Bag of gifts, finished pins, feelings about leaving

Hi Everyone! 

I know I haven't updated in awhile. But I'm back!! My vacation was fun and a little sad because I know my time in America is coming to an end.

So let's get started!

Yesterday, as I was putting all of the gifts I'm bringing to Taiwan into a bag I felt like Santa Claus. I have this huge plastic bag and it's absolutely filled. I've realized it's going to need it's own suit case. I cant just fit it in with clothing like I was planning to. I added a few things since the last gift post. 

ONE NEW GIFT IDEA: Your high school's merchandise. I got a bunch of my school branded stuff. Pens, pencils, bags, mugs, etc. This gives the Taiwanese a taste of your home school. Plus, you might be able to get somethings for free with your school if you talk to the right person on the right day.   

To see what other gifts I packed click here.

Yesterday I also finished making my handmade pins!

I made red, white, and blue pins with silver backings. For more info about pins click here.

Overall, I'm really happy about the pins I made. What do you guys think? Comment below. 

It's really quick and easy to make this kind. Just break out the hot glue gun and you're done. I recommend it this method.  

Now I've got to talk about my feelings. Before I was very excited and just happy happy about it. But now, I'm still happy and excited, I'm just also nervous. 

I'm nervous about leaving all my friends behind. A couple of them are taking gap years as well. 
I'm nervous about meeting all the deadlines and having all the correct papers.
I'm nervous about having money when I go abroad. 
I'm nervous about starting in high school again, when I don't know anyone or the language.
I'm nervous about meeting my host family. Will they be nice, will they have time for me, will I feel welcome, etc, etc.
I'm nervous about not knowing the language.
I'm nervous about making friends.

Some of these things don't bother me as much as others. But I have a lot to do and not much time. Whenever I think I'm done with something, five more things pop up. 

I'll miss everyone who means something to me in America. I hope that they'll all follow my blog and still talk to me a bit. I know being an exchange student means letting go of America, but a little contact is more than healthy. 

Overall, my feelings are normal. I'll keep you updated. 

So please comment, and follow me. Look around at other posts. Your interest in my blog really helps me keep going with it. The people who I don't know in real life, it means a lot to me when you take time out of your life to talk to a girl you've never met. Those comments are very meaningful. 

And for the people in my life who comment, I know all of you are keepers. And I know we will never lose contact. And I'll miss you very much. 

How many pins should you bring abroad with you?

Recently someone found my blog while searching for how many pins to get for an exchange.

While abroad, you give out (in my case) American related pins in exchange for other exchange student's pins from other countries. While on exchange you will likely meet with hundreds of other international exchange students. But these pins are also great to give out at the cultural fair every Rotary exchange student will likely end up hosting. And they are also great small gifts for classmates, and other people you will meet.

Allow me to make a list of questions this blog post will be answering just so you the reader, and I, the blogger, can keep organized.  

1. Where can I find pins for rotary? Where can I find cheap American pins? How to get pins?

2. How many pins do I bring abroad? How many pins should I bring? How many pins are you bringing (Michelle)?


1. You can find pins for rotary in many ways, some are easier than others, some are more effective than others.

• Email companies for pins- In my experience this is very hard to do. Most companies want to you ask in person, but when you do they give you the run around. I have not had any success with this yet. I am in the process of talking to the police station in my area though. So maybe there is still hope. This depends largely on luck. I emailed the 50 biggest CT based companies in my area, very few wrote back, none sent pins.
• Buying Pins- Buying pins is not as cheap as it would seem. Sure sometimes there is a deal to steal quickly, but mostly, it's not cheap. Stay on the lookout, but the only pins you will be able to get, most likely, are plain American flags (if you are from America).
• Making Pins- Be honest with yourselves; if you are really good at crafts and can make QUALITY pins, then totally do it. If the stuff you're going to make takes a lot of time, or is likely to fall apart, then pass on making them. Just my tips.
• Getting Pins from Rotary- Not every rotary club does this, and what kind and how many they give varies. My club gave me 150 American flag pins, just to start us out.

• If you have found a company to send you pins, please refer them to me in a comment. If you are a company interesting in supplying me with pins to handout, please comment! If you have a website with cheap pins, please share it with everyone! Comment below.

2. How many pins to bring really depends on where you're going, how long you'll be there, how many you plan to give out, etc.
In some countries, I imagine pins are not as popular as others. Which countries? You tell me! Write you experiences with pins abroad in the comments section. Help others decide how many pins to bring for their countries.

If you are only there for short term ( a couple weeks or months), naturally, you will not need as many pins as the long term program (a year).

It also depends on what kind of person you are, I have met people who really just aren't into the pin thing. They collect a couple, but don't go crazy. If you're one of these, you probably wont need as many pins.

For me, I'm bringing around 250. Will it last? Hopefully. I'll let you know if I run out! XD I think it's a good amount. Only bringing 75 might not be a good idea. More is better than less, in this case, you don't want to go without.

Update From Several Years Later:
I managed to give away all of my pins! Other than a few I left at a cultural fair one time. Don't carry all your pins on you, because if you lose them all in one sitting, that wouldn't be good. 

Answers to questions!

Random picture online.

"One Rotary tradition is that students cover their blazers in pins and patches they have traded with other students or bought in places they have visited as evidence of their exchange. It is popular for the students to bring a large collection of national- or regional-themed pins and trade them with students from other areas. This tradition is popular worldwide." -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_Youth_Exchange

These are all the inbounds and outbounds in my district. The ones in light blue are french. ; D

Gifts for Host Families and Taiwanese Friends!

Hi everyone!

Me in my blazer, with my two brothers.

It's normal and expected to bring gifts with you when you are an exchange student. Gifts for the families you stay with, and for friends. In addition, I am going through rotary so we have blazers. Rotary Exchange students all trade pins from different countries. It's really fun to try to fill your blazer. It's best to make, or buy those pins. You can try to get pins from companies, but it's very hard to get companies to do that in America, from my experience. My rotary club (and many others) will actually start you off with 100-200 pins. My club gave me 150, but they are just American flags. It's really cool to have different kinds. My advice is to go shopping for American things near the 4th of july. All the stores have cheap American stuff!

When you are in rotary, you don't start out knowing how many families you will have or what they'll be like, so it's best to get general things. Also, you have to carry everything yourself in the airport, so make sure it's lightweight!!

Gifts:
Four welcome signs; two red white and blue pom poms; like 7 or 8 shirts; three stress balls; four mini American flags; three pairs of American socks (XD); two American bracelets; two children's books; one ball paddle game; two viziers; four photo books I plan to fill half of each for the host families and fill the other half with them.

Today I went to craft stores and Marshals and got most of the gifts, and the stuff to make the pins.

Pin Stuff:
Six packs of pin backings; many packs of star stuff to put on them.

I got candy, shirts ( two shirts for 7 bucks! All different sizes.), small gifts, kids books in English, and etc.

Candy:

Three York candies; two different kinds of jelly beans; two packs of red, white and blue chocolate covered sunflower seeds; two dot candies; one chocolate cookie carton; two bags of American sweets.

ALSO when you are preparing, make sure you bring things for the culture fair. You will have your own booth! Bring stuff to decorate with!

Such as:

Two medium flags; red, white and blue stars; garland; some candy.

Please ask me questions! I would love to answer you!

Update From Several Years Later:
I wish I had brought some artisan goods from Connecticut. Such as maple syrup, or chocolate covered cranberries or something local. Alternatively I wish I had brought some American branded goods. In Asia people really enjoy receiving Ferrero Rocher chocolates or brand name clothing, for example. Even local coffee beans are an idea, or just Starbucks Brand Coffee. Even if those things are available in Asia, they are very expensive and considered really nice gifts. Generally, Taiwanese adults won't typically enjoy normal T-shirts with American flags on them and whatnot. Candy always goes over well, though.