As I sit here. In Madison, WI. Hundreds of exchange students from all over the world are either...
A: In a new country
B: On a plane going to a new country.
C: Just about to get on a plane to go to a new country
So the first major wave of exchange students is OFF!!! I'm pretty jealous of course, but I have only 3 weeks until I leave myself. I'm pretty excited! It's really cool to see everyone's status' on facebook like, "last day in USA," or, " on the plane." ... It sucks having to wait :( None the less, this summer is awesome so far! I've had a lot of fun just doing the things American teenagers do...
Now onto why I wrote this post... I wanted to say thank you to the Rotary Club of West Towne- Middleton for donating towards my exchange. I know that a lot of Rotary Clubs don't just hand outbound students money, and I'm really lucky to have you all as sponsors. I can't wait to tell all of you about my exchange when I come back.
I know... I know... I've been posting a lot of stuff lately- but tons of stuff has been going on.
I GOT MY GUARANTEE FORMS YESTERDAY!!!
I don't know why I wrote that in caps... guarantee forms are not really that exciting. I don't need a VISA to go to Germany so the guarantee forms are just- forms... that guarantee me. Basically all I have to do is send this 2 papers back to a guy in Germany saying that I've read this long letter about insurance and rules... and I'm good to go!
hahaha I just remembered - The first email I ever received from my correspondent said they would have my Guarantee Forms returned to me by May 15th... oh boy! only 2 months off ;)
... So that tentative itinerary I wrote about 2 posts back, is now official. Today I faxed over this confirmation sheet and a few hours later- my travel agent sends me an email saying its all set. I also asked if I could get frequent flier miles on my family's account and he said that was a go too!!! I'm happy :D
Also... today I went to the bank and set up a new bank account. Its called a student debit account. Basically, I'll have a debit card, and while abroad I'll be able to withdraw Cash and it will come directly out of my bank account. I'll It took a while for the banker to figure all the details out, but everything is looking good for money-related issues.
So I've been putting off this whole pin thing FOREVER! I was just going to go to Germany without any... but then I thought that would be kind of lame on my part so I decided to get some! Instead of paying a kajillion dollars for lapel pins me and my mom decided to make some :) We went with those safety pin american flags! They're a little time consuming but its strangely relaxing! Anyways, I just thought I should share... It could be a good pin idea for future outbounds.
... oh and might I mention that I have exactly ONE MONTH until I get on that plane (well actually...
those planes) and travel to Germany :) ... As of right this very moment, I'm not in the mindset that I am leaving because one month is a really long time, but I'm guessing that in 2-3 weeks, I'll start getting really excited. Yeah... I'm a little bit jealous because the first wave to fly to Germany leaves on the 31st of July... which is in like 10 days! But I leave in 31 days so I guess I'm fine with that! More summer for me!!!
So this past weekend at the conference the outbound coordinators (Doug and Sharon Richmond) came up to me and said that I was the last one out of like 30 outbounds to get their Guarantee Forms! This wasn't a huge deal because my host parents have already contacted me and everything, but the only reason why I wanted them was so I could get my itinerary. Well I still don't have my Guarantee Forms... but I DO have my tentative itinerary:) which is AWESOME! I guess my corespondent sent my forms to my travel agent because they sent me an email on the 14th saying all my travel documents were in! WOOO :D I know I've said it a million times, but everything seems so official!!!
DEPART: THURSDAY AUGUST 20THARRIVE: FRIDAY AUGUST 21STNORTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT: 1244LEAVE: CHICAGO/O'HARE 12:05 PM ARRIVE: DETROIT/METRO 2:30 PM (235 MILES) NORTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT: 40 LEAVE: DETROIT/METRO 4:00 PM ARRIVE: AMSTERDAM NETHERLANDS 5:55 AM (3940 MILES)
NORTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT: 8245
LEAVE: AMSTERDAM NETHERLANDS 8:20 AM
ARRIVE: BERLIN/TEGEL 9:40 AM
(361 MILES)
For any future outbounds interested in how much open-ended tickets cost, mine was $2,235.28. I don't know about your financial situation, but I come from a family of 5 kids, and two thousand dollars is a lot of money to me! However, the plane ticket is the only BIG payment a rotary exchange student is required to pay... If you are on the boarderline of rotary or another program... I'd really recommend rotary! Other programs cost like $10-$20K! So far, I have only had to pay for 2 conference weekends (<$500) and the travel expenses ($2300). Also, rotarians are so helpful with everything- seriously anything from personal concerns to financial concerns to travel arrangements... there is ALWAYS a rotarian you can call from your area and they will HELP YOU! GO WITH ROTARY :D
I know that I experience inspiration daily by simply thinking about exchange, or reading other peoples blogs, or talking to other exchange students. Well I think I have a serious case of inspiration because I'm feeling it so strong right now that I'm going a little crazy. Yesterday I literally cried all day for no particular reason... Actually there was a particular reason but that's another story for another time. I was feeling so many emotions. It was an overflow. I couldn't remember the last time I cried so I was super confused and... just did not know what was going on! It was so weird.
Today I woke up and still felt a little funny. I was still trying to categorize my emotions a little bit, they were all jumbled up! There was a lot of confusion, uncontrollable happiness, sadness, awkwardness, anger, excitement, anxiety, laughter, sleep deprivation, reflection, heart-ache, second-guessing... yeah a lot of stuff. I wrote a little bit but I wasn't feeling any resolve- so I sat down at the piano and went... okay Ben- If you have anything to express, do it now. Now If you don't know, I do play the piano... I taught myself how in the 6th grade, had lessons for a year or two, then stopped, and now its a hobby. I compose music when I have super intense emotions. I haven't had any in a very long time... so as I sat down I wasn't expecting much, boy was I wrong. I started to just play... and everything that I was feeling just came out.. It was perfect. It was sad and confused, but it was so exciting and happy! I couldn't believe I was actually playing something new! I still can't believe it! Last time that happened was 6 months ago when Rotary said I was leaving the country!
So... to be quite honest, I don't really know whats going on. I want to be that exchange students who doesn't worry at all, and who keeps their emotions to themselves, and plays it super chill... haha but instead, here I am, exposing my self-conscious, over-emotional, self to the world. How embarrassing... you must think I'm crazy.
So I just got back from the Central States conference at Calvin College in Michigan a few hours ago and I thought I should document a little bit of whats going through my mind right now. I do want to warn you... I am sleep deprived and kind of loopy so beware.
I can't really describe what conference was like... It was so much! Overall I guess it was just a ton of fun! There was always something to do. There was amazing people everywhere. Everyone was super chill and lax and it was just awesome... Except some of the Rotarians- A few of the people in charge were super super strict and they came across to me as really rude. I felt like a little child when they talked to me and I felt as if they gave Rotary a bad name.
I met so many people from all over the world and they were a huge motivation! Its crazy to think that a few of the people are leaving in a matter of days! I can't believe we're actually DONE with sitting through speeches... We finally get to just experience for ourselves.
One downside I guess is that this conference brought us all close together... but then it just rips everyone apart! We meet all these amazing people and bond and its awesome... but when we leave... it's just like not a good feeling! I feel kind of hollow... and sinky-feeling. I guess it's worth it!!!
So this post isn't coherent what-so-ever... but I guess I'll leave all of you with important things to know about central states! OH I FORGOT- I did the talent show! It was fun... I opened with my composition on the piano.
What to know about central states:
- The smokers area is ALWAYS full!!!
- Don't eat the eggs.
- If you join the talent show you will be confined to a greenroom and miss 4-6 hours of meetings and free-time.
- Its over before you know it.
