On Culture Shock Pt. 1

At Otterbein the Rotary tried its damnedest to crush any and all optimism with in any of us going on a long-term exchange. They put us through many meetings and seminars on culture shock which I beleive was a collosal waste of time, focusing on only the negitive aspects. Lectures in which my friend Vince brought out his similar disastisfaction by falling asleep in the middle of one of the longest of those meetings. To all the Rotary higher-ups, we as people have already commited and expressed excitment in going to another country, which everybody knows isnt America and therefore common sense tells you there will be a culture clash, but just leave it to that alone and move on. They worry to much. But I guess I am absolutly fearless because nothing on this exchange has really scared me. And the scenario that the Rotarians drilled into our heads were that you will get scared to the point were you will cry and beg to go home, which will result in you hiding in your dark room hovering over your computer. I thought `Yeah right!` and I was actually right, though Im speaking about my case. There are things that are so completley different none of it really bothered me, I just roll with it. And the food, which I dont know what I am eating half the time by the way, I actually like. I love it when my host parents ask me to try some kind of eel or octopus, or god-knows-what and I get the feeling they want to get amusement out of what they think will be my reaction. And for my own amusement I dive right in, and eat the octopus or whatever with no problem, and they get shocked, but they are happy about it, its actually pretty funny. I am having too much fun, I honestly can`t see myself getting shocked to the point of being driven into isolation. I want to talk to everyone, as I said, I am fearless. I think I inherited that from my dad, for he is fearless too. But I think I inherited my mom`s sense of humor and independence. So I`m not shy at all! I am having a great time, and I suspect other exchange students to any country is having a great time to. Again to the higher-ups, leave us alone, and let us have fun, and let us go!