Day 1 Journal Entry

This is a journal entry I made during the first step toward my exchange:

Day 1: First flight
Aug. 24, 2014
4:15pm

"This morning I woke up from a strange lucid dream and thought to myself 'I'm not really boarding a plane today, I'm not really going to Slovakia... right?' 'This is the part where the movie ends,' but this is just the beginning.

Back to the dream I mentioned; I dreamed that I was on the plane to Vienna just finding my seat. I put away my carry-ons, took my seat, held small conversation with the other passengers next to me, closed my eyes, and fell asleep. When I woke up, I was in Slovakia. I had no recollection of ever getting off the plane, of getting my luggage, or of driving the 1 hour trip to Bratislava from Vienna with my host parents. But there I was, laying on a bed in the street in the middle of town. I 'woke' to greetings from my host sister Adela and one of her friends. They showed me back to her dorm where I unpacked all of my things and got settled in. I remember leaving the room for a few minutes, coming back, and then standing in the middle of the room thinking to myself 'This isn't right... Something is off about this' I walked over to the mirror and stared at myself for a short while before saying aloud 'This is a dream. I am asleep, and I am dreaming.' It seemed like such a surreal realization because from that moment on I was completely conscious and aware of everything that was going on around me. After my epiphany, a girl walked in and I told her of my sudden realization to which she was completely understanding of and then spent the rest of my dream trying to help me wake up.
--It was one of the oddest lucid dreams I've ever had!--

Well I'm sitting here on the plane in my seat writing this. It's actually a pretty nice plane. Everything is very personalize-able. There are little screens for watching T.V. shows, movies, listen to music or audio books and even to play games... I'm pretty hungry. The past few days my stomach has been giving me some trouble and even still today it's bothering me. I'm glad I brought snacks on the plane, that's definitely a heads up for any other exchange students in the future - BRING FOOD! I'm a little anxious about this flight. I've never exactly loved flying, it's a little unnerving to me actually, plus this is going to be a long flight and I'm not use to that. Oh well, first time for everything!... Take off! Bon voyage America!"

Day 1/2 of flight - Accomplished!
Day 2 of meeting host parents, getting settled in, and going to Rotary meeting - Accomplished!
Night 1 of jet lag & unending dreaming - Check & Accomplished!

Dovidenia!

Just the Beginning

As I sit here typing on my laptop at the kitchen table, I am letting the reality sink in that I will be boarding a plane to fly half-way across the globe to a country where I've never been to before to live and go to school with people I've never met and jump into a culture that I'm not all that familiar with... in just 2 days, 10 hours, 30 minutes, and (currently) 34 seconds.
Wow.
I'm not sure if it has fully hit me yet.
Am I excited? Hell yes, who wouldn't be?!
Am I nervous? More than you can imagine.
But if I wasn't nervous, then I wouldn't really be ready to embark on this next journey of my life.
I am about to open up to a fresh page in my life and start writing a story that I will be able to tell to my friends, family, one day my children, hopefully their children, and anyone else in the world who is curious enough to know about my adventures! By the time I return, I will be able to sign my name on the last page of that book, store it in my archives for the rest of my life, and pull out in those moments of nostalgia to reminisce on a rainy day.
A very wise individual once said "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." -St. Augustine
This exchange isn't just about sight seeing and taking pictures of the old buildings I'll get to walk by on the town square or learning a few tid-bits of information here and there about the history of my country; for me, this is about opening my eyes to new truths around the world; it's about touching the lives of the people I meet and humbling myself enough to let their thoughts and stories touch me; it's about truly living and getting the chance to see what's really out there on the other side of the walls I grew up behind.
This is just the beginning.

"To live would be an awfully big adventure." -Peter Pan (you're never too old for fairy tales!)

Wish me luck!

Dovidenia na Slovensku!

(See you in Slovakia!)

Vacation in Michigan!

So on the 15th of July, my older sister Claire came up from Florida to spend some time with the family and give the Lichnerowicz sisters one last hoorah before I leave the country for a year! That coming Friday (the 18th) we had my graduation/going away party which I unfortunately didn't get any pictures of (sorry!). The party was a blast and I got to see some close friends and family before I leave on August 25th to begin my exchange year. The day consisted of won and lost games of bags, swimming, indulging in finger foods, and sitting around the camp fire late at night with a few friends after the party buzz had died down.

Signature board from my open house

The day after the party, my family and I packed our bags and two cars and headed up to Shelbyville, Michigan for our week long vacation at a quaint little cabin right on the lake! We had our own dock with a paddle boat, small fishing boat, speed boat, and our two paddle boards we brought along! It was a little piece of heaven for the next 7 days. 

"The Beehive"

Dining room table decoration

View from the dock at night

Lawn chairs by the water - our "backyard"

Claire sitting on the front step with our little Tibby!

Sunset view of the lake and other docks from our yard

We spent most of the week out on the water whether we were boating, tubing, or paddle boarding! Claire, Hannah and I tested our balance skills on the paddle boards as we practiced yoga and other risky moves like head-stands on the paddle boards (which resulted in some off-balanced plunges into the water once in a while... whoops!). Later on we all tried tubing, even mom! As fun as it was we definitely all took a beating! Hannah and I even came off that tube with a few battle wounds and lived to tell the tale!

Hannah and Claire tubing!

Claire and Mom tubing!

Just us girls floating around!

 Dad, Mom, and Hannah on the boat... CHEESE!

Claire up front and center!

(Left to right) Claire, Dad, Hannah, & me!

Hannah & I

On Wednesday of our vacation, we all went to this outside dinner/live music venue on the lake and enjoyed some great burgers, cover jams of Jimmy Buffet and other great summer hits, and crowded conga lines on the dance floor!

 The family enjoying dinner!

During the evenings, we spent time trolling on the water simply to view the sunset and watch the sky change colors as the setting sun slowly disappeared behind the trees.

Sunset

Mom's wine glass... such beautiful colors!

We also spent some time getting a little creative! Claire and I painted and made some jewelry!

Jewelry!...

...more jewelry!

My painting (:

When vacation came to an end, we packed our bags and went on home. Although we all had so much fun out in Michigan at the lake house, it was kind of nice to return back to the comfort of Portage, Indiana. I guess there's no place like home right? However, we WERE excited for that coming Sunday because Claire, Hannah and I were all headed up to Bristol, Wisconsin for our annual trip to the Bristol Renaissance Faire! Here's where my total nerd complex kicks in. I actually take a huge amount of pride in telling my friends that my parents were the first couple to get married at the Bristol Renaissance Faire! They went together every year before any of us were even born, so technically I've been going ever since I was a fetus (kind of odd sounding huh?).

Costumes at the Renaissance Faire!

My warrior facepaint for the Renaissance Faire!

Of course the renaissance faire was a blast as always! Us three girls had so much fun together with the "thee's" and "thou's" and whatnot (not really, but kind of!). I swear, the nerd in me makes that place feel like a second home to me, but I'm not ashamed! 

The day before Claire left to go back to Florida, my family and I went to get our family picture taken by friends of ours, the same couple that did my modeling photos a while back! They are always so lively and upbeat and made it a fun experience that was captured for us to see forever.

The Family

Something I'll always remember is that no matter how tough times may get, your family will always be there for you. You may fight and bicker and get on each other's nerves, but when it comes down to what really matters, it's family that matters most. I would give anything for these people you see in this picture. They are my life and have helped shape me into the young woman I am today. Although it is my dream to wander the world and explore other lands and cultures that will take me away from home, I know that family will always be there for me when my feet get tired of wandering. 

Yours truly,

Erin  

Advice from the Buddha

Healing begins when actions and words come together to make change.

2014 Calvin College Conference

The weekend of July 11-July 13 was a time for Inbounds, Outbounds, & Rebounds alike to connect and share their hopes, fears, excitement, words of wisdom, and experiences with each other! Of course, let's not forget the Rotex, other Rotary members, and our dear parents who trekked all the way to Grand Rapids, Michigan to bring us all together here!

I have to admit, I wasn't exactly looking forward to this conference. #1 I wasn't very excited about the 2 & 1/2 hour drive all the way out there, but there were other kids from places like Minnesota so I guess I couldn't complain. And #2 I expected it to be long and somewhat boring like some of our other meetings (no offence guys!) filled with lots of talking which would result in some sleepy head bobbing and heavy eyelids that refused to stay open. But this weekend was anything but! Sure I arrived at the conference running on only 1 hour of sleep (literally), but the atmosphere was so uplifting and exciting that I couldn't help but succumb to the infectious livelyhood of it all! 

That Friday started off with a chaotic game of "Ice Breaker" which forced all of the Inbounds and Outbounds to find people from different countries listed on a little card. Guiltily enough my mom and I opted for unloading the car and carrying our things to our rooms for time's sake since we arrived a little late, but I could see and hear the game going on and afterward heard that it was a lot of fun!

The rest of the weekend consisted of very helpful informational meetings with other Rotarians, our It's Your World Travel agents, and our Host Country Correspondents. There was much to be said and lots of questions from both parents and Outbound students. Probably the most helpful part of the conference was getting to talk to the Rebounds who just recently came back from their countries, that way we were given the inside look at what exchange is really like. They were able to answer the questions and settle the fears that us Outbounds had that other Rotarians or officials couldn't. 

Both nights, Friday and Saturday, the students were able to mingle and party it up at the Hoogenboom Fieldhouse (you probably had the same reaction I first did reading that name)! For about two hours we were allowed to dance our tails off, indulge in some delicious pizza, and go for a swim in the competition pool! On Saturday during the afternoon, Inbounds, Outbounds, and even some Rebounds took part in the pin exchange! This is where all of the students bring pins that they either bought or made and exchange them with other students from different countries to put on their Rotary Blazer! I can't believe how many pins and cards I collected! It was so much fun and it was even a way to really get to know some of these kids. 

This weekend was really such an amazing experience! It has made me so proud to be a part of this amazing Rotary Youth Exchange program. I think I am finally ready to embark on this next chapter in my life. Leaving behind family and friends for a year will be tough, but I know that I am a strong young woman and I am ready to see the world. Slovakia bound through and through <3

Dovidenia na Slovensku!

(See you in Slovakia!)

Advice from the Buddha

Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

Pride!

Sporting our pride in Chicago! Had such an amazing time at the Pride Fest in Chi-town with one of my closest friends. Got to experience the joy of Pride and the love from every person who was there to celebrate equality in the States!