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!