When the local Rotary Club called informing me that I had been accepted into the Youth Exchange Program I was completely overwhelmed with excitement about the trip ahead. I was especially excited about the fact that I was going during my sophomore year, meaning I'd have plenty of time to catch up and take AP and college classes when I got back. During one of the Rotary meetings I learned that I was going to spend the next year in...Spain! Now sophomore year is almost here, I have two months until my departure.

As the days go by I find myself becoming slightly nervous, especially with all of my friends declaring that I'm completely insane to spend a year immersed in a different language, living with strangers, in an utterly new setting. However I continue to remind them that I've spent a quality amount of time learning Spanish, my host family have contacted me several times by email and they seem like perfectly wonderful people, and that a new setting is ideal if I ever want to experience anything new in life.