Hallo! My name is Callie Norton and I am going to Austria next year! No, not Australia (you’d be surprised how many people get them mixed up…) I’m sixteen years old and I am a junior at Ponte Vedra High School. I live in Ponte Vedra, Florida, with my mom, dad, older sister, younger brother, and dog. I know they are all very happy for me but no one can be as excited as I am. If you ask almost any high school student what they enjoy in school, my guess would be that friends are the number one answer. Well I’m no different. I love being able to wake up every morning knowing that I’m not the only one who’s dreading the day ahead. I’ve met a few new friends throughout high school (A.K.A. inbounds) that have definitely influenced my decision of becoming a Rotary Youth Exchange Student. I also have a few friends who are experiencing the same adventure I will be a part of next year who gave me that extra nudge. Without all the support of my friends, I would have never thought this would even be possible! And now I’m preparing myself to leave it all behind. I’m hoping that a few of the things I enjoy here, though, I will be able to take with me to Austria. For example, I am a very dedicated volleyball player. It would be great if I got a chance to continue playing while abroad. It could even help me make new friends!
My family and I live about fifteen minutes from the beach, which is great because we all love it! Austria is a lot different. It is completely surrounded by land! Plus, Austria is much colder and definitely has more mountains and hills than Florida. But everything I know about Austria, I’ve learned from books and websites and pictures. I want to learn from experience, up close and in person. I want to learn about the culture, the people, the language, the lifestyles, and everything that I can’t get from a textbook. I also hope to help my future friends in Austria learn more about America and use what I learn there to help me throughout the rest of my life. Most importantly, without Rotary and all its hard-working volunteers, I wouldn’t get such a life-changing opportunity. So thank you Rotary! |
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