I know this is my third blog post today...but I feel like ranting a little bit. And I guess my Exchange Blog would be a good place to do it.
I KNOW its only the end of March; and Im not supposed to find out until May. But...It makes it hard to wait when the other two Outbounds in your club already know their host cities and families!!!
Hailey; the Short-Term Outbound student in my club is going to Columbia; so of course Short-Term students know their families way sooner than the Long-Terms. But; I wasn't expecting Meghan to find out her first Indian host family so soon! Im SO excited for them both! They will have an AMAZING time in Columbia and India!
However; I wish I could share the excitement with them and know who my first host family and city is as well. I know it is well worth the wait; and I should probably stop checking my email so much to see if theres any information about my host family or district. Because I know there wont be anything. Not for awhile...Waiting is the worst part. And its hard to wait when the other two students in the club already know the information ive been waiting for.
I know its worth the wait; and that waiting is good. But waiting is a very long and hard process. But, it will come eventually! I just have to learn to stop checking my email for it and stop obsessing over it!
At least I know my departure date; and in the meantime thats good enough for me! :D
Thursday, March 21, 2013
ACT Prepping
Let me tell ya...the days and weeks between waiting for your exchange are probably the most boring weeks you will ever have so far in your life.
My life consists of an on-going cycle: Sleeping; Going to School; ACT Prep; Tutoring; Homework and Studying; Eating. And REPEAT.
The last semester of school before an exchange is full of school work; and waiting and waiting and waiting. These past few weeks have been nothing but school work for me. Which I guess is good because it gets my mind off of a bunch of other stuff; including waiting for my host city and district.
For a Rotary exchange student; It is suggested that you take your SAT/ACT before your exchange. They suggest this for a lot of different reasons; but it is mainly because then you can get it out of the way BEFORE your exchange so you wont have to stress about taking it your senior year. Another reason they try and have you take it before you leave on exchange is because hopefully your English wont be as good when you arrive home; and so your score will be a lot lower than it would have been if you took it before you leave prior to your exchange.
I decided to contact a learning center and recently been doing ACT prep there three times a week for a two hour session each visit. I went into the center on Monday to take a previous ACT test that they dont use anymore; just to see where I was with my score and skills they test you on in the test. Last night I went back to receive my score and see how I did before I started getting my tutoring help for prepping for the ACT.
Today however; I went to my first ACT prep session! My English tutor gave me a few different ACT prepping books; and gave me some resources and homework to do over Spring Break which will help me with the English portion of the ACT test. Which isn't that big of a deal I guess.
Since I am taking the test a year earlier than the kids in my grade; I really want to get the best score I can before I leave for Finland. I really suggest doing this if you know ANYONE who is looking into exchange.
Your SAT/ACT scores are super important and its really awesome if you can take it before you leave; and if you can take a prep class or even just study alone to ensure that you can get your goal score before you leave. It will definitely be beneficial for you and take A LOT of stress off of you for your senior year of high school when you arrive home.
I have 10 official weeks until I take the test in June! I just hope I can get a good enough score where I wont have to retake it my senior year.
My life consists of an on-going cycle: Sleeping; Going to School; ACT Prep; Tutoring; Homework and Studying; Eating. And REPEAT.
The last semester of school before an exchange is full of school work; and waiting and waiting and waiting. These past few weeks have been nothing but school work for me. Which I guess is good because it gets my mind off of a bunch of other stuff; including waiting for my host city and district.
For a Rotary exchange student; It is suggested that you take your SAT/ACT before your exchange. They suggest this for a lot of different reasons; but it is mainly because then you can get it out of the way BEFORE your exchange so you wont have to stress about taking it your senior year. Another reason they try and have you take it before you leave on exchange is because hopefully your English wont be as good when you arrive home; and so your score will be a lot lower than it would have been if you took it before you leave prior to your exchange.
I decided to contact a learning center and recently been doing ACT prep there three times a week for a two hour session each visit. I went into the center on Monday to take a previous ACT test that they dont use anymore; just to see where I was with my score and skills they test you on in the test. Last night I went back to receive my score and see how I did before I started getting my tutoring help for prepping for the ACT.
Today however; I went to my first ACT prep session! My English tutor gave me a few different ACT prepping books; and gave me some resources and homework to do over Spring Break which will help me with the English portion of the ACT test. Which isn't that big of a deal I guess.
Since I am taking the test a year earlier than the kids in my grade; I really want to get the best score I can before I leave for Finland. I really suggest doing this if you know ANYONE who is looking into exchange.
Your SAT/ACT scores are super important and its really awesome if you can take it before you leave; and if you can take a prep class or even just study alone to ensure that you can get your goal score before you leave. It will definitely be beneficial for you and take A LOT of stress off of you for your senior year of high school when you arrive home.
I have 10 official weeks until I take the test in June! I just hope I can get a good enough score where I wont have to retake it my senior year.
My departure date/Waiting
I found out the other day when I am officially leaving on my exchange! 164 days from now, on August 3erd I will be officially leaving for FINLAND!
Oh geez...I am so excited. It feels so far away; and yet I know it will be right around the corner. Recently on facebook, a few other Outbound Exchangers that are going to Finland for the 2013-2014 year have added me on facebook. At first I thought it was a little weird and I didnt want to add them back. (I just find it odd adding people who I dont know on facebook. I never do it!)
But; at that point I decided to accept their request on facebook; and we got to talking and its been really really fun! I think its good to get to know other kids who are in your same situation. Its hard for your friends at school to understand what you are going through; and they dont share the same excitement as you do. Its hard for them to be in your shoes.
By talking to a few of the other kids; I got a chance to actually see how excited they are as well. Its fun to get over excited about Finland with other kids who are going there from other places!
However; I am a little jealous of some of the other kids in my district. They are already finding out their districts; and the other Outbound student going to India from my Rotary club just got an email from her first host family. It makes me jealous because I want to know where I am going and who is hosting me!!!
I guess I need to learn how to be patient. And in the end its worth waiting to find out all of the exciting stuff about my Host District and town and Host Family. Plus; im SURE there are other kids in my district in my situation as well.
But at least I have my departure date!
August 3erd here I come! :D
Oh geez...I am so excited. It feels so far away; and yet I know it will be right around the corner. Recently on facebook, a few other Outbound Exchangers that are going to Finland for the 2013-2014 year have added me on facebook. At first I thought it was a little weird and I didnt want to add them back. (I just find it odd adding people who I dont know on facebook. I never do it!)
But; at that point I decided to accept their request on facebook; and we got to talking and its been really really fun! I think its good to get to know other kids who are in your same situation. Its hard for your friends at school to understand what you are going through; and they dont share the same excitement as you do. Its hard for them to be in your shoes.
By talking to a few of the other kids; I got a chance to actually see how excited they are as well. Its fun to get over excited about Finland with other kids who are going there from other places!
However; I am a little jealous of some of the other kids in my district. They are already finding out their districts; and the other Outbound student going to India from my Rotary club just got an email from her first host family. It makes me jealous because I want to know where I am going and who is hosting me!!!
I guess I need to learn how to be patient. And in the end its worth waiting to find out all of the exciting stuff about my Host District and town and Host Family. Plus; im SURE there are other kids in my district in my situation as well.
But at least I have my departure date!
August 3erd here I come! :D
Friday, March 1, 2013
Travel Agency!
Hei; hyvää iltaa!
These past few weeks ive been trying to teach myself a little Finnish. I know a few basics like animals, colors; days of the week and basic conversation. Im not sure how much this will help me to be honest...but you gotta start somewhere!
I recently registered online for a travel agency that my Rotary district works with. Its actually kinda cool though! I selected my assigned host country on my registration and after I finished the registration; I got to actually log on and look at the website. I found out that I actually have to fly down to Los Angeles to submit my documents for my visa in person to the consulate of Finland. Im actually super excited because a few other outbound exchange students are flying down to LA on the same day with the travel agency for a group appointment with the consulate. It will be fun to meet a few other kids who are going to Finland on exchange!
Another cool feature on the travel website is that it shows a little radar of how close you are from the process of departing to your host country. So far; my little online radar has barely moved and its in the beginning of the "Documentation" piece of the process. Six months until Finland! Its still really far away; but I know time will fly; and eventually my little online radar will say I am in the final step of the "Ticketing" phase at the end of the radar and I will be getting ready to pack my bags and depart to Finland.
For now though; im trying to not get TOO excited for Finland. In the mean-time im just trying to focus on school and the here and now instead of my adventures that will happen later down the road. I want to enjoy these next few months without getting TOO excited; but at the same time I still want to think and talk about Finland. So hopefully by blogging I can do a bit of both without getting myself too carried away.
So for now I guess;
Hyvää Yötä! Good Night!
These past few weeks ive been trying to teach myself a little Finnish. I know a few basics like animals, colors; days of the week and basic conversation. Im not sure how much this will help me to be honest...but you gotta start somewhere!
I recently registered online for a travel agency that my Rotary district works with. Its actually kinda cool though! I selected my assigned host country on my registration and after I finished the registration; I got to actually log on and look at the website. I found out that I actually have to fly down to Los Angeles to submit my documents for my visa in person to the consulate of Finland. Im actually super excited because a few other outbound exchange students are flying down to LA on the same day with the travel agency for a group appointment with the consulate. It will be fun to meet a few other kids who are going to Finland on exchange!
Another cool feature on the travel website is that it shows a little radar of how close you are from the process of departing to your host country. So far; my little online radar has barely moved and its in the beginning of the "Documentation" piece of the process. Six months until Finland! Its still really far away; but I know time will fly; and eventually my little online radar will say I am in the final step of the "Ticketing" phase at the end of the radar and I will be getting ready to pack my bags and depart to Finland.
For now though; im trying to not get TOO excited for Finland. In the mean-time im just trying to focus on school and the here and now instead of my adventures that will happen later down the road. I want to enjoy these next few months without getting TOO excited; but at the same time I still want to think and talk about Finland. So hopefully by blogging I can do a bit of both without getting myself too carried away.
So for now I guess;
Hyvää Yötä! Good Night!
Friday, February 22, 2013
FINLAND!
I am pleased to announce that as of February 9th I am going to FINLAND 2013-2014 for my junior year of high school as a Rotary Exchange Student!
I painted my nais the flag after I found out!
I have started researching about Finland and have started learning a bit of Finnish. So far; I know basics and colors and even animals. However; I guess a lot of people do not know much about Finland...so I have decided to make a list of some Fun-Facts of Finland.
1.) Finland is known of the "Land Of A Thousand Lakes" (Finland has over 188000 lakes!)
2.) There are 1.8 million saunas in Finland.
3.) Santa Claus has his office in the North of Finland.
4.) Finland is the seventh largest country in Europe, in terms of area.
5.) 68% of the country is covered by forest.
6.) The Finnish currency is Euro.
7.) The language of the elves in the famous movie based on a book, Lord Of The Rings, is based on Finnish.
8.) There are two official languages of Finland: Finnish and Swedish
9.) A quarter of the country’s total area lies north of the Arctic Circle.
10.) Finland is situated in northern Europe and shares its borders with Sweden, Norway and Russia.
I got this out of a cookie a few days after I found out...I thought it was perfect!
Finland was my first choice country and I am very excited to be able to go as an Exchange Student to Finland! Suprisingly, people still come up to me and ask if I am excited to go back to France. People seem to be shocked when I tell them I am officially going to Finland. And their next question is always, "Why Finland?!". I chose Finland for many different reasons. Its different: the weather, foods, LANGUAGE and of course schools and culture.
In the USA we dont hear about Finland very often; and I wanted to go somewhere where I wouldnt get the chance to go to again. Without this experience; I probably would never get to step foot in Finland. This makes me so excited to be able to go to such a beautiful country and learn such a different and crazy langauge. To be honest; for now I dont know much about Finland. But thats what makes this so exciting for me.
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ski Trip (Part 3)
We were in the main room of the community building and the Country Officers had the Outbounds lined up on one side of the room; and the Inbounds and Country Officers lined up on the opposite side together.
They called out one country at a time and once a country was called the Country Officer would formally call out the country and the inbounds from that country would come out and go out and grab the Outbounds that were going to their country!
Every Country Officer did their countries differently; and some of the Inbounds would sing to their outbounds, or add a lot of dramatic feeling when they would go pick the outbound that was assigned to their country.
I stood next to Sean and Makyla; and one by one the line of Outbounds grew smaller and smaller as people were being called. It was amazing watching other people being chosen. Some people would cry, others would scream, and some were too shocked to do anything!
Eventually...there were only two countries left. By then I KNEW I had gotten Finland. And strangly I started to cry. I was SO happy. Finland/Russia were called, and I heard all three of our names called. I was greeted by a huge hug, and given CD's for learning Finnish. Ive never been so happy that I cried before. But at that moment I did. It felt so un-real. And I was waiting for the moment to be woken up; and I never did! It was REAL life!
After we all found out where we were going people were still crying and screaming and calling their families and everyone they knew to tell them the news. Everyone was hugging each other and by this point it was well after midnight.
They ended up blasting music and turning on the disco ball and turning down the lights. We all danced around and it all felt like the happiest dream.
They called out one country at a time and once a country was called the Country Officer would formally call out the country and the inbounds from that country would come out and go out and grab the Outbounds that were going to their country!
Every Country Officer did their countries differently; and some of the Inbounds would sing to their outbounds, or add a lot of dramatic feeling when they would go pick the outbound that was assigned to their country.
I stood next to Sean and Makyla; and one by one the line of Outbounds grew smaller and smaller as people were being called. It was amazing watching other people being chosen. Some people would cry, others would scream, and some were too shocked to do anything!
Eventually...there were only two countries left. By then I KNEW I had gotten Finland. And strangly I started to cry. I was SO happy. Finland/Russia were called, and I heard all three of our names called. I was greeted by a huge hug, and given CD's for learning Finnish. Ive never been so happy that I cried before. But at that moment I did. It felt so un-real. And I was waiting for the moment to be woken up; and I never did! It was REAL life!
After we all found out where we were going people were still crying and screaming and calling their families and everyone they knew to tell them the news. Everyone was hugging each other and by this point it was well after midnight.
They ended up blasting music and turning on the disco ball and turning down the lights. We all danced around and it all felt like the happiest dream.
Dancing after 1:30am!
More dancing
They eventually made us go to bed; and we woke up and the Boy Scouts made us pancakes for breakfast. We took a professional group picture; and then helped take stuff out to the busses. We all got on the bus by country and sat with the inbounds for our assigned country. It was so cool to look around and see everyone having their first language lessons and asking questions.
First official Finnish lessons!
It still felt like a dream. And it was a long and crazy bus ride! Sean, Makyla and I sat near our Country Officer and asked questions and got information about our countries. The bus ride was about 8 hours long; and by then I finally started feeling tired after everything that had happend the night before.
We exchanged numbers, and eventually each of us parted at our stops and said our goodbyes until next time. Its amazing how quickly you make new friends and meet new amazing people through Rotary.
I eventually got to my bus stop; where everyone else on the bus got off and got our stuff and met our parents in the parking lot who were all excited to see us and talk about our countries. I was so excited to get home and talk about Finland!
Ski Trip (part 2)
The next day the inbounds went to the elementary school, and they had all of us inbounds play a game that had us assigned into different groups where we were split off and forced to adopt a new "culture".
In my group; we had to learn a made up langauge and learn how to trade cards only in our langauge. So; for example; I would go up to someone in my group and if I wanted a yellow 3 card I would have to say, "Yo- JaRa JaRa JaRa" or for a red 4 card, "Ra- JaRa JaRa JaRa JaRa" (Just to give you a hint)
Eventually after practicing with our own culture groups; they had a pair from the other culture come in. They randomly started hugging us while we were trying to yell at them in our made up langauge; trying to trade with them while they were asking us random questions and hugging us. At first it was REALLY awkward! But after awhile we all got really into it and just went with the flow of things. It was hard not to laugh.
It was soon my turn to go into the other culture with two other boys from my group. As soon as we got into the other room; all of the other people in the culture were closed off together. I tried to join them (just because I wasnt sure what else to do) and they just looked at me and then closed off even more. However; when the boys tried to join they were hugging them and laughing and I was awkwardly standing in the back. I didnt know what to do. It was weird though!
After we talked about the different cultures and related them to our exchanges.
The next day; we went on a two hour bus ride up to the mountain where we went skiing! I decided to randomly switch to snow-boarding (Ive never been skiing OR snow-boarding; but I thought I might as well just do it!) It was a BLAST; even though I fell SO many times and couldnt even go down the bunny hill!
The Outbounds had to come into the lodge to make our last country choices. I grabed my paper; wrote my name...and didnt know what to do. I ended up putting: Finland as my number one; Czech Republic, Austria, Germany and Thailand.
That night; we got back; packed our bags and left to this little community building where all of us were to stay for the night while the Country Officers decided where all of the Outbounds for District 5100 were going for their 2013-2014 Exchange Year.
That was the FUNNEST NIGHT EVER! They split us into groups after dinner (we were fed a German dinner and they played wierd polka music and we all danced around. My whole table even did the wave while eating dinner!)
In my group; there were 5 Outbounds (including me). Sean, Ben, MaKyla, Allegra and I. In that little community building they had a Haunted House, Mini Golf (wild west style) and even lazer tag! It was crazy!
Before we went into the Haunted House, the Inbound from Finland told MaKyla and I (we both wanted to go to Finland) that if we went in the front of our group; we would get a special "surprise" later. We decided to go first, and the Haunted House was Titanic Themed.
We walked into the first room and there was a huge boat. Sean automatically said, "Lets split up gang!" and everyone started laughing because of Scooby-Doo. We were all holding hands and huddled together in a tight group as we walked through the rooms. It was CRAZY! All of the girls (especially me) were screaming our heads off! People kept on jumping out at us; and yelling and screaming. I kept shouting, "WHERES LEONARDO DICAPRIO?!". But...he never came.
We played mini-golf afterwards; and then moved on to lazer tag. We were playing for a good 10 minutes before we were called to meet down in the main room. We automatically stopped and didnt know what to do.
It was finally time. We were going to find out our countries. And where we were living for the next school year of our lives.
In my group; we had to learn a made up langauge and learn how to trade cards only in our langauge. So; for example; I would go up to someone in my group and if I wanted a yellow 3 card I would have to say, "Yo- JaRa JaRa JaRa" or for a red 4 card, "Ra- JaRa JaRa JaRa JaRa" (Just to give you a hint)
Eventually after practicing with our own culture groups; they had a pair from the other culture come in. They randomly started hugging us while we were trying to yell at them in our made up langauge; trying to trade with them while they were asking us random questions and hugging us. At first it was REALLY awkward! But after awhile we all got really into it and just went with the flow of things. It was hard not to laugh.
It was soon my turn to go into the other culture with two other boys from my group. As soon as we got into the other room; all of the other people in the culture were closed off together. I tried to join them (just because I wasnt sure what else to do) and they just looked at me and then closed off even more. However; when the boys tried to join they were hugging them and laughing and I was awkwardly standing in the back. I didnt know what to do. It was weird though!
After we talked about the different cultures and related them to our exchanges.
The next day; we went on a two hour bus ride up to the mountain where we went skiing! I decided to randomly switch to snow-boarding (Ive never been skiing OR snow-boarding; but I thought I might as well just do it!) It was a BLAST; even though I fell SO many times and couldnt even go down the bunny hill!
Meghan and I snowboarding
Adam, Ben, Meghan, Emily and I at the basketball game
Snowboarding on the Bunny-Slope
View up the snowy mountain
The Outbounds had to come into the lodge to make our last country choices. I grabed my paper; wrote my name...and didnt know what to do. I ended up putting: Finland as my number one; Czech Republic, Austria, Germany and Thailand.
That night; we got back; packed our bags and left to this little community building where all of us were to stay for the night while the Country Officers decided where all of the Outbounds for District 5100 were going for their 2013-2014 Exchange Year.
That was the FUNNEST NIGHT EVER! They split us into groups after dinner (we were fed a German dinner and they played wierd polka music and we all danced around. My whole table even did the wave while eating dinner!)
Being crazy after dinner with exchange students :)
Dancing around to polka music.
In my group; there were 5 Outbounds (including me). Sean, Ben, MaKyla, Allegra and I. In that little community building they had a Haunted House, Mini Golf (wild west style) and even lazer tag! It was crazy!
Before we went into the Haunted House, the Inbound from Finland told MaKyla and I (we both wanted to go to Finland) that if we went in the front of our group; we would get a special "surprise" later. We decided to go first, and the Haunted House was Titanic Themed.
We walked into the first room and there was a huge boat. Sean automatically said, "Lets split up gang!" and everyone started laughing because of Scooby-Doo. We were all holding hands and huddled together in a tight group as we walked through the rooms. It was CRAZY! All of the girls (especially me) were screaming our heads off! People kept on jumping out at us; and yelling and screaming. I kept shouting, "WHERES LEONARDO DICAPRIO?!". But...he never came.
We played mini-golf afterwards; and then moved on to lazer tag. We were playing for a good 10 minutes before we were called to meet down in the main room. We automatically stopped and didnt know what to do.
It was finally time. We were going to find out our countries. And where we were living for the next school year of our lives.
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