know them better, although I am not really sure who all is going haha. My host family includes my host parents, my host brothers (2) they are in their 20's and do not live at home, but they are both cool guys. I also have a host sister but she is spending her year in Alberta as an exchange student! So this will really be new for this sister of 3, busy body, internet addict, driver. This will be new and exciting and different and probably hard as well, but I am very excited for all of the challenges this year hold for me! 

(Also IDK where to put this, but I rode a dragon train rough a fair tale cave full of gnomes and brothers Grimm stories which was AMAZING, pictured in the end) 

The "Grottenban" the dragon train... Super cool, google it. 

The inbounds in Austria

My view right now, as I write!

I will try and update often as I feel, but not if it gets in the way of my exchange experience! Thank you all for your love and support, see you on he flip side!

Crazy Train Life!

     Overwhelmed is an understatement. I leave in about 2 weeks (side-note I still don't have a set departure date...) and am not even a little ready.
     At the beginning of the summer, and throughout the time I have been home (doing little/nothing) I have made all kinds of plans and made myself quite the list of "To Do" things before I leave. Unfortunately i leave in around 17 days and have done absolutely one of those things (which was going to the beach, if you were curious). At this point in my summer I am like "oh well let me just do this all know". Unfortunately however this dream of accomplishing all of my To Do list before I leave is totally unrealistic and an idea that I really have to shove out of my head so that I don't drive myself totally crazy!
     Although I am mildly disappointed that my summer to do list has gone out the window I really need to shift my focus at this point  to HOLY CRAP I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM GOING TO PACK!!! Yeah and also along with that HOLY CRAP I HAVE TO GET SO MUCH STUFF BEFORE I LEAVE!!!! Yeah so life is crazy right now...
     Everyone wants me to visit with them, go do something, spend money to hang out... And this is  a problem because 1-I have NO TIME! and 2- I need money for Austria and if everyone keeps doing things with me I will spend too much.
    Although (as previously mentioned) I do have 2 weeks left before I leave the country for the next 11 months, one of those weeks is my craziest week of the year. That's right, fair week. OH MY GOSH I BASICALLY HAVE ONE WEEK! In which to "get all my ducks in a line" before I leave. Wow. I think this is going to be "mildly" stressful--just a thought.  Well wish me luck, I am off to weigh/feed pigs because (as if this week isn't stressful enough) I have very small pigs, and need money.
    So yup... Here goes nothing! Excited to leave, stressed with prep; that is my life.

Picture Time!

Here are some pics of my city!





Just for fun--There you go a snapshot of what I will be seeing in like 2.5 months!

I HAVE NEWS!!!!

OK so with a title like that.... I need to cut to the chase... I found out my district, city, and host family. I will be staying in Liz, Austria. This is very exciting! I did not share this news earlier because there was some initial confusion.

The first news I got was that I would be in Klagenfurt. I am going to guess that none of you have ever heard of Klagenfurt; but here is some basic information about Klagenfurt. It is the 6th largest town in  Austria. It is notable for really... not much.... but in the middle ages there is said to have been a dragon that tried to destroy the city. The only real store in Klagenfurt is Ikea... umm ok.  All of that said... I was not that excited to go to Klagenfurt; it just did not feel right. (if you are from Klagenfurt please don't be offended) But i was just not "feeling it".And just as I was moping I got an interesting email from the inbound coordinator in Austria saying that I was going to Linz.

I was very confused about this, and quickly sent out lots of emails to every RYE contact I have. The  inbound coordinator quickly got back to me and told me that I will in fact be in Linz, and that I should contact my host family, and inbound coordinator for my club. It was really exciting.

My host family, who I did email with the "help of Google translate (ok I typed out my email and put it in the translator, I was too excited to translate!) They are AWESOME!! They live as one with nature, love to read and have 3 kids. The "kids" are actually 2 boys in their 20's and a girl who will also be on exchange next year. Getting to know a little bit about my host family, seeing some pictures, and talking to tehm (one of my host brothers, my host sister and my host mother) makes me VERY EXCITED!! I feel that Linz is the right place becasue I will get to stay with this famiyl who I think is amazing (so far), and also they have more stores than just Ikea... So I am now feeling super, super pumped about my exchange and ready to go!!!!

Also to put out some of my other concerns that were recently abolished--I can get at least 3-12 months of my medicine at a time and will not have to worry about that. I will have a language camp so I will not be too lost in the language. And my town/host family are so cool; so I needn't worry. I am SO EXCITED!!!

Now I just need to shop/figure out how to make some money for my year/get converters and suitcases and all that good stuff for my year and yes a rotary blazer too.

Oh and I need to make 500 pins so yeah thats happening... ONLINE!

Facebook Fun

I still don't know my district, and it is killing me; however I am now on a facebook page with the "oldies" and the "newbies" who will be in Austria with me next year. For those of you who do not know some students (mostly from the southern hemisphere) come in December and stay until November, and others (like me) stay August-July.  So the inbounds who are "oldies" aka already in Austria are commenting like crazy on the page. First impression they are very close. Also they are weird. In the way that is either really cool, or really weird. I am excited because all of these kids seem awesome and or really odd; either way I cant wait to meet them!

Stress and Support... AKA I am OVERWHELMED

    As my high school graduation is coming up (tomorrow) I am feeling absolutely insane. I have had my open house. I have gone to many friends open houses. And as I go to more and more parties I am being hit, hard, with the reality of what I am doing. Every open-house I go to, I hear pretty much the same thing "yeah going to a four year college" "no I don't know what I will study" and also sometimes "yes I have my future planned out"... etc etc... I pretty much feel a lot of envy for all of these people.
    Now before I go any farther; yes, I am VERY excited to go to Austria, but at the same time it is very weird not to be moving on to college with my peers.
    Even though I feel at best conflicted now about my year on exchange I do have one very MAJOR positive. Many, many people came out to my open house last weekend, and these people are the people who are closest to me. Of all the people who came, many were surprised when I told them that I was not going to college, but instead I would be going on exchange to Austria. However unconventional my plans for next year seem to many, not one person was negative, in fact the response I received was quite the opposite.
    All of these people who I love so much, and who have been there for me were totally, unconditionally supportive of me. They thought it was so exciting that I am going to Austria, they told me it will be amazing, and they laughed with me when I told them I don't speak German yet but Rosetta Stone and I are becoming "besties" during the summer. The support and love that out poured from my family, friends, and church members (aka second family) means the world to me! They have truly offered me all of the support a girl could want over the years of my life!
    Here is a little background on me. I was always a quiet little kid. I didn't talk, even to people I knew. I always was shy; but I am NOT shy any more. Some people that have been through me through my various stages of awkward are my "church family"  they knew me when I didn't talk, they knew me when I didn't even use the bathroom yet. These people have had plans for me. Some people that I became particularly close to both lost there husbands (which I was also very close too, I mean yes; very close like family close. Cool grandpa... ya know). Both women really almost made me cry (and yes... I am not emotional). Both of them heard me say that I was going to Austria and told me that their husbands always said "You gotta watch that Gwen you know her now, but she is really going to take off and be something" Okay now I am crying but seriously this support means so much to me because both of these men were so close to me and my family while we were in Albion, and that comment (which they never told me while alive) was just incredible and affirmed my path.
     To those people, really, I am just so blessed to have all of you fabulous people in my life. Thank you so much for all of your support. Without all of your wonderful people I would most likely really be doubting my choice; but thanks to you and your support, I have no doubt.
               

Inspiration from TED

My dad called me out for being on my phone while we were watching a TED talk (little inspirational video). He asked if I heard what the speaker said, and I am sorry to admit that I did not. 

We rewound the video and she said the most relevant quote to being an exchange student that I have ever heard,  and it was, "Chasing meaning is better for your health than avoiding discomfort, and then you can just trust yourself to deal with the stress that comes". 

Stress? yes. trust? necessary! I got this (I think?) 

https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend

(There is the link to the video)

Setbacks and Tips

     I am really wanting to fill out my paperwork... But it has been delayed yet again. It was supposed to be ready on "no later than April 24th" but now it says, "no later than April 27th". I understand that these dates are always subject to change, but it is frustrating to me that I have not been able to do my paperwork yet. I am so EXCITED to find out where I will be going next year. I want to know what district I am going to, and do research on my area, but I cannot do that yet.
I have been doing some interesting studying of my German today. i have spent a few hours listening to Disney music.... In GERMAN! (now I am watching the Pink Panther in German)It is a fun/effective way to study German.
      One of my biggest worried I have had about my exchange is that my studying High German will not be good enough when I go to Austria; so today I posted the question on a Facebook page for exchange student... and they overwhelmingly told me that I would be just FINE. I cannot tell you how relieved that makes me feel. Everyday I am more and more excited to go; I think I might just burst before I leave.
I have been doing lots of things to prepare for my exchange and this is defiantly my first set of tip (or just information) for you.
               1-Join Exchange student Facebook Groups. You will make lots of friends, and they will be able to help you learn more about your country and answer your questions.
               2- Watch YouTube videos in your language (with subtitles at first). Children's videos are the best because it will be simple words, and you can have some fun reliving some of your fave childhood TV shows and movies.
              3-Really, just buy Rosetta Stone or another similar program. I know it is expensive, but it will go on sale around Holidays usually (I got mine on the Valentines Day sale) and it really is helpful and effective.
              4-Get a Job. This way you can have some money. Yes maybe your parents will help you, but I think part of the reason for exchange is to become more independent. If you get a job and work for a while, you will have money to travel and do what you want (at least I am banking on this....)

     These are some things I have tried so far along with an app called DuoLingo. I also enjoy working on my German with the kids I babysit. They think it is a game, and it is fun to teach them because it does help me learn by teaching.

      I really cannot wait to find out my district.... Anyways, there is my little bit for today. I will try and update my blog with pictures, and things like that soon!

Inspiration

I have a girl in my school who will be going to London next year for school. When someone asked her why she would do that she said, "I would rather be happy than comfortable". So with that in mind I will keep making choices that make me happy, and I encourage you to do the same!

Progress and Fear

So.... It has been a while since I have been on here, but I am really going to try and blog more; if only for my sake. 

I have been making some progress in learning my language, but find it is really hard for me to retain all of the knowledge I gain. I worry that when I get there none of my practice will matter, and that I will forget anything. I try and speak in German with Sara and whoever I can, I try and think in German, and I try to practice but it is really, really hard to fit that in with the rest of my life. I know I need to do more, so I am really trying to work... but it is not going as fast or as well as I thought. I have heard many times that anything worth doing is worth doing well, and this is no exception. So I will have to work harder, practice more, study more, and just really put myself into it. 

I am starting to get REALLY excited for my trip; but along with that I am SO scared. I am scared that I will not be able to communicate. I am scared that I will not have any money when I get there; so event though I want to travel and have fun, I wont be able to. I am scared that they will not have all the medicine I need available in Austria. I am also worried about lots of little things to like making friends, meeting and interacting with people, making an idiot of myself... you know all of those types of things. And I am getting annoyed that I still don't know my district... But even with all of that taken into consideration, I am still so excited and set on going even though I KNOW that this is CRAZY!

Now that I listed all of those things I am worried about, let me tell you some things that I am excited about. I am excited to meet lots of new people. I am excited to try lots of new food. I am excited to be totally immersed in another culture. I am excited to learn a new language. I am excited to be independent for a while. I am EXCITED to travel and enjoy Austria and as much of Austria as I can.

I am feeling so many things about this exchange including Happy, excited, scared, anxious and as of yesterday a little bit sad. My best friend AKA "Venezuelan twin" and I were talking about when I leave and she suggested that we should go get pedicures the day before I leave. I said that would be great, and that I would probably cry; and then we BOTH started tearing up. She is excited for me, and I am excited for me but I know I will have to Skype her while I am there or I will just miss her too much. No offence if anyone is reading this; but I think I will miss her most of all.... its funny we didn't even know each other until 8th grade, but now I cannot imagine not knowing her. 

My Austrian residency paperwork is going to be up next week. It is beginning to feel real that I am going to Austria. I have started to plan what I will pack. I have decided on Austrian themed food at my open-house. I have started to look into things to do in Austria and try and read as much as I can about the country and culture in general. I am so excited to go, but I realize that this will be hard as well as fun, but I just hope that when I come back; I can say this was the best year of my life. 

(also as I was reading this, and feeling all those things the song On Top Of The World by Imagine Dragons came on my Pandora, which is a song I associate with RYE. I think this is a sign. This is going to be the best year of my life.)

                                                 On Top Of the World-- Music Video

Rotary Youth Exchange... Am I Crazy?

Ok.... So this was something I wrote a few months ago in another place... And JUST found...Enjoy :)

Well. I have applied for the Rotary International Youth Exchange. This is sooo crazy for me to consider, because I have always been close to home, and the longest I have ever been without my family was 2 weeks. Regardless of all of that I am SO excited to be given this opportunity to move forward with my dreams.

The crazy thing about all of this is that before a few months ago I never even imagined going on an international exchange, but now I want it so bad!