Another group of kids to interview. This is probably one of the biggest things that could happen to these kids and I am fortunate enough to have the privilege of getting to be a part of that. It was, wow!, so many years ago that I sat in the hot seat these kids will sit in tomorrow! I faced a bunch of adults, I felt lousy with a cold, and I answered questions based on an application I hadn't read or totally thought about in a number of months. It was a long day -- a day that started with me attempting to "chill" with a bunch of kids I didn't know -- that included interviews, both individual and a group. About 2 weeks later I received a hall pass in class telling me that my mom would pick me up. With trepidation I went to the office, signed out and went to the car. (I still have that hall pass!) There it was, sitting on the seat. THE envelope. I didn't want to open it, I couldn't wait to tear the letter out. I WAS ACCEPTED TO GO TO GERMANY!!! More paperwork later, I am assigned to join Manfred, Ellen, Britta and Julia in northern West Germany (yes, there were two Germany's then!). I tried to call them but only got a recording -- that I couldn't understand!! What ever was I going to do? All of my school German was failing me miserably! Fast forward the end of July, the family vacation consists of a cross-country drive to D.C. where I would say good-bye to my family for 11 full months. Wow. The beginning of HUGE change. Eleven months alternately crawl and fly by. At the end, I can say, they FLEW at supersonic speed. That year changed me. In some ways just very subtly but in others very profoundly. I love the city, I love to travel, I'm drawn to foreigners, I love historical things more than ever. I expanded. My thoughts expanded. My heart expanded.I have friends and "family" who are forever. Tomorrow I hold in my hands the power to change another person for I have the power to send them in search of themselves in this great big huge world that we live in - this huge world that is shrinking as I write this!
1988
Ellen, Omama, Manfred, Julia and Britta
1 comment:
This is just aweesome M. Loved all your words & feelings shared!! By the way ive been meaning to tell you how, much I loved the card you sent....been sitting on my counter & always brings a smile:) thank you
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