Thanksgiving

It's interesting that the one year I'm away from the States on the 4th Thursday of the November, I find myself appreciating it the most. So in light of this, I've made a list of what I'm thankful for this year.

I'm unbelievably thankful family. I thank my parents for raising me in such a loving environment. I'm thankful that I've been supported throughout my whole life through every [reasonable] aspiration of mine; from my 5 years of Karate, to this great adventure I am experiencing now. I'm thankful that despite every personal feeling they had, they could let me go on my own earlier than they had expected. I'm thankful for my awesome sister. I had never been able to see how well we get along until I lived with another family of children and could compare. I'm thankful for every great family experience I've ever had. I'm thankful for all of the positive outcomes from negative events in the past year. I'm thankful for the era of "Cousin Camp" and all the fun times we had at the beach. I love and miss you all.

I am thankful for my friends. I'm thankful for all the fun stuff my best friend and I have been through. I'm thankful for all my friends that have been with me through the ups and downs of life and school. I'm thankful for my film buddies who I always have blast with. I'm thankful for my friends at hockey, including my inspiring coaches and teammates. For everyone who has believed in me.

I am thankful for my greatest roll models. I'm thankful for Ray Marquiss for telling me whatever I needed to here to help me and for his ability of control. I don't think he even knows how much he has affected my life. I'm also thankful for Brian Conroy, who was a great inspiration in my role as a comedian in theatre. Without him, there would be valuable aspects of my comical abilities missing and basic attitudes towards theatre missing.

I'm thankful for Rotary and all Rotarians. I am thankful for my club at home that has included me so well in the group. Also, all the people who have helped me start the exchange. I'm thankful for those who of donated to the great program of Rotary Youth Exchange.

I'm thankful for all the great people I've met because of Rotary. All of the exchange students I met last year while I prepared for my own exchange, the students I've met here from all over the world, my host-families, my new classmates that became my friends within the first day, and all of the great Rotarians that I would consider friends. I am extremely thankful that I have included myself in this program because of all the great people I've befriended.

I could go on for ages about who and what I am thankful for just in this year, but that could get boring. If you are reading this, chances are I am thankful that I met you.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

-Eddie