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!