Just Crazy July

Hi everyone,      
          It has been awhile since I last posted and since so much has happened since then, I thought I would tell everyone about it. First of all, I finally turned in my last installment a month ago and am now just working on raising money for the trip to Italy and the trip to France. Both of this trips are offered by Rotary Youth Exchange Switzerland and will take place next spring.
          The month of July was absolutely jam packed, as I was getting ready to go. Up until then I had not gotten together much of what I was taking with me to Switzerland and I still had a lot of things on my to-do list that I had to take care of. I still had to get some of my clothes and host family gifts, as well as spend in time with people that I wouldn't see for a very long time.
           During the first week of July I celebrated the 4th of July with my family and even took part in the town parade. Just two days later my family and I had a party for my older brother's 22nd birthday. In that same week I also spent time at youth group with some close friends of mine enjoying fellowship in the Lord. On top of all of this I still had work at least three times a week and language lessons.
           The next week, lucky for me, was a little more relaxed. I did celebrate my younger sister's birthday on the 11th and then that weekend I stayed at the home of a Swiss couple that I met through my rotary host club. At their house, I had my first real swiss meal of potatoes, cheese, and bread. It doesn't sound very swiss I'm sure but let me assure you, they eat bread and cheese at every meal: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Within that same week I also worked on language and packing some more.
           In the third week of July, the biggest thing that happened was my birthday on the 22nd. I am now seventeen and I don't feel any older than I did at sixteen. I just had a nice quiet party with my family and our neighbors with chili and then carrot cake ( my favorite!). That same day I went to youth group where they sang me happy birthday, much to my embarassment.
            During the last week of July, two very exciting things happened. First of all, on the 28th I had my going away party. even though it was cloudy (and since it was in Palmer), windy, it was still a wonderful time spent with close friends and family. The 31st was my last day of work, and I can't tell you how happy I was about that! I also finally got my learner's permit, which allows me to know operate a motor vehicle (under adult supervision of course).
          That is my crazy, hectic July in a nutshell. Seven days later I was on the plane and heading to Seattle, with my final destination being Stans. Switzerland here I come!