Departure Date!

I finally got some news from my host District over in Istanbul, Turkey. Here is what the email said: 

"We are expecting you at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, beginning fromAugust 20th, 2014. Your host-family and we will be there to pick you up from the airport.

We would require you to send us an e-mail along with your host-family regarding your flight details.

You will have your “Orientation Camp”in mid-September. Following the Orientation Camp; you will have two weeks of Turkish classes." 

How exciting! It's just awesome to have any information at all. Now all I have to wait for is my visa guarantee form and news regarding host families! 

Can't wait to start this amazing adventure. 

--Maggie Blackwell

Catching up

Hey Everyone! 

Sorry I haven't written in a while, things have just gotten really busy lately. I still haven't found out any new information about my year abroad in Turkey (such as family, school, specific city, ect.) but I do know my district, which is 2420. Anyway, recently I went to a leadership camp called RYLA. A few of us involved with rotary went, but most if the kids there were nominated to attend by their schools. I had an awesome time! My group all got along really well and I honestly can't believe how we all got so close in just 3 days. It's unbelievable. 

Here is a picture of my entire group, we were the "Beach ball" group (all the other groups were other various summer-themed objects). I miss my group so much, I can't even put it into words. 

Also, in other news, two of the other Outbounds, Sophie and Kenzie, modeled for my school photography project! They were very fun to work with! 

Here is Kenzie, the Outbound going to Germany.

And here is Sophie, one of the Outbounds going to Denmark.

Well, that's about all, for now at least! Next weekend is the District Conference with all the Inbounds and Outbounds. 

Thanks for reading,

Maggie Blackwell

International Youth Exchange Expo

Earlier today was the IYE Expo at IPFW! I just wanted to thank everyone who put in all the effort planning the expo and also to those to helped set up and tear down. You guys are awesome. 

I had such a good time hanging out with the other Inbounds/Outbounds. 

Here in this picture is (from left to right) Zuzia from Poland, Bruno from Brazil & I. 

And here is a bigger group of us, (top row, left to right) Hannah who is going to Denmark, me, Kenzie who is going to Germany, & Por who is from Thailand. And in the bottom row is Bruno and Zuzia. 

But the best part of the day was after the Expo. Bruno, Zuzia, Kenzie, & I went to Jefferson Point (it's an outdoor outlet mall). We walked around and got some really good ice cream at Coldstone. I had such a great time with all of them today, and I can't wait to see Bruno and Juna (the Inbound from Belgium) over spring break down in Fort Myers Beach, Florida! 

--Maggie

Outbounds, Shopping and Countdowns!

Today I got together with some of my fellow Outbounds: Sydney (going to Australia), Sophie (going to Denmark), and Kenzie (going to Germany). 

Here is a lovely selfie that Sydney (left) and Sophie (right) took on my phone earlier when we were all out eating lunch. I love how I've gotten so close to all the other Outbounds. They are all such AMAZING women, and their host families will be so lucky to have them. I can't even express how much I am going to miss every one of them. It is so rare that I find people that I like and have such a great time with as I do with them. 

Also, I started using this countdown app to count the days until I leave for exchange. Here is the "current" time:

Isn't that crazy!? 175 DAYS! That just seems like right around the corner. I feel like before I know it, the count down clock will be at 2 days. 

Thanks for reading! 

--Maggie

Hayir Türkçe bilmiyorum

(The title is translated as: I don't speak Turkish.)

Merhaba Everyone! 

Benim adim Maggie. (In English, this is translated as: Hello Everyone! My name is Maggie.) Today, I "officially" started buying books and videos on how to speak Turkish, Turkey travel books, and books describing Turkey's past and how they are structured now. 

These are just two of the four books I have purchased (the other two still haven't arrived from Amazon). I am so excited to start learning more about Turkey!

Thank you for reading!

Maggie Blackwell

February Conference

This past weekend was the second Inbound/Outbound Conference. But this time the Outbound parents came along as well. Many of us Outbounds were really anxious about finding out our future host countries, infact, we have all been waiting forever to know. Well, the conference started out with all of us gathering in this meeting room to introduce ourselves to everyone else there. But as soon as we, the Outbounds, started introducing ourselves, the man who is in charge of the conference, handed each of us a packet with the information about our HOST COUNTRIES! How amazing, right!? There is actually a story behind my country assignment. Originally, I was assigned to go to France. But shortly after I was accepted, France decided to change their rules and regulations, which unfortunately, made me uneligable to go there. And by the time the news of this got back to the Rotary back here in the states, they had to act quickly to resubmit my application to other counties with the hopes of finding a host country for me. Well as it turns out, Turkey was able to find a spot for me in district 2420, or the Istanbul area. 

Also, here is a picture of some of the Inbounds and Outbounds.

So now, I can start preparing for my once in a lifetime adventure to Istanbul, Turkey! 

Thanks for reading everyone!

--Maggie Blackwell 

Outbound Coffee Date

Today I met three of my fellow Outbounds, Kenzie, Sydney and Sophie for coffee. We were out for three hours just talking and having fun. These girls are so nice, confident and funny; I am glad to just be in the same group as them! The four of us get along so well and I had such a good time hanging out with them. There are three other Outbounds, Hannah, Erin and Nicole, but they all couldn't make it because of the weather or other plans. While we were out for coffee, we decided to shop for some lapel buttons for our Rotary Jackets (For the exchange all of the Outbounds are required to have a navy blazer that we pin buttons and other objects that we collect throughout the exchange on, sort of like a scrapbook that you can wear). I, of course, only have a few buttons on my jacket. And on top of decorating our own jackets, we have to have pins that we are supposed to trade with other students for pins from their country to then put on our jackets. Here is what my jacket looks like now:

(I'll be sure to post a picture of my jacket when it's completed so you'll be able to see the difference between now and the future) 

And in case you are wondering, I still have no idea which country I'll be going to on exchange. They told me I should find out anytime now, so just look out for updates! Thanks again for reading!

--Maggie Blackwell