The Begining

I'm constantly being asked 'Why would you want to be an exchange student? You don't know anyone there.' or 'Ecuador?... Of all places, you choose Ecuador? Aside from other Outbounds, most people wouldn't understand. People think I'm crazy for leaving everything I know to go live in an unfamiliar country. I must be crazy, because that's exactly what I want to do.



Hey, my name is Savannah Gertis and I'm proud to say that very soon (78 days) I will be traveling to a beautiful country in South America, known as, drum roll please, Ecuador for an academic year. Its really difficult to prepare for and it'll be even harder to leave the lifestyle I've grown accustomed to, but I am very confident in my abilities to adapt to the change. I'm a very independent person and that's probably the hardest quality for my Mother to accept. Foreign exchange is definately not for everyone, but I am not everyone. I am using this opportunity to learn more about myself and other cultures.



I live in Beaufort, South Carolina and will be living for 10 months in Quito, Ecuador. I live with my Mother and brother, Chris, who is 14. My parents are divorced but I have a very close relationship with my Father. I think he is the most excited about my trip and without his advice and support, I probably wouldn't be writing this now. I have a close group of friends that I'm going to miss like crazy when I'm gone. I currently go to Beaufort High School and I'm in the small school of Arts, Communication and Technology. I'm really interested in science and engineering and hope to further my interests of that in college.



In reality, this is not the beginning. If you ask most exchange students, they call it the '3 year exchange' The year before you leave, your year abroad and the year after you come back. So much work and planning is put into the preparation of your trip. We meet for may trainings and orientations months prior departure. My beginning started about 6 months ago when Nick Hunt came to speak to my Interact Club. I was interested and discussed it with my parents. My Dad was so excited that I wanted to do it but my Mom had her concerns... I pre-applied and with a few minor bumps along the way I was interviewed by Nick and Bob Bible. I was so nervous, but soon after that I started working on my application and you can pretty much guess the rest. Through all the misunderstandings and confusion I'm glad everything has worked out and led to this..



When I found out I was going to be studying abroad for a year, it was somewhat surreal. The reality of me not being with my friends and family has not sunk in yet and I don't know if it ever will. I understand that there will be plenty of difficult times, but it'll all be worth it in the end. I crave the independence and knowledge this experience brings. I had to do this for myself, because to be honest I've lost what my self is sometime before this. I am so grateful to have been chosen to take part in this program. I would like to thank everybody that is making my exchange possible: Bob Bible, my Youth Exchange Officer; Nick Hunt and Vicki Tatum and most of all, Rotary Club of the Lowcountry- my sponsor club.

I will try to update a few times before I leave just to let everyone know how the process is going along:)



Savannah