Rotary, Gnomes, and other things...

So I have had this page open on my computer with the title of the post written at the top for about 3 days. When I first wrote the title, I was really pumped to write a new post, but then my mom called me to do something so I said I would come back to it, but for some reason the last two days, I could not bring myself to sit down and write it, but I've been thinking about it. Now, I should be doing my homework, seeing as I have to go back to school tomorrow, but I really don't want to. So I shall do this instead. Since my last post, a bunch of stuff has happened. First of all, it was Christmas! Which also means, Two Week Break! I was really happy about the timing of this break, because we went to school up until the 23rd, so Christmas was 2 days later and then we literally had 2 full weeks of nothing. It has been fantastic. My family bought a new big flat screen T.V a while ago, but we are renovating our basement which is where the T.V will go, so instead we set it up in front of the piano in my living room. I really like it there because it is sort of right in the center of our house, instead of disconnected off where it would be if it was in the family room. But once the renovations are done, it will be back downstairs.

For New Years my friends and I went to Niagara Falls and watched the Fireworks off the Skylon Tower and Simple Plan played! It was amazing. They are one of my favourite bands and it was awesome to see them again. A few of my friends and I are also going to see them play in Toronto in February.

Now onto the Rotary update which is the most exciting thing that is happening in my life. Last week, Gloria, who is the Youth Exchange Officer for my club, came to my house to finish up my application. I finally wrote the letter I had to write that will be sent to my host club and host family, it was three pages long, but I think it sounded nice. My mom also wrote a two page letter, and I had to gather 4 photos to include in the application. Gloria came and we sat and talked for about an hour with myself and my parents and then we went through and signed all four copies of the application. It was a really long process so I'm glad its over. The next step is the district level interviews. They are this coming Saturday, the 14th in Hamilton and I am sooo nervous. I have to study up on the government, and I have to know a little about all of the countries that I want to go to. I should really get on that. Gloria also gave me a magazine called the Economist that talks a little about what's going on around the world. Right now, my top three countries are Switzerland, Denmark, and Sweden. But I would also love to go to Germany, Belgium, France, The Netherlands or Finland. I'm pretty much open about anywhere! I have been following a lot of other blogs and they all say amazing things about all of the countries so it is such a hard choice.

After the district interviews, assuming that all goes well, I will be going up north to Algonquin to an Outfitters camp with the rest of the exchange students, and the ones that are here from other countries. I'm so excited to get to know the rest of the people that will be going away next year. I hope to meet a lot of people that I will be friends with for a long time.

On another note, I got a gnome for Christmas! His name is Jeremy and he is about 2.5 inches tall or 'a little shorter than a shrub' as his passport says. Yes, he came with his own passport, filled with facts about gnomes. It says his name is Cedric, but my friend Steph named him Jeremy, so Jeremy it is. He has started his own blog, where he will post a picture of himself everyday on our travels. It only has 2 pictures now, and he will start posting closer to the time when we leave. It is a tumblr blog, he thought it would be easier to use.

 My good friend Jeremy all set to travel the globe!

Jeremy and I, Click here to visit his blog!

So it's back to school tomorrow. I only have 11 classes left until exams start. Luckily since I'm at Brock for Mentorship, I only have 2 exams, the 24th and 25th and then I get a few days off. Brock has been going awesome! I have worked on so many different projects and I'm so glad everyone has helped me out so much and included me in their studies. Before Christmas, I was invited to my professor's house for a Christmas party and there was a Christmas lunch too. I had such a good time. I'm really upset that it's coming to an end so soon, and I have to start working on my final presentation soon, that will happen in February. That is the only thing that I'm not looking forward to coming up.

Other than that, there is nothing else to report on. I cleaned my room, watched a lot of movies with my brother, which I really enjoyed. I'm glad that we got to spend a lot of time together over the holidays. We both have busy lives, and now that school is starting again, we won't get to see each other as much. I'm happy to say that this is one of my best Christmas breaks ever. I hung out with my friends a lot, and I feel like I accomplished a lot, even though I really didn't do very much. It was really fun, and very relaxing. The rest of this school year is going to go by just as fast as the first half.

Year Review.....11 classes left of this semester, then 2 exams and a few days off...Algonquin Trip in February, Family Day, and Mentorship Presentation, March Break and Rotary Orientation, Easter in April, May Long Weekend, then Exams in June. There are a few more Rotary events near the end of the school year and then I'm off in August!

I feel like I should update this more with shorter posts instead of big long ones every once in a while. Less painful for me and you.