4...

4 days left in the US and this is what I did:

Sleep

Went to my last sponsor Rotary club meeting until next year

Finished Packing

Today's been a bit eventful. 4 days left and I'm going through sooo many emotions right now, it's crazy!

-Hailey

5..

Today I had my going away party! It's still unreal how soon I will be leaving! I made a video filled with pictures and such from today!

-Hailey

6...

Today is my last Saturday here at home and in the states! I finished packing a majority of my stuff! I've put my clothes in space bags and boy did it help.  Other than that I've been catching up on my online classes that I've been majorly slacking on. I'm a bit behind and I'm trying to get ahead so I won't fall behind again while I'm at language camp!

Tomorrow is my going away party, so it will be bitter sweet.

-Hailey

The Beginning of Lasts

So today was my last day at work... 

(mega sad face)

           For those of you who don't know I work at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Italy in a shop called "Artisans of Italy", which is the best shop if I have a say. I worked with wonderful team members and also two wonderful Italian Artisans, Nino and Toni. 

So shout out to Karen, Mrs. Jean, Marie, Becca, Alicia, Donna, Michelle, Evan, Catherine, Ray, Nino, Toni, and Tracy. 
One of my supervisors, Alicia made me these brownies it's so adorable, I love it! I'm so grateful to have worked with these amazing people.

Thank you guys for making my time in #ItalySquad amazing! I will be sure to visit when I return!

Here are pictures from tonight that we took <3 They describe us perfectly

(Alicia, I, Marie, and Evan)

 At my first job at Chuck E Cheese, I loved a few I worked with but most really made me dread having to work with them. At Busch I look forward to going to work and and am actually happy to go.

I learned a lot working in the shop. I've met wonderful people.

 This is just the first of my goodbye's and lasts. 

From now until I leave I will be writing a blog post documenting the last of days here in the USA. I want to thank everyone who has supported me and donated to help send me to Finland. This is an amazing opportunity that I am grateful to have.

"Travel while you're young and able. Don't worry about the money, just make it work. Experience is far more valuable than money will ever be."

-Hailey

Email: hakoger1998@gmail.com

Facebook: Hailey Koger

Tumblr: haileyinfinland.tumblr.com

Instagram: Haileyko98

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Now is the time for those who are thinking about becoming exchange students to start put it in action (espically if you plan to go with Rotary). Don't keep simple things from keeping you from going. We are only young once and if we don't get out there and explore now, we might never.

If you have any questions please email me! I would love to answer any questions! So shoot me a message on Facebook, Tumblr, Email, Twitter, or Instagram. I would be more than happy to help.

12 Days Till Departure

          I can't believe in only 12 days I leave for Finland. This is crazy. Complete craziness. It still hasn't hit me that I'm actually leaving!!!!

           Earlier this month on the 6th I went to DC to go to the Finnish Embassy to process my residence permit. I got to walk down Embassy Row and see many of the embassies! I also saw the Islamic Center which was an amazing site.

         I received my flight itinerary on the 17th! So on August 1st at 12:46pm I will leave from the Norfolk airport to fly to the Atlanta airport where I have a 40 minute layover, I will then leave from Atlanta to go to Amsterdam, and then from Amsterdam to Helsinki!!! So I only have 11 days left here in my home, and it's a bit exciting. I still haven't packed but I probably won't get to that till next week (whoops).

          One day recently I read back from the beginning of my blog and it's quite unreal. I see how I have changed since I wrote my first blog post. I've grown a lot and it's a bit weird to see little me all excited about CBYX and really thinking I could get it. And now here I am a year in a half later; going on exchange to Finland.

          I made a video recently but wasn't able to edit it so I just wrote this in place of it. I will be taking lots of pictures and vlogging while at language camp! Also I started my online classes for here in the states, I'm taking US Gov, and English 12. I'm already majorly falling behind



-Hailey

First Host Family

      So I reliesed that I never wrote about my first host family! I've known who they were for almost two months now, I just never got around to writing a blog post. Whoops!

     My 1st host family are the Valkama's! They live in Rajamäki which is like a county for Nurmijarvi.

 I will have 4 host siblings in my first family! My host siblings are; Tuuli who is the oldest and she is currently going to uni in Helsinki, Juusi who is the 2nd oldest, he just graduated from high school, Ville who is 13 and my younger host sister Emmi! 

     I ONLY HAVE 42 DAYS LEFT!!! I can't wait for language camp and to be with and meet all of the other inbounds! I'm ready for the crazy memorable days, the long fun nights, the cold winters where it's so cold I will be missing the humid Virginia weather. 

     

     I saw this on Tumblr and it's accurate as hell. It's.....

The Daily Thoughts of a Future Exchange Student

Me:  Holy shit I'm going to another country for a year

Me: What will it be like meeting my host family...

Me:Oh my gosh what if my host family doesn't like me?!

Me:*brushing teeth* *squeals* *jumps up and down* OMG IM GOING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY FOR A YEAR, I'M SO EXCITED, YAY

Me:What the heck did I do, I'm leaving for a year.. Oh my gosh *initiate all the what if questions*

Me:What will school be like... *nervous/ excited emotions flow through*

Me:What will the language barrier be like? How will we communicate? Oh my gosh

Me:*giggles randomly out of the blue at least once every hour* HAHAA OH MY GOSH A NEW CULTURE, LANGUAGE, COUNTRY, FOOD, WAY OF LIFE.. AH SO EXCITING

Me:I can't wait for the challenge one I've never experienced before. Bring it on.

• 
  

This pretty much sums up my life right now haha

Until next time,
Hailey

50 Päivä

Holy crap. Holy crap. Holy crap.

I only have 50 days left and I feel no where near ready. I still have so much to get done!!

So recently on Sunday, June 7th I had to say goodbye to one of my best friends as she heads back to Finland. Vilma is such an amazing friend and I miss her so muchhh :( Now waiting until August so I can finally see her again!

It’s crazy how close you can get to someone in such a short amount of time.

SINCE IT’S BEEN FOREVER SINCE I LAST UPDATED…

I found out I will have four host families!!! Which is one more then normal but thats one more family I get to have who will be there for me when I need them and one more family to help me with my horrible Finnish. Haha!

And on to my Finnish. I’m using the app called Word Dive, it’s helping me greatly with my Finnish(which is still sucky but heyy give a girl a break). Though my pronunciation is shaky I’m getting use to the Finnish language.

Speaking of Finnish people, this past weekend I played in the Virginia Beach sand soccer tournament. On the first day, Saturday, my mom and I were walking down the Boardwalk and as we were about 30 feet away? (I’m not good with distance) I saw what I thought was a YFU sign with their symbol but my mom was like no I think that is UNC (they had a UNC tent) but I was sure it was YFU. As we got closer, sure enough it was a YFU tent set up. I went up and talked to one of the counselors I believe and told her I’m headed to Finland (but with Rotary ^.^ haha!) She told me that there was a Finnish girl there playing on the YFU exchange student team. Of course me all excited, I met the Finnish girl, her name is Anna and she lives outside Helsinki so I will definitely be seeing her while I’m over there! (By the way my team was undefeated and 1st in our group which meant we moved on to the semifinals but unfortunately we lost but hey I glad we made it that far :) )

It still hits me hard that I’m leaving in only 50 days. I haven’t even applied for my residence permit yet! It seems as though no one has my guarantee forms, so I can’t even submit the application for it which is making me crazy!! So until I get my residence permit it means that I can’t book my ticket. There’s so much going on I’m worried I won’t be able to goo!

but 50 days.

50 days left in America

50 days left with my family and friends

50 days left till I board the plane that will take me halfway across the world for 11 months

it’s scary and dunting but also exciting and enthralling

Here’s to the last 50 days!

Hailey