I got up early to go to my PDO (Pre-Departure Orientation) for 6 HOURS in New Hope. It was.. umm.. it was okay. It was not as bad as I expected, I just didn't learn that much. But I got to meet a bunch of other kids going abroad with AFS this summer, and talk to some returnees, and speak for like an hour with this Swiss girl who exchanged to Finland 5 or so years ago. Some of it was interesting, some of it wasn't, but I guess it made it seem more real.
We did this horrid activity where we had to draw the first expectation we thought of for exchange on a post-it note and stick it on ourselves and then find a group with "similar expectations." My drawing was an Edvard Munch-esque stick figure with an exclamation point over its head. To represent nervousness and shock. Well, my group was me and ONE other girl. Everyone else's expectations were smiley faces and hearts and groups of stick figures holding hands with each other. Great great great. Haha, no, it was okay. I just felt like the two of us were the most realistic students in the room. I am excited for the good times I'll have, but I expect parts of this experience will be very hard. Isn't that a healthy view?
Anyway, so that was the PDO. After that I can home and took a very deep nap. But then I woke up to storm sirens. Mom and I watched as this crazy storm system came through and turned the sky grey and made like an inch of hail and blew against the windows and left again. I went out to take photos, mostly film (almost a whole roll!) but also a few digital. And after I was done taking photos, maybe 45 minutes after the storm, everything was all foggy from the coolness of the hail mixing with the warmth of the day, so I went to take some more pictures.
Another strange thing is that I turn 16 in 2 days. What? Since when? Oh and also I am basically rich now! It's weird! I mean I'm sure I'll be broke after living for a year in one of the world's most expensive countries, especially since the dollar is so weak, but I feel rather loaded at the moment.
Cool... That's all really.
4 comments:
Hi Ruth, I've thoroughly enjoyed reading your observations so far, and look forward to getting a glimpse into your life abroad, as you continue to entertain and educate us! XO, Aunt Amy
Hey! What do you know?? Econ class was actually good for something! I already have a google account (from Econ). ;) Ruth, I'm so glad you made a blog, cuz otherwise I wouldn't know if I should email you or call you (but I probably wouldn't have your number or the time to do it) (oh, and it would be hard because of the time difference) or write to you or text you........ I can't think of any other ways to contact you. So this is great. And funny. Yep yep yep. That's all. See you later, Alligator.
Karen
If you want more info about Switzerland, you can go to CultureGrams. You have to sign in, but you can do it through the library, or possibly your school. yeah, but you probably already have tons of info. bye.
Karen
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