Yes, As a Matter of Fact, Exchange Students are ALL that!

Even though my journey has yet to have begun, I have met so many wonderful people, who have been an amazing support system throughout the past few months. In other words, these people are my fellow exchange students, who next year will be taking the step into the great unknown. Just like me. You may think I'm overthinking this by saying "the great unknown" but that's exactly what it is. Anywho, back in March, all the inbound and outbound exchange students met together for the first time at the State Interact Conference. Lets just say, that meeting them, drove away all fears and reservations I had previously held. They are the most amazing and fascinating people I have probably ever met. The outbounds got to ask the inbounds questions about their countries, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I fit in perfectly. I always had a different mind set, leading me to disagreements with friends, but the exchange students...we were on EXACTLY the same page. We got along well, even more so than I do with my own friends. Sorry if this is too cheesy for you, but they are literally my second family. Since then, the inbounds and outbounds met for a weekend on the beach. It was amazing. I learnt so much, and made friendships that will last. That was the last time I saw the inbounds (with the exception of two, who live in my town, and the town next to mine). I'm sad that I won't see them again, but I wish them all the best. At the beach weekend, we also met with former exchange students, which was great, because we got to hear from them about what they went through, and what it was like for them. It's been helpful :) Recently the outbounds met for a training weekend at Dr. Vicki's house. It was great to see them all again....I was surprised to find that I had missed them...and generally speaking I don't miss anyone.Ever. I won't see them again until after our exchanges, but I hope they have a great time, and of course we will stay in contact. Punch line of this long monologue, is that when you become an exchange student, it's a pretty big deal. And you get to meet and welcome amazing people in your life who think like you, and want the same things you do. I don't think there is much more you could ask for! I think exchange students, in general are seen as all that. And just for the record, we are ;) Love to all the exchange students! Liebe immer,

Katherine

Danke Danke Danke!

So I have yet to explained how I actually got to the point of embarking on the GREATEST thing that has pretty much ever happened to me. The organization that has made this possible is Rotary, and this is a program that I respect and appreciate greatly! Rotary is a program that strives to make communities and the world a better place. They do community outreaches, and create fundraisers to raise money for the community, or big projects, like their current End Polio Now campaign which is to eradicate polio. Each year Rotary sends thousands of exchange students all over the world, and starting in August I will be one of them. When I tell people I'm going to be an exchange student, one of the first questions they ask is how I got the oppurtunity. Basically, at the end of last year, I asked my mom what kind of clubs there were to join at my local high school. One of the clubs that she mentioned (which is supervised by her friend) is Interact. Interact works closely with Rotary, and organizes its own fundraisers to donate to local charites. Back then my mom told me that if I was interested in doing an exchange, I could do it through Interact...after that I forgot about it, but when the school year started, and I attended the first meeting, they told us that if we were interested in being an exchange student, then tell them, and they would put you in touch with the YEO of the local rotary club. Well I said I was interested, and it has been a whirlwind experience ever since. I had a meeting with the club president, and YEO and they agreed to sponsor me. I had a phone "interview" with the district chair person, sent in a preliminary application, got accepted, sent in a final application, got an offical interview, and then was given my country! I would like to take the oppurtunity to thank my Interact sponser who set it up, my YEO for helping me along the way, and a big thank you to my district chairperson, Dr. Vicki Tatum, who has guided me, and numerous amounts of other students through this process and who made it all possible. So danke, danke, danke to Rotary and all the amazing people who helped me and continue to guide me through this experience!
Liebe immer,
Katherine

Host Families!

So about two months ago, I came home after school and checkes my email like I do every day. But that day, I actually had something other than Facebook notifications in my inbox. I had two emails waiting for me, which caused me to scream and dance around, which naturally brought strange looks at me from my mother and sister. The first email, was from my YEO (youth exchange officer) welcoming me to Oldenburg. He gave me the name of my future school, which is to be Herbartgymnasium. It looks like a good school. The next email only added on to the best day ever. It was from my host sister Jule, who is a year older than me. She is also an exchange student, who will be in Brazil while I am staying with her family. It's unfortunate, because she seems like someone I could easily get along with. But she told me all about her family! She has two younger sisters, Janne and Jette, and her parents names are Christina and Ulf. A couple of weeks ago, I was able to skype with them, and they seem like the nicest people! I can't wait to meet them :) A couple of days later, I recieved an email from my first family, who also seem very nice! The parents are Kathrin and Dirk, and the they have Finn (16) who will be an exchange student in America next year, and will be located in Conneticut. They have a younger daughter name Hanna, who seems like a sweet girl! I have corresponded with them over email, and hopefully I can skype with them soon :)

Liebe immer,

Katherine

50 More Days!

So to start off, I might as well introduce myself. My name is Katherine, and I am currently 14 years old...15 in two weeks! I'm going into 10th grade, and I live in a small town in South Carolina, United States. This blog's purpose (because every blog needs a purpose!) is to keep you posted on everything I do next year. This is because on August 14, I leave to go to Oldenburg, Germany to live as a Rotary Youth Exchange student for a whole year. I am beyond excited to go. I know I will miss my family, but an oppurtunity like this only comes once in a lifetime, so I chose to take it. More posts to come :)
Liebe immer,
Katherine