“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller

Zdravo (hello), today marks my two weeks since I arrived in Sarajevo, It is the two week mark where I said goodbye to my culture and hello to a new one! These last two weeks have been amazing!!! Though, some days have been a bit overwhelming, I am learning to get over it and enjoy life, you see, I miss Russellville ALOT, but I have to realize that I am experiencing a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I can't spend it wishing I was with my friends, or thinking about what I am missing out on in Logan County! I should rather embrace this time of change, make new friends, and enjoy my new surroundings! So that is my new pep talk to myself whenever I get home sick!! 

I finished my last language lessons today, and let's just say I am not even close to being able to communicate in Bosnian!! haha It is one of the hardest languages I have ever tried to learn, but practice makes perfect, right? Well, it's going to take ALOT of practice to even get close to be able to  hold basic conversation, never mind speak it perfectly, but it is part of the experience that I love!!!

Monday I start school... I feel like I am repeating freshmen year all over again!! I am soooooo nervous about school!! My school is like 3 or 4 stories... BIG change from Logan County High School, which is 1 story, two main hallways, and a few smaller halways... I guess it just means I can get lost... AGAIN!! I have kind of just accepted the fact that I will get lost ANYWHERE I go!! Unfortunately, there are no taxis in the school building that can take me to the right class room if I get lost... I guess I will rely on the good'ole sense of wandering the halls to find the right place!!!

Last weekend I visited Foča which is in the  Republika Srpska!! It is the town that my host mom, Sanida, grew up in! But she had to leave her home during the Bosnian war.  Sanida took me to where she use to play as a child, and where she spent many of her younger years! After Foča we went and spent some time at Sanida's Uncle's house!! He has a house on the river, Drina. It is probably one of the prettiest places, if not, the prettiest place I have EVER been!!! The pictures I have do not do it justice!! The river has the clearest, bluest,  water I have ever seen!! It has these beautiful colored stones that just set this an amazing scene!! It took my breath away!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
                                                                     Livno sunset

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

This weekend we are in Livno, where Omer's (my host father) mother is currently staying!! It is AMAZING!!! I saw a beautiful sunset tonight, and the mountains here just add to the beauty of the sunset!! Hopefully, later this weekend, we will make it to the coast in Croatia, if the weather permits, otherwise, we will go and visit somewhere close!!!

Well, I need to go to bed, but I hope all is well wherever you are reading this from!!! I can't wait to see what I experience next in these weeks ahead of me!!

Until the next adventure,
Sarah Edgar

P.S.  
Earlier last week I got to visit the embassy and meet the ambassador.... and the embassy doctor who worked at Logan Memorial for a few years during the late 1990's!!!! It really is a small world!! I had to laugh when he told me that he had worked in my town... I mean, what are the chances of meeting someone who worked in LC all the way across the world!!!

“Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.” - Wizard of OZ

Well, I have a feeling that I am no longer in Kentucky anymore... actually I am about 5,169.809 miles away!!! HAHA

 I am finally in Sarajevo, my new home! I arrived here at about 12:30 PM (Sarajevo time) Friday Afternoon!! I could never imagine any better place to spend my first exchange program! The city is GORGEOUS!! It's surrounded by mountains, has cobblestone streets, and it is a big city that has the feeling of a smaller city! I am not surrounded by high-rises, bur rather a big city that acts like a small city! The whole city is broken up into what they call "neighborhoods". More like smaller towns close together, that make up on big city!! It is soooo nice, and the people here are sooooo sweet!!! Every person I have met has been sooooooooo welcoming!! I can tell that I am going to make lifelong friendships here.

My last few days have been EXTREMELY hectic, Friday, I arrived at the Sarajevo airport, at which I met my AMAZING host family. Sanida, my host mom, Sumea , my youngest host sister, and Ajna, the oldest younger sister, were at the airport to greet me with beautiful smiling faces! We arrived home, where I met my host father, Omer, who was just as welcoming! I absolutely LOVE my host family, they have been so good with me, and working around my CRAZY schedule!! Sanida and Omer have been very patient with showing me around the city, and explaining public transportation to me! I couldn't think of a better family! But back to Friday! Friday night, we attended the Sarajevo Film Festival, which is very famous here and around Europe, It was soooo much fun! Saturday, I had orientation at American Councils, and then spent the evening at home eating, delicious, curry chicken! Later that evening Sanida took me on a walk to a place that overlooks the entire city! It was such a beautiful view!!! Sunday, we went to lunch with some extended family, which is where I ate Ćevapi for the first time.... my new favorite food!!!!! It was
SOOOOOO good!!!! Today, I had my first language lesson, which went well!! We also visited the outside of a famous a catholic cathedral, Serbian Christian orthodox church, Jewish Monastery, and the outside of a Muslim Mosque! This evening, I went with to the movies with my family, it was sooo much fun to have a little taste of the Sarajevo film!!!

So far my time here has been good!! I will make the best of this amazing experience!! I can't wait to see the things I will do in the future!! I need to go to bed!! So I will say goodnight to everyone, hope all is well in America!! :)

Until the next adventure,
Sarah Edgar



All the views from my house!! :)

 

"Friendship isn't about being inseparable, it's being separated and nothing changes!"

Well, my time in America has come to a close! I will be departing in a matter of hours! I can't believe how fast my life can change! It seems as though it was just yesterday that I read about my program! 

I have enjoyed my last few days in the States by spending some quality time with friends and family! I loved getting I see everyone at my going away party, and I can't wait to see you all again! 

Wednesday night was definitely the hardest! Saying goodbye to me closest friends was harder than I imagined!! I am so glad that I have such amazing friends who have supported me!! I can't wait to come  back and tell you all my stories!

I also appreciate Logan County High School for working with me! Mr. Jaynes was so helpful in these last few weeks with my questions and figuring out how to keep me enrolled! 

My journey has been kinda smooth! Last night was soooo hectic, trying to get the last few things done, my suitcase broke at 11PM, I misplaced my debit card and couldn't find it for 30 min. and my suitcase was 2 pounds over the limit !!! Does anyone know how stressful it is to pack for ten months, in which there is a very harsh winter involved that you must pack for!!! The worse part is, that I am known to over pack, so that lovely skill of mine does not help  in the area of packing for ten months! But never fear, we got it to the weight!! 

Well, I am going I have to cut this short, but thank you everyone for being so supportive!! I am blessed I have such an amazing community!!

Until next time, 

Sarah Edgar

“How did it get so late so soon?” - Dr. Suess

I feel as though it was only a few weeks ago that school ended! This has been the fastest summer of my life, but definitely the best as well! So much has changed since my last post in May! Sorry, I haven't posted at all this summer, but it seems as though I have haven't been home or even had the time do it! From the 1st week of summer break till the second week in July I was gone nearly every week to a camp, conference, or a family vacation!!! But I guess everyone only wants to hear about my updates rather than what I did this summer! haha

Well, Its exactly two weeks till I leave! I will be getting my itinerary on Friday, but I received my host family info last Tuesday!!! Let me just say, I am sooooooooo excited to meet my family! I will have two younger sisters who are around 7 and 4 years old! My parents can speak English which is such a relief for me! They seem beyond perfect, actually they sound a lot like my family, which is great!!!! I sent my first email to them today, and can't wait for the reply!

During the month of June I went to PDO ( which was Pre-departure Orientation in D.C.), we were taught about how to handle ourselves in our specific cultures, history about our host country, and just the basic info on studying abroad! My three roommates were amazing, we had Indonesia, Ghana, India, and Bosnia represented in one room!! It was so great to be with people who share a common interest in culture ect.! I cannot wait to hear their stories from their cultural exchanges!!

Other than that nothing else has changed!! I am spending my last two weeks going to school and getting read to leave! I cannot believe how close it is!! Hopefully I will make a quick post before I leave, but I definitely will post the 1st week I am there! Can't wait to start my new adventure!! :)

Until the next adventure,
Sarah Edgar

 

Flying over Atlanta to D.C. 

Bosnia group with the Bosnian Ambassador 

"When one door closes, another opens." -Alexander Graham Bell

As the door to my sophomore year in high school comes to a close, the door to my junior year opens!!!

My sophomore year has been an amazing year!!! It has been full of surprises and good things!!!! I have had an amazing time making memories with some of the best people I have ever known, I have accomplished things I never thought I could, and I have learned about things I could only imagine about! It is hard to even think my junior year could be better, but I know that it will be! But with the door of sophomore year slowly closing and junior year opening comes a little sadness! Though, I am beyond excited about this exchange program, I am a little sad to have to say goodbye to some of my friends! Not so much my sophomore friends (don’t take offense guys, I just know that you will still be at school when I come back!), but rather my junior friends!!

The last day of school was very sad, knowing it was my last day of school EVER with my best friends, who were juniors, was kinda shocking and sad! These were the people who helped me through my first couple years of public school, the people who I went to prom and school events with, and when I get back.... they won't be at school to do those things with me any more !! Knowing that my senior year is going to be completely different without them is very sad! But I know that everything will work out!

On a happy note and change of subject, I just had my second webinar on Sunday!!! It is official, I will be leaving America on August 15, 2013, and returning to Washington DC on June 16, 2014, and returning to Russellville June 17, 2014, (Day before my birthday, YAYYYYYY!!) and I should be getting my host family info by mid July!!!! I am sooo excited that every thing is set in stone!!!! The fact that I get my packing list this week is kind of crazy, and it is making it start to sink in... I am finally going to be an exchange student!! Other than that information, I have nothing new that would interest you all.

Since it is 78 days till I leave, I guess I had better start working on my Bosnian! I will try to keep your guys posted over the summer about new information, but I wouldn't expect too many posts between now and mid July! I hope everyone enjoys their summer!!! Thanks for all the prayers, please keep praying, specifically for my host family, as well as, for me with getting all my official paperwork filled out and such!!! Thanks again for your support!

Until something new happens,

Sarah Edgar



Some of the best moments this year!!!

 

US History wouldn't be the same with out these people

Don't forget to eat your Banana!! You have made this year soooo much fun!!!! You are the only person who gets my homeschooler jokes and laughs at them!!! lol We spend all class period laughing at ourselves or Caleb and Madison's Dance Mom coversations, nevermind laughing at Levi being... well, Levi!! lol  

 

OHHH, Spanish class... This picture explains our friendship, perfectly!

 

Where do I start??? I have absolutely loved getting to know this CRAZY Chinese lady over the year!! We have made so many funny memories! I am going to miss her so much!

AG Class.... No words are needed for this picture!

 My best friend since I was 6 years old!! I am so blessed to have had you as friend! I am going to miss you bunches! Enjoy your Junior year! Sorry I am  leaving you alone with Wesley.... he had better not "abuse" you other wise, I will have to come back and beat him up! haha We have had so much fun over the years! I can't wait to see how God uses us in the future!

I don't like you... haha We have grown up being practically like sisters!!! I couldn't imagine life with out some one as crazy as you! I have had so much fun with you over the last few years! We have made crazy music videos, sang like tone deaf grandmas, and danced like mad people, but with all that crazyness we end up laughing so hard tears roll down our face!

Well.... I LOVE YOU TWO!!! This past year we have gotten so close! We have made so many memories, many of which consist of laughing at Courtney's cat obsession! You two were the ones who were always there for me when I first came to school!! I will always remember the day I told you two I was coming to Logan! I can't believe you guys are seniors! Love you two!!

AHHHH, my "little" cousin.... Ok, well I guess you are older and taller, but its what evs. You have been my ride home for the last two years, and let me say, on many days you are what made my day better! We have had so many wonderful conversations about traveling the world and what we hope to do one day! I can't believe you are senior considering I have grown up with you since day one! I hope you have an amazing senior year, try not to miss me too much!

Chandler!!!! We have had so much fun these past few months! Whether it was Prom or "studying" for our Bible Study! I am so glad that we have become best friends! I finally have a friend who agrees with my "rules"!! I can't wait to spend the summer with you at the pool ;)!!!

I have had such a fun time with you this year! We froze our butts off in Canada, but we still had an awsome trip!!! I have so many fun memories with you whether it is our gangster talk or our funny movie lines, you always keep me laughing 

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag

The Papers are signed, sealed, and delivered! It’s official, I will be spending ten months in the lovely city of Sarajevo! Words do not even explain how excited I am! People ask me every day, "Aren't you scared?" My answer is always this, "Yes, I am kind of terrified, but my excitement outweighs my fear!" The thought of being in a place where I am considered an "Outsider" is EXTREMELY scary, but the thought of the things that I will learn, the people that I will meet, and the opportunities that I will get, bring so much excitement that it gives little room for fear!

Earlier today I had my first webinar with my directors (the one here in Washington D.C. as well as the others over in Sarajevo)! Getting to hear about the small details made my excitement and anticipation grow even more!!! Not only have I done the webinar, but I have also been able to read the blogs of the girls who are already over in Sarajevo! As of what I have read, they absolutely love it (I can't wait to get over there!!)

Other than that I have no new information. The plan is to leave in Mid-August of 2013 and return in Mid-June of 2014. In late June of 2013 I will fly to DC for PDO (Pre-departure Orientation), where I will meet up with the other 65 YES Abroaders for training about the culture, life as an exchange student, ECT..! Other than that, I have nothing else! I will find out in Late-June my departure date, and sometime in the summer I will learn about my host family!

This post is short and sweet, but I will, hopefully, get new information in these upcoming weeks! Thanks for all the prayers! I ask for you guys to please continue praying and to start praying for my host family, that they be loving and inviting! I can't wait to see who God places me with.

Well, until the next adventure,

Sarah Edgar

 

 

“Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life”- Michael Palin

With YES Abroad I have already gained a new insight on culture, American Culture. As most of you know, over Spring Break I attended IPSE (In Person Selection Event) in Washington D.C. Let me just say that those 3 days changed my life! We are so blessed to have such a culturally diverse country! I will start from the beginning of my trip!

On April 22 I left for the Nashville Airport! My anxiety levels were the
highest they have ever been starting the night before until I safely landed on the ground at Reagan Airport Friday afternoon! For those who don't know, I have a FEAR of heights; planes tend to fly very high in the sky at
fast speeds, so as you can guess, since this was my 1st time flying in nearly 10 years AND I was flying ALONE, I was stressing over every single detail! Many of you have yet to figure out that I have NO, may I repeat, NO sense of direction, so other than my fear of heights I have my fear of getting lost! Fortunately airports are made for people like me, and there were plenty of signs as well as people who I could ask for guidance of where to go! After saying a quick good bye, I went through security and finally arrived at my terminal! Upon arrival at my gate, I was given the "delightful" news that my plane had been delayed... for MECHANICAL reasons (just my luck)!! So what does a teenage girl who is scared of flying in the 1st place do when they announce that they have
MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, well, you have the choice to stay calm or freak out! The reasonable, mature, and responsible girl that I am, chooses the logical way of reacting, allowing myself to freak out and give myself every possible bad situation that could take place when I board that plane! Thank God I have friends who are smarter than me; they at least TRIED to talk sense in me! Well, it ended up being something wrong with the air conditioner. After a "lovely" flight filled with a screaming child, who wanted a chocolate chip cookie, and air turbulence, I finally landed in D.C. safe and only a little over an hour late! :)

The experience did turn positive though, soon as I arrived at
National 4-H center; I was surrounded by people who actually understand my love for culture! I was introduced to 120 teenagers who loved to travel and try new things (I was in social girl heaven). Nobody knew anyone, so we all just went up to some one who looked interesting and said, “Hi, my name is Sarah, I am from Kentucky. Do you want to be friends?" Let me just say, I was finally in kindergarten again! So after acquainting ourselves with each other, we were given the chance to meet our room mates!! Let me just say I had to have the best room mates EVER!!! Syahira, Iris, and Kaley, these were the girls that I grew to absolutely love over the weekend! They were all so fun and energetic!

After we arrived we were told our interview times and
group work times! My interview wasn't until Saturday evening, but I had group work in the morning and afternoon! Group Work was sooooooooo much fun, I was in Group H, and let me tell you, we have some mad acting skills!! We called ourselves "Abroad on Broadway"! During this group work we made a 6 slide human slide show about Egypt and a movie commercial about a Viking girl (Best movie ever in my opinion)! (I made some amazing friends in that group; I have only been able to stay in contact with one of them, Sarah, who will hopefully be going to Indonesia!) After our group work was done I had a 45 min. interview with 2 of our leaders! The interview went so smoothly, I literally came out of the room knowing that God was in there since it had went so well! I spent the rest of my time building friendships with some of the people there. Sunday morning, after saying good bye to some of the most amazing people I have ever met, I boarded a plane once again :( (at least this time I just had air turbulence no screaming child during my flight)! I came home absolutely amazed at what America had to offer! It was
definitely an eye opening experience!

When I came home the wait began! (Let me tell you about stressful) We weren't given an exact date of when we would find out about our finalist status, so as you can expect refreshing my email every ten minutes went on for 3 weeks! I was an absolute nervous wreck! But on April 12th the waiting ended, (we had all predicted that finalist status would be announced some time that weekend) but at 2:50 pm I was texting my friend Sarah, she sent me a text saying Morocco had been announced.... I am pretty sure I became pale in the face when I saw this text! I immediately went to refresh my email, and there it was, the email that would change my life! I stared at it for 3 min. debating on whether or not to open it! I knew if I opened it and I didn't get accepted I would have burst into tears and started sobbing in front of every one! After thinking about it I decided that I have embarrassed myself plenty of time in front of my peers, I might as well just open it and get it over with! As soon as I read those first two sentences I started jumping up and down squealing hugging my best friend! I am pretty sure Alyssa was seriously confused of why I was acting so crazy!! Finally when I told her, we shared a bitter
sweet hug, We both knew I had accomplished my dream, but we also new at the same time this was a year apart ( and if you know Alyssa and I that is unheard of!!) As soon as the bell rang I RAN through the hall
way to find Courtney McReynolds, I will just say that I flat out tackled her, soon as she found out we both jumped and squealed for joy!!! A Happy day it was, I am pretty sure my happiness could be heard through the school!

So that brings us here! As I start to prepare and go through this journey I hope to give you insight on what is going on! I am pretty sure that it has not fully sunk in yet, but I am still extremely excited about this amazing opportunity! I cannot wait to see what God's plan is for me! I will try to keep you updated!

Until the next adventure,
Sarah
Edgar

                                      Group H or otherwise known as "Abroad on Broadway"

                                                                 My Roomies!!!!