In Home Orientation

Hey guys!
Over the last week and a half I have been in serious anticipation of my in home orientation. Last Thursday I finally had my in home orientation and it went over very smoothly. I hadn't been getting much sleep though so I was a little on the tired side. My orientation was three hours long but honestly it felt like three days! I got so much information and I have so much more to learn. I want to fill the full potential of this exchange so I have to know as much as I can.
My passport came in the mail last week. I had a bit of an aha moment when it got here. I had kind of just been floating along, and going with the flow of how this exchange was going to work, but when my passport got here it all became so much more real. All my friends have been telling me how much they are going to miss me and that we can't lose touch. I just tell them I'm trying not to think about how much I'm going to miss people.
I now have a big binder full of stuff I have to read and know before our training in January and honestly it's a little bit intimidating. All of the names and positions on the board in rotary that I have to know. Its overwhelming for sure. I'm sure that in time I will be able to get a real grasp on what is going on and I will be able to know all I need to know.
I think my next step is to get in touch with the outbounds (exchange students that are in a country right now) in the countries I am interested in and talk to them about how they like it. I am planning on going to Portland with Veera, the inbound from Finland, and Mariah the other outbound candidate that goes to my school. This should give us lots of time to talk about our concerns and just grow closer as friends. I am hoping that Veera will have some advice for us as well. I am going to my first Rotary lunch with my club on Wednesday and I am very nervous but also relieved about not having to speak this time.
I am so excited to see what happens on this wild ride to my exchange and back. I can't wait to see what is in store for me. I can not stress enough how helpful it has been having Mariah there to talk to who is going through the same things as me at around the same time. She has been a big help at keeping me in check on due dates and things like that. This opportunity is unbelievable and sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. The school work is definitely catching up with me seeing as I am going to have 9 classes next semester and I'm doing online summer school to make sure I have enough credits to graduate on time when I come back. As a challenge I am working on controlling my stress better as I tend to overreact when my plate gets too full. It helps to have friends to talk to, to calm me down when I start to freak out a little. This is definitely going to help me be more responsible which will for sure help me later on in life. I hope this exchange is all I think it will be and I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity.
Thanks for reading,
Ally

Getting Accepted

Hi,
My name is Ally. Since I got accepted as an exchange student I figured it was time to get blogging. I am so excited about this once in a lifetime opportunity. I know wherever I go is going to be wonderful and beautiful. I'm getting ahead of the game by starting this blog now since my exchange won't take place until August, but I feel like the journey really starts before you leave. I can't believe I'm actually going to live in another country for a whole year! I know it sounds crazy but I think I am most nervous about the flight. Since the flight will be the longest flight I have ever been on and I wont know anyone on the plane.
I would like to give you a little insight about me. Here it goes, I'm 15 years old so driving is a big deal. I love to drive but I am a completely dreadful driver. I play volleyball, as well as, softball. Our volleyball season this year was a little rough, but a big blast! The last game was very emotional for me because I knew it would probably be my last game until I come back to the USA after my exchange. My softball team last year was undefeated so I am super excited to get back out on the field this spring.
My exchange journey has had a lot of twists and turns and bumps already so I can't say I'm not nervous. I'm from Dallas Oregon but I am going on exchange through the rotary club of Salem. Let me explain to you how this happened. I originally interviewed to be the Dallas Rotary's exchange candidate, but I did not get chosen. My friend Mariah Reed got picked to be the Dallas Rotary's exchange candidate. So, how is it possible that I am still going on exchange? A couple of the clubs from Salem didn't have anyone interview to be their candidate. When I found this out, I got so excited because it meant I had another chance at being an exchange student. The Rotary Club of Salem called me to schedule an interview to be their candidate even though I'm from Dallas. I got into their program which is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. I missed their call for them to tell me I got in so they left me a message. After volleyball practice was over I went outside very nervous to find out my results. As soon as they said that I got in, I stared screaming, crying, laughing, and running all over the place with excitement. Every football player that was practicing thought I had gotten hurt but I assured them I was just excited. My whole team rushed over to congratulate me and tell me they were going to miss me so much.
Since I have been picked I have attended a seminar to help me learn how to fill out my application and I have finished my application and turned it in. Being an exchange student for the Rotary Club of Salem but living in Dallas has definitely had its ups and downs. An up being the me and the candidate from Dallas are friends and we can help each other because we are going through the same things at the same times. Being an exchange student that doesn't live in the same town as your club is a very unique situation and I wasn't so sure how well it was going to work out. I go to Rotary meetings with the Rotary Club of Dallas and they welcome me as if I was one of their own candidates. My first meeting with my own rotary club will be the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and I am super excited but very nervous.
One of my biggest fears so far is that the people in my host country will not like me. I find myself already thinking about what to pack and how its going to be. The Dallas Youth Exchange Officer, Jerry, says its a huge achievement to dream in your host countries language. I am so excited to dream in their language and that is what I am most looking forward to. I know it's going to be hard work but I am so excited.
I hope you guys continue to read my blog and go through this journey with me. Feel free to ask me questions and I will try to answer them as well as I can either on the blog or in person. I will be trying to update my blog weekly so keep looking for updates.
With love,
Ally