North Bay Weekend!

All of the Canadian outbound students had only been together for a few days at Camp Wanakita, but as I went to North Bay and saw them again it felt like I have known them forever. The North Bay weekend was for parents and the outbound Canadians, filled with information packed meetings all weekend to make sure everyone knew exactly what we have to do in preparation for the upcoming adventure.
It started with my parents meeting the head Rotarian's that are going to be taking me through this whole process and getting me set up with all the paper work that I will need before I head out. I didn't realize how much work this takes to get me ready for this.. travel visa, health insurance, schooling information, travel plans etc! While my parents and I had a meeting with the Rotarian's, they asked me to speak some Swiss German for them. I was unaware this was going to come up and had no preparation for it at all !! I tried to dance around the whole subject but it didn't work. They told me that I will have to know "My name is Katie, I am Canadian, where is the bathroom? and where is the telephone?" because the next day each student was going to say that in their new language in front of all other students and parents. As soon as I left that interview, I ran to my phone and went on the Internet to message my friend Laura. Laura is in the same program and I met her at Camp Wanakita, she is staying in Canada from Switzerland. Luckily she is a HUGE help, and messaged me back all of those phrases and I memorized them so that I'd be ready for the next day.
Saturday night almost all of us outbounds went out for dinner at a lovely Japanese restaurant then went to the movies, we got home at around midnight and had to be up the next day very early to start the meetings again. It was so worth it, these people are amazing and it was nice to hear that we are all going through the same stuff regarding the exchange. Anxious, nervous and still in disbelief of this actually happening was a feeling that many people feel these days, including me.
It was interesting watching a movie together and knowing that this time next year we are all going to be in different countries. We are all going to be about 8 months into it and have so many stories to tell and so many experiences under our belt. This time next year we will all be on our own in this world living a dream.
On Sunday all the health, money and other issues were all talked about. The part that was most beneficial for my family and I was when the mother talked about her perspective of the whole exchange which helped my mom out a lot, also when the daughter that went to Brazil talked about the whole exchange which helped me out a lot.
Although it's still hard to believe this is happening, time is quickly winding down. It felt like just yesterday I was just getting accepted saying 9 or so months until I leave!! Now, it is almost 4 months until I leave and it's moving very fast...

Life is so exciting when you set yourself up for experiences such as this. So, set yourself up for different experiences and opportunities, what is there to lose??

And the country is ...

I have been very, very busy and never received a chance to update my blog about which country I got selected to go to!
We went to Camp Wanakita for the weekend and that was an unreal time! I got picked up at lunch time from school and had lunch with the Bracebridge Rotary Club, and got to meet some very nice people. Then, we hit the road to Haliburton for an excited, eventful and suspenseful weekend! I arrived and began to meet people that I knew were going to be great friends of mine, and we all started to talk and realized all the things we had in common. I think there were around 30 students there.. half inbound and half outbound. (Inbound are the students staying in Canada for a year, and outbound are the students leaving in August for a year).
Time flew by, on Saturday all the students went into the forest and did five hours of snow shoeing!! I didn't expect it to be so much fun, we went up and down steep hills through a large forest, compassing our whole way through. At the half way point, we made a fire and roasted marsh mellows. After the long trek, we arrived back at the base of camp and did some high ropes that was also so much fun. Although the whole weekend was amazing, I couldn't get the realization that Sunday morning was the morning I will find out the country that I will go to for a year! I tried my hardest to keep my mind off of it, and focused purely on the events that were taking place at that exact moment.
Sunday morning came and the feeling of excitement was prevalent as we rushed through our breakfast, wishing upon the moment we find out which country we were headed to for a year. The time finally came, and as I sat in the room with all the other hopefuls, something I will never forget happened. The way the presented the country was to hold up the flag and name the student. There was one flag left and I thought I was the last student left to be called out. Little did I know there were two other exchange students as well and they just didn't have the last two flags. They held up a flag for Denmark and a few students were saying KATIE! KATIE! YOU'RE GOING TO DENMARK!
So, I stood up and cheerfully jumped to the front of the room and gave the head Rotarian's giant hugs. The one Rotarian looked at the list and said.. 'you're not Maggie!'
WOOPS! I went up for the wrong country, and sat back down...
Finally, the time had come and I was the only person left to find out my country. They were short the flag of the country so they drew it on a piece of paper. I had NO idea what country I could possibly be going to, since I thought all the countries were taken!
They held up the country and said Switzerland goes to.. Katie O'Hearn! My heart did a flip-flop and I jumped for joy. After some research, I realized that this is the country that is absolutely perfect for me. With climate similar to Canada, beautiful landscapes and well-known for the best cheese and chocolate, I knew I was going to the right place.
After spending hours on Google Earth checking out my new country that I will live in, I realized how excited I really am. This is official and it truly set in that this is actually going to happen.
Six more months until my life will change forever, and I have the best feeling about this.. I know it's going to be an amazing trip.

Three More Days!

Only three more days until I leave for three days to the Rotary Camp. This is my chance to meet fellow Rotarian's that are inbounding and out bounding (here in Canada for a year, or leaving in August for a year).
I'm not totally sure what goes on at this camp, but I know that it's going to be a fun time! Among many exciting things, this is the weekend that I find out what country I have been selected to go to. The list of countries that are a possibility (if I remember correctly) are: Austria, Italy, Germany, Denmark, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Japan, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. I may be forgetting a few, but those are the countries that come to mind. On the application we were allowed to choose our top three countries, I chose : Italy, Switzerland then France. Many people have asked if I care what country I go to? The answer is no, it will be a huge learning experience no matter where I go. Wherever I go, is where I'm meant to go and I will go into it with an open mind. I am so lucky to be apart of this program, and I know that it will be an amazing trip because it is what I make it, and I will make the best of it.
Sunday is the day I find out which country I go to, and to be honest I am very nervous! I am nervous because it is going to have a major impact on my future and the person I am becoming. I am not usually nervous but I have been waiting to hear what country I have been selected to go to, for so long and it has always been a thought in my head and now it is finally the time!
The major goal I have is to learn the language of where ever I go. Even if they speak a lot of English in that country, I will work as hard as I can to learn their native language. I will figure out ways to learn it, but my plan is to study it for the next six months until I leave, then force myself to practice, practice and practice while I am there! I am very determined which will help my goal.
Anyway, I'll be sure to write a post as soon as I find out the country that I am going to.
Take care!

Oh the lovely mind.

It is about eight months away now and I am anxious and excited but trying to keep my mind off of it so that I enjoy the last months of my eleventh high school year with my friends that will be graduating while I am gone.
Your mind does weird things to you as you mentally prepare for something like this. I have noticed that I have weeks when I detach myself from people, and weeks when I am pull myself to be so close with everyone around me. I don't mean for it to happen but luckily I understand the way it's working since I have previously had to prepare myself for a similar situation, I had to move towns going into grade nine and left the people that I grew up with my whole life. It was very difficult then but I realize it all happened for a reason, since it has made me a much stronger person and gave me the confidence of being able to do this exchange. My mind did the same process then as it has started to do now which is nice to finally understand it! It does what it thinks it should do and helps you through out this whole process. It is an amazing thing.
My posts are very few and far between because it is just a time of waiting right now! In February I find out which country I go to and there will be much more to write about.

Happy Holidays!!
Enjoy.

Give a little.

I know this is completely off topic but I feel that I should share the day I had since it was so fulfilling.
Today I went to Scott's Mission that was located downtown Toronto. At Scott's Mission they feed the hungry, collect toys for the parents that can't afford any at Christmas, they babysit kids during the day so the parents are able to go out and work and they also do counselling to help people get their lives back on track.
Since I have already spent a day there last year I knew what to expect but the same effects came upon me as I had previously felt. The feeling of community flowed within me as I watched the workers that are there everyday, who continue to do everything they can for the common good. These people devote their lives to make others better. Every day they're there making food, washing dishes, setting tables, keeping the place sanitary, cleaning up, sweeping and many more tasks that are completed on a daily basis. They have two sittings every day and work hard to make sure everyone is satisfied and leave with that feeling of fullness so they have enough energy to continue their day. Not only are there people working directly with the public, there are people that sort toys into different sections. There are different age sections with very nice presents along with different sections that are generalized. The parents walk through and pick a multitude of presents for their children so they have a brighter Christmas and can have more normalcy through out the house on Christmas morning. People are constantly hard at work to ensure that others have a better day, myself and many other people can learn a lot from people like that. The silent heroes of Toronto that are hard at work without looking for credit or attention from others, but doing it because it is their way to give back to the community.
Not only did these amazing people dedicate many hours to strangers, they did it with a huge smile on their face! Every person that worked there was always in a good mood and very friendly and I had good conversations with many of the workers and volunteers! The staff was happy to answer any questions I had about the place and they were so open and shared different stories and experiences that have occurred through out their time being there.
Myself and others often complain when leaving restaurants feeling too full and our stomach hurts because we ate too much. Never again will I complain about that or anything related to food because I am sure that there are people out there that would do anything for that feeling of fullness. The whole experience is eye opening and I suggest that everyone donates some time to give back to the community. Not only time to give back but time to see how lucky you are for everything that you have and to witness the feeling of togetherness and fulfillment.
It is an incredible feeling and I hope that everyone gets to experience it through out their lifetime, you'll know what I mean once you get up and give back.
the toy room

My life just changed.

Yesterday was a day that changed my life forever. I have been consumed in the idea of a one year exchange for the past few months and decided to take the chance and fill out an application. Weeks passed and I received and e-mail asking to meet for an interview, that was to consist of my dad my mom and I. It was an hour and a half long filled with detailed questions of the challenges and accomplishments that I have been through in my life. Since I just recovered from the flu I still had a wicked cough. As I walked in to the interview with my mom (my dad was stuck on highway 400) I started coughing and couldn't manage to get a word out as they asked me questions. Luckily, I brought a water bottle but unfortunately it wasn't a very good one. It was the type that got water stuck in the grooves of the outer rim, as I rushed to drink it water dripped all over me and it was pretty embarrassing. However, I just laughed at it and then the interview continued and it all went really well and a lot of good connections were made. The two interviewers were very nice which made the process very easy and enjoyable.
I was so anxious after this interview that I could barely sleep! Days passed and my mom was checking her e-mail while talking on the phone to my brother about this one year exchange. An e-mail came in saying that they would like to see me for a second interview that was in two days. This time the interview was only 30 minutes long and I had four people interviewing me! It was very nerve wracking but I put the nerves aside and just went into it like I was talking to my friends and that helped a lot. Once again the interview went really well and I had a fun time as we all made great connections with each other! It ended with someone saying "you will know anytime this week or early next week our final decision."
Days slowly passed and once again I could barely sleep, I was too anxious! A week passed then news came that we will receive the news of the chosen one on Wednesday. There are two rotary clubs in Bracebridge but one had only been involved in this whole program. They had a meeting on Tuesday and the other Rotary Club voted if they wanted to be involved in this program or not. The final vote was that they were going to get involved also, so they were able to choose two people for this amazing program. Wednesday rolled along and I thought I would receive the news in the evening, so I distracted myself every way possible to make the time go by faster. The morning bell went for everyone to go to their first class, as I was walking to class my cell phone rang. I answered it and my mom said "you're in!" After saying pardon 5 times I realized what just happened. Since all my friends knew that I applied and had been waiting for the answer they were waiting for the news also. Leanne and Megan, two of my friends, were walking behind me and I looked at them and they knew exactly what my facial expressions were telling them. I had been accepted to leave for one year to go to another country. They ran and hugged me and we were all screaming in the middle of the hallway as people passed us. Strangely, it didn't really phase anyone that we were standing there screaming and holding each other. I immediately ran and told my friends and teachers, that have been waiting to hear the news as well. I can't explain the feeling that rushed through me as all of this had finally been finalized. I was literally shaking like a leaf as I ran and received many hugs of joy.
Many people have asked if I am nervous and to be honest the answer is no. I am too excited to be nervous at this moment but I know there will be a lot of emotions that come with this whole experience and I will be sharing them on here through out my whole experience.
In February I find out the country that I am going to and I can't wait to hear where they are sending me.
All I know is that I am leaving for a year, some country out there is waiting for me. Life is so exciting.