7.7.2004
Hey! I'm not sure if I can
still send this last report being that 03-04 is already in the
archives
.
I said I would send one more report though so here it is.
I meant to write this before I
left Austria but the last few days were so hectic and went by so
fast that I just couldn't find the time. Right now I'm sitting
on the plane in the Frankfurt airport waiting for take-off. I'm
holding the diary I wrote this year and the pillow my Austrian
class gave me as a going away gift with all of their pictures on
it. It says "zur Erinnerung" on the top but I won't need a
pillow to remember this year. There's no way I'll ever forget
one of the best years of my life. All kinds of emotions are
running through me that I can't explain in words. I'm excited
to go home to my family but am sad to leave my family behind. I
want to go back to my old lifestyle but don't want to stop
living my new one. I guess you have to be an exchange student
to understand feelings like that. I realize now why it was so
easy to leave my family in the first place. Deep down through
all the tears I knew that I would see them all again. However,
when I leave Austria I have no idea when, if ever, I'll get to
see any of these great people again. In 9 short hours I will
arrive in Miami airport. Officially ending my exchange year.
Taking me back to hot dogs, baseball games, and my crazy
family. Back to reality. Atleast the reality that I grew up
with. I won't ever be the same though. I've gone through too
much to ever be the same. I've learned too much to ever be the
same. For that, I would like to thank Rotary.
I've experienced friendships of a lifetime. I've learned to
adapt to almost any situation. I've learned a new language.
Most importantly, I've learned that I can depend on myself. A
lesson that will help me for the rest of my life. So,
thank you great people of Rotary. You've changed my life
forever.
Ashley Conon