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

 

Countries in question

Recently, I have been researching all the possible countries that I could be interested in. I have been making these Pro/Con lists for each country. There are other ones beside the three here, but these three are actually the best ones so far. Some of the other ones have only 1 Pro and several Cons. I got some of these opinions from my own thoughts and others from blogs/google searches. So far so good.

I also bought a book today at Barnes & Noble for visual learners trying to learn French. It is AWESOME! First it shows a picture of something. Then underneath it lists the French word and then the English word. Can it get much better than that? 

Anyway, hopefully with the help of this research I'll be able to finally pick my three countries. 

--Maggie

Making my final decisions...

Throughout these next upcoming months I will have to make my final decisions about the exchange. What countries (I have to name my top three) to pick? Now that's the question. It's more like a mental or internal battle that I've been having with myself for the last several months. I just don't want to choose the wrong one. But also, if I would get stuck with a country that I didn't really want, I couldn't blame anyone else but myself. And that is a hard reality to face. But I have narrowed it down to at least France and Australia. But I still need one more. And after that, I need to decide an order. 

Okay on a happier note, my Mom, Dad & Cousin Sarah will be coming to visit me during the Spring Break of the year I'm gone. How exciting! But mostly, I just can't wait to get started with the planning for the trip and to get out of Fort Wayne. Don't get me wrong, I will miss my family, friends and just the feeling of everything being familiar to me. I just feel like I need a change. 

Also right now I am currently hosting my second exchange student. Our first one was from Poland, her name is Ada, and I had gone on exchange to Płock, Poland in the summer of 2012 for a month with the exchange group, "Sister Cities". And then after I came home she came and lived with me for a month. But now we are hosting another exchange student.

 

Our new exchange student is from Curico, Chile. Her name is Mariapaz. She and I just get each other. I don't understand it at times, we can just finish each others sentences. She is my person (If you just got my Grey's Anatomy reference). I love her to death and I am going to literally be hysterical when she goes home. 

 

In the top picture Mariapaz and my cousin Sarah are trying to be models, in the middle picture she is just being her normal self, as usual, and in the bottom picture she takes her position as we watch our favorite show, Grey's Anatomy!!

Anyway, I will update again later when I find out more information.

--Maggie Blackwell