Germany it is!

Just got a voice mail from my soon-to-be 16 year old nephew Reed. He just found out where he is going for his junior year of high school abroad through the Rotary Youth Exchange......he's going to Germany. I was so hoping he'd be going to Spain or Argentina, but Germany will still be a good experience - he'll experience a new culture and get to see the world. However he'll be learning a language that really isn't all that necessary to learn since so many Germans speak English. I was so hoping that he's learn Spanish so we could speak it together. I wanted him to experience some of the same adventures I did while living for 3 years in Spain and while traveling several times to Argentina. I really hope he at least gets to experience a small town in Germany, and not a big city.

You see he would have ended up in a Spanish speaking country, but at the last minute he switched his priority list of countries (after he had already submitted a list that I had helped him create). He had to list in order of preference over 30 countries; knowing he would most likely be going to one of the top 5 on his list. He kept Spain as #1, but ended up putting Germany as #2 and moved Argentina down the list. He did this without consulting me. I know he is not my child, but you see, I'm the most well traveled person in our entire family and I don't know.....I guess I was hoping to advise him a little more. Instead he listened to I-don't-know-who.

He reads my blog too, so I know he'll read this. I'll get excited Reed, I promise, I really will. Just give me a bit of time to get used to the idea of Germany. I'll help you get your blog started and your fundraising letter written. I don't know if I'll come visit you in Germany, but maybe if you want to meet up in Spain or Italy at the end of your year abroad - we can do that. Also lest you forget my dear nephew - we have a deal that you will study in Spain during your college years.

At least you will be getting out of Marysville, Michigan and for that I am absolutely thrilled.