My exchange student family..

So, going into this whole exchange student experience, i now notice how many examples i have to live by. I am so thankful for all of the exchange students that have become friends while in Anacortes and all the friends from Anacortes i know that journeyed to foreign countries. Without the outstanding examples they displayed i doubt i would have gotten up the courage to think of becoming part of this ongoing family. I would now like to pay a tribute to the ones that have inspired me to be where i am today. 

It started with Claire, I don't think i really realized what she was going into, I remember not talking to one of my best friends for nearly a year, yet she always seemed so courageous. and that is so Claire, being fearless, and undeniably independent. she went as a 16 year old and i can't even imagine being ready at that point. She was the first one to bring this choice into mind, yet i was still not considering it for myself. 

Then Natalie, my longest known friend, had had the dream of France for years before it took place. She showed so much dedication, she strove to achieve the goal and succeeded. I participated much more in Natalie's exchange, she would call me crying about the language, her families and just frustration. everything was layed out for me to see, and i saw it, now the only reason i am still ready to head off after being her shoulder to cry on is because of the way she raved on and on about how she wouldn't exchange that year for anything. And also after the nights she would sleeptalk to me in French after returning home, i couldn't think of anything cooler than to be able to dream in another language.

Jacob, Alberto, and Sophia. Enough Said. i dont think one other school in the entire united states could have ever gotten a better group of exchange students than in my junior year. They bonded yet participated. Shared their culture yet sought to participate in ours. And cared so much about making the year the best they could. Those three could bring a smile to your face in any situation. I could fill this blog with thousands of stories about the ways they wove into a group of friends which was more like a family by the end of the year. We all became very close with them and they showed me the love you could have for somebody you had only known for a couple months (something i was not used to in a small town). At the end of their exchange was when i decided i needed to be an exchange student. I started the process before they had left Anacortes. 

Karisa helped me endlessly with my exchange. she was my exchange twin. we participated at the same age and i'm traveling to the same country she traveled to. España. She has given such all around encouragement. And helped me translate letters to and from my host family. I would probably be stressing so much more in these last couple months if she wasn't here to reassure. She also helped put spain on my top four list of countries, in my rotary decision, with all the beautiful pictures she provided on facebook.

BEATE. my most recent wound. my bestie from norway. i will always love this girl. the deep friendship of the fab five was present in the devotion we had to our happiness....it made me realize how much i love having exchange student friends, yet how hard it is to become so close and then be torn apart. the timing just never seems right. Now all i really wish for in Spain is to be able to make as close and loving as friends and BB was able to make here. My greatest fear is to not have people i can express my feelings to while on exchange because i know that is so important. I'll let you know how it goes.

Marta, i only hung out with her for a total of 4 days, but i loved everything about her. I met her at the rotary conference and she was an exchange student from Spain, living in stanwood. the first thing she did when i met her, right after waking her up, was jump up and give me a HUGE hug. my first taste of spanish culture and i loved it. she made me eager to meet the people of Spain in full force. I'm looking forward to my holidays in the canary islands (marta's home). 

and my KeviBoo. Kevin Steen. My fellow Anacortes exchangee for the 2008-2009 school year. we have been each other's support system for the past year and i cant imagine it with out him. Working as partners in ASB allowed for many "walks" in the halls of AHS. while we were supposed to be discussing the pressing ASB business we gossiped about what we'd heard so far of our families, agonized over many stressful documents, and i know he'll be there to reciprocate my feelings of anxiety, frustration, embarrassment and pure joy when we finally become fluent in our home language. 

Each of these exchange students in my life have taught me a different part of the overall lesson. each one has perfected it in their own little way. And knowing that each of them have had such a large impact on my life, i hope that by doing this exchange i will in turn leave an impact somewhere else in the world. Thank you to so much to Claire, Natalie, Jacob, Alberto, Sophia, Karisa, Beate, Marta, Kevin and all the Rotary 5050 family, you are all my family in so many ways, thank you all for inspiring me to such great lengths. i love you.