Honestly, I've never been into the whole blogging scene. Firstly, I lack the dedication to update a blog adequately; and secondly, I just assume that no one really cares enough to take time out of their day to read what I have to say (well in this case...write). And yet, here you all (or one) are reading this blog that will be about my time in Serbia.
For the past four days, the Bridge Year Program staff has been attempting to prepare twenty teens physically, mentally, and emotionally for an experience that will probably change each of our lives forever. No big deal. To spare you the not-so exciting details, I'll just mention that the orientation operated like I would expect any typical one to: lots of sessions, food, and free time (minus the 2am alarms and hurricane irene). I expected that the orientation would also be useful for country group bonding, but it has surely served a purpose greater than that. Not only has it served as an opportunty to get to know the four other people going to Serbia with me, but it has given me the chance to build relatonships with the participants going to the other three countries. It will certainly be odd to say goodbye to them so soon, but we will see each other again in about a year and will have four years to get to know each other even more. The way in which the previous Bridge Year participants react when they see each other is reassuring and makes me hopeful for the future of the 2011-2012 participants.
So in about 14 hours, I'm going to be heading off to Serbia. I know that somewhere deep down inside that I am excited for this experience, but right now I'm so much more nervous than I appear to let on. Everyone keeps telling me how fantastic this experience will be, and I believe them. However, I still have yet to wrap my mind around the fact that my life is about to be flipped upside down for nine entire months. I'm going to have to learn Serbian, relate to the natives, volunteer at NGOs, understand Serbian culture, etc. It's just all so overwhelming and not having anything to relate this experience to gives me no choice but to switch into panic mode. I mean can I really do this? I really want to tell myself that I can, but I know that I'm going to have to actually show myself that I can in order to believe in myself. I cannot imagine what is in store for me for these next nine months but I really would like to find out.
For your sake (and mine), I really hope that I get better at blogging. During one of the sessons we talked about how not only will a blog be informative but it will be reflective as well. I imagine that blogging can also become cathartic, but I think I'll leave that to my journal for now. Anyways, if you decide to follow me I hope that my blog keeps you entertained and up-to-date and provokes you to think. There's not much to work with this time, but I promise to keep working at it...just bear with me!
I'd try to impress you by ending with something in Serbian, but I am just not that skilled and I really want to go to bed. So a good old-fashioned "til next time" will have to suffice.
