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 

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