Back in the day...

Ever since I got this huge list of corrections to make on my application to be sent to the "Big Guys" who decide the country assignments. I have been looking for a way to add typed answers to the sheets I already had so I wouldn't have to go back and get all the new papers re-signed. Finally an answer came. A TYPEWRITER! One of the members of my sponsoring Rotary Club had one I could borrow. I have never actually USED a typewriter before, just seen them in pictures. I had a little too much fun testing the typewriter. 

So after I finished filling in the blank spots on the application, I wanted to type one of my favorite poems. And it only took me about 15 attempts to get it this perfect. I don't even know why I was so obsessed with the typewriter. But in general, I really like crafty or artistic things. So as you can imagine, it was right up my alley. 

But don't get me wrong, it is more difficult that it looks. Especially since this particular one doesn't move the paper up every time you would like to move down a line. 

Okay, enough about Typewriters... 

p.s.- next weekend is the CHRISTMAS OUTBOUND/INBOUND CONFERENCE! I am so excited to see everyone again, especially the other 4 Outbounds! 

Update soon,

Maggie

Second Rotary Lunch Today!

Today was my second Rotary Lunch/meeting! 

Here is, from left to right: Next Year's Rotary Club President (in the gray shirt) and her Assistant (in the orange sweater), me, Paul (who is our club's Inbound exchange student from Thailand) & one of the "Students of the month" that was visiting our club this month, but I sort of forgot his name. Oops!  

The speaker was the IPFW Men's Head Basketball Coach. He was talking about their season, how they scout new players and requirements for players. Plus, he was really funny! And I could tell that he really cares about his players and their future. The world needs more people like him! The food today was a salad bar with rolls and cookies. It was really good. 

Conference soon! Update later, 

Maggie

Hefner Scholarship Meeting

Tonight was the Hefner Scholarship Meeting at Bob Evans. We all showed up with our mothers to discuss what we still need to fill out and turn in for the scholarship. Then, we talked about the upcoming conference on December 7-8. It is two days long and will be, sort of, a Christmas Conference. All of us Outbounds and the various Inbounds are bringing traditional dishes to share native to our culture or family. Here is a picture of all five of us Outbounds for the 2014-2015 year! 

From Left to Right: Me, Sydney, Nicole, Sophie and Hannah 

And what I found interesting was Sydney, Nicole and Hannah ALL listed Australia as their first choice. But Sophie listed Denmark and I listed France as our first choices. There is nothing wrong with Australia, but I just thought it was out of the ordinary for 3/5 Outbounds to have the same first choice. 

And here is my Mom, Karri, and I tonight. We were sitting instead of standing because she is shorter than me and, apparently, it looked bad for the sake of the picture. 

Thanks again for reading! 

--Maggie Blackwell

FYI

I just wanted to inform all of you that from my district, there are four girls, including myself, going on the exchange next year. Their names are Sophie, Sydney and Nicole. I am not sure about Sydney or Nicole, but Sophie has a blog, just like me, to document all that happens leading up to and during the exchange. Here is her URL in case you want to check it out: sophiesyearabroad.weebly.com 

She is such a nice girl. Go check it out! 

Sarah

These pictures are of my cousin, Sarah, and I today. We decided that, since it was a really nice fall day, we would walk up to the park and have a photoshoot! I am going to miss her so much while I'm gone next year. I don't even want to think about it yet. 

-Maggie 

Quotes, I guess.

 

I just thought I would share these funny, yet true quotes. I guess you could apply these messages anyway you'd like, but for the purpose of the blog, I am applying them to exchange. My absolute favorite quote has to be:

I mean, this post doesn't really have a purpose, but I just thought it would be fun to share these with all of you. 

Enjoy!

--Maggie

First Rotary Meeting and so much more...

Today was the first time I went to a Rotary Lunch/Meeting. But I will be going to many more of these meetings before I leave. The food was really good, we had spaghetti & meatballs, salad, soup, garlic bread, and cookies. (Did I mention that I got to miss some school for this? Well, I did!) They also had an interesting speaker from the Parks Department to talk about the community center's activities and fund raisers. Besides that, I had to stand up in front of everyone and be introduced as the "new outbound". I never imagined that I would have gotten this far, and accepted, into the Rotary Exchange program. 

Later, when I was in my room doing homework, my Mom came in and we started chatting. I love talking with her, no matter what we are talking about, she always has the best advice. Then the topic somehow changed to the exchange, mainly about how I have pretty much nine months left at home before I leave. Then I kept talking about how I am growing up and that this chapter of my life is coming to an end. Out of nowhere and without warning, I just started crying. I think it was more of a bittersweet cry than anything else. It is difficult for me to believe that I'll be eighteen this summer and graduating from High School. Ever since I was little I wanted to walk across that stage and receive my diploma like everyone does in the movies. But the exchange is much, much more important to me than the ten seconds receiving the diploma in front of all my family and friends. I have to keep reminding myself, "What am I going to remember in thirty years? The year-long foreign exchange or receiving my diploma/any other important senior milestones I'll be missing?" I think we can all agree that the exchange is one of the greatest opportunities I've ever gotten to be able to do. 

Cannot wait to find out my country assignment,

--Maggie

This post needs no title.

Everyone: 

As you all know, I had an interview on November 2nd to see if I would be accepted on the District level for the exchange. After that interview was over, they told me that they would call me in about a week to let me know if I had been accepted or not. Well, let's just say that they didn't wait a week before calling me. I GOT THE NEWS TONIGHT THAT I AM NOW AN OFFICIAL ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT! After all this hard work, I just feel so relieved and overjoyed that this is actually happening to me. I absolutely cannot wait to start preparing further for this great opportunity! Thanks again to all of you who have helped me reach this goal. 

I'll update again soon, 

--Maggie Blackwell 

Rotary Exchange Student

2014-2015 

District Interview 2013

Today I, along with three other girls, was interviewed for the Rotary Exchange at the District level. At the previous interview, the two clubs in Fort Wayne were just trying to see which candidate would be representing them on the exchange. It was decided that I would represent The Anthony Wayne Rotary Club and one of the other girls, Sophie, would be going with The Fort Wayne Rotary Club. This interview was the biggest interview yet. I was unimaginably nervous when we arrived at Ancilla College in Plymouth, IN this morning. Here is what it looked like:

Isn't it beautiful? I just love it, especially with all the colorful fall leaves. 

Anyway, the students and parents were both interviewed, separately, and asked similar questions. The biggest mistake I made was not being up to date with The United States' current events. To help myself fix that problem, I downloaded the USA Today App. Hopefully this will help me learn more about our country and I'll be caught up soon. 

I won't find out the results for another week or so. Thank you for reading and I'll update again soon!

--Maggie