Gabriella’s Journals

September 17, 2026

One Wild and Precious Life

Ahoj!!

I have been in Slovakia for almost a month and I am still in awe that I am here. Saying yes to this experience has been one of the scariest, most rewarding things I could have ever done. I want to savor every moment - hard moments when I don't understand what is being said to me, the joyful moments when I accomplish something new (like tackling public transportation), and the quiet moments that I know I will shape me more than I realize right now. 

I left from the Atlanta airport on August 21st. My first flight was a quick 2 hour flight to Washington DC Dulles and once I arrived there I met two other Rotary exchange students and we were able to spend our 6 hour layover together. It was so nice to have people to process this crazy life change with and who knew all the emotions I was feeling because we had all just packed up our lives to move to the other side of the world. Our next flight was a redeye flight and was the longest flight I have ever been on (9 hours). Finally, after the longest travel day, we landed in Vienna on the morning of the 22nd. After some trouble finding the exit in the airport, we got to meet our host families. My host mom was there to greet me and then we were off on a 3 hour drive back to my town, Martin. That's when it hit me, I’m in Europe, and this is the craziest thing I have ever done in my life! 

My first week here was simple, as I spent lots of time adjusting to the slower pace of the small Slovak town lifestyle. My host mom and I went to an ice cream shop near where I live, and I am proud to say that one of the first phrases I learned was how to order ice cream for myself. This has been especially helpful because the ice cream here is some of the best I have ever tasted. It’s rich and creamy and the perfect amount of sweetness. It is probably a little dangerous that there is an ice cream shop so near to where I live. Ice cream is very popular here, and I love that it is such a big part of the culture. My town is nestled right in the mountains which means that almost everywhere I look I get to see perfect, picturesque mountains. I hope to never lose the wonder I have as my daily walks to the bus station and around town are framed by the beautiful mountain range. I have been able to spend a lot of time in nature already, and it has been very grounding for me as I adjust to a new way of life. Not to mention that nature here in Martin is super accessible, so it makes spending time outside very common and in just a short walk you can be somewhere completely new and beautiful. With the location of living in the mountains, that means that the temperature has truly started to feel like autumn now and I love it! I don’t know if I am fully prepared for the winter though, because I know it is going to be very cold (especially if it is cold for me right now). My southern blood is not used to the real cold… but for now I am enjoying the shift of seasons into my favorite time of year!

Before I came to Slovakia I was apprehensive about the food, I knew that it was going to be a lot of different flavor combinations that I wasn’t used to. I am happy to say that I am really enjoying the food, and that over the past few weeks I have enjoyed some traditional Slovak dishes. I tried guláš (basically a beef stew), Kapustnica (which is like cabbage soup), and then Bryndzové Halušky which is Slovakia’s national dish - it is made with a cheese called “bryndza ” and it has a unique tangy flavor that gives this dish is specific taste. All three were good, but I have to say that my favorite has been guláš. I had it after a hike in the mountains and it was the perfect meal to wrap up a very fun day. 

On September 1st, school started and one of the biggest cultural shocks for me has been that students at school take off their shoes and put on “house shoes” to walk around the school building. This is done to respect the building and people who have spent time cleaning the floors. My school lunches are very good, but the hardest part about lunch is that we only have 30 minutes to eat. While that may seem like enough time, most of that time is spent in the line waiting to get lunch. The other day I sat down at 12:55 with my food and was in my class when the bell rang at 1:05. That was the fastest I think I have ever eaten my food. People at my school are very kind and I am thankful for my classmates and staff members who have gone out of their way to make me feel a part of the community and like I belong. The people are truly making this place special. 

On September 5th I went on a canoe trip on the Danube river that was organized by the Rotary Club of Dunajská Streda (about 2.30 hours from where I live). The day was spent on the river, enjoying fresh made food, and meeting some of the other inbound students. Then a week later we had our official inbound orientation, where I was able to meet all the other 14 students who are in Slovakia this year! All of the inbounds talked, laughed, and bonded over this wild, life-changing experience we all are privileged to take part in. We did many activities, but one of my favorites was writing a letter to my future self that I will open at the end of my exchange. I know how special it will be to read that letter and see how much growth has happened.  

It is truly quite hard to try and put into words what this experience has already meant to me, and it has only been 4 weeks. Without my support system back home, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Marietta-Metro for supporting me, this adventure, and for truly loving me in the months leading up to me being on exchange. Thank you to my friends and family for being the wind in my sails. I am so thankful for the strangers turned friends who are already making this foreign place feel like home. The Lord has blessed me beyond measure.

Čau!