Recently

                Spring has come!  What a lovely winter we had, not much snow and not so cold.  The sun has been shining and there are plants sprouting and I'm so excited!  Well lots has changed, I'm now taking my second Global class I need to take in order to be able to take the Regents this year.  My life has been crazy since I've started this class, and well since the 3rd quarter has started.  I've had more homework then ever, and am sometimes up until 9pm doing homework!  I usually have at least 5 subjects of homework every night.  I do however try to walk with my mom and sister in this nice weather.  I've realized these walks allow me to relax, talk to my mom, and reflect.If only I could walk every time I got frustrated.  I've still had issue with friends, its been tough not having someone close to talk to.  I've not been able to talk about guys or about home or issues I've had with either a teacher or a friend.  I've needed this but, I only have my parents which don't get me wrong I love my parents but, sometimes just need a girl my age to be able to talk to.  Some issues with friends have resolved themselves but, I'm still often sitting by myself or not having anyone talk to me.  It's been extremely hard!  The next issue I've had recently is now that we are within the home stretch of the school year the teachers have started talking about next year and what books or subjects everyone will be covering.  Of course my issue with it is that I won't be here next year so the idea that I won't be here has started hitting home.  I've definitely had my ups and downs recently and it is hard to sometimes cry two times a week...whether it be about homework, friends, or home. 

             On a happier note I went on the Albany trip with all of the inbound students and some of the outbound students!  I missed a Friday of school and stayed in a host family with another outbound student who will be going to Brazil next year!  The host family I stayed with had an older daughter who had been a rotary exchange student to Japan a few years ago.  I meet so many people, from Australians to Germans, to Brazilians.  They were all PURELY nice and happy.  If only everyone was this nice.  Even though my experience with the host family was only two nights it was SO cool.  I'm extremely excited for the future but, people just keep talking about the future I just don't want to rush my time in the U.S.  I've been thinking about how I've made so many friends but most of them live in Europe.  Everyone who is going to Europe will most likely visit one or more of the inbound students.  I, on the other hand will be halfway around the world.  I'm not complaining don't get me wrong I'm super happy to be going to Japan.  I just wish I would be able to visit my friends I've made here while I'm on exchange, but hey that's what after high school is for.  Hopefully travel far and wide  and visit all my friends...of course that is my ultimate dream!  Well in closing I hope everyone reading this has enjoyed my blog so far!  Take Care!

Sarah A. Cook <><

Lately

Wow, how time flies! Its already February! Speaking of February its my birthday month! I will be turning 15,  this will be a normal birthday...sitting at home eating cake and opening presents except my birthday present hasn't been ordered yet! I'M GETTING......LUGGAGE!!! I'm helping my parents pick it out! So back to my birthday...next year will not be such a normal birthday! Next year I will be turning 16, and I'll be in Japan! What an awesome birthday that will be! Most teenagers would be upset to miss their 16th birthday...the reasons....driving, one more year closer to graduating. I'm extremely excited. I realized how many friends I've made through rotary! I went to a basketball game the other night and saw some friends that are going on exchange and others who are on the waiting list but just the same I love seeing them!!  So I started this and never got a chance to finish.... so I'm now 15 and have gotten my luggage...a brown suitcase with pink polka dots!
This has been delayed because I've been so busy! So I'll post it as it is and hopefully you will all enjoy it the way it is!
Sarah A. Cook

Why Japan??

Why Japan??
Everyone asks this! Why Japan? Hmmm...Well, first of all I don't get to choose where I'm going.  Second of all, I have always been into Japanese stuff! In rotary you go through a series of interviews and at the final interview you give the wonderful people at the front desk a paper with your country choice! Here were my choices 1 being where I most wanted to go:
1 Belgium
2 India
3 Japan
4 France
5 Germany
I know quite different choices! That is me!  As you can see Japan was my third choice! not to bad! The rotary volunteers choose where they think you will do best!
To go off of that I recently had a my first orientation! SO Much FUN!! I made so many new friends, from everywhere! Everyone was so nice! no DRAMA, and everyone could relate to you! It was so nice.  I was sad when the weekend ended but everything has to end sometime.  We did some role playing and it was the best thing I have ever done...I laughed so much.  I can't wait until next time.  Back to why.  I am extremely happy to be going to Japan!  I can't wait to be on the plane and meet my family!
I'm not sure what else to talk about, for now I'll close!
Sarah A. Cook
P.S. please don't forget to comment!

Introductions!

             Hi my name is Sarah! I'm giving up my life in a small town in upstate New York to live in Japan for a year.  Where in Japan? Not sure yet. I'm going to try to blog my fun times, sad times, and all the times in between! I'm going through Rotary Youth Exchange! I'm extremely excited and hope you enjoy my blog! I will try to be as consistent as I can with postings but I can't promise anything, if you have read any other exchange student blogs...it varies! There are 2 other teens besides me in my district that are going to Japan! I'm excited, nervous, and not quiet sure what to feel! i will be going during my sophomore year.  I will miss all my friends (for those who are reading) :) and I will miss my loving family so much.  At the same time, so I'm not just focusing on the what I'll miss, I'm mega excited to go to Japan, join another family, life, culture, and learn Japanese.  What a challenge that will be, but it will be welcomed with open arms!  I've started learning and so far I know cat, dog, juice, and book! :) It's almost Christmas and I've realized that I won't be here next Christmas...it makes me  slightly sad,  but then I think about all the good times that I'll be having in Japan!  Everything still is slightly surreal! I'll be talking to my friends in school and one of them will be like "Oh my Gosh Sarah you won't be here next year!!" and I'll  reply "Yeah I know." I can say those words for awhile but it still hasn't yet fully set in! Well if I don't write before the holidays!  HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Sarah <><

The Journey!

            I am in the middle of my rotary journey.  I started in early October and have finally been accepted and know where I, Sarah Cook, will spend the next year of my life! I started at my local level. Then having heard from the local district that I was accepted I started filling out my final application.  This was an extremely long application.  Rotary had a Christmas party and all of the acceptance came and joined in in the end.  We talked and talked,  finally the meeting was called,  we all took our seats on the bleachers.  My mom, my dad, and I all sitting waiting, for the  next hint of my next year.  This journey is like a treasure hunt!  You never know where you will end up and what your final outcome will be.  We sat and waited and waited.  Finally, They started naming the countries and who would be going where.  They called everyone of my choices except Japan! I finally knew when they said my name that I would be going to Japan.  For a whole year I would be placing myself in a new culture and a new place everyday! I knew this would be hard but the holidays and the time to think made it more hard! There are two others besides me who are going to Japan! Yay new friends! :)  Well Ill close for now and continue in another post! Hope everyone had a lovely Holiday!,
Sarah A. Cook <><