Uniforms--not final yet, but close! We are thinking black dress pants/skirt, white button shirts/blouses, black dress coat/jacket and matching scarves/ties.
Presentations--whew, thank God! We can give our presentations in English! We have to have one short presentation (about 5 minutes) and one long presentation (about 10 minutes). We will give our presentations 10-15 times over the span of the trip. We will give our presentations as a group.
Gifts--Kristen found some beautiful prints/sketches of the styles of cable cars. Very nice. Paul suggested a music CD with music from and about CA and a photo slide show of local landmarks and sights. I really like both ideas and I think we will even try to incorporate the CD into our presentation. And of course, Ghirardelli chocolates!
Language Lessons--German lessons are going well...I am really impressed with Rosetta Stone. I am on Level 1, Unit 2, Lesson 4. (Level 1 has 8 Units; each with 11-12 Lessons). I am trying to spend at least 1 hour per day and so far so good!
Banners/pins--I will need to ask my sponsoring club, the Rotary Club of Terra Linda for at least 20 banners, if not more. Maybe even some pins to give away to people too.
Random California trivia--populations, highest mountains, deepest lakes, that sort of thing. We'll wow them with our knowledge!
Badges and business cards--we need name badges. And our business cards might be individual or might be group style. Final decision to follow!
I told you...there is so much to think about!!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Second Team Meeting
or...Zweite Arbeitsgruppe Treffen.
Our team met yesterday and we listened to the first hand experiences of two past GSE team leaders Tim (Southern Mexico exchange) and Eric (Chile exchange). They both offered some very beneficial information, thoughts, ideas and tidbits. They were very open and honest that challenges do exist, people get sick, team members didn't always get along, people went home early and again, sometimes the original team selected is not the final team sent! They BOTH had experiences with arriving to a new place and there were no plans for them! Flexibility seems to be the ticket to success here! Despite these challenges, they both spoke very highly about the experience and still have contact with the team members and their foreign hosts.
Tim and Eric spoke about the challenges of exhaustion too! They were not shy in telling us that this is a very physically demanding experience with very long days, constant exposure to new things and always being "on" for your hosts. Roger will have to work very hard to get a day off for us or some down time. I can understand, the hosts are exited to have us there and any since they may only have us for 3 days, they want to do as much as possible. Then on to the next set of hosts and they want to fill up every minute of their 3 days too! Tim and Eric also spoke of fun, fun parties and events. Lots of late nights, singing, eating, drinking, dancing and talking which are followed by early morning presentation meetings.
Wow...feeling like I better head off to take a nap to be as rested as possible in May!
Our team met yesterday and we listened to the first hand experiences of two past GSE team leaders Tim (Southern Mexico exchange) and Eric (Chile exchange). They both offered some very beneficial information, thoughts, ideas and tidbits. They were very open and honest that challenges do exist, people get sick, team members didn't always get along, people went home early and again, sometimes the original team selected is not the final team sent! They BOTH had experiences with arriving to a new place and there were no plans for them! Flexibility seems to be the ticket to success here! Despite these challenges, they both spoke very highly about the experience and still have contact with the team members and their foreign hosts.
Tim and Eric spoke about the challenges of exhaustion too! They were not shy in telling us that this is a very physically demanding experience with very long days, constant exposure to new things and always being "on" for your hosts. Roger will have to work very hard to get a day off for us or some down time. I can understand, the hosts are exited to have us there and any since they may only have us for 3 days, they want to do as much as possible. Then on to the next set of hosts and they want to fill up every minute of their 3 days too! Tim and Eric also spoke of fun, fun parties and events. Lots of late nights, singing, eating, drinking, dancing and talking which are followed by early morning presentation meetings.
Wow...feeling like I better head off to take a nap to be as rested as possible in May!
Decision update--nummer eins
Uniforms--no update here...but I am hopeful it won't be too bad.
Presentations--still wondering if I have to give my presentation in German!
Gifts--thinking about this...maybe Ghirardelli chocolate? cable car pins? prints/photos of a local landmark?
Bios--done! I am compiling the entire teams bios and photos to be sent off to the German host team.
Sponsorship--I spoke to Maureen and Jay :( We are all a bit bummed...I think I will have to buy Jay a nice bottle of Single Malt Scotch to win back his love!! I honestly think it was the best professional move to be closer to home/work and be sponsored by the Rotary Club of Terra Linda. The meeting times and locations are easier and more reasonable to attend during the work day. I am still a little bummed about not being sponsored by Jay's group, but hopefully I can visit that club a couple of times instead...
Applications signed--done!
Language Lessons--done! I chose to learn German by using a Rosetta Stone online subscription. So far, I love-love-love it!! It's a pretty good program and I highly, highly recommend it. It has sections on reading, writing, listening and speaking. It's considered immersion style which is the best way to learn a language--quickly! And it's available at my fingertips whenever I can access a computer! So easy!
Speaking of German lessons...gotta run off to put in a hour of time studying!
Presentations--still wondering if I have to give my presentation in German!
Gifts--thinking about this...maybe Ghirardelli chocolate? cable car pins? prints/photos of a local landmark?
Bios--done! I am compiling the entire teams bios and photos to be sent off to the German host team.
Sponsorship--I spoke to Maureen and Jay :( We are all a bit bummed...I think I will have to buy Jay a nice bottle of Single Malt Scotch to win back his love!! I honestly think it was the best professional move to be closer to home/work and be sponsored by the Rotary Club of Terra Linda. The meeting times and locations are easier and more reasonable to attend during the work day. I am still a little bummed about not being sponsored by Jay's group, but hopefully I can visit that club a couple of times instead...
Applications signed--done!
Language Lessons--done! I chose to learn German by using a Rosetta Stone online subscription. So far, I love-love-love it!! It's a pretty good program and I highly, highly recommend it. It has sections on reading, writing, listening and speaking. It's considered immersion style which is the best way to learn a language--quickly! And it's available at my fingertips whenever I can access a computer! So easy!
Speaking of German lessons...gotta run off to put in a hour of time studying!
I have a sponsoring club!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
I went to a meeting today with the Rotary Club of Terra Linda and they have officially accepted sponsorship of me. I was introduced to the club by Brian and I met Lynn (current club President), Rick (club President-elect) and Tim who is a past GSE Team leader to Southern Mexico in the Tabasco region. Tim is coming to speak to our group on the 27th of this month! Rick was a former GSE team member who travelled to Finland and Estonia. Both Rick and Tim could not say enough good things about their personal GSE experiences.
The speaker was Dietrich Stroeh who is the former General Manager of the Marin Municipal Water District in charge of the water district during the drought of the late 1970's. Interesting...very interesting.
Makes me think twice about leaving the water running while I brush my teeth...
I went to a meeting today with the Rotary Club of Terra Linda and they have officially accepted sponsorship of me. I was introduced to the club by Brian and I met Lynn (current club President), Rick (club President-elect) and Tim who is a past GSE Team leader to Southern Mexico in the Tabasco region. Tim is coming to speak to our group on the 27th of this month! Rick was a former GSE team member who travelled to Finland and Estonia. Both Rick and Tim could not say enough good things about their personal GSE experiences.
The speaker was Dietrich Stroeh who is the former General Manager of the Marin Municipal Water District in charge of the water district during the drought of the late 1970's. Interesting...very interesting.
Makes me think twice about leaving the water running while I brush my teeth...
Decisions, decisions, decisions...
Decisions to be made and issues to complete...
Uniforms--will they be plaid jumpers and white blouses with Peter Pan collars like when I was in grammar school?
Presentations--in English or in German? how long? what topic? together or individual? photos?
Gifts--small, easy to pack, not heavy, needs to be meaningful or representative to the SF Bay Area or California.
Bios--a brief blurb and a photo to Dennis to share with his counterpart and the hosting team in Germany.
Sponsorship--it won't be Novato. :( I will have to break the news to Jay and Maureen. It does make sense though, I don't live or work in Novato and if I decide to join Rotary it would be smart to join the club that sponsors me. Dennis is going to approach Brian to see if his club would be willing to sponsor me.
Applications signed--as soon as we find a clubs to sponsor us, we will need to have our original applications signed by the club president and returned to Dennis.
Language Lessons--how should I do this...in a class room, on-line, one-on-one or semi-private lessons? I think I will research either in a class room or on-line.
I'll be back later!
Uniforms--will they be plaid jumpers and white blouses with Peter Pan collars like when I was in grammar school?
Presentations--in English or in German? how long? what topic? together or individual? photos?
Gifts--small, easy to pack, not heavy, needs to be meaningful or representative to the SF Bay Area or California.
Bios--a brief blurb and a photo to Dennis to share with his counterpart and the hosting team in Germany.
Sponsorship--it won't be Novato. :( I will have to break the news to Jay and Maureen. It does make sense though, I don't live or work in Novato and if I decide to join Rotary it would be smart to join the club that sponsors me. Dennis is going to approach Brian to see if his club would be willing to sponsor me.
Applications signed--as soon as we find a clubs to sponsor us, we will need to have our original applications signed by the club president and returned to Dennis.
Language Lessons--how should I do this...in a class room, on-line, one-on-one or semi-private lessons? I think I will research either in a class room or on-line.
I'll be back later!
First Meeting!
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Our team met for the first time tonight! We met at the Suppenkeuche in San Francisco, a young and trendy German restaurant...very authentic!
Our team leader is Roger (a Rotarian) and the team has five non-Rotarian members; Kristen, Paul, Jasmyn, Jeniece and me. I met Roger, Jeniece and Dennis at Manzanita park and ride so we carpooled into SF together.
Roger is a self employed real estate investor and property manager for commercial properties.
Kristen is a program manager for a personal history and biography company.
Paul is an architect with a large national design firm.
Jasmyn is a Registered Nurse.
Jeniece is a Human Resources Representative.
I can't believe no one has filmed a reality show from this yet...c'mon..they pick six total strangers and send them to a foreign country for a month to live in other people's houses. Make them stand up in front of a bunch of foreigners and deliver presentations in a foreign language. There ought'a be some pretty freakin' hilarious moments that come out'a this gig!! And who's gonna be the one I get to giggle with all the time?
Have I mentioned I don't speak a word of German?
I wonder: who will be the prima donna, who will be the trouble maker, who will be the kiss ass, who will be the partier?? Hmmm...pretty funny mix of people! I am curious if my first impressions will be right or wrong?
Dennis says he has never sent the original team selected...whoa! I am surprised by this and suddenly I look around the table and even though I have only known these people for 20 minutes, I don't want any of us not to go!
So many questions were answered tonight and still so many questions linger. We will have to go to the District 5150 Conference in Yosemite (oooo--twist my arm!!! i love yosemite!) and I am pretty sure Maureen and Jay will be there too!
Our team met for the first time tonight! We met at the Suppenkeuche in San Francisco, a young and trendy German restaurant...very authentic!
Our team leader is Roger (a Rotarian) and the team has five non-Rotarian members; Kristen, Paul, Jasmyn, Jeniece and me. I met Roger, Jeniece and Dennis at Manzanita park and ride so we carpooled into SF together.
Roger is a self employed real estate investor and property manager for commercial properties.
Kristen is a program manager for a personal history and biography company.
Paul is an architect with a large national design firm.
Jasmyn is a Registered Nurse.
Jeniece is a Human Resources Representative.
I can't believe no one has filmed a reality show from this yet...c'mon..they pick six total strangers and send them to a foreign country for a month to live in other people's houses. Make them stand up in front of a bunch of foreigners and deliver presentations in a foreign language. There ought'a be some pretty freakin' hilarious moments that come out'a this gig!! And who's gonna be the one I get to giggle with all the time?
Have I mentioned I don't speak a word of German?
I wonder: who will be the prima donna, who will be the trouble maker, who will be the kiss ass, who will be the partier?? Hmmm...pretty funny mix of people! I am curious if my first impressions will be right or wrong?
Dennis says he has never sent the original team selected...whoa! I am surprised by this and suddenly I look around the table and even though I have only known these people for 20 minutes, I don't want any of us not to go!
So many questions were answered tonight and still so many questions linger. We will have to go to the District 5150 Conference in Yosemite (oooo--twist my arm!!! i love yosemite!) and I am pretty sure Maureen and Jay will be there too!
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Interview...and phone call.
So, I am pretty sure the interview went well...and this made me even more hopeful!
But now, I had to tell Melissa at work...uh-oh! When was the last time you asked for 4 weeks off work??!!
I could not have dreamt for a better response!! Thank you Melissa, vielen dank, from the bottom of my eager little heart! Thank you for your encouragement and support!
After the interview, Dennis told me I would hear from him within that week. It was the longest four days ever....not to mention the insanity with the beeping smoke alarm upstairs with no access! But that is another story...oh...never mind!
Fast forward to Wednesday following the interview...and I am at Broken Drum Microbrewery in San Rafael with Chris...dear, dear Chris...he and I were having Hefewizen while I explained to him what news I was waiting for...RING, RING...there is my phone and it is Dennis. Shit! The phone call I have been waiting for and now I couldn't seem to press the right button.
Me: This is Christine.
Dennis: Hi Christine, this is Dennis with Rotary GSE.
**(uh...no shit dude...i have been checking my phone every 45 seconds for the last four days waiting for you to call! )**
Me: Hi Dennis.
Dennis: Congratulations! You have been selected to be part of the GSE team!
Me: Oh, that is so great! Are you serious?
Dennis: No! I'm kidding!!
**(in his best sarcastic voice that I have yet to be comfortable with)**
Me: Wow! This is really great!
**(I am now giving a HUGE smile and thumbs up to Chris who is still inside sipping his Hefeweizen...)**
Dennis: blah, blah, blah...
The rest of what he said is a total blur! I heard what I wanted and it's time to sip--ah--who am I kidding--it's time to chug more Hefeweizen!
So, back in the Broken Drum and Chris is standing there with his arms open wide and a big, warm, cozy congratulatory hug! He is the best...
But now, I had to tell Melissa at work...uh-oh! When was the last time you asked for 4 weeks off work??!!
I could not have dreamt for a better response!! Thank you Melissa, vielen dank, from the bottom of my eager little heart! Thank you for your encouragement and support!
After the interview, Dennis told me I would hear from him within that week. It was the longest four days ever....not to mention the insanity with the beeping smoke alarm upstairs with no access! But that is another story...oh...never mind!
Fast forward to Wednesday following the interview...and I am at Broken Drum Microbrewery in San Rafael with Chris...dear, dear Chris...he and I were having Hefewizen while I explained to him what news I was waiting for...RING, RING...there is my phone and it is Dennis. Shit! The phone call I have been waiting for and now I couldn't seem to press the right button.
Me: This is Christine.
Dennis: Hi Christine, this is Dennis with Rotary GSE.
**(uh...no shit dude...i have been checking my phone every 45 seconds for the last four days waiting for you to call! )**
Me: Hi Dennis.
Dennis: Congratulations! You have been selected to be part of the GSE team!
Me: Oh, that is so great! Are you serious?
Dennis: No! I'm kidding!!
**(in his best sarcastic voice that I have yet to be comfortable with)**
Me: Wow! This is really great!
**(I am now giving a HUGE smile and thumbs up to Chris who is still inside sipping his Hefeweizen...)**
Dennis: blah, blah, blah...
The rest of what he said is a total blur! I heard what I wanted and it's time to sip--ah--who am I kidding--it's time to chug more Hefeweizen!
So, back in the Broken Drum and Chris is standing there with his arms open wide and a big, warm, cozy congratulatory hug! He is the best...
In the beginning...
Last October, Maureen called and left a voice mail asking me if I would be interested in a scholorship trip to Germany. Well, I was in no hurry to call her back since I was pretty sure there was some kind of catch that would make such an offer possible! Boy-oh-boy, was I ever wrong!!
When I did finally call her back, almost laughing at her suggestion, I quickly decided this was nothing to laugh at...it was quite an interesting proposal she had! I spoke to Jay and learned a little bit more but most importantly, I had to act FAST!!
So, I completed the application, wrote an essay and submitted it all to Dennis of Rotary Club of Novato. He is the GSE Chairperson for the District and was working with the committee to arrange for interviews. I heard back from Dennis the following week and was invited for an interview about 10 days later.
By the time the interview date arrived, I wanted this. And after the interview went as well as it did, I wanted this bad!! I was more nervous driving to that interview than I had been in years...years I tell you! I was so nervous I couldn't help but laugh at myself...all the typical signs of nervousness were there...talking to myself...feeling like I had to pee but didn't really need to pee...getting there so early that I drove around for an additional 10 minutes not wanting to be TOO early, but certainly not late either. But, all giggling aside, I was so serious about this that I convinced myself that it wasn't about impressing the interview peeps...it was about totally and completely being myself. I decided if they were putting together a team who was going to successfully travel in a foreign country for a month, I wanted them to know as much as possible about the REAL me. Not that I am not "real"--but do they really need to see my potential bitchy-ness just yet?? If they wanted to put together a compatible team, then I was going to trust them by offering them total and complete authenticity and genuineness. I didn't want to spend a hard working, demanding, exhausting month with an unmatched team...I wanted the best and I was going to give them my best!!
When I did finally call her back, almost laughing at her suggestion, I quickly decided this was nothing to laugh at...it was quite an interesting proposal she had! I spoke to Jay and learned a little bit more but most importantly, I had to act FAST!!
So, I completed the application, wrote an essay and submitted it all to Dennis of Rotary Club of Novato. He is the GSE Chairperson for the District and was working with the committee to arrange for interviews. I heard back from Dennis the following week and was invited for an interview about 10 days later.
By the time the interview date arrived, I wanted this. And after the interview went as well as it did, I wanted this bad!! I was more nervous driving to that interview than I had been in years...years I tell you! I was so nervous I couldn't help but laugh at myself...all the typical signs of nervousness were there...talking to myself...feeling like I had to pee but didn't really need to pee...getting there so early that I drove around for an additional 10 minutes not wanting to be TOO early, but certainly not late either. But, all giggling aside, I was so serious about this that I convinced myself that it wasn't about impressing the interview peeps...it was about totally and completely being myself. I decided if they were putting together a team who was going to successfully travel in a foreign country for a month, I wanted them to know as much as possible about the REAL me. Not that I am not "real"--but do they really need to see my potential bitchy-ness just yet?? If they wanted to put together a compatible team, then I was going to trust them by offering them total and complete authenticity and genuineness. I didn't want to spend a hard working, demanding, exhausting month with an unmatched team...I wanted the best and I was going to give them my best!!
Welcome to my blog!
Welcome to my blog...this is my brain on the web.
This is a virtual dumping ground for my experiences and emotions as I participate in the Group Study Exchange (GSE) program with Rotary International. I am one of five team members selected in Nov 2006 to represent Rotary District 5150 encompassing Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo Counties in Northern California. We will be exchanging with Rotary District 1820 in Hessen which is in and around Frankfurt Germany.
Come back and visit my blog often!
This is a virtual dumping ground for my experiences and emotions as I participate in the Group Study Exchange (GSE) program with Rotary International. I am one of five team members selected in Nov 2006 to represent Rotary District 5150 encompassing Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo Counties in Northern California. We will be exchanging with Rotary District 1820 in Hessen which is in and around Frankfurt Germany.
Come back and visit my blog often!
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