Last Blog in Mexico

It is now June.

Last year at this time, I was graduating high school. I was talking to my future first host family frequently, trying to pack my whole life into 2 suitcases, and completely in the dark about what awaited me upon arrival to Mexico.

Nothing is ever as it appears, and exchange is no different. It has been a crazy year.

I am going home July 1^st. This month will be one of the craziest 30 days I have ever spent. When I left Wisconsin, I was saying goodbye but it was more like, "see you later". For many of the people I met this year, goodbye is just that. 

My year in review:

I traveled to new places. My favorites: Oaxaca, San Cristobal de las Casas, and Acapulco. I would definitely recommend that anyone passing through Mexico visit those cities. Of course, Veracruz is where I have spent most of my time, and I have to say I got pretty lucky. It’s hot, but I am always within like 2 miles of the ocean. The people are friendly. Another plus is it’s pretty!

I have learned that the world is a really small place. I went to Mexico, a Croatian went to my house, and a Mexican boy went to her house. An exchange student from my district in the US went to Turkey, and met my second host brother and another boy from my district in Mexico. I have friends in Finland, Brazil, Belgium, Germany, Taiwan, Japan, Hungary, Australia, France, and pretty much every corner of the globe. 

I have learned how to live with many different kinds of people with different ways of life. In the end, though, I am really happy that I was born into my family. As an exchange student we learn that “it’s not wrong, it’s just different”, and that is the truth. You cannot look at another culture and criticize anything because your own culture provides a basis for all of your beliefs. It is hard to tell how deep the way someone was raised truly affects them, and there are times that after ten months in another country I come across differences I never could have anticipated. You learn to love your own country and culture more than you could have ever imagined because it is what you are made of. You realize that everyone is flawed, every country, every way of life. But they also are all perfect in their own ways.

I am excited to go home and to work for my own money. I’m sure my mom and dad are laughing as I write this, but I miss working and productivity SO much. I miss my independence, being able to go to the movies without asking my parents for money, being able to drive myself where I need to go. This year I had to learn to depend on people again, and to be honest I hate it!! I hate having to always ask someone to take me to the plaza, or to have to rely on the awful unreliable bus that passes my house only when it feels like it. Because of all the independence I have been given throughout my life in the US, I did not learn independence as an exchange student, but rather dependence. However, I have also had moments that force me completely out of my comfort zone, for example the first day I took the bus alone in Mexico and I was not left with instructions on how to actually get where I needed to go.

I have 3 weeks and 2 days left here, and I plan to have a nice time. It will be filled with goodbyes, see you laters, and lots of hugs. I am going to enjoy myself and take home some wonderful memories of Mexico. I will never forget the incredible people I met this year and several will be lifelong friends of mine. I lived through some hard times in Veracruz and I had some difficult months personally.

I hope I managed to undo some of the stereotypes plaguing people from the USA. Rotary exchange students are ambassadors, whether they like it or not. We do care about our families and spend time with them, even if it involves crossing the country and working extra to be able to. We are hard workers. The USA is not like all the movies we produce. (Thank goodness!) Always remember that your actions reflect on your family, your town, your country.

Travel is an insatiable need. Once you leave your own country, or even just your city, curiosity builds and it becomes impossible to stay away. The world is a really big place and there is a lot to see. Simply put: wanderlust never goes away! I’ll be traveling to new places for a long time.

This will probably be my last blog post before I go home on July 1^st. Thanks to everyone who took the time to read this blog throughout the year! I really appreciate it. To everyone who supported me during my adventure (mom), I owe you big time! The people who hold a special place in my heart are those who never gave up on me, who knew I would be up to whatever challenges faced me, who sent encouraging notes and kind words. If you only knew how much that meant to me throughout the year…

Anyone reading this blog does NOT fall into the following category, but just for good measure: to those who thought going on exchange was a stupid idea, or that putting off a year of college would only leave me behind, or that I shouldn’t have gone to Mexico, they were wrong. Many says their exchange year was “the best year of their life”. Mine was not the best year of my life. (I have a lot of years left in my life, after all!) I did learn a lot about myself, became pretty much fluent in Spanish (something I wouldn’t have done in the USA), and had some good moments. It was not easy, it was not a 10 and a half month vacation. I went to an awesome country and lived a lot in a year. If they still think it wasn’t worth it, good. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but no one will take away everything I did to get here and come home a better person. 

Update from a slacking blogger!

Hello again! I know it has been quite a while since my last post, so I guess it is about time for an update! Since I last wrote about my Mexican Adventure in the beginning at March- nearly TWO months ago- a lot has happened.

March 23^rd - 25^th: Tuxpan

We had a Rotary trip to Tuxpan the third weekend of March. Tuxpan is about four or five hours north of Veracruz.  The four exchange students from my Rotary Club were to travel together, leaving Friday morning at 8 a.m. from Veracruz. We arrived on time, passed through the doors, and started to look for our bus. Every bus station employee we asked told us our bus had not arrived yet. After ten minutes, the next person we asked said the bus had left, TEN MINUTES AGO!! We immediately started telling them how NO ONE had told us, we didn’t hear the announcements, etc. In the end, we had to change our tickets, and wait three hours in the bus station. We got to Tuxpan around 4:30 in the afternoon, and we met up with all the other exchange students from the state of Veracruz at a pool party. It was awesome to see them all again, just like a family reunion! We were assigned host families for the weekend, and we went to our new houses to get ready for the evening. I was staying with Paola, an Outbound to Germany, with Charlotte (Germany, lives in Veracruz) and Florence (Belgium, lives in Veracruz).  We had a lot of fun chatting and hanging out. We went out for dinner with all the exchange students, hung out some more, and then headed back to our houses. The next day, Saturday, we went to some ruins, called Tajin. I really enjoyed it because they were not quite as populated by tourists and they were really cool ruins! On Sunday, we had a pool party/ pot luck at a hotel. It was a great time hanging out with all the exchange students and Outbounds! Of course, I returned home redder than a tomato, but besides that it was a lot of fun!

With my German friend, Jula! 

Charlotte (Germany), Paola (Outbound to Germany), me, Jula (Germany), Florence (Belgium), and Cleo (USA)

Voladores de Papantla: Flyers of Papantla

Me, Jula, Kara (Australia), and Amy (USA)
At Tajin

Germans dressed up like Veracruz natives "Jarochos!"

Semana Santa (Holy Week): April 1st- 15^th:

In Mexico, Holy Week is a nationwide holiday, celebrated with up to two weeks of vacation from school and work. Some jobs only have a few days, but most of the elementary and high schools have two full weeks off. Since my host parents at the time are teachers in a middle school, they had lots of time off and decided to take the exchange students from our Rotary Club to a hotel in Tierra Blanca for a couple days. So Monday, April 2^nd, my host parents took Aino (Finland), Edouard (France), and I on a mini vacation. We spent hours in swimming, playing volleyball and soccer, laying in the sun, and singing Karaoke!  We came home on Wednesday with lots of stories to tell.

Desi, Me, and Aino

Aino and I dressed up dancing in our cabin!

Thursday, April 5^th: My first host family took Aino (Finland), their current exchange student, and I on a trip to Queretaro. Queretaro is about 7 hours away from Veracruz, in the center of the country. It is a really cool colonial town with a lot of history, especially as part of the Mexican Revolution. As part of our stay, we took a nighttime tour of the old “Casonas” as our tour guide told the legends associated with them. I tend to be frightened pretty easily, so I spent the evening constantly making sure there were no ghosts or any other suspicious creatures following us. Our weekend ended on Sunday with a long drive back to Veracruz!

Aino and I in a park in Queretaro!

Friends! In front of a fountain :)

Host Sisters! Nora, Me, and Aino

Beautiful Church

Tuesday, April 10^th: My friend Elaine Anderson, fellow Watertownian and Rotary Youth Exchange student living in Villahermosa, came to visit me in Veracruz for a week! We took her around Veracruz, visiting “famous” places, spending time at the beach, eating lots of ice cream, walking around the plaza, and getting caught up after 8 months in Mexico! It was a lot of fun and I am so glad she came. I’m working on a visit to Villahermosa in the next few weeks!

Visit to La Parroquia with Elaine

Lunch on a lazy day

Me, Marcela (Brasil), Aino (Finland), Desi (2nd Host Mom), Elaine, and Florence (Belgium)

Aino's Future Telling Card Game!

Friday, April 13^th: Changed to my last host family! I had a wonderful time with my second host family so it was a bit difficult to “say goodbye”, but it is just another phase in my exchange year. I am now living with my last host family, and I’m back to the other side of Veracruz. I really enjoy being so much closer to town.

Saturday, April 14^th: We had our Rotary Club’s Anniversary Dinner on Saturday. Here are some pictures!

Aino (Finland), Desiree (2nd Host Mom), Marcela (Brasil), Edouard (France), Me, Jorge (2nd Host Dad)

Me, Marcela, Angela Perera (Aspiring Congresswoman for Upcoming Elections), Aino, and Elaine

Marcela, Ely (1st Host Mom), AIno, Me, Edouard

Club President's Wife Lucero and I

Singing Karaoke!

April 20^th- 22^nd: Rotary Trip!

We had another scheduled trip with all the exchange students, this time to nearby Xalapa (the capital of Veracruz) and a camp called “Mexico Verde”. They piled us all on a bus and we drove the two hours to Xalapa, where we visited an anthropology museum. Next step was a bit of shopping at street stands, I bought some adorable homemade earrings. After that, they took us to “Mexico Verde” for the rest of the weekend. We played typical camp games, did an obstacle course (in my opinion, taking kids who have been in a country for 8 or 9 months eating a lot and rarely exercising to a physically challenging activity is a pretty bad idea), and spent hours talking. Once again, it was awesome to see all the exchange students. It was the last trip for several of the students, so there were a few sad goodbyes.

April 29^th: Day Trip
Last Sunday, a Rotary family took me on a trip to some nearby towns. We visited “La Antigua”, home to the first church of America and Hernán Cortes’ house. It’s a really neat place to visit because of the rich history. After “La Antigua” we went to Cempoala to check out some ruins. I didn’t know that all these archeological sites existed so close to Veracruz! Next, we went to Chachalacas- to the beach! On one side is the river; on the other is the ocean. We spent a few hours swimming and laying out in the sun before going to eat a nice seafood lunch. One of the foods I have been able to enjoy a lot this year is seafood, and I have found that my favorite is octopus! Yum! By then it was getting late and they took me back to my house.

Tree used to tie up boats back in the 1500s, when the water still reached it! 

Me with Rotary family! In Hernan Cortes' bedroom!

Really cool building, trees are intertwined- if they cut down the trees, the walls fall down. Amazing!

Just posing!

Bridge.. 

Ruins in Cempoala

April 30^th- May 1^st: Chachalacas
On Monday, my friend Daniella and her family invited me to go with them to Chachalacas again! We drove up around noon and spent the whole day relaxing. We had a wonderful view of the ocean, and were able to sit out in the sun, in the pool, and have a good time. We spent the night, and after spending a good part of Tuesday in Chachalacas, we made our way back to Veracruz.

Poolside!

My friend Daniella posing on the bridge

showing off the awesome hotel!

 

Meditating..

Re- Enacting our 12th Birthdays

Well, that’s the update! As of May 1^st, I officially only have two months left in Mexico. It seems like just yesterday when I had just finished two WEEKS here! I am getting excited to see my whole family once again, especially those who I haven’t been able to talk to very much throughout the year. Lucky for me, we’ve got a few weddings coming up!!I plan on enjoying the little time I’ve got left, although the heat may kill me! May is supposed to be one of the warmest months in Veracruz, and I can already feel the temperature rising. My dad and I keep joking that I’m going to freeze when I go back to Watertown, but I think there’s a lot of truth to the statement!

Thanks for reading!

How it all started.. (Kind of)

Thanks to my mom letting me borrow her Nook for my last 6 months in Mexico and Watertown Public Library’s new online feature, I have been reading like crazy lately. One of the books I’ve picked up is Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie. As I mentioned in my last post, there is a blog by the same name by the same guy. I didn’t just stumble open any of this though. I first heard about Blake Mycoskie through his company, TOMs shoes. [TOMs is a brand of shoes. What makes TOMs really special is their business model of “One for One”. That means that when you buy a pair of shoes from them, they give away a pair to children in need. Shoes are really important on many levels. They protect kids’ feet from diseases that come from the soil, and allow them to go to school, due to shoes being a requirement in most schools. TOMs are really comfortable, cute shoes, but I bought them because they help people. ]

                In his book, he talks about finding your passion. In order to do this, he suggests asking yourself these three questions:

                 If you did not have to worry about money, what would you do with your time?

            What kind of work would you want to do?

            What cause would you serve?

The first question really connected with me. It’s the same question my mom asked me at the beginning of my senior year. Noticing my apparent wanderlust and desire to do something different, she gave me the opportunity to look outside the defined lines of what a college senior should be doing. My answer: go abroad. I didn’t care what I did once I got there, but I needed to see the world. After that, we started to search for options, eventually deciding on Rotary Youth Exchange.  It worked out, and here I am 7 months later in Mexico. If it wouldn’t have been possible with Rotary, I was going to find another way. My point is that I didn’t decide to be a Rotary Youth Exchange student, I decided to travel. Whatever you want to do, there will always be many paths to choose from. If one way doesn’t work out, find another.
My year abroad wasn’t about getting travel out of my system. I haven’t been “cured” of my wanderlust, and I never will be. If anything, travel has now become a part of me, just as much as the blood that flows through my veins.

This year wouldn’t have been possible without my parents, for believing in me, and for giving me the opportunity to do what I felt was right for me.  This is not the first time my parents have let me follow my dreams. At 16, I went to Spain for a month to stay with our summer exchange student, Carmen, and her family. At 17, I went to Guatemala with a school trip for two weeks. I owe so much to them- both for having faith in me, and the world. I know the world can be a scary place, and if you only look at the news and crime rates you might never get past that. In every city in every country in the world bad things happen. Beneath that there are beautiful people who love the same as you do, who care for their families, who want nothing more than to live a good life. I don’t know why my parents never listened while others told them how dangerous it was to send their teenage daughter out into the world, but luckily they didn’t. (Side note: I have also always had the support of my grandparents, my numerous aunts and uncles, and cousins.) I’m thankful for how they raised me, teaching me to look beyond stereotypes, to learn from every experience.  I’m also just really happy that they are my parents.

                If you have time in your busy life, try to find your passion. And read Start Something That Matters. Thanks for reading my ramblings. 

Find Your Passion

                In the book I’m reading right now, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman, this young girl’s great aunt tells her to find her fire. The exact scene is as follows.

                “She glanced over her shoulder at the house, which was now bathed in a warm tint of yellow from the sun. "Yes, everyone needs to find the one thing that brings out her passion. It’s what        we do and share with the world that matters. I believe it’s important that we leave our          communities in better shape that we found them. Cecelia Rose," she said, reaching for my             hand, "Far too many people die with a heart that's gone flat with indifference, and it surely   must be a terrible way to go. Life will offer us amazing opportunities, but we've got to be         awake to recognize them." 

                She rested her hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes. "If there's one thing I'd like   most for you, it’s that you'll find your calling in life. That's where true happiness and purpose                     lie. Whether it’s taking care of abandoned animals, saving old houses from the wreckin' ball   or reading to the blind, you've got to find your fire, sugar. You'll never be fulfilled if you don't." 

                "But how will I know what my fire is?" 

                "Oh, you'll know. One day you'll do something, see something or get an idea that seems to     pop up from nowhere. And you'll feel a kind of stirring- like a warm flicker inside your chest.             When that happens, whatever you do, don't ignore it. Open your mind and explore the idea.          Fan your flame. And when you do, you'll have found it.”

This may not seem to have a whole lot to do with “Taylor’s Adventures in Mexico” but it is my blog, and I can write whatever I’d like! So first, it’s a good book. If you haven’t read it, do!

Now on to my two cents.
I believe this scene provides advice to all of us. Whether you are 17, 25, 42, 60, or 93 we all need to find that fire inside of us. It is never too late. Life is about finding what makes you happy.

                Our world is constantly bombarded by what we cannot afford, how much we should save, and worrying about the money we don’t have. Money can buy you nice things and get you to exotic places, but it does not create the experiences that will change your life. I went to another country to discover how small the world is and to realize the “things” I miss most from home aren’t things at all. I have learned to be happy, just because every day is so special. Happiness is greater than money.

                You never know when you will discover your passion. Passion doesn’t pay the bills, but money does not feed your soul. In Mexico, I have a lot of time to think. During the forty minute drive to school, at school, waiting for my parents to pick me up, etc.  All that before lunch time! I’ve started to think about what I want to do with my life. I know, I know- going abroad to “find yourself” is really cliché, but it’s cliché for a reason. Anyways, recently I have been telling people that I’m going to be a pediatrician, well that’s the first thing I say after “I don’t know, yet!” It’s either that, or an oncologist or a teacher… I think. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll just be a world traveler, fashion designer, doctor, journalist, and pilot.

                I’m not really worried that I don’t have my life planned out to a T just yet. The truth is, I don’t want to just grow up to enter a career. I want to grow up to be happy, to have fun, and to do something meaningful with my life. If that means I have to cut out some of the so- called essentials in my life to save my pennies and follow my dreams, then that’s what I’ll do. I plan on coloring outside the lines, and living my life for me.

                I’ll leave you with one more quote. T. Alan Armstrong said, “If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.”

                If you’re looking for some inspiration, I recommend checking out this blog, http://www.startsomethingthatmatters.com/ ,written by the founder of TOMs shoes. If you don’t know what TOMs are, look it up now! We can all make a difference, as soon as we set out minds to it.

Drum roll please.... CARNAVAL 2012 :)

“No hay que llorar, que la vida es un carnaval, es más bello vivir cantando. No hay que llorar, que la vida es un carnaval y las penas se van cantando.” Song by Celia Cruz
“There’s no reason to cry, life is a carnival, and it’s more beautiful to live while singing. There’s no reason to cry, life is a carnival, and worries leave with singing.”

                I’m sure many have heard of the infamous “Carnaval” in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. According to our good friend Wikipedia, “The Brazilian Carnival is one of the best-known celebrations today, but many cities and regions worldwide celebrate with large, popular, and days-long events. The Carnival of Rio de Janeiro is the biggest Carnival in the world, and the biggest popular party on the planet, according to the Guinness Book of World Records 2010. The Rio de Janeiro Carnival is also considered the world's most famous.” However, Carnaval celebrations are international.

            Every year, Carnival celebrations happen all over the world in places like South America, Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean. The festivities typically include lively parades, rich foods, and different forms of entertainment ranging from circus stunts to musical performances.

            Many different theories surround the origins of Carnival. One suggests that it is derived from the Latin words caro meaning meat and vale meaning farewell, possibly describing the necessity of using all perishables before the 40 days of fasting during Lent. Some also believe that the celebrations were a way to scare away evil spirits, thereby saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring. Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life. Carnival is a festival traditionally held in Catholic and, to a lesser extent, Eastern Orthodox societies. Protestant areas usually do not have Carnival celebrations or have modified traditions, such as the Danish Carnival or other Shrove Tuesday events

            My Carnaval experience began Saturday, February 18^th, with the evening parade accompanied by some local and exchange friends. Parades are pretty much the same everywhere, right? Not exactly. In Mexico, the Carnaval parades are more interactive than the typical sit-and-applaud parades we are used to in the US. Spectators would just join the parade whenever they felt like it, dancing along to the Salsa, jumping around, taking pictures. The floats were enormous and numerous, filled with dance routines, the Queen of Carnaval, and local businesses advertising their wares. The best way to explain Carnaval is to have you all picture a big, crazy party with the whole town, and tons of people who came just for the party. There are people in their nineties, little kids, and everyone in between. It’s loud and obnoxious, the traffic is unbearable, but it is filled with so much excitement and energy. Although I was warned by locals for months to stay far away from Carnaval, and told over and over again how horrible it was, full of drunks and mayhem, I couldn’t come to Veracruz and miss out on Carnaval. Veracruz’s Carnaval is called “The happiest in the world” and I would have to agree on that. As far as the “mayhem and drunkenness”, it was pretty controlled due to our awesome naval police. In Veracruz, we no longer have regular city police due to Operation Veracruz Seguro – we have state police, and the naval police. The naval police are really respected, and if people don’t behave, they kindly escort them out of the parade for the rest of the day. Saturday night after the parade, we decided to go out with the exchange students to La Casona, a club in Veracruz. I had never been before, but everyone said it was the busiest they had ever seen. So many people come from out of town during Carnaval that every single place on the boulevard was completely full. This NEVER happens- it was crazy! One group even made their own party outside an Oxxo- a convenience store.

            Sunday morning I went to Carnaval again, this time with my host parents and another exchange student. The previous night we were in the middle of the bleachers, but on Sunday we were at the bottom, prime location to join the party! Instead of sitting back and watching the dancing groups and floats pass by, we became part of the parade! Dancing in the street along with the floats and taking pictures with everyone. It was so much fun. We had a little picnic while we watched, and just had a good time.
            Throughout the festivities, there were free concerts every night. On Wednesday night, I went to see Enrique Iglesias! We just showed up, planning to be standing along with everyone else, literally a sea of people. However, my host mom managed to get the two of us into the bleachers (supposedly a bracelet only zone...) so she and I were quite comfortable the whole time. It was a really cool experience, the crowd singing in Spanish and English, so much energy!  We found several Brazilian exchange students, one of which is from my clubJ, and we went to Burger King with them before taking them home. The whole night was a blast! It marked the official closure of Carnaval of 2012. We’re now stuck with the leftovers of Carnaval- the tourists who still haven’t quite found their way back home, the bleachers blocking a lane of traffic on the boulevard, and a whole city completely worn out from the nonstop party. Many are glad to see Carnaval stowed away once again, but there are just as many who are counting the days down till the next year. As much as I enjoyed the festivities, I’m also pretty happy to have my city back. Until next time!

My sources:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival

http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/Carnival-celebrations-world.html?id=284688

4 Months and 13 Days to go...

Hi! It's been a while since I last posted, so here's a quick update, along with part of an essay I wrote about Rotary Youth Exchange. I apologize for the lack of organization and general writing skills, but I used it all up on the essay I had to write (that was due today). 

-Went to Acapulco, about 11 hours away with my host family and two other exchange students from my club

For pictures, go to:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150541257194779.374565.540949778&type=3&l=d646b04e09

- Changed schools. I am now at la Universidad Villa Rica/ Universidad del Valle de Mexico. 

- Felt an earth tremor! Magnitude 4.6 ish

And hereee is some delightful reflection on Rotary and exchange...

My senior year of high school I stumbled upon the chance of a lifetime with Rotary International Youth Exchange. As soon as I realized I could go abroad for an entire year and experience true immersion I was hooked. I filled out the eighteen-page application, made my six photocopies, was interviewed, and waited patiently until I received the news that I would be going to Mexico. I would not trade my time in Veracruz, Mexico for anything in the world. It is one of the hardest things I have ever done; leaving my family, friends, and anything familiar for an entire year, learning a different language, having everything I have ever known challenged every day. It is also the most rewarding experience I have ever had. In the past six months I have managed to integrate into another culture, to understand why people think a certain way, to turn being out of my comfort zone into a new comfort. I have learned what it means to truly appreciate my family and all that I have at home. Rotarians often say, “It’s not wrong, it’s just different”, a phrase that perfectly defines living in another country. Instead of convincing me of the superiority or failings of my own country, I have been given the chance to decide what I agree with and what I would change, in the United States and the world. More confident, more accepting, and overall happier. My year as a Rotary Youth Exchange student will always be a turning point for me. It is the year I realized anything worth doing is not going to be easy and I can be anything I aspire to be.

And that's all folks!

For your reading pleasure: Ramblings that have Nothing to do with Anything

I have a few important updates!
The first one is that I got accepted to the University of Wisconsin- Madison! I found out on the first night I was with my family in Cancun. Last year I was pretty set on the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, but I changed my mind (I was warned this may happen, Mom don't say 'I told you so' either). Anyways, I am really excited and it will be awesome to be just an hour away from my family.

Second, as I already mentioned, I spent a week with my host sister and my family in Cancun! It was amazing. There's nothing like being away from your family for a long time to make you realize how wonderful they are.

Third, I have changed families. It wasn't that big of a deal becuase I have already met all of my host families and see them all frequently.

Alright, I've been trying to write two scholarship application essays, 350 and 500 words, and the only things I come up with are better suited for a blog. I used to be really good about procrastinating and then being able to write an on-topic essay with no problem. Unfortunately, I have apparntly lost that skill and now I'm just blabbering on about stuff that has nothing to do with the task at hand. I know, I know- if I'm having troubles writing about the topic, I probably shouldn't just use it as a blog post and put off my to-do list, but that's what's going to happen.

Some important stuff that I'm trying to make fit in an essay, just because I want to talk about it/ can't think of anything else to talk about:

First attempt:

"Going to Spain during my sixteenth summer does not make me different from the forty-five million tourists who go there every year. Neither does spending two weeks in rural Guatemala. Being one of nine thousand who annually choose to be Rotary Youth Exchange students is nothing to brag about. Uniqueness comes from what a person learns from their experiences, changing their outlook on life."

"I have done a lot of things so far in my life, but one by one they are not near as important as all together."

Second attempt:

"Like many others, I have the hope that someday I will make a difference. There are hundreds of thousands of ambitious souls who feel that they can truly make an impact on the world. Unfortunately, life takes over and those dreams are left forgotten in an old cardboard box. Fulfilling those dreams is not about making time to do something great, it’s about creating your life to make a difference every single day. "

"Making a difference is not always a grand gesture. We can all make a difference in our everyday lives."

Third attempt:

"Many times we set out to change the world, and only end up changing ourselves. Although it looks like we have done nothing, changing ourselves is a direct path to changing the world. If we can influence just one person, be that ourselves or others, to truly consider their life, their goals, and how they can do good, we change the world. "


Well that's what I've got so far! None of it really has all that much to do with what I am supposed to be writing about, but at least it sounds good...