Summer is in full swing! It has been absolutely amazing so far. I'm trying to just live in the moment and enjoy all the people, places, smells, noises, food, and all the other things that are normal to me here in Madison. I know that on several occasions next year I'm going to miss this place (as crazy as it sounds) so I'm really really trying to make this summer the best summer EVER! haha... that goes without saying- AHHH LESS THAN 2 MONTHS!!! I"M LEAVING IN 59 DAYS! (yes I do have a countdown) Its so FAR AWAY... but close in a way!!! It's so hard to wait like this! I've only been on summer break for ONE week. Just ONE! So much has happened in this week! Its crazy! I feel like I've been on summer break forever. It seems like Berlin is just a dream.. and this whole exchange thing will always be this date far, far away and I'm never going to say goodbye to my friends, I'm never going to board that plane, I'm never going to go to a different school, and never going to learn a new language... it all seems too good to be true.
I mean lets face it...
-I registered 2 months later than the deadline
-I never had to worry about being "accepted"
-I was given a country in my top 5
-I found out my district super early!
-I'm going to a world class CITY!
-My host family seems awesome
-I'm going to top-notch school
... and the list goes on! It seems like all these amazing things are happening to me... and like I said.. it seems way to good to be true. Doesn't it seem too good to be true???
I've never felt this way before! It seems like... in 56 days I am doing something with my life. I'm not doing what normal teenagers do. I'm actually DOING something. I'm moving away from everything that I have- and going somewhere where I have nothing! I'm starting OVER! As geeky as it sounds... I'm going on an adventure. But to tell you the truth- I'm getting really nervous that something's going to happen that is going to stop me from going there. I know it sounds stupid but seriously- I'm nervous that I'm going to break a bone or something and not be able to go. I'm also really really really nervous about flying. Before you all start laughing HEAR ME OUT! I have flown on a decent number of flights! I've been to California a couple times, and I've been to Central America three times. So that's a lot for me. Basically around 10-15 times that I've taken off and landed. Every single time that I fly... my fear of flying gets worse and worse! I HATE FLYING! Plane crashes are my number #1 fear! I know the statistics... I know that its the safest way to travel... but it is my worst nightmare- Literally!
Last night I had a dream I was flying to Germany and I was up in the air... I was finally feeling a little safe- then BAM! the plane started to veer off to the left! And everything started to shake! I tried to bend over in the fetal position but my seatbelt was off for some reason... and I tried to stay in my seat but the plane was shaking so hard. And then next thing I knew I looked up and a huge piece of the plane's ceiling ripped off and I started getting sucked up and I was banging into all the chairs and over-head bins... and everyone was screaming... and I hit my head and everything went black! I'm pretty sure I died! But then... I woke up and thought it really happened and that I was a survivor or something, then I thought I was in heaven, then I realized it was a dream and just sighed a HUGE sigh of relief. Pheww. It was one of the scariest and most vivid dreams I've ever had!
Well this is basically the stage that I'm at right now! My departure date is drawing closer and closer (Some people are leaving as early as mid-July)! I'm definitely looking forward for July 9th- that's when the Grand Rapids conference is taking place at Calvin College. Its going to be SO COOL! There are going to be Inbounds, Outbounds, Rebounds! The whole SHA-BANG! Thats coming up pretty soon!!! I'm hoping that by that time I'll have my guarantee forms back- I need them so that I can send them to my travel agent and recieve my flight itinerary. Other than that... I'm pretty much set! I'm ready... or am I?
I mean lets face it...
-I registered 2 months later than the deadline
-I never had to worry about being "accepted"
-I was given a country in my top 5
-I found out my district super early!
-I'm going to a world class CITY!
-My host family seems awesome
-I'm going to top-notch school
... and the list goes on! It seems like all these amazing things are happening to me... and like I said.. it seems way to good to be true. Doesn't it seem too good to be true???
I've never felt this way before! It seems like... in 56 days I am doing something with my life. I'm not doing what normal teenagers do. I'm actually DOING something. I'm moving away from everything that I have- and going somewhere where I have nothing! I'm starting OVER! As geeky as it sounds... I'm going on an adventure. But to tell you the truth- I'm getting really nervous that something's going to happen that is going to stop me from going there. I know it sounds stupid but seriously- I'm nervous that I'm going to break a bone or something and not be able to go. I'm also really really really nervous about flying. Before you all start laughing HEAR ME OUT! I have flown on a decent number of flights! I've been to California a couple times, and I've been to Central America three times. So that's a lot for me. Basically around 10-15 times that I've taken off and landed. Every single time that I fly... my fear of flying gets worse and worse! I HATE FLYING! Plane crashes are my number #1 fear! I know the statistics... I know that its the safest way to travel... but it is my worst nightmare- Literally!
Last night I had a dream I was flying to Germany and I was up in the air... I was finally feeling a little safe- then BAM! the plane started to veer off to the left! And everything started to shake! I tried to bend over in the fetal position but my seatbelt was off for some reason... and I tried to stay in my seat but the plane was shaking so hard. And then next thing I knew I looked up and a huge piece of the plane's ceiling ripped off and I started getting sucked up and I was banging into all the chairs and over-head bins... and everyone was screaming... and I hit my head and everything went black! I'm pretty sure I died! But then... I woke up and thought it really happened and that I was a survivor or something, then I thought I was in heaven, then I realized it was a dream and just sighed a HUGE sigh of relief. Pheww. It was one of the scariest and most vivid dreams I've ever had!
Well this is basically the stage that I'm at right now! My departure date is drawing closer and closer (Some people are leaving as early as mid-July)! I'm definitely looking forward for July 9th- that's when the Grand Rapids conference is taking place at Calvin College. Its going to be SO COOL! There are going to be Inbounds, Outbounds, Rebounds! The whole SHA-BANG! Thats coming up pretty soon!!! I'm hoping that by that time I'll have my guarantee forms back- I need them so that I can send them to my travel agent and recieve my flight itinerary. Other than that... I'm pretty much set! I'm ready... or am I?
Be prepared for screaming... that's all I can say :) The Rebounds will be so pysched to see each other again.
Be sure and look up the Slovak/Czech crowd!
And don't sweat about being afraid to fly-- I understand how you feel. I literally grew up flying, but as I've gotten older I get more and more tense every time I step on a plane.