Making Contact & Progress

When I found out in September that I was chosen for the Ambassadorial Scholar program, I knew that I had a lot of work ahead of me.

Time sure flies when preparing to leave the country for a year.

I have made contact with a few of the Scholars in Cape Town right now--Emily, Ilya and Jon David. They have been great about answering all of my questions and sharing their blogs with me.

I have received emails from Trevor Wilkins, the Inbound Scholar Coordinator and he has been a tremendous help. He also informed me that my host club will be the Rotary Club of Lion's Head.

Trevor put me in touch with John Powell of the Rotary Club of Lion's Head and he has sent me emails that has made me even more excited about my upcoming trip.

I have also been in contact via email with a couple of Outbound Scholars like myself. So we are getting to know each other before we arrive.

My application fee check to University of Cape Town has been cashed and I received a reply from the Admissions Office that they did have my application and I'm "in their system".....but still waiting to see if I'm accepted. I still havn't received my "Return Receipt"! Glad I paid extra for that!

So, with all of this progress I am starting to feel more connected to the place that I will call home for a year.

So, as I await my acceptance, I am gathering paperwork for my Visa and working on my portfolio.

Keep your fingers crossed that I get accepted to UCT!

How It All Began.......

I can sum up how my adventure to South Africa started in two words...........Erv Otte.

Erv is a long time member of the Bedford (Indiana) Rotary Club. I met Erv about 8 years ago when I started as the Coordinator for the Community Learning Center of Lawrence County. Erv often would share interesting stories with me about Youth Exchange Students and different projects he was involved with in the community.

Erv first approached me about 3 years ago regarding Rotary International's Group Study Exchange Program. This is a Rotary sponsored program that sends a team of young professionals to another country for a month of vocational & cultural exchange. I was fortunate enough to be chosen for the 2006 GSE Team from District #6580 to go to Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island.

It was a life changing experience and one that led me to apply for the Ambassadorial Scholarship program, which Erv had also informed me about. My team leader on the GSE trip and good friend, Yolanda, also encouraged me to apply for the scholarship.

On September 17th, 2006, I sat before a group of 10--9 Rotarians and 1 Scholar, to be interviewed for the 2007-2008 Ambassadorial Scholar.

On September 18th, I got the news that I was chosen to be the Ambassadorial Scholar for District #6580.

And so the journey begins.........