You're going to CHILE!!!

Chile, it's Chile.  I'm going to CHILE for 11 months!!!
After what seemed like the longest wait in the world, I am going to the longest country in the world.  Even though it was on my top 5 list, it was a complete surprise.  A surprise for which I couldn't be happier.  I don't know much specific information yet, but my new best friend Danita, the Chilean inbound, thinks that I will be in her district which is in the central part of Chile, near Santiago.  She's from Rancagua.  Super crazy thought: it snows there.  That's a bit too much for this Floridian.

"Bienvido a mi hermosa pais, Chile!"

The BIG Reveal
Here in Rotary district 6970, we announce the outbound destinations with all the pomp and circumstance at a big reveal ceremony.  We outbounds gathered one Wednesday evening, joined by our friends, family, and adrenalin, awaiting the biggest announcement of our lives.  One by one, we were called up to the stage in random order.  After delivering a short introduction, an inbound or rebound presented us with the flag of our newfound country.  In my case, I was ecstatically greeted by Danita.  For some, it was met with relief.  For others, surprise or even confusion.  (Side note: I was really confused because somehow my certificate was actually printed with the Argentine flag!)  Then it's celebration, and maybe a nice, American, pizza dinner.  Yep, definitely pizza.

El gringo chileno,
Max

The Agony and the Ecstasy

I found out recently that I have been assigned to a country!!!  That's exciting, right?  RIGHT?  Well, not quite.  No new news as to where... yet.  The whole process has been like a cat and a laser.  The laser is RIGHT THERE.  Oh, how much it pleasure it is giving RYE to taunt us with their secrets (maybe that's why her hair's so big; it's full of secrets!).  They know, they know we don't.  Could it be in my top five?  Could it be my first choice? Could it be a country I can't even pronounce?  I may have been a bit of an overachiever when I practiced pronouncing the names of every country on the list so I won't make a fool of myself at the reveal ceremony.  Nonetheless, we still have to wait like the poor little cat who can't reach the laser until December seventeenth.

12 days, 1 hour, 53 minutes, and 19 seconds.  But hey, who's counting?

I hope this heavy wait will be lifted off my shoulders soon!
Max

P.S.  I doubt that this will be my last post about the agony of waiting, so prepare yourself.