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

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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 

The application is done!

Tonight was the end to, as I kindly refer to it, the NINETEEN PAGE BEAST, or the Rotary District Application. 

 

Here is (starting at the left) my Dad, my Mom & Kevin R., who is the Youth Exchange Coordinator. All four of us had to sign the many copies of the application that will finally be sent off tomorrow! Yay! It's been a long time coming and I absolutely cannot wait to just start on this once in a lifetime adventure! 

ATTENTION EVERYONE! The long awaited day has come!

I can't believe I am saying this, but I HAVE OFFICIALLY STARTED APPLYING TO BECOME A ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT! I cannot believe this day has come. I've literally waiting and preparing since March 2013. 

As I have also happened to find out, that because of my age, I will only be eligible for a certain group of countries... Here is what I have to pick from:

     --Belgium, Czech Republic, Columbia, Denmark, Faroe Islands, France, Germany, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Netherlands, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey & Venezuela. 

It is kind of "Un-Real" for me to be looking at this list and knowing that I'll be spending my year in one of these countries. I am happy with this list and it will be just that much easier to narrow it down. It is definitely hard to explain, but I am actually getting emotional. 

I'll update later. Thanks for reading!

--Maggie

Time to name that baby!

I have been racking my brain for the past few months trying to make a final decision about a host country and just stick to it. Since I will be applying any day now (Just as soon as Rotary updates their application), I really need to decide. No more second guessing. No more researching. And especially no more changing my mind. 

The main reason I've had such a rough time deciding is because of other people's opinions. I really do appreciate the help and guidance that everyone, most importantly my family, has given me regarding the place I should go. But when it boils down to it, it is my decision to make. I am the one going to be sent away from my high school, my friends/family, and everything familiar for a WHOLE year. *(And in case you didn't know, I have already been on one short-term exchange to Płock, Poland in the summer of 2012 for 4 weeks)*. But I feel like whenever I think I know where I'd like to go, someone has to find something wrong with it. And when that happens, it plants little seeds of doubt in my mind. Then I start thinking things like: "I wonder if that person is right about _________?" or "Oh, I never looked at it that way... Maybe I should rethink my options some more." 

But so far the BEST advice I've gotten, regarding the exchange, was from my Dad. Here is what he had to say, "Mag, don't pick your country by population size or images you find on Google. Pick the one that has the most to offer you. I want you to get the most out of this exchange possible, but that won't happen if you go somewhere that doesn't have that much to give you in return". Great advice,  right? And here is a strange analogy from my mother about the exchange, "Picking a Country is like trying to name a baby. People will give you their opinions for names and once you find one you like, someone will have to just ABSOLUTELY hate it. But once you've already chosen the name, everyone will just say how much they love it, because what's done is done and there is no going back". 

So the point of this blog entry is simply this: I have mentally "Named my baby", but I've decided to not tell anyone what I listed until I have officially applied for the the exchange. Sorry to leave this at a cliff-hanger! 

Until next time,

Maggie 

My beautiful sisters...

I know this is a little besides the point of my blog, but I just wanted to say how much I appreciate my sisters. Yes, even though we are not "Technically" related by any means, they are people who I consider my sisters and close friends. Thank you both, Mariapaz & Ada, for just being the awesome and brave women I've come to know and love. Your sister, Maggie