As Shakespeare said, Some were born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. We, the outbound team of the 2012-2013 rotary international youth exchange program, were all born great. I recently returned from the rotary international) youth exchange winter orientation at hotel Alyeska in Girdwood, Alaska. We were supposed to meet at a central location, and all take the buses to Alyeska on Thursday afternoon. Unfortunately, the weather was terrible and the road to Girdwood was closed. So on to plan B. We all met at UAA, where we spent the rest of the day. Everyone got a chance to talk to one another, there were interview, we watched a movie, and we had discussions about cultures. My interview went very well. My YEO (youth exchange officer) couldn't make it, so I had someone else from the club, Steve, there with me. I went in to the interview and it was a lot less formal that I thought it would be. I hadn't been given a list of questions before hand, so i was a little worried and frustrated when I found out that everyone already knew the questions. Anyways, I sat down at a table with the Rotarians, and we had a very nice conversation about me, my family, my interests, and my previous exchange (which can be found on a different blog). I had a very pleasant time talking to them. I almost forgot that it was an interview!
After the interviews, we watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding and compared and contrasted the different cultures. It was such a funny movie. I loved it. After that, we went to the Hilton where we stayed the night. We left bright and early the next morning. Actually it was more like DARK and early, because the sun didn't rise for a few more hours. We drove to the Hotel Alyeska in Girdwood, Alaska, had breakfast, and stared off our morning. We investigated different aspects of the countries involved in the Rotary exchange program. We talked to the students from the various countries about what school is like, what their cities are like, and what they do in their free time. We also talked about the history of their countries and their opinions of the United States.
The next day was insane. I barely remember what happened throughout the course of Friday day because of my anticipation for the banquet that evening. I was nervous, and excited, and jittery, and losing my mind. All of us Outbounds were. We couldn't wait to find out our country assignments. When the banquet started, we all ate and talked or a little while, then we listen to two different speakers. One of them was a former exchange student, and the other was a lady that works with the Rotary polio projects. The majority of what I remember from their speeches is me hoping they would hurry up and finish talking! (I actually listened and enjoyed their messages).
Then came time for country assignments.
I listed as the countries were called one by one and the Rebounds and Inbounds from those countries walked up to the stage, took the flag of that country, and read the name of the Outbound who would be spending their year as an exchange student there. They called the names of the countries that were my second, third and fourth choices. Switzerland. Austria. Brazil. Then they called Germany. My heart skipped a beat as I heard the name of my first choice country. I watched as all of the German Inbounds and Rebounds took the German flag and walked onto the stage. One of them opened the envelope and pulled out a name and read it.
"Welcome to Germany... Emily."
My heart sank a little as I heard that.
I clapped and cheered along with everyone else, happy that Emily had the amazing opportunity to go to Germany. But then one of the Rebounds stepped forward with another name.
"Oh. And also, welcome to Germany, Karen"
I honestly have never before felt that many emotions at one time in my entire life. I was happy, and excited, and relieved, and suddenly nervous, and a million other different feelings that I can't describe. It was a once-in-a-lifetime, one-of-a-kind experience.
The rest of the weekend went by fairly smoothly. We talked about getting visas,traveling, insurance, life with our host families, and how things in general were going to work. At one point between one of our meetings, I was called out into the hallway to talk with the people in charge of the exchange. They asked me if there was any was I would be willing to trade countries with the girl that was going to Denmark. She was too young to go, because they have a minimum age of 16. I said that of course I was willing to trade, because although Germany was my first choice, I would be just as happy anywhere else I was sent.
In the end everything worked out. Brazil and Denmark traded, and I'm going to Germany.
And I couldn't be happier.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
Host gifts
Today And yesterday I spent the day beading! I made native style earrings, sun catchers, and ornaments with my mom and our good friend. I hadn't beaded for a long time, and I remembered how much I absolutely loovveeee to bead. I'm planning on making a couple fancy sun catchers and ornaments for the host family gifts, as well as other beaded things for other people I meet on the exchange. Winter break ends tomorrow, and I'm going back to school. Hopefully I will be able to take my beading to jewelry class and work on it there. I am sooo excited about this. I will upload some pictures shortly.
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