THAILAND!!!! :D

                 So I found out yesterday that I will be spending year in THAILAND!!!!! I am so excited, yet so nervous. The country is so beautiful but the culture is completely different. I look forward to learning a lot.

                 I had a fun and suspenseful weekend, in Mattawa, at the Canadian Ecology Centre, with the Rotary Exchange Students. It was so much fun. We got to go snowshoeing, play games, have campfires and we even saw three wolves on the Mattawa River. I had the opportunity to meet fellow outbound students and the current inbound students too.  It was so interesting to hear about their countries and exchanges so far.

I loved each and every person I met this weekend so much. I loved how they all had such great enthusiasm and the same positive outlook on the world I have. Basically, I LOVE EXCHANGE STUDENTS!

 I have to say the craziest thing I experienced this weekend was the campfire. I loved hearing everyone share campfire songs from their country in their first language. It such an amazing feeling to know that you are with people from all over the world and to  teach them a bit about your little corner of the world.

It was also so helpful and comforting to have all my questions and concerns answered by the Rotex and Inbound Students. One thing that became evident this weekend is how REAL this exchange is. It kinda just hit me, it was like, OMG! I AM SPENDINGA YEAR IN ADIFFERENT COUNTRY BY MYSELF! I have to do this on my own. This is my year and, I am so excited but I am also so scared. I mean besides the fact that my parents aren’t there to do my laundry and tell me to do my homework, they are also not there to teach me lessons about what is acceptable and what is not, they aren’t there to tell me what to do in tough situations. Basically, it’s just me against the world, and that fact is equally exhilarating as it is terrifying.

Another interesting thing is, I will be learning Thai. Now if that is not scary I don’t know what is. Not only does Thai have a different characters but it is pronounced COMPLETELY different than English or French. If I can learn Thai I am pretty sure I can do anything. For example to say Hello My name is Chantel in Thai, it is written สวัสดีฉันชื่อ Chantel and pronounced S̄wạs̄dī c̄hạn chụ̄̀x Chantel.  So, as difficult as this may be I am still uber excited.

 So if you have any questions email me at Chantellegabrielle@gmail.com and do not forget to become a follower (right hand side) to receive emails on when I post a new Blog.

xoxo

<3 Chantel

So Excited Yet So Worried :)

 So, for those of you who haven’t heard, next September I will be leaving to go on a year long exchange, through the Rotary Club of Barrie. Where? I am not sure yet, I will be finding out February 6, 2011. The plan is basically, leave sometime late August or early September and spend ten months to a year abroad.  Even though I am not sure where I am going yet, I am still getting really excited and a little bit nervous too. I am not sure how I am going to prepare in the next six months but it is definitely going to be a learning experience.

I am so excited for Sunday to find out where I am going. I am ok with anywhere really. I would really like to go to Paris, France but I am not getting my hopes up. Right now I am also thinking someplace warm would be nice but that’s probably just because it is so darn cold outside! I am so excited but also a little worried.

Right now, my main worry is the money. Although Rotary pays for allot and my parents are also going to help out, I still need a years worth of spending money. Right now I am preparing by saving a good chunk of my savings from work, but I am afraid it won’t be enough. If anyone has any fundraising ideas, I am open to anything email me at Chantellegabrielle@gmail.

 Another thing I am worried about is packing. How am I supposed to pack for a year when I can barely pack for two weeks? Threes no way to possibly bring every thing so how is I going to decide what to bring and what to leave at home?  I just hope my parents decide to invest in a new REALLY BIG suitcase for me! J

 So that’s basically all of my thoughts for today. I will post as soon as I know where I am going on Sunday! I hope this Blog helps to keep everybody updated on how the process is going. If you have any questions feel free to email me and I will answer to the best of my abilities.

XOXO

<3 Chantel