Dear Akron Rotary; 
 
I'm a little early, but I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you as a club for your 100th year anniversary! I have seen the outstanding impact that you have as a club have on the community and I have experienced first hand your generosity in sponsoring me to spend this year abroad! As I progress further in to the year I know that you have given me something priceless and I am more grateful than words could describe. 
 
Today I am celebrating seven months in France! Honestly, in leaving the states 213 days ago I was not sure if I would make it to the end. I left not knowing what was waiting for me, what I was leaving, and what I was capable of accomplishing. 
 
 
 
In these last 213 days I've gained two families, friends, created priceless memories, a new language and a gained confidence in myself, all of which I could have never done if I had stayed put. I’ve learned that regret only holds you back, and that life passes while we're not looking, so profit from every minute. 
 
I have scheduled my bus trip, and during the last week of April and the first week of May, I will be exploring Europe!! Stops included are Strasbourg, Vienna, Prague, Milan, and Venice! I absolutely cannot wait. 
It's also the peak of ski season here in France! For the vacations of March my family and I spent four days of skiing in the Alps! For those of you who haven't visited, I promise it is every bit as beautiful as everyone says.
And this coming weekend I will be in Paris with the Rotary! It is a gathering of all the exchange students in France. In total about 510 of us. We will be spending a day at Versailles, at day exploring the other sights of Paris, and one-day taking part in a cultural conference! 
 
I will take the French fluency exam, level 4 of 4, in early June, which has become the priority for me academically during this third trimester. It's two days worth of testing, including an oral speech in front of a jury! With this level, I would have the opportunity to enroll at a French university, which has been a long held dream for me. 
The third and final family change is coming up! How very very strange to think that after that, my next "host family" is my family in the states! There's been a change from my regularly scheduled third family, and they are no longer able to host me. As of now, my Rotary counselor is looking for other families, but she has assured me that if it isn’t possible to find another family I will be very welcome in her home. 
And for the subject of which I’d like to say doesn't exist, ha-ha, I have taken my plane ticket home for the first of July. I assure you all, I’m still in denial. I will be flying directly to Colorado, as that my family moved there during my exchange, as my dad was transferred for work. 
 
However, I will be in Akron the last week of August for the completion ceremony with the other outbounds, and it is my plan to visit the meeting of Tuesday August 26th. 
 
My blog is still at your disposal, found at www.sydneysfrenchadventure.blogspot.com, despite the fact that I’m definitely behind when it comes to updating it. On the list are a post speaking about the differences in the French way of life versus the American, a question and answer post, and of course photos!! I will try to get those done as soon as possible. 
 
That is it for now, again congratulations for the 100th anniversary!! Enjoy your celebrations, and I wish you all the best for the next chapter. 
 
Sydney 
 
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