"Excitement and Envy"

           It is so unbelieveable that I now know where I am going for my year abroad! Everyday I think about my family I wish I could leave tomorrow. But also, I know I cannot, I have to spend time with my biological family first. Family is everything, that is what I always say. I have worked some plans out to spend time with Philipp, (my best friend here from Bremerhaven, Germany) on the weekend of June 11th. Also, him and I are going to be purchasing tickets to go see the midnight special of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II. That is one of the first movies I want to see in Germany. Then also, I have thought of some gifts for my family. One was espically easy Ben. He is an awesome kid, I love the fact that he plays American baseball. The older brother is kind of a challenge, but the two parents are a true challenge. I think I have some things in mind, espically one for all of the family, it is something that is truly a huge part of my culture! Sorry, can't reveal it until I give it to them in case they are actually looking at my blog ;). But once it is given to them I will post a picture on here of what it is. When I skyped with them the first time they said that they knew who my 2nd host family is. They said that they were good friends of theirs, even though I haven't met the 2nd host family yet, I really wanted to say, "So that really means I have to leave you :( ?!" but I didn't. The family is amazing in everyway and I cannot thank Rotary Youth Exchange enough for putting me in one of the greatest places on Earth and with some of the greatest people I know!!!

           Now on to the envy part of the story, everybody I have talked to has said something along the lines of, "I'm so jealous, why didn't I do foreign exchange?!" or, "You are so lucky man!". Although the attention is good some days, other days it just gets annoying. I understand having someone you know being sent to another country is different but don't keep going on and on about it for days! Even Al Diefenbach, the Youth Exchange Chairman is envious. It sometimes is a good thing but other times you just want people to leave you alone.

           I have found that on almost anything I have I write Berlin, or Kleinmachnow or something along those lines. "It seems like you are excited" said my Biology teacher Ms. Jennifer Seidl. At that point I just smiled and said, "Beyond what you will probably ever fathom, being a student studying abroad for a year espcially in Europe. I cannot wait to study the music program there.!!!!!" She just smiled and said, "Have fun but be careful." I said, " I will."

           If you find any spare time and want to see the town I am going to or the school I am going to you can go to the following websites

Town: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleinmachnow

or my school: http://jfks.de/

I will let you know how the skype meeting this weekend goes after we are done.

Yours truly and ever so excitedly,

Austin A Beckett.