So, this is how it all happened

I had always daydreamed about living somewhere in Europe, but never thought it would actually be happening...
 
             I was sitting at home, surrounded by hours of homework when the phone rang. Checking the caller id, I realized it was Mr. Killberry; the Rotary member in charge of youth exchange for my club. Confused at what had already happened with my hopes of going on an RYE* and all the disappointment I had gone through, I was timid to answer it, but oh boy am I glad that I did! That phone call was The Start Of Something New... :)
        Mr. Killberry told me that my Rotary club had found a club in the next town over that was more then willing to sponsor my RYE. He then proceeded to ask me something that at the time I didn't no how to answer. He said "Jane, are you going to take this opportunity?" My head started spinning, everything was racing through my mind a thousand thoughts a minute. I had already gone through the first interview and application process, and been told that they had chosen another student to sponsor for the exchange program. I was heartbroken when I found this out, I had no idea how I was going to survive another year in the same small town with the same people I had known since kindergarten. I had looked into boarding school, other exchange programs, volunteer trips and thought of family members and close family friends I could go live with, but nothing seemed as rewarding or as exciting as a Rotary Youth Exchange. Finally after what felt like a lifetime, I answered him. "Thank you for this opportunity, and all the hard work you have done to make this happen for me, I need to discuss it with my parents. Can I give you a call in a couple of days?" 
           So it wasn't as smooth and stress free as I had hoped it would have been, but the day I got call from Mr. Killberry; the RYE coordinator for my club everything seemed to fall into place. 
 I had planned on not telling anyone except for my family until I knew everything about my year abroad, but how was I supposed to keep the biggest, scariest, most amazing thing happening to me from my best friend Amanda? I had to tell her, and once I told her it was like a domino effect of me telling people. Some people were very happy for me, other's were shocked when I told them, saying "but Jane that isn't you, your the person with the schedule, with everything planned out, and nothing ever out of the ordinary" and I even had one of my friends give me dirty looks for about 2 months after I told her because she didn't want me go to. I was too excited to keep it to myself anymore. The only problem with telling everyone was that I had no idea where I was going yet, when I would be leaving, how long I would be gone for, or any other answers people wanted. I am pretty sure people started not believing that I was actually going on an exchange, because for months I told people I was "still waiting for an email", or "waiting to hear back from my Rotary Club" Finally I received an email saying I was being hosted by the Rotary Club of Genval, an outskirt of Brussels, Belgium. 

Since receiving that phone call from Mr.Killberry and the email telling me where I am off too, so much has happened. I attended RYLA South (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) in North Vancouver in March, which is a week long camp to learn leadership skills, and the work of Rotary. Flew to Outbound Orientation in Squamish with my parents in May to learn all the aspects of my RYE, like how to deal with homesickness, how to deal with the culture shock, not only of going to Belgium but also when I come home in late July 2012. Applied and been approved for my Visa (probably the most confusing paperwork I have ever looked at! :S ), emailed my first and second host families, found out my school, got my flights booked! August 19th I leave Prince Rupert and arrive in Belgium August 21st, luckily for me I will be travelling with 3 other girls I have gotten to know quite well who are also going to Belgium on RYE, and attended a Rotary meeting for my sponsoring club, where I unknowingly was the guest of honour. (I had planned on doing a short presentation for the meeting, but when I got to the meeting they told me that they were expecting at least a 15 minute presentation. Oh how quickly you pull stuff out of your head! :) )
The countdown continues 33 days until I start the adventure of a life time! Wish me luck :)
                               More to come-- jane <3



*RYE= Rotary Youth Exchange