2nd Orientation

So today was my 2nd orientation for long-term exchange students. It was great. I got advice for how to deal with living abroad, gift ideas, and stories from current exchange students. But it was still very very long....

Bad part was I DIDN'T GET MY BLAZER :(. If you don't know, Rotary Youth Exchange students all get this blazer. Most are blue, but i've seen red. Each students wears their blazer to events and whatnot and collect all these pins from various other RYE students and well.... your blazer turns like this...... which is AWESOME (Google Pics)! I can't wait! And while the 16 of the students got their blazer, me and two other students's blazers were back-ordered. I am very sad.

But I can't do anything about that. So I just have to wait. Which seems to be very much a huge process of the Rotary Process. If you don't want to read about it.... ignore the rest of this post :D! If you're a possible applicant, this may help.

Rotary Process (specific details for my district... other districts will be different)

1. Apply in October for Club Interview. This includes an interview and a written paper about why you want to be a youth exchange student.

2. After you pass Club Interview, you are given a very lengthy application which must have four copies for your December (1st weekend in December) interview. This is a two day ordeal as you have to write a 3-5 minute speech. Then you switch around to 5 different tables, each with 4 people (Rotarians, ex-exchange students, current exchange students) who ask you a series of questions for about 10 to 15 minutes each. After all the interviews are done... then all the students, the inbounds and applicants go to a YMCA. At the YMCA, there are many activities and talks. Many of the Rotarians are still technically interviewing us as they are evaluating how well we interact with other people.

3. Then, at the end of December, you get a phone call telling you you've been accepted. Some even find out your country.

4. First Orientation: end of January and a speech about your country (measure for blazers and sweater)

5. Second Orientation: Mid-March and a speech about Rotary. This is when I was supposed to get blazer :(... But I will get it eventually :D!

6. Orientation Camp: First week of June

7. Wait to hear from host parents, host counselor: Summer

8. Visa/Guarantee Forms/Airport Tickets: Summer

9. Finally get on that plane!! :D

So basically, you have a whole year of anticipation. It's such a wonderful program though because you do have to work very hard and go through all these holes, and makes the program so  much more worth it. They also prepare you for a whole lot. But I know that no amount of preparation will truly prepare me. I'm so excited for this adventure! I can't wait.... :D