A Message in the Bottle: Re-entry

We've been told that whenever we come home our exchange program doesn't end. It's only beginning.
On the 14th of July in Yekaterinburg we had a meeting with other FLEX alumni about what beginning is it and what opportunities do we have.

In this meeting I finally get to see some people from my Pre-Departure Orientation last summer. And it was GREAT, because we didn't see each other about a year and with them we rocked at out PDO!

First of all, we discussed very important issue I think - adaptation to home. In out re-entry agenda list we had next topics:
Looking back
Changes at home
The 3 worlds
Understand the new me
Culture shock
Moving on

I liked talking about this stuff, well maybe because FLEX people understand each other easy, coz they've been in the same situation. Although, honestly, sometimes I felt like it was a meeting of anonymous alcoholics - we sat in sort of circle and told each other about our experience =)

One of our activities also was collage. Here I realized - that's why we need pictures of our year in America. Too sad - I was sort of greedy - I gave up couple of them, but I saved others for my frames - where they supposed to be.
The first topic was "My America".
And then on The 3 worlds, we draw our "life" before and after USA. (It calls 3 worlds, coz our organizers made a poster too - they are also FLEX alumni, just older).

Another subject we talked about was "Experience sharing". We've been introduced to American centers in our region, different projects we could participate in, competitions to get different grants for organizing meetings and projects, volunteering. I think I am interesting in doing some presentations around libraries. Maybe even in two cities, since I will live in Yekaterinburg for school anyway.

The last we talked about opportunities to get back to US or to get in American colleges NOT in United States. Although, the first question wasn't answered very well, but lots of us were interested in the other one - American University in Bulgaria and New York University Abu Dhabi. My friend, for example, called her mom and said "I know what college I am going to!!!".

We also had pizza party lunch, if it counts. And on the way to subway (to catch a train to railway station) we accidentally found promoters that gave us free NEW grape Fanta, which was little bit suspicious and not new taste at all, at least for America. Anyways, keep Fanta orange! That what it supposed to be. And do not drink a strawberry one - it's gross .

Pictures Time =)