Here we go...

As I write my first post for the year, I am realizing that I may lack the persistence needed to keep a blog up to date while I'm away. Especially when I will be trying to focus on learning German the first few months. I've been told it's more difficult to pick up on a language if you keep going back to your native tongue. We'll have to see how it goes.
But for an introduction to my year of cultural cultivation I'll lay down the facts. I will leave for Germany sometime in August. The summer up until the departure will be occupied with feeble attempts to raise donated money and much larger attempts to earn money. I work. A lot.
I will be spending the year as a part of the Hilden-Haan Rotary club. Hilden and Haan are two smaller cities located in the Western part of Germany in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. They are about 7km apart, about 20km south of Düsseldorf, and about 30km north of Cologne.
There's the basic facts. This blog is meant to keep friends and family posted on my blunderings throughout the year. I also pray that it will serve as my tool to be an ambassador during my exchange, that it will encourage others to try a similar experience, and that it will promote Rotary International and their services for the world. All-in-all, it should be an exciting and challenging year! =) A year of cultural cultivation!