Visa, Arrival, and Money: Quite the collection!

Well, I know have my Thai Visa issued! This is very exciting news! I also have my itinerary, which is a tad different than originally planned, but I could not be happier! I will fly out of Green Bay early in the morning, to Chicago and meet up with some of my fellow Outbounds in the airport so we can fly to Thailand together. I think there is about ten of us flying together, so it will be great to get to know one another because who knows if we will see each other again throughout the year, as we will be spread  throughout the four districts in Thailand. From Chicago, I will fly to Seoul and from there to Bangkok. Once in Bangkok we have an overnight and then for me, I will be heading down to “Southern Thailand” to go on vacation with my family for a few days. I am so lucky to have this opportunity and my first Thai family has been so kind to accommodate for me, as well as include me as part of the family right away. After vacation, we will all fly back to Chiang Mai, and then our drive home is about 75 minutes from the Chiang Mai airport. Sounds like quite the exchange students dream to me. The reason my family will be on vacation is that August 12 is Mother’s Day, meaning the Queen’s Birthday! I am very happy to be arriving when such an important holiday in Thailand is taking place.  I am so lucky to be able to visit a part of the country that will be so different than where my host city, club, and families will be. I will be on vacation in the city of HuaHin, a main vacation resort city for many Thai families. I have no idea what we have planned while there, but I could not be more excited to find out! It’s Thailand, so many new things to see and explore, and of course, take pictures of!! In addition to having my arrival all set up, I also have some other big news! My sweet mother ordered me some Thai money!! So, I have been able to see what I will be using for the next year in Thailand. Their money is called the Thai Baht and the exchange rate is around 30 Baht to 1 U.S. Dollar. A lot of very exciting things going on right now, as I am leaving in less than two weeks…better start packing!!! I found this quote and thought it would be good to share and a great way to end this post:

“Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer.” -Unknown

This is the resort of HuaHin! I found this on the Internet, but, will soon be posting pictures that I have taken of the beautiful city! T-Minus less than two weeks <3

Tourist in the Upper Peninsula

In order to fully be able to represent where I come from, I needed to become a tourist in my hometown. As you all know by now, I have lived in three different cities growing up, all of which have shaped who I am today. I recently spent a week in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the place I lived in until 10^th grade. I consider Houghton my home town, but seeing it again, made me feel more like a tourist, rather than a resident. Funny how that works, when my definition of home is not a location on a map, but where my heart seems to find happiness throughout the world. I call every place home, even if I am just seeing it for the first time, staying for a weekend, staying for a school year, or staying for 11 months. While visiting, my mother and I toured around the peninsula taking pictures of me in my blazer and just having a grand time! I took pictures in the places most tourists would stop, I shopped in the little gift shops most tourists would shop in, I saw the towns most tourists would see, I was seeing the place I grew up through a new set of eyes. I read the information signs I never took the time to read before, I appreciated the views of nature that I never took time to be thankful for before, and I bought some gifts that I never took the time to buy before. The gifts I bought are currently filling up one of my two suitcases I am allowed to bring with me to Thailand. But, in order for me to truly understand where I came from and where I grew up, I needed to take a step back. I know the Upper Peninsula better off than most tourists, as it was my home for many, many years, however, I learned so much about the history and uniqueness of the U.P. (Upper Peninsula) than I could have living there. Seeing it through a new set of eyes really makes me appreciate what I have. How fortunate I have been to grow up in such an amazing little town, with such an amazing culture of its own. Going to Houghton before I leave for Thailand was yet another life lesson, which is only taught through experiences. My time was well spent while in Houghton, but as we all know, all good things come to an end. While in town, I got to attend the Houghton Rotary Club’s meeting to watch a fellow Outbound, who is going to France, give her presentation. Attending a different club’s meeting is always a ton of fun and is filled with meeting new people! Many goodbyes were said and many memories created, which will be forever in my heart. As much as I say I was a tourist in Houghton, it will always be home. It seems every different location I go to from now on will be home, as it too, will hold a place in my heart. I am not so sure that I am fond of the name tourist because everywhere I visit; I want to feel like I am a resident, a resident of this world, visiting various places throughout my home.

A common tourist place, a scenic view of Houghton!

This is the ice rink located in my town, one that I spent countless hours pursuing my passion for hockey.

The lift bridge in my town!

Sierra, the Outbound heading to France, and I after her presentation!

Another tourist destination, a giant thermometer measuring the snow we get on an annual basis!

This sign locates the beginning of Highway 41, as it continues south down the United States and ends in Florida!

A picture of me and one of our many lighthouses located on the Great Lakes!

A scenic view and signs explaining the Copper Country!

Just a great view of the Upper Peninsulas beauty!

In front of our old lake front property on the Portage Canal!

Grand Rapids: Last Conference before Thailand

Well, it’s the conference all of us Outbound Exchange Students have heard since our very first conference. We were told that this conference would be filled with hellos and goodbyes, laughter and tears, along with countless friendships being made. Well, they were right! I got to meet exchangers from all over the world! It was such a fun time. The district I am in, 6220, arranged a bus to pick up all of the exchange students in our district through a series of stops along the way. I got on the bus at 6:00 a.m. and we arrived in Grand Rapids later that evening. We checked into our dorms and made it just in time for dinner. After dinner, I went to play volleyball and met so many new people, and then afterwards there was a dance. The next morning we were up early, well early enough (kidding) and we then attended a meeting. Throughout the rest of the conference we had breakout sessions varying in topic. One of the sessions was the Opening Ceremony, which was a great time. This year, the Outbounds were chosen to bring in the flags, so I had the opportunity to participate in that. Throughout the conference, I had the best roommate ever! Her name was Izzati, from Indonesia. She is the kindest person ever, with such a big heart. We talked well into the mornings, it was just splendid. She participated in the talent show doing two, traditional Indonesian dances, both of which she did amazing in. As the conference came to a close, many of us were functioning on very little sleep! I would say about 12 hours total Thursday-Sunday.  On Saturday night, our district had an all-nighter, so not too much sleep that night!! But the bus ride home was so fun until we got to the first stop, all of us realizing we may never see each other again. The Inbounds soon realized that their year was coming to a close, and us Outbounders realized that our year abroad was coming quicker than we thought. Intermixed were the emotions that the Inbounds and the Outbounds would never be all together again. Skype can only work its magic for so long, until the reality hits that the person is actually gone. At that stop, one of my close friends, Bell who was from Bangkok, Thailand, got off the bus. I hope I can come visit her while I am in Thailand!! She answered all of the questions I would ask her, she helped me with the language, and along the way she became a very good friend, one that I hope to maintain contact with forever. Many other great friends got off at that stop as well, but next thing we knew, back on the bus it was. Tears were pouring down my face, as I was saying goodbye to some of the kindest, sweetest, people I have ever met. I was getting off at the next stop. Oh my goodness, the thought of that alone made me want to cry even harder. Well, my stop came, and again with the goodbyes, and the tears. I have learned throughout my life, not to sound like an ancient philosopher, to appreciate the moment for what it is. I know I will never see most of those people again, ever again. Having gone to three different schools in three different years, I know what hellos and goodbyes are all about. I am so thankful, that I have met people worth crying for, that they have left such an impact in my heart that I just want to cry. I am so lucky to have met all of these amazing people. The goodbyes to my fellow Outbounds are hoping everyone has a safe and fun year. I am so excited to hear about all of their inspiring adventures, and I feel like I am seeing the world through the things they get to experience. It is so interesting how exchange makes this world such a small place. It shrinks everything. I love the fact that if I hear or see something on the news going on in the world, I have people to worry about everywhere. Exchange has opened that door to me that I now have people to care about half way across the world. It’s the little things such as mementos, pins, pictures, but when it all comes down to it, it’s the memories that people have to grip with all of their might. The memories bring out that emotion in us, that they can make us simply smile or start crying. In the end the memories will be in our minds and hearts forever.

Hungary, Thailand, Belgium, Turkey, Italy, Denmark

Some of us Outbounds with our country's flags!

Izzati, best roomie ever!

Us Outbounders

Fer, such a kind girl from Mexico.

Bellie-boo (Bell) and I saying our goodbyes, until we meet up in Thailand of course!

Thai Flag!

Italy, France, Thailand

I was told my outfit was a tad bright during the volleyball game!

Five Weeks Until Thailand

Five weeks until Thailand! I am now realizing all of the things that need to get done between now and when I get on that plane! These next five weeks will be filled with hellos, preparing, buying, packing, learning and many goodbyes. Many hellos, because I have been talking with new people every day from all over the world, who will be on exchange with me in Thailand. Yesterday, some of us Exchangers Skyped for two hours, talking about packing, the language, etc. I am so excited to meet everyone once I get to Thailand! Preparing, buying, and packing because I need to get ready to go!! When thinking about what to pack for a year, what I will need, what I will want, it gets to be quite stressful. But I am told you only pack for about two weeks worth of clothes and just go shopping once I get there! (Yayyyy!) I am planning on bringing one suitcase for clothes and the other for gifts/food. So, we will see how the packing goes, believe me, pictures will be posted of my suitcases a little bit later, once I actually start packing! Learning because, good grief, I need to get working on the Thai language! I have made flashcards, used the internet, listened to audio to go with a book, etc. Also, next week Thursday, I leave for my last conference in the States as an Outbound student and while there we have a language test, so I have been working on that! In addition through this process so far, I have learned many life lessons and krype, I haven’t even left yet! Many more of those lessons to come during the following year. Goodbyes, goodbyes, goodbyes. I have gone to three different high schools in three different years, meaning that my friends are dispersed everywhere. I will be visiting Michigan where I grew up in two weeks to say “see you in a year” and then of course my Rotary Club and my family. The goodbyes will be hard, and yet so happy at the same time. I couldn’t be more excited to be on this journey of a lifetime and I would just like to thank my Rotary Club, along with my parents for everything they have done for me.

Before and After

This is my new haircut! At my school in Thailand, all of the students have to have short hair, like mine in this picture! I got ten inches cut off and was able to donate it to Locks of Love.

Fourth of July

As I am sitting here on the Fourth of July, watching the fireworks, the reality of representing my country while abroad is really starting to settle in. Not only am I representing myself, my family, my Rotary Club, my state, but the United States as a whole. No pressure!! This is a much bigger responsibility than some may realize because the things I say, the things I do, all reflect not only myself, but the United States of America. People everywhere have preconceived ideas of Americans, some good, while others not so good. It is my duty as an Exchange student to turn those negative views around. As the fireworks come to a close, I feel confident in representing the U.S. to the best of my ability. Thank you to all of the soldiers who have served, are serving, and will serve. Thank you to all of the Rotarians making this world a better place. Thank you to all of the citizens doing extraordinary things to make this country a better place for everyone.