So after I had already emailed my host mom the flight info, dad decided that we should change the flight so I didnt have a 3 and 1/2 layover in Detroit. So now my flight is from Washington DC to Frankfurt. I leave at 5:23 and arrive at 7:10 am in Frankfurt. I posted that on facebook and found out a kid that went to my school this year that is from germany leaves 20 minutes before me on the same day.
Right now I am sitting on the couch watching tv with frozen peas on my face. Yes today was the day I got my wisdom teeth out. I have Ibuprofen and Vicodin. Thank God.
Friday night we (Dad, John, and I) are leaving for Wisconsin and Michigan. It is going to take like 14 hours to get to our hotel in Madison. Hopefully my mouth will stop hurting by then.
My councilor sent me an email the other day about a school trip. We are going on a big sailing boat to an island in the netherlands i think. I tryed to google the place but i think something was spelled wrong because I didn't get any results in the USA or Germany google. But I am still excited. Laura, my host sister, is going to be in my class (which I will stay in the whole time - like elementary school). I was told that I will have german, math, english, french, biology, chemistry, physics, history, music, art, religion and sports. I have already taken Biology and Physics, I am hoping I won't epically fail them. I am also hoping I can pass English while learning it in German.
Different Flight Arrangements
I think that's all the updates I have
Until the next one, I'll be here on the couch.
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FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS!
This morning I woke up around 11:30. The latest I have slept into all summer. Dad called me later on and asked me if I had ever gotten back to Theresa (my travel agent) about my flight arrangements. No. So he emailed her and told her that I wanted to fly out July 29.
I went to my dentist appointment (I am getting my wisdom teeth out in 4 days) and came home and checked my email. There's an email from Theresa. She already booked my flight! I am flying from Harrisburg to Detroit to Frankfurt on July 29! My flight leaves at 12:20 pm, I have a 3 hr 32min layover in Detroit, then I board my flight to Frankfurt, which arrives at 7:50 am on the 30th.
I am so excited! I love flying and flying alone. Airports are so big and there's so much going on. That's how I like it.
On to a different subject, I've been trying to figure out how this blog works. Finally, Thanks to Sarah (my only follower at the moment) I figured out how to add things. I was making it way more complicated than it needed to be.
So, I am going back to decorating my blog,
Gute Nacht
Very First Post
I have never had a blog before, nor have I ever kept a diary, but I figured since this is something that I am always going to want to remember, I probably should.
This whole idea started because of one person. Bryan Kelley. At the beginning of my sophomore year in high school I sat next to him. Now at first I did not want anything to do with him. He was one of those people who was way too outgoing - the exact opposite of me. But within the next few weeks I learned why he was the way he was. He had just came back from an entire year Belgium as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student. I had heard of exchange students before and I had heard my German teacher from the previous year mention the Rotary once but never really gave it much thought. But sitting next to Bryan really got me interested. He told stories of his wild adventures and how his exchange changed his attitude and all the wonderful people he got to meet. Well one day I went home and decided that I wanted to do the same thing.
The date was September 24, 2010. That was when the whole process began. I went to the Chambersburg Rotary Club website and picked a random email address off of the list (which contained only 3) and asked for information. By the end of October I had the Preliminary Application completed and turned into the Chambersburg Rotary Club.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the process:
- fill out the preliminary application (including the "why do you want to live in Timbuktu" essay) and return it to the Rotary Club
- wait (and wait and wait and wait) for the Club to call you for a interview (this interview consists of the basic where, why, what if, how will this help your future questions)
- after you pass that interview you move to the district interview (This interview consists of 2 interviews with much harder questions such as: explain your community, why do you want to be an exchange student... all of which require better answers than "I do not want to stay in Chambersburg any more.)
- once you pass this you start the hard part: the 15 page application that requires doctor and dentist visits and a million signatures. not to mention the no more than 3 page letter to my future host family from me, and no more than 2 page letter to my future host family from my parents.
- Then you wait to hear what your host country is.
Now, my situation was a little different. My preliminary application did not go through in time to make the first district interview in November so I had mine in January. January 9th to be exact, in Tyrone, Pa. This was a fun trip. Dad decided that we were going to take the non- Turnpike method and go through the mountains... In The Middle Of Winter. Well since we had never gone to Tyrone before, or anywhere in Pennsylvania really, we left the house with 2 hours of "oh crap we are lost" time... time that was not needed. we arrived in Tyrone with 2 hours to spare and we decided to find the location before going to get lunch. It just so happened that there were like 7 churches on the same road and we did not bring the card that had the name of the church on it. we went to the one that sounded most familiar. Luckily there were some people there, Amy and Revel to be exact. they kindly invited us to their house for lunch, along with an old exchange student who was visiting from Chile, Guillermo. The interview, which was of me and Sam, was kinda scary. The first thing that I am sure scared everyone the first time was meeting Carl Hill, and hearing his rampage about a paster who wore shorts and no shoes to preach. The next was, and I will forever regret this, when the question "Do you know what the Rotary Club is?" was asked and I answered "No." But, I survived it and moved on.
After filling out the Application in record time, I turned it into Dennis at the Winter Picnic. Now this was the first time I had met any of the other outbound or Inbounds. It was one of the funnest days I had had in a long time. We sang, we danced, we played instruments, I almost killed Dennis with a hula hoop, and we did skits. My skit was meeting your host family for the first time. That was a lot of fun... Sam was the psycho cousin who thought that the exchange student was on fire and threw water on him. At the end, everyone, except Sam and I, found out what country they were going to. On February 19, I got the email form Dennis telling me I was going to Germany!
After this there was a lot of waiting and a lot of checking my email for news from anyone. Soon, it was time for the Outbound Orientation, in Bedford, Pa. Everyone was aware that they needed to have a talent presentation prepared for this weekend. My talent was small flower arrangement that were placed at the center of the tables during dinner. The weekend was so EXHAUSTING! My parents and I went to Bedford the night Prior to the Orientation, along with Basia (From Poland), who I could barely understand. Basia stayed at a Rotarian's house while we stayed in a hotel. The next morning we were up and moving to the Orientation. The first day our parents had to be there. This time was spent doing group activities, asking and answering of many, many questions, and with the travel agency. After our parents left, we had dinner where we were placed at certain tables. To my surprise, at the end of dinner, Carl called me up to present my talent... of course I had no clue what to say, but I got through it. After dinner, everyone else did their presentations. Sam didn't have a talent so she was going to "be a makeup artist" and decorate my face, but that never happened. After the presentations we all watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Now, by the time this was over it was midnight, not to mention it way the night of the time change. By the time I got to bed it was 2 a.m. and I was up at 6:30. The next day was filled with training exercises and information. Near the end, we were told that the whole weekend we were being watched. The Rotarian at our tables at dinner were watching us that whole time to see how we interacted with each other, not only the students, but also the adults... they want to be asked questions too. Finally, after a long 3 days it was almost time to go home. Just before dismissal, we had a closing where the outbounds sat on the floor in the middle of everyone else whom were in a circle. All I can remember about it was that someone asked if there were anymore questions and I said, "when can we leave?" and of course I meant "when can we leave for our exchange?" but some people took it as "when can I get out of here I am so bored of you talking" and gave me the stink eye... I explained and did not get kick out. :)
There was 2 months between this Orientation and the next gathering, the District 7350 Conference. I spent most of my time emailing Pennsylvania business asking for pins for my exchange. I got pins from Martin Guitars, Zippo lighters, Volvo Construction (my dad works there), and the PA Turnpike. Then, on May 5, I was home sick from school and was on Facebook. I got a friend request from a girl from Germany. A few hours later she messaged me and told me she was going to be my host sister. We talked for a few minutes, but she "had not much time" she had to "go learn for an English test", but she did say that her mom was going to email me soon. Of course with in the hour I had already figured out my school, my town, and my district, without an email. I went to Laura's Facebook and found her school, Mons-Tabor-Gymnasium. I googled her school and found the town, Montabaur, which I then searched on Germany's Rotary website to find my district, 1810. Yeah, I know it is kinda stalker-ish but I found out what I wanted to know, did I not. The next day I received an email from my host mom:
Dear Katie,
I hope you're feeling better.
Yesterday we got your application for the Rotary students exchange.
My name is Marianne (43), but all of my friends call me Peggy. My husband Andreas is 49 years old. We've got three children - Tobias (18), Felix (16), and Laura (15) - and a Jack-Russel-Terrier named Merlin.
We live in a small village called Montabaur. It is in the middle between Koln and Frankfurt. Montabaur has nearly 9000 inhabitants. Here are all kinds of schools, some shops, ice cream parlors, a cinema, a public swimming pool, churches etc. Andreas works as a financial planner in his own company and for three days a week I'm working there, too - as an assistant. Tobias is a trainee in an office. Felix and Laura both visit school (Mons-Tabor-Gymnasium).
In summer Felix goes to India as a Rotary exchange student. Because of this we were selected to be your host family. We are looking forward to meet you. What do you think about going in the same school and class with Laura? Is it ok for you? We think it will be better for you, because you are always with the same students in class. Visiting the 11th your classmates change nearly every lesson.
We still have to check with the school administration. They have to decide.
If you have any question, write an e-mail or contact Laura in facebook. (Felix and Tobias have an account there, too.)
Give my regards to your family!
Kind regards,
Peggy
There it was. What I had been waiting for since November 2010.
Soon after the email arrived, it was time for the District Conference. The conference was held May 13 - May 15. I took the 12th and 13th off of school to go to a Chambersburg Rotary Club meeting, and for the conference. The meeting was very nice. Bonnie treated my dad and I to lunch and also gave me the club banners I had asked her for. During the meeting I was invited to give a small 'speech' I guess you would call it. Another thing I kinda messed up. First I was not close enough to the microphone and people could not hear me. Then, I basically just told them everything they already knew about me and that was it. But I did have the pleasure to pull the ticket for the Scholarship Jackpot (everyone buys raffle tickets and whomever's number is called picks a card off of the board... If it is the jackpot card they win the money... half for them half for the Scholarship Fund). I pulled Mike Hicks's number and he won the money! Then he kindly gave me $50 to help me to get things I need for my exchange. (Greatly appreciated) I also met some of my mom's Bob Evan's Sunday morning regulars, Bob and Mr. Feldman (that's how I know them anyway).
Dear Katie,
I hope you're feeling better.
Yesterday we got your application for the Rotary students exchange.
My name is Marianne (43), but all of my friends call me Peggy. My husband Andreas is 49 years old. We've got three children - Tobias (18), Felix (16), and Laura (15) - and a Jack-Russel-Terrier named Merlin.
We live in a small village called Montabaur. It is in the middle between Koln and Frankfurt. Montabaur has nearly 9000 inhabitants. Here are all kinds of schools, some shops, ice cream parlors, a cinema, a public swimming pool, churches etc. Andreas works as a financial planner in his own company and for three days a week I'm working there, too - as an assistant. Tobias is a trainee in an office. Felix and Laura both visit school (Mons-Tabor-Gymnasium).
In summer Felix goes to India as a Rotary exchange student. Because of this we were selected to be your host family. We are looking forward to meet you. What do you think about going in the same school and class with Laura? Is it ok for you? We think it will be better for you, because you are always with the same students in class. Visiting the 11th your classmates change nearly every lesson.
We still have to check with the school administration. They have to decide.
If you have any question, write an e-mail or contact Laura in facebook. (Felix and Tobias have an account there, too.)
Give my regards to your family!
Kind regards,
Peggy
The next day I took the very long journey to Rocky Gap Resort in Cumberlin, Maryland. The trip started out with dad and I going to Waynesboro to Basia's house (45 mins). From there, her host mom took us to Hagerstown (30 mins), where a former district president ( who was not even attending the conference) drove us to the resort ( 2 hours). I could understand Basia much better this time and we had a few good conversations. We arrived at the resort before anyone else and sat there for about an hour before Carl got there. Of course neither of us had eaten all day and were starving, so we both went into the gift shop and bought giant chocolate chip cookies!
Friday was spent rehearsing for the luncheon the next day. We spent hours practicing our Finale dance, for which my partner was Jamie. After a few hours, we got pizza for dinner, then rehearsed our presentations. Again, a lot of people came unprepared... i would be so scared to come unprepared to something Carl was in charge of. Then it was back to dancing. By 9 o'clock, we had it pretty well down and got to have some fun. That night our curfew was 12 p.m. Most people went to the pool and hung out. Around 11 everyone was gone and in their rooms.
The next morning, we had to be downstairs by 8:30. I went down at 8 and ate and by 9 everyone was rehearsing again. After we had the dance down completely and had ran through the presentations, we assembled our flags for the March of Flags. I had Tunisia flag and Summer had the Turkey flag. I found out that Tunisia had Turkey's flag first and Turkey stole it so they had to come up with a different design... all they did was invert the colors. After rehearsal, we had about an hour of free time. I went back to my room, which also included Summer, Abby (Australia), and Herdis (Iceland). Then it was time for the Luncheon. We all lined up outside the room for the March of Flags and proceeded one by one. After the March was over we sat down at our assigned tables. Most of the Chambersburg Rotarians sat at the same table as me. I also sat next to a woman from Ukraine who was on a group exchange to the U.S. for a few weeks. One of the most memorable presentations was when all the exchange students flash mobbed the audience. Dominic got up and danced to "Jump On It". He did the dance 2 times, then the students all jumped up at once and did it, then we pulled one of the Rotarians up to do it. Of course most of the Rotarians wouldn't stand up when we wanted them to, so Carl got up there and made everyone stand up and do the "Jump On It" with us! Another was when Abby (Australia) got up to make her speech about what she would tell her brother or sister if they wanted to become a Rotary Youth Exchange student. She made her speech and then Carl went up to the Podium and told everyone a little about Abby's exchange. First, her appendix burst and she had to have an
appendicectomy. Then, a few weeks prior to this event, Abby's brother was in a serious motorcycle accident and was in a coma. He was doing much better by then. Abby had just arrived back to the US 2 days before this event. After this we all did our finale and I don't think I messed up more than twice. During the whole luncheon Bob and Mike had been taking pictures for me when I couldn't, which I thank them for very much. After the luncheon was dismissed, I talked to some more of the Rotarians for a little bit. When I was talking to Bob, he gave me $100 to help me to get stuff for my trip too. After the Luncheon, We were all given a card for a free activity. Everyone went out on the lake. I went with Ruth (Belgium) and Victoria (Germany) in a canoe. They really sucked at paddling so we barley made it half way to the other side before everyone else was coming back in. The whole time they were teaching me German. They taught me a song about a duckling... not that i remember it, but they did teach me. After the lake, we went swimming, then to dinner, then swimming again. All the guys decided it would be fun to do belly flops in the water and all of us girls just sat and watched them hurt themselves. this time our curfew was 1 a.m. of course my roommates and I had to make a vending machine run before then. we were on the 6th floor and the only vending machine in the entire hotel was on the 1st, half way back to the pool.
The next morning we had Sunday service and then Brunch. Of course Basia and I were messing around the whole time, after eating like 7 pieces of pineapple each. After brunch everyone said their goodbyes and cried a lot. This was the last time any of us were going to see each other (except for the outbounds). Then it was Basia and I back on the road with my dad for hours. We both passed out until we got to Basia's.... Then again when I got home. Through it all, I think I have made a lot of lifelong friends who I hope I with keep in touch with.
Since then I got my Jacket for a dollar at a yard sale! YAY! I also heard from my councilor and host club a few weeks after. On Memorial Day weekend, we went shopping at Kohl's and they had luggage on sale. I got a 3-in-1 carry-on that is definitely the coolest thing ever, and a huge rolling Duffel bag. On June 14, I received my Guarantee Form. No I have not made my flight arrangements yet but that is coming soon. I have talked to one of my siblings from each of my host families that I will have. I know school starts August 8, and I need to be there a week before then. Everything is coming to a close. I have about 5 weeks until I leave and one of them will be spent in Michigan. I am trying to get all the outbounds together for one last picnic before we all leave. I have to get my wisdom teeth out. I need to split what time I have left between John and my mom and dad. I am being pulled in every direction possible and it is stressful at times. Getting sleep is hard some times. I have dreams about Germany all the time( the one where I forgot all my luggage and I had to go around Germany naked was the 1st). I got a ton of stuff about Chambersburg the other day and am still looking for host family gifts. It seems like I am getting tons of things accomplished but each time my list gets longer.
Until the next big thing happens,
Thanks for reading.
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