Outbounds 2010-2011

Alejandra’s Bio

Hello, my name is Maria Alejandra Garcia and I’m setting sail to Brazil come the end of summer. The town I live in is quaint but I love it! It’s the little things that make it charming, like the fort wall overlooking the water, the Lightner Museum’s water fountains and balcony, and the much appreciated beach.

I live with my madre, my dog Brownie and my cat named Cat. My father lives in Naples with his wife and two daughters Carolina and Daniella, whom I see occasionally. My other brother lives in Pennsylvania with his wife Nancy and two kids, Cesar and Gaby. I grew up with my sister Sandra so we’re really close and I miss her now that she’s living in Tallahassee. She started traveling when she was 16 and I believe that sparked my curiosity to explore the world. I decided to do the exchange because I strongly believe that you have to live your life in the moment and set out to try new things without putting them off otherwise you’ll never go through with it.

I’m really active at school where I’m a member of the AICE program, the swim team and quite a few clubs. I’m a dedicated dancer and have been since I was 4. I go to The Dance Company and let’s just call it my home away from home since I practically live there. I don’t play any contact sports but I wish I did. Therefore, I’m determined to learn soccer in Brazil and COMPLETELY convinced that I’ll come back a pro. The smallest things make me laugh…we’re talking knock-knock jokes and the silliest riddles here. In a nut shell: I’m short, goofy, and outgoing.

I want to say “thank you” to my family for supporting me on this journey, the friend who gave me pep talks when I had doubts, and those who have stood by me every step of the way (you know who you are). I’m looking forward to the challenge of living in another country for a year and would like to thank Rotary Youth Exchange for this opportunity. I’m not gonna lie, I’m kind of scared. However, most importantly, I’m excited, leaving open minded, and ready to face the adventure that awaits.

Adeus!

 Alejandra’s Journals

August 20

Day 13: I’ll admit, I was quite upset upon departure from the states but now that I’ve been in Brazil for over a week I don’t see what I was so worried about. As soon as I saw my family at the airport with a “welcome” sign I knew I’d be okay. Every moment spent in this beautiful country makes me realize I’m exactly where I need to be. I fit in with my 1st host family immediately. My dad, Elano, is always looking out for me. He always brings home a different kind of food for me to try and every time I’m done eating he makes me eat more. Needless to say I quickly learned the phrase “I’m full”. My mom, Tereza, treats me like a daughter. We walk down the street arm and arm and already she talks about how she’ll miss me when I switch houses. My eldest younger brother Elano Jr. has been my salvation. He’s the only one who speaks English so y 1st couple of days I would just stare at him and he’d translate. The youngest is Vitor and he’s 11. Alas I have someone to give a knuckle sandwich to and just have fun with. The other day we went to the little kids park (there’s a sign saying 10 and under only) and cracked ourselves up on the sea-saw. Him and I sing and dance in the car together…Justin Bieber is a big deal over here so naturally my rapping abilities in “Baby” were much appreciated.

My 1st night in Bom Despacho we went to the birthday party for one of my uncles. I was paraded around and introduced. Everyone was so warm and a fun activity was trying to get me to call different uncles “gay”. Unfortunately the word stays the same in Portuguese so they didn’t have any luck. We visited Divinopolis the next weekend. It’s the nearest town with a movie theater and bowling alley. The movies were all in Portuguese and without subtitles so we settled for bowling and ate acai which is a fruit and they serve it like ice cream. All the food is scrumptious. I have rice and beans literally every single day but it’s always accompanied with something else. Usually it’s a meat but other times it’s pasta or something of that nature. I’ve noticed a great use of corn as well. I’ve had one pasta dish where I didn’t spot corn Lasagna, bow tie, spaghetti and more all held the little yellow veggie. There’s an official snack time in between meals. It took a little getting used to but now I’ve adapted and enjoy it.

I started school my 1st Monday here and I can officially say I somewhat know what it feels like to be a celebrity. That whole week I had kids looking at me through the window. Some more forward peeps stood in the doorway between classes and made eye contact before running away giggling. Even at home I have family friends coming over just to meet me. The students here stay in one classroom all day with breaks in between classes to go outside and mingle. I’ve gone from giving complete blank stares to laughing at the jokes I catch and occasionally throwing out a comment or two. The teachers here rotate instead of the students and everyone takes classes ranging from Physics to Sociology to Grammar to English to Math and on and on. I go to a small school so my class is the whole grade and we have 15 students including myself. Classes start at 7:10 and end at 12:40 at which point I go home to have lunch with the family.

The rest of the day I hang out until my brothers are done with homework and some days we go to the athletic club or hang out with friends. Everyone here takes English class at school but a lot go to a company outside of school to get the speaking part down. The “d’s” here are pronounced as the ‘g’ in ‘gentle’. I noticed they transferred this to apply in English as well when I kept getting asked if I liked Gisney Worlg. At times I feel childish pointing to things and asking for the name in Portuguese but it pays off when I can finally use it in a sentence, even if’ it’s a fragment…eventually the point gets across and it’s rewarding.

Other times though, I find myself in a pickle.

For example, let’s explore my 1st day home alone. Everyone emphasized how I should not let anyone that wasn’t family which I thought was easy enough. Five minutes after the last person left there was a ring at the gate. I had just watched Edge Of Darkness (w/ Portuguese subtitles) and was feeling a bit paranoid so I proceeded with care downstairs hiding behind walls and peeping around corners to see who was there. Low and behold who should be waiting but an attractive guy. Still suspicious (darn you Mel Gibson!) I went up to the window and saw what he needed. I caught something about a printer and he must have thought I was mentally challenged since looks-wise I fit in and I just stared at him. No one said anything about a printer before leaving! I explained I was foreign to the best of my ability and so I made him wait downstairs as I messaged Elano’s cousin asking him to call him for help because I had forgotten to get the family’s numbers. I then went downstairs and the guy explained he needed to come inside to see the printer. The only problem was I didn’t know enough Portuguese to explain I wasn’t supposed to let anyone in. So you can see my dilemma I’m sure. Part of me was saying “stranger danger” and the other said “just look at him!” Oh I meant to say “let the man do his job”. I decided Elano must have just forgotten to tell me about the man and let him in. I went back upstairs to see a message instructing to not let the man in until someone else got there. Hmmmm…. whoops. In the end it turned out the man was legitimate and merely early so I got a pat on the back. Later my friend Leah told me in some movie a girl is in a foreign country and sold into slavery by a good looker so luckily I missed that film or Elano would be without his Rotary application.

Next week I’m starting guitar lessons and also am going to take up samba/zumba classes at the athletic club. I have multiple offers on a soccer coach so I’ve started with Vitor and will take lessons as I go on from the rest. This weekend we’re traveling to the most visited town in the state and there happens to be a food festival which I look forward to. My birthday is next week and all the kids are talking about bringing cake to class.

Even with all the amazing people surrounding me, at times it gets lonely. As the brilliant Dr. Seuss put it, “Whether you like it or not, alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.” And it’s OK to feel like that. I got in a funk for a couple of hours and then I was fine. Sometimes you can’t help but feel alone in the experience. All you have to do is breath. A look around shows you all the smiling faces eager to help you and when you remember all the familiar ones at home cheering you on that feeing of loneliness goes away. To all you future exchange students, homesickness is just one paragraph in a book of adventures….and I’ve only been here for two weeks.

I’m so blessed to be here and want to thank God and everyone in Florida who made this possible. My family, Jody Davis, Daphne Cameron, Al Kalter, the St.Augustine Sunrise Rotary club and all of district 6970: I offer my infinite gratitude. By the way Daphne, I plan to out-write your Switzerland kids. Just saying.

Tchau!

September 8

Day 31: Hello there beautiful people! I’ll go ahead and start where I last left off. I went to Tiradentes for a weekend and made a pit stop in São João del Rei.Tiradentes is the most visited city by tourist in the state of Minas Gerais. For starters, our hotel was splendid. It was so colorful, there was a hammock right outside my door. and random dogs to play ‘catch’ with.

The town itself was very historical and beautiful as well. We got a guide in this horse carriage. Minus the excitingly decorated buggy, I thought it would be similar to St.Augustine horse tours: slow and somewhat boring. My oh my was I wrong, that hello-kitty decked out ride galloped full speed down those narrow stone roads! The sights we visited were all facinating. The slave and rich folk’s churches had real gold ranging from 8 to 460 kilos (respectively). You just walked in and were left in awe at the hand work people did thousands of years ago. Other sight-seeing included a fountain with an interesting legend. There were 3 statues that spewed water out. The 1st story claimed that if you drank from the statue #1’s water you’d be happily married, take a sip from #2’s and you’d be left a widow and get ready for a nasty divorce if you dare swallow the H2O from #3. Eventually someone must have realized that 2/3 of the tale was negative because currently the statues spew out love, health, and riches.

On our last day we stopped at São João del Rei. We had lunch and saw an old school train station then saw two more churches. One of them was of São Francisco and actually held the tomb of an ex-president. The church took around 40 years to build and held giant wooden structures all around which were built by one man, alone!! Next to the alter there was a unique chandelier. There’s only two in the world and it’s twin is currently residing in the Louvre. Afterwards we went to another church that had all these paintings on the ceiling whose eyes followed you everywhere you went.

My birthday was on a Thursday this year so I went to school and at lunch time all the kids in the 2nd and 3rd year surprised me with a surprise party. They all pitched in money to buy sodas and snacks and then my classmate made a cake. I have to say it was one of the sweetest things ever done for me. Now, let me describe to you a painful yet entertaining birthday tradition in Brazil. I have no idea how this came into existence but on the day of your birth, you get egged. I knew it was coming because I was warned by some and the kids repeatedly told me how good eggs and coffee are for your hair. I was thinking maybe 5 eggs total, no big deal right? Then I see Kyara walking towards me with 30 eggs and all the kids start swarming her to get some. This was when I started running away. Unfortunately I wasn’t quite sure where I was so they caught me pretty quickly. Since the eggs were bought directly after school they were very cold and hard from the fridge. Ergo, the first time with my skull or upper body it wouldn’t break. Logical solution? Hit harder. I  imagine I have a clue as to what it felt like to be stoned in the Jesus days. At the end I was given the last uncracked egg to break over my own head for a picture. Really guys? You didn’t stop to think for 1 second that I’d just hit the person right next to me. And gee golly you can bet your dollar I hugged everyone I could catch! That night we had a party at my house with friends and family. My guests attempted to teach me how to dance “funky” and my grandma made this gigantic sandwich. It was a fun night and after everyone left I had the chance to phone my gorgeous sister Sandra and Skype the special woman who gave me birth 🙂 Looks like 18 is my new lucky number.

This Saturday I got to go to my 1st wedding. The bride was my dad’s cousin and since we have a nice car, he drove her to the church. The after party was different than I expected. The music ranged from Portuguese to some good ole’ English classics: my favorites were “I Will Survive”, “Another Brick In The Wall”, “Dancing Queen” and let’s not leave out Akon’s “Dangerous”! In case you are wondering, Gloria Gaynor stirred things up a little bit and did a duet…with me.

Today is Brazil’s independence day and there was a parade early in the morning. Tonight everyone is going to the Praça Mall to eat ice-cream and probably dance in the street. Now it’s time for the update on my ordinary life. I go to dance class and the gym 4 times a week at my athletic club and you’ll be proud to know that I can walk all by lonesome without getting lost. I take guitar twice a week and so far I’ve been taught a Portuguese song and “I’m Yours”. I say taught because I haven’t quite grasped the learning part (yet). Rotary here has community service projects every week for the exchange students. So far I’ve visited a rehab center and helped out at the special Olympics.

I explained in my last journal how d’s are pronounced like the ‘g’ in gentle but since it makes more sense I’ll now refer to it as a ‘j’. You should also know that r’s are pronounced like h’s. So for this journal my favorite Portuguese pronunciation of an English word is “Red Bull”. Example: No, I don’t personally drink HEJ BULL but my sister and her boyfriend are quite fond of the drink when undertaking a long road trip. HEJ BULL.

So there you have it folks, the bigger events in my life up until today. Ate mais!

October 1

Day 54: Time is starting to become a blur. I’ve been here for almost 2 months but it seems like only a couple of weeks .

I finally went to a sweet 15 birthday party. It’s the 2nd most important day of your life right next to your wedding. The planning takes place years before the event and there’s an entire hour ceremony full of rituals and traditions welcoming the girl into womanhood. I was told it wasn’t that great of a party but to me it seemed like quite the event. That same weekend I went to a club. Since I just recently turned 18 it was my 1st time ever and I had the most splendid time. There were neon lights everywhere, English techno music playing , and creepy guys hitting on you everywhere. I guess some things don’t change no matter what country you’re in.

I visited Rio the week after and enjoyed myself thoroughly. I traveled with Elano and my mom by plane (a 45 flight compared to an 8 hour drive). We arrived at night so we met up with an uncle and had dinner then proceeded to our hotel in Copacabana to get a good nights rest for the next day’s events. My brother, the founder of PECA, was filming a documentary about his organization so there were cameramen filming us walk out of the hotel as we made our way to the lecture. It was held at the local high school of actress Bia Arantes. It was my 1st time attending a PECA event and I found it really interesting. Afterwards we went out to a shopping mall for lunch with the actress and her mother. This mall had about 8 floors and was bigger than any mall I’d seen in Florida and obviously put Bom Despacho’s little praça to shame. For the 1st time in Brazil I was able to eat Japanese food (sushi!!!) and frozen yogurt. Afterwards we went to Brazil’s equivalent of Hollywood: Globo. We were given a tour of the environmental area, a couple sets and met the director of Globo’s environmental policies. While we were there, the filming of a show was taken place literally the floor right below us and a popular Brazilian band, Fiuk was playing. The next day was supposed to be beach day except it was raining so instead we met up with Bia again at another mall (only 4 stories but considered the “highclass” mall). I had frozen yogurt again and then we parted ways to go to another mall where we were to meet another one of Elano’s actress friends. This one was called “New York Mall” and was complete with the statue of Liberty at the entrance. There were a lot of American stores here, it was 3 stories tall but so wide I think it was bigger than the other 2.

On our last day it was a little cloudy but I was determined to go to the infamous beaches so we walked to all the major beaches, saw the winner of Big Brother casually walking on the street, and of course ate frozen yogurt again. Every single one of the beaches was absolutely beautiful. The water was a deep (and mind you, clean) aqua that despite the temperature lured me in for about 5 seconds until I realized I had to walk back to the hotel in the wind with no towel. Another interesting site was the sand castles. I can’t even really call them sand castles because it was more of a piece of art. There were men all down the beach sculpting these intricate masterpieces complete with people, houses, windows, roadways…everything! I was reluctant to leave but I look forward to returning with all the other exchange students on the Northeast trip.

When I got back to Bom Despacho everyone wanted to know if I’d rather live there and I could truthfully answer that I was perfectly content where I was. I have a family, friends and a life in Bom Despacho that I wouldn’t trade for all the frozen yogurt and clear beaches in the world. The next weekend our family rented a house in Betim along with the other 2 aunts in Bom Despacho and their families. We spent the weekend lounging in the pool, playing pool, and eating lots of meat. I also learned how to make brigadero which is condensed milk mixed with chocolate…I think I may have just found my downfall.

On another note, elections are taking place this Sunday to elect a new president into office. According to the polls a woman is in the lead and should she win, she would be the 1st woman president in Brazil’s history. Paying attention to the advertisement campaigns I must say I’m a little disappointed in the US’s candidates habit of bashing one another. I have not seen or heard a single advertisement for one opponent critizing the other. There are hired cars that cruise down the street with giant boom boxes blasting catchy tunes, which I admit can get annoying, and the TV commercials are all positive and based on themselves. I mean it, not a single negative jab at an opponent to get ahead of the game. I think that’s something to be admired.

As far as my Portuguese is concerned, I’ve been getting better with practice. I was in street the other day and all of a sudden realized I could understand what the people on the street were saying to one another. I’ve also come to the conclusion that the hardest words to pronounce are the American ones used here. I’ve spent my whole life saying “milkshake”, “internet”, “notebook” (which means laptop here) one way and now I’m expected to say it completely differently. You might as well call me Clouseau (“hamburger” has also given me great grief). The other day a girl at school told me I was starting to look Brazilian. She couldn’t explain it but she said that something in me changed since I’d gotten here. Before I was clearly American and now I was capable of passing as a native. I called her crazy and laughed but it made me proud. Now all I need is to start dreaming in Portuguese and we can call it a done deal.

November 16

Day 100: Hey there peeps, this now time to be updated on my Brazilian life. November was pretty routine. My life here is starting to feel more grounded, thus the sensation of curiosity has shifted. I now know where all the best spots in town are to eat, get ice cream, as well as the places I should stay away from. The reality that I live here has settled in and I can’t label it as a good or bad thing because truth is, it’s my life which as we all know has it’s ups and downs. Every time I leave town I come back to “home” not, “my host city”. I feel comfortable but in the beginning of the shift life was confusing because it was such a huge step and at times felt boring because nothing was new anymore. Then I focused on the high lights and realized what an amazing occurrence was taking place. For instance, I have my own friends who call me to go out, I can go to the plaza on the weekend and have an ice-cream alone if I wish because it no longer feels like I need a tour guide. Of course right when you find your ground, things are switched up. In other words, I switch host families this week.

Rewinding to the past: I attended my 1st inbound orientation in Belo Horizonte and it was funny to see us all get along within the 1st five minutes together. My district apparently hosts the most students, so the weekend was never boring since there were always people to talk and get to know. All those things Rotary says about finding life-long friends through the program are actually true. I can say with self assurance that even after I’m back in the states, I will still have the friendships with the amazing inbounds I’ve met. The day after the orientation I went to an Interact event in Moema (Bom Despacho’s neighbor town) which was fun and eventful however combining the previous weekend of no sleep with my newly made friends led to exhaustion.

There was a concert scheduled for Gusttavo Lima that I was looking forward to that unfortunately got canceled the day of because the fire department declared the location unsafe. For the life of me I couldn’t understand why they would wait until minutes before the show to inspect it but on the bright side it got moved to later this month. My friends Kaylee (from Holland) and Liisa (from Finland) had come to visit me that weekend and attend the show so naturally we were bummed but then my mom called the hotel and found out what restaurant the singer was at so we shimmied on over and got to sit down and eat with the guy which we all agreed was more fun anyways. After they left my other friend Doris (from Austria) came to visit and she actually exclaimed that my city was “big!” leaving me shocked but it turns out her town doesn’t even have a plaza so I’m counting my ducks…or however that expression goes.

I also visited Juiz de Fora for a cousin’s confirmation and went to the movie theaters for the time in Brazil. It’s the 3rd largest city in Minas Gerais which means it has a lot of American influence therefore the movie was in English with Portuguese subtitles and the shopping mall was complete with McDonalds, Burger King…you name it. Now let’s talk community service! I went to a school in the poorer part of town for “children’s weekend” (we should really put this holiday into effect back in the states by the way) and served lunch. The kids were really eager to meet Ball (Thailand exchange student) and me and hear anything in our native languages. My club also had their annual fundraiser which was…wait for it…Italian night! If you know me very well, you know my love for Italian food and this will all make a lot more sense. On this very night I was also required to dress up as an Italian which is hard to explain so I’ll enclose a picture. We also went to a church in the poorer part of town to put on a festival of sorts for the people of the community and made more hotdogs than I ever care to see again.

Speaking of hot dogs I would like to discuss the size of simple food items. Hot dogs for instance, come with tomato sauce, cheese, ham, corn, and crunchy French fry looking things on top of it all. This is all ON the hot dog and you’re always offered ketchup and mayonnaise as well. Hamburgers are pretty much the same except you can get an egg in there too. Everyone seems to be perfectly alright with it except me who can’t take a bit with the whole thing falling apart but I like to believe I’m getting the hang of it.

On a historical note, Brazil elected the 1st female president: Dilma. The 1st run around she didn’t have over 50% of the populations vote so the 2 contestants with the highest numbers proceeded the round 2 which were of course, Dilma and Serra. Much to my sadness, round 2 consisted of a great amount of bashing opponent’s campaigns but at least it was clean for a while…

Now, on to my everyday life. I had a dance performance not too long ago at an event for the community which was nice and I got all nervous before going on stage just like back in the states. Guitar classes unfortunately have slowed down because I won’t be able to take them once I switch host families cause it’s too far away from where I’ll live. Daphne Cameron will be glad to hear that I began to dream in Portuguese. I’m not sure when it started but I just realized that for a while I’ve been talking in Portuguese in my sub-conscience. I don’t magically lose my accent though which was upsetting considering people dream about flying and being invisible so why am I still a foreigner when I’m snoozing? Progress is hard to measure by myself since I’m fully immersed (kinda like how you don’t notice aging since you look in a mirror everyday) so I’ll take people’s word when they say I learned very quickly and am doing well. Something to keep you to look forward to. I’m going to be modeling for my mom’s store soon. She makes dresses for weddings and 15 year old birthday parties so I will be dressed up as a bride. It’s pretty common knowledge that I’m clumsy and needless to say, the dress is long so I think you can see where I’m going with this… Should I survive the runway I’ll be sure to let you all know…Ate mais!

January 16

Day 193

Alright, so I left my readers off with the suspense of me walking down a runway. I made it alive although I was freaking out the whole time and I’m pretty sure my face was redder than the carpet because I was so embarrassed that everyone was looking at me. The month of November also held my switch to my second host family. I am now living with an elderly couple in the middle of the city. It’s nice because everything is a lot closer to where I live however changing families was a harder transition than that from the USA to Brazil. I got so attached to every member of the family and then to move to another with completely different dynamics was difficult. Luckily I live in a small town so remaining in contact was easy, making the move a whole lot easier. I took my first trip with the new host family to Conganhas. It’s a historical city in my state well known for its basilica: the Santuário do Bom Jesus do Matosinhos. It is home to the world renowned sculptor, Aleijadinho’s soapstone sculptures. Thanksgiving was shortly after I moved and since it isn’t celebrated in Brazil (and I don’t know how to cook), my friends Rafaela and Matheus came over and we made a delicious pasta dish…well, they cooked and I supervised. It wasn’t the traditional meal in any way shape or form but just having people who cared about me made it special on its own.

December didn’t hold much activity except “secret Santa” at school and the obvious holidays. It was fun at school because it reminded me of all the times I did the same things with my friends and swim team. Christmas was spent with my first host family because my current one for big traditions. We went to my grandmother’s house and had secret Santa all over again. My first family also bought me a pair of earrings which was nice. In Brazil Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve. You gather the entire family and have a big feast with lively games and such. It goes into the next morning and I must say there wasn’t a dull moment. Everyone was always making jokes and goofing around so there was always someone laughing. After leaving grandma’s house my friend’s family picked me up to go to her grandmother’s house. Her family had more teenagers so their secret Santa involved pranks and after every person went they had to dance a funky number which was especially entertaining when the drunken adults went. Christmas day was spent at the Rotary president’s farm where we had lunch and the festivities were officially over. For New Years I went to a local country club with the host parents. Here everyone wears white on New Years because it’s believed to bring good luck. Call me crazy but I feel like on New Years the most popular color is black… The party was chic, complete with live music, flashing lights and fireworks.

Now January….January was the best month of my life. Yep, I spent the entire month of January traveling along the Northeast coast of Brazil and ended it with a stay in Rio de Janeiro. I won’t go in to the details of every city but instead talk a bit about what a marvelous experience I had. The beaches come first. They were downright gorgeous. The water, sand, dunes, and trees: everything blew me away. In Natal we stayed at a charming hotel in the praia de Pipa. It was within walking distance of the beach and we had a group that would wake up early to see the sunrise. I would just marvel at the fact that here I was, in Brazil watching the most beautiful sunrise ever and in that moment I felt complete awe. Never had I felt so blessed to be where I was at that very moment. For the record, beach also had the most delicious mango smoothies. In Chapada Diamantina we climbed a rock of sorts and witnessed the most incredible view of the mountains that once again left me breathless. In Rio we were exposed to the tiniest bikinis mankind can imagine and saw the infamous Christ statue and Sugarloaf. To be completely honest the Sugarloaf was my favorite because it gave you a view of the entire city and we got to experience it at sunset. Every single city we visited was magical. I am aware of how cheesy that sounds but its true. To travel with 35 exchange students was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I made friendships in one month that are stronger than others I’ve had in a lifetime. Rotary tells you that lifetime bonds are formed and they’re not messing around, it really happens. Saying goodbye to everyone at the end of the trip was heartbreaking. Despite the fact that we’ll see each other again before we leave we all cried and procrastinated leaving the bus station until the last possible moment. We understand eachother better than anyone else, and after this year that only applies more.

When I returned to Bom Despacho my friend threw me a surprise “welcome home” party which just melted my heart. I have reached the realization that leaving in four months will be unbearable. Future exchange students this is for you: you don’t get this opportunity again. You can’t get this year back and even when you come back to visit it’s not the same place you left. There have been times when I’ve wanted to go home more than anything and there have been obstacles thrown my way that have tested my balance but at the end of the day I’m standing tall (figuratively of course since I’m only 5’ 1”) and I’m happy to be where I am. In 6 months I have formed a life just as important as the one I spent making for 17 years in the states. I’ve learned more about myself than I thought possible and I’ve grown (figuratively since the doctor said I’m destined to remain this height forever). Rotary is incredibly smart for having us all sign that contract promising to return to our countries of origin. I never thought it was possible to feel so at ease this far away from everything I knew. Thank you Rotary once again for believing in us and giving us the opportunity to claim somewhere else home. Future outbounds you’re in for an indescribable experience. I remember crying at the airport saying bye to family and friends. The current me would go back, slap that Alejandra and say “calm yourself woman! There’s nothing sad about embarking on an adventure.” Where’s a time machine when you need one?

May 27

Day 324. This journal right here has been the victim of my procrastination for some time now. Every time I sat down to start documenting my experiences I was reminded of the fact that by writing what I had gone through, I was admitting that those memories were gone. Every journal I write brings me closer to the last one.  Not to mention the fact that words can’t describe the emotions I feel in regards to leaving Brazil. To say I love this place is an understatement.

The months of February, March and April were different that the first half of my exchange. Before, every experience felt like a lesson. The latter half of my exchange was less a course and more of a full emersion. Obviously when you land in your host country you’re fully involved but it’s different once you settle.  The glorious tourist days come to a halt and I became another resident.  I it was like being a newborn baby all over again. The act of being brought into the world was a celebration, the first step was applauded, my first words were cherished and even the mistakes were smiled upon. The beginning was easy because I was the center of attention and everything I did was labeled cute. I could say something wrong but people would still “aw” because the fact that I said anything at all was precious. With time, I was expected to correct my errors and even if I can still get away with small slip-ups there was always this hard critic that wouldn’t get off my case: me.

The hard work was worth it when people started to lose their curiosity about me. It proved that I was no longer a sore thumb, that I was accepted. I realized who my true friends were, and I now have the true sense of what it feels like to live here. Whereas before I felt I stood out, now I blend in and there’s this feeling of belonging that just wasn’t as snug a fit before. I love the feeling of having inside jokes with everyone, going to my best friend’s house every day after lunch to watch an old soap opera, waving to people around town, going to dance class and being just another student. Only recently was I reminded of the fact that my place here is, sad as it is, temporary. I’m constantly flooded with questions regarding the date of my departure which are immediately followed with a sad face and plea to stay longer. I was told I’d be sad to leave but I didn’t know I would feel this strongly nor did I understand why. So one day I went for a walk with the company of my iPod, put on depressing music to awaken my sensitive side and thought about it.

It dawned on me that my entire life up to August of last year was of equivalent importance to the 10 months spent in Brazil. Bottle up every single feeling I’ve had to this day and then put that into one year. That’s what this exchange was. Confusion, betrayal, happiness, victory, love… you name it. I’ve practically already felt all these emotions but the difference is that the second time around I didn’t have the support group I spent 17 years building. So what’s the big deal? If I already felt everything it should be easier the second time around. Not so much. Everything I felt here was at least twice if not thrice as intense the second time around. I think that the whole time, underneath everything I was scared. Realizing I had such strong feelings for people and a place I had known for such a short time frightened me because in the back of my head I knew I’d eventually have to say goodbye. Yet I couldn’t stop myself from getting attached.

I came to love everything about my host country in less than a year with as much passion as I do the States. I saw sunrises and sunsets that I could have sworn were a mere creation of Photoshop. I formed friendships that I thought were only so compatible in movies. I felt deeper. I had a pleasant run in With Al Kalter in Manaus. We stayed up talking late one night with my friend Kelly from Texas and he said something that I hadn’t thought of before. All along I thought this was such a milestone because I was embarking on this journey alone. I called it my first act of independence. But as wise Al pointed out, I’ve been more dependent than ever. It was all those pillars, in the end, that lead me to become the self assured person I am today.  Through dependence I learned to be independent but it had to be a leap of faith. It couldn’t have been with my biological family or life long friends. The people and places that helped me had to be ones that I had a set time to rely on, and a marked day to say good-bye. New experiences and surroundings will lead to more changes but it’s not as abrupt and dramatic. Leaving the states was scary because I was leaving everything behind for the first time but I knew I was going back. What about now? I have a family, friends, and a community that I got attached to and in two weeks I’m saying my farewells without knowing when I’ll return. I don’t want to forget a single detail of what I’ve experienced. I don’t want to be forgotten here. My heart is split in two pieces. I can’t favorite one over the other and yet I’m getting on a plane and choosing to leave one behind. All I can do is promise to never forget what I lived here, what I’ve learned and most importantly: who I’ve become. So far going on exchange has been the best decision I’ve made in my life. I made choices, I made mistakes, I made repairs and I really looked at myself for the first time.  Gnōthi seauton: know thyself.

Ariana’s Bio

“Let me fall, let me climb. There’s a moment when fear and dreams must collide.

Someone I am is waiting for courage. The one I want, the one I will become will catch me

So let me fall, if I must fall. I won’t heed your warnings. I won’t hear them.”

Szervusz!

My name is Ariana Stark. I am a senior at Saint Augustine High School (SAHS), and a student in St. John’s County Center for the Arts (SJCCA). I live in Saint Augustine, Florida, the Oldest City in the United States. I have a younger brother, 2 caring and supportive parents, and two cats. Currently, my family is hosting a Rotary Exchange student from Italy. And, most importantly, I will be spending my next school year in Hungary!

“All I ask, all I need. Let me open whichever door I might open.

Let me fall, if I fall. Though the phoenix may or may not rise”

I am an artist at heart. I draw, write, sing, compose and play both the flute and piano. I sing with the Chamber Singers and Concert Chorus as well as playing the flute in the Wind Ensemble and other musical groups. I have been studying the flute for eight years, and am planning to pursue music professionally. To me, art and music provide a way to communicate without words. I enjoy all types of music, everything and anything. From little known bands, to jazz, to Liszt’s Consolation No.3, to the Beatles, I listen to it all. I chose Hungary because of its rich history and look forward to a great experience for me.

 “I will dance so freely, holding on to no one. You can hold me only

if you too will fall away from all these useless fears and chains”

I love to travel. So far, I have been to England, Japan, South Korea, and Spain. I have also had the opportunity to host several exchange students, from South Korea, Spain, France, Ecuador, Brazil, Japan, and Italy. I am hoping to travel to many more places throughout the world.

 “Someone I am is waiting for my courage.

The one I want, the one I will become will catch me

So let me fall, if I must fall. I won’t heed your warning. I won’t hear.”

I am open-minded and eager for change and new experiences. I long to step out of my comfort zone and enter to realm of the unknown. I want to soar on the wings of change, facing obstacles and overcoming them. I believe my adventure is not waiting to begin . . .

. . . It has already begun . . .                                                              . . . Ez birtokol már megkezdett . . .

“Let me fall, if I fall. There’s no reason to miss this one chance.

This perfect moment. Just let me fall.”

Lyrics from Cirque du Soleil’s “Let Me Fall” from the show Quidam

Ariana’s Journals

August 17

 Little train to the heart

Little light in the dark

Little hope that you just might find your way up out of here

Cause you’ve been hiding for days

Wasted and wasting away

But I’ve got a little hope today you’ll face your fears

Yeah I know it’s not easy, I know that it’s hard

Follow the lights to this city

It’s only a couple of days until I step on a plane and leave for the greatest year of my life. Emotionally speaking, I would say that I’m excited and nervous all at the same time. I wouldn’t really say that I’m scared. True, it’s definitely slightly nerve-wracking. It might be safe to say that my parents are more worried than I am.

Get up and go, Take a chance and be strong

Or you could spend your whole life holding on

Don’t look back just go Take a breath move along

Or you could spend tour whole life holding on

On the plus side, I have heard from my first host family in Szolnok. My host parents’ names are László and Anikó Kispál. László is a businessman and Anikó is a kindergarten teacher. I will have two host siblings. Ansci likes to dance and ride horses (and there is a horse ranch right on their street). Laci, her brother, plays the guitar and tennis. They have two turtles, three cats, and a dog. I cannot wait to meet them on August 22!!

Believe the tunnel can end.

Believe your body can mend.

Yeah I know you can make it though cause I believe in you

So let’s go put up a fight

Let’s go make everything alright

Go on and take a shot go give it all you got

Yeah I know it’s not easy I know that it’s hard

And it’s not always pretty

Packing is definitely one of the hardest parts that people seem to leave out of their journal. The sight of one empty suitcase sitting in the middle of the room is one of the most concrete signs that I’m leaving. Yes, I can only have one free suitcase, which makes things so much harder. I never realized how little space a suitcases can hold until I began packing for this journey.

Get up and go, Take a chance and be strong

Or you could spend your whole life holding on

Don’t look back just go, Take a breath move along

Or you could spend tour whole life holding on

When I step on that plane on August 21, I will be letting go of everything I have known in my 17 short years of life. I don’t want to look back and regret not doing something. I want to cherish every possible moment of this experience because I know there is nothing like it. My goal this year is to take each moment and live it as though tomorrow may not come. I know this sounds like a cliché, but I know the time will fly by so fast and before I know it, I’ll be coming back home with a whole new set of experiences and language that has become a part of me. I don’t want to be trapped by a routine that I have known forever. I can’t wait to experience something new and different from what I have known.

Don’t wanna wake up to the telephone ring

Are you sitting down I need to tell you something

Enough is enough you can stop waiting to breathe

And don’t wait up for me

Still, it’s all so strange to think I will be leaving so soon. It seems like just the other day I was going through the interview process and the first outbound orientation. It’s hard to believe that this day is finally here. If everything that I have done so far has gone by so fast, this year will seem over way to soon.

Get up and go, Take a chance and be strong

Or you could spend your whole life holding on

Don’t look back just go Take a breath move along

Or you could spend your whole life holding on

I am a getting ready to leave for the most memorable year of my life. When I return, I want to be a citizen of the world, not of one country. I look forward to being someone who is sure of themselves in any situation. I want to be flexible and adaptive for whatever life decides to throw my way. I believe that Rotary has done all they could to prepare me for everything (roughly) and will be there if I need anything whether it be advice or help with something in my school. I can’t thank Rotary enough for allowing me to depart on this experience to Hungary. They have worked so hard for all us “outbounds”. I for one am not going to let them down.

Get up and go, Take a chance and be strong

Or you could spend your whole life holding on

Don’t look back just go Take a breath move along

Or you could spend your whole life holding on

Don’t spend your whole life holding on

–>Lyrics from “Go” by Boys Like Girls album ‘Heart Heart Heartbreak'<–

September 14

A new world calls across the ocean

A new world calls across the sky

A new world whispers in the shadows

Time to fly, time to fly

My flight over went as smoothly as possible, and I didn’t end up trying to fly to Bucharest instead of Budapest (as my host family was worried about). Jet lag didn’t catch up with me for a few days. As it turns out, my host family lives in a “suburb” of Szolnok. However, they have a huge backyard, with apple, pear, and plum trees. Everyone here has dogs, so they are barking all night, and some actually howl at the moon. Also, whoever said that roosters crow at the break of dawn lied. They crow any time they want to, even if it’s one in the morning.

Possibly one of the most memorable events within my first few weeks in Hungary would be my eighteenth birthday. With it being the day after I arrived, I didn’t expect my family to make a big deal out of it. Yet, that morning, all of them crowded in the room I share with Ancsi, to wake me up by singing “Happy Birthday” in Hungarian. It turns out that they had woken up early that morning to bake a cake for me. I feel like part of the family already. My host mother takes pictures of everything. They call her “Papperazzi Kispál” for a reason.

It’s about one moment, the moment before it all becomes clear

And in that one moment, you start to believe there’s nothing to fear

It’s about one second, and just when you’re on the verge of success

The sky starts to change, and the wind starts to blow

And you’re suddenly a stranger. There’s no explaining where you stand

And you didn’t know that you sometimes have to go

‘Round an unexpected bend and the road will end

In a new world

Starting school was interesting to say the least. Before the start of every school year, there is a ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of the previous year and the hope for a good year. It was a great opportunity for me to meet some of the students in my class. They are all really nice, and always want to help me. In every class, students want me to sit by them (especially in the English class). The best part is that they are always helpful when I get that confused look on my face, because I have little to no idea on what is going on. Because of my age, I am in the 12th class, or one of the graduating classes. Every year, at the school ball in December, the graduating class does a special dance routine. So, every day, there is some form of discussion about the dance that our class will do. One day, it’s the colors of the dresses and the guys’ shirts. The next, it’s who wants to dance the Vienesse waltz (a traditional part of the dance). Another day it’s what music we are dancing to.

A new world calls for me to follow

A new world waits for my reply

A new world holds me to a promise

Standing by, standing by

Food, glorious food, magical food, wonderful food. (To quote Oliver). They eat so much here. Also, they don’t just cover everything with paprika. In my experience of food here, they also collectively love salt, garlic and ketchup. Every day we tend to eat five meals: breakfast, “elevenses” (a sort of brunch), lunch, late lunch (around 4) and then dinner. Also every meal, has at least two courses, one soup, and then a sort of meat dish. Between these, everyone drinks coffee. There is even a snack area in the school that sells coffee, and other drinks and snacks between classes.

School lunch is actually pretty good here, much better then school lunch back in Florida. My school is right by the Tisza Hotel, so the food is better than I would have ever thought. Each day, we have a sort of soup, followed by the main dish. Even at school, there is so much food. Students eat so much every day. Between each class, most of them pull out another sandwich to eat or go to buy a snack at the school canteen.

It’s about one moment, that moment you think you know where you stand

And in that one moment, the things that you’re sure of slip from your hand

And you’ve got one second, to try to be clear, to try to stand tall

But nothing’s the same, tnd the wind starts to blow

And you’re suddenly a stranger in some completely different land

And you thought you knew but you didn’t have a clue

That the surface sometimes cracks to reveal the tracks

To a new world

There are three other exchange students at my school. The first one I met was Tiago, a student from Brazil. His host brother, Martszi (I think that’s how it’s spelled), is in the same class as me. At the school’s ceremony, I met Alonzo, a student from Mexico. He wants to be a singer, and is a social butterfly. The third student is a girl from Italy, Lavinia, who is here with the AFS exchange program.

Homesickness, what seems to be the bane of exchange students, hasn’t struck yet. I’m grateful for that, but I am expecting it to arrive any day now. Culture shock didn’t really seem to be as much of an issue as I expected either. True, there are definite differences, like standing up when a teacher enters the room, or eating pizza by cutting it up with a knife and fork. I’ve learned to observe what others around me are doing and quickly follow suit when necessary.

You have a house in the hills

You have a job on the coast

You find a lover you’re sure you believe in

You’ve got a pool in the back

You get to the part of your life

You hold the ring in your hand

But then the earthquake hits

And the bank closes in

Then you realize you didn’t know anything

Nobody told you the best way to steer

When the wind starts to blow

Public transportation is something worth getting used to. Because my schedule for school is different from the other student’s schedules in my class, I take the bus to school and home from school almost every day. School here starts at 7:30, but because I live in Szandaszólós (which is farther away) my host siblings and I have to get up at 6 in the morning.

My first time taking the bus home by myself could possibly be considered comedic. I off at the right stop, which was what I was worried about. I didn’t think that I should have asked for directions on how to get home from the bus stop. After all, I should be able to remember it when I went with Ancsi once, right? Um…not really. I ended up wandering around the neighborhood for about two hours. On the Brightside, I had two bottles of tea in my backpack, and enough food to feed an army (because my mother thinks I eat so much). Eventually, I had the smart idea to go look at the map at the bus stop, and still made it home before everyone else, but not by much.

And you’re suddenly a stranger all of a sudden

You life is different than you planned

And you’ll have to stay ‘til you somehow find a way

To be sure of what will be

Then you might be free

In the card for my birthday, Ancsi wrote a quote from Ben Stein “The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.” I’ve decided that I want to make this year extraordinary. So far, I’ve worked to embrace what may seem strange, solve possible communication problems, and have begun making those connections that make this very large world seem so much smaller. I’ve stepped outside of my comfort zone, into the realm of the unknown. The first step is always the hardest, but it’s the one that’s most worth the taking.

One of the questions I’ve been asked the most by others is “Why I chose to come to Hungary?” Every day I spend here, I find myself discovering the answer to this in a small town in Hungary’s great plain and its residents with large hearts. My first two weeks here have been bizarre, confusing, and curious, yet I love every minute of it.

A new world crashes down like thunder

A new world charging through the air

A new world just beyond the mountain

Waiting there, waiting there

A new world shattering the silence

There’s a new world I’m afraid to see

A new world louder every moment

Come to me, come to me

Song Lyrics from “Opening of a New World” from Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World

September 29

She’s a good girl, loves her mama

Loves Jesus and America too

She’s a good girl, crazy ’bout Elvis

Loves horses and her boyfriend too

It’s been a month, and it still hasn’t really sunk in yet that I am actually here. Every day I’m like ‘I’m really in Hungary. This is really happening.’ It feels like I’m living in a dream. Maybe it’s because I sleep so much here. Now, I was never really a nap person, but some days when I come home from school, all I want to do is sleep. I don’t know if it’s just me, but are all exchange students always this tired? Also, homesickness hasn’t really paid a visit yet. I keep expecting it though, waiting for it to strike when I least expect it.

On another note, all the Rotary students on exchange in Hungary had our orientation on September 10 and 11. There are 35 brave souls who are in Hungary this year. Of course, there are a lot from Brazil and the USA, so it can get pretty loud when we are all together.  You know you’re an exchange student when you can make friends with other exchange students in less than 24 hours and (semi) peacefully debate religious and political issues with them.

It’s a long day living in Reseda

There’s a freeway runnin’ through the yard

And I’m a bad boy ‘cause I don’t even miss her

I’m a bad boy for breakin’ her heart

So, being in the 12th class means that I am taking part in the dance that we do at the Szalagavató (the school dance in December.) I have practice two days a week for this. Now, the practice is entirely in Hungarian, although the teacher speaks fluent English. I think he enjoys watching me try to figure out what’s going on. Most of the other students find it completely hilarious, and I spend plenty of time laughing at myself. One of our moves involves two groups of people rotating in an X formation. Well, as a band geek, the actual dancing part while staying in a line is easy. As we are practicing this, my inner band geek wants to start saying things along the lines of “Dress the form! Check the diag! Stay on step!” (If you don’t know marching terminology, I’m sorry that you won’t find this really funny). Yet, I realize if I say any of this, everyone will look at me like ‘Huh?’

The first actual assignment I had to do for school was for my English class. I had to do a presentation on a “typical” American high school and afterschool activities. Most of the students were surprised that marching band isn’t considered a sport after I showed them a video of our show from last year. They kept asking me questions about football, cheerleaders, schedules, and surfing. They seemed surprised when I told them that my high school isn’t like the ones pictured in American movies and TV with the mean football players and such.

And I’m free, free fallin’

Yeah I’m free, free fallin’

Last time, I kind of glossed over the language. Well, not many people think of learning Hungarian, maybe because it only has 35 different noun cases, and isn’t close to any other language (well, other than Finnish, but even then).  Myself and the other exchange students in Szolnok have one language lesson a week, which is not enough. It doesn’t really help that our Hungarian teacher starts teaching is past tense conjugation, when we barely know the present tense conjugation. Yet, I’m learning more and more each day, mostly a lot of words. My host parents don’t speak any English, so they enjoy pointing at things and saying the Hungarian word for it until I repeat it after them perfectly. So, my pronunciation has become pretty good. Still, the 14 different vowels are really confusing.

All the vampires walkin’ through the valley

Move west down Ventura Boulevard

And all the bad boys are standing in the shadows

All the good girls are home with broken hearts  

Whenever everyone else isn’t around, Apa (my host father) loves to try to feed me large amounts of food, especially for breakfast. Now, I’ve never really been much of a breakfast person, so this is way different than what I’m used to. His normal breakfast is about a third of loaf of bread with some sort of cream cheese spread with sliced sausage (at least I think its sausage). And the loaves of bread here are huge. I could get a loaf of bread and it would feed me for about a week. That’s how big they are, or I just don’t eat a lot.

Apa also makes this amazing spread that Ancsi, Láci and I eat almost every day. When watching him make it, I was a little unsure, but it is indescribably good. To make it takes a bag of feta cheese, half a container of sour cream, cumin, onion, and paprika (no real surprise there). It may sound nasty, but it’s so tasty.

I have been asked if a lot of people in America are overweight. Yes, in other countries, they really think that Americans eat fast food all the time. What I haven’t figured out is how Hungarians eat so much (and everything is fried) yet still stay so skinny? Then again, it might be because they actually exercise in their gym class. No one comes out of that class without sweating about two pounds of their body weight.

And I’m free, free fallin’

Yeah I’m free, free fallin’

Free fallin’, now I’m a, free fallin’,

now I’m a Free fallin’, now I’m a, free fallin’,

Each day here is slightly different, as I start school at a different time each day. On the plus side, I can successfully navigate the city bus system, and I’m getting really good at drawing maps. But I haven’t gotten lost again, well yet.  This coming weekend, the other exchange students in Szolnok and I get to discover how to work the train system in Hungary. That will be very entertaining. Much calamity will ensue.

I know I left this out last time, but I am taking flute lessons while in Hungary. I’m taking from the Bartok Béla Zeneiskola, or for those who don’t know Hungarian, Béla Bartok Music School. Now this isn’t the university in Budapest, but it’s pretty good. I have two lessons a week, and my teacher does expect me to practice (with a metronome).

I wanna glide down over Mulholland

I wanna write her name in the sky

Gonna free fall out into nothin’

Gonna leave this world for a while

Something different that I have noticed is the maps that are used here. It’s something that I hadn’t ever noticed before, but maps in the United States always depict North America in the center of the map. Here, Europe is normally in the center of the map. It’s the little things that really catch my attention. Things like differences in something as simple as a world map that make me think how big the world really is. I keep learning more and more about the world around me. The more I learn, the more I want to know. Looking back on the past four weeks, it seems that time has already gone by so fast. I just want to take every moment and live in it for all it’s worth.

And I’m free, free fallin’

Yeah I’m free, free fallin’

Lyrics from “Free Fallin’” as covered by The Almost, originally by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

October 25

I have, I have you breathing down my neck

Breathing down my neck

I don’t, don’t know what you could

Possibly expect under this condition

So I’ll wait, I’ll wait

For the ambulance to come, ambulance to come

Pick us up off the floor

What did you possibly expect

Under this condition, so slow down

This night’s a perfect shade of

I’ve been really busy these past weeks, so this is later than I expected it to be. Adaption is hard, but it’s coming each and every day. School has gotten harder. It’s not that the teachers now expect me to learn in class, it’s that now I’m not the new person that every one wants to talk with. The other students are understanding of my very poor attempts at hungarian, but communication is difficult. I am trying so hard not to fall into the english trap.

 I still haven’t faced homesickness, and haven’t called home or skyped with my parents once. Although it hasn’t affected me, the other Rotary students at my school, have been having a hard time with homesickness. As the one that hasn’t faced it yet, they often come and talk to me about it.

 Dark blue, dark blue, have you

Ever been alone in a crowded room?

Well, I’m here with you, I said

The world could be burning and burning down

Dark blue, dark blue, have you

Ever been alone in a crowded room?

Well, I’m here with you, I said

The world could be burning

‘Til there’s nothing but dark blue

Just dark blue

At the beginning of this month, all the exchange students in Hungary took a trip to West Hungary and Venice. We had a ten hour bus ride, overnight, with about thirty exchange studnets, meaning that most people won’t get any sleep. We also learned that no coherent conversations occur at two in the moring.

 Once we arrived in Venice, Béla, the district chairman for Hungary, gave us the entire day to wander the city. I set out with two students from California, Frank and Katie. With Frank being the direction ninja he is, we wandered around the city for a good five hours, but were always able to make it back to St. Mark’s (our meeting place). Though it may sound boring, we found all of these amazing churches, and saw such amazing craftmanship and art in these buildings. We saw artwork that had been created well before the United States was even thought to exist. Me, being the music nut that I am, was really excited to find Vivaldi’s church in a little corner of Venice.

 Of course, we couldn’t go to Venice without having real italian food. We found this little pizza place, and each tried a different type of pizza. Now, when ordering pizza, it’s important to remeber that these pizzas are about ten inches in diameter, for one person. Katie decided to be adventurous and try the seafood pizza. It was a normal pizza, with crust and cheese, but topped with about three inches of shrimp and mussels.  We kept waiting for Sebastian to appear and start singing ”Under the Sea.”

 And this flood, this flood

Is slowly rising up, swallowing the ground

Beneath my feet, tell me

How anybody thinks under this condition

So, I’ll swim, I’ll swim

As the water rises up, sun is sinking down

And now all I can see are the planets in a row

Suggesting it’s best that I slow down

This night’s a perfect shade of

Ancsi is helping me learn so much when it comes to language. I can now conjugate some verbs, which means I can make coherent sentances, not just random strings of words. Still, most of my sentances don’t fully make sense because the sentance structure here is so different. Now, I always had trouble with the technicalities of English grammer, so trying to explain english grammer to someone learning english, as well as trying to learn Hungarian grammer just makes it that much harder. Still, we always make it fun.

 Possibly the funnest part of learning the languge is listening to cds of Disney songs, that have been dubbed in Hungarian. Almost every day, I watch a movie in Hungarian with English subtitles (if they are available, if not, I get to guess what’s going on). I am almost always listening to a Hungarian radio station, just to hear the language. Still, it is weird to be listening to the radio and hear songs from the Backstreet Boys come on.

 Dark blue, dark blue, have you

Ever been alone in a crowded room?

Well, I’m here with you, I said

The world could be burning and burning down

Dark blue, dark blue

Have you ever been alone in a crowded room?

Well, I’m here with you, I said

The world could be burning dark blue

Someone, somewhere once said “The trouble with foreign languages is, you have to think before your speak.” This is definitly true as any exchange student will know by now. The hardest part about learning an increasingly complex language is having to think through everything I say, and figure out where the prepositions add on and what to change in the verb. A majority of the time, it’s far from perfect and my pronunciation can be downright horrendous (seeing as I am completely and utterly unable from rolling my r’s), but speaking the language is the only way I will get better.

I am beginning to slowly understand what’s going on around me. Well, most of the time. A majority of the hungarian I hear can be explained by “word I know, hungarian, hungarin, hungarian, word I know, more hungarian” Still, being able to understand to sentances on the bus home from school excited me.

 We were boxing, we were boxing the stars

We were boxing, you were swinging from Mars

And then the water reached the west coast

And took the power lines, the power lines

And it was me and you, and the whole town underwater

There was nothing we could do it was dark blue

 I finally tried the infamous palinka that Hungary is famous for. It’s hard to describe, but it might be something along the lines of firewhiskey (excuse my Harry Potter reference but it’s the closest comparason I can think of). The first taste is somewhat hard to get past, but after that it’s not too bad. It all depends on the flavor of the palinka. It’s a little strong for me though.Although, the burning sensation that follows the initial taste, is quite useful on a cold day in Hungary.

 I first tried palinka at a tradition called “disznovagyas” which literally translates to ’cutting the pig.’ For this tradition, my entire host family gathered at my host grandmother’s house in Jászkisér (look up spelling). Once there, the men of the family proceeded to cut and cook the pig and other such details. I stayed inside the house with my host mother and her sister, while the actual pig cutting part was going on. Láci and I also biked around the small village where they lived.

 After cutting the pig, part of the meat is cooked right away, while another part is used to make sausages, called hurka. Now, watching the sausage being made can be either fascinating or completely disgusting, possibly a mix of both.

 Dark blue, dark blue, have you

Ever been alone in a crowded room?

Well, I’m here with you, I said

The world could be burning and burning down

Dark blue

Have you ever been alone in a crowded room?

Well, I’m here with you, I said

The world could be burning

Now there’s nothing but dark blue

If you’ve ever been alone

You’ll know dark blue

If you’ve ever been alone

You’ll know, you’ll know

 Lyrics from “Dark Blue” by Jack’s Mannequin

November 19

Well, there’s a time for feelin’ as good as we can

The time is now and there’s no stoppin’ us

There’s a time for livin’ as high as we can

Behind us you will only see our dust

So we just keep smilin’, move onward every day

Try to keep our thoughts away from home

We’re trav’lin’ all around, no time to settle down

And satisfy our wanderlust to roam

It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost three months since I arrived here. It feels like time has flown by. With the leaves changing colors, it almost seems that the world has come alive with colors. Yes I’ve seen trees with leaves that change colors in the fall, but it seems more vibrant, and more full of life here.

I cannot say how much I love my host family. I feel like such a part of my family. It’s almost impossible to explain how much I fit in here. Every week my host mother and I watch Megasztar and X-Faktor, which are kind of like American Idol, only much better. Even though she doesn’t speak any English, and I am still only speaking very basic level Hungarian, we manage to understand each other (it normally involves charades and pictures). My host father is currently having very much fun teaching me how to play ping-pong.  We play almost every week. Slowly, I’m getting better at aiming the ball, so it doesn’t go into the plants, but personally I’m convinced that the ball likes landing in the plants. It’s just my darn left-handedness, and terrible hand-eye coordination.

 You know we’re havin’ good days

And we hope they’re gonna last

Our future still looks brighter than our past

We feel no need to worry, no reason to be sad

Our mem’ries remind us

Maybe road life’s not so bad

 A few weekends ago, my host family and I went to Lake Balaton. When we got to their house, we proceeded to take a boat ride over to the other side of the very large lake. There, we walked to a fish festival where we ate, well, fish. It was kind of like a cultural festival. There were all of these people selling handmade goods out of booths. Possibly the coolest thing there was a display of traditional archery and sword fighting. How often is there an actual archery competition in a festival like that? It was completely amazing.

Well, it’s getting very cold here. I’m expecting it to snow soon. My host family says it’s going to be the coldest winter that they’ve had in a few years. My classmates are always surprised that I’m already cold and it’s only November.  Some mornings, I look out of the window of the room I share with Ancsi and see the frost over their backyard. I can’t help but think that my 15 walk to the bus stop won’t be fun in December and January.

Well, from sea to shining sea and a hundred points between

Still we go on digging every show

The cities in the land all extend a welcome hand

Till the morning when it’s time for us to go

 The other day, my host brother asked a question in Hungarian, and was completely surprised when I answered him. The funny thing was, I didn’t even have to think about what he asked, his question just made sense. It wasn’t like he was speaking another language at all. There are times where I’ll forget something about English that should seem natural. I’m getting so used to hearing something other than English. Still, my pronunciation and actual speaking can be downright terrible at times. I am completely incapable of rolling my r’s, and differentiating because the pronunciation of vowels (because they have 14 here). I just have to remind myself that the secret of accomplishing anything is baby steps. There are very few things that have accomplished overnight.

 Well, you know we’re having good days

And we hope they’re going to last

Our future still looks brighter than our past

Feel no need to worry, no reason to be sad

Our mem’ries remind us

Maybe road life’s not so bad

To the students who are waiting for a response from Rotary, my one piece of advice is that Rotary knows what they are doing. For those of you that are accepted, prepare for the next three years of your life to be one long adventure. Expect the work and don’t wait until the last minute to do anything. If Rotary says to do something, just do it. It will help. And for those of you who don’t get what you believe is your ‘dream’ country, keep your mind open. Honestly, when I first learned that I would be going to Hungary, I was happy, but apprehensive. Yet, after learning more about the country, and especially after being here, I have fallen in love with this country, with the people, and with the language. I feel like there’s not really another place that I would rather be, than right here, in Szolnok Hungary. True it’s a little town, with no more than 70,000 people, but for me, it’s truly become home. Köszönöm szepen Rotary!

Oh, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

Maybe road life’s not so bad

Road life’s not so bad, oh yeah, yeah

Oh, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

Lyrics from “Making Memories” by Rush

December 29

Slow down you crazy child

You’re so ambitious for a juvenile

If you’re so smart, then tell me why you’re still so afraid?

Where’s the fire, what’s the hurry about?

You better cool it off before you burn it out.

You’ve got so much to do and only so many hours in a day.

 It’s so hard to believe that it’s been three months since I came to Hungary. The time seems to go by so quickly. It’s snowing here now. Still, everyone tells me that it’s a warmer year than usual. Despite this affirmation, I still attest that it’s really cold. This constant statement always seems to make my host family laugh. Anya and Ancsi refuse to let me leave the house until they are sure I am wearing at least two sweaters underneath my coat, gloves, a hat and scarf, and my boots.

On December 6th is a celebration in schools and families all across Hungary. All the students bring packages of chocolates to school and exchange them with other students in the class. Sometimes, like in my class, one student dresses up as St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus, and hands out the packages of chocolate. All in all, it was so much fun. I felt like my class accepted me as one of them, instead of simply an exchange student only there for the year.

 And you know that when the truth is told

That you can get what you want or you can just get old

You’re gonna kick off before you even get halfway through

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you

 My host family in Szolnok insisted that we celebrate Thanksgiving. Ansci and Laci were quite excited about Anya not making them go to school that day. So, on November 25, Anya, Nagymama (Anya’s mother) and I were shoved into the small kitchen cooking for the day. It was entertaining, difficult, and really fun. Somehow, Apa even managed to find a turkey, which are really hard to find in Eastern Europe.

There was some improvising on the recipes, as cream of mushroom soup, boxed stuffing, pecans, and sweet potatoes are virtually impossible to find in a Szolnok grocery store. Still, everything came out edible, despite partially making up the pumpkin pie as I went. My host family said that they wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving every year.

Slow down, you’re doin’ fine

You can be everything you want to be before you time

Although it’s so romantic on the borderline tonight

Too bad but it’s the life you lead

You’re so ahead of yourself that you’ve forgot what you need

Though you can see when you’re wrong, you can’t always see when you’re right

 Earlier this month, all of the Rotary students in Hungary took a trip to Vienna, also known as Bécs in Magyarorság. It was so much fun. Myself and one of the other students wandered through the museum district and the Christmas market. We found a really interesting museum, with free admission, that had exhibits on ancient musical instruments, medieval arms and armor, and Ephesians architecture.

One of the highlights of the trip was finding Milka Land. See, Milka is the brand for this completely amazing chocolate that is found in Europe.  They were giving away large amounts free chocolate and everything. It was so much fun. To say the least, almost all of the exchange students made a stop there. It was right by the Christmas Market, so it was relatively easy to find.  The Christmas Market in Vienna is in one word, chaotic. There were so many people there; all fighting to reach their destination, which were normally the food vendors. It was, in short, completely amazing.

 You got your passion, you got your pride

But don’t you only know that fools are satisfied

Dream on but don’t imagine they’ll all come true

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you

 On December 18, my school had the Szálágáváto for the students of the 12th class. Each class performs two dances, one of which is a waltz; the other is usually Latin or rock. Taking part in this occasion was an experience I will always remember. For the waltz, the girls wear these large white dresses that we literally had to be tied into. There is nothing else like this experience. For all of the members of the 12th class and their families, it is the moment that they have been waiting for.

Slow down you crazy child,

Take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while

It’s alright; you can afford to lose a day or two

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you

 I no longer seem to think of my host family as my ‘host’ family. They have really become my family here. Any time I think of them, I don’t think of them as simply a family I am staying with. I think of Ansci and Láci as a brother and sister, and Anya and Apa as a mother and father to me. It’s these relationships that are formed that RYE is all about. It’s one of those things that is extremely hard to explain, like that feeling of having a whole conversation in your new language with a stranger. I think that any other exchange student might understand easily. It’s that feeling that you’ve accomplished something so difficult, something so extraordinary. I’m thankful for each and every day here. It’s hard to say that there’s a place that I would rather be.  

 And you know that when the truth is told

That you can get what you want or you can just get old

You’re gonna kick off before you even get halfway through

Why don’t you realize, Vienna waits for you

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you

 Lyrics from “Vienna” by Billy Joel

February 8

I’m a suspect, I’m a traitor,

I’m only here in body visiting

Yellow faces, in the distance scream

The beauty is in what isn’t said

I’m rising to my feet

Because tonight, the world turned in me

Because right now, I don’t dare to breathe

Oh babe I know, it’s alive

It’s somewhere for us to find tonight

Chase this Light with me!

 Christmas and New Year’s weren’t as hard as I thought that they would be. Christmas here is a small family celebration on the 24th, then a large family gathering on the 25th. For Christmas day, we went to Jaskisher, and spent the day at my host grandparents’ house. We spent the whole day talking, playing games, and eating (of course).

 Our New Year’s Celebration was fairly small, mainly because Apa was sick. We spent New Year’s Eve and day at Lake Balaton. Although I didn’t go to any big parties, we still had plenty of fun. The coolest thing that we did was walk on the surface of the lake. It was completely frozen over. People were out skating on it, sledding, and other fun wintery activities.

 The language is getting easier as time progresses. I’m still not where I would like to be, but am progressing every day. As of now, I can understand and write fairly well, it’s the speaking that is the hardest. I try to hear the language as much as possible, whether it’s music, movies, the news, or just people speaking on the street.

 My just so, my last call

My life is yours, in your gifted hands

Confetti rainfall, in the quiet street

These things I’ve found are special now

The knot is in my reach

Because tonight, the world turned in me

Because right now, I don’t dare to breathe

Oh babe I know, it’s alive

It’s somewhere for us to find tonight

Chase this Light with me!

 I think I’m beginning to think of myself as Hungarian. I no longer consider it cold when it’s above 3 degrees Celsius (about 37 F.) I am now accustomed to eating soup at every meal and slurping it with pride. Possibly one of the most interesting changes was when asked a question about New Year’s Eve in the States by Ancsi. In my answer, instead of saying “we”, I said “they”. The funny thing was that I didn’t even realize I had done that until she pointed it out.

 People here are very proud of their country. It’s a type of pride that stretches beyond the current boarders, to where the boarders of the country used to be. There are so many people who consider themselves Hungarians who do not actually live in the country, but in areas that used to be part of the country before the First World War. The longer I am here, the more I understand, and the more I realize I have so much still to learn.

 Movie Screens, Photographs

Through another’s eyes I can see

I’ve seen the best of love, the best of hate

The best reward is earned and I’ve paid

For every single word, I’ve ever said

 Change is inevitable. Winter to spring, day to night, year to year. With each passing tick of the second hand, things change, ideas change, people change. I’ve come to realize that change is one of the few inflexible constants in this world. That may sound contradictory of the word’s meaning, saying that change is constant, but it’s something I’ve learned in this experience. Nothing is ever the same. Everything changes over time. It is something inevitable and unalterable, a fact of nature. Nothing ever stays the same, not even the things that we believe to be the most constant.

 I’ve realized this over the course of this experience that change is not something that we can fight. Rather, it is something that we must learn to accept and embrace willingly. It’s about adapting to the bumps along the road, not gripe about the perfect trip we could have had. After all, it’s those bumps that become the adventures that make everything all worth it.

 Confetti rainfall, in the quiet street

The beauty is in what you make it

So get up on your feet

 Because tonight, the world turned in me

Because right now, I don’t dare to breathe

 Oh babe I know, it’s alive

It’s somewhere for us to find tonight

Chase this Light with me

Oh babe I know, it’s alive

It’s somewhere for us to find tonight

Chase this Light with me.

 Lyrics from “Chase this Light” by Jimmy Eat World

March 7

From today all the days are only half as long

Nothing left to love about

Yesterday’s one million years ago

The day before already went down

Time’s been replaced by a countdown

The sun is shining in the night

So here are the words, just think twice

Wake me up cause time is running out

It’s running out

 On this side of the new year, everything seems to move much faster. Having had to decide the date for the return flight finally made me realize that the end is coming. I never realized how much I consider this place home. I can’t even think of driving again now that I’ve gotten used to taking busses everywhere. I can’t really imagine how I can go back to living in Florida without comparing to something here. It’s the little things that never cease to amaze me, like the fact that it’s almost March and it’s still snowing. Still, I find that I miss the constant sunshine of Florida.  

Live every Second

Here and now

Don’t let go

Live every second

Here and now

Don’t let go

Before it’s too late

On the 4th we had a presentation in front of the new outbounds from Hungary in Budapest. Like typical exchange students, we waited until the last minute to prepare anything. Still, it somehow managed to all come together in time. Us Americans were up in front of the new outbounds talking in Hungarian with our faces painted, and then dancing the Cha-Cha Slide with them. Well, they watched us dance the Cha-Cha Slide.  

Ancsi will be an exchange student in Ecuador next year. It’s so different seeing another going through the process now that I’ve been through it myself. I feel I’ve grown so much through this experience. I feel so much older and mature. I feel like I’ve become more confident of myself and my abilities.

 From today your life is just a TV show

You can even get a planet for free

The whole galaxy is chilling out

And time is all you can see

Don’t thank us now is all that counts

Remember that before you forget

So here are the words, just think twice

Wake me up because time is running out

It’s running out

In the last week of February, Ancsi and I went to the Táncház at the cultural center in our part of the city. This is a whole night of traditional Hungarian dancing and music. It’s a celebration that lasts well into the morning. Ancsi spent years learning Hungarian folk dance, so she is really good. She taught me some of the easier steps. The thing about folk dance in Hungary is that the music starts out at a reasonable pace, and then gradually speeds up until it becomes impossible to dance. It was still so much fun for everyone.

 At the end of the winter is a celebration called Farsang, where everyone dresses up in costumes to celebrate the end of the winter. My Rotary club had a Farsang party in Szolnok for its members and the exchange students. It was great seeing everyone again after not being able to see each other for over two months. The one thing about exchange students is that no matter how long it is before we see each other again, it only seems like it’s been a few days. Ancsi and I went to the party in traditional Hungarian clothing, which is completely different from anything I am used to.

 Live every Second

Here and now

Don’t let go

Live every second

Here and now

Don’t let go

Wake up, wake up, wake up

It’s over now

Wake up

 There are highs and lows in any experience, and that’s to be expected. Yet nothing can ever really prepare for when the hard times come, not even everything Rotary tells us. No, I’m still not homesick, but I’ve helped the other students in Szolnok through their homesickness periods. Nonetheless, after six months, things have started to fall into a routine here.

 Because of this routine, I want to challenge myself and the other outbounds to change things up. Go out of your way to do something you normally wouldn’t do. This could be as simple as sitting in a different spot at lunch, talking to someone new, or going home a different way.

 As for the new outbounds, I suggest that you start learning your languages now. Yes, I know, I procrastinated, just as you are likely doing now. Yet the best part of the exchange comes only when you’ve gained some degree of fluency in the language. I still have some trouble speaking, but am able to understand pretty much anything that is said. The other day I actually had a dream in Hungarian and was able to remember what happened. Time is short. I only have four months left in this amazing country called Hungary. I’ve learned so much in such a short time, and don’t want this adventure to end. So far, this has been the best seven months of my life. Thank you Rotary!

 Live every second

Here and now

Don’t let go

Live every second

Here and now

Don’t let go

Before it’s too late

Before it’s too late

Stop it now

 Lyrics from “Live Every Second” by Tokio Hotel

 April 30

“Tell me what you thought about when you were gone and so alone

The worst is over; you can have the best of me

We got older, but we’re still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we won’t give up”

Well it’s been eight months. I can hardly believe how quickly the time has passed. It seems like just the other day I was meeting my host family for the first time. I still remember my first Rotary meeting and the first day at my school. So much has happened since then. All of the Rotex said how fast the year would go, and now I know what they mean.

Living in Hungary for a year has changed my life. I know that sounds so cliché, but it’s completely true. I easily remember when I was choosing my preferred countries as part of the application. Not once did I ever think that making a little check mark in the box next to Hungary would make such a difference. I’ve never regretted my decision to come here.

“Here we lay again, on two separate beds

Riding phone lines to be that familiar voice

And pictures drawn from memories

We reflect on miscommunications and misunderstandings

And missing each other too; much too much to let this go

We turn our music down and we whisper

Say what you’re thinking right now”

From the 15th to the 17th, all of the Rotary students took a trip to Poland. There is nothing like a bus trip with Rotary students. Possibly the most important lesson I have learned on these trips is how to fully function for an entire weekend on only about 6 hours of sleep. The other is how to sleep comfortably on a bus, but that’s beside the point.

Krakow is an amazing city. We reached Krakow late Friday night and left mid-morning on Sunday. One of the most memorable moments of the trip was visiting Auschwitz. It’s one thing to simply read about the Holocaust or to learn about it in history class. It’s another thing to actually be where everything took place. There are things that happened there that are impossible for time to erase. Its experiences like this that can really change a person. If everyone in the world takes the time to visit places like this, then there is definitely a possibility that there will be no more wars.

“Tell me what you thought about when you were gone and so alone

The worst is over; you can have the best of me

We got older, but we’re still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we won’t give up”

It’s weird when I dream at night. I swear that this tangent actually has a point so stick with me. Before I left, I used to never dream, or I would never remember my dreams. So, when I actually remember my dreams here it seems really weird. It gets even weirder when I realize that sometimes these dreams are in Hungarian.

I remember the first time I realized I was dreaming in Hungarian. It was one of those epiphanies that only happen every so often. It was one of those moments that is like “Holy crap, I’m dreaming in another language.” It made me feel like I finally know the language, not just phrases and words.

“Jumping to conclusion made me fall away from you

I’m so glad that the truth has brought together me and you

We’re sitting on the ground and we whisper

Say what you’re thinking out loud”

I feel like I’m running from time. Just this month, I’ve already given my presentation to my Rotary Club about Florida and have ‘graduated’ with my class at the end of this month. Time seems to be speeding by. I can’t believe there’s only two months left. I feel like I’ve been here so long, but also that I haven’t been here long enough. I know for certain that I want to come back here.

I’ve fallen in love with Hungary. I love everything about this country. I love the rich cultural traditions and the uniqueness of the language. For me, there can be no place quite like this. The small city of Szolnok has truly become my home. Although it’s small and may seem boring, for me, there’s no place quite like it in the world.

“Tell me what you thought about when you were gone and so alone

The worst is over; you can have the best of me

We got older, but we’re still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we won’t give up”

I think that everyone, at some point in their life wants to be a hero. One of the defining moment of any hero, be it fictional or real, is the moment of leaving. It’s that moment where the hero steps out of everything that he or she has known and leaves everything behind. Every single one of us outbounds has done that, and every new outbound is preparing to take that step.

In our own right, I think that every one of us is a hero. For facing everything we have, new families, new languages, new friends, new schools, we’ve come out successful. That step is the hardest one to take, to make that decision that will change your entire life in a moment. I know that taking that step changed my life. I’ve become more confident and more aware of the world as a whole. I’ve learned to carry myself differently, as a person of the world and not just an American or a Hungarian.

“Tell me what you thought about when you were gone and so alone

The worst is over; you can have the best of me

We got older, but we’re still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we won’t give up

We’re not ready to give up”

Lyrics from “The Best of Me” from The Starting Line

May 30

I  am born. I am me. I am new. I am free

Look at me, I am young. Sight unseen, life unsung

My eyes have just been opened and they’re opened very wide

Images around me don’t identify inside

Just one blur I recognize, the one that soothes and feeds

My way of life is easy and as simple as my needs

Ten months sounds like a long time before you leave. Now it seems not to be long enough. In just one more month, I will be leaving everything here behind me and heading off on another adventure.  It feels like I’ve been so long since I stepped on a plane and left for the greatest year of my life. Now, it seems strange that I only have 19 days left in the place I now call home. It’s hard to grasp that I’ll actually be leaving so soon. I’m not sure if I should be excited, nervous, worried, or anxious. Part of me is looking forward to moving on with my life, but another part of me will miss the person I became in Hungary and the people I met.

And yet my eyes are drawn toward the mountain in the east

It fascinates and captivates and gives my heart no peace

The mountain holds a sunrise in the prison of the night

Till’ bursting forth from rocky chains, the valley floods with light

Living one long sunrise for to me to all things are new

I never watched the sky grow pale or strolled through fields of dew

I do not live from dust to dust; I live from breath to breath

I live to climb that mountain to the fountain of Lamneth

I’ve just gotten back from the first Eurotour that the Hungarian exchange students go on. Yes, we have two different Eurotours. Anyone who’s been on Eurotour knows that 16 exchange students on a long bus trip across Southern Europe will be chaotic at the least. Not everyone went on the first Eurotour. There were only 16 out of the 30 students in Hungary on the trip. Over half of those were Brazilians, which meant that the trip was anything but boring.

This was the trip around Southern Europe. We traveled to ten cities in six different countries. These were Postojna, Slovenia; Trieste, Florence, Rome, and Pisa, Italy; Nice and Cannes, France; Luzern, Switzerland; Innsruck and Graz, Austria; and Zagreb, Croatia. The two most memorable moments for the whole trip were visiting the Vatican City in Rome and sailing on the Mediterranean on the first day of the Cannes Film Festival.

Whiteness of confusion is unfolding from my mind

I stare around in wonder. Have I left my life behind?

I catch a scent of ambergris and turn my head surprised

My gaze is caught and held and I am helpless, mesmerized

Panacea, liquid grace, Let me touch your fragile face.

Enchantment falls around me and I know I cannot leave.

Before I left, I thought that the hardest part would be surviving the first four months and adaption. I thought that homesickness would be the worst thing I could possibly escape. (Just for the record, I still haven’t been homesick. Crazy, right?) Now I know that I was wrong. Leaving to live in another country for 10 months seems almost easy compared to the thought of leaving the place I now call home. I love Hungary and I cannot think life in another place.  I’ve become someone else here. I’ve transformed into someone more confident and mature.

Another endless day, silhouettes of grey

Another glass of wine, drink with eyes that shine

To days without that chill at morning, long nights, time out of mind

Another foggy dawn, the mountain almost gone

Another doubtful fear, the road is not so clear

My soul is ever weary, and the end is ever near

Draw another goblet from the cask of 43

Here’s a misty memory, hazy glimpse of me

Give me back my wonder; I’ve something more to give

I guess it doesn’t matter, there’s not much more to live

Everything has a moment. I’ve learned that a key part of happiness on exchange is living in that moment. It’s not about dwelling in the past or thinking about what might have been. It’s about taking a single moment and seizing it before it slips away. None of us live forever. Each day is simply another gift that we need to make the most of. Each moment in time is unique. We can never be at the same place again. Sure, we can physically be in the same place, but not emotionally or even with the same people, but it will never be the same. There are no do-over’s in life, just one shot to make something last as long as it can.

Look the mist is rising and the sun is peeking through

See the steps grow lighter as I reach the final few

Hear the dancing waters, I must be drawing near

Feel my heart is pounding, with embattled doubt and fear

Now at last I fall before the fountain of Lamneth

I thought that I’d be singing, but I’m tired, out of breath

Many journeys end here, but in the end it’s all the same

Life is just a candle, and the dream must give it flame

I’ve learned that I don’t need to protect myself quite so much. I’ve learned that there may not be a thing like tomorrow. I’ve learned that every beginning is an end and that every end is a beginning. I’ve learned that to gain something valuable, we must be prepared to lose everything we value. I’ve learned that life isn’t easy, but if it was, it wouldn’t be half the enjoyable challenge that it is.  But most of all, I’ve learned that I’m not always right. I’ve learned that I’m only human, and that I’m allowed to make mistakes. After all, that’s what being human is.

The key, the end, the answer trapped in their disguise

Still it’s all confusion and tears spring to my eyes

Though I‘ve reached the signpost, it’s really not the end

Life goes on beyond the mountain; I’ll be coming up again

I’m in motion, I am still. I am crying. I am still

I’m together, I’m apart. I’m forever, at the start.

Still I am.

Selected lyrics from “The Fountain of Lamneth” by Rush

Caroline’s Bio

¡Hola!

My name is Caroline I’m 16 years old and I attend Pompano Beach High School and I’m going to Argentina next year! I was born in Ft. Lauderdale and have stayed in the Ft. Lauderdale- Pompano area my whole life. Don’t get me wrong, I love where I live, but I want to experience something new! I think this foreign exchange will really help me and make me more culturally diverse. I’m so excited to go! I want to thank Mr. Bankowski, the magnet coordinator at my school, he got me interested in this program.

In school I’m taking an AP course, I’m in the Make a wave club, and I run in Track and Cross Country. My family has always been athletic and kept a healthy diet within my household. I have a sister, Kelsey, who is a sophomore at the University of Florida. She did many sports in school too and I’ve missed her since she left for college. I have a close family, so this experience will be bittersweet, leaving my family will be hard, but this experience will be indescribable. I cannot explain how excited I am to be going to Argentina!

I have traveled to Prague, Sweden, and France twice. Those were the best summers, ever. I love to travel; I think everywhere else has so much more to offer. France was my favorite though, the people and the food were soo different and I loved it. I wanted to stay. I would’ve purposely missed my plane to stay if I could’ve. My parents want me to get to travel as much as I possibly can. The education and the culture diversity is amazing to what I’ve heard and I want to experience it all (or at least as much as I can). I’ll never forget this experience and the people that made it happen. I’ll keep it with me for as long as I live, and I’ll probably tell everyone about it innumerable times. Thank you again.

 Caroline’s Journals

August 29

Hola from Argentina!

As I got off my plane and paid my fee at international affairs/customs I walked though baggage claim and through the sliding glass doors and looked around in excitement and anxious and I saw my host sister, Manuela jumped a little with the sign that had my name on it with her mom, dad, and Rotary member, Julia next to her. As i hugged my host family for the first time, I knew the experience I had been waiting sooo long for was finally in the palm of my hands. We walked out towards the car and drove home. The cars here are different, some are the same, but I liked the difference and was beyond excited to see my new home.

My house is nice and yellow and looks like it’s from France, my host parents built it and they’re building the one next door too. They have a real estate business and work together. I have 2 cats, Mili and Comahue, and one kitten, Lenon. My other host sister, Augustina is 24 and is a teacher for little kids. My other host sister, Lucia, is 28 and works in a Petroleum Enterprise in communications. My family is very nice and made me think of the family I left at home, hopefully this home sickness wears away soon.

The day I got here, Manuela took me to the Recolta, or town square. It has a famous cemetery for political, wealthy, historical, or peoples rights leaders. Some of them are so old that the glass doors are broken and you can touch the coffin in which their bodies. Some are still in pretty good shape. I got to see where the woman who fought for (and won) woman’s voting rights was buried. I also got to see the Law school and the Engineering school, which looks like a old chapel. We take the bus everywhere, I didn’t realize how many people take the bus, from business men to school kids it’s always packed, but I like it. People are really polite to each other. On Wednesdays, the day I arrived, was family night in the Lasry household. I got to meet Manuela’s uncle, grandfather, and cousins and one of their wives. All of them are extremely nice and said that they are happy to have me and I’m equally happy to be here.  

The second day, I met some of Manuela’s friends at their house as the practices dances for a fundraiser for a party they are going to throw around December. They are all nice and taught me some slang in Spanish, people here are very nice and all say that they are happy to have me.

On Friday, Manuela went to school and I got to go to my 3rd family’s home, who is now hosting Mats from Sweden and Madeline from Canada. Madeline will be attending La Salle with me for school. Belu, Fernanda (My 3rd hosts’ daughter) took the 3 of us to the mall, it seems like the malls in the United States, but different stores, I like the style here and we had tea there. People here drink tea all the time with every meal and in between meals. I also go to meet her friend Sati and visit La Salle. My school looks like Hogwarts, Madeline and I are very excited to be attending school there. That night we had a dinner party with our counselors from Rotary, my 3rd host family and the Lasry’s, and Mats and Madeline. The 3 of us will be rotated between the Lasry’s, the Scalionie’s and the Breglia’s. The party ended at 2 am and it’s completely normal for them, I love it. During the party we Skyped with Victoria, the Breglia’s daughter, who is now in Satellite Beach, Florida. Homesickness first hit me very hard when we skyped with her and her mom got teary for seeing her, I thought about home and how my family felt without me.

Today, I went to The Dot, a bigger mall with Mrs. Lasry, Manuela, and Augustina. The stores are soo nice and people are up to date on the latest fashions. Parking is a little different there. You get a free ticket going in, and you have to show the ticket to the guards to get out. In parking there are red lights indicating that the space is taken, green being vacant. It’s pretty reliable and easy to park, except the parking garage is beyond huge. Oh and the mall is 4 stories, no big deal.

 It is extremely cold here compared to Florida, it’s about 15 degrees Celsius, which is about 60-50 ish Fahrenheit, I miss the beach.

 October 20

My first day of school was unexpected, I mean, I knew I was going too school, but not what was going to happen. I met my principle or the “head mister” in the morning and he only has one eye, so it made me even more nervous than I already was, but he was nicer than I could imagine. He showed me into my Economics classroom, the field I chose to study in, and all the kids stared at me. After he left they all sat around me and just asked every question that you could imagine and they were extremely nice. The United States is amazing to the people here, being that I lived only 1 hour from Miami and 3 from Disney; they were so excited to ask me questions about things they knew. The whole day I found people starring at me from other classes asking each other if I was the new American student. I finally after 3 weeks got around to meet everyone who wanted to meet me and I know most of everyone’s names. My name is a little long to say, so they all call me Caro.

 At my first Rotary orientation, we went to the middle of nowhere kinda hahahah, they’re were horses walking around freely and smaller houses with, it was somewhere between a city and the country side. I met people from Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, France, and Texas! Brianna, the girl from Texas, and I got along immediately being that we could speak English to each other and relate to things that were in the United States and here. Since it was only 2 days long, we didn’t do much but meetings and welcoming ceremonies.

I’ve noticed people here dress a lot nicer than people in the United States, there are not as nearly as many overweight people, and we greet with a kiss to each cheek to everyone. Here, the also have 5 o clock tea and the siesta. The siesta is a late afternoon nap after you have tea, when I found out we had time for napping in the day, I was sooo excited. People here are so welcoming to United States citizens, but everyone, even the bus drivers, notice that I’m foreign. I didn’t think it was that obvious. Also, Argentina is known for it’s steak, take it from me, add to your bucket list to try Argentinean steak, it’s completely worth it and to have at least 1 alfajor in your life. Argentina is more European that I could’ve ever thought.

 People still stare form time to time, but everyone’s more relaxed around me here and try to do their best in English to talk to me and I do my best in Spanish to answer them.

My family took me to country side because their cousins own a pig farm; it also had chickens, lambs, and geese, but mostly pigs. I’ve learned farm animals don’t like me. We had an asado (a Bar B Q) there and it was sooo nice, I have never, in my life, seen so many stars in my life. I also haven’t held a 10 day old baby chicken either, that made my day. I’ve had to chance to try duck, cow intestine, and blood sausage, three things I’ve never had until I got here. I favor the duck over all 3. I felt guilty about eating it though. My family also took me to Puerto Maedro, or downtown, it sits right on the river. It has the Catholic University, the craziest avenue I have ever seen, restaurants, the Women’s Brigde, and this sailboat that has been in the water since the 1800’s. The pink House (the equivalent to our Whit House) is there too and many other monuments. Surrounding downtown are parks, skate parks, art parks, or just plain parks. My host sister also took me to The Recolta. It has a cemetery for historically influential people and the wealthy, old churches, The Law School, fancy hotels, beyond expensive stores that you can only stare at, a park, and on weekends festivals of shops come.

 I also attended a Rotex camp at one of the Rotex’s country houses. It was 3 days and most of the inbounds, Rotex and outbounds attended. It was a lot of fun also. We played games, had fires, (you can get burned like a sunburn by a fire, I learned this the hard way, it’s not fun) played rugby, soccer, and the Rotex gave us advice and things to helps us get by with the exchange. We had a mud/water fight too… there was no washer or dryer at this house, never take the sun for granted, it was my best friend that weekend.

 Rotary here is great too, it’s not too fancy, but you have to dress nice and my counselor is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, her husband as well. Both are in the Rotary. I also got to meet the Governor of Rotary here over the weekend and he’s extremely pleased with me and my progress with Spanish and hopes to see me again soon. Madeline, she is from Canada, invited me to her Rotary meeting and we had an asado. Her Rotary has a whole house for Rotary! Mine meets in a recreational center, but it’s nice and I like it. At her meeting, they honored a disabled firefighter, who was put in a wheelchair while on duty, he’s only in his 20’s and he still is a firefighter to this day. Madeline and I have become very close, you weren’t lying when you said Rotary kids would become the closest people to you.

 I’m now part of a group called the Lyt’s (pronounced whities) at school and we’ll be getting jackets in a few months. It’s a group of 23 girls and there’s an equivalent group of guys called Bordolaga Soccer Club. Some of the Lyt’s are in my class, hence how I became one, they befriended me on the very first day. All the people here are so nice and I’m soo happy about where and who I ended up with. There are no “popular” groups, people are just in groups; however, that doesn’t exclude you from hanging out with kids form other groups, you just happen to belong to one, not 3. If I could write a big enough thank you card in the sky for how nice these people have been to me, I would.

December 28

I’m officially on summer break since December 3, 2010. I have been hanging out with friends and my host family. My host sister, Manuela will be going to Germany on January 18, for her exchange and she’s so excited. It was weird to have a hot Christmas, it’s about 90 degrees here everyday in summer, at night it becomes a little cooler. It was also different not to have a real full sized grown Christmas tree, but the decorations my host family did were cute, especially our little tree. Here, we had a Christmas dinner on the 24th and opened presents after at midnight. It wasn’t like sitting around the tree and opening presents wither, we all got one or two gifts form the family and passed them around the table. I got a pretty shirt, bag and lotion. I was so happy it was Christmas, but I missed my family in Florida a lot, but I knew that they were having a great Christmas too. They also put off fireworks on Christmas and set off these lit balloons that float across the sky saying it’s Papa Noel for the kids The next day on the 25th, I went to my host mom family’s house, she had a beautiful house, closer to downtown. We had lunch and went in her pool. (by the way, it only takes 10 days here to put a pool in!) For New Year’s I’ll be spending it with my third host family and a few inbounds. I move families on the 2nd of January and I’m excited to live in a new house and get to experience new things. I will actually get to be moving into Vicky’s house, she’s currently an inbound in Florida! In February I’ll be going on the North Trip to the northwesy and northeast of Argentina and get to see the Iguazu Falls!

On January 7th kids will lay out they’re shoes and put gifts, food, and food for the animals for the three wise men and their animals as they pass through searching for baby Jesus. Here, they put so much effort for kids to believe in the spirit of Christmas and being happy for what you have. I have become so much more grateful for my family at home and for having them there for me all the time.

Around end of February early March we will start school again and my school will be the graduating class, and the group, Lyt’s will be getting jackets! I know I won’t be with them when they graduate, but I know that they will have a great time.

I knew homesickness was bound to happened and I knew I was ready for it, but it recently really hit hard on me. I’ve never wanted to hug my mom and dad as much as I want to do now. I will continue on my exchange and make my parents proud, the feeling of them knowing I accomplished such a rewarding task makes me so happy and I know that I will succeed. Sometimes I really just want to eat American food again and speak in English again, but I know all the work I’m doing to improve my Spanish and eating culturally diverse foods will educate me in ways that you cannot receive from a text book. This exchange has made me so grateful for what I have and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

I had a dream in Spanish the other day and it was different I woke up thinking in Spanish and I couldn’t think of anything in English to save my life, it took me like twenty minutes to think of something besides hello. It was a weird; indescribable feeling, but I liked it. I am finally getting Spanish. I just passed my 4 month anniversary here and I couldn’t be happier here, thank you Rotary

March 12

I just started school again this past week and it went well. Being that it is the first week, we didn’t do much work, just sign papers and meet new teachers. I’m in what would be senior year for the states. Also, many people from the states call it America, well, people here are from America too and make it a point whenever you say, but they do have a point, I am in South America.

Over my summer I went on one of my Rotary trips to the North of Argentina. It was absolutely beautiful! I went to Salta, Juy Juy, and Tucuman.  I saw the mountains where the Incan Empires stand and went to a Museum where they have an Incan girl, as she was buried in the mountain as a sacrifice in prayer of good rains. The girl was preserved and I was able to see her hair and teeth. The altitude of the mountain and the cooler climate inside the mountain kept her, a maiden, and a young boy preserved all sacrifices.  We also visited Las Salinas, or natural Salt fields, Montanas en los nubes, the mountains in the clouds, and the seven colored mountains. It was amazing! On our way through all the cities, we stopped in Pueblos, Museums, and Vineyards, ate empanadas, and bought all hand made products from the people living there. We drove through and up mountains, I got to pet a wild llama. When we were in Slata, we went out to a famous restaurant where the gauchos dance their traditional dance, and later pick people to dance… yes, I was chosen. I got to see many old churches where you’re not allowed to take pictures in because of the paint in the church. We also took a Gondola up a mountain and got to see the entire city of Salta. In the Slainas, we stopped, it just on the side of the road, there are endless fields of salt and slat pools, it actually kinda looks like snow. I will be going on my next trip to the Cataratas, or Iguazu Falls on the 17th of March and I’m so excited!

 Right before my trip I changed families and my new family is great! My host mom is a personal trainer and my host dad works at the Gas Station that my host mom’s brother owns. I also have one host brother. My host mom took me Chinatown here! We took the train and ate sushi in a plaza bear Chinatown. A few weeks later, there was a Chinese Festival there and we went to that too. It was traditional dragon show and told many delicacies of China. I also went to Tigre, which is a town that is on the River (Rio de la Plata) and parts of it are in the Delta. It’s cooler in Tigre than in San Isidro, where I live now. I also live 15 minutes from Unicentre, the biggest mall in South America. It has a movie theater, grocery store, post office, bowling alley, multiple food courts, and 3 floors of stores.

 Also over summer I hung out with friends and went out with my family, but it was really relaxed and I liked it. It also gets extremely hot here over summer, I was surprised. I’ve been getting used to my home and city. I have come to also realize that my exchange is coming to an end and in about 3 and half months I’ll be leaving here, but I don’t like tot think about it, but I know I must face it soon enough and I couldn’t be happy with what Rotary has given me, Thank you so much Rotary and Rotary club of Coral Springs!

May 19

The trip was amazing!!! It was like a 25 hour bus ride, but completely worth it! We

finally reached the Iguazu we checked in to out hotel and slept till the next day. On our

second day, we went to the waterfalls and we had to take a small train through out the

Iguazu to get to them, but when you get there (to the first visible one) you think it’s the

biggest… it’s not. It does however, come up to standard and looks amazing and like

death at the same time. We moved on to the bigger ones, he ones that border Brazil and

where you can take a boat excursion through them. After walking through the manmade bridged tail, where parts of it go over smaller waterfalls we found

the indigenous turtles of the Iguazu, some rare birds, this raccoon type thing, and there

are SO many butterflies. We finally arrived to the first sight of the bigger waterfalls,

there are about 20 some stops to see them and take pictures or you can just take pictures

as you walk to each stop. I never really seen anything like this in my life and I didn’t

know what to think about, I was shocked that these things exist. We were right above

the excursions and you could see a few taking place, but there had been an accident. An

excursion went too fast into the falls; hit a rock, capsized, and 2 people died. If you zoom

in my pictures, you will see the capsized boat and people waiting along side the mountain

waiting for other. I also saw where the discovered one body, but at the time, they didn’t

report him dead. This excursion was the one right before ours, but after this happened,

the excursions were suspended. This had never happened in the Iguazu history before, so

there were helicopters from all news station, even one from BBC! Police were everyone

and it was sad, but we moved on with the tour. We walk throughout, over and under, the

other falls leading to the ground where you get the view of the falls looking up at them,

where as before you looking directly at them. We took pictures there and got a little

closer to the accident, but it had been all settled out and there just the capsized boat in the

water. Later we went back to the Center of Reservation Park for the Iguazu, ate and went

back to our hotel. The next day we go to go to the border of Brazil, in between Brazil

and Argentina is a space that’s not really Argentina or Brazil, and we went to Duty Free

Shop. I’ve never been so happy to have a Kit Kat in my life, being that I haven’t had one

since I left the States. Through out our week in the Iguazu, we went and saw the city, but

it’s really quite a small city. On Friday, we returned home and I was sad it was over, but

so happy I got experience it.

When I got to school, all my friends had asked if I knew what happened while I was

at Iguazu and I told them and they felt bad because of 3 United States citizens dying. I

didn’t realize how big the news was throughout Argentine, and then someone told me

that it never happens. Everyone was calling me and asking if I was alright (they all knew

I went the day the accident happened). I wasn’t expecting what to happen, to happen, but

I’m praying for the families that lost their loved ones.

Before changing to my third and final family my host parents took me a city about 2

hours away form my house called Lujan. Lujan is famous for its zoo and Cathedral. I

went to both! The zoo is one of the last remaining old fashion zoos where you can go in

and hold, pet and feed every one of the animals. I held baby tigers, parrots, pumas, hares,

bunnies, and lions! I was able to pet and feet the elephants, adult tigers, adult pumas, and

adult lions. Along with them, I pet some rare species of goats, miniature ponies, donkeys,

calves, and a seal. I rode a camel and horse. My life is almost complete. Later, after the

zoo we went to the cathedral, which is one of the biggest and oldest in Argentina. Being

that it was a Saturday, it was crowded with people and tourists, but it was also under

construction. It was gorgeous and sort of creepy, but it was great to see it.

About a week after that, I had to change families and now I’m with my third and final

family. In my third family, I have a mom, Maria Fernanda, a dad, Miguel, and their

daughter, Belen, is in Germany now on Exchange. My second weekend here, after

getting used to the adjustment, we went to La Boca. La Boca is a city near downtown

Buenos Aires. It also contains the La Boca stadium for the soccer team CABJ (Club

Atletica Boca Juniors) where Diego Maradona, if you don’t know who he is, he was the

best soccer player before Messi, played before he played for the Argentine team. Boca

and River are two soccer clubs, here in Argentina, that are famous through out South

America, I’m a fan of River. However, it was interesting to visit Boca, being that many

players on the Argentine team are recruited from the Boca team, River as well. With my

new family, we took a tour of the Boca stadium, which actually smaller than it seems. I

was able to see the locker rooms, go through the halls that the players run through before

entering the stadium, walk through where people sit, and walk onto the field. I may not

be a very supportive fan of this team, but it was still awesome to do all this! Later, we

went to Caminito, also located in La Boca, where all the houses are different colors

and back in the days of Maradona where everyone would go to watch games. There are

statues of him and other revolutionists of Argentina there too. It has an art museum too.

Caminito is along the river and has tango shows everyday.

It coming close to the date that I must return to the states, so now I’m just going to school

and trying to spend as much time as I can with friends. There’s a Conference meeting in

San Nicholas on June 4th where all the exchange students in my district will say good bye

to one another, and I’m not really looking forward to it. Looking back on my exchange,

I’m happy with what I’ve done and what I’ve accomplished and I hope to end it well.

Thank you, once again, Rotary.

Claude’s Bio

My name is Claude Denise Galette. I am 15 and I currently attend All Saints’ Academy, as a sophomore. I was born in Boston, Massachusetts. I have a Haitian background. I lived in New York when I was 5. I then moved to Florida when I turned 6. I live with my mom and little sister, Andie. Andie is 9, and strange. She is lots fun to be around when she is not bugging me.

I hardly ever go out with my friends. I stay home most of the time. At home I listen to music, write stories, take pictures, and hang with my family. At school, I have fun with my friends, before, during, and after school. I am also active in various clubs. I am part of Operation Smile, Cultural Diversity Club, the Recycle Club, the Book Club, National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, Photography Club, and Youth and Government. I put as much of my time as I can into all of the clubs that I am in. I also do volunteer work at my local animal shelter, when I am off from school.

After school, everyday, I practice tennis at school. I enjoy playing tennis a lot. I have tried playing other sports, but they don’t draw me in as much as tennis does. I also enjoy playing soccer, as a recreational activity with my friends. I also swim during the summer, everyday. I don’t like to play tennis during the summer, because it gets so hot. I was on the swim team this year, but I’m not very fast. I hope to be on the tennis team by the end of January.

I also play piano. I used to play the guitar, but didn’t love it as much as I do the piano. My mother is very music oriented. She has various CD’s from every part of the world. We have to play one instrument. My sister also plays, and so do some of my friends. My friends and I play at school, during our free time, when we find a piano. There are various ones at school, so sometimes we will go into the music room and play. I really enjoy hanging with my friends.

I have lived out of the country twice before, but I only remember the recent one. The summer of ’09, I spent July in Haiti. I went with my little sister, to spent time with my family. It was fun, but, as the youngest in the family, Andie and I didn’t have much to do. We spent some time at the beach, but most of it in my uncle’s office, eating mangos.

I can’t wait to go to Denmark. I must admit, my first choice was Japan, but I don’t mind. I don’t really know much about Denmark, and that’s why I chose it. I am so ready to be out of this humid Florida weather. As a Haitian, I speak French, naturally. English is my second language. The French language is soft and flows, so I am having a difficult time learning Danish. The language is so rough and I instinctively want to make the letters flow together, but then I would be saying it wrong. It so complicated, I feel like I’m going against my nature. Ohh well. My mom speaks a few languages. She speaks, French, Spanish, Creole, English, and a little Portuguese. Note that they are all romance languages. She wants to learn Danish with me; she’s having the same problems I have.

I can tell that, this year, and next year are going to be the best so far, and I can’t wait.

Claude’s Journals

September 5

In the beginning…..this will be an epic tale if you didn’t realize……In the beginning there was a flight. A flight that did not feel like departing from Orlando, no matter how much the pilot wanted it to. So, in the late future after the beginning, there was another flight on the next day. This flight took me from Washington DC, to Copenhagen.  I arrived in Denmark. Stayed with a random family for 2 days, and then went with my host family at their summer. It was awkward. I didn’t talk to them unless they asked me something. I tried to stay out of the way, but still be as helpful as I could.

You will adjust to your family, but it will take time. I didn’t say in my room, I was with my family, but I just didn’t talk. After about a week with them I was pretty comfy. I am really lucky because my host family is not that different from my actual family. I love my host siblings. They are the best, and we just sit in my host brother’s room and listen to music most nights.

Heads up, everyone smokes in Denmark. Even the people you wouldn’t expect to smoke. My school has, no joke, a smoking pavilion. It seems whenever there is the slightest opportunity to smoke, Danish teens will take it. Even through the rain. Danish kids drink too. Although the law says 16 is the drinking age, most Danish teens have been drinking since 14. On the first day of school, no joke, the entire school, that’s around 700 kids made a procession to a store, and bought out the beer isle. By this time it’s around 1pm. Then we headed to the beach to drink, and party. I left after about 5 minutes. It was just too much for the first day.

The next week was better. School was really boring. The only classes I honestly paid attention in were English, French, and Math. Danish class is like pulling teeth. Every couple of minutes I ask one of my friends what’s going on, they answer, and I go back to reading my book.

The majority of teens in Denmark won’t go out of their way to meet you. In America we flock around foreigners, and try our best to make them feel awesome. It’s not that they won’t talk to you, but as an exchange student, you have to put a lot of effort to get to know people. That includes going up to random people and introducing yourself as the exchange student that doesn’t speak Danish. Very awkward. When I tell kids I’m an exchange student, the 3rd question they ask me is why I chose Denmark. The kids here know it’s a small country, and many of them want to move to America because it’s so big. Yes, they do think that all Americans eat hamburgers and fries every day that all Americans are fat, and everyone has a gun. No amount of debate will put those stereotypes to rest.

Oh, the most popular shows here are Friends, (yes that show from the 90’s), and the old Beverly Hills 90210. In Denmark they listen to American music, but they are about a month behind. That includes music, movies, and any type of American media. That’s my first moth. Haj Haj!

December 6

So, hi to all you exchange students reading this:

Danes, epically the youth, love to party. And party hard. They drink and smoke a lot. It’s part of their Viking blood. So bring comfortable shoes, and make sure there warm. Parties happen often, and you’ll go out with the exchange students also.  

Be careful when you go shopping in Denmark. Things are extremely expensive. 100 kroner is the equivalent of 20 dollars. 100kr is a sale in Denmark.  That’s about as cheap as clothes get. So don’t buy a hat for 300kr. That’s way overly priced, no matter how pretty the hat is.

In school, your classes won’t really have any order. Let me give you my school for example. I go to Gammel Hellerup Gymnasum in Hellerup. It’s a big old school that has been around since the beginning of the last century. The first graduating class was in 1904. My classes vary all the time. Today, I have 2 classes. I was going to have 3 but one of them was canceled. Classes are canceled on a weekly basis. And when there canceled you just don’t go. Like right now I’m in the underground lounge in my school waiting for my last class, I’ve already had one class. Tomorrow I don’t have school until 10, and it ends at 1:30. That’s 2 classes. But sometimes school starts at 8 and ends at 3:30. Those long days make me long for my bed.

When you start school, make sure you have an English class. Make your life easier, and just make sure you have one. This is important. When you get to school focus on English for the first 2 months. Slack off or whatever in your other class but makes sure you pay attention in English. Do all the English homework, and participate in class. As your Danish gets better, add one more class. Like if you have another foreign language that you understand well, French for me, focus on that, and English. Don’t try to take it all on at once. That’s a bad idea. You’ll be overwhelmed and end up doing nothing. As the months go by and more classes. Then by the end you’ll be doing work in most of your classes.

I also can’t guarantee that your teachers will be helpful. In most schools teachers don’t have their own class rooms. They move around like students do. I still don’t know where to find my teachers outside of class.

If you have the chance to be in the Second year, GO TO SECOND YEAR!!!! First year isn’t bad, but second year is much better, and easier. Trust me. I was given the choice and I was talked into going into first year, and I regret it a lot. I love my class, but still.

As far as school supplies goes, don’t bring paper, or folders. There paper is different, and so the folders are different. Bring a few pens and pencils if you want.

What have I been doing lately?

I switched families last week. I’m farther away from the station, so it takes me longer to get to school, which is a pain. I have a 3 year old host brother. My host dad travels a lot for his work, but he’s home every few days. We have a “nanny” to take care of Johannes, my host brother, her name is Jessa. She’s fun to be around.

I went to a party on Friday. It was a Christmas party at my school. It was crazy. But I have found a new hate for techno music. Danes don’t really dance, they jump. I don’t have the stamina for that, and I just don’t like techno.

It’s been snowing for the past 3 weeks. I need to buy new boots. When you get here, and you’re living in Copenhagen, the shopping street is next to Nørreport Station. The capital city station doesn’t have a lot of shopping areas around it.

I feel like I’m becoming more Danish by the day. I’m able to have full conversations in Danish. I can handle myself when I’m forced to speak Danish.

April 11

The last few months have been the greatest of my life.

January was when all of the oldies left us. It was so sad to watch them go. It made the idea of leaving more real, and more present… not the best few days of my life. Half of my year is almost up…and I’m wondering if I have done enough in that time. I moved to Farum in December. This is the farthest I have lived from school, but I don’t mind. I really like my host family. My host mom is so amazing. A little eccentric, but that’s what makes her great. It was also my friend, Juan’s birthday. All of the South American exchange students came and we partied. Emily and I were the only Americans there which were really funny. We stuck out, but blended in at the same time. In the middle of the month Emily (American), Jimmy (Italian), Gabriella (Brazilian), Alex (Brazilian), and I were invited to Williams (Brazilian) Galla. It was a lot of fun. Lots of people were there. We mostly danced and talked, and danced. I met a lot of people from Wills school.

On the 29th, Else (host mom) and I moved from an apartment to a house. That was a huge operation. She has so much stuff. The boxes never stopped flowing from out of the apartment. We didn’t move far. It took forever for the movers to transport all the boxes. By the end, it looked more like an over sized storage room rather than a house.

February

I’m finally going to start swimming, with Emily. Found a hemp shop with Juan and Emily on a parallel street. It was hidden pretty well, but out of the corner of my eye I saw a bog…it was really funny. The guys in there were really nice. I bought a jacket. We made jokes about that place for the rest of the day.

My Rotary meeting was in a chocolate factory one day. That was cool. One of the Rotary members owns it…so we ate chocolate for the entire meeting. In the afternoon after school, I saw Wicked in Danish. I had never seen it before. It was amazing.

February was just a lot of hanging out. Going to cafes, parks. Just places to meet up and walking and talking. Nothing major.

One day the trains in Holte weren’t working. That’s how I get to school. I take the bus from Farum to Hotle and the train from Holte to Hellerup. There are no buses that go to Hellerup from Holte…so I decided to take the bus back to Farum. I get on the bus that says 334 and sit. I’m there for a while when I look out the window and I have no idea where I am. I look back at the bus number and it says 845. So I text Frederic (a friend in my class) in a panic for help. I can’t get off the bus at any random stop. So I wait. He tells me to get off in Allerød. A station WAY out there. So were texting back and forth, and he tells me to get on the train and ride it down to Hellerup. But the train only goes as far as Biklerød, about 3 stops from Hellerup. So he tells me to ride it down to Biklerød anyway. So I do. There are a bunch of people there getting on these huge tourist busses. I ask a hand full of people were the bus is taking them. They all say Norreport. I get on the bus, end up in Norreport and ride the train to Hellerup. I am 4 hours late to school. I got so much crap from my friends. Now every time I am late for school they ask if I ended up in Allerød again.

March.

More of the general hanging out with exchange students and Danish friends. I went to a rave/ glow stick party that my school was hosting. We had the warm up party at Jonas’s house. Were I was covered in glow sticks. And the actual party was kind of annoying…I can’t get into the techno music Danes like so much.

My friend that lived in Syd Jutland, Thomas came to København for the weekend. I showed him around. He met my friends and we all went to the harbor. It was a great weekend.

I also found out that one of my best friends…William was going home. That really ripped my heart out of my chest.

April

We have our last get together. Times were all of the exchange students meet for a weekend. And it was saddening. It was fun, but so so so SO depressing. We had a Galla. But in the middle of it we watched a bunch of videos of pictures of this year, and that’s when all of the oldies broke. The newbie’s had no idea what was going on, and I feel like they should have been there. Not because I didn’t want them there but because it was so awkward for them, and they didn’t get it.

Being here has been so great. The oldies have made a little joke. Now that the newbie’s are here, it is like were the red headed step child that no one really cares about, because they are replacing us with new fresh meat. We don’t mean it, but it’s a good analogy. In every oldie there is an underlying hate for the newbie’s. Not because we don’t like them, but because they are going to replace us in a few months.

I remember when I used to say that I had a whole year for my exchange, but now I can only say I have 4. 3. Months left. It’s not a feeling I like. Knowing that the people I see today won’t be the people I see next year. My class always talks about me leaving. Like next year we have a class trip and they come over to be and start talking about it and how much fun it will be to be together. Then I tell them for the 100th time that I have to go back to the states. It kind of kills the fun.

Being here with such great awesome friends makes me realize that the “friends” I have back home, may not be as great as I thought they were.

I can’t wait for Euro Trip. A bus full of exchange students driving around Europe. It can only end well.

Erin’s Bio

Hello, my name is Erin Harty. I am a 16 year old attending Creekside High School in St Johns, Florida.  I live in Florida with my two parents, Leland and Louise, my younger brother, Ryan, and our dog, Spot.  Ryan is 14 years old and also attends Creekside High School.  My older brother, Jordan, is a freshmen at Penn State University.  

Until this summer my family lived outside of Philadelphia in a small place called Doylestown.  Regardless of the move, I have still managed to continue doing everything that I love.  I am a dedicated Venture Crew and CISV member.  Venture Crew is the co-ed division of the Boy Scouts. CISV is an international peace organization focused on building global friendships and achieving peace through understanding.

A large part of my life is devoted to art, literature, and music. I love to draw and paint. I am almost always sketching or doodling and hope to one day become an art teacher.

English class has always been my favorite academic subject. I love all the books we read and I especially enjoy learning about what they mean. Writing has always been a great way for me to express myself. I love writing essays more than any other assignment in school. I’m not the best speller in the world but I tend to get my point across well anyway.

Listening to music and singing are my favorite pastimes. I have the lyrics to so many songs stuck in my head that it is hard not to just break out in song. My friends and I tend to bond over music, even if we don’t like the same bands or songs, which is unusual because I listen to so much music it is hard to find a person who doesn’t like at least one band that I do.

I love to travel and try new things just like my parents. Ever since I was young my parents took me and my brothers to do just about everything they could think of. Camping, fishing, snowboarding, rock climbing; you name it I’ve probably done it or wanted to try it. My family has a big influence on my life but I don’t just consider blood relatives family. My family is made up of everyone I love and care about, especially my friends. Most of them I have known since I was young so they understand how crazy and adventurous I am. Ever since I was young I would go away all summer long to all kinds of camps and international excursions so when I told them I will be living in Denmark most of them weren’t shocked at all. When they heard me say “I’m gonna be a foreign exchange student!!” they just laughed and said “Well it’s about time.”

Living in Denmark is going to be a wonderful experience and I am very thankful to Rotary for choosing to send me to Denmark for a year.

 Erin’s Journals

August 17

I have only been in Denmark for a few weeks but I feel like I’ve been here for months. My trip began with me saying goodbye to my parents at the airport. It continued on to Chicago where I made some last minute goodbye phone calls. The next piece of my adventure was in the Frankfurt airport, where Nova (another exchange student) and I got quite lost and confused… I thought I lost my passport! I realized it was on the plane in my old seat because I had switched spots. The hostess were very nice and helped me find my passport before the plane was closed. When I went back into the airport only Nova was there with my bags. All the other students we had met up with in Chicago were gone. We were left to make the trek through the airport by ourselves. Finally, we reached to proper line to get our tickets for our next flights. There were problems with our reservations however; something about the tickets being reserved for the day before. We showed the attendants our itineraries and assured them that were were on all the proper flights all the way to Frankfurt. After a long while the attendants gave us our tickets and we were on our way.

The airport was very different for anything we had been in before. The hall to security for our gate was long and white and littered with shops on both sides. Shops that we wouldn’t expect to see in an airport. There were expensive stores and widely recognized brands everywhere. It was more of a mall than an airport. Once we got to security we paid close attention to what everyone else was doing. Nobody removed their shoes or their liquids baggie. And you put your things on the belt one by one, rather than the massive mob that swarms around the metal tables in the US airports. It was so organized! It was rather amazing. Nova unfortunately had some trouble here and there because she had dislocated her arm a few days before but, none the less, we got through security quite speedily. We also found this really net dispenser in the bathroom! It looked like a gumball machine and it gave out mini finger tip toothbrushes!! It was quite exciting. Eventually, we got to our gate and in a few minutes we were joined by the rest of our group. How we beat them exactly, we are not sure but we boarded the airplane and were sad to see that one of our friends got left behind. Luckily he was paid for his wait (about 300 euros) and received a voucher for a new flight later in the day. So off we went to Copenhagen!

We landed on time and were amazed to see that this airport was very similar to the Frankfurt one in that all the halls were white and covered in shops! After going to the transfer station we hiked out to our gate. I say hiked because we had to have gone down the longest terminal hallway in all of creation. It took us an hour to reach our gate! I was so tired that I fell asleep before the plane to Aalborg was fully boarded.

When I woke up we were in Aalborg! FINALLY! I was expecting lines of people at a customs stop, mass confusion, even a few stern voiced security guards but what I saw was probably the most shocking thing I had witnessed all day. It was my families (well at least two of them) and my counselor gathered to come greet me. I received hugs and handshakes and exchanged many hello’s and how are you’s. It hadn’t hit me that this would be my family but I did feel something: the absolute NEED for sleep! We put my stuff in the car and talked about things that every Dane converses about: the weather, how the trip was, and more weather. I told them about what I was feeling and all my reactions made them laugh. They were shocked when I thought their house was small because, for Denmark, their home is quite large. We spent the afternoon touring the house, eating, and talking. I finally got to take a long need shower. The best part of my shower is that I got time to think about everything. Everything that had happen in the past two days didn’t seem real. As I scrubbed my hair and skin to remove the layers of public airplane gunk, it was as though I was also scrubbing away the dream state I had been stuck in for hours. It helped make everything feel more real at least long enough for me to comprehend that I had finally made it to Denmark.

After my shower I had dinner with my family but I honestly couldn’t tell you what we talked about or ate because I was so tired I can’t even really picture it. I remember that my new little host brother, Oskar, didn’t speak any English. I also know that I didn’t speak Danish. My mind just couldn’t wrap itself around the words I had worked so hard to prepare. As soon as dinner was done I excused myself and went to my room. The white walls and plain, uncluttered tables were soothing and for the first time in days I closed my eyes and immediately felt that deep pull of sleep engulf me entirely. And everything that had happened just slipped away into black…

The next morning I woke up suddenly! I looked outside my window and who was there but my host mother! She told me that it was 6 in the morning. Even at six in the morning my host mother looks adorable. She has the most beautiful eyes and the sweetest smile. She reminds me a lot of my mom. Both of them are tiny and sweet. The only difference is that my mother would never be up at six in the morning doing laundry. NEVER! I didn’t want to wake up anyone else so I decided to quietly unpack my room. I figured that if I didn’t do it soon I would never feel like part of the family because I would be living out of a suitcase (well… suitcases). After struggling with the closet for some time I finally figured out how it opens! It has two sliding doors, in case you were wondering. The first was not the problem. It was figuring out the second that gave me some issues. But rest assured! I got everything all put away in the closet and in these little locking cabinets (they look similar to little metal lockers that are short and wide, set on wheels). After unpacking I found myself tired once again so back off to sleep I went.

When I woke up I ate breakfast with my host sisters Ida and Mia, my host sister’s boyfriend, Morten, and my little host brother, Oskar. After breakfast Oskar showed us his unicycling videos. It turns out that Oskar is actually a unicycling champion! He has tons of medals and can do all these amazing tricks! He tells me I will have to learn to ride while I’m here. Personally, I’m excited too but I’m just afraid of the injury I know will result because of my attempts to balance on one wheel. It will be fun though, and any resulting bloodshed will make for a great blog.

After breakfast we cleaned up and decided to go back to bed for a little while. Unfortunately, Ida tried to wake me up multiple times and I had no idea. Eventually, I did wake up and we left the house and went to my second host family’s/ Ida’s best friends house. Signe is the name of my second host sister. She lives in the city of Aalborg which is right across the bridge from Norresundby (the city I’m living in). When you walk into her house all you see is stairs! There are LOTS AND LOTS of stairs in her home. I then realized what my family ment when they said they had a big house for Denmark. Although there were lots of stairs in Signe’s house, the rooms were pretty small. Her kitchen was the size of my bedroom here in Denmark. I was very tired though so I really wasn’t thinking about anything. The only thing I had enough energy to worry about was what we were about to eat. Mia told me we were headed to the market to buy stuff for lunch. On the way I talked with Mia’s boyfriend. It turns out he has excellent English and he told me lots about the city. When we got to the store I was amazed to see that it lacked all the random unimportant stuff our grocery stores are filled with! It was all food. Well, food and wine. It was very interesting. We bought some of what we needed then we walked to what would be equal to a Walmart in the US to buy some fresh (and I’m probably not spelling it right) Levepastie. It’s essentially meat paste. We got home and loaded the porch table with food and sat down to eat. I tried Levepastia on rye bread (a Danish favorite). Although it looks and smells similar to canned dog food it actually isn’t that bad! I actually kind of enjoyed it! The boiled eggs on rye bread were gross though. But hey, I at least found one Danish food I liked. Once I was pretty sure I would not starve here in Denmark we cleaned up and headed to the car.

The cars here are tiny by the way. Much smaller than my families big red suburban. The car my family has seats five and they only have one. Mia, Morten, Ida, Signe, and I then drove to a place called Blokhus. It is a beach on the west coast of Denmark. We stopped and had ice cream from this little shop. It was magnificent! I had chocolate and coconut with this strange pink marshmallow type cream. Needless to say, I loved it!

We walked along the beach and I was surprised to find that this beach was nothing like I had ever seen before. I have been to the west coast, all along the east coast, the gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, St. Kitts, and never had I seen a beach quite like this. The sand itself continued from the water back to the dunes in a perfectly flat slate. The dunes were far away from the water too. Cars were able to pull right up onto the beach. It was sunny and beautiful but the wind wiped all the heat from the air and your body so that you wished you had a sweatshirt. The waves were constant and gorgeous. It was impressive to see! And the water was soo cold. I only placed a hand in it but that was enough.

We drove to the summer house and dropped off Ida and Signe and began the journey home. Mia, Morten, and I talked about lots of things on the way back. We talked about music, people, Danish speaking, English sayings; lots of stuff. It was hard to explain but I felt so comfortable with these two. It felt like I had known them from much longer than a day. When we got to the house we had tacos for dinner. I helped cut vegetables and Mia and Marianne (my host mom) spoke danish. After dinner I saw my first movie with Danish subtitles. It was an altogether wonderful day. After the movie I laid down in my bed once again and didn’t feel longing to be home or even the smallest twang of homesickness but instead contentment. I was confident in my ability to live here as a Dane and to adjust to the way of life here. I feel asleep that night and dreamed of nothing except unicycles.

The next big step for me was meeting my host Rotary club. Honestly, I was extremely nervous. My host sister Ida is their outbound student this year. It made me so happy that I wouldn’t have to go alone. Ida got ready in jeans and a nice shirt and I figured that I wouldn’t look out of place if we matched. I was wrong. Although, jeans and a nice shirt would have defiantly blend in at my sponsor club they didn’t at my host club. I guess I should have taken a hint from where they meet that they are a much more fancy Rotary club. They meet on Monday afternoons at the Hotel Hvid Hus (which means white house). They are a dinner club and so the men come right from work still dressed in their suits. It was very interesting to see that many of them had tie clips and little rotary symbols on their business attire. They were all very sweet to me even if we couldn’t understand each other entirely. The meeting was so official and orderly. It was as though they had done it a hundred times: greet everyone, sit down, eat, make small talk, sing danish songs, listen to announcements, listen to guest speakers (Ida and I), then continue to the meeting. Everyone knew what was supposed to happen when, except me. I couldn’t understand the small talk, I didn’t get to greet everyone in the room, I kept forgetting to use my fork in my left and my knife in my right, and I was all together very awkward and out of place. But I imagine even if I knew what was going on I would have still felt strange because I don’t know these men quite yet. I know my sponsor club and I love going to their meetings and hearing them joke with each other. I can’t wait to get to know these men however, because I know that I will really enjoy going to meetings once I do. I have already been invited to my next meeting and I am eager to go.

The biggest event that has happened to me since I have been here just took place last Wednesday. It was bigger than being lost in Frankfurt, meeting my family, and going to my Rotary meeting all put together. It was my first day of school! My host family was dropping my sister Ida off at the airport so I had to go to stay with my second host family. I was very thankful for that though because Signe goes to my school and I got to know here very well. She went to Chile last year on exchange so she was incredibly helpful and was able to soothe many of my nerves about the first day of school. I asked her to pick out my outfit for my first day of school because I didn’t want to stand out to much. As we walked to school the next morning I felt a little strange in a skirt and leggings but they were both things I had bought myself so I was glad to finally have a reason to wear them. But I felt really stupid when I got to the school and saw what all the other first class students were wearing. Jeans, T-shirts, Converse, distressed knees, neon bracelets, funky unmatching socks. I had walked into a sea of Erin Harty type people and I was the only one who didn’t quite fit. WAY TO GO! For day kids I had met had responded to me telling them that I was going to the Katedral Skole with remarks about it being the “hippie school”. I saw why they said it. I wouldn’t call the kids hippies though. Free spirited is a much better word to describe them. They were artists, musicians, and down right strange teens and I was so happy to see that I would fit in. Even if I was the only one in a floral skirt! The first day was a shortened day so that all the first classers could leave by eleven before the older kids could come to school and harass us for not being as old as them. I supposed even in Denmark there is such a thing as the freshmen hunt. It was good for me though because two hours of non-stop danish was enough to make my head spin. One of the tutors in the class served as an interpreter to me so that I didn’t miss anything important. I felt like I missed everything! I’ve never felt so totally helpless before. Every time we had to do anything I had to be specifically instructed like some kind of child. It wasn’t embarrassing exactly, it was just, well, defeating. I felt like it would be forever before I could do anything without being told. There were a few things I did notice about the school that is very different than school in the United States. Kids raise their pointer finger instead of their hand. You call the teachers by their first names. It is okay for teachers to come in with un-ironed shirts and pants, and sandals. Your homeroom is where you spend most of your classes. Not only do you room from room to room but your teachers do too. Classes can get canceled, like at college. You can leave campus to get food. You can smoke on school property. Kids rush outside to smoke a cigarette at every break of every class. And last but not least, teachers are not very good at danish, so don’t ask them where the restroom is because not only will you be confused, they will be confused and when you walk away you will still have to pee.

All in all Denmark has been wonderful. The weather is an adventure in itself and every place I have been in Denmark is different and unique. The city is beautiful and even though I ride my bike 7 Kilometers to school in the morning I secretly enjoy it even if I don’t tell my host mom that. I’m eager to see what else Denmark has in store for me.

Thank you again Rotary for this wonderful opportunity. It is one I will always treasure.

September 21

So today my school guardian (guardian angel is definitely more fitting) ask me to submit a few lines to her about why I am here.  When I sat down at the computer I had no idea what I was gonna say.  As soon as I started typing it took me all of five seconds to figure out what I had to say.  I was shocked by the answer but only because it took me just now to realize that this is why I wanted to be here.

So here it is, here is what I wrote to her. The reason I am here:

I am here because being an exchange student is the trip of a lifetime.  How many chances do you get to go and experience a whole new way of life?  How many people can say they had the strength to live among strangers and adapt to a new situation?  It’s an experience that allows me to be myself and find out who I really am.  It’s a chance for me to challenge myself to do amazing and difficult things.  I knew it would be hard.  I know it will get harder.  I also know that in the end it will be worth it.  I will know a knew language.  I will have met so many wonderful people.  I will have thousands of new stories.  And I will have three new families and houses to call home.  Being an exchange student never sounded scary to me.  It still doesn’t.  All my friends tell me how brave I am to go through with this.  I don’t think of being an exchange student as a test of bravery or strength.  I think of it as a test of your mind and confidence.  You have to be head strong and confident enough in yourself to look like a total fool trying to do everything the Danish way but still love doing it.  Most of all, I am here because I know that one day, I will be faced with some sort of challenge, it will be something that will be absolutely terrifying but I will have the courage to face that challenge.  Because if I can make it through this year and survive as an honorary Dane then I can succeed at just about anything.

November 16

My brother came to visit me. It was so weird to have him in my host house but it was so nice to see him!! It was amazing. I told him about everything I had done and he told me about everything I had missed. He said mom tried to make pancakes the way I do and it didn’t really work. He also said my paintings were still sitting unfinished in my room but the hallway never smelled like paint anymore. He said he was unicycling a lot and missed helping me learn. He told me about school and his troubles with English and Math.

The whole time we had tea and just hung out. Then we watched a movie. I was so sad to see him leave. And the whole time this was happening not once had it occurred to me this was my host brother from my first house, not my real brother. At twelve years old, he has already seen so much of the world and knows who he truly is. He has so much figured out just because he does what he wants and doesn’t let anyone get in his way. He is my best friend here and I miss him, even though we live 13 kilometers from each other. He knows my favorite movies and I know his favorite songs. We wrestle, fight, and hug daily and I can’t help feel as though he is family.

What amazes me more is that I know if Oskar hadn’t been my first host brother I wouldn’t be the exchange student or even person that I am now. Every time I wanted to stay home he would tell me to get out of the house. He pushed me to learn to unicycle and to try new things. He wasn’t afraid to speak Danish with me. And he always knows when I need a hug. In a way, leaving my first host house felt so much like leaving my actual home. Oskar and I didn’t want to say “goodbye” because we will see each other again but, at the same time we knew it wouldn’t be the same, just like me and my real brother did three months ago.

As he left that day I really understood how real these relationships we are having are. These aren’t just people you stay with, or just friends in passing like at summer camp. These people are going to leave a mark forever. How much of a mark will all depend on how close we let them get.

January 2

Tonight is Christmas Eve.  Well, it’s almost Christmas Day now, but that doesn’t matter.  What matters is that I have been living in this house for 42 days.  In these 42 days I have done more than I ever could have imagined I could accomplished in such a short time.  I can’t even begin to tell you everything I’ve done.  I won’t even try!  It would take far to long and I honestly, don’t have the patience to tell all of it, because I know that nobody will ever appreciate the experiences the way I do.  But, I will tell you about how, in these short 42 days, I have celebrated multiple holidays, BIG HOLIDAYS!  I’ve celebrated Thanksgiving, my 17th birthday, and, just a few hours ago, Christmas.

As you all can guess, Thanksgiving is only celebrated in America.  That doesn’t take a genius to figure out.  But, until this year, I never truly appreciated Thanksgiving the way I should have.  The whole idea to celebrate it actually was my friend Natasha’s.  She is another Rotary Exchange Student in my city from California.  One day she walked into Danish class and told me that we should make Thanksgiving dinner.  We took up the entire class listing the foods we wanted, who would come, where it would be, all the little details.  I can assure you my Danish teacher was not happy when we were sitting in the back of the class talking about sweet potatoes and turkey while he was trying to teach us something about numbers, which we had already learned.  Still, we decided to get together again and finalize recipes and shop.  So, the shopping date was set for the next Thursday.

On Thursday, we quickly made a list of ingredients.  Thank God for Allrecipes.com!  Then we were off to the store.  Until this year I had never seen cranberry sauce that did not come out of a can, nor had I ever seen the filling for a pumpkin pie that was not pre-made and AGAIN canned.  We had to make everything from scratch.  EVERYTHING!

The entire trip went like this: Natasha and I “We need____.”  Natasha’s mom:”Oh, here it is! (picks up some sort of fruit or vegetable)”  Natasha and I: “Uhh… doesn’t it come in a can?!?”  Natasha’s mom: *looks at us like we are absolutely crazy and disgusting for wanting canned food*

Once the shopping trip was over I took on the task of making two apple pies and one pumpkin from scratch so they would be ready the next day.  This took a long time, and I ended up sitting on my kitchen floor till about 2 just playing solitare alone.  But, I learned a very very very important lesson that night so all future outbounds to Denmark listen up!  DO NOT!  REPEAT!  DO NOT EAT ANYTHING WITH RAW EGG EVER!   The eggs here are not safe raw!  Exchange students have some real horror stories about the raw eggs here.  So be very very careful!  My host sister freaked out when I tasted batter with raw egg in it.  I was fine!  Don’t worry, but I was lucky.  SO, PAS PÅ!

So finally it was Friday (yes, we celebrated late, we know), it was time almost time to eat.  After I got lost walking to Natasha’s, in the snow, with no gloves, carrying 3 really really heavy pies, I found myself standing in the worlds MESSIEST kitchen.  I’m talking, bread crumbs all over the counter, dishes everywhere, a pot of some brown bubbling goo that tasted amazing and smelled like Terryake (Natasha’s attempt at gravy), and random spices covering the table.  Sweet little Natasha was giving her best attempt at making Thanksgiving dinner alone.  It took us a while but we finally got everything done or cooking.  When all my friends arrived we felt kind of silly though.  In Denmark, when people come over you are supposed to be ready to eat but I have never been to a Thanksgiving where the food was DONE when I got there.  It’s just how it is.  So after explaining, we waited.  After about an hour everyone was there and the food was ready.  Our Danish friends looked a little worried about the food but in the end they LOVED it all.

The most amazing part though, wasn’t the food, or the fact that they liked our weird American sweet potatoes with marshmellows and butter.  It was when we went around the table one by one and said what we were thankful for and my friend Sasha actually began to cry.  She said how thankful she was that we were here, and that we would do all this for them, and that we could all be together.  She understood everything that Thanksgiving was about from one meal, one.  She understood it without football, or her family, without struggling in the kitchen, without seeing it year after year after year.  She embraced our tradition so fully and instantly.  It was the most touching experience I have ever had and it didn’t even matter that I had burned the marshmellows, that the gravy had lumps, and that half the food was cold.

A week after Thanksgiving was my 17th birthday.  My family at home doesn’t do anything big for birthdays.  Of course, when we were little we always had these big themed birthdays but now that we are all older we normally just sing and have a dinner that the birthday person chooses and we watch them open gifts.  So, we do celebrate, just not in a big way.  Birthday’s are big in Denmark.  They are huge family and friend events.  And it literally begins the moment you wake up.  My host family came into my room and woke me up singing and gave me a present to open.  Then we all went upstairs for breakfast and I had even more gifts.  I got a scarf, hat, and mittens.  All things I REALLY REALLY needed.  Then in school, we sang to me and everyone gave me hugs and told me “Tillykke!!”  Which is congratulations, kinda… its odd but I love it.  After school some of my best friends came to my house for cocoa and cake.  It was so amazing when we got home to see that my host mom had cleaned and decorated the kitchen.  There were Danish flags EVERYWHERE!  I love that they celebrate with their flag.  My guests all arrived which included to Danes (my best friends), two AFS exchange students (who attend my school), and one Rotary Exchange student from California (she lives right near me and we are super close).  They gave me the sweetest gifts, and I loved each of them so much because they got me such meaningful things!  My two Danish friends are gonna paint me a picture to take home with me.  Natasha (from California) gave me handmade earrings.  Angie and Isabela got me an elephant stuffed animal and a picture frame full of pictures of all the people I really love here in Denmark.  I was so happy to see how much they cared and how much they knew about me.  Once all my friends left we cleaned the kitchen again and MORE guests came over.  This time it was my first host family and my counselor, Irene.  We had dinner, which was amazing because my host mom Helle is a beast in the kitchen.  Then we had birthday cake!

Personally, I think the birthday cake is the best tradition of all.  Their birthday cake is kinda flat and tastes like a cinnamon roll.  Its covered in candy and has a big piece of marcipan across it with your name on it.  The cake is shaped like a boy or girl depending on what the birthday person is.  The best part, by far, is when the birthday person cuts they cake, they cut its head off first and everybody SCREAMS!  When I first witnessed this it was my host sisters birthday and I freaked out!  I had no idea what had happened.  I thought my host sister had cut herself or something!  I was so pumped to cut the head off my cake this year, yes I know that sounds weird.  It was a little odd to see all my brothers and sisters and parents in the same room.  It was especially weird to think about how I still have more brothers, sisters, and parents in Denmark.  I was so happy to see everyone especially Irene.  She’s probably the sweetest woman ever and she is so helpful as a counselor and it ment a lot to me that she was there.  It just made me feel like Rotary was truly interested in my experience.

The funniest part of the whole day was that it wasn’t actually my birthday!  We were celebrating early because we didn’t know if I was gonna be in town on my birthday!  On my real birthday I was at a Rotary event for all the exchange students in our district.  It was a Hygge weekend where we all just got together to talk and do, well, nothing.  It was the best birthday I’ve ever had.  I spent the entire day running around with my friends and talking about everything with them.  It brought us a lot closer.  When dinner came around I stood on a chair and heard happy birthday songs in 4 different languages.  I also got to pick my desert first, exciting, I know.  But honestly, it was just the most Hyggeligt birthday I’ve ever had.  When we found a cake in the middle of the night we turned it into birthday cake and everyone sang AGAIN.  Over and over I just kept thinking about how amazing my birthday had been just because I spent it with all these amazing exchangers who I didn’t know super well but still was close to them because we share this experience.

After my birthday came a rush of shopping, wrapping, and preparing for Christmas.  I had a little trouble with what to buy my family at first, but it all came together eventually.  Leading up to Christmas I had lots of mixed feelings.  I would be shopping and suddenly remember how when we were little and my parents would give us a list and we would run around Target for an hour buying presents for each other and avoiding the others so they wouldn’t know.  I also felt kinda sad every time I would realize that I didn’t have any presents to wrap on Christmas Eve, that’s when I used to wrap all my Dad’s last minute gifts.  But at the same time I was so excited to spend Christmas in Denmark.  I was so glad that it snowed all the way up till Christmas.  I was ecstatic when we put up the Christmas tree.

Constantly leading up to Christmas people would ask me about my Christmas traditions.  In the US, my family does a different thing for Christmas almost every year.  Our family is far away and most years we go see them and visit but some years we don’t.   Every year changes just a bit, but the things that don’t are that we always sign this table clothe that my grandma has then she stitches over the words so they dont wash out and my mom ALWAYS marks my and my brothers gifts with ornaments that represent us.  We get new ones every year.  This year, for some reason, I realized how important that tradition is to me.  Sure it’s silly but it’s true, I love that tradition because it shows who we were every year of our lives.

So on the morning of the 24th, everyone was excited.  In Denmark, you celebrate Christmas on the 24th. The best part that night after we ate dinner, we all got together and went around the tree and held hands and began circling the tree and singing.  I felt like I was in Whoville or something.  It was so silly to just stand around the tree and sing about how pretty it looked.  Then it got sillier.  We broke the circle in one place and my little host brother ran us around the house into EVERY room.  We just kept singing and running and laughing all through the house.  My host mom said it was so that we could bring Christmas to every room.  I felt just like a little kid in a way, because I was so excited and everything seemed to important and magical.  The whole afternoon of opening presents was fun and cozy and I was so happy.  I did think about my family that day but not a lot.  I guess it was because I was with my family, it just wasn’t my blood relatives.  I was positive I wasn’t gonna cry, that was until I opened a gift from my host mom.  It was an ornament, a danish design.  It’s a single silver star.  I didn’t even speak at first.  It was so unexpected.  My real mom had sent me an elephant one from home and that meant so much to me but then, when I saw that my host mom had realized how important that the ornaments my mother gave me were, I just, I was in shock.  Even now I can’t help but tear up a bit, I can’t believe how much this ornament means to me because I know my host mom bought it just so I could feel at home.  I do, I really do.

Christmas morning I woke up at nine, and got on my computer.  My family from the states called.  They had just got back from church.  We have a tradition of opening one present before bed every year.  So, after they got back from Midnight mass, we opened our gifts, all of us, together.  I even had one.  Yeah, it was a little weird looking at my family all together doing something so familiar on a computer screen.  It was even weirder to think that they were just talking to me through speakers and still pretended it was as if I was there.

Later on Christmas I watched my brother open up these boxes that have the peom “Twas the Night Before Christmas” on them.  It tied everything up.  Every holiday I have celebrated is about tradition.  Every holiday was different here than it is in the states.  Every holiday was a mixture of emotions.  And every holiday turned out more perfect than I could imagine.  As I counted down the New Years, standing on a couch holding hands with Danish friends I couldn’t help but feel completely at home.  Denmark has truly become my home, I don’t feel like an exchange student anymore.  I just feel like, I’m a girl with lots of families, living my life here in Denmark.  So, as the last seconds ticked by, our hands squeezed tighter and tighter, then the bell rang in Copenhagn and we all jumped into the New Year, a year I’m sure I will never forget.

January 28

Never judge a book by it’s cover.

On the corner of Vestebro and Hassiresgade there’s a cemetery on both sides. If you walk past it, toward the train tracks, tucked away behind other buildings you will find the Katedral School.

At first glance, the area doesn’t look too nice. It’s back behind buildings, there are old cars scattering the street, and there’s graffiti on all the surrounding surfaces. The school is old an brick, and resembles a hospital from a horror movie. But, if you go inside, you will be amazed.

When you walk into Katten you see color and creativity everywhere. Every wall is covered in students’ art. Every surface has been used for self expression. It’s big, old and makes you feel like you are in a mansion. The library is filled to the brim with books both, ancient and new and you can find just about anything in there.

The best part of the school is found on the second floor of the main building. If you manage to find your way up there you will notice room 201. That’s mine. This room isn’t especially different from the rest. White walls, cream floors, a few tables, some chairs; nothing fancy. The thing that makes this room amazing is the people. On an average day there will be at least two students on World of Warcraft, at least four on Facebook, a bunch drawing, and at least two sneaking food. You will see all types of clothes, some of these outfits are things you could never even imagine. Neon, black, fashionable, t-shirts, heels, and Doc Martens all mixed together. Each person is original, each is unique, and they are all joined by this one love that we share: art.

If you look to the back row, you’ll see four girls. One with long blonde hair and green headphones most likely laughing away at something. She’s got a loud laugh, big smile, and is the funniest person I’ve ever known, this is Katrine. Another girl has red dreads, cheek piercings, and gauges. If she isn’t leaning back in her chair staring off into space she’s got her paint pens out and is drawing out her latest piece. If you ever get a chance to talk to her, you’ll never forget it. She has the sweetest voice and is truly the nicest person I have ever met, this is Nanna. The next girl is more intimidating. High cheek bones, strong chin, dark red hair pulled into a high teased ponytail, and jet black stilettos set her apart. She looks like a model that would beat you up for saying bad things about her. If you look past it, you will soon see that’s not true. She’s gorgeous but not scary. She cries the most in our class and has the biggest heart. She loves everyone, especially me. She’s not afraid to say what’s on her mind but she feels just as bad as everyone else if people reject her, this is Sasha. The last girl you will see looks similar to the rest, dark hair, pale skin, pierced ears, leggings, and Doc Martens. Often you will see her writing, drawing, or sleeping. She always wears a smile, always manages to make people laugh. She is almost always hugging someone and the class says she the sweetest person they have ever met. I can only find two differences between her and the rest of the class, she has extremely dark brown eyes and has English as her first language. The last girl is me.

My class is special. They except me as one of them, they don’t think of me as the awkward exchange student. Sure, they sometimes call me a stupid American, but it’s true, I am. They never for a second let that stand in the way of us being close. I have heard about other exchange students’ challenges with school and their classes. I have heard that some classes don’t even talk to the exchange students. My heart breaks for these students. My Danish friends are some of the best I have ever had, here and in the United States. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully express how glad I am that in that first week when Sasha asked me if I wanted to go to the city with them after school that I said yes. Even though she intimidated me, A LOT, she is now one of my absolute best friends.

Like I said before, don’t judge a book by it’s cover, you never know what person is underneath the make-up and combat boots.

When you are on exchange your miss the most random things.  You come to realize a bunch of the silly little things you would do at home.  Things that just felt natural and right.  For example, when my friends used to come over we would always end up in the kitchen.  We would bake, talk, eat, and just sit around in there for hours.  I remember tons of times when a group of my friends had been invited over and we spent the night sitting on the floor laughing and listening to music.  It never seemed to matter what time it was.  We would just spend time there.  In Denmark, that doesn’t really happen.  You hang out with your friends in their room.  Other exchange students and I have actually noticed this more and more, and we have come to miss our kitchen hang outs.

One day, I was at another exchange students house and we ended up in the kitchen, just sitting around with her host sister for hours.  It was amazing!  We just talked, drank saft (which is like liquid koolaid mix and you just add water to it) and took pictures.  It was by far one of the best nights I’ve spent with another exchange student.  It was so comfortable and it was so nice to be taken back to an old “tradition” but in a new language.  It was just kind of a reminder how people are not so different after all.

Sure, everyone reading this may think I’m absurd.  Yes, it is a little silly to think that spending a couple hours talking in a kitchen meant so much to me, but it’s only because you learn to appreciate the everything.  You finally see how all the little things add up to make a truly amazing time.  You stop taking things for granted.  You especially learn to cherish each moment, especially those spent with people you love.

So, thank you to my friend Esther from Nebraska and her sister Isabella, for an absolutely memorable evening.  It’s one I will surely remember.

April 14

This whole year has been full of adventures!  Whether it was school things, rotary events, shopping days, bike rides, visiting friends, or traveling to various cities and countries, I had a great time.  There are four really amazing adventures I have just taken recently that I know I will cherish for a long time.

The first is my class trip to Aros.  Aros is an art museum in Århus.  They recently brought in this new exhibit that was said to be absolutely mind-blowing.  Since we are the art class at my school our teacher was eager to take us.  We met nice and early on a Thursday morning and gathered onto buses and prepared for the drive.  I grabbed a seat next to my friend Katrine and quickly fell asleep.  When we woke up we were parked outside the museum and kids were all rushing out of the bus, through the snow, and up to the giant glass doors.  After hanging our coats and bags we were ushered downstairs to their featured exhibit room and there they were:  a dozen or so perfectly made marble sculptures.  They were beautiful and inspiring.  They were crazy, controversial, and so gorgeous that I still can’t get them out of my head.  For hours I just walked around and stared in silence at the marble.  The rest of the exhibits seemed almost bland in comparison.  At the end of the day we all loaded back on the bus and either fell asleep or took pictures until we arrived back at the school and head home.

In the last year I have become very close with this one group of girls in particular.  They are Katrine, Sasha, and Nanna.  We all started out in the same class but by Christmas it was just me and Katrine.  Sasha and Nanna have both dropped out and now I don’t get to see them as often, but every once in a while we all meet up at Katrine and Sasha’s art studio and spend the afternoon drinking tea and listening to music.  The only way to describe the experience is with a very special Danish word, hyggeligt.  It’s more than cozy, its perfect, even if it is only an hour or two sitting with my best friends drinking amazing tea and just laughing is priceless to me.

I got an amazing opportunity last month to go on a trip of a lifetime: a ski vacation in Norway!  Nanna’s family invited me to spend ten days with them skiing and snowboarding at a place called Gaustatoppen.  It is beautiful and well work all the work of getting permission.  I must have spent hours writing and talking with my parents, my host parents, Nanna’s dad, Nanna, my counselors, and multiple Rotary district members.  It was handfuls of emails, calls, and texts but in the end, I was given the the privilege of leaving the country with my friends family, something our district has denied multiple times this year to many exchange students.  Maybe I was just lucky, maybe I just said the right thing, maybe it was the fact that every email, text, and call I made was in Danish.  No matter what the reason they agreed was, on March 11th I arrived in Norway with one of my best friends.  The week was spectacular!  I stayed in a house with about 20 members of Nanna’s family.  There were 8 kids, three teenagers, and many adults.  We were stocked up on boxes full of food and enough movies to keep us in the house for weeks.  Every morning we woke up and ate breakfast, packed lunches, and hit the slopes.  If you ever went snowboarding in the states you know how the slopes are just crawling with snowboarders, well on average, I only saw about 5 each day.  It was weird and I felt bad when my strapping in and out slowed down the group.  They never seemed to care.  The best part was that everyone was a great skier so we could just go one run after another and go almost anywhere we wanted on the mountain.  Nanna’s family really took to me and I fell in love with them.  There were sometimes her Norwegian aunts and cousins were hard to understand but, for the most part, I understood everything, even when her aunt would call me EARR INNN instead of Erin.  Overall, it was the most unforgettable ski vacation I have ever taken!

The last adventure I have to share wasn’t with a Dane but rather, another exchange student, Natasha, from California.  Natasha lives maybe three minutes by bike from my house.  She is also here with Rotary.  Even though she doesn’t go to my school we have still become exceptionally close friends.  One Saturday, I went to Natasha’s house, woke her up, and made her get ready.  She isn’t much of a morning person but we had plans to go shopping.   We got ready and got on our bikes, we started heading towards town when we realized I had forgotten stuff at my house.  In the three minutes between my house and hers we decided that instead of the city, we wanted to bike to the Ikea near us.  We looked up the address and filled a post-it with various lefts, rights, and strange city and street names.  We made it to the shopping center that we knew was near Ikea, and decided to get the things we were going to go to town for first.  As we walked in we encountered some non-Danes.  We followed them inside trying to figure out where they were from, we decided Sweden, because they sang when they talked.  The shopping center we went to is very American.  I know that may be weird for you guys to understand but there are lots of Danes that find indoor, huge shopping centers, with food places, a Wal-Mart style store, and bunches of clothing stores, all in the center of one big parking lot, scary and uncomfortable.  It’s not ‘’cozy’’ to go to.  For us, it was like home, even more so when we saw that it was American Week and there were red, white, and blue flags covering everything.  We made some purchases then set out to find Ikea.  After a misread in directions, a missed turn, and a short trip out into the countryside of the Jutland Peninsula, we got our butts turned around and to the Ikea.  It was a legendary moment for the both of us.  Neither of us had been to Ikea before!  We started off with food, marveling at how cheap the lunches were, and then we went downstairs to go through the store.  We couldn’t help but laugh when we realized that between all of our host families we owned pretty much the entire Ikea.  It was fun to be in a store that sold things at a large scale again, we hadn’t been since we left the states.  We biked back to Natasha’s house where we spent the next hour laughing on her bathroom floor and eating vegetarian lasagna with her host parents.  When I look back, most of my most memorable days here in Denmark have included Natasha.   The things we do many not seem all that special, but it’s the company that matters, and Natasha has proven to be the perfect person to adventure with.

You know that feeling when spring starts and all you think about is finishing school and having the summer to kick it with your friends?  You know that feeling when you are so tired and all you want to do is go home and curl up in your bed?  You know how when something upsetting happens and all you want to do is hug your sister and hear her say it’s alright?  How about that moment when you walk into a room and immediately your best friend knows something is wrong?  Now think about all those people, the ones you just put into those scenarios.  How long have you known these people?  Your siblings, your friends; you’ve probably known them for years, maybe even your whole life.  Now, listen up, and listen good, every person I just thought of, I’ve known for less than 8 months.  That’s right, my sister, my best friend, my class, my families; I have only known them for 8 months.  When, I think about my friends, it isn’t like they are people I just met or casual acquaintances, these people know me, truly know me.  I almost can’t believe that Katrine and I only met the 1st week of this school year.  Every time I think of going home, I soon panic.  I’m dreading ‘’goodbye’’ most of all.

I’ve learned so much about myself and about the world.  My views on my country and my lifestyle have changed.  I have made changes and acquired habits that I refuse to lose when I return home.  I have found a stronger more confident me that I’m proud to be.  I’ve truly found my strengths and admitted my weaknesses.

At 17, I’ve experienced more of life and more of the world than most people.  I’ve seen things some will only see on the Discovery and Travel channels.  I’ve met so many people, each has shared something with me, whether it’s a story, a joke, a good time, or unquestionably great advice, I’ve grown from them.  Every moment, word, person, and place, has added to my life, to my story.  They have shaped my development, my character, and my actions.

So, you know that feeling when a movie ends, in a way you are happy because everything ended well but the whole rest of the week you can’t stop talking about it and the only thing you want to do is see it again?

That’s what it is like to go home, that’s what is coming for me.  Although it has to end, I won’t fight it.  The best part of the movie is always the climax and the only way to know it was a great movie is if it leaves you craving for more.

April 14

”Adapt yourself to the life you have been given; and truly love the people with whom destiny has surrounded you.” -Marcus Auretius

With only a few months left until all of this comes to an end, I realize how important what I have learned this year is.

When I arrived here I looked at everything as though it was coated in gold. Every meal, ever house, ever person, everything new, was exciting. I took pictures of everything and anything. I saved ever slip of paper, ever scrap of evidence. When I first got here I was obsessed with figuring out all the nitty gritty bits of being ”the perfect Dane”. To put it simply, when I first arrived here, I was an exchange student.

Now some of you will probably laugh, some of you will make faces, but I guarantee ever outbound and inbound understands exactly what I am talking about. They went through the same thing. There is nothing Rotary can do to prepare you for this year. There is nothing you can do to make you 100% ready to face this year. It’s impossible. You can learn your language and talk to yourr families, this will make it so much easier, but at the end of the day you won’t be prepared.

This information may scare some of you. Don’t let it. Of course you won’t be prepared, no two exchanges are the same. Even if a student comes from my club, goes to my school, has my families, they still won’t have the same experience. They won’t have my friends, my classes, or my teachers. Most importantly, they won’t be me. I am a unique individual. I´m artist, a singer, a writer, a dancer, a cyclist, a Dane, an American. I love dogs and sunny days. I sing and give hugs to all my friends. I doodle through Spanish and eat more than any teenage boy. All of these things make me who I am. They make me different and the same.

Before I arrived I could have never imagined my life here. I’m sure I have said this before, but it’s true. Everything I have learned and gained here is because of me. I took the opportunities. I set the wheels in motion. I am responsible for how great my experience has been. I am the reason I have three amazing and loving families. I am the reason I have learned to unicycle, speak Danish, and write. I choose to be myself and find the friends that fell in love with me, just because I am me.

So, to all of you that are about to leave on your exchange, all of you who are studying your flashcards and reading these journals, to all of you who are texting your friends asking if they believe in you and your ability to handle the upcoming you; I have one thing to say. You can do it. You can, and you will. Believe in yourself. Find that sense of adventure that encouraged you to sign up and hold on to it. Don’t let it go. This year will be more challenging than any survival hand book can even begin to explain, but that’s what makes it worth it.

Yes, you will have to change, but not into something you are not. You will evolve into a more true you. You will become the person you have had deep inside you all along. You will find a strong confident side that you never knew existed.

Trust me, it will all be worth it. After all that will happen you will reach the day when you are walking along with your friends and you are talking about how weird it is to go ”home”, and all they will have to say is ”I can’t believe it, you aren’t American, you’re Danish”.

Be smart. Be safe. Be open-minded. Be happy.

May 27

It’s amazing the smallest comments can change your whole outlook on things.

Over week 8 (the winter vacation), I went back with my first family.  It was an amazing week, it was weird to be there again.  To them, it felt like nothing had changed.  To me, everything was different.  They have a new couch, new TV, my room was full of my sister’s clothes again, both my sisters were in the United States, the bathrooms were all finished, and the part that weirded me out the most, they moved all the furniture around.  Nothing was how I left it.  It was a slightly rude awakening, but soon things were back to normal; Oskar and I would wrestle, talk, watch movies, and eat far to much cake.  One day, we decided that we really wanted to go unicycling.  So, we called around looking for rides.  When every single person turn us down, we decided to shove the unicycles in trash bags and try the bus, praying the would let us on.  We grabbed some money and started walking to the closest bus stop.  Oskar was acting very worried and I really didn’t understand until he said something that made me laugh.  “I don’t know how to take the bus, I’ve taken it maybe ten times, and never alone.”  I take the bus a handful of times a week, they are all over the city.  It was so funny to me that I got to teach HIM how to take the bus.  The whole time he kept asking if I was sure about the bus, which only made me laugh more.  For once, I felt like the older sibling.  And I realized, I am.  When I got here I didn’t know anything about the city so I leaned on Oskar, but now that I know my city, HE leans on ME.

As we got closer towards the city center, I saw some girls from my school walking by the bus.  I mentioned casually to Oskar that I knew them, I didn’t think anything of it.  We reached our stop and started to walk to the warehouse that the unicycle club owns.  In the matter of feet between the stop and the warehouse who should I see but one of my really great friends Kaymi.  She’s and exchange student from Venezuela and she just happened to be in the city waiting for a ride.  We both exchanged excited hellos and rushed through a quick conversation before parting ways.  After we were out of ear shot Oskar turned to me and said “I can’t believe it, I’ve lived here all my life, 12 years, and YOU are the one who knows all these people in town!!”  I can’t even explain how overjoyed I was.  Months ago, I literally knew nobody in the city, not a soul.  And now, I walk around and see familiar faces daily.  I three great brothers, five amazing sisters, six loving parents, tons of exchange student friends, and even more danish friends.

I spent the rest of the day treasuring the fact that this is my city.  Aalborg is my city.  My home, my friends, my families, my life is here.  Of course, yes I have a life back in Florida and Philadelphia too, but they aren’t my home, not now.  I can walk this city alone and know exactly where I am going.  I can give directions, navigate buses, work the train by my self.  I can talk with shop keepers without them trying to switch to English.  I can order food, get haircuts, and return clothes without the help of somebody else, like my mom, which if you know me, is a big deal!  It could be that I’m growing up, or that I’m just comfortable here, maybe it’s a bit of both.

For all of you getting ready to go, don’t stress.  Don’t lose sleep about what to pack, about perfecting your language, about making friends, about host family gifts.  After a few months, it won’t matter, it will all be a silly memory.  After a few months, it’s real, all of it.  After a few months, you will know your city, your friends, you families.  After a few months, you will have a whole new life, one that you love, and your only regret will by similar to mine: bringing so many pairs of shoes.

June 5

Every year since I was in fifth grade, I’ve read “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”. Every year I find that this book has helped me.  (Now, please, nobody get offended.  I don’t want anyone to write off what I’m saying because of the title.  I respect all religious and I respect those who choose not to practice any. I promise this is not a religious entry.)  For those of you that have never read this book it’s about a pre-teen girl who moves from New York City to New Jersey, and goes through the challenge of figuring out who she is, where she fits in, and throughout her school year she finds herself pressured by herself and everyone around her to make a choice for herself.  It’s a Judy Blume book so, it is a bit silly, but this book means a lot to me.  In many ways, it mirrors my life.  I have moved around a lot in my life, I’ve been faced with the same problems and similar choices.

For those of you about to go on exchange I suggest you read it.  It will take a few hours tops.  It’s short, simple, and a quick read.  Most of you will probably just roll your eyes at this and say, “yeah, right! I just finished that crazy essay about my country AND I’m learning my language AND I’m finishing school.  I don’t have time.”  I say, shut it.  I know you have time.  I was you last year.  I did everything you did and still had time to sit in my pj’s every Saturday morning and watch Avatar the last airbender while eating pizza rolls.

I think this book would be beneficial to you all of you will be a lot like Margret.   You will be in a new place so different from home.  You will all have the parents you are living with very different opinions from your parents at home (represented by Margret’s Grandmother).  You will all experience confliction and separation from the others but you will also experience true friendship.  The thing I want you to pay most attention to, if you do end up reading this book, is her year long school project.  It is the question that is in the back of her mind all year long.  It is the question that lies under almost every decision she makes in the year.  It’s what she strives to figure out.  Whether you know it now or not, you all have one of these questions.  Some of you may have many.  I have three.  They will go with you throughout the year.  They will be the questions you think about over and over in the dead of night.  They will be what you journal about in class.  They will be hidden in the topics you choose to discuss with your new friends and families.  You will spend you year racking your brain trying to answer these questions.  Almost all students have told me at least one of their questions was “Who am I?”  These questions can be about anything important to you, sexuality, beliefs, future, what you really want, who you really care about, whether or not you are making good decisions, if the things you are doing are worthwhile.  Every person that leaves for exchange goes to learn something.  You all have your reasons for traveling.  You all have questions that are waiting to be answered; you just don’t know it yet.               

So, take my advice.  Take the time.  Turn off your TV for a few hours, and read the book. You’ll understand why in about 12 months.

June 22

This is it, this is the end.  I’ve felt it coming for a long time, but it’s finally here.  It’s the first day of my last week, and my life couldn’t be crazier.  It’s currently 2 in the morning but I have no time for sleep.  I have a laundry list of things I need to do before I leave, and somehow I’m finding the time to write this journal.  Some would say my priorities are shot. Exchange students would say “You can sleep when you’re home!”.

 Today, I’m writing for all you parents out there that are just like my mother.  Every week she would go through, read the journals, and tell me what was going on in the world.  She knew exchange students by their first names and countries.  Reading these journals was her way of preparing for what was to come.  So, today, this journal is dedicated to all you parents that are reading this now, hoping that I give you some good news, some hope, some piece of information to pass on to your child to prepare them.

What I have to say, you may not believe.  But I figure you all need to get a proper warning before it creeps up on you.

WARNING:  Your child WILL grow up!  Your child WILL become an independent adult!  Your child WILL NOT need your help! If something goes wrong YOU CAN’T help them!  Your child WILL change!  Your child WILL NOT be the same person when they get home!

And somehow, that’s all part of the beauty of exchange.  No, this is not bashing you parents.  My parents know I love them very much.  But they also have come to realize, they are no longer in my loop.  Things happen that they don’t know about until long after.  When I have a bad day, I don’t call my mom.  I hug my host mom.  When I need advice, I talk to my host dad.  Not my real dad.  When I need a haircut, I make the appointment, ride my bike there, pay with my rotary credit card, and track how much money is left in my account.  I make my appointments.  I do my homework.  I choose my curfew.  I’m a big girl now.  I can take care of myself.

All you parents out there, don’t expect to get the same person back.

Get excited about the future, because the adult that comes home will be more remarkable than you could ever imagine!

I have watched my friends and myself over the course of the year and I can honestly say, I’m proud of everyone of us.  We have all made huge steps in our lives.  We have all taken that leap out into the world.  Instead of talking about spring break and weekend parties, I discuss religion, politics, college, and what jobs I could go into with my career.  When we plan day trips we think about things like the weather, transportation, costs, and our schedule before we think about which rides, movies, or people will be there.  Lots of this, I will admit, does have to do with the fact that Danes are probably the most practical people in the world.  But in all honesty, exchange students are old souls.

You should also be ready for the unexpected.

The things we discover out here in the world can be quit unexpected and sometimes, quite shocking for those at home.  It’s unfortunate that you can’t watch us through all the stages of our changes, it would probably make things like, changes in religion, sexuality, politics, and personality, so much easier to take.  Do your best to be understanding.  You have to understand, the things we decided out here aren’t peer pressure, brain washing, or insanity.  Our water is fine.  We aren’t crazy.  We have had the time to think about this.  The decisions we make out here, we make souly for ourselves, and nobody else.  We are given the chance to see multiple points of view and choose what we truly believe.  To tell us that we are wrong and that we will understand when we are home is close-minded, and foolish of you.

My very best of friends here comes from Nebraska.  When she got here, she was extremely religious.  She would cry herself to sleep almost every night because according to her religion every single one of her new Danish friends would be going to hell.  And it didn’t make sense to her.  Throughout the course of the year, she has pulled a complete 360.  She is a totally new person.  She is a proud and out lesbian.  She has different religious views.  And she is more confident and happier than she has ever been.  All these things are good.  They are great things.  These are all tremendous progresses, but guess who didn’t get any warning of these things until AFTER they happened.  I’ll give you one guess.  Her parents.

Parents, what I’m trying to say is, don’t think of this as a year you are giving up.  Don’t think of this as a vacation, a missions trip, or a social experiment.  This is not summer camp. This is life.  This is the world.  This is change in the making.  It’s time to embrace that.  So, get ready to say goodbye to the child who stands before you today.  Get ready to say hello to the young adult that has had the chance to find themselves in the world.  Get ready to support them.  Get ready to love them.  And get ready to sacrifice some of your money, your beliefs, and your time with them so that they can find out who they truly are.  Do it for them.

It will be worth it.

And if you ever think to yourself, you can’t do it, you’re not ready, or you’re not strong enough, just think of my mom.  She has served her time.  She watched me grow up via Facebook and these journals.  And she couldn’t be more proud.

Mor og Far, tusind tusind tak!  I er den beste forælder i hele verden!  Jeg elsker jer.  Og altid jeg skal husk mit år her i Danmark.  Nu, jeg er stalt af hvem jeg er.  Nu, jeg er klar til gå ud og hav en virklige godt liv.  Nu, jeg er glad.

 Take a deep breath, cause it’s almost time.

Garrett’s Bio

“Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.”

Hello / Hola / Konnichiwa / Aloha / Hi! My name is Garrett Nickell, and I’m 16 years young. I was born and raised right here in South Florida, and I currently attend Lincoln Park Academy High as a sophomore. However, as a junior in High School, I will be living in Japan! But before I get ahead of myself, here’s a little more about me.

I am very outspoken. If I don’t believe in something, then believe me you’ll know about it. However, I think there is a line between sharing your opinion and just being plain obnoxious. I’m not one of the ones that really blend; I have curly curly hair and I’m a huge part of my school’s drama club. I play soccer, too. Family and friends are also both such huge parts of my life. I know I’m going to miss everybody insanely, but then again you can’t live your whole life in the same place.

I have a huge range in my music taste, from metal to mellow (also I have huge crushes on Hayley Williams and Lady Gaga). I even enjoy some good movies, specifically The Uninvited and Across the Universe. I’m often caught munchin’ on some PB&J crackers (YES, AND JELLY). I am a firm believer that your appearance should never be stoic and always should be changing, and just have fun with everything that you come across, and have an open heart with all types of people and ways of life.

I know this upcoming year in Japan will be something that nothing else will compare to. The experiences I will have and the knowledge I will obtain is just mind-blowing. Right now it’s hard to comprehend where I will be in 7 months, but I’m completely up for the challenge. Rotary, thank you SO MUCH for this opportunity!

~Garrett Nickell

“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” – Napoleon Hill

Garrett’s Journals

August 29

So it seems I have survived my first week of Japan without a scratch (other than that little knick I got from my Grandmother`s cat). Before I go into more detail about the present, lets go back 7 days (or I guess 8; time changes do wonders to your internal clock).

August 20th, Washington DC Dulles Airport

-My plane is about to take off. I`m sitting next to a small elderly Japanese woman who speaks no english. Zack, the other Florida Rotary Exchange Student going to Japan is in the seat behind me. He`s sitting next to a young Japanese woman who is nearly fluent in English. Figures. In 13 and a half hours, I`ll be in Tokyo, Japan. Lets just hope my family will be there to pick me up haha. I wonder if I`ll be able to sleep on this flight. I realized yesterday that my hair is getting longish, so I just learned how to say `I need a haircut, please` in Japanese and I plan on whipping that phrase out in a week or so. I`m still wearing my khakis and button down from earlier this morning, I decided to leave my uncomfortable clothes on during the 2 hour flight from Orlando to Washington DC. I took off my blazer, but I`m waiting until the flight takes off and then I`ll throw on my soccer shorts and t-shirt. Right now our plane is creeping down the runway so I suppose doing a quick-change in the funsized airplane bathroom wouldn`t be a super safe choice. Now the airplane is currently flying down the runway, making it incredibly difficult for me to write in this journal, so maybe I`ll take some time saying goodbye to the lovely landmass that is America. Until soon, Adieu.

August 20th, Some where Over Canada

-We have been in the air for 2 hours, 33 minutes and we are 34,000 feet in the air, all according to the small television set inside the back of the seat in front of me. We were just served our first hot meal. A tip for anyone planning on flying to Japan anytime soon: Always choose the pasta. We were given a choice of either chicken or pasta. I, being adventurous, chose the delicious smelling ginger chicken. Sadly, the smell was decieving and it ended up being incredibly chewy and inevitably inedible. Even the Japanese woman beside me refused to touch hers. However, they gave us a delicious oatmeal raisin cookie with the chicken so there was that small bit of heaven. Speaking of the Asian woman, she is now asleep. Normally I think sleeping seniors are cute, but my bladder is wanting to burst and she is blocking my path to the restroom and I`m too nice to wake her up. I wonder if after we have been flying for a while they would play a workout video to wake us up, maybe even Richard Simmons. There is a pimple on my face that must be popped. The plane just hit some turbulence in the sky and I looked very hopingly to the sleeping woman on my left to see if she had woken up but apparently she chugged a bottle of Benedryl and is in a semi-coma. I cannot find the Japanese word for coma in my dictionary. Maybe those do not exist in Japan. Being a very busy country, it is possible they simply don`t have time for a comatose state. If this woman does not wake up soon I might find comfort in my throw-up bag.

August 20th, still somewhere over Canada

-We have been flying for about 4 hours now. The woman beside me is still sleeping, even after I very nimbly climbed over her in my rush to the bathroom. I have a strong urge to check for a pulse. This is a very long flight. I have yet to find a workout video, let along Richard Simmons. However, Iron Man 2 is on. I have been wanting to see this for quite a long time now and I love me some Scarlett Johansson.

August 20th (or is it the 21st now?), somewhere over Alaska

-ALASKA, THE FINAL FRONTIER. Surprisingly beautiful and not completely covered in snow. I understand why Sarah Palin would want to govern there. According to my cell phone, it’s 9 PM in Florida. We have been following the sun, so outside the window it’s still the 1PM that we left during. Airplanes by B.O.B & Hayley Williams has been playing on my iPod and I just now realized the relevance. I desperately hope nobody pretends my airplane is a shooting star. Whoooooa halfway there, WHOOOOAAAA LIVIN ON A PRAAAYER.

August 20/21, over the Bering Sea

-We have been flying for almost 9 hours now. I’m trying to sleep but I can’t. I feel like death.

August 21, Pacific Ocean

-I can’t believe I have written so much on this flight. I feel like Al or whomever will be posting this will have a heart attack when they see my hourly journal entries. However to make it easier on them I will try very hard to type with good grammar/spelling. I just chowed down on a delicious turkey sandwhich, my last airplane meal. I can see the outline of mountains in the distance through the fog (or is it smog?). So it has finally hit me. I am an exchange student, and I will live in Japan for a year. All these months of preparation will finally be put to use in about 30 minutes. Who knows what will happen after that? Well, other than Rotary. They know everything.

August 21, Mama’s house

– It was about 3:37 PM. After going through Customs and baggage claim completely shell (or culture) shocked and bleary eyed, I was greeted by 5 smiling Japanese people. The exceptionally short one, a girl that looked to be a little older than my little sister, was holding a sign that said, “GARRETT NICKELL”. The woman who looked to be about my mother’s age grabbed my hand and told me to call her ‘Mama’, and then told me she speaks very little english. Also in the group was Mama’s father, and two rotary members. She told me that it takes about 2 hours via car to get from Tokyo to our home, in Oyama. There isn’t much I remember from that car ride. I found out that my host little sister’s name is Kaho. She’s 12. I also have a brother named Hiro who is 13, and another sister named Chi who is 17. I was taken to my first restaurant in Japan, and ironically my first meal was beef and potatos. I’m surprised I didn’t fall asleep. When we got home they showed me my room, and I met Chi and her boyfriend, Tatsuki. Both very stylish looking and nice. I have a feeling they`ll be my friends. I called my mom for a little bit, then took a shower (which was very very confusing). Japanese word of the day: Oyasuminasai – Goodnight.

August 22nd, Mama`s house

Japanese word of the day: Atsui – Hot

-I love my house. It has a piano, which Mama, Kaho, Chi, and Omama (grandmother) all know how to play. Today I started learning Kanon by J. Pachelbel, which is one of my favorite piano pieces. I’m starting to pick up little japanese words here and there. Of course, dictionaries and translators are VERY handy. This morning, Mama, Chi, and I went to church. Last night Mama asked me if I was Jewish. She said she knew a man from Florida who was Jewish and therefore assumed all floridians were Jewish. I told her no, I go to a Christian church. Mama’s family is Protestant. Imagine my surprise, going to Japan and being placed with a Protestant family. The church we went to was more like a room in an apartment building. Apparently Catholic churches in Japan are bigger. It is very hot outside, and the Japanese love to say so. Whenever outside, they constantly say, “ATSUI ATSUI ATSUI”. However, once inside, they don’t always turn on the air conditioner. Odd. At church I was introduced to everyone and was given an English bible. There was a lot of singing and many words I didn’t understand. However, courtesy of the priest, I was given the day’s message in English: God Leads Us. Church got out at 12 and we walked to a Temple. They were setting up for a festival which is happening tomorrow night. Candles everywhere and many decorations. Everything was very beautiful. After we went to the temple I met my younger brother, Hiro. Tonight Tatsuki came over for dinner and all of us kids hung out in my room and I showed them all my stuff. We took a lot of pictures together with my macbook haha. Chi and Tatsuki want to take me all over and go shopping a lot, which is fine by me. Tomorrow shall be busy busy. Oyasuminasai!

August 23rd,  (home)

-Today I woke up early to the sound of fireworks. When there is nobody around to distract her, Mama likes to feed me large amounts of food. Today I went shopping with Mama, Chi, Tatsuki, and Kaho. Tatsuki and I broke off and he showed me his favorite stores. We took pictures in the Japanese photobooth thing where everything is super kawaii (cute) and bright and your skin looks like butter. Each day I learn more Japanese, thanks to Mama and Chi and Tatsuki all knowing a little English. Today was Kaho’s birthday. Chi made a REAL Japanese cheesecake, which of course was not very similar to the one my mom and I made. Tomorrow Mama wants me to make the family an American lunch, so I decided to make the easiest gourmet meal known to man, Spaghetti. Easy enough to make, just noodles and tomato and sauce and garlic and peppers and butter. I think I’ll also make garlic bread. Tonight Chi, Tatsuki, Kaho, Opapa (grandfather) and I went to the festival that they were setting up for yesterday. It was so beautiful at nighttime to see all the candles lit. There was a big ceremony with monks and incense and gongs. It was a ceremony to honor the dead, I believe. But wow I am TIRED. Oyasumin.

August 24th,

-Every morning, i wake up exhausted. I seem to forget while sleeping that Im currently living in Japan, and around 7, when the sunlight shines through my wall-sized window, I start to wake up. I then freak out, not recognizing the room, and can’t go back to sleep after remembering that I’m not in Kansas anymore. Or Florida. Today, Chi, Tatsuki, her friend and I went shopping. Tatsuki and I have very similar styles. Our clothes are very similar and when we look at clothes we like the same things. Japan as a whole is very into Marine fashion right now (Navy&white stripes, rope, anchors, etc.). Tonight I had a big dinner with the high members of my rotary club. I gave a little speech that Tatsuki helped me correct. The dinner was traditional Japanese food: a bunch of raw fish and rice and soy sauce. Even though it was gross to think about, it was pretty delicious. I tried a bunch of stuff that I didn’t think I would ever eat, such as octopus, eel, and some kind of sea snail. We talked about my high school and they said I would be getting my 10,000 en tomorrow (about 120 dollars). I’m not sure what to spend my 10,000 en on other than clothes and food here and there, because according to my president they plan on paying for basically everything I need.

Surprising things about Japan: 1) Their use of technology is very odd. Most buildings don’t use their air conditioner, yet almost everyone has hot water and cooked rice at the touch of a button, not to mention their super-awesome cell phones. 2) Everything about their lives is cute. You can be a horrible person but I think if you were cute while being a horrible person it might be okay. Children are expected to make mistakes and be loud and foolish and immature but its okay because its cute and part of being a child. Kaho broke something today and instead of Mama scolding her like in America, she laughed and was like, “OOOH KAHOOO”. 3) The role of Mama is very confusing to me. Mama has no job, other than to constantly take care of the family. She is the taxi, chef, maid, and babysitter of the family. There is no possible way for her to have a job for she is constantly busy. She gets up at 5 to pack the kids’ lunch (something they could easily do themselves), then she takes a little nap, then she cooks breakfast and does laundry and drives around and shops and every little thing you could think of until 12 at night. Dear Mother, if you are reading this (and I’m sure you are), just imagine being a mother in Japan. Just. Imagine. Even though Mama cooks all the meals, she doesnt eat dinner with the family every time. Instead, shes cleaning up the kitchen or maybe doing laundry (which is done every day). However, I guess I just go along and do as the Romans (or Japanese) do.

August 25th,

-Today was quite the adventure. Chi and I were set on a destination to go to my school. We had to walk to Oyama train station (about a 7 minute walk), ride the train to the next station (about 10 minutes) and then walk to my school, Oyama Nishi High School (a 12 minute walk). We knew how to get to Oyama station, and how to ride to the next station, however we had no clue where my school was and how to walk to it, haha. We got off the train and went around asking where my highschool was, then went on the long and hot trek. I met my english teacher and some kind of administrator woman that also knew english. They showed me my classes and soccer club, which surprisingly looked good. The kids I met seemed nice and interested in me haha. I found out that I give a big speech friday to the entire faculty, staff, and student body. No big deal, right? Tomorrow I shall be getting a haircut (sampatsu) and then go to a Rotary Meeting. I’ll be giving my go-to speech. My Japanese is getting better as I learn more and more every day. I also really like my uniform, it’s supa kawaii. Even though Tatsuki is a good friend and is a fun guy, he’s a controlling boyfriend when it comes to letting me and Chi hang out. He always wants to be with us, Mama says he’s jealous of me because Chi wants to know so much about me. Chi wanted to go to Harajuku with me today, the fashion capital of the world, but Tatsuki had to go to school and didn’t want just me and Chi to go so we couldn’t go. He wants to go next weekend though, so that should be fun. Japanese word/phrase of the day: Ja ne – Bye bye

August 26th,

-The Japanese put the most random English words on something, when they usually have no clue what they mean. It is extremely in fashion for clothes to have English words on them. Chi`s friend a couple days ago was wearing a shirt that had the famous I Have A Dream speech by Martin Luther King Jr. on it. A couple hours ago, I noticed that the toilet paper dispenser in our bathroom had the word ‘cherish’ engraved on it. Cherish… What is there to CHERISH about toilet paper? It is used, and then flushed away, without the slightest bit of reverence. No prayer, no kiss goodbye. Also, I believe that the Japanese have a natural deodorant the comes out of their pores. I have not seen one hint of any odor control, yet I don’t smell any B.O. even when they are often outside. They act like I pulled an alien out of my bag when I showed them my deodorant, and were very confused with the idea of rubbing it under your arms. Today I went to the big Rotary meeting, and my speech went well. There was, again, traditional Japanese food. Sashimi, rice, shrimp, some fried pork, and an orange slice. I got pai-ai-ai-ai-ai-aid and now I’m listening to that song by The Millionaires (sup Meredith hopefully you’re reading this). I semi-start school tomorrow. I have to give three speeches. One to the faculty and staff in Japanese, then two to the entire student body and some teachers, one speech in Japanese and a very short one in VERY EASY english. Then I meet with the soccer coach and discuss what I need. I got a haircut today and I like it quite a bit. I must awaken at 6:00 for school, OYASUMIN!

August 27th,

-This morning I very tiredly made my way to school with Opapa and Furuhashi-san (my Rotary counselor). The faculty speech went well, and for the entire student body speech they put all the kids in the gym and put me on a stage in front of everyone. Op. Miss Fink, if you’re reading this, THANK YOU. I was barely even nervous being in front of all those people, and my speech was nothing more than a monologue. After my speech, I talked to my soccer coach and he told me all the stuff that I needed for Monday, which is when I start my classes and then soccer practice. I’m pretty excited for both. My schedule changes on a daily basis. So right now, block scheduling at LPA looks like no big deal haha. I went out with Mama and got my new soccer equipment: Cleats, shin guards, socks, shorts, shirts, and winter wear. I told Rotary I could have my old equipment shipped here but they insisted on buying me all new stuff, which I’m very thankful for. Papa, Kaho, and Hiro went to a professional baseball game, so Mama, Chi, Omama, Opapa and i went to a traditional Japanese sushi restaurant. It was so good oh my lord. Apparently I’m the first American to try the octopus sushi. When we got home, Chi went out and Omama and Opapa went to bed so Mama and I had good talk time. We talked about America, Japan, declining society, the War in Iraq, how American influence is changing Japan, our family lives, and more. I really like my Mama. She has a very kind heart, but is very honest and straight up and blunt. Im really glad that we already have a good relationship so early into the trip.

August 28th,

Week one, down. Now that I’ll be going to school every day and traveling a lot on the weekends, she wants me to have a cell phone. However, she wants Rotary to pay for it so we have to ask. I’m so excited for school, and soccer. Like my school in Florida, every class is 50 minutes long. However, school here starts at 8:30 and gets out around 4:30. Monday’s schedule is Math, Japanese, 2 hours of cooking (OH YEAH), English, PE, then homeroom. Then soccer for around 2 hours. Today Mama, Omama (on Papa`s side of the family) and I went to a vineyard restaurant. It was amazing, and of course I forgot my camera. The vineyard was more like a big connection of trees, and the branches were all flat and together created a roof. Under the roof of vines and grapes and branches was the restaurant, where they served you free grapes. In Japan, the grapes are bigger and less sour. After you eat, it`s common courtesy to order a box of grapes to take home or you fill out a form and they send grapes to someone. Afterwards, Mama and I went to Oyama train station to get my student train pass. It allows me to go to the train station by my school pretty much whenever I want, I believe. Then we went to a donut shop. Holy Mary mother of God, the donuts were so GOOD. They are soft and not as sweet as American donuts but somehow MORE delicious. Tomorrow is a huge festival in the city, around 4 Kaho, Mama and I will walk around the festival grounds and then around 7, the fireworks start. Huge huge fireworks that last until 9. I’m incredibly excited.

Ja ne,

Garrett

(or as I’m called in Japan, Garretto)

August 29

-So today, after slaving away over a hot keyboard for a grueling 3 hours, I finally wrote my Rotary blog. After wiping off my blood, sweat, and tears it was around 1 PM. Time to get ready for the festival! Kaho and Chi got their Kimonos and we along with Mama went to Papa’s mother’s house. Just a little explanation of Japanese traffic: many cars, very narrow roads. There aren’t many road laws when it comes to passing or much else. When a car is in a turning lane but can’t turn at the moment, the other cars merely go around that one, even if the road is 1 lane only. Also add a lot of pedestrians and bikers in the mix. The cars and pedestrians have a weird mix of reverence for each other. I swear Mama has almost hit 17 people with her car, but people seem to know how to get JUST CLOSE ENOUGH to the car without getting hit. Every time we go by someone I stop breathing and then I think in my mind `OH MY GOD SISTA OVER HERE ALMOST JUST GOT BODY SLAMMED WITH AN AUTOMOBILE’. Mama thinks my state of constant stress while being in the car is truly hilarious. We got to Omama’s house and she (being an expert on how to properly dress in a Kimono) dressed Kaho and Chi. Their kimonos are completely beautiful. It took 2 hours to get them completely dressed, which is insane. Around 5, Tatsuki came over. He was wearing the male kimono. Chi and Tatsuki went down to the festival by themselves looking all snazzy while I waited for Mama and Kaho to finish getting ready. Opapa, Mama, Kaho, two neighbors, and I went down to the festival, which was completely HUGE and beautiful. It seemed everyone in Oyama was packed in there (and later I found out I was pretty much correct). At 9, the fireworks started. Luckily there weren’t any clouds and I brought my camera so I got some pretty good pictures. However an old asian lady (why do they always have such meddling roles in my journals) kept standing up in front of me and I had to keep yelling SUMIMASEN!!!!!!!!!!!!! (exCUSE ME!) over the booming fireworks and she would then look at me like I had a bug on my face just like every Jap does when I speak Japanese or at least attempt to. My school starts tomorrow. mmmMMMmmmmmMMMMmMmmmMm. Time for bed, Oyasuminasaiiiiii

August 30

-School was completely great/tiring/awesome etc. I met an overwhelming amount of people. General introduction conversation I had with most of the people I met:”GARRETTO!””Konnichiwa haha””Nice to meet you””Yes hajimemashite””Japanese EEEY? (insert long string of incomprehendable Japanese words)””Nononono nihongo sukoshi wakarimashita (I understand little Japanese )””Oh. My name (insert difficult Japanese sounding name). Do you have girlfriend?””Nonono””What is name of girlfriend?””….nonexistant””Does she have nickname?”I n the morning I met two of my classmates at Oyama station, which Mama drives me to. We then scan our train passes, and get on the train to Omoigawa station. it’s about a 4-5 mintue train ride. Then, along with all the other students of Oyama Nishi High School that rode the train to Omoigawa station, we walk to school. Its about a 15 minute walk. Not too horrible, other than the relentless sun beating down on your head/neck. Almost everyone walked with a t-shirt or towel draped over their head. I felt like I was part of a Sahara caravan haha. Even though my school has a uniform, it is very slightly followed. The pant legs and sleeves were rolled up, and the button down was unbuttoned and untucked. For girls, they hoisted up their skirts until the originally below the knee length skirts were about 6 inches above the knee. Voila, miniskirt. As soon as I got in the classroom, the few kids I met the day I gave the speech came up to me and greeted me with a chirpy, “Ohayooo” (good morning). Then, an abnormally tall Asian guy came up to me and said very loudly, “HELLO!. I AM KAITO. WE WILL BE BEST FRIEND, YES?” I then replied in the same tone of voice, “OF COURSE! BEST FRIEND.” Then we shook on it. He then told me that he played soccer too and he was going to make it his mission to show me to everyone in Grade 1 (sophomore year). Yes, I know, I’m in the sophomore class. Its good though, because I’ve already learned everything in my math class so woop. He walked me from class to class in our floor and told me many many names I knew I wouldn’t have a chance at remembering. We had PE today. You had the choice of doing inside gym (basketball, soccer, badminton) or swimming. I, of course, jumped at the opportunity to swim. When I told the swim coach that I wore a Small sized waist in America so I would most likely wear a Large in Japan, he started laughing. He then handed me a 3L waist swim suit. I said no, M or L. He grudgingly handed me an L and told me to try it on and then come back if it was too small. I went back, but only to show him that it fitted fine, if not a little loose. He then patted my stomach and gave me the universal OK sign, and sent me off to the pool. There is going to be a big school festival Friday and Saturday, so every day after school this week there is junbi (preparation) for the festival. Each class decorates their rooms in a different theme. I spent some time decorating but then went off to soccer practice. Because of the Junbi, there wasn’t any set practice schedule. So practice was more of a scrimmage between everyone that showed up. I scored a couple goals so I was content with my first day of soccer in over a year. I made friends, today was good. I met up with some friends after soccer practice and we rode the train back home. Mama was waiting for me and she drove me home. She said she wanted to know how my first day of school was, which I took as, “Okay listen I know I picked you up today but don’t expect it anytime soon because I am a busy mother and I don’t have time to wait for you to get off your train I have THINGS to DO.” That’s fine too, I like walking through the city at night. It’s pretty. However, I’m exhausted. Oyasumin!

August 31

– I’m completely exhausted all throughout the day, when in America I would usually be sleeping. My body’s inner clock is playing a never-ending joke on me. School was good though. I was excited because we had a 2 hour music period and I wanted to play the piano for my teacher, however that was a dud because the lady decided to be sick. It was kind of nice thougn, because that meant we got 2 hours of free time where we could do whatever. The Japanese are very giving people. Kaito, to prove our best friendship, gave me 3 gifts today. He had a Nike magnet that he carved ‘Never Give Up’ into, and he told me to put it inside my pencil/pen holder. Then he gave me a button from his Junior High school that was completely irrelevant but really cool looking. After school today for Junbi (preparation) of the festival, our class was all diligently working on misanga (friendship bracelets). We’re selling them in our room at the festival for 100 yen each (about 1 dollar). Kaito made me a misanga and since bracelets are discouraged in school dress code I tied it around my ankle. Today, my social studies-esque class was ridiculously hard. Only in Japanese, and all about government policies and such. The teacher was determined that even though I said I couldn’t, I actually COULD understand Japanese if I just tried HARD enough. That class is pointless for me until I can actually understand Japanese so maybe I’ll switch out of that class for now. Today after soccer practice, I rode the train home and actually walked home all by MYSELF. So proud. Mama looked like her baby had just garbled out its first word when I stepped through our front door :’). Alright well time for bed oyasumin

September 1

-I am incredibly tired and there is a possibility I will simply pass out while writing this so I shall reduce my day into bullet form.

*I fell asleep a lot in school today, again.

*In return for the gifts Kaito gave me yesterday, I gave him a golden dollar I brought from the US. He seemed to like it.

*I laughed a lot today at my English teacher’s horrible English. Mostly inside but sometimes I had to act like the book we were all reading was truly hilarious. I accidentally corrected her out loud and I fear she does not like me anymore.

*I met more of the soccer team today. Practice was good. The soccer coach actually took time from Junbi to run some drills with us today. I forgot to mention, our soccer field is dirt. Clay or dirt or something like that. Its really not bad, just dusty. So when I fell today at practice I looked like I had decided to take a nap in a bag of brown cocaine.

*The Japanese guys aren’t as shy and innocent as many people would like to think. Before Gym, everyone changes in our homeroom class. Yes, everyone changes in the same class. Strip down to only underwear and then put the PE uniform on. Kaito of course takes that opportunity to run around the class in his underwear screaming war cries. Today the guys on my soccer team asked me if American girls have a bigger bosom (to put it nicely) than Japanese girls. I told them, usually not naturally.

*Today at soccer practice pulled me aside and taught me the Japanese version of, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” I do not know what he means by this because he didn’t explain why he pulled me aside to tell me this but looking back to yesterday when he insisted I was an XXL, I believe he is telling me to lose weight. I might title this trip, ‘Garrett Battles Anorexia, feat. his Soccer Coach’.

*The kids at my school keep telling me I am ‘so cool’. I doubt this has anything to do with my personality but rather that 1) I am American 2) I have naturally curly hair and straight teeth -something rarely seen in Japan- and 3) I have a big iPod. For some reason when they see my iPod Classic they look like I am holding the Holy Grail in the palm of my hand. Mama says people like me because I’m good looking. Japan cares about your inner beauty, people.

*Today I saw in my English textbook under Weather Conditions, ‘polluted smog’ was listed. Nice to know. No school for a while tomorrow, I have a Rotary meeting tomorrow at 12. I don’t think I have to give a speech so there’s at least that. Night

 September 2

-Today was the Rotary meeting then school. Since the meeting was at 12, I got to sleep in. Er, sort of. I remembered last night that my friend always meets me at Oyama station in the morning and then we take the train together with other students. I could picture him waiting for me until he missed the train, then was late to school all because of me. So at 7:45 in the morning I dragged myself up to the train station and tried to put together some Japanese. I ended up saying, “Ima wa, no gakko. Gakko later. Gomenasai ja ne” (now, no school. School later. I’m sorry see you later). Then I went back home and fell back asleep. I woke up around 11:20 for the meeting, which was generally boring. There was a female speaker today (I was shocked they even let a woman in the Rotary meeting whose purpose wasn’t to serve them food). She said a long bit about me (none of which I understood other than I’m 16, live in Oyama, and will be staying for a year) and I started laughing as normal when I don’t understand what someone is saying to me however I want to look happy and I gave her an always polite, “Arigato gozaimasu!”. I have discovered that it is even easier to tone people out when they are speaking a language you don’t understand. I was falling asleep so I figured I would go to the bathroom. I left and once in the bathroom I started making funny faces at myself in the mirror. Completely entertained and doubled over in laughter, I didn’t notice the Rotarian enter behind me. He cleared his throat (which of course scared me to no end), asked me if I was feeling well and then rubbed my stomach. After getting over the shock of an elderly Japanese man rubbing my stomach, I realized people probably thought I was throwing up the raw fish lunch. I said, “Hai, genki desu arigato gozaimasu” (Yes, I’m fine thank you), then proceeded to wah my hands and go back to the meeting. When I got to school I got a lot of, “EEY? GARRETTO?! LATE!” Since tomorrow is the start of the big school festival, the whole day today was dedicated to Junbi (preparation). A bunch of painting and making misanga and decorating and not being in dress code at all and listening to music. Our classroom looks awesome, for real. In English class, we read a book about a volunteer for clearing old landmines that was caught in an accidental explosion. His name is Chris Moon. Because of the explosion, he lost his right arm and leg. However, he proceeded to run many marathons with the aid of prosthetics, spreading the message of the danger of old and forgotten landmines. Because of this book, my class’ room was the theme of World Peace, and also had posters for Japan’s campaign against landmines. I forgot my train pass at home in my soccer bag, which I didn’t bring because I didn’t play soccer. Luckily I live about 20 minutes from the school so Mama picked me up and then we went out to dinner. I had Green Tea ice cream, which is DELICIOUS and GREEN and only 94 calories for TWO scoops. Mama explained how our bathtub works tonight. Our tub is always filled with hot water, and has a machine connected to it that is always sucking out and pumping back in equal amounts of water at the desired temperature. That keeps the water clean and hot. She emphasized the clean part, which may have been Mama’s way of telling me its daijobu (alright) to pee in the tub. At 41 degrees Celsius (about 104 degrees F), it is inevitable that your muscles are going to loosen and there will be some leakage. Well. Goodnight

 September 3

-School today was incredibly fun. Well, most of it. School started at 8:30 as usual, and there was 30 minutes of last minute junbi. At 9, there was a big assembly in the gym. Unlike in class, you had to be in dresscode at the assembly. Which meant pantlegs down, shirt buttoned up, and sleeves unrolled. Add those things together and then throw in the factor of the gym not having air conditioning and then toss in 600 kids and you have a REALLY HOT ASSEMBLY. I’m talking sweat pouring down our faces. It lasted until 12. 3 hours in Satan’s dungeon. At least it was semi-entertaining. A bunch of the senior guys as their big joke ha-ha cross dressed and put on a fashion show. Then there was a bunch of joke telling. My favorite joke was the one I pretended to understand. There was a fashion contest and then another contest of who the school’s best guy is. Somehow they managed to squeeze about 20 minutes of entertainment into 180 minutes of torture. However, when we were released, we were free to put on the class festival t-shirts and roam the school and see all the classrooms. Floor two, the Junior class, was the best. They had a haunted house room and an Alice in Wonderland room. I met quite a bit of people today, all of course really nice. Everyone seems to like me, which is good. My Japanese is improving just by being around people my age. Tomorrow is the Saturday portion of the festival, where everyone is invited, not only students of Oyama Nishi High. It starts the same time that today’s festival did, bright and early, so no sleeping in this Saturday. Oyasuminnnn

September 4

-So today was great. There wasn’t a beginning assembly, only fun from the get-go. Between the two school buildings, there were 5 tents set up. Each senior class got their own tent to sell food of all sorts. Class 3-4 was the best senior class. They sold frozen pinapple slices and baked potatoes. Everytime I would walk through the grounds everyone would scream GARRETTO MY FOOD MY FOOD and eventually I was out of money so they would give me something as a ‘presento’. Kids from other schools came, and I saw Chi’s best friend Tension. She bought one of my class’ misanga bracelets :). I went around completely numb, the experience was insane. So many people smiling at you and calling your name and just having so much fun was awesome. After the school festival was over and the other schools’ students had to leave, everyone met in the gym. It was like the grand finale I guess. A girl in my grade sang a song. She did pretty well surprisingly, because she was obviously very nervous when she went on stage. When she was done there was a huge round of applause; it was one of those situations where you clapped harder because you feel the person has overcome some huge obstacle in their life, and you know their self esteem appreciates your burning hands. After that, we found out the winners of the fashion contests and who was the ‘best guy’ at our school. Then a woman that I think was maybe somewhat famous sang. To be honest I enjoyed the girl in my grade more, nervous as she was. This woman was ridiculous. She had them turn the music up louder while she was singing so you could barely hear her voice, and then she pulled out her guitar for a song and was slamming on the strings and I was just laughing so hard. Then she played a couple songs on the piano. My eyes started watering and instead of being emotionally moved I realized I was literally being bored to tears. She finished and got a huge bouquet of roses that I was tempted to snatch away and give to the girl in my grade but hey, Kaito said that he enjoyed the performance and he likes good American music so I guess I was being overly judgmental because of my tiredness. The assembly ended late, around 4:45, so soccer started late at 5 and ended at 7:40. I got home from practice about 8, scarfed down some dinner, and now I’m truly exhausted. I wish I could use tomorrow as a wonderful Sunday to sleep in, however I have a Rotary meeting to attend so I suppose I’ll sleep early tomorrow night. We’ll see about that. Oyasumin. ~To my readers, just wanted to say thank you for reading. It means a lot that you take the time to actually look at my journey.

Until next week, Garretto 🙂

September 26

Today was a really big Rotary District meeting. I had only been to my city’s Rotary meeting, but this was the big bad District’s meeting, where all the exchange students in this district through Rotary meet and discuss the rules. I was TOLD that I was to be giving a speech, so I stayed up really LATE and PREPARED one. However, once I got there and was introduced to the other kids and some Rotex, we were told to go upend give our ’15 second introductions’. That’s right, my speech of awesome Japanese was reduced to ‘Ohayo gozaimasu! Watashi wa Garrett Nickell desu. Hajimemashite. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.’ Then I sat down. The other exchange students seemed nice enough. There was a girl from France, a girl from Minnesota, a guy from Thailand and a guy from Canada. The girl from Minnesota got here 4 days before me and therefore told me she is further along in her experience than I am so I am determined to leave 4 days after her. The guy from Thailand is about 9feet tall and has a ridiculous Thai name so his nickname is Champion. He says he hates the nickname Champion because it makes him sound gays just to please him I started calling him Precious. I told him it’s an honorable name that comes from a very famous American movie. I got cellophane today, woohoo.

 September 6th

It’s Monday, however it’s a holiday and there was no school. However, there was still soccer at 9AM. I hate physical activity in the morning. I’m always of course tired and I always suck and feel horrible. This soccer practice I was tired and I sucked and I felt horrible. It lasted until 12:30, so I was also quite hungry afterwards. And sunburned. Then walked to the train station, and waited an hour for my train. I ate my lunch box about halfway through my wait. I went home and Mamaabout had a heart attack at my red skin. I assured her my African ancestry would make the sunburn go away in 24 hours. Tonight a man that’s walking the length of Japan ate at our house for dinner. Well, him and his friend who is visiting him. They’re both college students but the guy walking is taking a year off of college to do this. He’s pretty amazing.

 September 7th

My life is starting to become a routine. Everyday I go to school, then soccer, then home. Pretty soon, I fear I won’t have much to write about. My journals will become a habit, a waste of paper. Today was a day off of soccer, though, so that was nice. I talked to my homeroom/English teacher and we changed my schedule around a bit. My Japanese Culture class and Classics class are taught by teachers that understand no English so I basically sit and drift off into space in those classes. So until I have better Japanese, I’ll be taking extra English classes. I think Saturday I’m going to Harajuku woohoo! We’ll see if this one actually happens.

 September 8th

I woke up to the sound of rain. After exchanging ‘Ohayo!’s, Mama informed me that we were experiencing a typhoon. Similar to a hurricane,  with less wind and generally more rain. She handed me an umbrella and wished me luck. Thanks. Because of the torrential downpour, I didn’t even bother bringing my soccer bag. After walking to school with some friends huddled under my umbrella, I sloshed to my seat, sat down and looked at my schedule. Oh, today is indoor gym. Guess where my PE uniform is, MY SOCCER BAG. I sat gym out today, no big deal. Afterwards,  instead of attending my Japanese Culture class which is all Japanese no   English, I went to talk to my English/Homeroom teacher. We further discussed my schedule changed. I’m taking twice as many English classes   that the regular Japanese high school student takes. Two of those are 1   grade level higher than what I am usually in. In my English class today,   a guy from Chicago came and talked to the class. Imagine my joy when I heard someone from AMERICA was coming to my class. He’s lived in Japan for about 3 years as an English assistant teacher. He has long blonde hair and a goatee. He refused to tell his age but I think about30 simply because nobody under 30 hides their age. Tonight for dinner I   ate a hamburger steak, steamed carrots, potato wedges, rice, and green tea ice cream using only chopsticks. I could have weeped with joy. I noticed this morning that if Japanese guys have bad skin, it’s usually accompanied with bad make-up covering it. The guys probably steal their   mother or sister’s cover-up, because it usually is a completely different  shade than their skin tone. This guy on the train today looked like he straight up finger-painted some peanut butter onto his nose. However mostly everyone in Japan has flawless skin. At night when I’m bored I walk to different places in my city. Sometimes the supermarket, sometimes the mall. It’s really peaceful and the city lights are awesome.

 September 9th

Today I woke up at 7:20, about 20 minutes before I had to leave the house. Oops. I threw some stuff in my hair, put on my long-sleeved button down for the first time (the typhoon brought not only immense amounts of rain, but some lovely cold weather), and the rest of my uniform. Today nothing much exciting happened at school. I had my first upper-grade English class. I was greeted outside of my homeroom class with 9 smiling Japanese guys waiting to escort me to the upper floor. The class was much more advanced than what I usually go through in my normal classes. Afterwards they tried to walk me back to the class, but   I insisted I was daijoubu (okay). My last period was swimming, we had to  swim 200 meters in 5 minutes. I did it but was exhausted afterwards. Right after swimming was soccer. Even after being exhausted from swimming, it was still fun. I almost died though. While fighting for the  ball, me and another player tripped each other and we flew to the ground. I did a complete flip but managed to roll on my back and spring   to my feet in one nimble movement. I am that good. However the dirt&rock  field that we practice on was not to kind to my knee/elbow/lower back. Tomorrow my wounds will have time to heal while I skip soccer to cook’ American Hamburgers’ for my family for dinner. I’m starting to become better friends with people. Usually it’s only the, “HEEEY GARRETTO!” in   the hallways and classes. But now I’m having actual attemptiveconversations and joking around with them. It’s nice.

 September 10th

This morning I woke up semi-on time. I left for Oyama-iki (Oyama trainstation) a little early today, so I would have time to stop by Starbucks  and grab something. I ended up getting a Dark Chocolate Frappuchino, something I haven’t ever seen in the US. It was magic in my mouth. When   I got on the train, deliciousness in hand, my friends were shocked that   I was drinking coffee. Looking back, I noticed that Chi never drank coffee with Mama and I and when Tatsuki and I went to Starbucks last week, he didn’t get anything. I suppose that’s something only for older   people here. School was better than usual, of course with it being Friday. Every Friday, instead of having a normal class as my last period, I meet up with my English teacher in the Library and we study Nihongo (Japanese). Today I learned how to say the date. That in itself   took about an hour. The Japanese date/day system is ‘totemo muzukashi'(very difficult). But I understand it, so it’s all good. Today after school, Mama and I went shopping at UNIQLO, which is like a cheaper and   better and Japanese version of Urban Outfitters. Then, we went food shopping. Tonight I slaved over a hot stove braving spattering oil and burning juices creating holes in my flesh. I made pan fried hamburgers for my family, along with garlic butter roasted potatoes. The recipe for  the hamburgers I kind of created perhaps from memory I have no idea. Input a bunch of beef in a bowl, added an egg, some chopped garlic, chopped onion, salt, pepper, and a splash of steak sauce. It came out completely delicious. I couldn’t find hamburger buns, so I improvised and put the hamburgers on some toast. Then I put the potatoes on the burger, added some ketchup, and voila. My wisdom tooth grew in like awake ago, so tomorrow I’m going to the dentist. Then, I have to go to my  host brother’s school’s sports festival. Busy busy busy.

 September 11th

So. Today wasn’t super great awesome etc. I was told last night That I had to leave the house by 8:50 for the dentist. Opapa woke me up at 8:47  yelling, “HAISHA! HAISHA!” (DENTIST! DENTIST!) I was so angry that hewoke me up 3 minutes before we were supposed to leave that instead of rushing like usual, I walked my way to the shower, wet my hair, changed,  and was ready by 8:57. While changing, Opapa kept yelling (always yelling!), “GOHAN GOHAN!” (Gohan is used as cooked rice/food/breakfast I  don’t know) and I kept yelling back “NO!!!” (NO!!!). We went to the dentist who AWESOMELY spoke no English. It was also very difficult to explain anything when his assistants fingers never left my gaping mouth.  I tried to mime that my wisdom tooth was growing in, but there was no pain. I just wanted to make sure it wouldn’t mess up the alignment of my  teeth. He looked at it, gave me some pain meds, and sent me off. I doubt, unless they have suddenly invented a pill form of braces, that the meds will be any help for my possibly soon-to-be jacked up teeth. I   then realized that Opapa had driven off and left me at the dentist. I guess he presumed I would walk to my little brother’s school. I called Mama and she picked me up and took me to the festival. One word. ATSUI(HOT), The sports were so weird. They like, made human bridges and walked on each other’s backs. I met this awesome girl from Africa named   Maggie. She moved to Japan 6 years ago, so she speaks awesome Japanese.   She came from a wealthy part of Africa, so she was taught very high level English at a young age, and has continued since then, so we were able to speak in English. She wants to go to Harvard for college in the   US. I told her to go for it. Mama and I left early because it was too hot. Later that night we went out for sushi, so at least there was that   to improve my mood. Tatsuki is sick, so no Harajuku tomorrow. Bleh.

 September 12th

I was dreaming of piano music. Very nice, lovely, slow piano music. Then, BAM Omama bursts into my room, shouting incomprehendable Japanense. Complete flustered and frustrated and just plain ANGRY that she woke me up from my dream that I yelled out, “OMAMA, NIHONGOWAKARANAI! EIGO!!!!!” (OMAMA, I DON’T UNDERSTAND JAPANESE. ENGLISH!!!) She then left and I fell back asleep. I woke up at a wonderful 10:30A.M. (ju ji sanjupun gozen) and played around on the piano for a while.   Then Mama and I made some delicious spaghetti. Then, Mama and I went shopping near Utsunomia. There’s this huge shopping center that had a ton of stores. It even had GAP, which was just as expensive. I found this awesome store called We go, which is half their products, half used   clothes. I found this really cool bleach-washed used Levis denim jacket   for about 900￥ (10 bucks). I also got a sweatshirt and some jeans. It’s   getting chilly outside! Tonight after dinner I walked to the grocery store and picked some things up for the family. I dropped my ice cream cone on the walk back and I wonder how many people heard my sarcastic scream, “COOOOL!!!” I have discovered a blister on the bottom of my foot. Thank you, soccer.

 September 13th

School was surprisingly good. I now have a good specific group I always   ride the morning train with. One of them, Hiroki, is a guy that lives in  Oyama also. We usually ride the train back together too. Even though it   was nice and cool 4 days ago, it’s back to being hot. That was nice during swimming today, though. Not so nice when we had to go to theun-airconditioned gym to listen to a guest speaker who was incredibly unentertaining. He read off his papers in a boring monotone voice. Even   the teacher sitting by me fell asleep. It too hot for me to sleep, believe me, I tried. I’m happy about how much I’m starting to be accepted in my group of friends. Before I was the cool American they talked to so they could test their English, but now I’m actually their friends. My English teacher gave me this super awesome Japanese textbook  designed for English speakers trying to learn Japanese. The guy from Chicago recommended it. Its seriously like the Holy Grail. It has everything I could ever need. Hiragana/Katakana/Kanji/Dialogue/Vocabulary/etc. I didn’t go to soccer today because my teacher told me to start studying the Hiragana. Unfortunately, a lot of that time was spent trying to make flash cards,   failing, then walking to the mall to find flash cards. After searching ever surface possible, the only thing I found resembling flash cards were these little 1×2 inch flash card babies. I refused to waste 100 yen  on them so I wasted my 100 yen on a pair of chopsticks with sushi cartoons on them. 100 yen well spent. Mama told me that the flash cards   only come that size, and she found some in the house. I spent the rest of the night making the Hiragana flash cards, then studying them with Mama over some coffee, classical music, and small talk. This is the life.

 September 14th

Kyou wa kugatsu ju yon nichi ka youbi desu.(Today is Tuesday, September 15th.)As practice for my Japanese lessons, I must now write this a lot. Today   in school my main focus was to learn Hiragana. I brought the flashcards   to school and they never left my desk. At all times they were being studied. By the end of the night, I had the characters pretty much memorized. Today in music class, a member of our school’s music club invited me to join the club. I, of course, accepted. The teacher told me  that they didn’t practice the piano, which kind of sucks. She said that her and I could practice the piano on different times, though. I think I  want to try the flute, seeing as in music club its only wind instruments  or drums. However, I’m almost positive I will fail because I’ve heard the flute is so difficult to learn. It’s going to be difficult juggling   soccer, a new instrument along with the piano, learning Japanese, and schoolwork. Tonight after dinner I was bored so I walked to the mall. I   love walking through Oyama city at night time. The lights, the smells! You can always tell when you’re walking past a whore-house because it’ll  have a sign in front that is bordered in Christmas lights and there are  suited men standing in front. Mama said those ‘extra massage’ places are run by the Japanese Mafia. I didn’t even know Japan HAD a Mafia. OR  BROTHELS. I stopped by the donut shop for some coffee on my walk home, however there was no English or pictures on the menu, but I would feel bad for not buying anything so I got a donut. It was mediocre. Tonight over some Beethoven, Mama and I studied the Hiragana more. I really enjoy that time at night with Mama. The kids have gone to sleep so its quiet, Chi’s in her room studying or listening to music, and Papa’ssulking in his room. Always sulking. So coffee at night with Mama is a good tradition.

 September 15th

I woke up this morning not feeling like P. Diddy. Instead I had an incredible stomach ache. I layer, half awake, in my bed for about 5minutes trying to figure out what I ate yesterday that could have conjured this stomached ache. The only thing I could think of is that mediocre donut that I was obliged to buy. I walked into the kitchen, announced that I would have to miss school today, walked back to my room  and fell asleep. Mama came in around 9 in the morning and asked if Wanted to go to the hospital. I had never been to the hospital as a patient, and almost said yes only for that reason. However, I said no, it was only a stomach ache that I could sleep off. I figured that my stomach ache was mainly my body reacting to me not wanting to wake up,   however as I woke up about 2 hours later I felt the need to vomit. Then   I had no appetite. I insisted to Mama a 2nd time that I did NOT need to   go to the hospital. Around 1 in the afternoon, I felt a little better, so Mama took me around town to a couple parks and a really old and beautiful Shrine. Then we went clothes & food shopping. She told me that   she had to pick up Chi at school tonight, which is about 50 minutes away. I told her I would cook dinner. I decided to make my favorite Mexican dish. It’s similar to the setup of Sheaperds Pie, except the bottom is a layer of spicy ground beef, a layer of cheddar cheese, and then   a layer of cornbread. It was tough, seeing as cheddar cheese is difficult to find and I have never seen cornbread in Japan. I walked to   the supermarket and  found the cheese and cornmeal so I could make the cornbread from scratch. Tomorrow I must go to school 30 minutes early. Apparently every Thursday, you come to school 30 minutes early and that’s for studying.

September 16th

This morning when I left the house for school I noticed two things: 1)It was cold. Really cold. 2) It was raining. Hard. I grabbed an umbrella  and Mama drove me to the station. While entering the station, I shook the water off my umbrella… right on top of some tiny Asian girl walking beside me. Oops. On the long, cold, and wet walk to school, I entertained myself by interviewing myself in comedic voices. I also thought of things to write in my journal, all of which I have forgotten.  The wind was blowing sideways, so one side of my body was completely soaked where as the other side was dry. I felt like that guy from Batman  who’s face was half jacked up half okay. I was very content with my dry   side until a car drove by and splashed my good half with water. I sogged  my way to my class, took off my shirt, shoes, and socks and let myself air dry. Most of the school day was again spent practicing Hiragana. I have all 71 characters memorized. Quite happy with that. At PE, it was too rainy for swimming so we played indoors. I played ping-pong with a few of my friends. YES, I played ping-pong with Asians. YES, I even beat  some of them! Proud, so proud.

September 17thEven though I went to bed at a normal time last night, I’m super tired.   So, bullet points.*I fell asleep a lot in school today. I would feel bad if not for every   other student doing it too.*I can now read and write the Hiragana from memory. Today I worked on saying the sounds and writing the characters from memory.*Tuesday after soccer, my friend Kaito is coming home with me and staying the night, then we’re going to school in the morning.*Today was Music club. They refuse to let me practice the piano, instead  they made me get a new instrument. I tried flute (fail) drums (alright)   trumpet (I had a headache from lack of oxygen) and the tuba (just no). I  finally tried the clarinet, and they were surprised that I could actually play it well for my first time. I didn’t sound like Squidward,   which made me very happy*Tonight during coffee Mama told me about her young adulthood. Before she got married and had kids, she used to work for a very big company, and was very rich all by herself (and her parents already being rich).She showed me all these super super expensive clothes that she owns but   doesn’t really wear anymore. They’re awesome.*Mama insists that one day I will either be an actor or model. She knows  that right now my plan is to go to school to be an International Lawyer,  and she thinks that’s great and all but she wants me to be famous.*Tomorrow is Kaho’s school’s sports festival.*Goodnight

 September 18th

This morning I woke up tired enough to die. The whole family went down to Kaho’s festival. I fell asleep multiple times. Most of it was really   entertaining though. They do crazy stuff at elementary school sports festivals. There was this thing called the tower, where 5 kids were at the bottom ring, then 3 kids stood on their backs on the second ring, then 1 kid stood at the very top ring. Insane! I said that something like that would never happen in America, people are too lawsuit happy. After we ate lunch at the school, I walked home by myself. I love the independence and freedom I have here. When I got home, I hung around tinkering on the piano until Opapa came in, and said we were going shopping. I was very confused, but I put on some clothes and went with him. Turns out his idea of shopping is driving out to the middle of nowhere and unloading some brush into the woods. I didn’t mind helping,   I minded getting my nice clothes dirty and ripped by the brambles and brush. When we got home Mama freaked out on Opapa pointing to my hands.   I have tough hands, they can handle themselves. I walked to the mall, hung out, then we went out to a delicious dinner of traditional Japanese  food I may never remember the name of. Chi has a school festival tomorrow that we shall go to!

 September 19th

So much happened today that I doubt I’ll be able to remember it all. It   started out getting ready for Chi’s festival. Chi’s school is about 50minutes away, and her Cheerleading performance started at 2, so Mama and  I had to leave at 1. However, at 1, Opapa announced that him, Kaho, and   Omama had to take the car somewhere. They dropped Mama and I off at Oyama station. Mama originally said we would  ride the train to the station near Chi’s school, and then take the bus to Chi’s school. However, that would be very tricky with timing and we would most likely   miss Chi’s performance. Mama told me that she decided to take me to Tokyo instead! I was incredibly excited. We took the train there for about 2 hours. IT here was a Japanese woman in across the train seated reading a book. I realized that the book was in English. However, her reading speed was about 2 minutes for one page, and the print size wasn’t small enough for that slow of reading. I decided she is not a native speaker. There was a man leaning with his back against the train   sliding doors while we were speeding along. I imagine that couldn’t be too safe when the train is possible going over 100 miles an hour. Weirder things have happened than doors opening all of the sudden. Once   we were in the city, I was awestruck. Everything was beautiful. The huge  buildings were beautiful, the stores were beautiful, the people were beautiful. Speaking of stores, there were so MANY. Mama and I first went  to the very high class part of Tokyo (Like the Upper East Side of Manhattan) where she used to work. Then we went to the Ginza section of   Tokyo, which had a lot of modern shops. I discovered that just because they are in a different country, most Americans are just as rude. We went to a different section to look for some shoes I found online made by Adidas. They have tuxedos on them! The lady working said they would-be sold in Harajuku starting in October. On the way home, we stopped in   the Hard Rock for dinner, where my friend Mai works! She’s a Rotex from   my district. She went to South Carolina two years ago. She’s super awesome and I’m allowed to go visit her whenever. In October we’re going  to Harajuku together to get the shoes and she’s going to show me around   the place. On the way home, Mama and I rode the express train. You know,  the TRAINS OF THE FUTURE. It cut the 2 hour ride on a normal train down   to a 40 minute ride that was super comfortable. It was like flying first  class, with a price to match. I’m so exhausted. So exhausted. Oyasumi!(goodnight)

November 24

Howdy Y’all. I know it’s been a while, and I sincerely apologize for that. I started out this exchange year with the full intent of writing in my journal every single night before bed, and I really kept up with that for a good while, but alas the pen has fallen. So let me just say that this RYE Journal is going to be quite different from the past RYE Journals. For one, they’re not going to be ridiculously tedious and detailed. I apologize for informing you guys so much, I realize now that you would most likely much rather be informed about my general month rather than what happens day by day. However, it seems that I’ve gone almost two months without telling you what’s going on. Well, ikimashou! (let’s go!)

The first week of October was when the first actual cold front swept in. Along with the cold front came the cold sickness. I, along with every normal person, sneezes on occasion. However in Japan, the second you sneeze you are asked if you are cold. Even before the cold front came in, it was starting to cool down so I slept with my windows open. However, it dropped about 30 degrees overnight, having me wake up freezing and sick. Luckily that day was only a half day, but I still went home even before we got out. I was miserable. Snot was pouring out of my nose, I could barely swallow, my body ached, and no matter how many layers I wore I was never warm enough. The next three weeks I was put on 5 different types of medicine to try and get it out of my system and eventually it went away. Three weeks of doing nothing but sleeping and watching movies. I went to the hospital once but that was mainly because nothing was working! Eventually they found out most of the problem was my body was reacting very badly to a large pollen blooming that had happened recently in Japan. It was all quite an ordeal, but I really kind of enjoyed the time off. It actually gave me an opportunity to spend more time with my host family ironically, even though I was sick. So that was my excuse for not writing a Journal for October, because it would have been incredibly dull and boring.

However, the last weekend of October, my friend Mai and I went to Tokyo for shopping and sight-seeing. My host mother and I went to Tokyo once on a whim, however we only went to the Ginza, Roppongi, and other high end districts inside Tokyo that is mainly for shopping of the very wealthy of Japan. With Mai, we went into Harajuku and Shinjuku which are two districts that are filled with deathly fashionable Japanese teenagers (and of course tourists galore).

November brought rain rain and more rain. And with the rain came the cold. Every day is 50 or below, at night it gets to about 40. I am absolutely loving this weather. Another thing that came in November was a significant mood change in my little host sister. After my ‘new toy status’ wore off for her, she treated me like the enemy of the house. However, this month, she has been incredibly nice to me. We ACTUALLY get along, which is a very nice change from screaming every time she sees me.

School is going very well, I am happy to report. It definitely changes on a daily basis, but on a progressively good level. As my Japanese improves (which it should, seeing as I study from my 3 Japanese textbooks 4 hours a day), so does the relationships with my friends. My real friends are the ones that have finally stopped gasping at the sight of me in the hallways. My two best friends are Seiya and Kaito, and I know those names obviously mean nothing to you, dearest reader, but both of them mean quite a lot to me. Kaito is the one who I was friends with from the first day of school. Loud, energetic, and sometimes borderline childish, he’s someone that is up for anything even when it’s not the time to be. Seiya is more quiet and laid back, very into his studies yet also can be loud and joking when the time calls. Kaito and Seiya are almost my school-time yin and yang (which is, by the way, CHINESE not JAPANESE), balancing each other out, and also, balancing me out.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and there is no doubt out there that there is so much I have to be thankful for. I’m thankful for my amazing host family, for never wanting me to leave and fighting for me to stay as long as they’re allowed to keep me. For putting aside their want to learn English and speaking Japanese with me, and for being some of the funniest and most loving people I know. I’m thankful for my friends, whether they be in Japan, currently around the world, or back home. For my friends back home, I hope you know how much I miss you all and especially thank you to the ones that have stayed close with me (even if it’s through the computer screen) these 3 months I’ve been gone. I’m thankful that I was given this opportunity, to even be able to meet all these people and to learn this wonderful language and experience this beautiful culture. I’m thankful for ROTARY! And last but not least, I’m extra thankful for my family back home in Florida and in Alabama. (And you too, Aunt Cathy!) I love all of you guys so much. You guys are my backbone, my support system, and the reason that I am able to be sitting here right now in another country. Mom and Bo, I love you guys so much. And to my baby sister Brooke, I hope you have an awesome 9th birthday this Friday! I miss you the most, munchkin.

3 months down in another country and I’m not even 1/3 of the way finished. Time moves so fast yet so slow at the same time, and I only wish there was a way for me to record it all in my mind, but I suppose that technology hasn’t been released yet (but I guarantee you they probably have a prototype in Tokyo). As of tomorrow, I’m going to try to start writing every day in my journal again. The holiday season is coming fast. Christmas is just around the corner, and I can bet that the hardest times for me as an exchange student are coming. I’ll be sure to keep you posted! Until next time,

Jyaa Ne, (see you)

February 17

Ossu! For those of you that don’t know Japanese (and I’m guessing that is a very high percentage of you guys), that is a very informal and friendly way of saying HEY. So it seems I have a couple months to fit into a journal space I used to be able to fit a day into, ah well, big wheel keeps on turning proud Mary keep on burning.

We shall start with Christmas. Christmas-time is supposed to be the greatest time of the year, beautiful weather, beautiful decorations, people in great spirits, and Japan is no exception to that. Many people asked me if Christmas existed in Japan, and of course it does… just in its own twisted Japanese way. Japan being almost void of Christianity, it was mainly about the glitz and the glam and the fashion of Christmas instead of celebrating the birth of Jesus. Some people put up Christmas lights, Christmas trees, and decorate their houses; some do nothing. Almost all restaurants/shops will have SOME sort of decorations up. However when it comes to Christmas Day itself, that’s where the main changes are. You don’t give presents (I KNOW, RIGHT?). Nothing is closed on Christmas, and everyone seems to think that in America we eat fried chicken on Christmas day, so KFC is extra busy that day. For me, Christmas was a day I wasn’t too happy with. I missed my friends, my family, my big Christmas day. It honestly was my worst day in Japan so far. I went to the movie Cinema and watched the current Harry Potter film by myself, then afterwards I ate dinner with my host Mama. Christmas was really hard for me to deal with, but I thought of it as just another day. If I ignored the fact it was Christmas, it was a pretty good day!

Now the reason they don’t give presents is because of the money they spend on New Years day. On New Years day, if you’re a kid, you get money from most of your older family members. On New Years Eve me and my extended host family all got together at my house and we ate dinner and watched a program on TV together. It was a lot of fun, especially getting money haha. Days like that really made me feel a part of my host family (which has been my only host family since arriving in Japan), and I honestly wouldn’t give them up for anything.

From around Christmas until the 13th of January was our school’s winter break. My family and I went to a resort in Nasu called Epinaru for a few days. It was up north some in Japan, so I got to see some actual snow for the first time! Epinaru is gorgeous, even the Emperor of Japan has stayed there. They have an onsen (public bath) that have live koi fish swimming around you.

February 7th was my birthday, which was another time that I missed home. But this was a huge step up from Christmas. My host family had a dinner for me, and friends even came to give me presents. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday, really.

My Japanese is actually getting really good. I study about 3 to 4 hours a day in and out of school, so I can hold a conversation with my friends and family. I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated being able to express my opinion so much. I felt like a baby, who had no way of communicating with its parents except for crying. Well now I can communicate, but I’m not quite to perfect grammar yet haha. I would have to say the thing that fuels me would be when I NEED to say something, but I can’t. So then I learn what I have to say, and voila. When you realize it’s as easy as memorizing a word, it doesn’t seem like such an impossible task.

I am forever grateful for the time I have spent, and the time I’m going to be spending. I’m more than halfway done, which is impossible to grasp right now. I’m nearing upon my 6th month here in three days. It seems like every month that goes by passes more quickly. I just want it to STOP. My host Mama (pretty much the person I spend the most time with here) talks about on a daily basis about how lonely the family’s going to be when I leave. They make me feel so loved and such a part of them, I know that I am so incredibly lucky to have gotten them as a host family. My return date is set, June 25th. I’m excited to be returning home but also incredibly sad to be leaving this beautiful country. Japan has changed me in ways I didn’t expect it to, and I can only hope it continues to make me a better and more mature person the longer I stay here.

Spring is on its way. Time to make the best of what in my opinion, is Japan’s most beautiful season!

Jyaa ne (see you soon!),

Gyaretto-kun

(Garrett)

March 16

I was dreaming that I was being shaken awake. I sat up in bed and saw my room seemingly falling to pieces. Clothes coming off their shelves, books tumbling off my desk, my beloved macbook taking a leap of faith from its usual spot on the chair next to my futon bed. I could have sworn I was having one of those Inception moments – a dream inside of a dream – until I heard my host mother (lovingly called Mama) screaming,”GYARETTO! JISHIN DAYO!!! (GARRETT! IT’S AN EARTHQUAKE!!!)”. She ran into my room (completely shocked at the fact that I was simply sitting in bed during the biggest earthquake I had ever felt) and yelled at me to follow her to the living room. While running to find somewhere to get under cover I saw that my mom and her friend were having lunch when the earthquake struck, and her friend was now motioning me under the dining room table. The three of us huddled under the table as the earthquake continued to grow stronger.

Water started splashing out of the fish tank that we had just a few days ago put new fish in, tea cups from the china cabinet were crashing to the ground, windows sounded like they were ready to bust from their frames and on top of all of that, Mama was screaming, “KAMISAMA, TASUKETE KUDASAI! TASUKETE KUDASAI! (GOD, PLEASE HELP US! PLEASE HELP US!)”. I, no longer in a sleepy stupor, was surprisingly not thinking much. Instead of, “I wonder if I’m about to die right now” it was more of, “If I die right now my mom is going to be MAD”. After more water spilled, more tea cups broken, more screams of prayer from Mama, the ground finally settled under our knees. Mama and her friend both agreed it has been the most terrifying earthquake either of them had experienced.

It seemed as soon as the earthquake ended and we realized we were unbelievably unhurt, Mama’s first concern was Kaho (my 12 year old host sister, the baby of the family). Mama told me that my lunch and a box of donuts she bought was on the dining room table, and she drove to Kaho’s school to check on her. Mama’s friend ran up to the 5th floor of our apartment building to check on her flat. I went to heat up my tonkatsu (fried pork cutlets), but I realized after pressing the ‘warm’ button ten times that we had no power. Deciding against eating cold meat, I ate a donut while waiting for my mom to come home.

Suddenly, the floor was moving under me again, just as hard as it was the first time. I ran back to the living room, donut in hand, and dove back under the table to safety. I was home alone experiencing another earthquake thinking, “Well, if I actually die this time, at least I will die enjoying this amazing chocolate covered donut.” The same pattern as before started: water splashing, tea cups jumping to their demise, windows sounding reading to shatter out of their frames, just no host mother screaming for God to save us. After a minute or two it stopped, however I stayed under the table until Mama and Kaho came home.

They returned and soon after so did Ji (my host grandfather that lives with us, along with my host grandmother). He, being around 80 years old, said it was the biggest earthquake he had felt. Every week day, my host grandmother goes to a nursing home where she takes a bath and does therapy and she returns at 4 P.M. When she came home, she also said it was the biggest earthquake she can remember feeling. Kaho and I decided to take a walk around the town to see how the damage was.

Going outside, you noticed many smells. From the natural foods store in the first floor of our apartment building, there was a strong smell of vinegar wafting from the automatic sliding doors that were pushed open during the lack of power. Many of bottles of vinegar that were recently shipped and were placed on a show table had topped over during the earthquake. We came to a crossing in the street and realized how quickly chaos had begun. With no streetlights working and many people trying to go in many directions, these two crossing streets had become very dangerous. My sister and I were luckily able to cross; I honestly felt like I was in some real life version of Frogger. We came upon a sake (alcohol) shop that was sweeping heaps of glass and sake out of their front door. The smell was almost worse than the vinegar. The store owner was crying as she told us how upset she was at the money she lost with all of these large bottles broken, about 50-100 dollars a piece. She told us to take care and we continued walking until we came upon an empty lot where a parking garage was soon to be built, but everyone seemed to be gathered looking at something. There was a crack in the ground, starting from a temple close to the lot and ending at the bottom left corner of the lot.

Kaho saw the crack and decided she had enough adventure for one day and we walked back home. When we got home, Hiro (my 13 year old host brother) had returned from school. Mama told me that Chi (my 17 year old host sister that goes to a private high school an hour away) was also on her way home. It was 4:30 and darkness was coming fast, and we were still without electricity. I kept trying to email my mom back home telling her I was okay, but cell phones were also down.

When Chi got home from school, everyone was home except for my host dad, Papa, who works for City Council. We started gathering all the candles and setting them up for when the sun would set. Chi taught me this unbelievably simple trick where you get a candlestick and a glass plate, then light the candle and hold it upside down over the plate, letting the wax drip onto the plate. Then you quickly set that candle right-side-up into the wax where it’s held put. Papa came home around 7:30 and since power still hadn’t come back on yet, we decided to all drive somewhere to get dinner. We drove around the pitch black city to see if there had been any building damage, but as far as we could see there was none. Our car has a mini-television built into the dash where we were able to watch the news for the first time since the earthquake, and what we saw was more than upsetting. For the first time, we heard about the tsunamis. We saw houses being swept away like they were nothing. Cars full of people being dragged into the ocean. People standing on their rooftops waving for help as a wall of water takes their house down and them along with it. We drove for about 45 minutes watching the disaster that continued to unfold until we came to a neighboring city that was a little newer than ours, and it had power.

We stopped at a yakiniku restaurant, where they give you raw meat and you cook it yourself on a grill that’s set into the middle of your table. I don’t think I had been through a quieter dinner, except for that night back in Florida when my mom’s birthday was forgotten. Driving back home was just as silent, with more terrifying images playing on the small television. We got home, lit some candles, and waited for the lights to turn back on. One by one we gave up and crawled into our beds. I flipped the light switches in my room hoping that when the power was restored, I would be woken up by the lights turning on.

Around 2:45, almost exactly 12 hours after the earthquake hit, I was woken up by blinding lights. I immediately went to my laptop (which had suffered no major damage except for a crack in the body on its left side) and logged onto Facebook. My wall was completely flooded with people asking me, “ARE YOU OKAY?!?!” or “ARE YOU ALIVE?!?!”. I realized that what people in America were seeing on the news was what we were seeing in the car: buildings broken into splinters, cars sliding into the sea like sand in an undertow. The American news stations don’t really care about my town, whose biggest problem was the power going out for 12 hours. I insisted everyone I was fine with a quick status update, then tried to go back asleep…. until another aftershock happened. About 3 times an hour we got aftershocks of about a 3 or 4 on the Richter Scale. Those are what kept up awake in the night.

At 4 in the morning Mama, Chi, and I were sitting in the dining room watching the news unfold and the death toll rise. By around 8 A.M. I had crawled back into bed and tried to get some sleep. When I woke up, things only seemed to have gotten worse. Much worse. A factor previously not thought of was the nuclear reactors. When the earthquake hit, electricity at the power plant was lost. The water pumps that continuously keep the nuclear reactors cool were stopped, bringing the reactors to incredibly high temperatures. Fires started breaking out, and explosions were shown on the news. Radioactive steam was being released and people in a 20km radius were evacuated. People from many different places in Japan take trains every morning very early to Tokyo, and when the earthquake hit on Friday many people were left in Tokyo with no way to get home. Trains were down and people couldn’t return home to see if they even had a home left. People were literally sleeping in the train stations just hoping to catch a train home whenever they started operating again. Trains in my city are still not fully operating and it has been almost a week now.

The past 6 days following the earthquake haven’t been very eventful. They almost seem like the same day over and over again. Chi and I are out of school because we’re both in high school. My younger siblings both go to schools that are very close and don’t require trains, so they have to go to school. In the morning, Chi, Mama, and I wake up and watch the news. Every day the news seems the same: they’re finding more people dead in the wreckage left from the earthquakes and tsunamis, there was another fire or explosion in the Fukushima plant and radiation levels seem to be rising. Then we go out to eat lunch, and go shopping for food or emergency supplies.

In the restaurants, every day they have less and less food that you are able to order. Things that are most likely shipped to the restaurant such as pre-mad beef patties are the first things to run out. Shipments anywhere have stopped. The supermarkets no longer have water, eggs, milk, and sometimes bread. Every day we go food shopping to see if the supermarkets have decided to put out some of its stock of things we eat and drink on a daily basis. We’re a little worried that if shipments don’t come soon, there won’t be any more emergency stocks of milk, eggs, or water to be put out. Also not being shipped is gasoline. There isn’t any gas. Many are worried that if there is a need to evacuate due to the radiation, it will be impossible due to the lack of gas many people have.

The way the Japanese news works is a little different than American news. American news seems to use a lot of scare tactics. They use the scariest and boldest news stories they can find. However in Japan, they like to keep people calm. They tend to slightly downplay events happening to avoid panic. Because of that, I’m a little frustrated. Many people are not preparing for evacuation or anything happening, including my host family. My prefecture, Tochigi-ken, has been forever known as a “Safety State”, as boldly as Florida is known as the “Sunshine State”. Because of that, many people living in Tochigi feel that they will be safe if nuclear radiation comes our way. It seems to be a bit of the Japanese mindset that if you ignore something long enough, it will simply go away. My recent goals have been convincing my host family that you can not simply wish away nuclear radiation. We’ve started packing emergency bags, emergency food and water, and we have an evacuation plan. We plan to leave, at the latest, on Wednesday the 24th to a place that is farther away from the power plant. When I went to the store to go shopping for supplies such as Band-Aids, medicine, multi-tools, flashlights and batteries, many of those supplies were in full stock. It worries me that many people simply are not preparing for if there is a mass evacuation, in which case many people will soon have the same idea that it’s time to stock up on emergency supplies. I’m just happy knowing that my host family is now prepared.

Many people have asked me if I’m safe; if I’m okay. I am perfectly healthy. I’m with a loving host family that wouldn’t put me in any danger. We are NOT being affected by any radiation. There is a 30km radius where people are only being told to stay inside, so clearly the health risks there aren’t fatal in the least, let alone where I am. If the situation worsens, it is always a possibility I could be sent home. More than 3 months short of my original return date, that would be a horribly abrupt ending to what is becoming the most amazing year of my life. My family has an evacuation plan if there’s even the thought that we could be affected. I will come out of this completely unscathed, just like I hope and pray Japan will.

I advise everyone to inform yourself about this situation as much as possible. Read and watch the news (but DON’T get too sucked into it). The American news does exaggerate, and things may not always be as horrible as they seem. Don’t let anyone tell you there is soon to be a nuclear holocaust in Japan. We’re all working as one to get back on our feet and putting this beautiful Japanese puzzle back together.

With all my love and appreciation,

Gyaretto Nikkeru

Garrett Nickell

Jordan’s Bio

Bonjour! Hello, my name is Jordan Blevins and I am a junior currently attending North Port High School in sunny North Port Florida. I am also enrolled in the State College of Florida where I take an array of college courses. I live with my mom, dad, and brother, Brandon. I am very interested in business and plan to major in international business upon the return of my year abroad.

My biggest passion in life is traveling. To me, there is truly nothing like the feeling of arriving somewhere new in the world, to explore the unknown. To make the unknown known is one of life’s funnest and most fulfilling endeavors, one I find in travel. I am ecstatic to be presented with the opportunity to live in a culture and among people different from my own. I am eager to learn and grow as much possible in the next year and have none other than rotary to thank for the opportunity, my deepest gratification goes out to you.

My second favorite in life is roller coasters. Visiting new and exciting theme parks is something I enjoy quite a lot. My favorite park is located in Sandusky, Ohio, called Cedar Point. It is known as the coaster capital of the world and is home to some of the world’s largest thrill rides. Closer to home, I frequent Busch Gardens located in Tampa, FL to get a fill of fun rides.

As for my everyday life, I enjoy hanging out with friends and trying new places to eat in and around my local area. I volunteer alot in the community by working with youth. On most Saturdays of the year, I facilitate a leadership training called STAR. This program helps teens in Sarasota county to get involved and exposes them to relationships and contacts with local community leaders. I also sit on the Board of Directors for the Sarasota County Boys and Girls Clubs, and enjoy supporting the great B&G cause.

Saying goodbye too all may be hard, but I am excited to begin this exchange journey for the next year of my life. I look forward to the challenges and the rewards of this life changing experience to come. Thanks again Rotary!

Jordan’s Journals

August 30

It is hard to construct words which come close to describing what the last 13 days have brought me. It has been almost two weeks since the day I left the United States, and since that day my life has been filled with new people, new places, and most definitely a new language. So let’s start from the beginning, August 13 , 2010.

The morning of my departure was much different than I had imagined. From the moment I received the news I would be leaving on August 13th, I had been picturing what that day would be like. Would I be an emotional wreck? Would I be too excited to be sad? I had not a clue. That morning five of my closet friends were at my house at 9am, and with my family and I, we all piled in the car for the Tampa airport. My check in went smoothly, with both my bags at 50 pounds (after hours of trying and re-trying). My final moments in the U.S were spent eating an early lunch at TGI Fridays with my mom, dad, brother, and five friends. After, it was the moment of truth. I suppose it is different for everyone, each student past and future will have their own story about that goodbye. Mine is simple, a hug for everyone and two for my parents and through security I went. Easy right? Until I turned around one last time and my mom had begun the tears. It was heartbreaking, and in that moment I realized what I was really doing.. that I was leaving for a year overseas. That tram ride / security line held important moments for me. I realized that as hard as that really was, once I had realized the length of my departure.. I figured I had two options. My first option was to be upset and sad, and the other was to be excited for the incredible adventures that lie in my near future. I therefore opted for the second.

My flight from Tampa to Washington DC was quick and smooth. In fact, I met a wonderful lady whom was very interested in the fact I was an exchange student. We spent a solid hour talking about her experiences in Europe and the three years that she lived in Germany. This of course only furthered my excitement and reinforced this new outlook I had taken on.

In DC I found my exchange family. As I rounded the corner to my gate for the international flight, I was greeted with a running hug from Mikayla, an exchange student to Belgium from Colorado I had met on Facebook. With her sat probably 15 other outbounds from the United States to Belgium, all of which I enjoyed spending time with greatly. And then there was the international flight to Brussels. In comparison with other students traveling the world, the flight was not long. However, when you are 6’4’’, I promise you seven and a half hours is long. We left Washington DC in the evening and the flight was therefore an overnight trip. Unfortunately, despite the two sleeping pills I took, I only slept for a grand total of 45 minutes.  I watched Shrek 3.. three times.

We landed in Brussels on the morning of the 14th.The whole group of exchange students went through customs together, which was simple, and then proceeded to get our luggage. It was then time for the second big moment.. meeting the host family! As we rounded the corner, I saw three smiling faces right up front. My host mom, sister, and brother. Unfortunately,  smiling was probably the only cultural similarity we shared in that moment. It was then that I realized understanding French was going to take time and practice. They speak fast, really fast. It was also then that I learned you give three kisses when meeting someone for the first time.  You can imagine it was rather awkward.

After, we headed to the car and drove an hour from Brussels to my new city of Liege. We stopped at the bakery for bread and pastries for breakfast and headed to my new home.  After eating my first breakfast in Belgium, which was amazing, I unpacked my things and got settled into my new room. The whole time I had one thing on my mind. It was not my family or my friends. It was not happiness or sadness.. it was sleep. I was so tired.

The first day I slept the afternoon away, recuperating from the jetlag and my lack of sleep on the flight. My host sister, Margaux, was leaving for California the next day for her exchange year. Therefore, my host mom and Margaux were busy trying to pack her bags and say goodbye to everyone. So while they were busy with those stressful last minute details, my host brother who is also named Jordan, took me out. He is incredibly nice, and is 20 with a car which is convenient. We met his best friend for dinner in Liege at a Turkish restaurant, which was a new experience for sure. After dinner we went back to his friends flat which overlooks the Meuse river in the heart of Liege. My first night just happened to be a day on which a festival took place. So after meeting a few new people who came to the flat, we went out into the streets of Liege for this incredible party. There was all kinds of live music and hundreds of people. Despite my host mom’s efforts, I still do not understand what it was for. The next day, there was  a parade (a continuation of this festival) that we went to. Unfortunately, the weather in Belgium is not always the greatest, and it was raining and freezing. Given the circumstances, it was still rather interesting.

The next 10 days has brought so much that it would take a novel to give a detailed account, so I will give the short version, or try.

I arrived in Belgium on a Saturday morning and left Belgium on Tuesday morning. Other than the festival activities, the time spent in Liege was mostly focused on logistical details. We (my host mom and I) went to the administration building in Liege to file for my extended visa, which will be good for one year. We also went to the bank and opened an account in my name so I will have a Belgian debit card. Before I knew it, it was time to pack.. again!

On Tuesday morning  my host mom and I left Liege for a nine hour drive to her home in Provence, France! The drive was long and the landscape wasn’t too exciting until we were closer to southern France. However, the drive was well worth it. Her house in Provence is absolutely perfect, complete with a swimming pool and everything. It is located in the small village of Noves which is only about 20 minutes from Avignon.

The first morning in Provence was Wednesday morning, market day! The market in Saint-Remy, Provence was truly amazing. It is huge with hundreds of people, both locals and tourists seeking souvenirs, handmade goods, and the most delicious cheeses and meats I think I’ve ever had.

The first three days we spent in Provence were easy going. We spent time by the pool, soaking up the sun that is rarely found in Belgium. We also spent time with my host mom’s friends, who live on the same street as us in Belgium and they just happened to be renting a place in Provence in the same village. We had a traditional French dinner of cheese and bread and salad at their beautiful home in Noves the first night, and the next night we had a barbeque at our home.

After a few fun filled days in Provence, my host mom and I piled everything in the car once again, and headed off to Switzerland! In Belgium, she is the owner of a chimney sweeping company. Each year, the federation of chimney sweepers has a professional congress somewhere in the world. It is a different place each year. This year, it was in the city of Montreaux, Switzerland.

After 7 hours of driving, we arrived in this incredible city, which overlooks a massive lake. The hotel we stayed at sat right at the base of the lake. I was fortunate enough to have my own room, and balcony. From this balcony I could see the lake, and the Alps that lie on the other side.

On the first night in Switzerland, we had a dinner in the hotel which was for all the professionals attending the chimney sweeping congress. During the dinner, we were treated to a showing of traditional Swiss singers. They were dressed in traditional outfits and sang beautiful hymns. With this singing, two men played very long instruments, made of wood, that were painted with the Swiss flag. A fellow next to me explained the significance these sounds. There is a time of year in Switzerland when the cows head up into the Alps because the grass becomes depleted on ground level. When it is time for the cows to return from the mountains, these songs and instruments are played and when the cows hear these sounds, they return. Incredible right?

The next day in Switzerland was perhaps the most amazing day I have had yet in Europe. We began with a trip to the Olympic Museum. It is at this location that the IOC, International Olympic Committee, meets and collaborates to decide the logistics of the Olympics and in which cities they will be held. As a part of the tour, I was given a headset that gives an audio guide of the museum and the different exhibits that exist throughout. And the best part.. I was able to get one in English! In the museum they have the torches for almost every Olympics, including both the first ever torch used in 1936 and the latest torches from Beijing and Vancouver. They also had many ancient Greek artifacts that gave important clues to historians regarding the details of the ancient Olympics as well as the suits and actual vehicles (i.e –bikes, skis, bobsleds) used in Olympic competitions.

After that highly interesting tour of the museum, we had lunch on the lake, and I really do mean on. The group from the chimney sweeping congress had a first class lunch aboard a ship / yacht that took us along the enormous lake. In fact, the boat made a few stops and one stop we made was actually France. Although most of the lake front land belongs to Switzerland, part of it is actually France. The views of the city of Montreux and of the alps from the ship on the lake were nothing less than breathtaking.

After lunch, the ship dropped us off at the port adjacent to the Chateau de Chillon. This was the next stop on the itinerary for the day. The group again was given audio guides and we took a tour of this incredible castle that lie right on the lake in front of the Alps. The tour ended with a climb to the top of the highest tower in the Chateau from which I was able to see perhaps the most beautiful view of my life.

That same night, the group had a gala in the grand banquet hall of the Montreux Casino.  For this night, everyone dresses their very best and enjoys a dinner. This annual event comes with some very interesting traditions. This chimney sweepers federation has members from 27 countries. I was able to meet people from all over the world. There was even two Americans in attendance, with whom I was able to speak  English with for a short but refreshing  while. For the dinner gala, each country brings a gift for the president. So, after dinner, a representative from each country present at the congress offered a gift from their countries to the president of the chimney sweeping federation. Each gift was something unique from every country. As interesting as this sounds, and was, it became a bit old after 15 countries. Especially when each speech to the president was repeated in English, German, and French. Needless to say it took awhile.

The next day, we headed back to Provence, but not before seeing the presidential suite of the hotel. My host mom is very good friends with the president of the chimney sweeping federation. Because he was the president, the hotel graciously gave him and his wife the presidential suite.  The views from the balcony of the living room were literally amazing. The pictures I took do not even begin to do the landscape justice.  

After that exciting opportunity, we were piled back into the car for another seven hours of driving bliss. The next three days of this story are the three most recent for me now. Back in Provence, the last few days have held incredible sightseeing trips. On Monday, we traveled to Avignon. The city of Avignon is the perfect European city. It holds within its walls, the classic narrow cobblestone streets lined with shops and cafes.  With this, it has extremely interesting historical value. The Palace of the Pope, or what was once the Palace of a Pope exists there today, and of course, the famous Pont d’Avignon, the half completed bridge.

The following day held a trip to Les Beau de Provence. Surrounded by the Alpilles mountains, this town is high up in the rocks and was once home to an incredible Chateau. We took a tour of this Chateau, and again had the all helpful and truly educational audio guides. The tour took us from the point of the rocks from which the inhabitants of the ancient chateau could have seen enemy attacks to the dungeons and prisons located below ground level. After this, we traveled to another small village in the vicinity where, for dinner, we ate perhaps the best pizza ever.

As I write this journal, I am sitting on France’s TGV heading to Brussels from Avignon.  I have been on this train for four hours now, and it has taken me just about all four to recall the events of these past two weeks. I am sure I have missed experiences, but I have been more focused on living them than recording them.

The next few days will consist of Rotary activities. A Rotary day in Brussels, a Rotary dinner, and the inbound orientation weekend. Soon school will start and life will become more routine, yet I am still excited. I am working on French, both speaking and comprehension and I know that although school will be difficult, it will help me tremendously. For now, I am absorbing, trying everything, and enjoying this crazy ride that is exchange.

A bientôt

Jordan

November 24

As I sit here, attempting to find the words to begin to describe the last three months of my life, I am utterly speechless. I can remember searching through the pages of this website, eagerly awaiting new journals from students in the countries that I could have possibly been sent to. As each new month turned, I clearly recall wondering why students had not posted new material yet, something I fully understand now. For those of you reading this who are about to embark on an exchange of your own: get ready, because the time between now and your departure date will absolutely fly by.  You will hear it a million times, and probably not understand it until you are abroad, but it is true: being an exchange student means  living in a fast paced world. As it is impossible to recall and comment on every detail of the last three months, I will attempt to convey my most memorable moments and most difficult challenges.

At the beginning of September, I began school at the College Saint-Joseph de Chênée.  As you can imagine, the first day of school held many anxieties and apprehensions. The first two weeks of my exchange held incredible journeys and discoveries. I was high above could 9, and when school began, my realistic life here in Belgium began to solidify.  The first day, I must say, was rather easy. Although I now take the bus daily to school, my host mom drove me so I would not have to deal with tackling the bus and school in the same day. On that first day, I had nothing but a notebook and a pen. I knew no one, not even the other exchange students, and did not even have a schedule. Among the crowds of students, I made my way to the office in search of the woman who would be in charge of the exchange students for the year. She explained to me, in French, that the exchange students would not have schedules until the following week, and that the first day was a simple meeting with all the students in the 6th form. I however, did not understand this fully until the day was over. It would take two weeks for me to have a set schedule, and during those two weeks I had a rough schedule where I simply observed classes. I am now enrolled in: French (6th form), French (3rd form), Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Math (5th form), Religion, and Gym.

Differences between American and Belgian school:

–          Transportation: In the United States, our school transportation is overseen by school districts. Each district is responsible for the running of school buses, which provide transportation for students solely for the reason of getting to and from school. Here in Belgium, there are no school buses. Rather, students just take the public bus system. While in the United States the public bus system is not very popular in average sized cities, here it is very common not to own a car and depend on public transportation. The driving age in Belgium is also 18, and therefore, all students attending ‘’high school’’  use the public bus, or are driven by parents.

–          Grade level: In the United States, we of course have three different schools  and mark our grade levels by consecutive years from 1st-12th. Here in Belgium, they have two sets of forms  1-6 primary and 1-6 secondary. The “6eme” is equivalent to the senior year in the U.S, and it is the level that I am currently placed in. However, I do have classes with other grade levels.

–          Grading Scale: Rather than letter grades, students receive Bulletins, our equivalent to report cards, which rank them on a scale of 0-20, 20 being the highest achievable.  

–          Academic Rigor: In my opinion, I find student drive and determination here far more rigorous than in the United States. Perhaps this opinion is only a result of my attending Le College Saint-Joseph, but I have found that the students take school much more seriously than in the States. I have come to the conclusion as well, that it is likely a result of higher work ethic. The American school system often yields hardworking students because they understand the American University system. Those students who take honors, AP, DE, and IB courses are likely those who want to excel in high school in an effort to gain acceptance into a university. Here, students must pass exams to gain acceptance into the university of their choice. They are not evaluated by the grades they received in high school, yet, I see more drive in the students here despite this.

–          Freedom / Strictness:  At my school here in Belgium, you are allowed to leave the campus to eat lunch for an hour. In the United States, I feel it is safe to say that in most cases, high schools often do not let students leave for lunch. So Belgian school seems laid back right? Wrong. School here is taken very seriously, including timeliness and free time. For example, if you are late to a class, you must first knock on the door and ask the professor for permission to enter the classroom. As I did not know this, the first time I was late I followed my own cultural standards, and entered the classroom quietly attempting not to disturb the teacher. The class was stopped and I was shown the correct way to enter a class when late.  Students also stand at the beginning of a class, and wait until the teacher gives permission to sit down. There are truly a million small examples of this, and I have come to the conclusion that there exists a high level of respect for both teachers and the educational environment.

While it is different for each exchange student, school has proved to be one of the most challenging components of my life here. I am expected to attempt all the course work. I am close to finishing a book in French and will be given an exam on its content at Christmas. I will also be given an exam in my math class, a high level trig course, including material I have not yet seen. While school can be frustrating and easily overwhelming it is not all negative. I have met great people and made good friends with many Belgian students, of whom, I have been to the city with many times and enjoy spending time with. I can only hope that with more work my French will improve.  

The Language

If school is the most difficult part of exchange, progression in the language is a close second. Upon my arrival I was quite literally unprepared mentally for living in a world of no comprehension. While I had taken a few years of French in high school, reality would soon show me I knew very little. Many people will tell you that three months is the golden time frame. “Oh don’t worry Jordan, after three months you’ll understand everything.” My advice to all future exchange students  is to embark on your journeys without expectations. Progress in your host language will not just come to you after a specific amount of time. While living in the world of your host language will help tremendously, language progression will not come without much effort and studying. Today, I will be honest and admit that I am often frustrated and overwhelmed. However, when I find myself feeling this way, I tell myself to think back to that first day, where I understood only a word here and there. As of now, three months into my exchange, I can speak a fair amount. In my host family, we speak only French. I understand close to everything my host mom says to me and usually, if I don’t understand, it only takes repetition to understand. While this is encouraging, I feel like it is also because she knows me well, and knows the vocabulary and level of French that I am able to understand. After three months, I can read the newspaper and understand enough text for comprehension of the topic, but not necessarily details. I can also write fairly well, and can send text messages to Belgian friends and family only in French. My problem however, is general comprehension. As French is a very fast spoken language, it is difficult to understand teachers at school, TV, movies, etc. This of course is ideally the skill I would like to achieve, as it will make living here much easier. For now I am simply going to continue studying and attempting to make progress.

Experiences

While I have had so many incredible experiences in three months, I will try to limit it to the most memorable.

U2 – While this is not unique to my host country or the fact I am living in Europe, it truly was an amazing night. Before my departure from the States, I met a Rotarian by the name of Rick Hughes. His family had once hosted an exchange student from Belgium for an entire year. Mr. Hughes still considers him a brother to this day, and both have visited each other on their respective sides of the world multiple times. In a conversation about his experience with exchange, it came to his mind that his ‘’brother’’ had a son close to my age, and thought it would be a good contact to have. I spoke with Carl Hermans many times before coming to Belgium, and we had both wanted to find a time to meet.  A few weeks after arriving he posted something on Facebook about having received tickets to the U2 360 concert in Brussels. I commented on his post, saying something about how I was jealous.  It happened to turn out that his family had an extra ticket, and they invited me to not only go to the show with them, but also to come back and stay at their home that night. The next day I was shown around their beautiful city of Louvain (in French), or Leuven ( in Dutch). They live in the Flemish part of Belgium, and staying in their home and being shown their city was an opportunity to see not only another part of Belgium, but also another side and perspective of life here. Not to mention, the show was absolutely incredible. And all of this resulted from a simple handshake with a Rotarian from Florida. The power of networking can yield many incredible opportunities, and I have learned that the more people you introduce yourself to, the broader the window of opportunity becomes.

Amsterdam – The week of my 18th birthday was when I first had a bit of homesickness. The honeymoon period was just beginning to fade and I found myself becoming a bit more isolated in thinking about friends and life back home. My birthday fell on a Monday, which conveniently was also a school holiday. As exciting as this was, my host mom had told me that for the weekend, including Monday, we were going south to a family event. From what I had understood, it seemed to be something of a family reunion. While I was not thrilled by the idea of spending my 18th birthday at a family reunion full of strangers, I tried to understand that my host mom and brother were obligated to go and that I could celebrate my birthday another day. On the morning that we left, the day before my birthday, we piled in the car quite early and headed off. After about a half hour of driving, we crossed the Holland-Belgium border. This confused me, because I was told we were visiting family in the south of Belgium. When I asked why we were in the Netherlands she explained to me that the highway crossed over into the country and then back into the part of southern Belgium that we were going to. Another half hour of driving passed and I found nothing out of the ordinary with the situation. However, then my host mom handed me a birthday card, which I found a bit odd knowing she knew my birthday was not until the following day. When I opened the card I found it signed by everyone, a really nice gesture that I appreciated. She then handed me 9 pieces of paper, and told me to put them in order. When I figured it out, they spelt A-M-S-T-E-R-D-A-M! We spent the next two days discovering this amazing city, including taking a city canal tour by boat, walking the streets, and visiting the Anne Frank House.

London – Rotary in Belgium organizes trips throughout the year for exchange students, rather than organizing one large Euro trip at the conclusion of the year. For four days in the beginning of November, I traveled with Rotary and 70 amazing exchange students to England.  The trip was taken all by bus. We left from Belgium and drove to northern France where we would take a ferry (with the bus) across the English Channel. We arrived in Dover, and drove to Canterbury where we visited the famous Canterbury Cathedral.  We then headed to London. For the next three days we experienced all the sights and sounds of England, including: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, The British Museum, Piccadilly Circus, Windsor Castle, Madame Tussauds, Big Ben, Parliament, and perhaps the most incredible, riding the London Eye.

Day Trips – One of the coolest and most unique things about Belgium is their incredibly efficient train system. For students, traveling the country is not only very easy but also relatively cheap. Although I do find myself missing the freedom of my car, in reality public transportation in Belgium makes it possible for me to move freely and discover this beautiful country. Myself, along with a few exchange students, have taken advantage of this. I have been to Brussels twice, to Antwerp twice, and to Huy and Namur in an effort to discover new places. The ability to take a day and just go, to discover new places and adventures, is something that I find great pleasure in and enjoy doing here.

While I could truly go on and on about the experiences I have had, I feel it is perhaps more important to reflect on myself as a person in relation to this experience.

As an exchange student, I have found it very important to have Belgian friends. It is good both for assimilation and for language progression.  However, it is only natural that many of your friends will be your fellow exchange students. Today, a few of my greatest friends are from Russia, India, Peru, Mexico, and Columbia. I constantly find myself in compelling intellectual conversations about the cultural differences that exist between our countries and personalities. I have always had a picture in my mind of whom I would ideally like to be. Someone who is well traveled and well educated, someone who understands more of the world than the average individual. My friendships with people from around the world bring me closer and closer to that persona with every passing day. I have grown in my ability to interpret the world around me and that alone is enough to declare my exchange a success. I give an effort to use every day as an opportunity to learn and grow in some way. Whether that means learning something academic such as French, or learning something personal such as strengths and weaknesses, each day brings a step forward.

This experience has also proved to be an excellent opportunity to gain insight into the field of study I am headed for. Upon my return to the United States, I would like to study international business. Keeping this in mind each day, I search for differences and similarities in marketing, and how businesses atmospheres change with country and with people. It has also been fascinating to discover just how global some companies are. What makes companies like Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, and Subway both popular and successful in European markets? Posing these questions and searching for answers will hopefully give me great advantages in my future professional career.

In considering all things, I cannot yet come to a solid conclusion as to what I feel about the last three months of my life. While there have been many challenges and hardships, there have been just as many incredible moments. I sometimes find myself doing something simple, such as waiting for a bus in the freezing cold, and this amazing moment of revelation will overcome me. Realizing that I am living in Europe, a place where many people dream of even visiting. Perhaps the one solid conclusion that I can make, perhaps the only one that can justify the thoughts that come to my mind, is that to understand the life of an exchange student, you must be one. This journey is seen through the eyes of the beholder. While it is easy to merely explain what I have done and attempt to explain my thoughts, it really does the overall experience little justice.  What I can tell you in confidence is that I am growing in immense ways,  both socially and intellectually. For now, I will continue to do just that, and enjoy this rare and amazing opportunity that is life on exchange.

A bientôt !

February 19

As I sit here at this European cafe on this beautiful Friday morning, I find myself baffled by just how much exchange as already changed my life. I have just passed the 6 month mark, meaning I have now been living abroad for half a year. So much as happened since my last journal, so many opportunities have been had and so many memories been made.  

 My last journal told of my journey up until November, so I will begin there. After my incredible voyage to London, life went back to norm. I was fortunate enough to join a gym, Vital Club, and go after school as often as I can. It has become an activity I really enjoy, and as helped fight those pounds that can easily accumulate from all the amazing temptations that Belgian cuisine brings. Thanksgiving, although I was not too worried, did prove to be a bit difficult. On that particular day, which of course has no meaning here, my host family had a commitment and I therefore was left alone with a bowl of pasta. While this image does seem a bit depressing, it is justified by the mind set of knowing that this experience is once in a lifetime, and that there will be many Thanksgivings with family to come.  

 Here in Belgium, Christmas is not celebrated as widely and as seriously as it is in the United States. The magic of the holidays exists for children on December 6th, Saint Nicholas. This figure is different from Papa Noel, or Santa Clause as we call him. Saint Nicholas comes on December 6th to give children gifts and, rather than hanging stockings on the mantel, the children place shoes before the fireplace. Saint Nicholas then places clementines in the shoes. While the story of this holiday is more for children there also exists a unique tradition for high school students as well. On December 6th, the “Rhetos” (our equivalent to seniors) from the previous year return to the school, all wearing thin white coats (similar to those for painting). They demand money from all the students at their previous school, and if the students do not have coins to put in their cups eggs and flour are thrown at them. I managed to escape this humiliation, as I came to school prepared with plenty of coins. The students collect money the entire day and then proceed to the city to drink it all away.  

 As December came to an end the first round of exams at school came up. I choose take my math, and two French exams. As mentioned before, I have a French class with both the 6th class (seniors) and the third class (equivalent to our 8th grade). I am happy to say that I succeeded in all of them receiving positive remarks from all three professors.  

On December 23rd, my host mom, her boyfriend, her boyfriend’s daughter and I piled ourselves and a whole lot of luggage into the car and headed to Provence, France. This was my second trip to the home of my first host family in Noves, Provence, France. Unfortunately, this time the drive was through heavy snow, and therefore lasted 12 hours. The drive however was well worth it, upon arrival into southern France we had managed to escape the extremely cold and snowy weather of Belgium and has even found the sun! The next day my host brother and the second daughter of my host mom’s boyfriend joined us after taking the train.  

 I spent an amazing Christmas with this group of people who truly had become family. Here, Christmas is celebrated on the evening of December 24th, rather than on the morning of the 25th. We enjoyed a nice formal dinner at a magnificently set table prepared by my host mom. Throughout dinner, we opened gifts and as it came to each person, they had to actually guess the gift before being able to open it. You can imagine it was a bit difficult for me, but was a fun challenge none the less.  

 For quite sometime before Christmas arrived, I had thought of what to get my host family. While I could have easily went into the city and found them little things, I wanted to give them something special, perhaps something that would be memorable. With my mom back in Florida, we came up with gift ideas and she put together stockings for each family member. She then sent me a rather large Christmas box that was full of both goodies for me and the stockings for my host family. I managed to bring the box of stockings in the car with us to Provence without them finding out what exactly was in it, so on the night of the 24th I had the pleasure of sharing one of my favorite Christmas traditions – stockings. They had no idea why I was handing them big socks full of little gifts, as they had never even heard of the tradition. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing the story with them, and it really made Christmas 2010 an unforgettable experience.  

 During our winter stay in Provence we returned to one of my favorite places in the world, Les Baux de Provence, a village I had discovered on our summer trip. We also visited the city of Aix-en-Provence, a very charming city very typical of the Provencale style.  

On December 29th I returned to my home in Liege, Belgium with the TGV (much quicker than a 12 hour car ride), and it was soon time to celebrate the New Year. In my opinion, while Christmas in much less important in Europe, New Years is much more important. Often times people in the United States opt to just stay in for the night, and just “watch the ball drop”. Here everyone either goes out to a function, or perhaps hosts one at their home. I decided to attend a New Years party with friends from exchange and from school. The party was an absolute blast, and it will be a night that I will not soon forget.

Soon after, the Rotary organized a day trip for all the exchange students to visit the beautiful city of Bruges. Bruges is a city located in Flanders, or the northern section of Belgium. It is often referred to as “the Venice of the north”, because of its many charming canals and waterways.

On January 7th, I changed host families. While I was sad to leave my first host mom, I could not of been happier to have been placed in my current family. While before it was just my host mom and I, I now have a host dad and a host brother in his twenties who comes and goes throughout the week. In changing families I also made a drastic change in scenery. My first host family lived more in the city, but I have since moved to a small suburban town called Esneux. It is perhaps the most beautiful town I have ever seen. There is a river that runs though the middle, and it is some how centered in between three very large hills, which us Floridians would likely classify as mountains. On the top of the “mountain” or large hill over looking the center of the town, there is an incredible Chateau which at night is breath taking. The history is perhaps even more fascinating. Many years ago, when it belonged to the commune of Esneux, it was badly burned in a fire started by teenagers. The commune did not have the money to repair it, and therefore decided to put it on the international market for ONE EURO. The catch, of course, was that the new owner had to completely restore it to it’s former glory, and someone did just that. What is baffling however, is to think that that magnificent structure is a private residence. In telling me this story, my host dad also mentioned that it has been said it was the inspiration for the original castle at Disney world.  

My new host dad also works at my school, which is extremely convenient as I now ride with him to school and therefore avoid the joy of taking a bus early in the morning. The only possible downfall is its lack of proximity to the city. It is roughly 50 min by bus to get into the city and to the main train station, but the beautiful landscape is well worth it.  

At the end of January I was able to attend another another concert here in Belgium. I have always been a huge Blink 182 fan, and have always appreciated Tom Delonge’s music. So when I heard that Angels and Airwaves (Tom Delonge’s second band) was coming to Brussels I was really excited. My third host dad ended up buying me tickets for Christmas and I along with two friends had a blast watching the show.

As everyone knows, the Super bowl was only a few weeks ago. While I didn’t care much for either team, it felt weird knowing I was not going to be able to see it this year. A Belgian friend from school, who has a satellite service invited me to her house to watch the game. I truly had a great time that night, despite the game starting at 12am and ending at 4:30am, not to mention getting up for school the next day. Occasionally I will have moments of realization, that I am infarct not in the United States and that I am living abroad thousands of miles away from home. As Christina Aguilera sang our nation’s national anthem, I had one of these moments. Sitting with Belgian friends as the only American I suddenly realized just how big exchange is, and how far away from home and the norm I am. It was in no doubt a negative feeling, but rather one of pride and accomplishment.  

My level of French as improved tremendously, and I understand almost everything as far as everyday conversations are concerned. I speak only French with my host family and Belgian friends. In an effort to bring my French to an even higher level, I have started a class in the city for non-French speakers. After taking a test to evaluate my level, I was placed in the most difficult class. I can already recognize the difference 6 additional hours of instruction a week is having, and will be excited to see its impact after another 5 months.  

For now, I shall continue enjoying my Belgian life.  

 A bientot!

Jenny’s Bio

Hej! My name is Jennifer Hendricks; I am 16 years old, and a sophomore at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Florida. I will be 17 during my exchange year in Greenland. I will be in layers and layers of clothes to stay warm in the cold climate of Greenland, a drastic change from Florida’s heat and humidity. It will be so amazing to visit a place that is rarely visited by people. I know it sounds crazy for a girl from Florida to go to Greenland, but I like the challenge and an opportunity to be a little different. I have always been a go getter and am excited for this challenge, which I know will change my life forever. It’s kind of scary to think that I will not be with my friends and my family, but that’s what this whole thing is about, creating new friends and family. I have no doubt in my mind that I will be walking off that plane with a huge smile on my face and running to meet my new family.

Friends and family would say that I am an outgoing and spontaneous teenager. I enjoy swimming, when it’s hot outside and playing on my Wii fitness in colder weather. Since I was little, I have been flying around the United States. I have flown to Boston to learn about our history, visited friends in Pittsburgh, PA, and relatives in Wisconsin. I used to fly to New Orleans to visit my dad, and now fly to see him in Seattle, WA. Eight hours on a plane doesn’t bother me anymore. As a very independent young lady, I think that this is the right thing for me to do. Thank you Rotary Youth Exchange for this great opportunity! Farvel!

 Jenny’s Journals

August 22

Wow, my first journal already! It’s so exciting, everything I see or do, I always think “Oh, this is going in my journal!” And now that I have started to write it, I don’t know where to begin.

I left Gainesville for Jacksonville on Friday evening went to dinner with my mom and her best friend, Sheila, then the next day woke up at 6:30 for my 9:54 flight to Washington Dulles. A lady at the check in counter gave me this word of advice, and other exchange students probably no this already, but she said, and I quote, “Trust NOBODY!” It’s true; you can’t believe what people say, I mean yes, your host parents and Rotarians, but others not so much. You never know in a foreign place. I wasn’t nervous or sad, until I boarded the plane. I didn’t really know what to do at that point; I just sat there blankly, trying to find out what I really felt. (Sorry Daphne that I missed you in JAX!)I had a five hour layover in Dulles, and all I did was read a book and eat some lunch. I got on my next plane for Copenhagen, and boy was it a long journey! When dinner was served, turbulence occurred and guess what happened, yes, my meal went all over my clothes. My mom told me to bring an extra pair of pants, but I said “Mom, there is no point when I won’t encounter anything.” Man, was she ever right. I barely slept the whole time and by then I had finished my book and had about 3 hours left. As soon as we landed in Copenhagen I was supposed to grab my bags, but I didn’t know that until I was at the gate, but luckily enough somebody there grabbed it. I got to Kangerlussauq and had to board my next plane for Nuuk. We got to Nuuk, but the fog was so bad we had to turn back around.  I got to the airport thinking I was in Nuuk looking for Udo and Birgit, but it looked so familiar. As soon as I looked around I saw a lady I talked to on the plane from Copenhagen, she helped me figure everything out. So, soon enough the fog had cleared and I was headed for Nuuk.

My host family is so amazing. They treat me as if I am part of the family; I wash your clothes, but do not iron them, you do something and you leave a note, don’t ask to do something, just do it. I love the feeling that I am trusted and I know that I will not let them down. As soon as I arrived they took me fishing, I was the first one to catch a fish, and it was nothing we could eat. POISONOUS! Then I caught another but it was a baby cod, which is no good. Daniela and Marcus, guests from Germany, were making jokes about how if you cannot catch the fish, you cannot eat the fish. It sounded better in German. We have also gone out to an ice berg where I got to “pet” it! 😀 The weather is so nice and when the sun is out, it can be quite warm. Soccer matches have been going on a lot lately, and we live right on top of a hill so we look out our windows and see people sitting on the rocks watching the game go on in the stadium. It’s kind of neat.

I had school a day after I arrived, it was overwhelming but I survived. School is so much different, all the buildings are spread out like a college and you stay with the same class the whole day, so they become your good friends. Teachers are not as strict as I am used to. We only have three classes a day and they last for an hour and thirty minutes with smoke breaks. Almost all the kids here smoke. My host mom calls Greenland the laid back country. You could never come to school or do your homework and they don’t really mind it. During lunch you are allowed to go home and eat and then expected to be back at school at 12:15. School starts at 8:15 and ends at 13:50 (1:50). There are always school activities going on and everybody participates. Everybody is everybody’s friend, no cliques. The students in my class are giving me Dansk lessons when the teacher leaves the room, and on snack and walking to class breaks. I get a few words in once in awhile, but each day it gets better.  Hopefully in a month I will be able to understand it. J

All I can really say is that Greenland is a beautiful place, and I am SOOOO happy that I chose it! I wake up every morning with a smile on my face, jumping out of bed putting my scarf and jacket on and heading to school. Greenland was a great place to put me in. (: Tak Rotary!

September 19

When I first chose Greenland, it was to be different, be the crazy girl from Florida going to an ice sheet, but now, it’s because my heart belongs here. It sounds crazy, I know, but Greenland makes me smile. I wake up every morning smiling and humming, enjoying everything around me. The Ravens screeching of hunger, or maybe talking to each other; the wind gently tapping your window. It’s so relaxing! The snow has finally fallen on the mountains, and soon it will be covering the green grass. My world will soon be white, and the sky will be dancing with the northern lights.

Things to know about Greenland:

When you’re meeting someone, girls give you hugs, boys give you a hand

Everyone speaks English, so don’t sound out every word to make them feel stupid

Smoking in restaurants is normal

Not all alcoholics (Nete told me to put this up)

Lovable, down-to-earth people

Houses, schools, hospitals, grocery stores, like any other town

The stones on the mountains are the oldest in the world

Kalaallisut/Greenlandic is the most spoken Eskimo language

You eat TONS of bread and fish!

Babies are left in strollers outside when you shop

Dogs and cats can do their own thing

Ravens eat out of trash cans

No recycling

Greenland has the FRESHEST water on earth (: It’s really yummyy

My “host” family is my family now. We do everything together! From walking the dogs – to family game nights. You don’t get home sick when you feel at home. Of course I miss my mom, dad, and brother, but you need to focus on the now and where you are. My “host” sister, Sofia, is one of my closest friends here. She’s such a sweetie and is just like me! All my friends say we look a lot alike, and we both smile and say thanks! We both share clothes, and always ask “Does this look alright?” or “What should I wear tonight?” I love being a big sister. I also got to meet my “host” brother, Sebastian, who’s in boarding school in Denmark. He’s tall and really nice. Plus, we goof on Sofia a lot. That’s what being the youngest is like!

I have been so busy with school, hanging around town, and being with my host family that I haven’t had the feelings of being homesick. I guess we all know that were going to be back home within a year, and we have to live life to the fullest. Being an exchange student is hard, sometimes when you hang out with your friends, they talk in Danish, French, or another language, so you have no idea what they are saying and then you sit there like a lost duck waiting for someone to talk to you. I am starting to understand the language more and more every day. I am also trying to learn Greenlandic and German (since my host family speaks German the most), but Danish is much easier. Words are very similar; they just have a more ughh sound. It’s so fascinating to listen to them talk, I always smile and giggle when I see them speak English because they seem so happy!

As my journey continues in the extreme cold weather about to get colder, I must say that the Northern lights are the most beautiful thing alive. The first night I saw them was when I went on a long walk with my best friend Nete, she told me to look up and see the northern lights, I did and I started to cry. It was amazing, something you can’t really describe. It makes you all giddy inside and want to dance. The green strings of lights are dancing in the dark sky, and it just makes you wonder how something so beautiful has come along. It was by far one of the best experiences here. I remember a night I went to the far side of town with my two friends Lauritz, an exchange student from Germany through AFS and Thomas. We stayed on the mountain for at least 3 hours taking pictures of the northern lights and staring at the stars, and the shooting stars as well. I can’t wait until the ground is covered in white fluff and the sky is dark with the dancing green lights. It’ll be the prettiest thing on the earth!

October 27

At the beginning of October, my host mom, Birgit comes up to me and says, Cuno, my next host father, would like to take me hunting for the weekend. I was super excited, but had no idea what you need to bring to go hiking. I packed warm clothes and Sofia checked over the things I picked out, and approved. I left Friday to the harbor to meet with Cuno. He brought a lady from Canada, Kirstin who hunts mainly for research. During the 2 hour boat ride, Kirstin, Cuno, and I talked about how Danish and English are so similar. The water was calm and the air was cool. Ice burgs flooded the water, so every second the boat would go left, right, left, right and so on. I saw a whale and a seal on the way there, and it was my first time! When do you ever get a chance to hike 10 miles and hunt for reindeer in Florida? Well, never! That’s something great about being in Greenland, but it has its disadvantages too. For example, the terrain is squishy and the hills are high. 10 miles may seem like 100 when you reach the reindeer. Nothing can stop you when walking through muddy holes, no snakes, no alligators, and especially no spiders. I kept looking down thinking there might be a snake, and then I remember that Greenland has no snakes. We may not have the little things, like snakes and alligators. But we have the foxes and the polar bears. I learned something interesting about polar bears this weekend on my hunting adventure. When you see a polar bear, you don’t run into different directions, you sure enough don’t stand by yourself; you hook arms with your hunting buddies to make yourself look bigger than the polar bear. They’ll feel threatened and move on.

I think it’s time to start talking about the language… Man, I never realized how hard Danish is. Sure, I practiced a lot before I came here, but it felt like I didn’t know anything when I got here. The pronunciation is really hard. You have the ø, æ, and å. They all sound completely different, but at the same time they sound the same. Although I am learning Danish, I am also learning Greenlandic. It’s a very tricky language. I am getting good at, and my friends, which are mostly Greenlandic say I am better than Marie, my other friend who’s from Denmark. They always laugh at us when we try talking in Greenlandic to one another because we sound so funny. The reason for that is, they talk with their tounge and throat, and so does Danish. English uses the front of your mouth. Everyone goes ”THHHHHHH! Jenny!!” and I try, and try, but never seem to get it right. The word rød, in Danish, which means red. Is one of the hardest words I know. I sat at lunch one day and kept trying to say it, my friends and I eventually gave up. My goal while I am here is to learn Danish, but I realllly want to learn Greenlandic! It is so amazing and I love the difficulty. (I am going to translate random words in Danish and Greenlandic so you can learn!)

My skin has never been so dry, or white. My classmates always comment on my very pale skin, saying ”You’re from Florida, shouldn’t you be really tan?!”, I simply say ”I guess I am from Greenland now.” They all love that I consider my self a Greenlander/Kalaaleq/Grønlænder. I have used about 3 bottles of lotion already, and I have 5 more waiting to be used.

It seems crazy to me that practically everyone here smokes. Friends always tell me, “Today’s the day I stop…Or this can be my last pack.” I never believe them, because the next day, they have a new pack and are running out on the 5 minute pause during class. My friend Aimee told me the youngest she has seen smoking was 4 years old. I was lost. I wanted to know how a 4 year old even got the smoke and how they knew to use it and light it. I couldn’t believe the words that came out, a FOUR year old? Like really?! I still can’t believe it. It completely shocked me. There they are 4 years old and already ruining their lungs. How is that even possible? After she told me that, I never was able to stop talking about it, then my best friend, Nete, told me “Jenny, it’s just the way things are. It seems crazy to us too, but we can’t stop them. If they want to do that and try to look cool, then let them.” I realized she was right. I am in a new culture, I shouldn’t be standing there comparing this or that to America, I should just realize that I am somewhere new and I can’t do anything about the way that they live.

The most popular myth in Greenland is the Tupilak. It’s a mask made of bone or teeth from a whale, and when you have a hatred for someone, you tell the Tupilak and it goes and tries to scare the person who you cursed. The job of the Tupilak is to scare the person or try and kill them, if they don’t succeed at what their job is, then they must kill the owner who made them.

The snow has finally fallen on the ground! Tuesday night Nete, called me and told me to look out my window, so I did, and I screamed seeing there was snow on the ground. Since, for the past week, I was staying at my next host families house while my other host family was in Florida (LUCKY), I told Susanne that I was going outside to play in the snow. She giggled and said you have fun baby. And I was talking on the phone and running in the snow. I was so happy, I couldn’t stop giggling and smiling. It felt like I have never seen snow before. The next day, me and Lauritz got into a snowball fight at school. He won; and got scrapes from slipping on the ice. Since, in my future I want to be a nurse, I was like here you need to clean this up! All my friends call me the mother of the group. I guess it shows that my mom has taught me well.

 November 29

Greenland’s weather has turned for the worst. Thanks to Global Warming, I am stuck walking in rain.. Which I hate! It’s freezing cold and it’s raining! Let’s not forget to mention the strong winds, it feels like you are walking in a hurricane. It’s starting to get dark around kl. 13.30 (1:30 pm) and starts getting bright about kl. 10 (am). It’s hard to adjust, but after a week, it becomes adaptable. I still take naps after school, which messes me up, because then I don’t go to bed until 1 or 2. I don’t really know what I do, but I usually text my friends or read. Snow finally fell on the ground at the beginning of November, which means it’s going to be a long winter! The snow only stays on the ground for a few hours, but it’s not the fun fluffy snow, it’s the slushy, hard to walk in snow. I still need to buy good shoes for the snow, but they are so expensive! I want some seal boots, but then I won’t be able to take them back to Florida! The ponds are frozen since the weather has been cold, so I have been able to run on it. After school, my friends and my host sister have played on it, it’s really fun! Dangerous yes, but you only live once! 😀

I recently switched host families. My host sister, Sofia, was crying and wouldn’t let me go. She’s so cute! But my new host family, is so sweet. I have a day where I have to cook dinner, and put on “Dish Duty”! 🙂 It’s actually feels like I am more independent. Plus, they eat SUPER SUPER SUPER healthy, so I have lost even more weight. It’s fun though, we always watch crime shoes together!

I am a freshman all over again at school! Being picked on, also boys always trying to get with the younger girls. But instead of a high school, it’s more of a college. They want to prepare you for what will be in your future, since most students go to Denmark for college. I feel like it will be helpful when I get back to Gainesville, and going to Santé Fe Community College (Duel Enrollment). Right now, 1G which is the whole first year must write a report. It’s about water, how interesting, not! I have a group of 2 of the smartest girls in class and the sweetest, lucky me! Since we have this report, we get to take class off for Geography, Chemistry, and Biology. At school, lunch break usually ends up as a snowball fight, girls against boys. We all know who wins, the boys. Only because they don’t have purses, and run in heels. I have slipped sooooo many times going down the hill that I have just gotten used to it. At school, we have the 3G’s be the master of the 1G’s class. Meaning 1G’s are the slaves. So, there is this party called the slave party for all those who haven’t got a master yet. I was going to go, thinking it would be fun, until… I found out that when the master “buys” you, they say I want to buy that person for ___ shots! Like, omg, so I am totally not going. I don’t feel like cleaning up after my friends and having to be scared if I can’t find them. It wouldn’t be any fun for me! So, my friend, Aimee and I decided that we’re just going to chill and watch some movies, like we always do. (: Actually, I am very happy with my grades at school!!! Probably better than they are in America. I got a 43/45 on my Greenlandic exam, and got a B overall in that class. I was very happy, and so was my mommy!

I have some of the best friends I could ever ask for. I feel so close to them already, and we already have planned moving in together. One of my friends, Inuuna, she plans on kidnapping me so I can’t leave her and Nete in Greenland. Since, most of my friends will either move to Denmark or just drop out of school, which is common. We do everything together; from shopping to having crazy sleepovers! I have learned everything about my friends, like what pushes their buttons, and how they are when they don’t want to do something. My friend Inuuna always says “Want to watch a movie?” and that always means “Want to watch a movie so I can sleep?” So, whenever she asks that, I just start laughing.

What adventurous food have I had since I have been here? Well, I have had seal, reindeer, muskus, and whale! Seal is delicious, and so is everything else!! I learned that when you first eat seal, you have to watch how much you eat because if you eat too much then you’ll throw it up. Whale is reallllllly chewy! The other day, I was at my friend Inuuna’s house sleeping over, and we were eating whale, and she was just chewing it like it was nothing, I put it in my mouth and felt like my teeth were breaking. She started laughing saying that she has Greenlandic teeth and I don’t. I was just laughing, and trying my hardest to chew! Reindeer is quite amazing, probably the best meat you will ever taste.

January 13

ALEE! SUIT? (=

Time has flown! I can’t believe that I have been here for 5 months already, and only have 4 months left. My friends and I talk about it all the time. It makes us all want to cry, but we’re so happy that we’ve bonded. I have met some amazing people here, and these people I will never forget. They have become part of my family. We already planned the night before I leave and the day I leave. We’re going to have a big sleepover, watch movies, and share memories. Then I will go to the airport with all my friends, host families and Rotarians, do our goodbyes and be on my way to Denmark for the Euro Trip.  We already plan on bringing boxes of tissues! This place has really taken a place in my heart- the people, the nature, and the city. I couldn’t look at it without smiling and feeling warmth. I still may not fit in as much as I would like, but I consider myself a Greenlandic. I am trying my hardest to learn the national language, but it is really tough. I actually am better at speaking Greenlandic than Danish! I understand all Danish, and still learning on how to speak better. I’m having some difficulty in pronunciation.  

I’m exhausted. I never thought that I wouldn’t like school so much. It tires me out, having the 34 hours a week doesn’t help that much. I come home and just try to relax as much as possible. Reading helps a lot, but also running. Although I find it tough running on ice, it gives me time to think. Everyone needs that time alone, to just open up your mind.

Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!  Probably the best time of my life! It was so different, and exciting. I started off by waking up early, kl. 9, and eating some breakfast. You start off by giving each person one gift. After breakfast, you clean, cook and get ready for everyone to arrive. After that you get dressed in fancy clothes to enjoy dinner. You have tons of food, and dinner last for a couple hours. Once dinner is finished you open all the doors in your house and light the candles on the tree. Then you join hands and sing songs- Greenlandic, Danish, and English. Then you form a line and dance around the house going in each room, which believe me was super silly. I couldn’t stop giggling. You open gifts after dancing and giving your hugs. I got all Greenlandic presents.

HAPPY NEW YEARS! This New Year’s will never be topped. It was the longest and wildest time ever! We get dressed up at about kl. 18 and then start dinner at about kl. 18.30. Around kl. 19.50 You go outside to watch fireworks for Denmark’s New Years. Man, what a beautiful site! Then you go inside to eat some more, and drink Greenlandic coffee. (It’s really strong!) Then at kl. 23.40, “Dinner for One” comes on, it’s this old movie that plays every year, and was probably the funniest thing I have seen in awhile. After the movie, you say happy New Year and go outside for another show of fireworks. This time it lasts for 45 minutes. It was so spectacular. After 12, you go off to meet with your friends and spend the rest of the night out. It was a memory that I’ll never forget!

And I am so excited to know that there are upcoming exchange students who are where we were last year, it’s so exciting! And more people should choose GREENLAND!!! 😀 Good Luck. God Jul and Happy New Year everyone.

April 3

Greenland is my home, and always will be. There isn’t a day that goes by without me smiling and laughing so hard I feel like I just did a work out. I’ve tried to see what it would be like when I get home, but it’s hard to picture myself somewhere else. Everyone has those addictions, and mine is Greenland. My heart fell in love with the people and city, my mouth speaks in 2 languages, and my stomach is in pain from all the laughter. Who would want to leave a place that has really become somewhere you love? Not as a vacation, but as a home. I’m happy to say that my best friend, Inuuna, is coming to visit me for a month in Florida. It gives me a chance to show her my culture and how I live. It also will help me stop my sadness from leaving this fantastic place.

All those people who didn’t believe that going away for a year would really do much, well if only they knew how much they were missing out on this life changing experience. Who can go back and say that they had the best high school experience in a different way than others – we can. People will never understand how much we gave up going through this exchange, whether it’s making up a year of high school or passing down a great job. We all sacrificed something, and came out of it with a head held high, a crushed heart, and a new image. You have to see things in a different way, positive rather than negative.

People always ask me about weather. Either is it cold, or is it always dark. Well, you never know what the weather really is like. Some days the weather is warm and bright, or freezing and snowing. The snow was melting last week, then it started snowing this week, and now it’s melting again. It just doesn’t know what to do. No matter the weather, I walk home every day. Just to get that alone time to take in everything that’s happening. It’s been blowing my mind.

When you’re on exchange, you always want to join a club or a sport. It helps you meet new people. I have started taking karate. It’s so much fun, and I am actually really good at it, at least that’s what my trainer tells me. Some of my friends and I joined together, and now we always bring it up. We always say that if someone bothers us, we know karate. I have decided to take it up when I get back to Florida. It’s a great way to release stress and gain confidence. I would never think of myself as doing karate, but it gets your energy up and you can’t help but feel so happy afterwards.

My school always throws a party every month. I had prom at the beginning of February. I went with my friend Maasi as his date. Later on, at about 11 pm, my friend Inuuna and I decided that we were bored, so we went to her house and watched movies. That was my first and last prom. The last one we had is called “Fastelavn” it’s sort of like Halloween but it’s in February and you don’t dress up scary. You dress up in fun clothes. Both my friend and I were a “West Ham United’s Worst Hooligan” which was a lot of fun. We chanted our anthem- Forever Blowing Bubbles and we blew bubbles afterwards. It was a lot of fun.

Leelah’s Bio

Ni Hao!

My name is Leelah and I am 16. I live in Loxahatchee, which is a growing town in West Palm Beach. I live with my mom Miri, and my dad Roland. I am an only child. I have two dogs that are full of energy.

I am writing this over winter break. The last day right before the break, I was a junior. When I go back to school in a week, I will be a senior! I go to Seminole Ridge Community High School. I am taking some extra classes online in addition to my classes at school so that I will be graduating a year early with the class of 2010, rather than with the class of 2011.

Words cannot begin to describe just how excited I am to be a Rotary Youth Exchange Student! I am going be going to an awesome island far away from Florida. I’m going to Taiwan!

I’m going to be spending the 2010-2011 school year in Taiwan! I’m happy that I get to go to such an interesting place. I first found out about Taiwan at RYLA from a 2008-2009 inbound student named Ivy. She made it so interesting, so I went home and researched more about it. Wow was it amazing!

I cannot wait to be there and experience all the new things. I am also excited to become a new independent young adult that is ready to overcome all my fears. I just can’t wait to become the person I’ve always wanted to be!

My friends and classmates don’t really understand why I have decided to go through with this during our senior year. They don’t see the big picture and that this beyond doubt is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It made me realize that I need to trust myself and my true feeling before I trust what others tell me. Boy am I glad that I did!

So thank you Rotary for allowing me to embark on this wonderful journey! I appreciate all that is done in allowing me to have this truly amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Leelah’s Journals

September 9

Before I begin to babble about the craziness of getting to Taiwan, let me tell who ever is reading this that something’s in my bio have changed kind of drastically. To start with I turned 17 and I did end up graduating a year early (the first to ever do so in my school!). I believe the rest is the same at this point, well maybe other then the fact that instead of dreaming of coming to Taiwan I am actually here now.

I would also like to say that this Journal is very late no my arrival to Taiwan. You can read about why it is so late in my next blog that I promise will be sent with in the next week or two. And yet, I had no emotions going through my head or heart of excitement. My body is just still numb. It sort of feels like it is all a dream and I am not really here in Taiwan even though I have been here for 3 weeks.

Judgment Day/Days

Ok so now on to what you all have been waiting for, getting to Taiwan. I am not going to lie, getting to Taipei was beyond hell. It took 30 hours from the moment I left my house to get about 10,000 miles away.

It all began when I left my house at 2am on Thursday August 19th. I didn’t sleep at all that night because I was finishing packing, yeah procrastination! So the last time I slept was Tuesday night and I had to wake up early on Wednesday to go to my last Rotary meeting. So basically I was beyond sleep deprived. So we loaded everything up, I said goodbye to my two amazing dogs, who I miss dearly, and then that was time to go down to Miami.

It took us 2 hours exactly to get down to Miami International Airport. My mom and Takashi were sleeping. My mom stayed up with me that night to keep me company so she was really tired. Once we got to the airport I had to get my bags Saran Warped for safety reasons, checked in, got all 4 of my boarding passes, and then sent my suitcases off to Taipei. After that I had about an hour until my plane left, but I decided to go ahead in through security. I only did this because I figured that the longer I wait with my parents the harder it would be to say goodbye. My mom got really emotional and started to cry. I told myself that I wouldn’t cry but every time I see her cry I can’t help but just cry too, (thanks a lot Emma!). So then I said goodbye to Takashi. Next way my dad, he got really emotional, which made things a lot worse for the try not to cry theory I had. But then once I hugged and kissed them I was off through security all alone only to be accompanied with my thoughts and feelings. I found my gate and then sat there for an hour waiting to board my plane to Chicago.

Once I got on the plane and found my seat the person sitting next to me was this very little Chinese woman (ironic, I know). It took me a while but I finally got a hold of myself and feel asleep for a little while only to be violently awoken but the Chinese woman sitting next to me hitting me and screaming at me. I had no idea what was going on since I had just woken up but apparently she was so loud that the flight attendants, 3 of them, came and were trying to get her to stop hitting me and screaming at me. At that point I realized that she was speaking Chinese and wanted to go to the bathroom. So I simply got up and let her go. The flight attendants were looking at me in amazement. Then came all the questions of how I knew what she was saying. By the time I had explained it all to them we were landing in O’Hara Airport. Since my dad and other exchange students were telling me how big the airport is I was practically running just to get to my gate. Once I got there I sat there waiting for Sammy and Heather to come and meet me there. So I sat there waiting, and waiting, and waiting, for an hour until I realized that something wasn’t right so I went up to the counter and asked if they would be on my flight. The man said that they were on a totally different flight to San Francisco. At that point I lost it. I was freaking out because if I missed them or they had a different flight from San Francisco to Tokyo, I would be all alone for another 17 hours.

When I got onto the plane going to San Francisco, I totally lost a hold of myself. I was so mad that travel agency got the second digit wrong in our boarding pass numbers but accidents happen I guess. Once I found my seat, I was sitting next to this very kind and sweet woman that asked me if I was ok. So I told her no and kind of ranted and spilled all my crazy emotions going on at the time. She was so very nice for listening to me. She got me something to drink and helped me a lot to calm down. We talked most of the 4 ½ hours to San Francisco. At this point I think God was trying to tell me something because the row in front of me there were three people speaking, yup you guessed it Chinese. I feel asleep at one point and woke up a bit later and she was eating some snakes and gave some to me. We talked some more and then once we landed she let me use her phone to call my parents to tell them the situation with the flights and to tell them that I was safe. It was really nice hearing their voices. When I got off the plane the lady, who I think name was Penny, but I am not sure, waited for me to go find out where my next gate and terminal would be. I was so appreciative of her kind generosity that I told her thank you so many times. She told me that she wasn’t done with me yet because she wanted me to get to my gate safely. We continued to talk while I approached my surprisingly huge group of blue blazers. It was really nice to see them. It made me feel a lot at ease. So I gave the so very kind lady a huge hug and told her thank you like a million times more. She then smiled at me and left. I joined then joined my group. I was the last one to arrive with only 20 minutes to spare until boarding began.

We got on and I was sitting with 3 other exchange students, Danny from New York, Liz from New Hampshire, and Samuel from Nebraska. We talked a lot on our insanely long 11 hour flight. I was sleeping a lot of it on and off because I was just so gosh darn emotionally and physically drained. At some point in the flight I switched seats with Heather so that I could go sit next to Sammy to watch a movie on his laptop. We saw “The Strangers.” It was supposed to be a scary movie, but I didn’t find it scary at all. In fact I was laughing throughout most of it while Sammy was freaking out, and he has seen it many times too. It ended up being a disturbing yet funny movie, and as weird as it may sound, I liked it. So then we ate a couple times throughout the plane ride and oh my god it was disgusting. We later found out that whatever it was that we were eating made most if not all of us really sick. No one really knows what exactly it was that we were actually eating… But any ways back to traveling. I saw some movies and TV shows on the little personal TVs in front of each seat. I also spent most of the flight just talking with Liz and Danny. They are both pretty cool and it was nice that I got to sit next to interesting and fun people on that crazy long flight. It was and still a very weird and strange concept to me that even though I no that we were following the Sun, it was always light out so it made it very hard for us sitting together to keep any sort of track of time. We only had Danny’s iPod to go by. It just felt like we were on that plane for years because it was really uncomfortable and we all just wanted to tae a shower and sleep in a bed rather than a chair.

A lot of time passed until we finally made it to Tokyo Airport. That’s when the real fun began! We all put our bags down and only brought our personal items with us. Just imagine 18 teenagers running around having fun exploring. It was like we were little kids in a candy store! There was so much to see and do. The first thing most f the others did was go and get some Sushi. I didn’t get anything because I was feeling really sick from the flight and the nasty plane food so I went with a couple of the others to go get some food. It was so cool. I was with Tony, Liz, Sammy, and Samuel. It was definitely a really cool experience to go through because it was an open bar of fresh fish! We did a lot more exploring, since we stayed there for 2 hours. It was really cool and definitely the highlight of my day so far!

We then got on the plan and started boarding the plane to Taipei! It was then only about 4 hours until I would be in my new home for the next year. I found my seat and was really excited because I was finally sitting next to a window! It was also really cool that I was sitting next to Tony, from Pennsylvania, and a very sweet Taiwanese woman. Tony and I were talking for about an hour and a half or so until we both fell asleep talking to each other and getting to know each other. When we woke up we were finally landing at Taipei International Airport. I was so happy that I would finally be done flying! All I wanted to do was take a shower and go to sleep. But yeah so we all left and went through customs and immigration which was a lot easier then I thought it would be to get through. So when I found my bags, Tony and I got those cart things to put them on. All the other exchange students were making fun of me because my bags were saran wrapped in blue. So then Tony and I walked out to be greeted by a swarm of people. Behind a special waiting area there must have been maybe 75 Taiwanese people waiting to great all of us. It wasn’t hard to find my host family because they had a bright red sign saying, “Leelah Welcome to Taiwan.” It was really cool. So then we took what seemed to be an endless amount of pictures with my host mom and host dad, along with my counselor. I was so out of it I just wanted sleep at that point of being awake for over 50 hours.

We then made our way to the car and began our 2 hour car ride to the house. I was trying so hard to stay awake during the ride. The only thing that was keeping me awake was the fact that I was in a new place and wanted to see everything that was happening and all the sights around me. On the way my host mom insisted on me eating so we got Burger King to go for me to eat once we got home. It was really cheap which was pretty cool I guess for future references. Once we got to the house we climbed up to the 5th floor, only stairs here, and I was finally able to put my stuff down and take a rest. They wanted me to eat so I did, and then the best thing of all happened, I was able to take a nice cold relaxing shower! Even though the water was ice cold I didn’t care I was just so happy to get clean! So after I went to unpack all my things and put everything away. Then the best thing of all happened, I got to finally go to sleep! It felt so good to just sleep in a bed after being in a plane for about 30 hours!

So this is the end of my first journal. You can read more about everything I have been doing since I had arrived within the next week or two. I hope you enjoyed my crazy trip of getting to Taiwan.

November 21

My first two months in Taiwan were not by any means a dream come true, at first. I definitely got my first real does of reality with in my first month of being here and moving four times. I was in four different families houses, no I am not a bad exchange student by any means. There were just some major cultural and other differences between myself and my original first host family, I was only there for one week. I then moved out and into my counselors house for three days, the district has a rule about staying with a student’s counselor. Here it isn’t allowed. I then moved into the district emergency family and stayed there for two week until they could find me a new host family to live with for the remaining two or three months. But currently I am living with my new first host family and things are beyond amazing now. Yes I have gone through a lot of bad and annoying things that may not have been relevant, but that’s just life throughing curve balls at me. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I think that I am maybe now starting to realize the reasons that I have gone through the things I have in my first month. It helped me to learn a lot of valuable lessons and learn more about myself. I continue to learn more and more about life and myself each day that goes by, which I think is a very good thing because I think that shows independence and maturity. All of that together is helpful to grow from a teenager to an adult.

I don’t want to sound like a total dower because I did do some pretty amazing things in my first two months of being in Taiwan.

To start with in August, I went to see a medicine man to get “checked out. ” I have never been more scared in my life to how accurate it really was. Everything he told me was true and I had never said any of it to anyone before! Until this very day the thought of how cool and crazy it is that he knew how I was feeling and how to make me feel better blows my mind away.

Lets see I got to go see Taipei 101! Although I did not get to go up to the top quiet yet it was still amazing! There is a five story mall that I went with the medicine mans wife and their son. I also went to RYLA here which is completely different then in District 6930 back home in Florida. While I was there I actually think I concurred my fear of heights by climbing on a tight rope, what I believe was about 30 feet, 10 meters, above the ground! It was probably one of the most amazing things I have done because now I am really not that afraid of man made heights.

I also got to meet some of the most amazing people I have ever met while at RYLA, including 52 other current exchange students, a whole bunch of Rebounds and Rotexes, as well as a tons of locals! Once RYLA was over I had my first day of Chinese and High School. I go to a special school ever Monday and Thursday morning from 8am-11am that Rotary has arranged for all of us to attend according to ability on a test we took. In my class there are 14 exchange students in all including myself.

I go to my high school here, Xi Song Senior High School, Monday-Friday form 7:30am when school starts until either 4:10pm or 5:10pm depending on the day when school finishes. There is another exchange student that also attends the same school. Her name is Michi and is from Germany. We are not in the same class, but have some special classes together that our school has arranged for us. My school has both Junior and Senior High School combined with it only having about 1,100 students, one of the smallest in Taipei. Because of the family situations I have had since being here, I haven’t been able to get to school until about about 9am, because of far distance. I am in an all girls class in the first grade, equivalent to being a freshman or a sophomore in America. I love my classmates so much! We have tons of fun and they teach me a lot as well as I teach them a lot too!

Ok so now on to September. September was so extremely busy for me. I did so many things in what feels and seem to me to be so little time! I went to see some of the famous temples and night markets here in Taipei with friends and families. So far I have been to I believe 4 different night markets. I’m not sure at all the number for the temples but if I had to guess I would say around 10-15 or so just in my two months being here! They are all so different and amazing, and that goes for the night markets as well! In September I also learned how to play badminton. We definitely don’t have it in Florida and I’m pretty sure we don’t have it in America as well. It is so much harder then it looks I think. It is like a slow version of Tennis, but the difference is Tennis so much easier! But I still had a blast learning and playing it!

At school we have to join a club that meets on Wednesday’s from 4:10-5:10ish and the whole school participates, but in many different clubs. I decided that I wanted to the Guitar Club because I have always wanted to learn how to play the guitar but could never find the time in Florida, so here in Taiwan I have the time so I am learning!

I was fortunate enough to take a trip with the district emergency family that I stayed with for 2 weeks to go to the east part of Taiwan for a day. It was amazing! It reminded me so much of Florida because there were fields and it was oh so quiet. I think other then family and friends the thing I miss the most is grass. People think that I am really crazy but I really and truly miss it. There was so much of it! It was the best feeling ever to see it and be able to breath the nice fresh air that was there. The air in Taipei is so bad that I can feel the toxins going into my body when I take a breath. Its ok though because it’s just something new to get used to I guess. There was no busy commotion going on. It was just so peaceful compared to the roaring city that I will be living in for one year that is called Taipei. We went to the beach for a couple house which I was so beyond excited for being as I am a true Floridian and a beach bum. I was very disappointed though because we didn’t get to go into the water because it was “to dangerous.” It was still fun though because we played in the sand and made a lot of interesting and cool things. It was great being there with the sea water blowing in my face, it was really refreshing. It was a lot of fun!

I also got to go to a guitar competition at another other school. My school didn’t perform at this one but in November they will and I will go yet again to cheer them on! So every month Rotary has a Culture day planned for us. Basically its a fun day to go and experience something special to Taiwan and to just have a lot of fun with 52 other exchange students! In this month, we went to The Formosa Water Park. It took about an hour to get there, but it was way worth it! It was so much fun and we were celebrating Mid-Autumn Festive. I went to this really amazing place called “Green Lake” with my host family and it reminded me a lot of Fourth of July celebration back home. We also went to my host dad’s Rotary Club party. It was so much fun! I even sang karaoke, which I thought would never ever do, and I actually had a lot of fun doing it too. I also went out to eat BBQ with my classmates for the holiday! I ate things I never thought I would ever eat, let alone in Taiwan. My favorite was Ostrich by far!

I think one of the most amazing things was going hiking for the first time! I have been looking forward to it so much since coming to Taiwan and I finally got to do it and it was beyond amazing! It was the first time that I could actually breath in fresh air since arriving to Taipei and the view was breath taking. Words cannot even begin to describe just how beautiful the sights were! From where I was standing I could see all of Taipei, the place I have learned to call home for the next 9 months that are left. Now it isn’t always Plesentville but it makes for an experience that’s for sure! One of the best things by far that I got to do in September was that I got to see Ivy! Although it was only for one hour, it was amazing and we made so many plans for the future! It was about a year and a half since we had seen each other back at RYLA in 6930 which is where my whole adventure with Taiwan really started.

You are probably think “Wow, I can’t believe that Leelah did all of that in just August and September!” The best part is there is still October for me to tell about!

So I did some pretty amazing things and have made the most amazing friends that had become very clear to me in this month thus far. I had gone to help sew about 24 flags onto a huge banner type thing for the 10-10-2010 Year 100 day parade which was pretty cool even though I don’t know how to sew (and still don’t). I loved that I got to see some of my friends from the other Taipei District there that I had flown over here with. Later that day I went with 3 other exchange students form my district to C.K.S. Memorial Hall to just check it out and have fun relaxing and talking. When we got there we were really surprised to find that all the groups that would be performing in the parade were practicing there. It was so cool to watch and it made me just really want to see the parade but I couldn’t because I was in it! We also went to this really beautiful park located at the grounds as well. There so many beautiful flowers and there was grass! Real grass!!! There is no grass in Taipei unless you go to a park and some of those don’t really count most of the time. But yeah so it was just really a fun and nice day.

The weekend after was so crazy! It is actually where the crazy weekends really started. We had our second Culture Class day. This one was as fun or even for fun then the other day in my opinion. First we went for a bike ride around a marina type thing in the north of Taipei. It felt so great to get on a bike again and just ride around with the sea air running through me. I felt as if I were back in Florida for a short time while riding. It was great! After we went to get some lunch and then went over to our next part of the day which was learning how to play the Ocarina and then paint it. For me and a few others that had been experienced with music it was really easy, but for the others it kind of was a hot mess to say the least. The Ocarina is a native instrument of Taiwan and is very beautiful sounding. That day was tiring but the next would be even more. It was the 10-10-2010 Year 100 Parade. The day of Taiwan’s Independence and there were 100 exchange students from all over Taiwan that attended with us. It was great and lasted all day long just cheering and screaming that we love Taiwan and go Taiwan. It was just great and oh so much fun.

Something else that I did in October that I thought was pretty funny was I brought my best friend here, Nick from California, to my school for the day since later that day we went on a field trip to a temple with my culture class at school. He didn’t have school that day and I didn’t have school the day before because our schools were taking their midterms. It is a huge test that is taken ever seven weeks or so. Lets see I also got to go to two more guitar competitions. They were just as great as the others! I love spending days with my friends in Guitar Club! We also had a fun day. We just spent the whole day of about 6 or so hours playing games at Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. It was absolutely insane! there were about 50-75 of us running around screaming, and just having genuine fun! I honestly cannot remember if I had done something that was more fun! It was even more memorable that there were 7 travel groups trying to enjoy the Memorial Hall and all its beauty but couldn’t because of all the screaming kids in bright yellow shirts running around. You are probably wondering why this is so funny, well all 7 of the groups were from China. They were all elderly and taking pictures of us running around while they were cursing at us in Chinese. I love the fact that I understood what they were saying, even if it was bad words. I got to go see the Taipei Orchestra with my other an other exchange student who is also one of best friends here, Amy from Tennessee, and it was so great to listen to a live and professional orchestra play! Amy and I had a lot of fun!

Okay, so now back to school information. There was a talent show type thing with the second and third graders of senior high. Each class would elect someone in there class as a class leader and then they all did a skit. Then each person would vote on which skit and class leader they thought was the best. Although my grade couldn’t be a part of it, we were allowed to watch it. Words cannot begin to describe the thoughts I was having while watching the classes perform. Some were great and very entertaining where as other were just strange. It was a cool experience though to say the least. I had another pretty interesting experience happen at my school, the Japanese came.

Okay, so my school has a sister school in Japan which is very common in Taipei. The took a trip to Taipei to go visit other schools and learn how we learn basically. There was a big celebration to welcome all 100 of them and was set up to “Wow them” and I think worked. The coolest part I think was when they came with us to our club to learn. They were all randomly divided into groups and taken to each club. Since my club is Guitar and none of the 8 Japanese students knew how to play, the leaders of the club decided to just play a little concert for them. It was so cool because they play and since so well. I think the Japanese students really liked it a lot too.

Well enough of that, I also learned some really cool culture things in my Culture Class in school. We learned how to play Mohjong and Chinese Chess. They are pretty interesting games and I really liked learning and playing both of them. We also learned how to make Dumplings. I think they came out pretty good if I do say so myself! In my Housekeeping Class, I learned how to make my absolute favorite dessert/snake here in Taiwan, Pineapple Cakes. Words cannot even begin to descried just how good they are and the fact that I learned how to make them was so insanely cool. I will defiantly try and make them once I get back to Florida for sure! District 3480’s ROTEX threw all 53 of us a Halloween party. It was really cool and an interesting experience. I had just come back from a guitar show so I had no time to get dressed up, but I definitely improvised very well! I and another exchange student Tom, from Finland, were told that we can make a very good “stoner” face. I asked what exactly a stoner face was and apparently its looking clueless and saying “huh” a lot when someone asks you something. I never realized that I guess I make “the face” a lot. For everyone reading this I am and never will be in any way a “stoner,” but it was fun to walk around bumping into things and people pretending not to know what the heck was going on.

It was a very fun night, but it was also really very sad. It was everyone’s last time to see Sammy, he would be going home the following morning. If you are reading this Sammy, I love you and you better be in Miami to come greet me home in July! With Sammy leaving I had an oppifiany about my purpose for being on exchange, but that will come at a later time not now while I am finishing up October’s event. But definitely look forward to reading about my realization in the very near future! So anyway, getting back to the end of October, I got to go on an interesting little mini adventure one early morning with my host grandma, Ama (Taiwanese for Grandma). We went “hiking,” but it wasn’t the same type of hiking that I had done in September that I had mentioned above. This was a big huge even that was very well organized with hundreds of people walking around a park and river. We also went up and down a bridge. It was pretty tiring but cool in the end.

That beings me to the end of October, but there were two other things that happened that were really pretty amazing and cool that I just had to save for the end! Ok so it was my mom’s birthday and I had Skyped with her before her birthday and she was convinced that I had forgotten her birthday (which was part of the plan) so she I guess was mad at me, but what she later found out is that I gave her the best present I could have possibly thought of. It was even better then me being at home trying to think of what to do or get her. What I did was I got my whole class (39 girls with me included plus a Junior High School girl that I am good friends with) to sing Happy Birthday in Chinese and then English as my Geography teacher was recording it on my camera. I went home to upload it as fast as I could so my dad could take it to show her from his iPhone when he went to go bring her flowers at work. He said that she absolutely loved it and started crying. That made me feel so good and that “Operation-Make-Mommy-Cry-Because-That-Means-She-Loves-It” actually worked!

Ok so the last thing that I saved for absolute last to blabber about is that I got to go see the most amazing show that I have ever seen in my whole life. I got to go see the Batsheva Dance Group perform! Trying to describe just how amazing and incredible it was is so unbelievably hard and I feel so bad that I cannot really express just how great it was. The only thing I can say is watch this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz6nUMwlSqY, it basically summarizes the whole performance. I was so excited to go to the show when I heard about it while waiting for my MRT (Subway system) to come at Taipei Main Station. I went home and looked up video’s and went crazy! I just had to go it would have been so amazing! I showed them to my host mom and she loved it and asked if her, my host dad, and my host brother could come too. It made me feel so great that they were interested in something that I really was. My host mom also said that she loved the way the music sounded. I was so stoked that I was able to get a total of 23 people to come to the show, including Ama who was so happy I was excited and wanted to come as well. Most were other exchange students and some of their local friends and host siblings. As well as a few of my classmates that I am very close with, and my school counselor came with her boyfriends. Almost all the music from the actual show and video are Israeli music since the group is from Israel. It felt so great to just be in an atmosphere that felt like home. Being there watching the show and singing along to the songs (the only person in the whole place too which I felt very accomplished with) and just appreciating the great talent while following along with the stories that the dancers were making. Everyone loved it as much as I did, but what really made me just feel great was that the people that came that cared to spend time with me and are my friends now understand me a lot better. They understand my culture and were able to see the beautiful art that was produced from where I am from and my family is from. They understood the show which helped them understand me. I kept thinking back to that culture assignment we had back in the summer about defining what culture is. I had said that culture is what you make of it and what you believe should be your way of living since every person is different. Culture really is an opinion, but I realized that there are people out there that would like to learn new cultures. You can be in another culture and still learn about others you wouldn’t expect to learn about. It help you learn about yourself and life as a whole. You don’t have to be in a new culture to realize this but I’m really glad I did. Okay, I’m done with being deep for right now. I hope you enjoyed reading my amazing yet crazy first two months. Until next time…

January 13

This is for the RYE students mostly, past, present, or future. For everyone else that reads this it may not make as much sense unless you were or know of an exchange student. I don’t want to sit here and bore anyone who bothers reading this of all that I am doing and have done thus far on my journey. I don’t want to get all mushy either because even though this is a great year of a lot of great things for me, I want to make it as normal as possible. It is simply another chapter in my life that I am living. Yes, it just so happens to be a very exciting part of my book thus far, but my book isn’t finished yet so I don’t think it is fare for me to say that this is the best year of my life. Thus far yes, but forever, no one knows. So, I just want to explain my thoughts and feelings about being an exchange student.

To begin, I am living in a fantasy world here in Taipei. I don’t mean that in a way strange way, I mean it in a literal one. I got to go to new country, live with new family, go to a new school, make new friends, everything is new and exciting. But that also doesn’t mean that all of those aspects of my life before were dull and boring. I have a great life back home in Loxahatchee, but this is my chance to live in my own fantasy world. In a sense though, it isn’t even real. I am not living in reality, because nothing is permanent here. If I want to change something I change it, its that easy. Yes I may be living a real life with real people and in the moment, but this is experience is quite literal what you make of it and how you view things. If you want your new country to be beautiful and amazing or even ugly and disgusting, then it will be. If you want to have the best host parents that they remind you of super mom and super dad or ones that never speak to you and don’t know you exist, then they will be. The same applies with school, friends, etc.

It may not seem like it but being an exchange student is a big game, and a very emotional one at that. I don’t mean that in a bad or mean way either. You need to know how to play the game to make yourself the winner in the end because we all know that in today’s society, everyone loves to win. People enjoy games because they are fun, but they can also be frustrating and full of stress in order to win. But all in all even though you may get annoyed, frustrated, stressed, or even mad over trying to win this game, its okay because that’s what makes this game interesting in the end. The game may also be really happy, exciting, or it may bring anxiety for something upcoming that could be great.

Either way at the end of the game you have played, are playing, or will play, will be remembered by you of all of those things whether they are good or bad in your eyes. But really nothing is bad or good in this game. Now there is a big dilemma with this very interesting and tough game. And that is that the strongest will survive. Many people that go up for the challenge of playing this game of being an exchange student fall short of finishing the game. Everyone’s reasons are different, but then again not everyone is equip internally to last through out the whole game either. There is nothing wrong with those people that cannot complete the game either, it just simply wasn’t for them.

I believe that exchange is what you make of it. At first I was feeling very confused because I didn’t feel like Taiwan was the place for me like I didn’t really fit in. But then I change my views on how I respond to things and saw things in my life here. That helped me get back into this game. I just always put a smile on my face thinking about how to keep at winning this game. It isn’t as tiring as it was in the begging of my exchange to get through some things that really got to me. At that point I was letting the game win, but now its time for THIS game was turned into MY game. I am in control now and am enjoying everything so much more.

This game is not the one that many people play that when you go up to someone and say “Oh you just lost the game,” this is serious. The game is how you view life and things around you. Exchange has made me appreciate everything in its natural beauty in my surroundings. I see everything in a positive view. Which makes me much happier and enjoy the little things so much more. For me, I woke up and am now in control of my own game. It’s really a nice feeling to be winning this game that I now call my own. Have you won yours? Are you winning yours? Will you win yours? It’s up to you, but I know that I am and will win my game.

 April 27

So as I write this I currently have only 62 days left in Taiwan. I have been here for 8 months as of April 20th, and today as I write this, April 28th, is my 2 months left mark. I’m not really sure how to feel about it all. I have gone though so much being here, not only by myself but also with all the other exchange students here. I have made the best of friends that I have ever made in my whole life. We have cried so much that I thought we would be able to swim back home. I have experience so many things that I never thought I would with the best of people. But because of all of this doesn’t make this the best year of my life, on the contrary actually. The days I have spent on my exchange have been some of the hardest times of my life. Taiwan is no where close to being an easy country to go on exchange to. I have spent a lot of time questioning if it really is the right place for me, but actually until recently I had realized that I couldn’t be in a more perfect place. Sure I don’t think like an Asian or act like one in any way, but I believe that Taiwan is the perfect place for me to learn the most about life and more importantly about myself.

Being on exchange has given me a lot chances to just be able to sit down and think. I reflect on my past and my current present times here by thinking about decisions or choices that I have made or are making and finally coming to live with all the consequences, whether good or bad, that resulted from them. It’s been really nice being able to come to terms with many things I have done, whether that has been good things or bad things in my eyes. I used to really hate getting a lot of time to just be able to sit and think, but until recently I absolutely love it! I love that I can literally sit on the bus or MRT on the way to school or anywhere else I’m going and just imagine my future and realize what it is that I want in it.

Before I came to Taiwan, I had a small idea of what I wanted in my future or how I wanted it to be, but because I get so much time to just think that my plans have never felt so right. I can now feel in deep down in my heart that I will really get to achieve my goals and plans and proud of the person I am and will become. I now know that going into the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces), or army, is the most perfect decision for me and my future. I also know deep down in my heart that becoming a Criminal Psychologist going to be the absolute perfect job for me. I am just so excited to get started on learning as much as I possibly can to be the best Profiler of our time.

Being this far and long away from my family and friends for this long has taught me a lot of very significant values of relationships and love for one another. I feel so much closer then I already was with my parents by being and I have been given the chance to learn who my true friends are. I have to say, I am so very blessed and happy by both results and could not ask for anything to be better in that respect. I have also gotten very close to my religion while I have been on exchange. I love where I come from and I wouldn’t change it for anything in this world.

Clearly I have changed a lot as a person and learned a lot of very important life values and lessons. Sure I have gone through a lot of really tough times but also many really great times too. I have really gone through many countless troubles with cultural differences and they have been very hard for me to overcome, but I did quite successfully if I may add. I was never put in a position to question my morals or beliefs which to me is a very important ideal. In some ways I have changed so much that I am actually not happy about them. No I haven’t done anything wrong or anything to be sorry about, but I have changed in some ways that I wish I hadn’t. But in other ways I am so happy that I did change to become a much better person.

I think all in all even though I have done, seen, and been through a lot in these 8 months I wouldn’t trade it for the world. This whole year is a test for me to see how I can deal with what ever is thrown at me not only in Taiwan but in my future life. I believe that although I am getting some questions wrong on my test, I am learning what the correct answers are and that helps me not forget why I got them wrong in the first place. All and all, I am very happy that I have come and stayed in Taiwan even though it has been very difficult for me. I know that this is making me such a stronger and better person and to me, its worth all the pain.

I cannot wait to get home to see my family and all my friends. But I will miss everything here. My school, my friends both local and exchange students. I will miss everyone and everything. The slogan for Taiwan I guess turned out really to be true, Taiwan really did touch my heart and continues with each passing minute I continue to spend here.

Lily W’s Bio

Bonjour tout le monde! Je m’appelle Lily Wohl, j’ai dix-sept ans, et l’année prochaine j’irai en Belgium depuis une année!

Hello everyone! My name is Lily Wohl, I’m 17 years old, and next year I will go to Belgium for a year! I am a senior at Seabreeze Senior High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, and becoming an exchange student is a lifelong dream of mine that is finally coming to fruition! I’ll start by telling you a little about myself, but first and foremost I would like to thank Rotary from the bottom of my heart for giving me this incredible opportunity.

My greatest passion in life is music. I have been singing for as long as I can remember, and I began piano lessons at the age of 5 and have been playing since. I am the accompanist for my school’s musical theater program, and recently played in the pit orchestra for their fall musical, and I participate in the school’s Vocal Ensemble. I recently began voice lessons to help improve my voice.

Languages are also a great passion in my life. I read Hebrew (although I do not know as much as I wish I did), I have taken 3 years of French, 1 year of Spanish, and 1 semester (so far!) of Latin. Also I know some Yiddish and can hold a conversation in American Sign Language. I cannot wait to become truly bilingual, and my goal is to become conversationally fluent in as many languages as possible.

I have always loved adventure and travel; my first flight was an unaccompanied flight across the country at the age of 6, and I have been to Israel twice. I have traveled through almost every state on the eastern seaboard, visited California several times, and have been to Las Vegas, Nevada. I am actually writing this bio on an airplane on the way to Virginia from Florida! Needless to say, I love to go to new places, and Belgium will be the most incredible trip of them all.

Thank you to all who made this trip possible, especially to those who thought that I would make a fine addition to the program and invited me to become a Rotary Ambassador 2010-11. I cannot wait for this adventure to take off!

Lily W’s Journal

August 31

17 days, 4 hours, 48 minutes, 10 seconds. Wow.

That’s how long I have been here in Belgium. It feels simultaneously like it has been a lifetime and a minute. Strange how 8 hours on an airplane can feel so much like eternity, when 8 hours in my host country feels like an instant.

I “woke up” on August 13th, 2010 (and by woke up, I mean I got up, as I hadn’t actually been able to sleep at all) at around 5:30 AM, feeling calm and peaceful as I gathered the last of my belongings and stuffed them into my already bulging suitcases. I suppose that the feeling hadn’t hit me yet, but then again, it still hasn’t hit, so maybe that’s normal. I got my things together, ate a small breakfast of cereal, and hit the road towards the Orlando airport with just my dad as a companion. We stopped for gas at the local favorite gas station, and as I sat in the car waiting for my dad to finish pumping, all I could think about was that I wouldn’t see this pretty city and this well known gas station or any of my friends here for a WHOLE year. This was a tad saddening, but at the same time a smile spread across my face because I began to think about the amazing adventures I was about to have.

We finally arrived at the airport, and when I tried to get my tickets, my passport wouldn’t read in the scanner. Oh darn. Eventually, however, it was worked out, and I received my two boarding passes for my flights to beautiful Belgium. We walked to the security area, and from there I had to go it alone. I didn’t cry, surprisingly, and neither did my dad, but I did give him a big long hug before trooping off to be thoroughly searched. In the security line I realized that I had forgotten the 3 oz. rule for bottles and liquids, and had to forfeit my hair products…. Needless to say, that was not my favorite part of the morning, but I quickly got over it and made my way to my gate, where I sat for another couple of hours with Abby (Belgium outbound). My first flight was relatively uneventful, and in the Washington Dulles airport Abby and I had about 4 hours to meet and hang out with most of the other Belgium outbounds from the USA. The long flight was peaceful and calm, but I was so full of nervous energy for the entire flight that I slept for only about 20 minutes.

For some reason I thought it was a GREAT idea to exchange my euros in the airport, and by doing so I lost nearly $100 dollars of value as a result of the TERRIBLE exchange rate in the airport. I guess we always have to learn, huh?

When I walked out of the secured area in the Brussels airport, there was a HUGE crowd of people waiting for the exchange students; it was so big that there were metal restraining fences to keep them away from the door as we came out! However, I couldn’t see my family anywhere. I was starting to worry, and I felt very lost and confused among this sea of people all hugging the people I had met 8 hours previously, looking for my own family to greet. All of a sudden a blonde girl stopped me and asked, “Are you Lily?” Of course, my answer was “Yes,” and she then informed me she was my host cousin, and that my host mom had been feeling sick that morning and had gone to get blood drawn, and that she, my host dad, and my host brother would be arriving within about 10 minutes. I greeted my Rotary counselor, who also happens to be my host uncle (the dad of the host cousin who had greeted me), and we chatted for a few minutes in a strange mixture of French and English, which was a direct result of extreme fatigue. I also met a few oldies, and finally my family arrived, and there was a very warm atmosphere all around.

We arrived home, and I was given the tour of my quaint and charming home, and then I was told that I had about 15 minutes until it was time to leave for my host grandparents’ 50th anniversary party. Let me tell you, the Belgians know how to eat. The food at this party was incredible. It was a lovely afternoon, despite the fact that I felt so terribly exhausted that I completely abandoned all efforts of speaking in French with my family and spoke in English with my host brother and cousin, until I drank some Coke, which gave me just enough of a caffeine burst as to allow me to continue speaking in French with my new family.

After the party we arrived home at around 9 PM, and shortly afterwards I passed out in my very comfortable new bed, feeling very happy and content with this new place.

Since then I have had some interesting adventures, including attending the City Parade in Brussels to listen to techno music for hours (WHICH WAS AWESOME), and for now I spend the majority of my mornings at home, watching movies in French, as my host mom works during the day and I am, for all intents and purposes, alone in the house. I am so terrifically excited to start school, as I NEED to make new friends and figure out how to get around here, and I feel that the French practice I will get at school will be so incredibly useful to me. I went last week to sign up for my courses, and I’ve got some interesting ones, including Islamic religion, but I have a rather heavy course-load, which is a tad bit worrisome…

I joined a choir that is participating in a musical theatre show this week and next week, and though its incredibly difficult to memorize and learn the songs in French, let alone understand the stage directions that I am being given, it is a truly awesome experience that is helping me to learn more French and culture quickly.

My host family is wonderful  They are such kind people and they do all they can to help me feel welcome. Its probably helpful that my host mom really reminds me of my real mom. Everyone has been so friendly here so far, and I hope that continues, and I’m doing my best to take one day at a time and make the best of each day. I only felt a little homesick after about a week, but that has since subsided and I am loving it here.

Belgium is an incredibly lovely country. There are cows and farm animals EVERYWHERE (although that can be contributed to the fact that I live in a small country village with about 800 inhabitants), and there are beautiful rolling hills and quaint towns and villages. Just looking out my window is a joy! It is, however, much colder here than in Florida, and I already am wishing for a warmer coat. It also rains quite frequently here, but that doesn’t bother me (yet).

This past weekend was the inbound orientation for my district and I made some great friends and strengthened ties with some old friends, and all around had a great time.

I already feel adapted to this strange but real adventure. French no longer sounds different to me, whether I understand it or not, and I can communicate well with everyone I have come across, for the most part. This whole experience is exhausting, and I sleep like a baby EVERY night, but every wonderful day and evening is worth the bleary-eyed mornings where I have to get coffee from the AWESOME coffee maker in our kitchen.

If you are considering exchange, I don’t say “DO IT,” I say CONSIDER IT! It is not for everyone, and you have to be very strong to leave home and jump into the unknown, but if you feel that you can handle that, it is so worth it.

November 10

Coucou!

In 4 days I will have been in Belgium for 3 months.  3 entire months of my life have passed here.  What have I been doing for these last 3 months that have caused them to pass so quickly?

My life here is sometimes extraordinary, sometimes a bit boring, and most of the time regular and happy, but the truly extraordinary thing about this life is that it is my real life.  No longer is a year in another country, on another continent, in another place that is entirely different, just a dream.  I am here, in Belgium, and it couldn’t feel more natural.

Speaking of dreams, though, I already had my “dream”.  In fact, I dreamt in French throughout my entire first week, but I don’t consider those to be the real first fluency dreams, because they were only as a result of the “French shock”, and I didn’t understand them completely.  However, now I dream rather frequently in French, and I understand everything that happens.

I have had no real problems with my language so far.  Having had studied French for more than 3 years before leaving, I already had a firm grasp on the basics of the language upon arrival, and, luckily, languages tend to come easily for me.  I would consider myself conversationally fluent;  I have few problems in daily conversations, and I am passing all of my classes at school, save French, in which I read (in French, of course), because the coursework of the senior class is at a level much too hard for me.  I am also in the process of reading the Harry Potter series in French, which is really a fun task for me, because I love discovering the little differences (who would have thought that Voldemort’s name is “Tom Elvis Jedusor” in French?!?!?!).  I’ve finished the first and second, and am in the middle of the third at the moment.  

I honestly love my host parents.  They are two of the sweetest, most genuine and simple-hearted people I have ever met.  Even though they lead stressful lives, they are always willing to chat with me and spend time with me, whether that means having a cup of coffee in the morning before school, watching TV together after dinner,  or having a big family dinner every Sunday.  They help me so much with my French, and thankfully neither of them speaks more than a few key words in English, so I always have to discover new words to fully express what I need/want to say.  

My host brother is a bit more difficult.  He is 15 and is a bit of a juvenile delinquent.  Thankfully there has never been any tension between us, but that is mostly due to the fact that there has never been any type of relationship between us at all.  Even though our rooms are right next to each other, it is as if we live in different places entirely.  We do not greet each other, we do not say hello, and we do not speak at all.  However, I honestly have no problem with that, because I would rather have no contact with him than unpleasant contact.  The only real problem that I have with him is that he plays very loud and unpleasant music all day long, but there is nothing that I or my host parents can do- they have tried everything, and I would rather just deal with it than make a scene about it.  

Without a doubt, however, I absolutely love this family, and while I know that my second family is very nice also, I am dreading having to change and leave behind this family of mine, and I am also dreading the 2 months that it will take to get used to the next family, only to have to leave again after another month and a half.

I know that right now it’s recruitment and interview season.  For those of you waiting for your responses, my only advice is to trust Rotary.  They know what they are doing.  If they don’t select you, it’s because they sensed in you something that would make you not ready to handle the year abroad (yet). If it is truly your dream, and you aren’t chosen, you can try again next year, after a year of contemplation. For those of you who are selected, hang on, because it’s a wild ride.  Prepare yourself for assignments and work, but prepare yourself for 8 amazing months, and then a year that will change your life and make you grow, whether you have the best time of your life or not.  

If Rotary doesn’t give you your “dream” country, accept it with grace.  Rotary only exchanges with quality programs, and whether you think you want to go somewhere or not, remember that people live happily in every country on the list, and you can too, if you throw yourself into becoming part of the new culture.  

There are few things that I truly miss here, but I suppose I should list them anyway.

1)   Hugs.  Belgians are affectionate people, but hugs are normally reserved for sad occasions (and drunken occasions).  Being a rather hug-oriented person, I find the lack of personal contact truly difficult.

2)   Driving.  My host parents are very gracious about giving me rides all around, but they are often not available, and living in a small village with only a school bus during the week (and nothing at all on the weekends) leaves me a bit stranded when there is no one to drive me to the train station or a friend’s house.  

3)   My piano.  I really miss the ability to print out a few pages of music and go straightaway to my piano to learn them.  In my third family there is a piano, but I don’t arrive there until April.  

4)   Music classes.  I have a truly wonderful choir here, but I really miss having an entire class of kids my own age all together learning music.

5)   My family and friends.  I am managing quite fine without my family and friends, but on rough days, sometimes it seems like the only thing that can help is a hug or a sleepover.

I recently traveled to both Paris and London with Rotary, and both trips were fantastic.  Paris is truly more than I could ever have dreamed of, and I spent an amazing weekend there with amazing people, amazing sights, and amazing experiences.  London was also incredible, and I will most definitely keep memories of the two trips with me for the rest of my life.

My journal is getting a bit long; I probably ought to end it here.  To the new exchangers- do not deceive yourselves.  You will forget to journal, and you will dread it.  When I was still at the orientations I thought that it would be absolutely no problem at all, but let me tell you, it becomes very easy to put it off for later.  

January 15

It has certainly been a while since my last journal, so with this one I’ll attempt to keep you all updated, without boring you to tears.

Firstly, CONGRATULATIONS to the Rotary class of 2011-2012! You guys must be special if they have picked you, and you can do this! When the workload seems staggering, look at it with a smile and say, “This is ALL I have to do to live in another country for a year? Wow, how lucky am I!!” Don’t be late, and don’t get any tattoos before leaving, do be attentive, do STUDY your language, do prepare yourself mentally, and do get ready to have one of the most influential (and hopefully wonderful) years of your life! Rotary is counting on you, and I believe in you all!

So, to begin with my current life here in Belgium. This country has not only fulfilled and exceeded my expectations, but has become my home. It is difficult to describe the sensation of feeling at home in a place so different; I leave my house in a modest village, catch the public bus to school, speak in French for the entire day with friends and adults, and return home to spend the afternoon at home or participating in some other activity. All of this has become so normal to me, and I don’t even notice anymore when I had a long conversation in French without struggles.

As for my language, I am VERY proud to say that today, Wednesday January 12th 2011, I am fluent in French. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I speak as well as a native, and I doubt that I ever will, but that does mean that I speak throughout the day, understanding everything and being able to express any sentiment or idea that I would like to, and having an accent that is subtle enough to fool the Belgians into thinking that I have been here for years; also, they no longer think I have an American accent, but instead a general English-speaker’s accent, impossible to tell whether I come from Britain or from America.

I am also very proud and surprised to say that I have not yet been homesick. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I don’t miss family and friends, but I don’t feel any need to return to my life in Florida, except to give my loved ones a hug, spend a few days seeing them, and to return to Belgium immediately.

I believe that there are several major reasons for not being homesick, among them being that 1)I adored my first host family, 2) I spoke the language well and quickly, and 3) I am Jewish, and therefore do not celebrate the traditional Christian holidays that tend to make people oh-so-homesick.

I very recently changed host families, and am comfortable here in my second home, even though I really do need some time to adapt. They are very nice people, and I will fit in well here, I believe, but it was very difficult and stressful to leave my first host family, with whom I was very happy. It’s not always easy to change, but we can do our best and hold our heads up throughout!

School is going well; for the winter examinations I took 2 exams and passed both of them, and I am receiving good marks on my reports.

I really adore my friends here! I have a couple of close Belgian friends, but most of my best friends here are exchange students coming from all over the world! (Australia, India, all over the United States, etc.) I will admit that sometimes it is difficult to make friends, but overall people are very friendly here.

I spent a lovely Christmas with my host family and my choir, performing a midnight mass on Christmas Eve and spending a fun evening with my host family the next night. Belgians know how to party! For New Year’s Eve I went to Brussels with several friends, exchange students and Belgians, to watch the fireworks and roam the busy streets, which was one of the best experiences!

Recently I spent a day participating in an English immersion program for Belgians, while watching films, performing skits, singing karaoke, and all around having a good time!

Being an exchange student has changed my life, and I would like to thank Rotary for giving me this opportunity!

Je vous remercie pour tous que vous avez fait pour moi! Merci Rotary!

À bientôt!!

April 25

It has been a while since my last journal, and lots of things have happened since then, so I figured I would update you guys!  My life here is in full swing, as always, and I think that I have really found my “groove” here just recently (which will make it even harder to leave come July 5th, 2011).  I changed families for the second time about a week ago, and what an awesome week with my third and final host family!  I feel very comfortable here already, as opposed to my second family, where I was really quite unhappy all the time.  Thankfully, though, my third family is just about as ideal as it can get!

I’m having such a great time in Belgium, but it gets harder and harder to think about my return with every day that passes.  I haven’t gotten to the point of crying about it yet, but I think its just because I’m in denial.  I don’t want to think about it, but unfortunately people ask me ALL the time when I’m supposed to be leaving!  It’s terribly sad.

On a happier note, right now is a traveling period for me!  A couple of weeks ago I went to Amsterdam, where I spent 3 AMAZING days with my Rotary friends, and a few days ago I got back from a trip to Greece for 11 whole days!  My countries visited list just keeps growing!  Right now I have USA, Israel, Belgium, France, England, Holland, Greece, Switzerland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Germany on there, and later on this year I’ll be adding on the Czech Republic and potentially even Spain or Sweden!  I love the fact that I’m getting to see so much of the world that I didn’t know before.  It is really a bizarre thing for me to see how small, and, at the same time, how large Europe really is.  To get to Italy (in order to then take the boat to Greece) we passed through 3 separate countries!  Suffice it to say that I am not ready to leave this place.

Speaking of leaving this place, however, I only have a couple of months until my plane touches down in Florida.  I am ecstatic at the prospect of seeing my family and friends again, but I just wish that they could come here instead, and that I could stay here forever!  However, I knew when I signed up for this program that I would eventually have to leave, and that doing so would be incredibly painful.  I comfort myself with the fact that when I get home, I get to head off the beautiful and amazing New College of Florida!

I’m very happy with my friends here.  Unfortunately I haven’t made very many friends at school, but at least everyone is friendly with me, and I have a few good friends to pass the day with.  Outside of school, however, I have plenty of great friends!  I joined a choir my second week here, and I made many friends there, especially my friend Rianne, who is one of my best friends here, and who lives in the same village as me.  We even sang a duet together for my village’s cabaret!  Also, I am quite close with many of the other exchange students.  It is true what they say, that only an exchange student can really understand what you’re going through! I love to just hop on the train with a few of my exchanger friends, go to some random Belgian cities, and spend the entire day wandering around and having fun.  People in Europe are very open and helpful, and if ever you ask for a recommendation for something to do in a city they are more than willing to help (especially when you speak their language!).  I have had some absolutely amazing days doing things that were completely unexpected and suggested by strangers.  

I have some great things coming up in the next couple of months as well.  In a couple of weeks I’ll be going to Belgium’s best known amusement park, Walibi, with the Belgian Rotex, and I am planning on screaming my head off on all of the roller coasters!  Also, I would like to see if I could soon plan a trip to Spain during the month of May or June to visit some distant cousins.  In early May I have my final Rotary club presentation (2 months before my departure!), and all of my host families are invited to see it.  In June I have a couple of exams at school, and then I have a 7-day trip to Prague!  I’m certainly doing my best to fill up each day with as many wonderful experiences as possible, because when will I ever get to do this again?

I promise to any of the new outbounds that are reading this that I will try to write another journal soon, because I realize that I have been slacking.  It’s just that life here in Belgium is so fantastic that I forget that I need to keep you all updated as well!  

Thank you again to Rotary for this fantastic opportunity, and I can’t wait to see you all in 70 days, 16 hours, 56 minutes, and 30 seconds!  (Alright, those last two might be a bit precise. But in that general time frame!)

Leland’s Bio

Hi, my name is Leland Henry. I live in Winter Springs, Florida with my mom, dad, brother, sister, and two dogs. I am currently a junior at Winter Springs High School and I am hoping to finish up my credits this summer to graduate on time.

I really enjoy theater in both the acting and technical aspects. I love being on stage and acting but I also like moving sets and doing all of the backstage work for shows. I’m co-president of Thespian Honor Society and have been a member of troupe 5777 for three years now. In my spare time I like to bake, listen to show tunes, and spend time with friends.

Ever since I took a trip to northern France in 2007, I have always wanted to go back and explore the country further. I am extremely excited for the opportunity to spend an entire school year in France to broaden my horizons, experience a new culture, and hopefully become fluent in French.

I feel very fortunate to have the chance to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience and cannot thank the people of the Rotary Youth Exchange program enough for that.

 Leland’s Journals

August 28

It is the morning of my third day in France and it has been a very interesting three days.

Day 1: We arrived in Paris at 7am and I hadn’t slept in 24 hours. Monsieur Pellerin and Madame Deligat met those of us in district 1720 at the airport. Because Monsieur Pellerin is the YEO, he has to greet all of the exchange students at the airport, and so did we. We walked around the airport and rode the tram 6 six times before leaving at 12:30pm! I was exhausted. We (me and 3 other exchangers) then travelled into the heart of Paris for some sightseeing and lunch at the Pellerins’ flat. I have never walked so much in my life! We were supposed to meet the other exchange students in our district but they were late so we ate dinner and headed to Bourges around 8pm. I slept in the car for about an hour, my first time sleeping in over 36 hours. When we arrived at the Pellerins’ house in Bourges, my first famille d’accueil (host family) came to pick me up and take me to their house in St. Doulchard. I was tired and my French was not very good so it wasn’t the best first impression. I took a much-needed shower and went to bed.

Day 2: I woke up around 9:30 and had breakfast and talked with my host mom. She is very kind and actually said my French is good!  Breakfast consisted of bread with butter and orange juice and I’ve come to find that this is what they eat every day and either put jam or butter on the bread. I unpacked my things and got all settled in and lunch came so quickly! Mealtime in this family is adorable. They all sit down at a big table together and have a three-course meal. The first course was cucumbers in a delicious sauce and bread, of course. Once everyone has completely cleaned his or her plate down to every last crumb, the second course comes out. It was rice and chicken, which was very good. Lastly, for dessert, there were three different types of cheese to put on bread and some mixed fruit in a sweet sauce. They also eat plain yogurt with sugar poured on top.  They all clear the table and do the dishes as a family, which is very different for me.

Around 3pm, my host sister Juliette took me to the city, Bourges, and we met up with two of her friends. The kissing on the cheek thing is not a stereotype, they ALL do it every time they greet each other. Juliette and her friends are teenagers, so they talk very fast and I could only recognize a couple words here and there. I got to see my school and Juliette’s school, and most of the city, which is BEAUTIFUL. It is about 70-75 degrees with a constant breeze, MUCH better than hot and humid Florida. They were in shock when I told them that the weather now is much like the winter in Florida. We discuss the differences between the US and France a lot. There is a lot of “oui” and “d’accord” which translate to “yes” and “ok” or “I understand/agree.” I’m used to being surrounded by conversations I can’t understand. For dinner it was once again a three-course meal with homemade guacamole and chips (Mexican? Definitely not what I was expecting), pizza, and a plum tart.  They eat dinner around 8pm but surprisingly I wasn’t extremely hungry. For describing food, they use the French to English dictionary and love learning new words like zucchini and plum.

Juliette and her older sister, Mathilde, then went to pick up Juliette’s boyfriend, Quentin, while I skyped two of my friends in college and my mom and brother back home. We played Pictionary, which was the most fun I’d had since arriving. My host brother, Jérémie, was in charge of translation with the help of a dictionary so that the game was fairly played. They are very much like Americans when it comes to playing games, very competitive.

This afternoon Juliette is taking me shopping. I’ve realized that they don’t really start their day until around noon or later. Before then, we just hang out at the house and don’t really do much. I can see my French improving a little as I continually speak it all day. It was actually weird not having to explain things and use a lot of hand motions when speaking to my friends and family back home. Tonight, my host mom’s brother and his wife are stopping by to visit as they are on their way to the south of France. My school starts on Thursday and I am pretty nervous about that. Luckily, there is another exchange student who will be going to Lycée Sainte Marie too. I feel a little homesick at times because being at home, where we all speak the same language, is much easier but I know I just need to give it time. France is an amazing place and I am so lucky to be here.

September 25

A couple of weeks ago I started writing down things I wanted to include in my journal and it’s a lot. Let’s start with the language….

One of the funniest instances was when my host family was trying to tell me that it was cow cheese because they know I don’t like goat cheese. But they pronounce it “co” and when I didn’t understand, they looked at me like I was crazy because they were saying an English word. I love teaching them how to say things in English because they sound almost as ridiculous as I do when I learn new French words. The word “reunion” which means “meeting” in French is impossible to say.

I’m also learning Chinese…in French. Needless to say, it’s very interesting. I thoroughly enjoy writing the characters like I actually know what I’m writing. Everyone in my class has taken it for 2 or 3 years, which makes me and the other exchange student at my school, Wei Li, look even dumber than we already look.

English class can get annoying when the teacher says “jenny” instead of “genie” or “Japin” instead of “Japan” but here, it is impolite to correct people so I just sit there and let them learn “English.”

People at the bus stop like to talk to me, a lot. Not knowing I’m foreign, many people ask me questions like “what time is it?” or “has the 11 bus passed by yet?” and I’m proud to say, I understand what they say and I am able to respond. One lady immediately noticed my accent and started talking about Obama and Arnold Schwarzenegger because she thought he was from Florida. A lot of people like to talk about the oil spill, which they claim was IN Louisiana, not in the water.

One of my greatest moments was when I WAS THINKING IN FRENCH. I was on the bus on my way home from school one day and I caught myself thinking about how much I disliked the bus, but in French! It was a great feeling.  

French life….

I went to église (church) for the first time in my life and it was quite eventful. The whole time they were singing, I was trying to remember what it reminded me of and finally realized…it sounded EXACTLY like who’s from Whoville singing because for me, it wasn’t words, just sounds. I cannot wait to experience it again at church tomorrow. I also met a real life Effie Trinket that made me laugh. I witnessed some drama that I don’t think anyone else did. There was a lady with a bright pink matching scarf and purse that was noticeably upset because another lady with bright red lipstick and unnecessarily large earrings outdid her. The tension between them was intense.

I’ve experienced so many things I never would have in the United States. French cheese, zucchini, plums, prunes, tuna, and duck are just a few of the new foods I’ve tried. I had lunch with people from the Netherlands (who lived in the middle of nowhere) one day in a house that was surrounded by every type of vegetable, fruit, and flower you could imagine. The fresh-picked raspberries were to die for. The French countryside looks like something straight out of a movie.

I’m happy to report that I have also shared my culture with French people. My mom sent me a care package with bags of candy corn in it and now my entire little private school has had the opportunity to taste them. Some refused because they thought, since candy corn is American, it was either toxic or going to make them fat. My host family also decided to have an “American dinner” one night and we ate pizza in front of the TV…because everyone in America does that, every night.

One of the highlights of the past couple of weeks was the Rotary dinner. It was a wine tasting and most people tasted a little too much wine. Wei Li and I were only allowed two glasses. BUT, our table won because we guessed the most correctly and thus my family got three bottles of wine to take home. By the end of the night, men were calling Wei Li their “petit fleur de printemps” which is “little flower of spring.” It was quite amusing.

However, the most fun I’ve had was the weekend in Paris with the other exchange students. We went to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysees, and Montmartre. We got to meet a bunch of other exchange students from Australia, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and other parts of the USA. We’re having another meeting with them, and exchange students from the West of France, in two weeks at Mont-Saint-Michel which I’m REALLY excited for.

I also saw a lady with a ferret, on a leash, in her lap, while she was sipping coffee at a café. Probably the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen.

I’ve definitely had my moments of being homesick after the “honeymoon” ended but it’s getting better as I have things to look forward to. You don’t know what homesick really is until you’re 4,500 miles away from everything you’ve known for 17 years and know you’re not going back for 10 months. You can’t recommend foreign exchange like you can recommend a book. It’s life changing. I don’t know what type of person it takes to have a successful year abroad but…you have to be a little crazy to be ok with the idea of not seeing any familiar faces or places for a year of your life. I think that’s what bonds us exchange students together, we’re all a little crazy.

November 26

To be honest, I have been avoiding writing this journal. It’s next to impossible to reflect on all that I have experienced in the past two months. But I can try…

MONT-SAINT-MICHEL with all of the exchange students from around France! It was incredible to see so many of us from so many different countries. I also was surprised when I discovered Lily Britt was there! It was great to see her as well as Tyler Osteen, some familiar faces in an unfamiliar place. We walked through mud and water for FOUR HOURS but I enjoyed every second of it, even though I fell and was covered in mud. Being surrounded by other people who know exactly what you’re going through feels like having another family. I have so many families now…my real one back home, my friends back home, my host families, and my exchange student family…it’s very comforting to have these people to help along the way. I can’t imagine my life without some of the people I’ve known for only a few months but have made an everlasting impact on my exchange year and my life in general. Our next Rotary weekend is the first weekend of December during which we will have to say goodbye to the Aussies but it will be fun to see everyone again.

Weekend in Paris with my host sister and her friends! It was a Christian “rassemblement” which I don’t know the word for in English. It was basically a bunch of activities and jamming out to French Christian music. After that I went with my host family up to the north of France to Rouen. We had dinner with my host grandpa, host uncle, and host cousins. The next day we had lunch with my host mom’s mom in a retirement home, she was adorable and said I that I am going to be fluent in no time. Then we went to a HUGE fair, which was the coolest fair I’ve ever been to, and rode some rides before leaving.

HALLOWEEN….was uneventful other than a couple groups of ADORABLE little French kids knocking on the door and asking for candy. BUT on November 1st, Wei Li, Cherry (other exchange students), and I dressed up in costumes with whatever we could find around our houses and celebrated Halloween along with Cherry’s 18th birthday.

The beginning of November was when things began to get rocky. I became very homesick and wanted nothing more than to go home for a little while. I have never doubted wanting to stay for the rest of the year as I have tons of things to look forward to, but I just wanted a couple weeks of the normalness of home. However, Rotary doesn’t work that way so I had to stick it out and figure out a way to get through it. I guess once school started again after a long vacation, things got better as I had a routine and something to keep me occupied.

That’s something that exchange student should know beforehand. There are going to be days when you are bored. Your host family can only entertain you so much as they have work and things to do. This is probably what incites the homesickness, because you think about what you could be doing if you were home with the freedom of having a car.

Well, November is almost over and I’ve come to realize it’s little things like going to a concert with my host sister or a party that make it fun. We are also having a Thanksgiving dinner at my high school with the freshmen English class that I help teach which should be fun, not anything like back home, but there isn’t any time for having a big feast with my host family. I am also going to go to my host sister’s high school (she is a senior) for a day to check it out. December is coming so soon and Christmas marks the point at which I am supposed to be able to speak French with ease, or at least that’s what EVERYONE has been telling me. I’m still not quite sure that is a realistic assumption. I know I’ve improved and the simple phrases of every day life roll of my tongue as easy as English does, but as far as being fluent goes…I’ve still got a lot of learning to do.

So, I just got back from the doctor who said I have asthma onset by the cold weather. That’s how people know I’m not from around here, when I’m shocked that it’s not warm in November. It supposed to snow tomorrow and this weekend, I’m SO excited! Snow on Thanksgiving would be so perfect!

January 15

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

Ever since I was little I was taught not to judge a book by its cover. Maybe that’s what inspired me to embark on this journey. Every day I look around and notice differences and how lucky I am to be able to experience them all first-hand.  Being able to truly know the French culture and understand it instead of just assuming and judging is a priceless gift I will take away from this year.

            Living here has become surprisingly normal. People staring at me when I speak English in public no longer bothers me and seeing men in jeggings is an every day sight. All of the things that seemed absolutely ridiculous when I arrived and I couldn’t help but gawk at, I now see as parts of the French culture that make it interesting and special. However, the amount of crazy people I have come across is startling. I have never seen so many people talking to themselves in my life as I have in these past four months; I guess French people really like to express their opinions on things for everyone to hear.

Food is one subject that they enjoy discussing, as it is obviously a major part of the culture. One example of the importance of bread is when I was riding the bus to school one day and we were stopped at a red light right by a boulangerie (bread shop). The bus driver decides to get out of the bus, go into the store and buy a baguette, and get back in the bus to start driving again. Anyone could have hopped into the drivers seat but I guess his baguette was worth the risk. When I tell people we don’t have a baguette sitting on the table with dinner every night, I get the same question every time, “how do you wipe the sauce off of your plate?” and they are absolutely shocked when I say we don’t. Plates are always completely clean at the end of every meal here.

I’ve actually discovered a lot of things that I can say that I know will get a great reaction each time I say them. Just simply saying I live in Florida or, even better, that I have my driver’s license, gets the response of “No! Really?! That’s so cool!” and the more they think about it, the more they can’t believe it. Little things like that make my day.

Recap of the past couple months:

The best part of winter here is the SNOW! It snowed for the first time on Thanksgiving day and only a few times after, but it’s so magical and I can’t believe I’ve missed out on that my whole life! Also, we had a couple days off of school because of it during which I made my first snowman!

Christmas was crazy as there were 26 people at our Christmas Eve dinner, even Santa made an appearance! Everyone in my family is very loud, nice, and fun. I actually changed host families on December 12th after having a rotary weekend in my hometown (during which we said goodbye to the “oldies” 🙁 ). I was afraid it would be weird spending Christmas with a family I had only known for a couple weeks, but they provide such a comfortable atmosphere that I instantly felt at home. We watch a movie almost every night and I think this has really helped my French, as I have to concentrate on reading the French subtitles or listening to the French speaking. I went back to my first host family to exchange gifts and they said they were shocked at how much progress I made in only two weeks. I think I’ve reached a point where I can learn quickly as I already have a pretty good basis.

I went to Paris for a day, it’s about two hours away, with my host family and it was amazing! Everything was all beautifully decorated for Christmas and I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to see that. Paris is really a special place everyone should experience once in their lives. I got to see the Eiffel Tower again, the Champs-Élysées, L’arc de Triomphe, Les Galleries Lafayette (stores of all of the designer brands), and Cimetière du Père Lachaise (cemetery of famous people like Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, and Jim Morrison).

New Year’s is a HUGE deal here; everyone has a party to go to. I spent with my first host sister and her friends. People still say “bonne année!” when you see them, even though it’s half way through the month. This year my resolution is to become fluent in French…and to finish my online classes because I’ve already been accepted to three universities! This year is going to fly by as the past 4 ½ months already have. The fact that there are already new future outbounds is crazy because it seems like we were just at Lake Yale the other day, all excited to leave, eager to begin our journeys which are already almost half way over. I don’t want this year to end; I feel like I still have so much to learn and do before I can leave behind this French life and restart my American one.

March 25

Coucou! Pronounced “koo koo” and said very enthusiastically, it means “hey” in a very informal way. I love being able to say ridiculous words like this and have everyone find that extremely normal. I actually enjoy a lot of things about the French language:

1. The order of your sentences generally doesn’t matter…you can say things like “where are you going?” “you are going where?” “where are going you?” and they all are acceptable.
2. Random English words with a French twist such as “week end”, “t-shirt”, “over-booké” (overbooked), “planning”, “timing”.
3. In order to make something into slang, you say it backwards…for example the word “fou” means crazy but in slang it is said “ouf”.
4. Their noise they make when they are thinking, or just when they feel like it (like our “umm”) is “bahhh” which sounds just like a sheep…and I find myself saying it all the time.
5. They like to shorten things, the sentence “je ne sais pas” (meaning “I do not know) has become “j’ai pas” or simply the raspberry mouth noise is made with a slight shake of the head.
6. My FAVORITE…you can tell someone is angry if they elongated the end of a word… “arrêtes” (meaning stop) becomes “ah-reh-tuhhhhhh!” which can be heard from high school girls everywhere.

When my real sister came to visit last week, she said I was even talking in French IN MY SLEEP! I guess you can stay I’ve immersed myself in the language. In writing this journal I find it extremely difficult to remember how to express myself in English, not to mention my spelling. There is another exchange student at my school from America and we catch ourselves speaking in this Franglish that no one but us would understand. The other day we had family friends come over and they said that if they didn’t know any different, they would say I was a French girl because of my speaking abilities. Oh, family friends. I’ve realized that I’ve been answering the same exact questions since August. What my name is (which they NEVER get right on the first try), where I’m from, my favorite hobbies, the differences in weather (yes, it’s MUCH colder in France), how many brothers and sisters I have, etc. I can pretty much predict the conversations now each time I meet someone new.

Now to my life in France and some highlights from the past couple of months.

Starting in January. We had a rotary weekend at the end of the month during which we got to meet our district’s two new Aussies, one Argentinean, and one Canadian. It was really great to see everyone again as we hadn’t seen each other since before Christmas and there was a dance and all.

February. I shadowed my host sister at her high school for a day, I got accepted into the University of Florida, and over the spring break I went to SPAIN! I don’t know where to begin when it comes to Spain. When we arrived in Barcelona, I instantly fell in love. Not only is it a big city but it’s on the beach too. It was sunny and nice out, the architecture was amazing, and people were extremely nice. The palms tree were a nice reminder of home as well. I was with people from Colombia, Mexico, and Ecuador the whole time and thus has to get used to the fact that that week was spent almost entirely in Spanish. Our hotel was really nice and even had a nightclub in it! I had a great time and am now determined to learn Spanish so that I can go back one day and not have to rely so heavily on other people to get around.

Four days after arriving back in France, my real sister came to visit. We spent a day in Paris and the rest of the week in Bourges. I was exhausted from the Spain trip so we did little things like shopping, movies, theater, and she came to school with me for a day. It didn’t make me any more or less homesick, I am happy where I am now and when June comes around I’ll be ready to go home.

What I have done so far in March…My district’s exchange students sold 1,200 Euros (around 1,600 dollars) worth of little treats from our home countries which paid for one shelter box (boxes filled with all essential supplies to help countries in need like Japan) and one operation for a child with a cleft palate. It was an all-daylong event and once again a good time to catch up with other exchangers while working towards a good cause. Yesterday I spent the afternoon and evening with 12 Greeks in France with a program involving my host sister’s school. It was very interesting to learn about their culture (they said My Big Fat Greek Wedding is all true) and I am definitely planning on visiting Greece one day. I also learned a couple words in Greek, like “pama” which means “let’s go.”

Well it is already the 21st and I will be changing host families this coming weekend, which will also be my 7 month mark in France! I am not really nervous since I have met them a few times and they are friends with my current host family. I have to say time has never passed so fast before in my life. I feel like I was boarding the plane just the other day, not 7 months ago. I think that’s what everyone says. We work so hard trying to immerse ourselves in the culture and learn the language as fast as possible that we don’t see the time passing us by. With the constant questions like, “are you fluent yet?” from home, this is understandable, but I would suggest to future exchange students to not forget how short 10 months really is in the whole scheme of life. You can achieve a lot in 10 months, but set your expectations at 0 and then you can never disappoint yourself.

“Expect nothing and life will be velvet.” – Lisa Gardiner

June 10

So since my last journal entry, I have changed host families, went on a 12-day European bus tour, spent a little over a week in Paris, and had my mom come to visit me for 11 days!

 My host family now is different from my others since in my first and second families I only had siblings my age and older but now I have an older host brother, a 14-year old host sister, and a 7-year host brother. My little host brother reminds me of my real brother back home and says the funniest things. I also have a 17-year old host sister but she is on exchange in Peru.  

The Euro Tour was amazing, I don’t know how else to describe it. Seeing cities and monuments in France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Monaco, and Switzerland that you only ever dream of seeing was unbelievable. We got to see a new city every day, at one point we weren’t even sure if we were in Germany or Austria because of how fast we were going from place to place. It’s hard to take it all in at first, but now looking back at it, I can’t believe we covered all of those places in that short amount of time! It also allowed me to get closer to people and have a fun break from everyday life.

Mon séjour à Paris: I had to take my AP exams for my online classes and the closest place was in Paris! I stayed in a little town 15 minutes from Paris called St. Cloud in a host family that is actually one of Olivia Leamer’s (future outbound from Florida) future host families! I basically am an expert on Paris and the métro (subway) system now.

After I finished my 3 exams, my mom arrived in France! I took her around Paris to all of the tourist sites like the Eiffel Tower, L’arc de Triomphe, Le Louvre, – all of the things I’ve done a million times but had a lot of fun seeing my mom discover them all for the first time. Then we headed off to London!! It’s just a short 3-hour train ride from Paris, but a completely different world. Now it was my turn to see all of the touristy things like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. We also saw the play Billy Elliot which was incredible and the theater was gorgeous!

 Après our little trip, we went back to Bourges, my home city. It was great to finally show my mom all of the people and places I had been talking about for the past 9 months. We went to a castle in Chambord, a wine cave in Sancerre, and several dinner events. It’s been very strange for me when I have family come to visit (my sister came back in February) because they are so out-of-touch with my life that it is hard to explain why and how we do everything that we do. I’ve gotten so used to my way of life that I’ve never questioned the fact that we eat bread with every meal or kiss each other on the cheek. I believe the only people who will ever understand my experience in France are the other exchange students in France. No matter if they’re from Japan or Colombia, we all understand each other and can relate so easily. One of the best things about being on exchange has been the people that I’ve met from around the world and learned so much from.  

Today, May 31st, marks four weeks until I am going back to America. After all this time, four weeks seems like absolutely nothing and I know in the blink of an eye, I’ll be boarding that plane in Paris. Everyone is getting depressed about leaving but I prefer looking at it in the positive way that I am going to see my family, friends, and city again. It’s not that I’m not going to miss France, because I know I will as soon as I set foot in Orlando, but I knew this was a part of the process when I signed up to be an exchange student. “All good things must come to an end.” And I’m ok with that. I learned more in these past 10 months than in my whole life and I am ready to bring that knowledge back to my home country. At this point I could almost say France is my home country, but it’s not, and when my time is finished here, I have to go. I know I’ll be back again. I know I’ve changed, but I can’t exactly say how. I can tell when talking to my friends and family back home that when I describe my life here, they don’t get the same impression from things as I do. I guess I just see things differently now.

These next two weekends I am traveling to the North and East regions of France with my host family! The amazing thing about French people is that they don’t move, so I can see where my host parents and grandparents grew up and went to school whenever we go visit them. These next few weeks are loaded with things that I have to do before leaving and I plan on making the most of it all.

Luis’s Bio

Hello! My name is Luis Corredor, I am 16 years old, and I am a sophomore at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. I’m loving my life here in Florida, I have a lot of friends, I’m playing sports, and my whole family is perfectly healthy. There’s not much more that I can ask for…I live with both my parents, and 2 brothers, one of which is 19 and is attending Broward College, and my little brother who is 10 and is still in elementary. My family is probably my most important possession, they are always there for me when I need help, or going through difficult times. I usually live my life taking one day at a time, and completing every challenge I possibly can.

I play tennis at a local club, I started playing just 2 years ago, after quitting soccer because I got tired after playing it for about 9 years. I sign up for almost all tournaments (I don’t like going to the ones that are like 4 hours away). I’ve made a lot of friends at my club, making it funner and more challenging since were always playing our best to see who’s better. I would join my school’s tennis team but unfortunately, St. Thomas is like 30 minutes away from my house and I wouldn’t have a ride home, so I decided that playing here at my local club is better overall.

I am extremely responsible concerning school, I’ve gotten high grades since middle school. I love math, even though every one say it’s their worst subject, its my best. I’m currently taking Calculus AP, which most people just stare at me with their mouth open sometimes saying like “How in the world are you in Calculus?!”. I’ve gotten really high grades in my past math classes, I took Trigonometry over the summer, and that is how I’m now taking Calculus. Other than that, my other classes are mostly honors, but I still put a lot of effort into them.

This exchange trip has been like a tradition in my family. Both my parents went on exchange even before they met each other, my brother went on exchange, and 2 of my cousins have gone on exchange. Each of them tells me it’s one of the best chapters of their lives and they are sure I’m going to have a wonderful time in Belgium. I know for a fact that I’m going to have a great time, taking every opportunity and learning as much as I can, obviously having fun in the way. I’m so excited about my trip and I can’t wait to go to Belgium!

I would like to thank Rotary and my family for making this opportunity possible and especially my aunt, Ligia Corredor, for supporting and encouraging me.

Luis’s Journals

August 27

Wow…I was waiting until a bit later to write my journal because it has only been 2 weeks, but I realized that if I waited any longer I would have way too much to write about in just one journal…Anyway, these past 2 weeks have been crazy, in a good way 🙂

So I left my house Friday the 13th, early in the morning. The goodbye was actually a lot better than what I expected it to be… yes I got sad when I said good bye to my parents and brothers, but as soon as I left them, I told myself not to think about them, and just look forward to the best year of my life. So I flew from Miami to Washington Dulles, where I had to wait for like 6-7 hours…I was the second exchange student there, and soon more and more students kept coming. Every 5-10 minutes, a new student would join the party. At the end, we were around 30 students from the US, all eager to fly into Belgium and meet our new families. Elliot, the one and only whom I had planned to meet up with at the airport never showed up… (Later I found out that his flight was delayed and he missed the plane or something like that) His host family and my host family had planned to be together at the airport in Brussels to pick both of us up. I got to Brussels early in the morning on Saturday after a lonnnng flight, and as soon as I got out into the waiting area, I saw a really funny sign with my name in big letters; my heart was pumping at 1000 beats per second, and my smile reached my eyes… I was so excited to finally meet my family and I’m pretty sure they were excited to see me as well because they all gave me huge hugs and they kept saying who knows what in French…and I just smiled back at them because I had no clue what they were saying, but it was really exciting, probably a moment that I will remember forever. I kept trying to tell them that I was fine, everything had gone great, but that Elliot never showed up, and he wasn’t in the plane. It was at that moment that I realized how frustrating it is not being able to speak to people, and I wished I would’ve studied more French before getting here. After repeating it like 5 times, using hand motions and stuff, they finally understood what I was saying (It was funny because they were smiling as I told them that Elliot wasn’t there with me, but when they understood, the change of emotion in their faces was pretty funny. His host family didn’t know what to do, but they decided to wait at the airport until he arrived. So we split up, because we weren’t going to stay waiting in the airport. After like a one hour car ride, we got to my huge awesome house over here. We didn’t have much time though, because we were going to a party in Liege, a big town/city like 30 mins away. So I dropped off my luggage, changed to something comfortable, and we left. There I met like 100 people, everyone kept talking to me in French, but I had nothing else to do except smile and nod my head. Even though it was really exciting, I had a headache and a stomach ache, probably because I was nervous and not understanding anything makes you go crazy the first day. After you just get used to it… My family kept asking me if I was hungry, but I felt like if I ate anything, I would throw up; I had absolutely no appetite the first day, and I was really tired. So we went back home at around 8 and I went straight to sleep. That first day was actually really tough; the feelings you get are like a mixture of happiness, but at the same time confusion, sadness, and homesickness. From there things have gotten a lot better. Now 14 days later I am able to understand a lot, and speak little from time to time. That’s a huge advance from having got here knowing how to say “hello” and “how are you”. My host brother, who left to Canada the Friday after I got here, made it a lot easier for me to adapt. He kept me well entertained that whole first week, we visited towns, went bowling, went to the movies (where I fell asleep because I couldn’t understand anything)… and he introduced me to a bunch of his friends, so now I have a few friends already to do stuff with until school starts. (6th of Sept. I think). I’m happy I got to meet him and be with him the first week, because if he wouldn’t have been here, it would’ve been a lot harder and lonelier. I’ve also made a few friends already playing tennis at my tennis club, and I had a tournament last Saturday, one week ago, so now I know mostly everyone there. My 3rd host mom has also invited me to do stuff with her the past few days, we went bowling, we rode bike around this huge lake on the border with Germany, and I’ve been over her house a few times, playing with my future host brother and host sister, they are really fun and nice. She is also a member of my tennis club so we usually see each other there.

Yesterday, all the exchange students in Belgium met each other in Brussels, it was great because it was the first time in 2 weeks that I was able to speak and understand people without having to strain my brain all the time. I also heard the “oldies” (they’ve been here for 6 months already) speaking French so that shows me that learning French is not really impossible; if they can do it, I can too! Tomorrow is our welcome meeting for our district, so I am looking forward to that, and then I start school someday next week I think, I’m actually excited that school starts soon, that way I’ll be able to make friends and learn more French.

That is my summary for what my experience has been, If I tell it with more detail, you would be stuck here reading forever, because it is just incredible the amounts of things that I’ve been through these past few weeks. There have been many ups, but there have also been a few downs, very few. Mostly just a little homesickness the first few days, but that is over now, so now it will just be ups. As I read from someone earlier, homesickness is just a little paragraph in this huge book of stories.

I am really excited that I made this decision to come to Belgium for a year. It really is an amazing experience, which will probably help me for the rest of my life, and the memories will probably stick to me forever as well.

Thank you Mom and Dad, and everyone in my family, cousins, aunts and uncles, for having convinced me to spend this year here in Belgium, and for supporting me and giving me courage. Thank you to all Rotarians who have made this year for me possible, because my life in this moment literally couldn’t be any better. I am privileged to be able to be live here in Belgium this year. If only the kids that don’t go on exchange could see why I think going on exchange is so great, but it’s impossible to describe it, you have to experience it yourself to understand.

Hopefully everything keeps going great, I will keep you guys updated every once in a while. I have to go eat now. By the way, the food here is delicious. The waffle that I ate the other day in Liege made me feel like I was in heaven, and the Belgian chocolate…OMG. I am now starving for thinking about that. 😀 Don’t worry I’ll bring some back to Florida.

September 9

Ok so if I remember correctly, on the first journal I said that things couldn’t get any better, but it turns out I was lying… Things have gotten wayyy better! Maybe it’s because I already got used to living here, I already feel like I’ve been living here my whole life and this is the only family and friends that I have. I picked up French really fast in my opinion, I mean I got here knowing absolutely nothing and now I’m impressed with my own brain by the amount of information that I know and the amounts of things that I am able to understand. So that has made things a lot easier, communicating with people has gotten a lot easier and what I took 30 minutes trying to tell my host parents something before now takes me less than a minute. 🙂

So I started school on Monday, the 6th, and it was definitely not what I expected. I expected people to be looking at me weird, and perhaps turn their backs at me or something. But it was completely the opposite. I was late for my first class on Monday because let’s say I was a little lost. And by little I mean I was completely lost. Anyway I got to class and I apologized for being late, the teacher immediately noticed I didn’t speak much French and she asked me (in French) “Are you an exchange student?” and I said “yes” and she asked me for my name and where I came from, I was like “Luis, I’m from Miami, Florida” as soon as I said that the whole class together just gasped at the same time, it was so funny. That first period we spent the rest of the time talking about me and Miami, it was pretty fun, the teacher was like the most excited one, she kept asking me a bunch of questions, it was great. At the end of class everyone just like came up to me and surrounded me and they were fighting over whom I liked the most and who I wanted to get help from. 😀 I’m so happy that the students here welcomed me and accepted me the way they did, by the end of the first day all of the people in my school knew who I was and that I came from Miami. These are some of the questions that they have asked me word for word: “So, where do you go on vacation, since Miami is the place where everyone goes on vacation?” or “Have you ever seen any celebrities walking down the beach?” or “I will do whatever you want if you take me back with you at the end of your year!” 😀 Many many more which I can’t even remember, but I think it’s pretty funny the way they see Miami.

So now it is Thursday, 4 days into school. I’m 99% sure the whole school already knows me or has at least heard about me. Not only the students, but the teachers as well; there have been a few who have been like “Oh! So you’re Luis! I’m really happy to have you in my class, welcome to Belgium! Etc…” And I really get an awesome feeling when they say that because it’s so nice to feel like people know who you are and they want to be with you, especially when it’s only the first week, when you’re not even supposed to know anyone. And I’ve heard some exchange students say they feel lonely and they don’t have many people to talk to, so I’m really lucky that’s not me. So I really am extremely happy and I actually look forward to go to school tomorrow, not like in Florida where I NEVER looked forward to going to school. I actually understand a lot of what the teacher says, I mean I don’t understand every word obviously but I can usually pick up enough words to understand what he/she’s talking about most of the time.

So there is my updated short journal for those who were asking for it sooo much… *cough* Mom and Dad *cough* 😀 No just kidding, if I wouldn’t have written it now I would’ve forgotten the feelings that I had this first week probably and it wouldn’t sound so exciting, (if it actually does sound exciting to you guys, cause I’m pretty excited as I’m writing), so I had to write it. Alright bye!! Oh and the girls here… never mind bye!! 😀

November 25

Wow… As I’m sitting here thinking of how I should start this report, I realize how much English I have forgotten… This is going to be hard. I’ve found myself many times thinking in French recently, so I guess that’s a good thing. And when I’m not thinking in French, I think in Spanish not English because French is obviously way closer to Spanish, so now my English is way in the back of my head. I’m sure later throughout the year it will be easier for me to write a report in French than in English, but I haven’t gotten to that point yet.

I decided to take the chance right now to write this report because I hardly ever find the time to sit down and relax. These past couple of weeks I’ve been crazily busy, whether it’s with very important things like going to parties and having a great time with friends or with not so very important things like going to school or stuff like that, I’ve been quite occupied. (You were supposed to laugh…). Anyway I really have been doing many things lately; rotary has been planning many many activities which have been great, for example I went to the Paris trip last week, or 2 weeks ago now (Time flies by, it really should just walk by… and slowly), and it was amazing. You wouldn’t believe this but I had enough of Paris in just 3 days. We did so much, I got back home and went straight to bed for like the next 2 days. Then last Thursday, Rotary had the London trip, but I didn’t get the chance to go unfortunately… and other than that we’ve been having mini activities like visiting cities here in Belgium and we spend the day together. We exchange students are all really close, we always plan stuff together, it’s really great because I think we’re all more than friends, we treat each other like family, we’re all going through the same experience, and I think that’s what makes the bond so tight. Looking at my calendar here I can tell I’m going to remain busy for the next few months, or actually for the whole year. I’ve got many Rotary activities coming up, like the trips, (I’m going to attend all of them except London, which just passed) and we’re also going to many different places here in Belgium. Also last week I was informed of the school trip in January, which lasts for 10 days, so I hope I get the chance to go to that. I’ve been playing a lot of tennis, and I am also taking table tennis classes once a week. And then obviously there are my Belgian friends with whom I do the most with like going to parties or simply just hanging out during the weekends. Summary of this paragraph: I’ve been busy.

School is great here, I love it. I actually look forward to going to school every day. I think by now I know everyone in the school, and I am friends with everybody. That’s one of the reasons why I love Belgium so much, the people are all really kind and open-minded. Before coming here I was warned to be careful because some people didn’t like America and they wouldn’t really welcome me into their country. Thanks for the advice guys, but I haven’t met one single person who doesn’t like America. Here, going to the US is most people’s dream. The questions about the US, and Miami specifically, never end, ever. Apparently I’m going to have to book the whole plane because I’ve got just about 300 people that want to come back with me in July. Anyway, back to school, I always try to do the work that we’re assigned to do, and I take tests and everything, but the classes such as history, science, geography, religion, etc. are pretty tough in French. And by pretty I mean extremely. The classes such as math, English, and PE I can handle, but it’s the others that I have to work on. Learning French is my priority for now; I try to listen carefully in my classes because I’ve heard that hearing is the best way to learn. I go to a French class every Thursday for 6 hours outside of school and it has helped me tremendously. I guess once I master French, which I will, I’ll be able to do well in those hard classes. My French has definitely improved the most by hanging out with friends and going to parties though, really.

Last but not least, my family. I’ve gotten into such a good relationship with my parents it’s sometimes scary. It’s just crazy how 3 months ago, they were complete strangers to me, and now I consider them my parents. Before I considered them my “parents” but not really… yeah because I was living with them and in their house, but now sometimes I forget that my real parents are in Florida and I really think that my parents here have been my parents my whole life. It’s complicated to explain but we know each other so well now, and we have all the confidence in each other now, that they are pretty much my parents. The other day for example I was playing with my dog and he gets really playful and starts running around the house and stuff, anyway somehow he hit the ironing table and knocked it over and it made a really loud noise. My mom was like in the kitchen and she screamed “LUIS!!”, ran over to where I was, pretty much tackled me, and gave me the biggest hug she has ever given me, saying “Thank God you’re okay”. It’s a kind of stupid story but it actually meant a lot to me, cause its times like those that I realize how much they actually care about me. I love my parents here; I seriously doubt I could’ve gotten a better family. You guys might think that I’m lonely here without any siblings, I thought the same thing before coming here and I was kind of scared about that, but actually now I think it’s perfect. I’m not at the house much anyway. When I am, I talk with my parents a lot and spend time with them.

The whole point of this whole report was really just to tell you guys that I’m loving and enjoying my life here in Belgium, but thanks for taking your time and reading my whole report 🙂 I’ll make sure to keep writing to you guys so make sure you check in every month.

And to my family: I still love you guys, don’t worry. I’m having the time of my life over here, but I still think about you, sometimes. I’m sorry to tell you this but I’m staying here in Belgium for the rest of my life. It was good knowing you guys. Bye!

January 26

Hello! Wow… this is already my fourth journal, its unbelievable how fast time has flown by… at the same time though, I’m thinking wow… this is only my fourth journal… there’s just way too much that happens and it’s impossible to even get close to describing everything.

Anyway, things are great as usual for me… I changed families 2 days ago so right now I’m still trying to get used to and getting comfortable with my new family, but they are awesome. I really couldn’t have been put into better families. I have 2 brothers that have almost the same age as me, and I get along with them really well. I already knew them because the younger one, Mathieu (17), is in my school and in my grade and the other one, Antoine (20), is one of the leaders, just like me, of our scouts program. My new parents are really nice as well, I’m still getting to know them more and more every day, but it’s been great these past 2 days with them.

Christmas just passed by and honestly it went way better than what I expected. I’ll say it has been the hardest part of my exchange so far but honestly it wasn’t bad at all. I just pretended that the only family I have is right here in Belgium and it worked really well. I also went on a trip to Italy from the 26th to the 31st of December so that kept me busy and distracted from thinking about my family back home.

I came back the 31st, which I celebrated with my first family, and then on the 6th of January I left with my school to Prague, Auschwitz, Zakopane, Romania, and Budapest. It was I think the best trip I have ever had in my life. I was with all of my friends here in school traveling for 10 days… it just can’t get any better. It’s amazing… during the past 6 months I have been in USA, Colombia, Belgium, Holland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, and Austria. I NEVER imagined my exchange would be like this. They definitely have been the best 6 months I’ve ever had and according to older exchange students, it always gets better after Christmas… but honestly I can’t see how that can be possible… they say that time goes by even faster, and when I hear that, I kind of cry in the inside. Time needs to slow down… but for now I just now that I must enjoy every single second that I have and take all the opportunities that I’m offered.

Other than that, my French is almost fluent I would say… maybe in 1 or 2 months it will be. I’m at the point where I don’t have to switch back to English ever, I even think in French now.

I guess that’s mostly it for now here, I hope everything is going well back in Florida. Happy New Years to everyone! Thanks for reading! Bye!

April 24

Alright so if I remember correctly, my last journal was written right after I had changed families. It has continued being just like the start, amazing. I am still with my second family today, but unfortunately my time with them is ending. Changing families can be a very good thing for some people, but it might be a pretty bad thing for others. If you don’t get along with your family for whatever reason, of course you’re really going to want to move out, but if you really enjoy being with your family, like me, you’re not going to be that motivated into leaving. It’s not that I’m really sad about moving, because I know the family in which I’m going to next and they seem awesome, so I’m sure that I’ll get along with them well, but just the fact that you have to adapt to another household can get difficult at times. When I first arrived in Belgium, of course I had to adapt a lot and it was a bit difficult, but after everything just becomes normal and it’s like living in your own family. Then a few months in, you have to change and I guess you don’t have to adapt as much as the beginning, but some things really change. Then once you’re used to the second family, it’s time to change again… And that is the point where I am at right now. I think I will be changing in a week or so, I actually have the decision on when to move, but it has to be around this time. I chose my departure date to be the 28th of July, meaning that I have a bit more than three months left. I remember at the beginning of my year, I said to myself “Wow, I can’t wait for the day that I have only 3 months left” and now it’s the complete opposite! I would do anything to do one more year like this again!

At this point, I’ve been here in Belgium for eight months and a couple of days. My French I would say is almost perfect; I speak it every day nonstop and I never have to switch back to English, or Spanish. In fact, as I’m writing this, I can tell that I have forgotten some of my English, it’s funny but at the same time I think it’s scary! Once the language barrier is completely broken, things go so smoothly. School now actually makes sense; I can at least learn things instead of just hearing random nonsense. When I go out with friends, I can express my thoughts and opinions to them and tell them stories. Before, it was really fun going out with friends as well, but it was more listening to them talk and perhaps here and there I could put in a little comment. Actually, before I went out and hung out with exchange students a lot more than what I did with Belgians. Now it’s the opposite, in fact, I don’t even hang out with other exchange students at all anymore.

My family has really made these last four months comfortable and enjoyable for me. I get along with them so well that I could consider them as my own real family. My host brother, Mathieu, has become I would say my best friend. I spend a lot of time with him in the house and outside as well. In school were together a lot and on weekends we always try to go out to the same place or the same party. I also get along very well with my older host brother, Antoine, but he is in college and he’s home I would say only half the time so I wouldn’t say that he has the same relationship with me as Mathieu. My parents are very nice, they treat me as their own son I think, which is a very good thing, but that also means that I get punished, I have to work around the house, etc. I do actually work around the house a lot, well at least way more than back home! It’s a big positive though because it allows you to feel more connected to your family and you spend time with them inside the house.

The three months that I have left are going to go really quickly I would say. It’s already the end of April meaning that the cold is pretty much gone until next winter. The fact that the cold weather is gone means that people do more activities now, like going to the beach, swimming in the pool, and playing tennis. I already have pretty much all of my time here planned out, every single weekend I have activities, whether if it’s with Rotary, which I have a lot, or if it’s with friends. Festivals are extremely popular here in Belgium, or perhaps in all of Europe, and they are in this time of the year. I also have some trips planned already like Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, and Norway. That is another reason why I love Belgium, because it’s so easy and fast to go anywhere in Europe. I have had the opportunity to travel all around Europe, learning all the different cultures and history of each country.

That’s it for now; I think that sums up most of it. I don’t know what dinner is tonight but whatever it is, it smells amazing. It makes me want to go and eat it right now, so yeah I guess I’m leaving. Bye!

Maddy’s Bio

Hola! Me llamo Maddy, y voy a Espana!

Hello, My name is Maddy Wolpow-Gindi, and I am going to Spain! I am currently 16 and attend Lyman High School in Longwood, Florida. Ten miles north of Orlando, Longwood is a suburban town in which I’ve lived my entire life. As much as I love my family and friends, my heart isn’t in Florida and I’ve always known I belong somewhere else. For this, I truly believe I am meant to be in Spain next year.

I love nature and all of the four seasons. The only problem is that living in Florida, I only get to experience two seasons: hot and hotter. I am really looking forward to watching the leaves change in autumn, the snow fall in winter, the flowers bloom in spring, and the sun shine in summer.

As for school, I enjoy the intellectual aspect, however, I want to be culturally stimulated as well. I am in my third year of studying Spanish at my school, and I love the language. I’ve always dreamed of being multilingual and this is where it starts.

I like to think that I have four families: the ones who share my DNA and crazy last names, the goofy girls that make up my volleyball team, the best friends who know me throughout, and the fellow members of my BBYO chapter. More specifically, my immediate family consists of two households (my parents are divorced). My father Jeff, his wife Allison, and her son Dylan make up one half. My mom Tina, and big sister Alex, make up the other. I love all of my families, and especially want this one to know how much I love and appreciate them, for I wouldn’t be writing this biography if not for them.

Ever since volleyball tryouts in the sixth grade, I have had a passion for playing. Whether it’s with my school, or my club, volleyball season is my absolute favorite part of the year. There’s just something about being on a team (or family) that makes me happy. I like being a part of something bigger than me, and working in conjunction with my best friends to reach success. I hope that my future high school will have a volleyball team and that I play on it. Honestly, playing volleyball in Spain might be one of the things I’m looking forward to the most.

I’m very involved in clubs at my school. I’m in Spanish club (and love it!), yearbook, Mu Alpha Theta (aka mathletes), Best Buddies, and the English Honor Society. My favorite club, or class really, is yearbook. It mixes the perfect amount of creativity, writing, and independence for my liking. Once again, being in yearbook is like being in a family, and working with them to reach a goal.

Now to explain my personality: Frankly, I’m a nerd. School is always my top priority, and sometimes I let it stress me out too much. My mom always likes to point out how much I persevere, even when I find it embarrassing. On a lighter note, I love playing and watching sports, I’m going to miss watching football on Sunday nights with my dad. I also really enjoy jokes, no matter how dumb, and making puns, no matter how silly. I love talking to my friends for hours, having picnics, stargazing, watching movies, seeing plays, days with low humidity, painting my nails, and eating frozen yogurt. Back to being a nerd, my favorite thing is probably learning new skills. I can sail, scuba dive, drive a manual car, change a flat tire, and I want to learn more. That includes: how to use a sewing machine, using Adobe photoshop, speaking Spanish fluently, and so many other things.

About my upcoming journey: I know it’s a cliché, but words can’t describe how excited I am to embark on this new chapter in my life. Sometimes I’ll close my eyes while I’m in class, and think about how this time next year, I’ll be in Spain, and butterflies fill my stomach as I start to smile. It still amazes me that this is happening; I hope by my first blog that it will have become real.

To my family and friends: I love you and will miss you dearly. To Liz Gatti, my guidance counselor: Thank you so much for introducing me to Rotary Youth Exchange, you are so wonderful. To the hard workers at RYE Florida: Thank you for providing me with this amazing opportunity, you are all so great, and I’m excited to share this with you.

 Maddy’s Journals

August 3

So right now I´m writing this journal in my town´s library because I foolishly forgot to bring an outlet converter to use with my laptop. I´ve been in Spain now for four days and thankfully, this is the most of my troubles. I arrived safely in Barcelona, Spain after a nerveracking plane ride. I couldn´t really figure out what about it made me nervous (besides the fact that I was realizing what exactly I was about to do), but for the whole time leading up to my landing in Barcelona, I just didn´t feel myself. As my Outbound Student Handbook will tell me, this was my first incline on the roller coaster that is the emotions of an exchange student. Fortunately, my coaster began to decline as soon as my plane prepared to land in Barcelona and I looked out my window to see the thriving city stuck in between the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees Mountains. The sight of the two extremes are so contrasting that it was astonishing. I was utterly convinced that this was the most beautiful place I had ever seen.

 After thankfully retrieving my bags from baggage claim without a problem, I was met by a smiling host mom, dad, and little brother. We then drove about twenty-five minutes to our secluded town-and my new home–Sant Feliu de Codines. This town is like nothing I´ve ever seen. It literally sits on the side of a mountain and not a single road is horizontal, everything is at an incline. Something quite opposite from the flatness of central Florida, where there is maybe…I don´t know, one hill? My favorite part is that when you go to the edge of the town (or drive anywhere, for that matter) you can see all the mountains surrounding you, and the valleys in between. One thing in particular I noticed about my town is that they sure know how to save space. The roads are barely wide enough for a single car, not that that stops people from driving recklessly, and the sidewalks shouldn’t even be called sidewalks, because you can´t walk on them comfortably. Most are about 10 inches wide and you constantly have to look around to make sure you don´t get hit by one of those reckless drivers coming around the ever winding roads. And on occasion when the sidewalks are wider, you still have no room to walk because cars are parked all along it. Sant Feliu can only perfectly be described as quaint. Every road leads to home. If it doesn´t, you´ll know it because there´s only empty land outside of the city (and your ears will start to pop because of the altitude). It almost looks like a diagram from my Spanish textbook during the chapter on people and places. There´s a plaza in the center of the town, and around it are several shops, each with its own specialty. La farmacia, la biblioteca, el carnisseria, etc etc. The only thing that I don´t like about Sant Feliu is that every now and then, a large truck carrying about 30-40 dirty, smelly, pigs will drive by and leave you traumatized not only by the helpless oinks you hear, but by the horrid stench which lingers in the air for about five dreadful minutes. This is especially nice during mealtimes.

 My house isn´t much smaller than my home in Florida. However, there is only one full bathroom that everyone shares. This is quite different than what I´m used to, and another one of those ¨conserve space and energy¨ things that this place is so fond of. On the contrary, I am very proud of myself for cutting my twenty minute showers that my parents love so much down to about five. Being a girl, this was very difficult. My room also never looks like a tornado came through it (as my parents like to describe my room in Florida) I keep it nice and neat, make my bed every morning, and put my clothes back where they belong. My parents are probably dying of shock right now.  

 As for my family, they are really sweet people and have welcomed me with open arms. I mostly just hang out with my little host brother, Nestor. I´ve come to the conclusion that little boys are the same everywhere. We play video games, watch dubbed over Spongebob, and play fuzbol (or futbolinn). I even showed him some of the best games from my childhood that he´s now hooked on. I also taught him how to play Ninja and Bubble Trouble haha(or should I say ¨jaja¨). He always makes me laugh, whether its from a meow, or a random noise, or showing me his gross scratch n´ sniff trading cards…this is how I know we are going to be great friends.

In my six days in Spain, I have noticed many small, yet distinct differences. For instance, the bathroom has become a very confusing place for me. The toilets have TWO flush buttons. This was an interesting and scary experience the first time around. I still haven´t really figured out when I´m supposed to use one and when I´m supposed to use the other, so I just stick with one out of fear. Also, I don´t think Spain got the memo that MC Hammer pants are no longer fashionable. Although, I will admit that I´ve seen many people make them work. Table manners were also an interesting learning experience. Apparently it´s in bad manners to keep one hand in your lap while eating. My host dad always has to say to me ¨las manos!¨ so I remember to barbarically keep my hands on the table, hovering over my food. I certainly don´t want to be rude though and will make this a habit. Mealtimes are very important around here; in fact, I´ve come to realize that when the entire city closes down for the siesta, it´s not necessarily to sleep like I thought, but so that they can give their undivided attention to lunch, figures.

 Today the other Rotary exchange student in my town and I went to our school to speak with a guidance counselor. Turns out that she is making us both specialized schedules to make our time here easy and enjoyable. You see, usually students have to choose between a math and science schedule, a history and literature schedule, or a mix of both, with few choices or electives. But for us, we hand picked the classes we wanted to take and we even have a special class with just the two of us and a Spanish tutor. This, I am most excited about. For a while there, I was afraid that since my entire peer group and school spoke Catalan, that I wouldn´t be able to become fluent in Spanish. Fortunately, this won´t be the case.

 Anyway, I´ve written enough for now, no need to go off on more tangents. I always seem to write a book whenever someone asks me to write a page. I´m sure my next journal will be filled with more confusions and realizations. I have to say that my exchange is off to a great start. 🙂

November 30

It was brought to my attention today that I have been in Spain for just over 90 days, a figure that I can’t even comprehend. It seems like so many, ninety; yet feels like so few. I can’t believe that it has already been a year since I attended my first Rotary Youth Exchange meeting. I sat there, soaking in all the unfathomable opportunity and adventure the Rotarians promised and that the inbounds vouched. When I think back to how I got here, I still don’t really believe it; all those steps I took to prepare and now I’m actually living my exchange. I’m ninety days through. Ninety days filled with learning, wonder, confusion, excitement, loneliness, apprehension, adjustment, awkwardness, and sublimity; ninety days that I never want to forget and ninety days that I will never get back.

Like too many other journals I’ve read before, I want to apologize for the two month gap in between entries. I never understood all last year why the outbounds didn’t seem incredibly anxious to tell the world of their experiences and reflections—I know I was, and I hadn’t even been accepted yet. Now I understand. I don’t know where my time went or what I have been doing, but writing this journal has been a challenge for me. Words typically come very naturally to me, but right now, I’m almost at a loss. As I type, I feel like I don’t sound like myself. I’m not sure if it’s my English I’m having to pry out of the dusty nooks of my brain, or just the mere fact that I’m changing. Youth exchange does something to you, something you can’t explain. You wake up some days and see yourself, the world, in a different way. You find yourself reflecting and thinking, and keeping your eyes wide so as to not miss a beat. My time here so far hasn’t necessarily been busy, or extremely exciting, it’s just been life. But even as I say that I have to remind myself that this isn’t your typical every day. I’m learning, growing, feeling things I can’t explain. I repeat how difficult I’m finding it right now to write, because a lack of words is such a foreign feeling to me.  

Anyway, I know this journal is well past due, but in all honesty, for the past month I couldn’t write a single word without going off on tangents or just sounding morose. My emotions have been so erratic that one day I’m happy, feeling completely at home and normal, but then the next I spend all day in my head, thinking of home and how I still don’t understand when someone asks me a simple question. There have been plenty of times where all I wanted was to just be able to go to sleep in my own bed and go back to a home that I know and feel loved. But that’s the trick about being an exchange student; it messes with your head. Yet you have to get over those hurdles and jump through those flaming hoops, and trust me, it’s a challenge. You’re put to the test every day, whether its restraining yourself from going on Facebook, or not letting the small stuff get to you, or just plain old living in a different culture with a different language. This “three month homesick period”, as the Rotarians call it, has a completely appropriate reputation. I am SO happy to be practically over with it.

One step at a time, little by little, poco a poco, everything comes together. I think this week has been the first time that I’ve felt like a normal person and not ‘the exchange student’. I’m more comfortable with people at school, I actually have a few friends lol, and I even joined the soccer team. Oh, that was very interesting. One day (it was one of those bad days), I decided I was sick of not having much to do and that I had too much time to think to myself, so I joined the soccer team, no big deal, except that soccer is not a sport that I’m accustomed to. I’m a volleyball player, my running and foot-eye coordination skills are very low. Nevertheless, it’s definitely made me happier; I have things to do and something to work at, not to mention more friends, haha.  

I learn more about Spain, and especially Catalonia every day; and trust me, there’s a difference. I’m happy to say that there have been a lot of information exchanges. People are always so interested in the United States, or “California”, as many people call it who don’t really realize that there are 49 other states… My teachers at school always make connections to the United States in order to ask me questions. I can’t tell if the USA really comes up that much in lectures, or if they do it more because I’m there. Regardless, isn’t that why we go on exchange? To learn about the world and to teach and enlighten each other? The other American exchange student and I are currently on a tour of the English classes in my school, giving various presentations. It’s always funny to see how the tables turn when we’re no longer the ones who don’t understand the language, and our peers are dumbfounded that we have a rate of more than twenty words per minute. We also give English lessons around my town. People are very interested in the English language, and everybody wants to learn how to speak. We give a private class on Tuesdays and then on Fridays we go to the town elementary school and give little conversational sessions. This has been something that I really enjoy. So in the course of about two weeks, I went from having way too much time on my hands, to having a full schedule. It’s a nice feeling; it feels like home, like routine.

It’s pretty much winter here and getting COLD. I don’t live that north, but I’ve lived in Florida my entire life, and this is something very new to me. I think I’m adjusting though, minus a little head cold. But that doesn’t keep my host mom from always worrying about me. She’s always telling me to put more layers on and that I’m not accustomed to the cold and I’ll get sick. Clearly, she’s right.  I do enjoy the opportunity for buying clothes though, hehe, thanks mom and dad. I am now the proud owner of a pair of boots. That’s right, my first pair of winter boots. Everyone in my host family is really nice and treats me like part of the family. I think my little host brother especially likes that he has someone to act as a “big brother” to, since I’m clueless when it comes to a lot of things. He really likes to shoot me lines that clearly came straight from his parents’ mouths. He always tries to act like the adult, it’s cute. He’s fun though. I actually just got a Hanukkah package from my mom that had a menorah, dreidels, and chocolate inside. He’s really fond of this whole playing a game that requires no skill to win chocolate thing.

So basically the past ninety days have just been life. Sure there have been many ups and downs, but at the end of the day, you get out of it what you put in. I may dream about going home sometimes and not wanting to “learn and grow” from yet another experience, but I am so happy to be here. I’ve only just begun, and I’m so excited for the next seven months.  

 January 12

People tell me all the time that they would never be able to do this, to be an exchange student; to be away from their family and friends for practically a year, away from everything they know and opening themselves up to the unknown and to the vulnerable. I never really understood that though. I never heard “youth exchange” and thought about all the reasons why it would be uncomfortable or challenging, I just sort of saw the opportunity and did it. But now that I’ve been in Spain for close to five months, I have realized why exactly so many people react the way they do to the idea of an exchange. I now feel the hardships they automatically imagined. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and I can definitely vouch for that. My life here has become so normal that home is no longer something that is always in my head. So much so that when I do think about home, it almost hurts. It’s so hard to completely let go of your life and start a new one. But now that I have, it’s even harder to go back and try to imagine your old life, how things were, how things will be. I honestly never thought I would feel this way, but after five months in a foreign country, I’m kind of used to things turning out differently than I imagined.

This past month, I experienced the holidays Spanish style. Here, the Navidad (Spanish for Christmas) is about a month and a half long process filled with various holidays. This begins at the end of November with the day of the Immaculate Conception and continues to Jan 6, where the real fun is: the Three Kings Day. This is basically the same as Christmas day except that the three Kings who witnessed the birth of Jesus are the ones to bring the children their presents. The holiday season, though with a few add-ins, seemed very similar to that of the States’. It was a time filled with family, presents, decorations, and food, lots of food. There was however one extremely distinct Catalonian tradition that I will never forget. In fact, you probably won’t even believe it when I tell you. The number one Christmas icon here is the Caganen, which means “pooping boy” in Catalan. The greatest part is that nativity scenes and houses alike are adorned with figures of this Caganen. The story goes that during the birth of Jesus, an on looking pastor really had to go, but he waited until after Jesus was born to go. Apparently it’s supposed to demonstrate humility. So right there in the nativity scenes, next to baby Jesus is a little figure of a pastor with his pants down, squatting over a fresh batch of #2. You can imagine my surprise when one day while passing through the center of a mall, where I expected to find a towering Christmas tree, I found in its place a giant man, doing his business. You can even go into any town this time of year and pick up a figurine of your favorite sports star or politician in their little act of Mother Nature.

As time progresses here, things definitely get somewhat easier. It’s never really that easy though, I just get more used to life. Language is definitely still a challenge. It’s so hard at times to not get frustrated with myself because I’m not further along in fluidity. I have to remember to take into account though that there are two different languages spoken where I live: Spanish and Catalan. And in my house my family only speaks Spanish when they are speaking to me. But while before I thought that that would make it impossible to learn anything, I find now that I can almost understand Catalan as well as Spanish. Four months ago, I thought Catalan was a crazy language and couldn’t understand a word. Now, I can make simple sentences! Even still, I never really realize how much I’ve actually learned until I’m in the middle of a conversation with someone, speaking without translating in my head, and understanding everything they say back to me. That I think is the greatest feeling in the world.

This exchange feels like it’s going as fast as a bullet train yet as slow as a slug all at the same time. It makes me so sad to think that I have such little time left, yet sometimes I would love to skip to the time where I can speak with ease and have made close friends. I have so much to look forward to though, and I don’t want to miss a thing or take a minute for granted. I love my exchange, all the bad and all the good. Thank you Rotary, thank you friends, and thank you family, I really can’t say that enough. Happy new year to all, hasta luego!

April 28

I’m so sorry I haven’t updated my blog in a while, these last few months have passed by so quickly. I can’t believe that I am already in my eighth month abroad and that I only have two and a half months to go. I also want to apologize for the probable lack of eloquence in this blog; it seems as if right now I’m not fluent in any language. That’s one of the weird parts about going on exchange, before you realize, you forget how to speak your own language. I’m almost embarrassed now to help my peers in English because nothing that I say seems right anymore. Not to mention that they use British grammar books here, which although you may think would be the same, it’s not. Even still, I end up helping everyone in English, but it’s because I like to and I want to. It’s like we’ve all come full-circle. Now that I can speak Spanish, I happily give up some of my time to help my friends in English who have helped me this entire year in Spanish, even when that meant giving up speaking their own native language of Catalan. As you take, you must always to remember to give.

About a month and a half ago, I changed houses. Normally, in this area of Spain, the exchange students don’t change host families because there just aren’t enough. But when I started to have some problems with my original host family, a good friend of mine invited me to come live with her. So here I am, living with my best Spanish friend and loving it. They have taught me so much in such little time and I really feel like a part of the family; like I live with people who love and care about me. I know this will be a lifelong relationship and I am so excited about that.

Although the point of this exchange is primarily to experience another culture and create understanding between countries, a large part you spend learning about yourself. Throughout an entire year in a foreign place, with new people and countless uncomfortable situations, you learn how you cope as an individual, how you resolve problems, and how you grow with every experience. You see the world from a different perspective and begin to let go of the learned customs you’ve known your whole life. You learn about people, language, and life lessons. You learn about the good, and you learn about the bad. But above all you become a person more in touch with reality, more aware of the happenings around you, and you change; I know I have.

That’s all I have for now, but I promise for real this time that I’ll write more often. Thank you again to everyone who has made this exchange possible! Rotary district 6980 and John Siegel, my host families, my friends, my family, and my mom and my sister whom I will see this weekend!

Marlee’s Bio

Olá! Or Hello in Portuguese. My name is Marlee White. I’m 16 years old and I was born in New York. I am now a junior in a Florida high school. I’m part of a very loving family which includes my parents, 2 brothers – one of which is grown up with two boys of his own, 2 sisters, and 3 dogs – though they act like little kids. My mother and I have a very close relationship due to the fact that we are open with and trust each other completely. I also have a very close bond with each of my siblings for which I’m very thankful for.

In my spare time I’m either babysitting my younger siblings, reading mystery novels, or painting – which still needs improving. Hanging out with my best friends, Alexis and Veronica, is another way I love to spend my spare time.

I’m so excited, which really doesn’t come close to expressing the way I feel, about getting this once in a lifetime chance to be an exchange student in Brazil. I am looking forward to experiencing a different culture outside of the United States. I’m also excited to meet new people and families, and the chance to grow strong bonds that will last a life time with these people and families. Learning a new language and the way Brazilian kids my age interact with each other, are other things that I hope to gather with this experience.

I am so thankful to Rotary and its Rotarians for giving me this opportunity to experience this, and I will do my very best to make them all proud. I’m also thankful to my mother who throughout this has, and will, continue to give me unconditional support.

 Marlee’s Journals

September 4

After being in Brazil for almost 4 weeks the time has arrived for me to send in my first journal entry. From leaving my family in the U.S for a 12 hour flight to Brazil on August 14th to this moment right now sitting in my living room with my dad watching “Everybody Hates Chris” (dubbed in Portuguese) I have had such a variety of different emotions.  From heart wrenching sorrow to amazement, awe, and excitement to contentment, nervousness, and frustration.

Leaving my family and friends at the airport was one of the hardest things I have done-so far- in my whole life…though it was somehow possible for me to feel the complete opposite when I stepped into my new mom and dad’s (Izabel and Amauri) waiting arms for the very first time! When I first arrived we went to the mall in Londrina to get food from the food court.  This was when I first found out that everybody in Brazil eats with their fork in one hand and their knife in the other at ALL times!! I’ve also come to realize that rice and beans are served with nearly every meal (also that my new favorite drink is the Brazilian drink Guarana!!)!  Driving to my new town (which is quite small, though I love it because it is such a close knit community) and home I was in shock because of the beauty I saw through the car windows.  There is just so much to see and it was all so beautiful; I still get that feeling and moment of awe when I wake up and look through my window to look upon my town and Brazil.

My house it the perfect size and I love my room.  My mom even got towels with my name and flowers embroidered on it; I thought it was so sweet and thoughtful.  My Portuguese is still kind of bad but I can understand most of what people say, but my dad makes fun of me because most of my responses are just “Sim” (yes) because I have yet to be able to answer in full sentences.

My first day of school I was super-duper nervous, but by the end of the day I thought I was insane for ever being nervous in the first place.  I was treated like a celebrity with everyone crowding around my desk and trying to tell me their names (and the next day asking if I remember all 30!!) and asking about me, though I really just sat there and smiled.  Though I am not as famous with my friends as I first was-because they now treat me like one of their oldest friends; we already have inside jokes which I think is just awesome!!-but the younger kids still stare and smile tentatively.  Some that I have never met call me by my name and say hi which i think is super cool…though I wish I knew all of theirs!

I have so many other amazing stories but I will save those for another time! All there is left to say is that I am absolutely in love with Brazil and could not be in a better country!  

P.S The true meaning of an exchange student is to be able to adapt because not only will you have a wonderful experience that way  but you will also let the people around you be able to enjoy and share those experiences with you.  It is not your host club, family or countries job to adapt to you, it is yours to adapt to their new and exciting culture that they are willing to show and share with your very lucky self!  So I have a goal for myself: that by the end of my year in Brazil I will have no regrets because I will know that I adapted to the Brazilian culture in all ways possible and was able to get the most out of my life-altering experience!  So thank you to every single person in the Rotary organization that gives kids like me the chance to have this experience…I also would like to thank my huge support system from home; my mom, family, grandparents, Doug Lobel, and every other Rotarian in Citrus County!

  November 22

It seems that I have only been in Brazil for a week yet I’ve already been here for 3 months, I am in love with the people, country, and culture! I celebrated my 17th birthday here which was really fun; and i mean how many people get to say they had a birthday in Brazil?! My host family threw me 4 parties. It was totally unexpected by I appreciated everything they did because I was a little homesick but when I saw how much time and effort they put in for me I was astonished! I can’t tell you that you will never have homesickness because there are those little times that you miss, like your little sisters birth, but those are also the little times that bring you closer to your host families because they are there to help you and you can lean on them.

I am glad because we kind of have been getting into a schedule during the week. Not one of those day by day exact thing routine, but where it’s comfortable. On Monday nights my brother has classes so it’s just me and my host parents at home and my dad usually makes dinner. Then Tuesday and Thursday nights I go to an English class, where I help the kids with their English and they in return answer any questions I have about Portuguese. Thursday nights are also “churrasco” nights (like a bbq); I always look forward to them because I get to see all the other adults that have become like aunts and uncles or grandparents to me. Also on November 24th I am going with my school to a water park resort and I’m so excited. We have to take a bus 9 hours to get there but I’m looking forward to it because I’ve never ridden that long on a bus before!

My next family also keeps asking when I’ll will be switching to their house, but I decided that I’d rather not switch until after the holidays. I don’t want to feel even the littlest bit awkward around those times that are supposed to be for celebrating with my family. I will miss my own families traditions for the holiday season but I am happy that I get to see another perspective of celebrating Christmas and the new year.

All in all I am loving my experience here; it’s exhilarating they way you learn new thing’s everyday and meet somebody new everyday. I know that once it is time for me to leave it will be difficult because already this place and these people are becoming my new family, they welcomed me with open arms and have never stopped making me feel loved or that I belong here with them!

January 15

These past couple of months have given me some of the best and worst parts of my stay here in Brazil.  But even the worst is nothing extremely bad.  

For Christmas I was able to stay with my first host family, with whom I got close with, especially my dad.  We went to my moms family house in one of the big cities.  They welcomed me in as if I’ve been a part of their family for forever; it felt wonderful.  ON Christmas Eve we all got together and waited till mid-night to eat.  After eating all of their delicious food we did “Papai Noel” (the Brazilians way of saying Santa Claus).  We all sat around a little Charlie Brown tree and one of my uncles was dressed up and pretending to be Santa for the little kids.  Instead of everybody getting the enormous amount of presents that most people get in the U.S they instead call their presents “remembrances”.   Most of the adults don’t get anything and that’s kind of the same for teenagers as well (they usually just get money).  The little kids get the most…and for me I also got a couple!  I got a slinky, a little red bird that chirps and lights up, a jersey to my favorite Brazilian soccer team, and a pajama set.

Throughout this time I can’t tell you that it won’t be hard at all because it is.  I actually teared up when they all held hands and said a prayer together because it was hard to believe that I wasn’t with my family and little brothers and sisters.  But then I realized that all of these people are my family and that it brought me so much closer to them because I was so grateful that they welcomed me in that special time.  

After New Years Eve I switched to my second house and my new family.  They are also an amazing family!  I couldn’t be any more grateful then I am right now that Rotary was able to place me with such wonderful families and people!  I keep enjoying my stay here more and more everyday!  I have matured so much more then I could have ever have imagined and this experience has been life changing for me, and it’s only my 5th month!

April 14

So as I am writing this journal I am in my third and last house…I absolutely love it!  To me each of my houses has given me different experiences; though I must say this house is my favorite.  I seem to be clicking well with both of my parents and siblings, where at the other houses I was just sort of comfortable with my parents (though that’s not bad at all either!).   It’s exciting to be a part of a routine now and feel like I really belong here.  

There was a time a few weeks ago where I hit the “homesickness stage” yet after a week it had already passed!  There are times when I am sitting at “churrasco” (Brazilian bbq) with friends and family or when I am with a big group of friends watching a volleyball game wondering how on earth I became so lucky to have so many people that love and care about me on two different continents!  

I have enjoyed my eight months so far and I know that I will be extremely upset when I have to leave my new ‘home” in three months…but I also remember all the times I have had here and everyone I know and I know that I will never, ever forget anything!  These people have helped me grow in 8 months, just as much as my own family and friends in the U.S have in 17 years.  

In a few days I will be going to Rio de Janeiro and a few other places with my real grandparents from Florida, and though I am excited I am still a little sad because whole I’m gone my brother and sister will be having their birthday party.  It is weird how all though I am having my birth family come visit I would rather be with the people who have become my family in such a short time.  

This exchange has done so much for me that I cannot begin to explain all the ways but I do know that for me it will never really end, even when I am back on U.S soil I will always have the exchange and all it has brought me with me in my memories and heart!

Matthew D’s Bio

I blame many things on Kermit the Frog. The first of which is completely unjustified, but having a figurehead to point and shout loudly at is far more comfortable than pointing and shouting loudly in general.

I blame Mr. Frog and his rainbow connection for dreams.

The second of which is a severe lack of fried frog legs, but now I’m completely off topic.

Dreams are a given fact of life to the American teenager. It’s a hot topic of conversation– ever present at the back of the mind, eternally standing at attention for the inevitable occasion where the friendly chat should turn to face them. To some, dreams are a subject of pride and a towering ideal to attend to without fail or rest; to others, a small interest and goal for the far flung future and unworthy of attention in the face of more current and pressing matters, attended to wistfully and in a detached manner.

Dreams are the hopes, goals, and wishes for the future—born from questions and remarks such as “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, “Wow, look at him run… he’ll be quite the track star when he grows up, eh?”, and “So, how was career day at school today?”, and fostered by the presence of celebrities and idols: those who have presumably accomplished such dreams and reap the benefits of it.

It’s not so unjustified that I pretend to entertain notions of dreams, then.

Knowledge is information, anything you could find in a book from how to make filet mignon to how to read literature like a professor. It is something prevalent in public education. As is such, it is something I have much of, as do most all people.

Wisdom is the ability to act on the information, that which is determined in different circumstances to coordinate your own knee-jerk reaction to the situation with your knowledge. The more wisdom you have, the far better you are when it comes to personality and decisions. It is something unobtainable without due duress, and as is such, it is something I have little of, as do a great many people.

When you stick the two in a great big melting pot, stir slowly but methodically, you get a heaping pile of intelligence.

It is intelligence I seek at every turn in the walk of life—fulfilling all extents with which my mind can be applied—and it is in the pursuit of wisdom that I have applied to Rotary’s Youth Exchange Program. As is such I do greet you all like so:

Hello world! All of seventeen years old, my name is Matthew Dowdie and I stand before you ready to move forward and on to Japan in the name of personal growth. I’ve been and done a little bit of everything—from the piano, French horn, and acting to website design and programming—and will have much more to do during my year abroad. It’s my hope that as I grow in wisdom, you all return to read this journal-blog-hybrid for the pretty pictures and inevitable awkward moments I shall experience, and lord none of it over my head upon my return.

A futile hope? Yes. But if I don’t say it up from, I can’t lord your ignoring my request over your heads upon my return.

Here’s hoping for wisdom! ここに知恵を望んでいる！

Matthew マシュー

Matthew D’s Journals

August 20 – Pre-trip journal

So.

Japan, huh.

You can’t see it, but I’m rubbing my chin in a kind of Hmmmm manner right now.

Hmmmmm.

I wonder what Japan’s going to be like.

More so than cultural nuances and “Is that a… um, um, wait it’s coming to me… AH! Vending machine! I knew I knew that word—er, phrase!”

In fact, let’s run on that tangent for a second.

I’ve done my fair share of musing on culture since signing on for Rotary Youth Exchange. Pre-Zero Day, here’s my thoughts:

Culture is autopilot.

First, autopilot. Then the culture analogue.

Autopilot is the brain’s shortcuts. It’s why you throw your hands down when you trip, why your hand goes flying skyward every time you hear an oddly purposeful silence in the classroom. Your mind doesn’t fly into overdrive, shouting, “HEY I’M FALLING WAHHHH”. It doesn’t waken from the inner monologue to murmur, “…wait, when’d he get quiet? This is oddly famil—oh! This is the part where I raise my hand, right?”

No, you’ve already done that plenty often. At this point, it’s second nature. Thought is eliminated from the process entirely after so many times, and the action simply happens. You’ve trained your body to react to different circumstances without a cue from the mind.

Culture is a lot like that autopilot part of us.

Except that skipped thought process is the reasoning behind a belief.

The belief that it’s perfectly acceptable to head out regularly for ice cream on Friday nights.

The belief that the most polite thing you can do in a situation is give someone their space.

It’s part of our identity. That with which we define ourselves. The little things in life we take as a given, and from within this mental shell of what we consider facts of life—unchanging and solid before all else—we move forward, making our actions from within this worldview.

Changes in this identity-perspective are earth shattering. A massive paradigm shift is called on in moments of truth, where we must acknowledge a… less-than-minor clerical error.

The change that my daily life will no longer include my father, my mother, my sister, and my two dogs, for example, will no doubt leave me shamefacedly tearing up in the airport terminal come Friday.

The change that there might be days where I go without seeing a word in English will also likely leave me shamefacedly biting my pencil in a mildly perturbed state.

Youth exchange is not the incorporating of another culture into your own identity.

Cultural identities aren’t a two-for-one sale. There will be places where different cultures cross swords and thoroughly disagree, refusing any ground to that compromise thing. In these conflicting areas, a deliberate choice has to be made by the inbound.

During the year abroad, all the students whose names you see to the right will endure the most mentally trying situation any being can take on: cultural assimilation— making concessions that the home culture, if only in certain aspects, is not as homely as the newfound culture, willingly putting their identities on the line for a worldly perspective.

Most people aren’t brave enough to change their identities a little by cutting his or her hair an inch shorter than usual.

The only issue, of course, is that knee-jerk reaction we have to any situation. The one situation that tries to tell us the manner in which we think is about as right as the puppy drinking from the toilet.

People don’t take kindly to situations where they feel… as though their opinions and beliefs are but pebbles before another person’s supposed monolithic opinions and beliefs.

I expect controlling that kind of autopilot will be the greatest hurdle we’ll face this year.

…what a tangent, huh?

November 6

Japan holds many things in a higher regard than we Americans. We go so far as to assume a certain humility about certain things, and in many ways, are led to believe it best such certain things are left in a humble state.

For example, today my host mother and myself were in the basement floor of a three-story Seven-Eleven mini-shopping mall.

I, for one, couldn’t help but admire the tenacity of it all.

American 7-11’s are little more than glorified gas stations, excepting the contractually obligated slushie stand.

Japan’s 7&i Holdings mini-mall consisted of four floors: two of gender-specific clothing and apparel, a top floor for kiddie toys, DVDs, mattress covers, and your everyday knick-knacks, and a regular grocery store serving as the basement floor.

My mind was anywhere but the seafood aisles my host mother and I were walking through at the time.

Who had decided that the best company to call when making a mini-mall was 7-11?

Perhaps 7-11 originated in Japan?

Or… wait, is it even a mini-mall? Perhaps “department store” would be a better fit?

I smelled a Wikipedia hunt in the making.

All the while, my host mother– my Okaasan– picked up a package of fresh shrimp and turned it over, presumably checking for an expiration date. After waiting a beat, she brought my attention to said backside label.

Having had the opportunity to visit New York City, Okaasan has no laughable English language skills. Though not without bounds, her repetiore of the language is impressive and has served as a vital tool in my ongoing adventures in learning Japanese. The following conversation, though slightly paraphrased in respect to a falliable memory, is wholly true and by most all counts accurate.

“Always check to see where the shrimp comes from.” she said with a certain amount of determination, scanning over the black on white text.

I furrowed my eyebrows.

Checking a product’s country of make– it reminded me heavily of when out shopping for rawhide bones for my own dog, Toula. Rawhides of non-American make, you see, have this odd tendency of adding materials best left out of the canine digestive system.

-5 years life expectancy, anyone?

“If it’s from [COUNTRY NAME REMOVED FOR POSTERITY],” she continued, decided in the matter and putting the shrimp package in the cart, “always put it back.”

My mind still fell back on the rawhide comparison already privately made. I sought confirmation, perhaps out of pride, and went so far as to ask,

“Why?”

Okaasan laughed.

It was a laugh truly worthy of some praise, politely restrained as it was for the public setting, and yet taking no small amount of reverie in the inevitable reaction to come.

“They’re jerks.”

The politically aware will laugh.

January 15

Japanese high schools are not like American high schools.

But let me explain.

American high schools are, in many ways, the bare minimum educational level one can obtain in the hopes for a stable and long term future, as per the beaten path. Japanese high schools, too, are considered quite mandatory for any notions of becoming a salaryman.

Japanese high schools do a fair impression of colleges, with rigorous exams standing between a student and their hopes of academic non-failure, while maintaining its goverment-funded status.

I had the pleasure of being given a small tour of the high school I was to attend, way back in my second week of the exchange– a tour I was looking forward too! Abounding curiousity aside, it would be a chance to try and familiarize myself with the building before school began.

I… may or may not have traumatic experiences from getting lost in a new school.

Regardless, I found myself surprised at quite a few things the school had to its name:

Multiple buildings, most of which were three stories high, with the main building managing four.

One of the wings was set aside specifically for the arts. I’m half of the impression this is mainly for show and tell, if you will, given the sheer number of works presented in view of many a nature– traditional paintings, sculptures, and more were in sight in a large part of the wing, dominating the presence.

Though I didn’t have to wonder why the showroom was quite so separated from the classroom, we quickly rounded around and–

Oh.

A music hall.

It’s no secret that I’ve been playing the piano for the better part of a decade, and though I’ll be the first to admit my initial fervent disinterest in the instrument leaves me with six years’ skill, here and now, I find a certain peace with the piano. (Consequently, I’ll be avoiding any occupations in relation to it, but that’s another can of worms entirely.)

The tour guide was, quite eagerly, ushering myself and my first host mother over to one of the practice rooms, inviting us to step in. An orchestra– brass, wind, strings, and I’m afraid I’m not too well familiarized with orchestras beyond these– made up of students, were at work.

And what a work it was.

I’d heard lesser performances from Broadway. The orchestra, though in my own unprofessional opinion, lacking in subtlety, more than made up for a dulled sense of emotion out of sheer, practiced perferction.

No empty parts, no instrument speaking harshly out of line, and in unison.

I was impressed. The American musician is a soloist– working competitively, if at all, when in a group. The Japanese musician seemed to be made of tougher stuff.

I was looking forward to interacting with this kind of person.

We exited the practice room shortly after we had the opportunity to revel in that… privilege.

I went to tell our guide quite how floored I was–

“Were you surprised?” the guide asked me, having mercy on my neophyte’s grasp of the Japanese language.

My mind was still.

 No, I thought, raising a polite smile on my face, I am not surprised.

Surprise in the face of a skill is justified. Surprise in the face of skill itself is arrogance.

“Not quite,” I’d replied, not trusting myself to speak too much until I’d had the chance to determine what this meant.

Without communication– in this instance, requiring a strong command of the language at hand– comprehension of any given person’s personality is out of the question, regardless of who it is who lacks the language. In lacking this knowledge, presumptions based on prior knowledge are made.

Americans tend naturally look down on others. Ladies and gentlemen, we call this arrogance.

This is a stereotype– prior knowledge, true or false as it may be, that my tour guide relied on in his search to comprehend and communicate with me.

You and I, reader, fall back on this prior knowledge on a daily basis. Someone’s hairdo, the words on their shirt, their ethnicity– our mindset turns in a million and one ways, in the span of a passing glance– no glance made with the wisdom of retrospect, and all forced to make an assumption in the now, subconciously falling back on stereotypes we discover, before the other person is given the opportunity to make the first impression with a greeting.

Want to change that?

Talk to them.

How was I going to change that?

Learn Japanese so that I could talk to them.

I’ve been studying the language nigh daily since.

Japanese high schools are more like American high schools than I’d first thought.

Morgan’s Bio

Where to start? Well, first off I was always the kind of kid that loved adventures and new experiences, so of course when I heard about Rotary Youth Exchange from an orientation at my high school I jumped at the opportunity. The more I became informed about the exchange the more excited I became. When I discussed this amazing opportunity that I had at hand with my friends, to my surprise they didn’t respond with excitement for me. I was thrown questions like “Why would you want to leave your family and your friends to live with complete and total strangers?” I thought about it and responded with “Who wouldn’t want to do that? (being the outgoing and adventurous type.)” Despite my friends’ lack of interest I was not discouraged, for I am as independent as it comes.

I went through the whole process of being interviewed and questioned with not only being nervous with the outcome if I was going to be chosen or not. So with the nail biting anticipation I waited it out, and soon enough got an e-mail and a phone call letting me know I was accepted and going to Switzerland! I was and am beyond thrilled. My heart skipped beats and I probably went a few days with a sore throat form screaming with excitement. Enough about how happy I am for my upcoming year, let me explain a bit of what I’m all about.

I attend Buchholz High School where I currently am a junior. I’m very involved in the Buchholz Varsity Debate Team. I have been competing for three years (I love to talk, go figure I found my niche at school). Along with being involved in that I also am a huge activist in the community, a few places I help out with are: donating blood regularly, working at the homeless shelter, and volunteering at the Humane Society. I live with my Father and Mother. I have an older sister but she goes to college in North Carolina. My favorite place in the world would have to be Disney World, and my dad and I visit Disney (my second home) quite frequently. I’m really going to miss that place when I leave, but I’m sure I can handle it.

This program has and is going to open up so many doors for me. I can’t wait to get the show on the road and be placed into Switzerland. I have to say to anyone who has the least bit of interest in this program to check it out. This is an experience of a lifetime and I am so glad I have been given the ability to embrace this new life. Thank you so much Rotary for having the faith in me and giving me the opportunity that will forever change who I am for the better.

 Morgan’s Journals

August 8

This feeling no one will ever know unless they experience it. You step onto the plane, looking over your shoulder at your family waving goodbye, your eyes fill with tears of joy and sadness, everything will be alright. The stranger next to you on the plane strikes up conversation and you breath easy for a moment because you feel like you are not alone, you make small talk and then they ask you of course about your blazer and you get to explain your whole idea of this adventure you are about to venture on. Their eyes widen and you know that they are just as nervous for you as you are. The plane ride was long, but telling your story that you have yet to experience makes it enjoyable, and instead of looking at it with fear, when verbalized you realize that this is an opportunity of a life time, you will see and do so many things that you have never dreamed of, this trip, this journey you can’t prepare for, you are alive.

My feet brace myself as my knees shake and I walk off the plane, and go through customs and grab my bags, I am not so sure what my host mother and brother look like, the pictures I was sent seem to be lost in my mind mixed in with all the thoughts, “Will they like me?” “I hope they find me.” “If not I have my calling card to call someone, but who” “Shush Morgan you will be fine.”

 I hear my name MORGAN! WELKOMEN! I feel at ease, I am found. I am greeted with three kisses and a smile, this feels right. We go to get my train ticket and everything goes smoothly except for the part where I struggle to get all my things on the train and a nice young Swiss boy helps me along and says something to me, but I was not quite sure what it was, but I nodded to him and thanked him.

My host brother is a trip, he is so kind and always so funny, he is very intelligent, I am glad he loves spending hours of playing chess, I of course always lose, but I am learning.

The food, is amazing. Cheese has never tasted so good, and neither has chocolate. A traditional Swiss meal is where you heat a slice of cheese on a hot tablet in a stove looking thing on the kitchen table, and then you pour it over potatoes, AMAZING!

 Cows seem to be sacred here, they are obsessed with the “coo” it’s adorable. When I arrived in my town the first thing I saw were hang-gliders, they glide all day everyday, it’s amazing how relaxed here and how people enjoy every second of their day and waste no time to be bored, they always find something to do.

I ventured to the town of Bern yesterday with my host mother and brother, we went to Einstein’s house in Bern, Munster of Bern (Gothic Cathedral), The Zytglogge Tower (Medieval Tower in Bern-Old prison guard built in the 1300’s), walking around in this new place is so invigorating.

 Speaking german is coming more easily to me than I thought, that is all my host family speaks to me on exception if I really don’t understand, but I usually do, STUDY YOUR HOST LANGUAGE. I can’t say that enough, open your eyes to the world and it will open it’s arms to you, close your eyes and you will not know the direction you are going towards.

 I have to say the change is not easy, it is exciting but it does cause you to be a bit sad, and you do miss home. But then again it is wonderful and an experience you will have for the rest of your life, I have only been here for three days and I feel I have started to change, for the good, I am becoming more aware of who I am and that it is alright to feel lonely and to be alone, it causes you to tap into your emotions and be alright with life by yourself, even though you are surrounded by unfamiliar people you know that you are fine, society has made of fear the feeling of being alone, but it’s something special when you can be alone and feel content. I will only get stronger.

 They have really neat candy shops that specialize in sweets other than chocolate, the Swiss have it all. Delicious.

The weather is so pleasant, there is no such thing as central air in Switzerland, but you don’t need it, you leave your windows open and enjoy the fresh air, it does get a bit chilly at night, and from now on it will keep getting that way. I will start school in 2-3 weeks, I am so excited to try and make friends.

Know that it is okay to cry, perfectly alright to smile, and normal to feel a mix of emotions you can yet explain.

 Today is the day, embrace it and feel alive, I certainly do.

August 24

I have come to the realization that this has to be one of the best things that has ever happen  to me, being on my third week here I have learned more about so many different things than I have ever learned in my whole entire life. I have started to learn a whole new culture, a whole new language, well two languages because Switzerland has at least another dialect of German, Swiss German, that I think I will master by my last day here, hopefully, it is terribly hard, I have also learned so much about myself.

 Yes, there is no way to avoid homesickness, you will at least feel it slightly, that is if you go running and talk with your host family and make yourself very tired before you lay down to go to bed, that is what I try to do, so you don’t have time to think about what is going on back home, and to be honest, you’re most likely not missing anything super important back at home that needs you to think about it all the time.

 I have said that I have realized a lot, and thus far I think what I have realized the most, are things about myself, and life in general.

Everyone has their own story, this story is one called life, your life. Everyone will choose to lead their story in which ever direction they would like, I choose to lead mine in the direction of happiness, success, and some failure. What some people don’t realize is that one day they will have to share their story, and think about it, I mean really think about it, when you get older, yes we all physically do, you will have to tell your story, and don’t you want it to be as interesting, and as amazing as you have dreamt it to be? This all connects back to, don’t sit in your room all the time and be antisocial on your exchange, don’t spend all your time thinking and missing home and friends and family, live in the now, you are here, BE HERE. Don’t be somewhere else, lost in your thoughts, rather get lost on the train, like I did on my first day venturing to school.

 Everyday I learn something new, I love it, everyday there is something exciting to look forward to, some days are hard to get through, and others I don’t want to end, I love this life that I have begun, I am so very thankful to everyone that has made it possible.

I am indulging in the delicious food, drenching in the amazing culture, and filling my mind with memories to last a life time.

My story will have more happy moments than sad ones, my story will make people asking for more, my story will be all my own, and I am the director and actor in this story, this story called life.

 Lights, Camera, Action,

This story has begun, and it will be a success, get out and make your story memorable.

September 26

Time is already flying by; I can’t grasp many days it seems. I learn so much everyday, my German is coming along wonderfully, I have never been so proud of myself. School has begun, and let me tell you it is interesting. Here you can not wear your “outdoor” shoes inside so you have to change your shoes right when you walk into school into “house shoes” I like this, because your feet are so comfy all day.

One thing I did find out is sleeping in class is unheard of, school here is a lot longer than school in the United States. I go to school from 8am to 5pm. One of my best friends here had a birthday, and a tradition here in Switzerland is to make a huge sign for their 18th birthday that says “We love you” you put this huge sign up on their house the night before their birthday morning, well my friends birthday happened to be on a school night, so I stayed up very late so my host sister and I could venture to his house and place this sign on his balcony without him knowing. It was around eleven or twelve at night when we got to his house to put this sign up, we finished around one in the morning, we had some problems, but then of course I had to wake up for school in about five hours, I got to school beat tired and by the last period I felt like a zombie, we were watching a film in class when all of a sudden I was saying something to a class mate and BOOM I was out like a light. I think I slept for around thirty minutes, and had no idea until I woke up with all my classmates laughing and asking if I had sweet dreams, in German of course. The teacher was not mad, thank goodness, he thought it was funny, but when I told my host mom, she was not so thrilled, I explained that in America I NEVER slept in class but here I just have to get used to the longer days, and I promised I would never sleep in class again, my host dad however thought it was hilarious.

I love school, at first it was a bit awkward just because some teachers did not even acknowledge that I was in class, I think that is because last years exchange students left a sour taste in their mouths. I have made a point to let them know I am here to learn even if I do not understand everything. My German/English dictionary is my lifesaver; I carry that thing around like it is my child. Chemistry has never been more interesting, the names they use here for the elements are so interesting, I however cannot pronounce the names just yet, they are sure to twist your tongue. I have integrated quite well, my classmates are so funny, the Swiss are nothing like the stereotypes we have for them.  They are amazing people.

I also found out that dogs here are very friendly where I live, I go running about everyday and so far four times I have been chased by a dog and its owner, and then in German the owner will apologize like crazy, and it is so sweet, there are dogs everywhere here, I love it. I think I will become a pro walker when I get done with this year, you walk everywhere, no matter if you are going to catch the bus, going to the train, going to school, whatever you do you WALK. I love this healthy lifestyle.

My host family is the sweetest; I am so lucky to be living with people so kind. I celebrated my 18th birthday here, you will never believe what happened. I wake up to a huge kiss and hug from my host mother, and later we have the most delicious “black forest” cake I have ever eaten, then around 9pm my host parents say we have to get in the car to go and get my birthday present, I was so confused, I got into the car and we pull up to a building, and it is pitch black, we all get out of the car and walk up to the building, my host mom knocks on the door, and a lady comes and opens the door, we walk in and then she turns on the lights, it is a jewelry store, then my host mom tells me to pick out whatever I want for my birthday, I burst into tears, I have never experienced something so shocking as this, I found a beautiful necklace that I liked so they graciously got it for me and then my host mom says “You need a ring to match that” I am even more shocked, I find a ring to die for, and she says “Yes, this is perfect.” I appreciate all that my host family does for me, they are by far some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Switzerland is a great experience, it is everything I could have wished for, but nothing I could have expected. I can never thank Rotary and my parents and everyone else that made this possible for me enough, you truly have changed my life, for the better, and I am loving it more and more everyday.

 You know how we say “Piece of cake” in English when something is simple, well this Swiss guy was trying to tell me it was a “Piece of cake” to ski on the “black” slope and instead of saying “Piece of cake” he said “A cup of chicken” then he said “A cup of cake” and finally a “Piece of cake” I have never laughed harder in my whole entire life, he enjoyed it as well, he finds my German funny at times, and his English funny at times as well, I love this culture, I love the language barrier and watching it fall.

 October 23

Switzerland, a wondrous place, a place where you can look out every window and see something breath taking. The atmosphere here is a lot different from the atmosphere in the United States, it is refreshing, mind blowing, and perfect.  

I have settled in quite well, I have so many Swiss friends, the Swiss are not what the stereo-types have said they are. They are very warm and sweet people once you get to know them. You do have to make effort in letting them know you are interested in the way of life that they live.

 I have become a coffee and hot tea addict, they do enjoy their coffee here, as I have come to find I enjoy it quite well too.

 The language is going great I am learning new things everyday, I have never been so interested in a language until I came here, it is nothing like learning a language in school, it is the real deal. You feel so proud of yourself when you can finally have a conversation with a stranger in their language and not in your first language. I now think in German, I hardly ever use English, or even think in English anymore. This is kind of funny because I have started to forget my English, and in my English class I am asked questions about English, and sometimes it takes me a bit to remember the word or how to properly say it. This is a sign that I am truly immersing myself into the culture.

 Switzerland is unique along with all of the people that live here in Switzerland, this place is like no other I have traveled to, I think that is because when you travel, you are in a way “a tourist” and you do not truly get the feel of the culture, but I have had my hands full of this culture and let me tell you it is amazing.

 School is very long here, I have class for around 9 hours a day, but it is so much fun. The sport class here I have twice a week and in sport we have danced and made human sculptures and all sorts of fun things, I have learned how to play basketball, volleyball, soccer, and courtball. Also my classes are very interesting because you do not have the same classes everyday like you do in America, you have different ones each day. It mixes things up and keeps you busy.

I have fallen in love with the city Lucern, the whole look and feel of the city is to die for, I love walking around in this city and just enjoying the scenery.

 I went to a Carnival type thing here called Määs, it was really fun, shopping, riding rides, eating, talking, laughing, the Swiss know how to have a good time. When they say they want to relax and have fun, they sure do it.

 I also have been to the Cinema here, very interesting, you have assigned seats on your ticket when you purchase it, so the earlier you come to get your ticket the better seat you get, also half way through the movie you get a 15 minute pause to go to the bathroom, buy more refreshments and all, it is nice because you don’t have to miss any of the movie.

 Little differences like that make you stop and think, and realize how we all live our lives so differently but then again how similar we do things, but with a twist.

 I am no longer really homesick, your emotions do take you for a ride, you will experience all the emotions you have ever felt in your life all at once and then none of them at all, you will also feel emotions you have never felt before and ones you can not explain, but that is the life of an exchange student, and it is so interesting to push yourself out of your comfort zone and see how you react, you will never be able to prepare yourself enough for what you will feel, but you will also never be able to know how much you will enjoy it and cherish it until you do it. It can be tough and it can be nothing but beautiful and amazing, you just have to remember when you get stuck in a rut and you do not know what to do and where to turn to, remember tomorrow is a new day, you may see the sun or you may not, but you will be stronger and you will be one day more in tune and secure with yourself, because being an exchange student will force you to grow up, and force you to be on your way to finding yourself and you will find that you are a beautiful person inside and out, and that you are doing something a lot of people would not dare to do. Some days you may not want to wake up for, but if you do not force yourself out of bed you will miss the days that are truly worth waking up for and the days you will truly remember for the rest of your life.

November 18

Switzerland, where to start, where to begin. I can not stop saying how beautiful this place is. For all of you students out there that are thinking about doing an exchange year, JUST DO IT. It has been the best decision of my life so far and I have learned so much in just under four months. Also Listen to Rotary when you go to all of their camps to prepare you, every word of advice they give you is correct and you can apply it to your exchange year. Rotary I will never thank you enough.  

Let’s see, the culture here is pretty different from the US. I take a train to school everyday, pretty cool if I do say so myself. Also you can not joke with the teachers like you do in the US. This does however leave me with some funny stories.

 The other day I passed my art teacher and I waved to him and said “HEYYY!” and to my knowledge in the US this is perfectly alright, well here, no, DO NOT DO NOT do this. He got this sour look on his face and told me to never do that again, that he was not a fan like Brad Pitt or something, then I thought he was joking so I tapped him on the back with my hand, haha, my host family thought this was very funny because you can not do this here, your teachers are like older people that you have to keep a straight face with most of the time, this does not make it less fun, just very interesting. Anyway the art teacher walked away shaking his head and said “crazy Americans” all of my class mates found this funny and could not believe I did this, I did not find it funny that they do not joke with their teachers as we do. Anyway to clarify my art teacher likes me a lot, he just knows I am “American” a bit funny.

The snow has settled in here and it is not yet December, it is beyond beautiful, as my other exchange friends and I have said “Every time you look out the window it is as if you are looking at a postcard or a picture” and this is so true, this place is one of the most beautiful things I have yet to lay my eyes on.

Shopping, let me tell you, fashion here is huge, and the shopping is grand, but be careful because you can burn a hole in your pocket quick, as for I have sure made an impact on my wallet so far, I need to put on the breaks, but the clothes here are to die for.

The food, you will have never eaten anything better, I am in love with their cooking, my host mom is a killer cook, I have to keep going to the gym or it will sure catch up with me, but you will enjoy yourself to death here.

The people, they are so loving once you get to know them, it takes a while for them to warm up to you, for you are an outsider, but once they get to know you, they are very very loyal and true to you, the Swiss are so fun, and so interesting.

Swiss German, let me tell you this will blow your mind, I am learning “High German” as they call it, the German you all know of, but Swiss German is in a whole other ball field, I am trying to learn this as well, but as one Swiss person told me is “If it sounds like we are choking on something, you know we are speaking Swiss German” this is so true, it is so fun to learn though.

The atmosphere here is stunning, every time I walk outside I am taken aback, because it feels so surreal sometimes.

I am so glad to be here, homesickness does happen, but you have to always remember to find happiness in each and every day, and that tomorrow is a new day, and that this year will flash by you so fast you do not want to be stuck sad.

Thanks again Rotary, I love you all.

December 21

December December oh how I love you, I have never seen the real seasons and how they change. Florida does have the “cold” days as we Floridians like to call them in our “winter” time, but here in Switzerland I am really I mean really experiencing what it is like to have cold weather, it can sometimes become negative four degrees, but that is on a rare day, non the less this is what the real cold feels and looks like. There is snow every where you look and it is just amazing.

I have already gone snowboarding and let me tell you, I busted some but and ate plenty of snow. I am taking a snowboarding class starting on Christmas Eve, this should be fun and help me learn the correct way to fall and get back up.

I went night sledding the other night, what fun that was. You go up a ski lift around 10pm at night and sled down the mountain and reach the bottom at around 12am. Then after all this fun you get to go and eat fondu, oh the delicious cheese they have here in Switzerland is die for.

In a week or so I am going to go dog sledding, yes dog sledding. This is with eight Huskies, my favorite type of dog, I am so excited, everything I do here I think, wow this is really a once in a life time opportunity for me.

I am enjoying every waking moment of it all. Christmas is around the corner and I honestly thought I would be more homesick than I actually am. I think the snow is helping me, because I know I will most likely never have a white Christmas and if I do later in life it will most likely not be in Switzerland although I do hope to come back.

I recently went to Germany and I realized how thrilled I am to be in Switzerland, in the beginning of all of this I wanted to go to some country that spoke German and my fist thought was Germany, then I thought oh Switzerland what a neat place, when you first think of Switzerland what do you think of? Chocolate, Cheese, Swiss Alps. Exactly the best things in life, and the only things you need to survive on, =) The whole deal with them speaking mainly Swiss German here, and making it a bit harder to learn “correct” German did scare me a bit, but now having traveled to Germany I now see that Switzerland is really really something special, Germany is as well, but there is just something about Switzerland that is like no other place, nothing can be compared to it. I am so grateful to be here, even with the challenge of Swiss German, in Switzerland you can honestly be ANYWHERE here and see nothing but a picturesque landscape. You can with out a doubt stand and do a 360 and every place you look, looks like a postcard.

This exchange has brought nothing but a wonderful learning experience thus far, everyday I learn something new, or see something spectacular, if any of you “newbies” have any questions or are in the least bit interested in going to Switzerland, or already know you are coming to Switzerland and would like to talk, I am here with open ears and eager fingers to type and chat with you, do not be hesitant or afraid.

 January 2

So January is already here, I have already had a wonderful start into this new year, 2011 will be something that I can not forget, I know this for sure. I got the opportunity to go Dog Sledding, and if you have this opportunity in the country you are going to, please please do so. You have no idea how much fun it is, it is nothing like you see in the movies, but so much more fun. The dogs are nothing but power animals with so much energy and love packed all in one. I also built my first snowman in my life here in Switzerland, that was a lot of work but so worth it, I keep learning how to snowboard better and better everyday since I live right in front of a ski lift, so nice, I am really soaking up this luxury. Time is now flying faster than ever, I am completely comfortable in my country, I can say everything I want to say with no language restraint now. I can breathe easier. I have made so many friends and have really acclimated into the school. I feel as one of the Swiss, I do get mistaken a lot for a local and that is just so refreshing.

I would just like to say, push your limits, step out of your comfort zone, feel completely vulnerable and live. Life is not supposed to always be easy, life is not supposed to be everything bliss. We all have good and bad days, but the memories good or bad will always be with you and you will only gain strength from these experiences, find a smile everyday, find some happiness, and watch yourself grow into a person you had no idea was inside of you, and I can thank this exchange year for that, I am changing and learning new things about myself everyday and it is so interesting to see.

This year, no matter what you think now, will change you for the better. You will learn so much about yourself and about things in your life that you want to accomplish, you will make life long friends, special bonds you never knew you could make all because of this exchange year. Do not hesitate to feel nervous or to feel uneasy. This year will bring so many emotions you never knew were within you, and it is healthy to tap into yourself like this. You have to realize how lucky you are to have this opportunity because so many people would kill to be in your position, you will meet people so many other people that will tell you the same thing, and really take it into consideration, you, yes you, are one of the luckiest people alive to have this experience, do not take it for granted.

Hope everyone has a wonderful new years and stays safe and healthy.

Thanks again Rotary, you are truly a blessing.

February 10

So it’s finally February, I have been in Switzerland for officially six months, wow this time is going by so quickly. I have learned so much thus far, I can’t even begin to imagine what I will learn in this last half of my year. I am doing some traveling in my last half. I will be going to Berlin, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam and other parts of Italy. I am taking a yodeling class with my host mom and let me tell you how much fun it is. This is truly the Swiss experience. All of my friends here think I am crazy for wanting to do something such as yodeling but why not? I only live once and I only have one year for my exchange to make it the most memorable year of my life. So I will yodel my heart out.

I am over homesickness full blown, that is a shock to me, because homesickness would come and go like the wind blows, but now I am one hundred percent comfortable in my country and I know how everything works such as the train system, the eating habits, and just the way of living life in Switzerland, when I think about coming back to the States it is a totally odd feeling, I can not even begin to explain, only other exchange students know how I feel. I am enjoying every moment here, I will not and am not taking this for granted.

I have made so many friends and I am shocked at how close some of them and I have become. I just know I am going to have a ton of Swiss friends come to America, you really do make unbreakable bonds with people on your exchange and it is so heartwarming to see and feel. I would just like to say Rotary has prepared me so well for this year; I can not thank them enough.

The homesickness chart is right on cue, they know exactly what we will and are feeling due to the months. They really have this down to a “T” So a little bit about how I have changed because I am dying to try to put it into words.

I have grown a tolerance for so many people, and so many things. Before, when I was living in the States I talked fast, walked fast, thought fast, everything I did I could not slow down. Here I am forced to stop and rethink everything, I am forced to speak slower and to think slower due to having a new language in my brain to use. It has been like a breath of fresh air. I have come to realize that we are all so different but then again so much alike, we all get sad, we all laugh, we all smile no matter what language we speak.

I have grown to really strongly dislike stereotypes, I may find them funny at times but now they just become something like an itch that you can’t scratch when I hear them. I have become way more open minded and open hearted than I used to be, and most of all I have grown a huge respect for myself, I really do finally appreciate who I am and who I have become and who I am on my to becoming.

This year has open so many doors for me not only in the outside world but also in the “inside world” such as mentally. I am just amazed at how much you change and progress for the best in this year. Any parent reading this; smile, please, and do not fear that your child has changed in any way for the worse, but for the best.

Smile because your child really does have a grip on life; smile because your child is not like many other kids their age. We all will come back different from our year and only us exchange students will know exactly what we all feel and that we are different from most every kid in our age group. That will cause us some challenges but do not doubt that we won’t be able to handle the challenges, look at us, we are making it through a year in a whole different country, pretty much on our own, we are invincible, nothing can and will stand in our way, we have conquered what most people call us crazy and weird for.

We are exchange students changing the world one journey at a time.

March 10

Let’s say someone has pressed the fast forward button on my exchange year, officially. I was told how it would go so fast right before you eyes, but I never ever began to actually contemplate the idea until now, I AM IN MARCH. This is almost mind blowing how insanely fast it is going from here on out.

So let’s see if I can recap on a few things I have gotten to do. I am in love with Penguins, and I read in the newspaper here that the Zürich Zoo was having a “Penguin Parade” it’s where they let the Penguins out at a certain time and you can walk WITH THEM, so of course I HAD to do this, I quickly organized how to get to the Zoo and believe it or not I got to walk with the Penguins, what a cool experience. They were just so adorable.

Over my “Fasnacht” break I was taken to Berlin by my host family, wow that was an experience of a life time, I enjoyed myself more than I have ever in a long while. For those who are wondering what “Fasnacht” is, it is something that is very special to Switzerland, it’s a bit like Halloween in the states but with a twist. It lasts a whole week long and you wake up, put on a costume, does not matter what, just something that is ridiculous. Then you can go to different towns and what not and there will be parades in the morning with “Guggenmusik” (that is some form of loud music with trumpets, drums, cymbals, anything instrumental that you can think of. Then at night there are party’s with this music as well, and it can last all night and it’s just a crazy experience, they hold this true to themselves, everyone, all ages goes and does this for a full week, some dedication, I know. Anyway I was so thankful to get the opportunity to go to Berlin, that was a must see on my travel list…along with the rest of the world.

School is going well, I am fully 100% intergraded, I feel like I am really living the true Swiss life. I love love love my host family, I can not stress this enough. I really got lucky. This year so far has been like a dream, it goes so fast and is everything and more than I ever wanted or thought of. In two weeks I will be going to Rome with Rotary, then in May I will be going to Amsterdam with my school class for a week, then in June I will be going to Paris with Rotary, these last few months I would not pass up for the world. There are always ups and downs, but let me tell you all, stick it through, you will see what I mean, you will know exactly what I am feeling when you get to this point. I know I will remember this year for the rest of my life.  

I’ve gained friends, life long memories, confidence, I’ve matured, a lot, I think my parents back home will be shocked, I don’t think they will have a grasp on the world anymore when they see me, they will be so proud, it gives me goose bumps just thinking about how proud I am of myself. Most of all though, I have gained an appreciation, respect, patience, and acceptance for everyone and everything in this world, we are all blessed with this life no matter how bad it can get sometimes, but I am so very thankful.

As they would say in German “Geniessen Sie das Leben du lebst” “Enjoy this life you are living”

Nancy’s Bio

Living on a barrier island in Vero Beach for almost as long as I can remember has distilled in me a great love for the ocean. I love the smell of it. I love to watch the sun play on the crashing waves. I love the feel of a giant swell moving beneath me as I float on the surface. I especially love the rush of my heart as I dive down and slowly open my eyes…

Life at home with a large family (mom, dad, two younger sisters, two dogs, several fish, and a partridge in a pear tree) can get crowded sometimes. The beach, my bathing suit, and a diving mask are all I need to unwind. Unlike most girls my age however, I am just as at home up to my elbows in the decaying mangrove leaves, frozen fish and smelly plankton that come as a part of my volunteer job as a lab tech at the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit. I work there every Friday helping to maintain the exhibits and collect new organisms to have on display. I am hoping to pursue a career as a Marine Biologist after college.

I am independent and like to do things my way. When I was little I used to say things like “my byself” and not allow anyone to help me. While I am cooperative and can certainly be a team player, I still prefer to chart my own course. My independence is reflected in my schooling. Unlike the regular seniors at my High School, I do not go to school from seven to two. I am full time dual-enrolled at Indian River State College. Basically, even though I am a senior at Vero Beach High School I take all my classes at the college. This allows me to plan my own daily schedule and have more time to pursue my non-academic interests.

So far my life has lead me to exactly where I want to be. I seek out adventure and try new things in all that I do. I am not the type to look before I leap. For me, life is a great unknown waiting to be explored. There are so many things for me to do and experience. As I graduate from high school and look out to the world beyond Vero Beach, I know that everything is as it is meant to be. My life is just beginning and I have the whole world at my finger tips. It is nerve racking, yes, but I know that life is the greatest adventure of them all. As William James once said, “The greatest use of life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.” So I will embark on the journey of life with nothing but two fifty pound suitcases and a battered Turkish/English Dictionary in my pocket. Wish me luck!

– Güle güle

Nancy’s Journals

September 11

I have never been to a more beautiful place, yet nothing is more beautiful here than the hearts of the people. Turkish people (at least those that I have met) are the kindest and gentlest souls I have ever encountered. The sights and smells of this place are like nothing I have ever known, but now I cannot imagine living life in ignorance of them. The whole of Turkey smells like my host mothers kitchen: saffron and garlic and basil mixed with the sweet smells of pepper and dark Turkish tea added to the smell of salt on the breeze.

My host sister and I have become fast friends and every night after the customary cleansing of the palate with rich tea, she and I walk the cobblestone paths around the apartments. She teaches me new words in Turkish and waits patiently as I shape my mouth to the sound of the word, making my inflections just right. I have been here twenty days, and already I am in love. With the place and the people. Being here is like being thrust into a part of history that before my arrival I could only wonder at.

Everything about this place speaks of time-honored tradition and ageless customs of a people unchanged by the nuances of the modern world. They will watch all the new American movies on their plasma televisions, but still take off their shoes as they enter the house. A custom that began in the time of Christ. When they drive, it is with the aggressiveness and speed of a seasoned New Yorker, but do not even walk past a stranger without exchanging the traditional words of long life and prosperity.

These people have truly welcomed me into their lives and their hearts, but it is made clear that I am here to learn to share in this beauty and culture. This is a place steeped in love for its history and traditions, proud of everything that it stands for and the sacrifices made to make it so. Here breakfast and dinner are more family traditions than the necessity of a meal. We sit together and laugh over carefully prepared food and tea. Nothing is wasted, and you are expected to finish everything on your plate. What we cannot eat, we leave out for the dogs and cats that come around at meal times.

I have just returned from a four day trip to Avsa Island, in the Marmara Sea. My host mother’s parents live there and went to visit them. While there, everything that I ate was grown in a garden behind the house. Red Peppers were hung out to dry next to the clothes on the balcony. When taking a Hybrid taxi up to the house, we had to stop and wait for a herd to sheep to cross the road. Everyday we woke early to swim in the chilly sea. Gizem and I hiked through the mountains of Avsa with Enes and Halil, to boys that live next door. We climbed into the wind, the three of us silent as we stood in awe of the views surrounding us. When we reached the top there were wild blackberries for the picking, a taste that I am sure I have only shared with my companions and the birds. We looked down upon the sheep grazing in the hills below us and the seaside town just quieting down for the evening. In a moment I realized how lucky I was to be in such a place with people that (even though I have only known them for a few weeks) have already changed me for the better. Turkey has welcomed me with more spirit than I could ever have hoped, and I know that my view of the world will never be the same.

September 25

Today is the one month anniversary of my arrival in Turkey. I wish that I could sit here and write something profound about how this experience has already changed my life, but the more time that I spend in this place, the more I realize that it is not Turkey that is changing me. I am changing myself. Everyday I am fully amazed by how much of the world there is to know outside of the United States. I feel like I have lived my life inside of Sandy’s tree dome. I have been underwater breathing a limited supply of air for my entire existence. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great down there, but I have broken the surface of a whole different world. Istanbul radiates energy from its every street corner. There is beauty here in places that I would never even think to look. I am like a child, learning the ways of the world all over again, but this time, I have the unique gift of knowing what it all means. I walk through Taksim and smell the flowers from the street vendors mixed with the sweet smell of warm Simit. I hear the pounding of hundreds of feet moving towards separate destinations, and the music of the call to prayer over the swell of happy voices. Every type of Döner sizzles on its spits as you walk by. I will catch a phrase of Turkish here and there and realize that I am translating it automatically. When I accidently bump into someone on the metro, I quickly say pardon, instead of sorry. Sitting on the bus, a stranger may ask for the time, and I can easily give it to them.

I started school two weeks ago, and I have already made many friends that I meet with after school. My lessons are all in Turkish, so I spend my days in school practicing the language or journaling. Except in English class. I spend that class learning that Americans speak English entirely wrong. Who knew? I have joined the swim team, and we meet every Thursday for the last two lessons. I have become the star of my Spanish class as well. I guess growing up in Florida is finally paying off. A special thanks to Senora Deluke as well! Did I mention that we have recess? It’s rather amazing. Plus my class is on the 10,000th (on bin) floor, so when this year is over, I am going to be really fit. Well, maybe not with the way I am being fed here. I think everyone is convinced that I was being starved to death in America. (Compared to how much I am eating here, I really was.)

Living in Turkey is causing me to change myself. When I had my Outbound Orientation before I left, we were asked to define culture. I remember writing some cookie-cutter definition and feeling very proud of myself for it, but I am finally beginning to understand. Culture cannot be defined by any one person. Culture is what happens when the hopes and goals and love of a people are joined together in a way of life. It has taken me immersing myself in another culture to fully understand my own. There is something truly amazing about people and culture that cannot be understood through words on a page. What I am just beginning to discover about this country is a knowledge shared only by others who have been where I am. I do not wish for world peace; I wish that every high school student would go on exchange.

November 28

Expectations. Assumptions. Ignorance. Three things that I swore I would never bring with me on exchange. I left America an idealist. I would prove to everyone I met that their perceptions of America were wrong. I would show them that I could be open-minded and willing to learn. I would make friendships that would one day save the world. I left America an American.

What I failed to realize is that trying to leave without expectations is like sticking your hand in a pot of boiling water and trying not to burn it. Unrealistic. Of course everyone creates an image in their heads about what their lives will look like in their new country. The challenge is to not compare what you find to what you expected. If you hold on to those initial expectations you will only be disappointed. Especially if the expectations lie in yourself and not your surroundings. I arrived in Turkey expecting to change the world. Instead I have learned that for me to change the world, I must first let the world change me.

As for assumptions, it is so easy for someone who has lived a life of privilege to take so many things for granted. Of course I understood before I left that I needed to stop taking anything for granted. So I did. But the reality of taking things for granted… is that you simply assume you will always have them. So.. clean drinking water out of a tap or my favorite brand of toothpaste are things I assumed I would always have. A clothes dryer and lint rollers are givens right? Chewing gum? Ice in your McDonalds cola? Would you ever assume not to have conditioner separate from shampoo? I am not only adjusting to a new people and culture; I am adjusting to an entirely different way of life.

There is a saying that I have had stuck in my head ever since I was a child. Maybe it was etched into a forgotten coffee cup or written on the back of a favorite t-shirt, I do not know, but I will always remember “Ignorance is bliss.” There was never a more true nor more false statement. Ignorance IS bliss, but it also the cause of so much hatred. We have just celebrated Kurban Bayrami or the Feast of the Sacrifice in Turkey. It is a holiday in which every financially able family sacrifices a sheep and distributes a third of the meat to the poor in honor of the sheep that Abraham sacrificed in place of his only son. It is a holiday celebrating a story existing in all three major religions in the world today. I bet you did not know that. Ignorance is bliss. I knew that in order to survive as an exchange student, I could not afford to be ignorant. I researched my country. I learned about its passions and fears. So that when I was asked my opinions on Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, I could answer with intelligence. But it did not matter how much history I knew or how many guidebooks I had read. I arrived in Turkey ignorant of everything that was most important. These last three months I have felt like a first grader all over again.

For all you new exchangers… a piece of advice. This is the same piece of advice that comes from at least one outbound every year.. and still no one seems to take it. I still remember when Al asked us to read the journal of Katie O’Brien, an outbound to France last year. He said that it was the most important piece of advice that we would get. I read the journal and dismissed it all, because who does not like to think of themselves as special? But, here I am, three months in, just like every other outbound in the world, thinking.. damn. Rotary was right. So if you, like so many other new outbounds cannot take the advice of anyone more than thirty years older than you.. take it from me. Rotary was right. Being an exchange student is the hardest thing you will ever do. This year will be full of bad days and frustrations that make you want to cry and pull your hair out. You will want to go back home and curl up in your mommies lap. I know, because I am living it. But this is the part they never give enough credit. Every second is worth it. When my host sister storms in after school shouting in Turkish about her exams or my host dad shows up three hours late smelling of fish because he decided to stop and throw his pole in the Bosphorus on his way home from work or we wake up at ten and don’t go to sleep until two a.m. because we are visiting family and eating inane amounts of Baklava and Turkish delight, that is when I know that no matter what, without a doubt, this is going to be the best year of my life.

Do not try to get rid of your expectations, you cannot. Only expect them to be shattered. Do not try to throw away any and all assumptions, you will not. Only assume that they will be wrong. Do not try to eliminate all your ignorance, there is far too much for you to learn. Only be willing to learn from you mistakes. And.. above all, remember that in order for you to change the world.. you must first let the world change you.

December 29

I am walking through my house in America. I see my family and my friends gathered to welcome me home. I see all the things that I have missed within my reach, just waiting for me to go to them. But I do not. I tell myself that this must be a dream. I pinch my arm over and over but nothing changes. I cannot understand why I do not run to my family or the table covered in all the foods I have missed so much. I can only wander my house like a ghost thinking about why I am home so early. I know that I have not finished my exchange or learned to speak Turkish fluently. I am determined to find a way to go back. I am not supposed to be here.

When I finally wake up to find myself nestled in my bed in Turkey, I can only feel relief. I am not back home and I do get to finish my exchange. I have this dream fairly often here. It reminds me that no matter how hard it gets, I could never go back. Right now, I have nothing to go back to. They say that your third and fourth months are the hardest and that everything is downhill from there. I won’t say that these past two months have been easy for me, because nothing about exchange is ever easy but they were not what I was expecting. Of course, as my new mantra says, never hold onto expectations. I thought that these months would be filled with homesickness and frustration with my lot here. Instead I found clarity. Over the last month I have come to realize that this is an experience that I will wake up wishing to have back every day for the rest of my life. As the saying goes, “Youth is wasted on the Young”, but I suspect that much of youth exchange is wasted on the outbounds. I feel as though I have spent every moment since I got here waiting to settle in. Waiting for the point where I could speak fluent Turkish and no longer stick out like a tourist. The problem is that almost half of my exchange has passed me by. A minute ago I was getting off the plane, a second ago it was December 1. Now it is New Years and I have two weeks until my first trip, then another two weeks until I turn 19, four weeks after that parents are going to be starting to visit, and just another couple weeks after that its my second trip then my district retreat, and then the outbounds start going home. My exchange is going to start moving at lightning speed from now on and there is nothing that I can do to slow it down.

The lesson learned? I am here right now. I am an exchange student in Istanbul, Turkey for six more months. It is time to stop waiting for my exchange to catch up with me, and for me to start trying to catch up to it. This is my home, my life, my year. I will never get one day of this experience back so I cannot afford to waste a moment. The older I get, the more I realize that life is a big confusing mess. Everyone has a set of problems that may seem insignificant in comparison with someone else’s, but they are never insignificant to whoever they belong to. Life takes and it gives and it has ups, downs and sideways but for now, life is all we have. It is so hard to know exactly who you are and even harder not to forget yourself. Right here, right now, I know who I am. I know what my purpose is. I am here to discover the world. I am here to let this place and these people teach me everything that they can and in turn to teach them that I am willing to be taught and to be wrong.

Last week I spent Christmas in a country that is 99.8% Muslim. Everyone back home wanted to know what is was like. Did I wear my cross or go to Church? Was I allowed to go to Church? Did my school friends make fun of me for being Christian? Everyone wanted to know about the friction they assumed was created when I tried to celebrate a Christian holiday in a Muslim country. Well, Christmas Eve fell on a Friday which is the holy day of the week for Muslims, so I spent an hour in a Mosque while two of my guy friends prayed in the early afternoon. I covered my head and since women are not allowed into the interior of the Mosque on Friday’s, I held their shoes for them as they prayed. Later that night, they both came with me to church. They crossed their foreheads with holy water as we went in (it was a catholic church) and lit candles as we sang Christmas carols. They even asked me to teach them the words. We ate Christmas Eve dinner in a cafe at the top of hill called Pierre Loti. It holds the grave of a man who housed the Prophet Mohammed for several months. It is a very holy place for Muslims.

For my eighteenth Christmas I did not have a fireplace with stockings hung all in a row. I did not spend hours decorating a tree with my family or fight over frosting cookies with my sisters. I did not write a wish list to Santa or run downstairs on Christmas morning to open gifts. Instead, I spent my Christmas not so far from where it all started, learning the value of true friendship, the kind that is ignorant of fear and hatred. My Christmas was one of mixed religion and a common bond of faith. Despite common perception, there is far more that brings us together than separates us in the worship of God or in anything else. “I am standing in a place of peace. This is what the world should be.”

 March 9

These are the facts: It is Monday, March 7 at 5:11 P.M. Eastern European Time. I have been in Istanbul, Turkey for 6 months, 8 days, 23 hours, and 16 minutes. I can understand enough Turkish to know everything that goes on around me and speak enough to get by in almost any situation. The relationships I have with my family and friends are ones that will last for the rest of my life. I have stopped counting the days that I have left because I am terrified of going home. I am forgetting English words. (I scored a 53 on an English test that I took for fun at my school.) (yes, the test directions were also in English.)

When I arrived in Turkey, everything was so new and different that I didn’t think that I would ever get used to it. I kept telling myself that I would eventually stop feeling like a stranger here and I couldn’t wait until the day when I woke up to routine. Somehow that happened without me ever noticing. I have stopped thinking about the apartment like it was someone else’s home. It is my bed, my pillow, my towel, my closet, my family. I have a set curfew and a key. When we need bread, I pick some up at the Migros on my way home. Gizem (my sister) and I make appointments at the hairdresser together, share clothes, and argue over who’s turn it is to shower first. We watch American movies together and I think how foreign the settings look. Walking down Istiklal Caddesi in Taksim I hear people speaking English and balk at how foreign it sounds in my ears. The waiters and waitresses at my favorite places to eat and the guards at the entrance to my apartment complex know me by name. Every Monday and Wednesday after school, Gizem and I work with a trainer at the sport center of the apartment complex. Every Saturday and Sunday the whole family eats breakfast together and every weeknight except Monday we eat dinner together. There is a routine to my life here. I have become a permanent fixture in the day to day life of Istanbul. 

My little sister, Anna, is getting ready to go on exchange to Brazil. I was so proud of her when I learned that she wanted to go, and I truly hope that my youngest sister Lillie also decides to go on exchange in a few years. I want this for them because I know that an experience like this teaches you something that nothing else can. Having the opportunity to leave the world you have grown up in and forever known to share in another culture is like walking through a plain old wardrobe to find yourself in Narnia. (I especially feel like that here since Peter develops such an affinity for Turkish Delight and Aslan is the Turkish word for lion.) The whole world looks different, but once you take the time to get to know the world around you, you realize that its not that different at all.

Our lives follow patterns. No matter what race or gender or what age we are living in, human lives all share the same hopes, dreams and desires. Our bodies long for air and nourishment, our minds for knowledge, and our hearts for love. We are all born and we all die, even if the manner is different. We will all leave this world with the memories of countless smiles and countless tears. We will have love and we will have loss. If my six months in Turkey have taught me anything, it is that in the end, we are all human. The kids that I go to school with here speak a totally different language than I do. They will live with their families until they are married, and most of them will never leave Turkey. Yet, they wear Abercrombie and Fitch jeans and listen to Kanye West and The Black Eyed Peas and go to the movies with their friends on the weekends. They hope for a future in which they achieve their dreams. They all have plans for what career path they want to follow. They spend their time stressing about boys (or girls) and the college entrance exam. In fact, there really is no they and no us. There are only people trying to live the lives they were given.

People are always asking me if I think I will come home different than the person I was when I left. I used to believe that I would come home a survivor, like a POW that was released. I imagined this year would be like a trial that I had overcome and it would have made me a better person for it. I know now that I will not come home like I have been liberated from struggle, nor will I return home feeling proud of my accomplishments of this year. I will, if anything, return home feeling humbled to have been able to be a part of the lives of the people that I have known and loved here. My life will be forever changed by this exchange, not because of what I learned, but because of what they taught me.

May 12

I have been trying to write this journal for weeks now. Someone the thought of writing this, my penultimate journal, scared me into a serious case of writers block. I had so many things that I wanted to say, and yet they all seemed so insignificant in comparison to the actual emotions I had about ending my time here. I had no words for how it felt to be counting my time left in weeks and days, not months. When I first arrived in Turkey, I would dream of the day I would return to America, a changed person with the knowledge of the world holding me up. Now  that that day is moving ever closer, I dread it. After a year away, what will I say to the people who have been missing me? What will I say when people ask me what I learned? What will my answer be when they ask me if I am happy to be home? I have no answer.

    Time is a funny thing. Always moving so slowly when you want it to move faster, and then when you want the seconds to barely tick by, they seem to speed up in spite. Then you realize that time has always ticked by at exactly the same rate, and that it is you that changed. I suppose it is just another great lesson of life that “it must be lived forwards, but can only be understood backwards.”* I now understand that I should not have taken one single moment of my time here for granted, but I cannot live it over again. So now I must begin to say goodbye. For a long time, I had no idea how to even being to do that. My family, my friends, my life: how could I say goodbye to all of that? My answer came a few days ago as I was riding a train through the farming country outside of Istanbul.

    I watched out my window as we passed fields covered in the yellows and blues and purples of spring wildflowers. Plump turbaned women moved in the fields tending to crops and milking cows. Men with toothless smiles and skin stained the color of clay and dirt picked tea by the roadside. I felt so separate from them, speeding along  in the air-conditioned train; two different worlds. We came upon a small farm with chickens and dogs running wild in the dirt. A small foal pranced around its mother in a nearby grassy pen. The foals mother reached out her neck and nipped the foal in the ear. The little horse looked up at its mother with an expression that looked so human, and so indignant. I laughed out loud in the train and caught the eye of a boy leaning along the fence by the two horses. He held a huge grin on his face as he met my eyes and then gestured back at the horses just in time for me to see the foal stalk away from its mother in an even more indignant fashion than its earlier expression. I laughed again and looked back at the boy. He smiled up at me and then was lost behind a copse of trees as the train sped on. The entire scene had happened within the space of a few seconds but to me it had lasted a lifetime. For just a moment, two people from lives as different as they could possibly be, were able to laugh together about the beauty of life. I will never know that boys story, or even his name, but for a brief shining moment in time, our stories came together.

    My year in Turkey has taught me many things, and I had always considered my knowledge of the culture and the language to be the most valuable of those lessons. That scene from the train, however, has pointed out to me something else that I discovered here, something that I think surpasses the rest. The last few lines of the movie “The Polar Express” go like this, “At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I’ve grown old the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.” My year in Turkey has taught me how to believe in the beauty of the world. Just like the boy in the movie, I have had an experience that so many others will never have a chance to share. So many of my friends and family will start out their careers with faith in the world that it can be a better place, but like so many others that have gone before them, they may lose that faith with time. Because of what I have seen here and lived here, I will never lose that faith. I will forever truly believe in the beauty of the world and the people that live in it. I will forever have memories like the one of the boy and his horses to remind me how much more similar we are than different. So as I prepare to leave this place and the people here that I have grown to love, I can do so with a clear conscience because I know that I will forever carry the lessons of this year with me. No matter what turns my life takes in the years to come, I will remain forever changed by my experiences here. I walked off the plane in Turkey as a gap between the two cultures, but I will return to America as a bridge.

July 6

So here it is. My final journal. As I write this, I am cruising at 34,000 ft somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. I am a person in between right now. I have left my new home and everything that it came to stand for over these past 11 months. I have still not arrived back in my old home where friends and family wait for me. I am alone with my thoughts at 34,000 feet, and I am really doing a lot of thinking. This moment has always held so much gravity in the exchange experience. This is the when I go back home to everything I left behind and learn that even though everything seems different, what has really changed is me. The trouble is that I know all that already. I know exactly how it is supposed to go. I get off the plane and begin my new life with my old people. I learn to be patient with them as I share what I have learned about different cultures and people. I become an ambassador for the country I have left, just as I went to that country as an ambassador for the United States. My family and friends forgive any oddities in my behavior and mannerisms because I am going through cultural re-integration. Its normal. I forgive any ignorant statements they may make about the place I lived and loved, because they never had the opportunity I did. It’s normal. Eventually, I am reintegrated and I go about my life normally again, but forever with the outlook of someone who has been on exchange. The end.

But it’s not. I remember in the beginning of the year I would wish for my exchange to speed up so that I could get to the part where I went home a new person to everyone that was proud of me. I wanted to skip the rest and live the bit where I was the successfully returned exchange student. I wanted to be praised for what I had accomplished and back home with the people that the praise mattered from. I didn’t care what happened in between. All I could picture was wearing my jacket at Rotary functions and speaking Turkish when people asked me too. I wanted people to look up to me the way that I looked up to all the Rebounds and Rotex that I had ever met. I never thought that they would feel anything other than on top of the world. How could they? Despite all the hardships Rotary had talked to us about, they had done it. They made it. Of course they would be totally and fully happy. I even listened to my best friend come back from her country and talk about how much she missed it, but I just figured that was part of the job. Talk nice about your host families and friends and how great your country was. Then speak in a foreign language so everyone can be impressed.

I have some apologies to make. To every Rebound and Rotex that I ever met. You deserved more credit. I should also apologize to Rotary itself. You told us that every moment would be like a slap in the face and I never listened. At every step of this exchange and every journal, I have had something new to be wrong about. This trumps them all. I honestly feel completely safe in saying that I will never do anything harder in my entire life. I have spent the last two weeks saying goodbye to an entire life. Every few days a new inbound would leave. These inbounds have become my family. We spent a year relying on each other to get though the hardest, scariest, and most wonderful experience of our lives. Here’s to Victor, Conor, Logan, Yu Jang, Chiami, Emma, Alex, Laura, Lauren, and Amanda. You guys saved my life this year. Then comes school friends. I cannot tell you what the first day of school is like in a foreign country where you don’t know the language yet. I cannot tell you the relief you feel when someone comes up to you, takes your hand and say’s HI! in English. Here’s to 11- TMB, but especially Irem, Mirac̹, Feyza, Lara, and Asli. Oh and a special shout out to Mr. Gary Fletcher. You know what you did. Then comes Rotex. They are the lifeline to Rotary, the greatest friends and best support system outside of family and other outbounds. Bulut, Arda, C̹ağakan, Emir, Emine, Dilek, Deniz, Umut, and all the rest of you. I couldn’t have done it without you. Now for the hardest part. My family. My anne (mom), Öznür. You taught me to make the bed every morning and keep my room … mostly.. tidy. You were always there for me when I needed a mom. You called me your daughter and made me feel like one of the family from the very beginning. Seni Sevioyrum Annecim. Unnutmayim. My baba (dad), Nuri. You made sure that I was always safe and comfortable. You taught me about Rotary in Turkey and showed me why you love your country so much. You talked to me about things that no one else would. You taught me how to.

So I am sitting in a plane cruising at 34000 ft. I am a person in between and I am learning all that it means. I have spent the last two weeks saying goodbye to my life. My friends and my family. People that I love. Some of whom I may never see again. This year was so much more than I ever imagined it could be. I succeeded this year at what I set out to do. I will land in the States a successful Rebound with all that it entails, but I will also land there a teenage girl who has just said goodbye to what feels like a lifetime of friendships and new family. There are no words to explain what the people that I met on my exchange meant to me. I did not even know how much they meant to me until I said goodbye. Life is funny that way. You never know what you have until its gone. But maybe that is yet another lesson that Rotary Youth Exchange will teach me. How important our relationships are. I could never tell all of you that I left behind how grateful I am for everything that you did for me. I can only hope to show you by never forgetting the things you taught me, wether I learned them or not! Don’t worry, it’s not goodbye, it’s just Görüsürüz.

Nicole’s Bio

Hello, my name is Nicole Abbott. I am 17 and a half years old, I turn 18 in May right before I graduate. I live with my parents, Richard and Yolanda, and my brother, James, as well as my lovely dog, Zena. I am very athletic in that I do colorguard at my high school, Olympic Heights in Boca Raton, Florida. This year and last year I was the captain. I have been doing colorguard since middle school and it is one of my favorite things in high school.

I love meeting new people whenever we go to football games over the weekends, as well as going to all the competitions. I also enjoy playing different sports for fun. One of my favorite sports to play is soccer, I used to help my brother practice before his games when we were younger. On my free time I enjoy hanging out with my friends from marching band, we are like a little family. I love meeting new people all the time and making new friends. I also love to listen to music as well as dancing around and having fun.

I am sooo excited to be able to go to Brazil this year. My friends are very excited for me to go, even though we will all miss each other. I can’t wait to go. My parents are very excited for me as well. I surely will miss them a bunch, but I think this will be an amazing experience to go out and do something different. I would like to thank RYE Florida for this amazing opportunity, I’m very excited to be going to Brazil. I have heard great things and my Brazilian friends are helping me to learn the language so it helps. Thank you once again.

Nicole’s Journals

September 9

So now it has been about two weeks, well three tomorrow since I have been in Brasil!!! Every time I am about to write my journal I go away for the weekend and then I procrastinate, so now I am going to finally write it. Saying goodbye to everyone was pretty sad and I will miss them all greatly. Ha-ha I probably looked like a hot mess at the airport from crying but now all I can do is laugh about how funny I probably looked. On the plane I met a Polish- Canadian Dance Company who were all really nice and told me that they always travel to Recife, a city north of where I am staying, but that all of Brasil is really nice and that I would enjoy my year very much, and I do agree with them. Bear with me here about my writing, I don’t think it is the best but I will try to be entertaining he he.

So I arrived in Salvador, now my home city J around 6 in the morning and the sun was already bright and out. Now the days here are strange to me even though I have been here for about 3 weeks now. The sun comes up around 5 to 6 am and sets around 5:30 to 6 pm. I find that to be a rather short day. Anyways so on the way home I basically slept because my trip was over night. Once I got home I unpacked and ate some food. In the afternoon my sister took me out and I met one of her friends, Vanessa. They took me to see the coast of Salvador which is about 15 minutes from where I live. I got to see some of the forts and the light house, Farol da Barra. I also passed by my new school ISBA which stands for Instituto Social Da Bahia. It is such a big school and the people are super sweet. So my first weekend I went to the gym with my host sister and that was a work out since I really hadn’t done anything all summer. I also joined boxing at the gym which is a lot of fun and I enjoy it. Over the weekend I also went to the Shopping Salvador, here in Brasil the name for a mall is “shopping” ha-haJ. On Sunday (August 22) my host family took me to and art museum place which was very nice. The art museum was at what used to be a mansion near the ocean. The museums name is Solar do Unhao, MAM, Thomaz Farkas. It is in honor of Thomaz Farkas a famous photographer from Brasil.

Now onto my first actual week in Brasil, I stayed home and tried to study as much Portuguese as I could and listened to Brasilian music the whole day. This did end up helping in some way. Besides studying I also went to the gym and did boxing. Now for my second weekend it was Orientation weekend which was one of the funniest things I have ever done J. So on Friday we all met early in the morning around 7am and then headed out to go tour around the old parts of Salvador. For the tour we were divided into groups to talk about certain parts of Salvador. For example, my group had to talk about Farol da Barra. Unfortunately only my friend Vanessa from Switzerland were the only ones who read so we gave our part of the tour and the Rrotex in charge of us, Mila, gave the rest of the tour. On our tour we went to Farol da Barra, saw one of the stadiums that is being rebuilt for the 2014 World Cup J, we also visited Pelourinho, and a couple of forts. After we were done touring we then we did some shopping and had coconut water which was actually pretty good and refreshing. Once we got done with that we all got on the bus and drove to Lauro de Freitas which is a small town outside of Salvador. There we stayed at our first hostel. Once we got done unpacking we all headed out for some lunch and met up with Tanner, who is an exchange student from the states, who had just arrived that afternoon. After lunch we then walked to the beach which was very nice. That was my first time actually going to the beach since I had arrived in Salvador. The sand there was a orange color and the ocean had a lot of rocks, ouch! Once we were done we headed back to the hostel and got ready to go out for dinner. We dined at the most amazing Italian restaurant. They had the best pizza I have had thus far in Brasil, and the pizza here is very very different than from back home. After that we went back and just hung out till we had to go to bed. The next day, Saturday, we packed up and went to our oh so very longggg orientation meeting. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be but it was still long. Once we finally got done we went to the bus stop and caught a bus to our next/final stop which was Praia do Forte. On the way I talked to my friend Saul in Spanish, since he can’t speak English, he is an exchange student coming from Mexico. Once we got to Praia we unpacked and got ready to go out and walk around. Praia is a small town like place with cute little shops. There we went to a dancing place and danced for hours. We learned two, well three dances, I can only remember two of the names. We learned how to forro and arrocha, pronounced foh-ho and a-ho-sha. Both are super fun and I enjoyed them a lot. Ha-ha since that I have been listening to nothing but forro music. After we got done we walked back to our hostel which was really close and hit the hay for the next day. On Sunday we got up early, once we were dressed we then walked to the turtle reservoir place and walked around and after went to the hump back whale park. There we took a short course about what to expect and rules and saftey percausions before going out to go whale watching. After we were done we then went to wait to get on the boat they had for whale watching. Once we were out on the boats we went for a while and then started to see the humpback whales. It was really nice to see them out, I think there were about 6 whales out that day so we were pretty lucky to see them J. On the way back unfortunately most of us got a little sea-sick. Once we got back we all got packed up and went out to eat lunch. I don’t know if the food was just amazing or if I was super hungry but I ate a lot, yummm. Once everyone was done we got some ice cream and then went out to the bus to go home L. I had such an amazing weekend meeting all the exchange students in Bahia that I didn’t want to leave!

So once I got back I started school on Tuesday since I was still a little sea-sick on top of actually getting sick, but I am a lot better now J. My first day was not as bad as I thought it would be. Here the school is different. It is so much bigger than my high school in Boca Raton. My first thought was, if my host brother Pierre-Antoine thinks my high school in Boca was big then he would think this school is HUGE. So I am in second year so that way I can be with the same class once school start’s again for the third year. Usually the teachers come to our class except for one or two classes or if we are taking a different class we will just go to that class for the period. The classes here are pretty easy I think my favorite is math and history. Thankfully I have studied exactly what we are doing now so it is very nice. We have about 6 classes a week. My first week of school ended up being really cool and I made a lot of friends. On Saturday i headed out to Morro de Sao Paulo for the vacation since September 7th is Brasil’s Independence Day. No one goes to school on Monday and of course not on Tuesday so i spent that time at Morro de Sao Paulo, it is an island off the coast of Salvador and it is really gorgeous and beautiful. We relaxed and went to the small shops and at night we went to two concerts. One of them was for Maria Gadu, she plays amazing acoustic music, and the other was Nando Reis. His music was great as well and I was told we were lucky because to get tickets to his concerts are really hard and cost a lot of money. On Tuesday in the afternoon we came back to Salvador. The weekend was a nice get away for vacationing.

So we started school on Wednesday this week which is very nice. Yesterday, Wednesday, we watched a video at school called A Onda ( the wave) it was very interesting and I think I saw the English version of it because I did remember a movie that had the same theme and it was called The Wave. The movie was very good and interesting to watch. After the movie was over we took a break to go eat a snack. During that time I hung out with some of my new friends and met a bunch of other people. Once the break was over we went back and the class did a review of the movie and gave their opinions about it. I thought that was really cool. I understand a lot more Portuguese now so it is even easier to understand what is going on. After school I went to my boxing class with my host sister, which was pretty tough, but I am building all the muscle I lost over the summer J. Today, Thursday, school was pretty easy. I had a new class, religion, today which was pretty neat. We did a relaxation thing which was really nice and calm. After school there was practice/rehearsal for a production that my class is doing. Some of my friends asked if I had wanted to join the previous week so i said YES of course. I am surely glad I did because it is A LOT of fun. I will be in three of the songs and today I learned two of the dances. I’m very excited to be participating with my class, they are all really nice and super friendly J.

Well that is all for now, until next time…

Tchau, beijos e abracos ( what everyone here says)

-Nikki (my nickname everyone calls me here J )

October 23

So i am finally writing my journal after a little over a month… everything here has been great. I’m enjoying everything to the fullest. J So a lot has been going on since I last wrote. I have so many nicknames, it’s either gringa, Nick, Nikki, or Nicole, I think I have just gotten used to all of them now J I joined interact here around half way through September. I have gotten sick from food. I have had the most amazing show with all my friends at school. I also went to my first huge concert. And have gone to the beach a lot more. I have also learned how to take the bus. Also my Portuguese is getting way way better, but at the moment it’s at portunol right now leaning more towards Portuguese though J It just means I am learning very fast and I am way less shy to speak in Portuguese now and have had many conversations…anyways….

So far I have helped with two of the fundraisers concerning little kids. The first one was one of the most amazing things I have ever done. We went to Simões Filho to help out with an institution for kids who are poor on September 25th. They are some of the sweetest little kids I have ever met and they are so joyous it just puts a smile on your face to see how happy they are. All the little kids were so cute they would come up to us and ask us random things and where we were from or just come up to us for a hug J. Carol (exchange student from Denmark) and I were going to do nails and make up but that didn’t end up happening. Instead a bunch of the little boys came over to me and started to do my make-up and nails. It was probably the funniest thing I have ever seen. It was great though. I will say though the make-up didn’t look too bad, but my nails were… I don’t know gloppy and had many, many layers of nail polish on them. The day was great we got to help with all the little kids. Once everyone pulled out cameras to take pictures off all the moments the kids were so excited to see cameras. One especially, he had a red shirt on, I’m kind of sad that I forgot his name but it has been a while, anyways he was the most adorable little boy I have ever seen. He was very much camera happy. I was taking a picture of him and he asked if I would take one of him and the picture he had colored in, coincidentally the picture had a lot of red, I think that just might be his favorite color. After that he had me go around and take pictures of him with others and then he asked if he could take a picture with me and then of me with the rest of the kids. So I did and he was just so happy taking pictures of everyone, his field might just be photographyJ. That was probably one of my best days here, although I have had many, this puts the biggest smile on my face, just the joy of all the little kids is great. I really hope to go back soon to help again I would go back every chance I have!

So the show at my school went really well. Our class did an amazing job, as well as the other three classes. They were all really different and unique but I liked that they were based on the same topic: Northeast Brasil. It showed everyone’s different aspects and how they saw northeast Brasil through their eyes. I loved every bit of practice and hanging out with all my school friends before the show. The weekend before we had one of our last practices before the show. It was probably one of the practices I have been to. After practice we all hung out and played futebol. Ha-ha I loveee playing futebol it’s probably my favorite sport to play. I think I kind of shocked everyone about how good I was because they didn’t expect a gringa (which is what most call me) to be any good. Ha-ha it’s the latin blood showingJ.  I did really well I got to two goals in, but I could not have done it without my friend Bruno. So once we were done we got a chance to see our performance and I must say everyone did a most amazing job. I am so happy and proud of everyone including myself. This past week I was asked if I would like to participate in another show which is taking place at the end of November, so I am very excited about that and I can’t wait for practice’s to start! OHHH! And since our class did so well we were asked by the dance teacher at my school if we would like to perform part of the show in a dance performance coming up. So I’m really excited about that too. I am so glad I am able to have dance while I am here it’s such a big part of my life and I get to hang out with some of the most amazing people I have ever met!

Soooo food, the food here is great and amazing. I tried Tamaki for the first time which is the Brasilian version of sushi/ Japanese food, and I will say it’s one of the best things I have eaten here it was AMAZING. I also tried some regional food, but that did not go tooo well. I had what is called maniçoba which is from the Amazon region and Bahia as well. After I got back from my friend’s house I didn’t feel so good. I had told my host parents what I had eaten and then found out that it is a very heavy dish here… I wish I would have known before, but this is all a part of being an exchange student. Now I just know if anyone asks me if I would want some, just say no. But besides that the food here is amazing. At the beach they sell cheese with oregano and honey, that is amazing it’s so tasty and soo full of different flavors it’s great, and to think I didn’t want to try it because it didn’t look to appetizing, I sure glad I did. I do miss some of my foods though, like when I crave my chocolate mousse cake nights with Natalie Correa, Leelah Greenspan, and Aaron Dolbow :P. As well as my home made sandwiches, and other things here and there like Girl Scout cookies. I really am enjoying the food here, like at school I have Pastel Misto which is an empanada type food with cheese and ham, it’s amazing and yummy, my friends at school as well as my teachers probably think I am addicted to it but it is just so great and it reminds me of my empanadas J yummm!

So this month we had a whole week off of school because we had three holidays in one week. That was rather nice, one of the days was to celebrate kids, which is very popular here and the other day was Dia de Nossa Senhora. This week I spent it mostly with my host parents. On Sunday the 10th of October we went to the beach for most of the day, we went to Jaguaripe which is a very nice and relaxing beach compared to Porto da Barra. I would say Porto da Barra here reminds me of Deerfield Beach back home; it is just so packed it’s crazy. On Sunday I went to see my host grandma again. She is so sweet she told me if I would ever like to spend the day at the beach to just let her know and I could come over to her house. She lives right next to Porto da Barra, so it is really nice J after we visited her we went out for some yummy pizza again. The next day I got up early and went grocery shopping for the month with my host mom, she and the maid were both surprised that I wanted to go and help, haha I’m just kind of used to going since I always go with my mom. It was nice though. After that I spent the day at my friend’s house with a bunch of my friends and we played some more futebol. On Wednesday I went to the beach again with my host parents but this time to a different beach. We went to Stella Mari which is probably my favorite beach I have been to since I have been here. It was just so nice and relaxing and beautiful since this beach faces the ocean. Some of the beaches here face the bay so the water looks different. Since part of Bahia (which means bay) is facing the bay or the ocean it’s really nice to have both because the scenery is so different even though it’s along the same coast! Also on the 16th/17th I went to my first huge concert with some of my friends from school. The concert was pretty good, I loved the music! They played forró, axe, and sertanejo. I am so glad that I finally found my kind of Brazilian music J I’m glad that I understand almost everything and it helps me learn as well because I constantly am listening to Brazilian music. Sertanejo and forró are definitely my two favorites since they are a lot alike to the Spanish music I love listening to, it just has such a great beat and is so happy and makes you want to get up and dance and that is the best music in my opinion :D! So this coming weekend we are going to Ilhéus for an interact conference meeting and we get too finally see ALL the exchange students. I’m very excited and looking forward to seeing everyone. The conference will be from October 31st to November 2nd, it’s kind of cool we also get to meet all the students who are interested to go on exchange with rotary, so that will be really cool I think J

So I am starting to fit in more and more and it is great! I have been told at times that I probably dress more like a Brazilian than a Brazilian, which I think is really funny and a great compliment. Also when I go out to places a lot of people think I am Brazilian and notice I’m not until they hear me speak English. My Portuguese has gotten a lot better and I am talking way more. My friends at school are becoming very strict which I love and I find that great. They are making sure I am learning Portuguese. For example, if someone speaks English to me they get yelled at and are told they must speak Portuguese to me so that I can talk more and more J I’m glad because this helps a lot and now I’m starting to think in Portuguese… haha I can’t even think in Spanish or in English sometimes, but that’s ok because that only means I am learning more and more every day. My Portuguese now is also mixed up with Spanish so right now I am speaking portunhol which is a language spoken on the border of Portugal and Spain. It is a common language when people who speak Spanish speak Portuguese because they are so close and so much sounds alike. For example, I was introducing myself to my friends host mom and said “Eu soy Nicole” haha in Portuguese it would be “Eu sou…” and in Spanish it would be “Yo soy…” but of course since I speak Spanish and now Portuguese I got them mixed up haha. But that is quite normal so it’s all good J Haha I think I do the same when I speak Spanish sometimes now, I will randomly say stuff in Portuguese and be like wait that’s not Spanish. But I am very happy that my Portuguese just keeps getting better and better and my writing is getting a lot better from taking so many notes from class. I can also read Portuguese now, I bought a book a couple days ago and I understand just about everything except for a couple of words which I ask my friends to explain them to me. All my friends I have made thus far are so helpful and a big part to why I am learning even faster besides being fluent in Spanish! Soooo I think that is just about it for this month I can’t wait to write about next weekend I know it will be great and amazing just like my time here!!!

December 5

It has been a while since I last wrote. I finally went to my first Rotary Club meeting, my Spanish project was a success, I also went to CODIC, and my show for school went really well as well as the interviews for the future exchangies hereJ.

To begin my Spanish project which occurred on October 26th came out pretty well. My classmates were so great to work with. The project came out beautiful and it was very nice to read to all of the little kids that day. I would have read because Spanish is my second native language but I had my friend Alice read because I kept reading the Spanish as Portuguese, I thought it was rather funny. It made me notice how much more I am learning Portuguese. For a lot of students they have dreams in there host language but I don’t think that is my case. I haven’t ever been able to dream in a different language, but I do have the capacity to think in any language I know. Sometimes I think in English sometimes in Spanish sometimes even in French with what French I know, and now I am able to think in Portuguese which is great. Sometimes I think so much more in Portuguese that I forget my Spanish sometimes but that’s what happens when you learn a new language and are always surrounded by it. I love to speak in Portuguese and I have gotten a lot better. I love when people compliment my Portuguese because it shows that I am getting better and better every day. (Outubro 26/October 26)

So the next day was my Rotary Club meeting. I was very excited to go, unlike most people I think I enjoy going to these meetings and just listening. I met some great Rotarians, they were all really nice. The club president was very nice to meet, his daughter is one of the only, or rather I think she is the only, Brazilian to work in the New York Times, which I thought was pretty cool. So during the meeting we were served dinner, since the meetings here occur every Tuesday night. The dinner was a two course meal, probably some of the most delicious plates. The first was salmon steam cooked which was really good and the second a type of beef, the salmon was my favorite since it had so much flavor, YUM J. After we ate I was introduced to everybody. After I was introduced I gave a short speech about myself and where I am from and I even told them how it was possible for me to catch on to Portuguese so quickly. They said my Portuguese was really good and that I am doing quite well at it which always makes me happy to here. I was invited afterwards by my host councilor to go visit the school he has for little kids on an island close to Salvador, I believe the island is Itaparica. I’m really excited to go so I will see when I get a chance toJ. (Outubro 27)

A couple days after my Rotary meeting I had my Interact meeting. We have meetings every Friday from around 2:30pm to 4:30pm, depending on how long we take to talk about everything. This meeting was rather special. At this meeting all of the exchange students in the club became Interactianos, which means that we are now a part of the Interact. Before this we were just guests coming to the meetings and now we had become actual members. We had a small celebration. We got our official interact pins and then we had lots of desserts to eat and some breads it was really good. I think I was one of the few who brought some type of dessert, which was fine. I made some Tres Leches, which is one of my favorite desserts to make. It’s a very popular Spanish dessert that I made and everyone enjoyed it a lot. I had made two one for home and one for the meeting and I decided to bring the bigger one to the meeting, which I am glad I did. Only four people ate the cake and we ended up eating it all. It was really tasty. So all in all the meeting went really well and I am really glad that I am in interact because I get to hang out with some really nice people.

The next day was also fun filled. I had one of my best friend’s birthday parties as well as my host moms birthday as well as birthday party. My best friend who was having a birthday party was one of my friends from school Maya. I went first to Maya’s party. I had a great time talking to everyone and dancing as well. I was able to talk to people in Portuguese and it went well. I also learned some popular dances that everyone dances to at parties which were a lot of fun. I love that people here enjoy dancing so much because I loveee dancing. After her party ended I then went to my host mom’s birthday party which was at a chic club it was really nice and the music playing was great. After both of the parties I was exhausted and tried to sleep but I didn’t get much sleep that night since the next day I was leaving for CODIC. (Outubro 30)

So it was October 31, Halloween J and we were all leaving for CODIC which this year which was held in Ilhéus, a city south of Salvador. We got all met up at the ferry around 10am and waited until our ferry got to the port. From the ferry we traveled to the other side of the bay and from there we took a 6 or 7 hour bus ride down to Ilhéus. It was a very long trip but it was nice. I sat with Izabelle, who is from Bello Horizonte which isn’t far from where I live. She only speaks Portuguese so it was great talking to her in Portuguese. I did really well talking to her I spoke to her almost the whole entire day and in Portuguese which I thought it was rather very successful since she knows very very little English and Spanish. So all in all I did really well with communicating. I think I speak better with people who only know Portuguese rather than with people who speak English as well for some reason, I think it’s because I feel more comfortable. Anyways I now have a new best friend who is Brasilian. It’s not that I don’t have Brasilian best friends, which I do, I just have one who I can just speak Portuguese with and get along with super well. So after we arrived we all checked into our rooms and got settled. After we got settled we all got dressed for out meeting and for a surprise happening later. After the meeting we had dinner and then went to our surprise. Our surprise that we got was a dance which was really nice and great. The dance ended around 1am, but it was a lot of fun. On the first day there I met a lot of great people ad some of the people who I would see later at the Rotary Interviews, which was nice because this way you get to see what people are really like. So after the dance I stayed up chatting with some of the girls and after went to bed. The next day we were woken up nice and early, especially me! So the boys who were in charge of waking everyone up brought a megaphone with them and used it to wake everyone, when they got to my room they called for me to wake up a couple of times, haha I felt kind of bad for the people I was rooming with. They did this because on the way to Ilhéus they wouldn’t stop playing with the megaphone and were waking everyone up when they had a chance. Boys will be boys… Anyways we all got ready to go down and watch presentations about all the interact clubs that go on in the state of Bahia. It was really cool to see all the things that the Interact clubs do to help out their communities. After the first ones we had lunch and a break. On the break all of the exchange students got our monthly allowance and talked a little with Katerine, who is the inbound coordinator. After that we all went back to the meeting room and got ready for some fun games. We were all split into four large groups and had a mini-Olympics you could say. The first round was coming up with a group name and a chant. After that was a race to see who finished first and whoever finished first had to finish the lyrics to the song that was playing. After that it was time to play dress up. Each group had to choose one boy and one girl and had to dress them up as the opposite sex. This was probably one of the funniest things I have ever seen it was ridiculously funny. After that the last competition was in honor of Halloween. Each group had to choose a pumpkin and carve something into it, whoever was the most creative would win. My group won this round because we were the most creative; everyone else went with a traditional pumpkin carving instead our group carved a cat into the pumpkin. The one who came up with the idea was my friend Olivia; she’s an exchange student from Idaho. After that the judges tallied up the score, and my group got second place so we were very happy since we were losing at the beginning. After that we all had dinner and then went to get ready for the Halloween party, celebrating a little late… but it was a lot of fun. We all got dressed up and went for some more dancing. So this was my third day straight of dancing, which is fine by me since I love to dance. After that we all sat around and talked until we had to go to bed. The next morning instead of the boys waking me up like the day before, I got up and my friend Izabelle was up as well so we tried to get the megaphone, but they hid it so instead we used the big radio they had and woke them up with music, after that we found the megaphone and there after woke everyone up that morning, it was rather funny. I was told I was a true brasilian since I went around waking everyone up and I woke up early. I thought it was rather funny. After everyone was awake we all got ready for the last day of palestras, which were the presentations. The presentation was good, it was about healthy eating, and at the same time rather disturbing since it talked about how food, well meat and chicken, is processed… and after that we had lunch which was chicken, and meats with beans and rice with guarana… everything they told us was not the healthiest they fed us. After that we all backed up and got ready to leave. I don’t think many people wanted to leave since we were all having such a great time. I had a blast over this weekend and it has been one of the best weekends, I think I have had many of these since I have been here which is great! (Outubro 31- Novembro 2) Oh and happy birthday to Natalie Correa J (again)

The week after was my last week of school for the year here. School here starts in February and ends in the end of November, but since I don’t have to take all the tests and exams I get out a lot earlier than everyone else at my school. I was told that I am moving up with everyone which is great because I love all my class mates and since the first semester of school for the third year is easier I am able to move up with them which made me really happy, as well as it made them happy J. Anyways on the last day of school, we all brought white roses for our religion class and played a game, and in the end we all sat with our roses and spelled out PAZ which is Portuguese for peace. It was really nice and after that we were to give our roses to someone, so I gave mine to my host mom, which she really appreciated. The same day we also played inimigo secreto, which is secret enemy, which is a game that is played in the states as well. The game is you choose a random name and get them something silly and for laughs, this was a lot of fun. After that we all went down stairs to the little church place at school and had an end of the year presentation and after that we all got out of school. The last day of school was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it a lot. (Novembro 9)

The next day was my best friend Maya’s concert. During the day I hung out with Maia (from Washington State) and Carol (from Denmark) which was really nice. We went down to the pool and just chatted in Portuguese and English all mixed up. Haha that has become somewhat normal now, well I used to do that with Spanish and English and now I do it with Portuguese added in. After that Maia went home and I went over to Carol’s house since she lives close to where Maya’s concert was going to take place. So I just got ready when I went to Carol’s house and after I just crossed the street and I was there. The concert was really good. Maya had sung Alice by Avril Lavigne and did a fantastic job in my opinion. The day was pretty good overall and very fun. (Novemro 10)

After the next interact meeting we had we all went to Adriana’s house in Barra. Adriana is one of the exchange students from Germany. We usually go out after interact and do something. This time we all went to Adriana’s. After we hung out for a little at her house we went out for some delicious pizza. I think it was the best pizza I have had thus far here in Brasil it was amazing. We also had some freshly cut pineapple. Here it is really usual for there to be fruit stand on the sides of the roads, the pineapple we had was amazing and juicy very yummy. After we went out for some pizza and pineapple we all went back to Adriana’s house, well apartment, and hung out until Ferdy’s (exchange from Germany) host parents came to pick him, me, and Maia up from Adriana’s. It was nice to hang out with all of them before they left for the Northeast Trip on the 19th of November. (Novembro 12)

A couple days later I hung out again with Izabelle and other Interact people as well as other exchange students. From morning to afternoon I spent the day with Carol and her host family. We went to the beach and had aracajé which is a typical dish is Bahia and we also had some guarana and some fish that is typical as well. It was very tasty. The day was very nice and the beach and very relaxing. After that we headed back to her house for lunch. Carol’s host mom, Fernanda, had made THE MOST AMAZING basil pasta I have had in a while I think I would have eaten it all, it was amazing. After we got done eating they asked me to read a prayer since they always read one when they eat or are in family. So I read one which fit the occasion. After I was done reading Carol’s host dad said my reading was very good and said my Portuguese accent is getting better because at times he said it seemed like I was brasilian just by the way I pronounced some of the words. I think it helps that I don’t have an accent when I speak English or Spanish, so when I speak another language I can catch the accent better and not have one when I am speaking the language. So my accent is getting a lot better which is great and I like that I was nicely complimented. After we got done eating lunch we headed out to Shopping Salvador to go to the movies and watch RED with Izabelle, her brother Vitor, Raiza, Alex (from Interact), as well as Ferdy. It was a lot of fun hanging out with them, after the movie we had some food and walked around until everyone had to go home. It was really nice hanging out with all of them. (Novembro 15)

So the weekend after on the 27th was my final rehearsal for Palavra Vida, unfortunately I couldn’t make it because I was feeling a little sick and I didn’t want to do too much dancing because my stomach was not doing really well in the morning so my actual last rehearsal was the day before on the 26th which was really good. I was very excited to do my show which was on the 29th but I shall mention that in a bit. So after I was feeling better I went to go help out with the interviews for the future exchange students. It was fun especially when we asked random questions. It was also nice to see all the other three exchange students who hadn’t gone off on the Northeast Trip. After the first half of the interviews we went downstairs and had some lunch and after headed upstairs again for the rest of the interviews. There were some very impressive students who were applying and it was very nice to see some people were very enthusiastic about going, which is great. It was very nice to help out with the interviews. I was also talking with my friend Tanner who might be going down to Curitiba, so I might go with his host family as well, I’m not sure yet but it would be very nice to see something different, another part of Brasil J. So I’ll see how that works out. (Novembro 27)

So a couple days after the interviews was finally my show!! I finally write a journal after my show, I have such a tendency of writing and sending in my journal right before something big is happening so this time I saved it for after. My show went really well. We had rehearsal at 2 and after that we just got ready for the show and I helped everyone do their hair… some things never change haha. When I used to be in colorguard I helped everyone do their hair and as well as here, I did French braids for the girls which actually came out really good, so I was very proud of myself. My host parents came to my show which meant a lot to me. My host mom recorded the show for me which was really nice. For the ending we were supposed to have Claudia Leitte sing, she’s a very famous Brasilian singer from Salvador and she is an alumni from my school here, ISBA, which is pretty cool. Unfortunately she couldn’t make it since she was around touring and wouldn’t have enough time to come to Salvador for the show but we danced to her song nonetheless. The finally came out perfect and was really great. I had such a great time working on this show with all my new friends from school. The girls were all very supportive and sweet so it was nice working with everyone. I had an amazing time doing the show and I’m glad it came out sooo well! (Novembro 29)

January 9

So this month has been a lot of fun. I got a chance to hang out with the exchange students as well as meet many many more from around the world. I went to my last couple of interact clubs meetings which were pretty nice. My Christmas was slightly different here than what I have done in the past. Also I got to spend a very nice New Year’s with my friend and her host family and some new traditions for New Year’s.

So my first week of December I spent out in the lovely sun by the pool downstairs since here it is summer time and not winter time. Since I’m on the southern hemisphere all of the seasons are “backwards.” So my second week I went and hung out with the exchange students in Pelourinho since they were spending the day here in Salvador on their trip around the northeast. It was really nice to see all my friends and make some new ones :). We walked around and had lunch and then at night we went to a show. The tour guide was amazingly nice that she let me go with them for free :). The show actually helped me better understand the show I had done for my school at the beginning. My show was about the northeast, since Brasil is divided into certain parts. So while I was watching this show I got a better understanding of the capoeira and also the goddesses of Brazil’s northeast. I enjoyed the show very much as well as getting to see everyone! So over the weekend on the 10th was my second to last meeting for interact we did a Secret Santa which was a lot of fun and we all hung out at Doces Sonhos which is a pastry shop that has the most amazing cakes I have ever had, besides my amazing white chocolate mousse cake!

The weekend after that was our official last interact meeting. Since it was Christmas time we went to a crèche which is a small place for poor children. We went and handed out gifts to the little kids who were extremely happy to get some gifts. There was one boy in specific who was over joyous because his present was a bunch of toy cars. He kept yelling out to one of the girls “Amanda!!!!” just so he could get her attention and show her his new cars. After they opened their presents we gave them some popcorn and juice and then went and played with them for a couple of hours. I don’t think I have seen such energetic kids in such a long time they were really enjoying themselves. So after a couple hours or so we headed back home, it was really nice getting to make a little kids day :)! The following week on the 22nd of December I made a luncheon for all the exchange students since they were finally back from their trip. I made shrimp with garlic and butter and pasta and for dessert I made my famous chocolate mousse cake but this time I made it with white chocolate and I think it came out even better than with dark chocolate. It came out soooooo amazing that the piece that I saved for my friend Maia was gone… since Adriana and Vanessa decided to get into my kitchen and close the door and eat the rest, I caught them in action haha :). After that we all walked to the mall and did some extra Christmas shopping! It was very nice to just hang out with all the exchange students. So the weekend coming was Christmas weekend. Here Christmas is really celebrated on Christmas Eve. SO on Christmas Eve we went to my host grandma’s house in Barra and everyone switched presents and opened them. I got a shirt, shoes, money, a purse, and perfume. I loved all of my presents they were perfecttttt! After that we all headed to my host sisters boyfriends house, Fabio, for dinner and just hanging out. We stayed until about 2 in the morning and then headed home. Once I got home I went to bed because I was super duper tired.

On Christmas day we all went back to Fabio’s house to eat lunch and go swimming and enjoy the day. It was very nice and at night we had a light dinner. The following week was New Year’s Eve. During the day I began packing to move to my next home and I went out with my host parents for a while to go get my foot checked since I had a rock dropped on it so to be on the safe side I got some x-rays done to make sure everything was ok. Once the x-rays were done the doctor said there was nothing at all wrong with my foot no fractured no broken foot nothing… of course I should have known this usually happens, which is great since it means my bones are as strong as can be! Once I got home my first package from the states came from my grandparents! I got a bunch of little things and a purse and some cookies and more it was great :). So at night I went to my friend Vanessa’s house to spend New Year’s Eve.

Tradition here for New Years is to wear allll white, thankfully I did bring white clothes! At midnight we all walked outside to watch the fireworks from her house. It was a very beautiful show I enjoyed it very much! It was nice spending New Year’s with sooo many people. So my parents came around 2 to get me since they were with my host grandma watching the show as well. This year was a little weird not spending New Year’s at my best friend’s house and calling my parents at midnight, instead I was here in this amazing country and back home my brother and host brother went to my best friend’s house and celebrated New Year’s. So once I woke up to the New Year I finished packing everything. At night we all went out for pizza which was a total coincidence since we went to the same pizzeria when I first got here and it so happened the first and last time I’d go with my first host family was on a Saturday!

So basically I ended with where I started with my first host family but they haven’t completely gotten rid of me! 😀 So it was finally January 2nd the day I moved to my new host family. At my new house I have my host dad Kiko, my host mom Mara, and my host sister Raphaela. They are all super nice and I get along with them really well! Well until the next time!

Beijos é Abraços, Nicole

March 13

So since I last wrote I was just moving to my new house. I have really enjoyed myself a lot with my second host family. They are all super sweet and like to go out which is perfect. We go out to lunch over the weekend. On Saturdays we will go to my host grandma’s who lives in Campo Grande or to my other grandma’s house here in Pituba. Either house we go to they have amazingly yummy food! Then on Sundays we go out to the mall for lunch which is nice and I usually have some type if steak and its always super good! So when I first got here my host mom was finally ending her kimo-therapy, so she wasn’t herself. The week after I think anyone can tell she was doing a lot better. My host mom, Mara, is like my mom back home; they are both super active women and recuperate well in my opinion.

So for the first week I was here I lived with another exchange student, Ferdinand, since his next host family wasn’t back from their trip yet. Also my host sister, Rapha, has the cutest puppy ever, his name is Fredy. Since Ferdinand’s nickname (apelido em portugues) is Ferdy everyone including himself would get confused when someone would call out the puppies name since it’s so easy to confuse the two. So in the month of January there was this one week were I swear I ran into everyone from my school, which was a huge coincidence!! So first I went bowling with Rapha and a bunch of her friends and to my amazement some of my close friends from school were a couple lanes over. It was really nice to see them. Later on in the week I went to the beach with some of the exchange students and while we were out by the boats at Porto da Barra, we ran into my friend Gabriel. Also the day before we had gone to Katarine’s house (she’s the mommy of us exchange students) anyways we went to her house to pick up our monthly allowance since we were close and coming from our surfing class. So trying to see if she was home was super funny because Vanessa é muitaaa engraçada (which means Vanessa is really funny). So while we were waiting it turns out my friend Rafael from school lives there too so it was nice to see him as well! I swear I think I would have ended up seeing my whole class in this one week! I also had a beach day with my friends from school which was very nice and relaxed.

On January 10th my friends from school had a going away dinner from my friend Mariana which was really nice. We went out to a restaurant, Santo Antonio, it was delicious, and it turns out my host dad’s (Kiko) cousin or so is the owner of the restaurant we went to. Such a small world! So my friend Mariana is going to live in Japan for five years, so a long termmm exchange for her. She is already there and updates us on how everything is going and it sounds like she likes it a lot, which is really good!

A couple weeks later I spent the weekend at my friend Carols house in Praia do Flamengo, which is a part of Salvador but more north and closer to Lauro de Freitas. She lives in a really nice quaint house, her neighborhood is very beach like and of course she lives less than five minutes by foot from the beach. She lives super close to Stella Maris, which is one of my favorite beaches here! It was nice to spend the weekend with her. Also most of my weekends in January were spent in Interlagos which is after Lauro de Freitas and an hour away from where I live. I must say it is one of the prettiest neighborhoods I have ever seen! It’s gorgeous and the houses are soooo beautiful and it adds that they are right next to the beach, and the beach is just wonderful too. I keep saying if I ever come back to rent a place I think I’d rent a house there it’s so nice and the atmosphere is really relaxed. And I must say I have some pretty great pictures from the beach there!

Also I have been taking surfing lessons here but since school started and where we surf they are building camarotes for the Carnaval we haven’t gone in a while. I would explain what camarote is but I think it’s rather difficult… but I shall try… at concerts they have pista and then they have camarote. Pista is right in from of where all the singers are playing and is super-duper crowded! Camarote on the other hand is further away but you can see everything and they usually have snack bars and stuff you can buy and wayyy less crowded. Anyways back to surfing I went a couple of times but I catch on really fast so all I have to do now is practice! It was really funny my first time going out though… I wasn’t the smartest one ever haha… So first thing when the teacher tells you if a wave is coming and you can’t go over it throw your board and go the other way… me being me didn’t do that so I plunged into the wave with the board and had no problem at all! Everyone else thought I was crazy but I didn’t have any problems so I didn’t think much of it until they were like why didn’t you throw the board??? And then I noticed whoops! But it doesn’t end there! SO when I finally got on a wave I didn’t know when to stand on the surf board… so I just rode the wave to the shore… now I know I need to stand up next time at some point! So my second and third time where a lot better all I need to do is get up faster. We were taught to put our left foot first but I have a tendency of putting my right foot first, since I am a righty, so I think I will stick with my right foot because it’s so much easier. So I was telling Carol about my amazing surfing fun and she told me one of her best friends from school here surfs and he has a couple surf boards or something along those lines so I plan on going to her house again and being able to surf! I really enjoyed it and it was one of my dreams to learn how to surf when I got here! Unfortunately I don’t think I’d be doing too much surfing when I get back to Florida due to sharks… thankfully here there are only turtles :)!!!

The day before school started I went to the mall to do some school supply shopping as well as hang out with my friends Tanner and Bertho who were visiting from the other side of Bahia far far away. Also Ferday came along with us. As in most situations for some reason I’m the only girl but ohhh well. It was really nice catching up with some friends who I haven’t seen in sometime! Soo school finally started back up the next day.

Coincidentally we started school the seventh and that was the day my mom (my real mom) had knee surgery, so once I got home from my amazing school I jumped on Skype to see how she was doing. Like I said before she and my host mom now recuperate so well 🙂 my mom is doing a lot better now which is good to hear since it’s only been a month and she’s supposed to go three months or so with her shots and what not for her knee.

Now back to school, I love my class so much! They are all really sweet and super funny. Also I love the fact that I didn’t lose my nickname “gringa”. There are a couple of boys who still call me gringa and I don’t think it will ever get old but that’s ok! So more on my first day of school, I am now in terceiro which is the senior year of high school here. Thankfully I was allowed to move up and be with my class! So my redação (grammar) teacher was asking everyone what they would like to major in once they go to college. Now I answered him and I told him I would like to study international communications, there is another word for this but I don’t remember haha, anyways I told him I wasn’t studying here though since I’m an exchange student so I start college once I get back to Florida. Once I was done speaking my whole class got really really quiet. Honestly I thought I might have said something wrong in Portuguese since everyone got quiet but it turns out that I spoke really well and everyone was impressed with how far my Portuguese has come! Once of my friends, Maria, even said my Portuguese sounded better than hers and she’s from here. So I take that as a great compliment.

Everyone here always tells me that I am more Brasilian than I know and that I was born Brazilian and didn’t know it haha. To me it’s a great compliment and it helps that I have some Latin American influence from my mom since she’s Colombian :)! So that weekend I went to the beach with my host sister and her group of friends which was pretty nice, and just very relaxing if I do say so myself. So this past Saturday and Sunday (Feb 26th and 27th) I spent it with Vanessa, Maia, and Adriana (exchange students). On Saturday I went to Maia’s new house (Vanessa’s old house) and hung out with her family and Vanessa for the day which was really fun. After that I went home and got ready for a family party. I met another one of my host cousins, Paloma, who had just got back from Ireland! She was really nice and said that I can just call her to hang out over the weekends if I have nothing to do.

So the next day I went with Vanessa and the girls to the Bahia vs. Vitoria soccer game. This was Maia and I’s first soccer game since we got here, and it was very much worth it! Everyone was surely watching this game since Bahia and Vitoria are the two main soccer teams form my state which is Bahia! The game was really fun to watch, especially all the crazy soccer fans they were just great. Anyways everyone thought that Vitoria was going to win since they were doing so well and Bahia wasn’t but Bahia won 2-0! The best part was that the last person on the Bahia team to ever make a goal was the first one to make a goal for the team :)!

Also over the weekend I had amazing see food, I ate lambreta which is clams in Portuguese, I had some amazing shrimp and fish, and I also learned how to eat a crab. I must say it is some messy business to eat a crab and I don’t know how people have the patience for it! But it was very interesting nonetheless. Unfortunately the next day i woke up super sick for school, and I am still sick, but I am doing a lot better. I did end up losing my voice though and it’s still coming back since I have a tendency to not stop talking when my voice is going away no matter what language I may be speaking I ramble of like no tomorrow.

Also on Thursday the 25th I performed with some of my friends for my Literature teacher’s book lançamento (which means book launch… I forget the word in English). So even though I ended the month kind of sick, it was very fun! And now I am getting ready to celebrate Carnaval here in Bahiaaa! I am going to go to Maia’s house and watch from there so I don’t have to pay for anything hehehe, and I also get to hang out with my friends and then on Sunday (Mar 6th) I am going to the island with my host grandma Donha Teresinha (I have no idea as to whether I spelt her name right or not but I’m almost sure it’s correct. Well until next time I write, I think the only reason this journal is soooo long is since I completely forgot to send in my January journal, but all is good! I can’t wait for carnival to come! Until next time!

Até mais tarde!! Beijos e Abraços para todos : )

–Nicole (aka Nick pra meus colegas 😛 )

Nova’s Bio

Hej, rart at møde dig. Jeg hedder Nova Jones. (Or for those of you who don’t speak Danish, I said Hi, nice to meet you. My name is Nova Jones.) Although I am 16 years old, I will be 17 for the majority of the exchange. I have lived in Coral Springs, Florida since I was four and a half years old. I am a Junior at Coral Glades High School, but I will be graduating a year early to pursue this exchange program.

I am interested in the environment and in helping others, which is why I am an officer in both my InterAct club and my Save What’s Left club. I like having the responsibility, and it lets me meet new people and learn interesting new things.

As soon as I heard about this program, I went home and asked my parents if they would consider it. To my surprise, my mom told me that when she was my age, she had been an exchange student in France and would love for me to go if I was offered the opportunity. Because of this decision, I will spend the next year learning Dansk (Danish), as I will be going to Denmark! I see this as an opportunity to explore myself and find out who I want to be. Rotary has given me a chance that I have always wished for – to prove myself to everyone, have an adventure, and have fun doing it.

In the future, I hope to study people, language, culture, and psychology. This program will give me a jump-start into my ambitions, and for that I will be forever grateful.

 Nova’s Journals

September 5

When I arrived in the airport, we checked in and stepped through customs. I was attacked (not literally, but when you’re as tired as I was, that’s what it seemed like) by hugs and kisses and Danish flags waving all over the place, and I left with my host parents and Ida. They were pointing things out on the way home, but I didn’t really take any of it in.

However, the traveling was fun… Erin Hearty and I got lost in the Frankfurt airport in Germany, and once we found out where we were supposed to be, the airline (which is under a different name in Germany than it was in Florida!) didn’t have our tickets because of a mistake somewhere along the line (they could have sworn that we were supposed to fly the day before), so they had to call Connecticut, check my other tickets, call Florida… and it was settled. Erin had been stressing out, but I was too tired to care, and we had five hours before the flight for everyone to get settled. However, two kids couldn’t get on that flight, so I’m not sure what they did. I was so tired that while we were waiting for the plane, I got the giggles, and because everyone else was so tired, they got them also. Then, on the plane, Erin said: Lord, you look like you’re about to DIE with the bags under your eyes! So I put my head down on the tray, and I fell right asleep, for the hour that we were flying. Why couldn’t I have done that on the transatlantic flight? The nice man I met on my flight from Miami to Chicago (he was in the air force) warned me about that. He told me to try to stay awake until I hit the ocean, and try to sleep during it because that would help eliminate jetlag. It was good advice, but my mind and my body wanted two different things. He and I also talked about the Keys, and it turns out that he’s a scuba dive instructor, so he said that he’d certify me when I got back. How awesome is that?! We exchanged business cards, and he emailed me, so it might actually happen.

So, on my second day, my second host sister got home from a trip to Hungary. After dinner, she and I were talking, and she was like:

“I love your accent, it’s so cute!”

So I was like: “I have an accent?!”

She was like: “Yeah, it sounds… like proper English… it’s not a very heavy accent, but it’s there and it’s very American… I like it.”

And then I said “Well Ida Marie said I have an accent when I speak Danish…”

And then Ida said: “WELL it’s not quite Danish. I know what you’re saying, though.”

And I was dumbfounded, because here I was, thinking I didn’t even have an accent at all!

hehehehe x)

I think I beat jetlag! I was exhausted when I came in, I went about 40 hours without sleep or something like that, and then slept for 16 hours… That let me go to sleep at 10pm on my second night, and wake up at 8:30 the next morning… That’s pretty normal, I believe.

Now on a side note, in America, I don’t like the milk. It’s thick, and I feel like I’m drinking a milkshake but not as good, and so I usually give it a skip. Here, though, it’s super-high quality, and it’s only .5% milk fat. It’s called minimælk! I thought that was cute.

Ida Marie and I went to København on my third day, and it was absolutely beautiful. B-E-A-utiful! So I have tons of pictures (of course) for you all who are also watching my Facebook add DeviantART!

I decided that I was going to make dinner for my family in the first week… An “American” dish, as far as I can tell, since Florida doesn’t really have one besides Key Lime Pie (and there are no key limes here, so what’s the sense in attempting that?!) So I decided on Chicken and Dumplings as a main dish, with tomato and mozzarella salad, along with pasta in a garlic cream sauce AND FINALLY, red velvet cupcakes. That’s pretty American, right?

On my fourth day in Denmark, Henrik (my youth exchange councilor) came and got me. He’s very talkative and personable, so it was fun! We went around (by car this time) three towns or so, and he showed me where my school was. HOLY CRAP! It’s only 6k, which isn’t bad, but sweet Jesus, the hills! I swear there’s a mountain between me and my education right now. xD We also got me registered as a citizen (my ticket number was 007!) and signed me up at the bank. Apparently, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian are all super similar, so if I become fluent in Danish, I’ll be able to fully communicate with the Swedes and Norwegians, so really I’ll be quadrilingual… Cool, huh? The only downside was, we turned what could have been a half an hour into almost three, so I was SUPER tired when we got back.

When I FINALLY got back, I started preparing my American dinner for my family. They LURVEEEED it! I  made red velvet cupcakes (minus the red, food coloring is unhealthy here) and we had them after dinner with tea. That tea was SO GOOD! My oldest host sister works in a tea shop in København, so she brings home all these lovely flavors!

During tea, we were watching the weather channel, and they were talking, and Ida said something in Danish, but I understood it… I was like “Oh my gosh! DID YOU JUST SAY THAT YOU’RE CROSSING YOUR FINGERS FOR THE WEATHER AT THE PARTY?” And she had. So on Day 4, I understood my first full sentence (not directed at me), which is really, really exciting because I hadn’t learned all of those words yet (although some of them are similar).

Later that week, I was reading the paper in the morning (or trying to read it… the headlines at least) and I understood some of them! The prince is having twins (his wife is), someone trashing the BP oil spill, lots of sales on stuff (yay!) Tiger Woods not doing well in golf, Wycleff Jean as a candidate to be the president of Haiti, political parties cleaning up the ghettos… I didn’t get many of them, but I’m getting there x)

We helped set up a huge tent for my host mom’s birthday party. It included rods, tarps, wood floors, tables, chairs, glasses, silverware, candles… it was super fancy. After a while of lifting, my shoulder started hurting, so I stopped to give myself a break, but I’m happy I could help.

That night, I went for dinner with my second host family, because one of my sisters there is going to be an exchange student to Canada, and they wanted me to meet her before she left. It was really good, and I met the boy who will be my cousin… he is SO ADORABLE! After dinner, I was sitting in the basement with Sabina (the one who’s staying) and Sophia (the one who’s going to Canada.) I was trying to explain something, and I said “I don’t know” a few times. I tired explaining it another way, and then said “Yeah, I don’t know” again, but I jumped a little when Sabina screamed “OMG THAT WAS PERFECT DANISH!!!!!” I was like “what? o.o” She was like, you just said ‘I don’t know’ in Danish! I was like “Nuh-uh! I said it in English!” But Sophia was like “nope, it was Danish all right.” So, apparently this means a few things: I’m picking it up, and my brain is already getting confused between the two languages. The weird thing is, I hadn’t learned how to say that yet. I guess by asking my host family to speak Danish around me (unless they’re talking directly to me and I’m not getting it) is paying off!

The first Saturday I spent in Denmark was the day of my host mom’s birthday party. It was so weird to realize that what Ida said was true: “You should tell them that you’re the exchange student… they think you’re Danish.” I was mostly keeping quiet at this point, because everyone was saying hello to everyone else (When someone new walked in, they went around the room and shook hands and said hi to every single person there! It took quite a while, but apparently my Danish introduction isn’t too shabby!) During this cocktail hour type thing, I had my first legal taste of elderflower. It was very sweet, and it reminded me of honeysuckle. When they first gave it to me, they said “it’s like lemonade!” so I was very surprised to realize that it was nothing like lemonade at all, but it was so good! I was also able to hold my first conversation in Danish! It was with Ida, and it was only things we had already practiced, but I got all of my replies correct! Hurrah! After eating, we had coffee (this would be around 11PM) and then as a surprise… Square dancing! Oh my gosh, it was cheesy, but at the same time, it was SO awesome. Mads Emil (my younger host brother) was my dancing partner, and it was really fun once we all got into it.

The next day, I went into København again to meet up with the other exchange students who live in the København area in this cute little cafe… it’s just off of one of the main streets past a tower. Everyone was so nice, but the Brazilians were especially friendly. I got another wish bracelet! My first one came from Gabriel, who was an exchange student in my district in South Florida last year.  We went through the rules and had our first Danish Danish (which the Danes don’t eat much of here, surprisingly.)

After, we came home for dinner, and then Ida, Anne, Mads, Christian, their cousin, Ida’s friend, and I went to see Inception (It just came out here!). OMG IT WAS EXPENSIVE, but I could see why. Each seat was a red recliner (a big one, at that) and there were thick curtains that pulled back when the movie started, and I think if the screen was pulled up, it could be an actual theater! (A black box one, at least.) At any rate, I understood more of it the second time, now that I had an idea of what was going on. Yay! I still can’t get over the whole assigned seat in movie theaters thing. Ha, it was a good day.

 The next few days went by rather quickly—looking back now it feels like I’ve been here for a lifetime, but also only for a few days… A month can’t be right! I’ve seen so much, met so many people, and I have even achieved a decent level of understanding within conversations in my family. I can’t compare my life here to my life back home, because they’re so similar but so different at the same time.

I took another trip into Copenhagen for Tivoli’s (their central theme park) birthday concert, which was a collection of American songs performed by popular singers, and we went on a boat tour of the harbor. I love it in my city, everything is alive, but still so much more easy-going than in the States. The tour was in English, Spanish, and Danish, so I understood some of it all! It was cool being able to tell my host family that I understood some of it, even when it wasn’t being explained in English.

I haven’t been homesick at all, for some reason the exchange has happened naturally for me, as if I were meant to be here. I have adjusted well to being part of my family, and I already know that I don’t want to leave them.  On my second day of Danish school, I got home in the BEST mood. I went to talk to Ida, but she was on the phone, so I figured “hey, I’ll just check my e-mail until she’s done, then I can tell her how awesome my new class is!” Unfortunately, my happy cloud was popped when I received an email from my dad. He woke up with severe pain and drove himself to the emergency room, and my grandma went into Hospice. It was unexpected (on my dad’s part) and I wasn’t prepared for it, so I went to Ida about to cry. She hung up the phone, asked me what was wrong, and gave me a hug. I recovered quickly; I think it was just the shock of it. I knew my grandmother didn’t have much time left, so that wasn’t a surprise, just that it was so soon into my exchange!  Ida and I talked about it some, and we were laughing within five minutes. I honestly couldn’t ask for a better family. After a while, I became so busy with the routine of school and my social life that I had forgotten about my American troubles, and took a trip to Jylland.

From the 22nd to the 29th of August, I attended my Rotary IntroCamp. It was a surprise kept from me until the day before I left; I wasn’t supposed to go because I was supposed to have been on teambuilding with my class… but things turned out in my favor, and I ended up in the Danish system only a few days in! I was really, really happy about that switch. I know that everyone thought it would be in my best interest to attend the international school, but I enjoy the challenge of being surrounded by Danish all the time. In the IB program, I was in American style classes, which were being taught in English… If I wanted to be in America, I would have stayed! I talked to the vice principal, and she told me to come back in the next break. Less than 20 minutes later, she had switched me from 2u (IB) to 2B. I now have a class of my own, and two girls assigned to show me around whenever!

At the introcamp, I got to surprise Erin… She thought I wasn’t coming. We were really happy to see each other, and made other friends quickly. After a bit of exploring in our free time, we happened upon a room with couches and chairs and candles, so it became Narnia. It was nice, having an escape that no one knew about, because the other popular rooms were occupied by Spanish and Portuguese… I wish I could have joined in, but the other students weren’t interested in speaking English, or even slowing the Spanish down so I could understand. Narnia began to grow, and soon it encompassed a small group of Americans and Canadians. We became close-knit quickly, developed a nickname system, and even had a password! (It wasn’t enforced, it was just fun to have.) As the group moved through the week together, we ate meals together like a family, confided in each other, and teased each other too. We went shopping together in Aarhus, and walked around the ARoS museum. I really liked that museum, it displays some VERY basic cultural differences between America and Denmark. I was surprised to find out that their exhibits contained sexual themes, pictures, subliminal messaging, nude statues, and other things that would have been extremely controversial, but they were being expressed and explained here with great popularity. I found one exhibit particularly interesting: Julie Nord’s Xenoglossy.

What was funny, though, was as the week went on,  I began to miss my host family. I missed everyone eating together and laughing together, and I even missed riding my bike 12k a day over the massive hills they have here. (Just don’t tell them that! It’s my secret.) 😉 Unfortunately, someone came to the camp sick, so by the third day, at least 75% of the kids had a cold, which is a lot for six teachers to handle. I didn’t get sick until the last full day there, where we had our diskotek! It was so much fun, even though I had a fever. When I got tired, and started feeling pretty bad, my friend Chris sat me down, and kept bringing me water, playfully threatening me with cake if I didn’t drink it… That’s what I mean by the Narnians being family. We take care of each other, even if it means missing out on some of the fun. I would have to say the absolute BEST part of the camp besides meeting people, though, was the “surprise entertainment.” There was a night where they taught us how to Stomp (like the movies and street performances) in the gym while a secret surprise was being assembled in the lecture hall, and when we were sent in there…. Striving Vines, a local (but popular) band was giving us a private concert! It was SO AMAZING, and only the Rotary kids from Denmark were allowed in. They played ballads, their top chart singles, and even an unreleased song when we begged for more. I ended up buying one of the ten CDs they had, and taking pictures with them all, so I’m set for a while. While I was talking to the bass guitarist, I asked if they would be playing in the Copenhagen area, and they will be! It won’t b free, of course, but I WILL find a way to go.

My exchange so far feels more like a dream than reality, where not everything makes sense, but somehow fits together flawlessly anyway. It might seem strange to wear scarves in the summer, or to put ketchup on pasta, but hey, it’s actually not bad at all! I’ve gone shopping  few times, and my style has already shifted dramatically. I can share shoes and shirts with both of my current host sisters, and so we’ve been trading a lot, and it’s really nice, because I’m at the point where I’ll come home with something new, and they’ll ask to borrow it the next day. It doesn’t bother me at all, in fact, I’ve always wanted to have sisters to do that with…. So it’s perfect! I have  lot more going on in the future, and I plan on keeping it that way because it’s fun, so I’m sure I’ll have lots to tell you in the future.

Rotary, I can NOT thank you enough for giving me this chance. It has already expanded my mind exponentially, and I know that I’ve already created connections that will last me a lifetime.

Tusind tak,

Nova Jones, your happiest exchange student in Denmark.

October 20

So, today, I was in my German class. The teacher refuses to speak in English, and told the girls who were helping me to only speak in German or Danish. This is how it usually goes in that class, and everyone told me how strict she was. However, today, she came up to me after class, and said this: Are you sure you should be in here? You don’t understand a word!

I thought it was funny, but she was being serious, so I didn’t laugh.  The other students talked to me about it after break, and said that even that was strange for her, and Julia, a girl from Germany, said “Well what does she expect? You’re taking a high-level class as a beginner in a foreign language. She’s just trying to make it easier on herself, not on you.” They then mentioned something about going to the park after school. I didn’t even know that Birkerød HAD a park! I, of course, said I would love to go. I then found out that not only was it 2B, but that 1B and 3B would also be there, to get to know each other. They wanted to do this because in a few months, we’ll be throwing a party for all three classes.

The park was SO much fun, I went with kids I didn’t know much, but as they drank øl and Bailey’s, they began to talk to me more.

After that, things began to look up more: People in my class were talking to me more, inviting me out, and asking my opinions on things. My German teacher and I had a semi-public confrontation that we had to ‘take outside’ and in the end, she ended up apologizing (which they say she doesn’t do to students, ever!) and offering me free Danish lessons… so we put aside our differences and worked together.

Since then, things have passed SO quickly… I was astonished when I got an email about sending in my quarterly report, and as I sit down to write the rest of this, I realize that I’m not the same person that left Florida sleep deprived on July 31st. I faced my fear and cut off most of my hair (it went past my bellybutton, now it grazes my shoulders), I use public transportation or take my bike regularly, I drink my coffee black, and I eat tomatoes whole as a snack.

Another thing I have noticed changing since I have arrived is my views on acceptable fashion… I used to hang out in jeans and a fitted t-shirt, now I find myself hanging out in long, loose tops and tights. When I look back at pictures from Florida, I find myself thinking: Did we really wear that? Were we having a bad day or something? It’s true what I was told before I got here… While the Danish culture is very laid back, their standard for acceptable is slightly more fashionable than what I was used to. It was funny, because recently, two other exchange students from America came to visit me. They live in Jylland, so both the accent and the fashion is very different. One day, I was showing them around the city, and they were in jeans and a t-shirt to take a day off. A street vendor smiled at me, and asked (in Danish: ‘You have Americans with you?’  It made me laugh, and it still brings a smile to my face now. It takes moments like those to realize that I’ve just matured in yet another way…  I can now pass for a Danish teen!

Another cool moment in the past few weeks was when my friend Claire from Alaska was over. We were skyping with one of her Alaskan friends in Sweden, and we were comparing accents. Her friend said she liked mine more because it sounded more Swedish, which got Claire and I into comparing more words… which led into a full argument in Danish. Her friend was like “guys, stop it! I can’t understand when you’re speaking that quickly!” THEN Claire and I realized that we hadn’t been speaking English.

My Rotary club and district here have invited me to a few awesome events: I saw the premier of Mama Mia in Danish with the VIP’s, I went to an Apollo concert (they’re a great band!), and I’m going to other cool events soon. I also saw Krestian Robertson at his football game. He was an exchange student to Florida last year and we didn’t get to meet, so it was really nice to be able to go to his game. He was playing against my ‘home’ team!

There have been a few moments when I forget that I’m even from America. I feel so comfortable here that at times, I can only be brought back to that mindset by pressing college application deadlines. I haven’t been homesick yet, but I’ve received a few notes with bad news, or a few moments when I think about what I gave up back home… but then I realize that I AM home, and I simply can’t imagine my life without Denmark. Everyone I’ve met here has been so open and amazing. Rotarians who barely know me invite me over for dinner to get to know me better, kids in my class invite me over for a hyggeligt afternoon with coffee and movies. I know I’m changing, and I didn’t expect all of it, but there’s not a single moment I regret.

November 16

Some people ask why I bother going to school… we’re learning old Danish which they don’t even get all the time, so they think its completely pointless. However, I think this quote applies to most, if not all, exchange students: “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school. ” – Albert Einstein. I’m not here primarily to learn about the history or text. I’m here to learn about the people. I’m here to interact with, learn about, and BECOME one of them. The fastest way I pick up language, behavior, and other general mannerisms is through attending classes. Everything imaginable can happen in a high school; it is a small microcosm, a perfect example of the diversity among the people who live in this country. What I learn here may not be testable, but that is because it is immeasurable and invaluable. No one who hasn’t done this could acquire it, and similarly, most who haven’t done it won’t understand. But we do. We know what we sacrifice to come to another country, to put ourselves on the line. We know we’ll come back, and things might not be the same. And we also know that we won’t, not even for a second, regret our decisions to do something better for ourselves.

I keep thinking that I will become less busy and have more time to do important things (like writing my journals and getting them in on time!) but that hasn’t happened yet, and it’s not going to happen any time soon! I’m going bowling with Rotex (as well as to another concert!) soon, and I’m going to see if I want to join the school play. I go to the gym, I go out with Rotarians when they offer, I’m going to the biggest party of the year (the coffee ball), I’m going to a few shows with friends, and this is all before I change families at the end of the month! I’m sure I’m leaving things out, but here’s what has happened since I last wrote:

There are Rotex meetings once a month, which I go to. We talk and have cakes (everything is cake here, I’m referring to brownies, pastries, cookies, actual cake) and soda or water while planning events. Thanksgiving is coming up quickly, and we’re arranging performances for the big dinner we’re going to be having. All of the families considering Rotary Youth Exchange are invited to come have dinner with us, see our shows, and talk with us about how it is to be an exchange student in another country. Some kids are nervous, but I couldn’t be any more excited! I want to tell the kids that while it’s not for everyone, if they’re in the door already and asking us because they think they’ll like it, then they should give it a shot! A year may seem like a long time away, but I couldn’t emphasize the dramatic difference in time perspective if I tried… I mean, it feels like I’ve been a Danish citizen for my whole life and that Copenhagen IS my city, and I’m writing this journal to people I met a long time ago in a dream. Then again, whenever I flip open my planner and see the week number slowly crawling up, I’m shocked, because it feels like I couldn’t have been here for more than a month. However, I have been here for more than a month… A few days ago, all of us exchange students passed the quarter milestone. I’ve been in Denmark for three month and seven days, and they’ve all been (for better or for worse) the best days of my life.

Last weekend, for Halloween, most of the exchange students met up in Holbæk. Erin, Esther, and Emily didn’t go… but that allowed me to branch out! I became closer with some of the other exchange students, and especially the ‘oldies’ from Australia and New Zealand. There were a bunch of them that I hadn’t met before, and they’re so awesome that we have plans to visit each other before they leave in January. On the Friday night, we all had dinner together, and then we had a diskotek. It wasn’t that great, so a few of us went out and watched movies on Thomas’s laptop, which was resting on my knees, in a cozy pile so we could all see and keep warm at the same time. The next day, the same group of us went on a walking tour to the town itself, and on the way, we saw this beautiful lake. We went down to it, and took pictures with the windmills and the towers. There was also a dock that we walked out on. However, because we took this detour, we weren’t on the same road that the rest of the students had taken… leading us to an awesome park! There was a sea-saw type thing, only you could spin in circles and bounce up and down. It was so fun! We got back, had a hockey competition, and then the Rotarians joined us for dinner. We had a costume contest, and I dressed up like Secret Agent Jones… I didn’t care if no one else got it, it made me smile, and that’s what mattered. That’s one of the biggest things I’ve learned so far. Here, I don’t need everyone to get me, and I don’t need to change to meet someone else’s beliefs of what I should be. I can be myself, and people can accept it or they can’t. Mostly they do, though, and so I’ve made a lot of new friends! That night, we had another band play for us, and then a REAL diskotek… which didn’t start until almost one in the morning! It was awesome. I’m pretty sure we were dancing until well past three, and by the time we all were heading back to our rooms, we only had a few hours left of possible sleep. Thankfully, our time change happened that night, so we got an extra hour.

At home, I’ve seen advertisements for some equestrian race, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. It’s a huge event, and it looked rather fancy… Well I had slept over Hannah’s house with Erica on Friday night, and when I got back Saturday afternoon, no one was home. We hadn’t gotten much sleep, so I took a nap, and woke up to a new text from my host dad. My Rotary Protection Officer, Peter, (who’s also the photographer) had invited me to go with him to the race. He said it was an old Danish tradition to bring the whole family, but my host dad had tennis, both of my host sisters had work, and my host mom was going to visit her mom in the hospital. So I called Peter, and said I would love to join him. It was really fun! The weather was actually at about two degrees Celsius, which is about 35 in farenheight… So I’m glad I bought a nice warm jacket in Sweden! We walked around this big beautiful park and watched the “fox” hunt (they don’t kill real foxes anymore, they have two horses with foxtails pinned to the rider’s blazer that they chase). At the end, the Royal Family presented awards, so I got to see them all! After, I went home to Peter and his wife, and we had lunch and then coffee.

On other miscellaneous news, I’ve had good success at the gym. I love going, and since it’s right next to my school, Julie (who is quickly becoming my best friend at BG) and I go all the time! At first it was weird for me, everyone in the changing room walking around naked or showering next to each other, or going into the steam room nude, but not only have I accepted it as normal, but I’ve become accustomed to it! After a particularly hard day working out, going into the steam room is nice. And why would you wear anything? It would just get damp from the steam and essence oils they have in the air. It doesn’t make sense, and living here has shown me that.

I also feel the need for [partial] bragging rights…My English has reached the point where I am forgetting and misspelling words… thereby reducing me to Google translate from Danish to English. Crazy, huh?

I also went to a play with my German class- it was in Danish, but it was an adaptation from German, so some of it didn’t make much sense to my class! There was a bunch of screaming, lots of whispering, and tons of talking over each other… so naturally, I didn’t understand much. The weird thing was, when I asked my class mates what was going on, they had no idea either.

A few nights ago, everyone was home, and we all had dinner together. I had eaten a late lunch, so I wasn’t super hungry, but my host mom insisted I had more. So, being a polite exchange student, I did. Unfortunately, she asked me to have seconds on dessert also, and I really couldn’t… so I declined again. She then said something in Danish that I couldn’t believe. I thought I had understood it wrong. It was basically, “Eat now, my pig, for tomorrow you will be slaughtered.” I just sat there staring at her for a minute, jaw dropped, before my host dad stepped in for an explanation—That saying is the Danish version of Carpe Diem. Seize the day. Thinking back, it makes sense, but I hadn’t been expecting it. Thankfully, she just smiled and said “well then, I’ll eat it for you” with a wink. I love my host family so much, part of me wishes that I could stay with them all year. I know that I’m going to get SUCH a different experience with my second family and their relatives in Austria, and even more different with my third family, but I can’t help but feel like I’m going to be leaving a large portion of my new self behind when I pack up my room.

Last night we celebrated Morton’s Evening. It is a Danish tradition where you cook and eat a goose (but they’re very expensive, so we ate duck) while telling the story of Morton himself. He was selected to be the bishop, but he didn’t want the position, so he ran. He looked and looked for a place to hide, and found a field of geese. He hid among them, but they started hissing and squawking, so he was found. Knowing he didn’t have a choice, he accepted the position as a bishop, creating a new holiday and law. On that evening every year, every family in Denmark was to kill and eat a goose. After hearing the story, we ate. It was good, and

to conclude this jumbled section, when I woke up this morning, I stumbled downstairs with my eyes still bleary from sleep, but my host mom said “Nova look! It has frozen outside!” So I looked, and sure enough… the grass was white and sparkly, the leaves were all down and white as well, the outermost portions of the bushes were frozen… it doesn’t count as snow, because it DIDN’T snow, but as a Floridian, I was excited. Until I had to bike to school, and I felt the air turning frosty when I breathed in. So I zipped my jacket up to my chin, and took the train instead. Even with the air freezing in my lungs, I am glad to be here, I’m glad for the change. It’s not hot and muggy even in the winter, I’m experiencing actual seasons for the first time that I can remember… it’s just one of the most remarkable things I’ve ever experienced, and that feeling grows every day.

 January 3

Now that it’s the holiday season, more is changing than ever. I switched host families on November 27th instead of November 28th. For some reason, this minute infraction on my mental plan list of how the week was going to “go down” threw me off balance entirely. I experienced near to the same anxiety and irritability that I experienced the night before leaving Florida, with the same result… as soon as it was done, I thought I was ridiculous to feel that way, because it was all perfect again. II still had a lingering feeling of being a little on edge, though.

It was about two weeks later, when I went back to my first host family for a holiday dinner, that I figured out what had been bothering me… as soon as I stepped out of the car, I sighed, and with it, I felt like a weight had been taken off of my shoulders. I was surprised to be incredibly relieved to see my house again. Sophus, our dog, ran up and licked me, Mads came out with his arms wide open for a hug, and everyone greeted me just as warmly as if I had been still living there. Warmer, even. I realized that when I came to Denmark, I had nothing that meant anything to me. Clothes, books… everything was replaceable. I had to start entirely new. However, when I switched host families, I subconsciously felt like I was being torn away from everything I had built up again. In a way, I was, but this time, it was different. A life I had built, my new support system, was only a short car (or train, or in the event that it wasn’t all snowy, bike) ride away. As soon as I was in the house again, sharing tea with my brothers and sisters, everything was alright. I wasn’t nervous about assimilating into my new family at all. In fact, I was more confident than ever that I would be successful and happy. If I were able to come to this country with no REAL knowledge of Danish at all, nothing that could have truly prepared me for a new life with new people and new situations, then I could get to know them as well.

I had been right, of course. I have been with this family for a month, and though things are different than they were with my last one, they’re also good. We have tea in the morning with breakfast, which we always eat together. We eat dinner together, and then ALWAYS drink at least one cup of coffee. With this family, dinnertime can last anywhere between 45 minutes or so if we’re alone to three or more hours if we have guests. That’s new for me, but it’s nice. Since I moved, I have been speaking tons more Danish. This family is half Austrian, so if we’re not speaking Danish, I’m hearing German… giving me little room to have it in English like I had gotten used to. At first, it was really hard, because it was SO much more Danish than I was used to… I was getting the language headaches I never had to deal with before. But on the other side, I was also picking it up much more quickly. I had no idea how much I didn’t understand until I moved. Then again, I could just be hitting the curve where it shoots almost straight up, because in the last month, my brain has made a fascinating switch. I don’t think entirely in Danish, but remembering weird words like suspenders takes me ages. It’s embarrassing, actually, because I hardly ever know what things are called in English anymore if I’m put on the spot about it. I speak a weird mix of Danglish, because that’s how I think. Sometimes now, it’s honestly easier just to ask Sabina a question in Danish, because it takes me too long to figure out how I should be saying it in English. One thing she noticed was that I seem to compose a question in my special Danglish, and then ask it in whichever language is more prominent. If I can’t remember a word in English, I’ll ask in in Danish. If I don’t know what it’s called in Danish, I’ll usually ask it in Danish and then ask her what the word is.

We’re quickly becoming really close. It didn’t happen right away, but she and I, I think, will be best friends. Right now we’re in Austria on holiday, and since it’s just the two of us, we’ve spent a lot of time together. We have so many inside jokes, and crazy stories after only a week that I find it impossible to not continue growing as sisters.

My favorite thing about Austria is actually how much my Danish has improved while I’ve been here. It only took one sentence from Sabina to convince me it would be fun. “They understand English and German, not Danish so we can talk about whatever we want and they won’t know!” Needless to say, it worked. We’ve been speaking almost only Danish with each other. I’ve also realized that German is SO close to Danish. Austrian German that is. I can understand a little bit of what’s going on, just from the similarity of the two languages. There was even one point where my host mom gave me the keys, told me to get the stuff from the car, unlock the house, and bring it in. I went to go do it, and Sabina asked if I understood. It was late after a long day, and I was a little annoyed that she thought I wouldn’t understand something so simple, so I said “of course I understood, why wouldn’t I?” but I got quiet quickly and became only amazed at my own mind when she replied “well, because it was in German.” Hearing little bits of it every day for a month, and then being surrounded by it for a few days when my brain is already used to new words helped. I can’t speak it, and I have no claim on understanding it enough to hold even little conversations, but it’s really cool to know how similar they can be. Because of this, I think I’m going to take German and Swedish (the closest Scandinavian language public Florida Universities offer) and continue learning even when I’m home.

Danish Christmas time is absolutely fantastic. I was told over and over again by a wide variety of people, that I would love it. In the middle of the cold winter, when it’s so dark all the time, comes a huge celebration. I didn’t take them seriously, and I figured that it couldn’t be THAT different… but I was wrong. On the 24th, we had a huge dinner with guests over. It lasted two and a half hours or so. After dinner, we all got up to go light the candles on the tree. It’s my first Christmas with snow since I was a child, my first Christmas with a real tree, and definitely my first Christmas with actual candles upon it. We lit them, and proceeded to sing. We sang and danced in circles around the tree in English, German, Danish, and Chinese.  Then, after we had sung many songs, we sat down around it. We opened our presents one at a time, and I was so happy! I got almost everything I asked for, plus more. Denmark is quite expensive to begin with, and yet, they still treated me like their own daughter, buying me a very nice bracelet from Pandora with three charms to go with it. The next day, we had another huge meal, with 30 other people or so, the extended family, and I met more of the people I’ve only heard about. I met some of the people I hadn’t even met that had still asked for my wish list and got me something, to make me feel like part of the family. I met the English side as well, and got along with them fantastically. They invited Sabina and I over for a girl’s weekend, and a free haircut because Jade was a hairdresser! That made me SO excited, because haircuts cost more than $100 USD here! The next day, the “second day of Christmas,” December 26th, we flew out to Austria. It felt weird to be getting on a plane again so so soon, but I need to be getting used to it. In the next three months or so, I’ll be coming back to Austria for a ski trip, and I’ll also be going to Ireland for St. Patrick’s day week with my class at school.

I also know that because it’s around Christmas time, and this usually happens around now, I shouldn’t be surprised or attribute it to the sudden spike in my conversational skills with Sabina, but the other night, I had a dream in Danish. I was back with some of my friends from Coral Springs, messing around, nothing serious. The funny part is, my Austrian grandpa was there too. I didn’t even notice it was weird until he began speaking. In German. Which is also when I realized that all of my friends were somehow fluent in Danish. Coincidentally, that was when I also realized that I myself had been speaking Danish the whole time. It was a weird realization, and I woke up a little disoriented, and I went back to sleep, but once I woke up for good, I couldn’t stop talking about it. It was such a simple dream, but it meant so much. It meant that finally, after five months of living in Denmark, I saw Danish as attainable. I’ve heard many students go to Denmark and come back not entirely fluent, with a few scary stories of kids who don’t speak a word. I know those are rare, but it still comforted me to know that I know more Danish than I thought I did, at least subconsciously. Now I know that I can do it. I know for sure, without a doubt in my mind, that I will be able to speak Danish fluently before I go home. After all, I can hold up most conversations as it is. There are still plenty of words I don’t know, but I’ve found it’s easier to remember them when you can make comparisons in the two languages rather than one. For instance, Sabina and I were in the car talking, and a word I didn’t know threw me off. Vane. It means habit, and I made a little connection in my brain like I did when I was taking AP Psychology to remember: Being vain is a bad habit. It sounds silly, and doesn’t really make sound as good in English (the thought was in Danish aside from the word vain), but it helps.

One thing I am worried about as far as language goes, is how I’m supposed to talk to Erin Harty when I’m back. Our accents are now so entirely different (in Danish) that I can’t even understand her! I was a little distressed about this, but I talked to a lot of people here… a lot of Danes from the Copenhagen area can’t even understand the Jutland accents. There are a lot of dialects, and the further you get away from a large city, the more “country” it becomes. That makes sense, and we make fun of them a little, but they do the same back to us. They say our accent is like little Sweden, and it’s funny enough, but still frustrating that I can be watching a Danish television show out of Copenhagen, and understand the host entirely, but not get what’s going on because I don’t understand the guest from Sønderborg (or wherever). I’m not TOO worried, though… I can understand the people I usually have around me, and the rest will come with time.

I’ve tried a lot of new things. The newest thing, something I NEVER would have seen myself trying in a million years, was pig head. A whole pig head, fat and bones sticking out, eyes covered up by the ears… It was interesting. Honestly a once in a lifetime experience… that is, I’m not guaranteeing I’ll eat it again. However, that being said, it wasn’t actually so bad. I told myself that I won’t restrict myself this year. I won’t go back to being a vegetarian, I’ll try everything I’m offered at least twice, and I’ll take full advantage of the time I have here while I’m actually here. It’s running out too quickly, and I don’t like the prospect of coming home at all.  I’ll be coming home to a world where they don’t understand drinking REAL, strong coffee (not the American pre blended stuff I drank) after dinner or before bed, they won’t understand why I don’t like eating sandwiches with one piece of bread instead of two, they won’t understand my consuming love for Danish people, fashion and the language itself. It’ll be okay, and nice to see everyone again, but I want America to be my vacation. I want to know I’ll be able to come back. I’ve invested too much here already, after only half of my stay, to let it go.

Because of the friendships and connections I’ve stumbled upon, some by chance and some by a little more, I have received sincere invitations around the world. I’ve been invited to Brazil by the exchange students in Denmark, we figured it was the place with the most people initially… and therefore, the most houses available. I’ve also been invited to Singapore. Being with this family now has opened an incredible amount of doors. I now have contacts in Austria, and my host mom’s brother, who lives here most of the time, is dating a beautiful, sweet Chinese woman from Taiwan. He also works in Singapore, and he brought one of his employees on the trip. Her name is Camilla, she’s 23, and Sabina and I get along with her very well. She told us that if we ever wanted to visit, just let her know and she could help arrange a place to stay. After all, she said, we were family.

That’s one of the most amazing things, I think. The people you meet, the areas of the world you suddenly find unlocked to you. An open invitation, yours whenever you’re able to take it.

February 28

On Tuesday (the 11th of January) my host parents went out of town. They went to Germany and left my host sister and I home. I made dinner every night, and we had delicious American food and some Mexican food, and it was awesome. We watched a movie, and created a workout plan, and we’re sticking to it. On Friday, we went down to the basement– where the home gym is– put in a movie, and hopped on the elliptical machine (me) and the stationary bicycle (Sabina). We did half an hour of that, and then did some pilates/core. We did the same thing on the following Saturday and Sunday. We worked it out so that Tuesday is our rest day, and it’s important to know that ahead of time. On Friday night, I also made chocolate lava cakes. We couldn’t even finish ours because it was so rich, and we ended up eating green salad out of the container, and carrots, and bell peppers… which is when she suggested that we have a green vegetable/fruit day! We did that. On Saturday, we only ate fruits and veggies and nuts, no bread or meat or sugars or anything like that. It was really nice, and I didn’t feel as hungry as I usually would have, and it stopped us from snacking more, and just a bunch of good stuff. My host parents didn’t understand, and we had a salad for dinner and my host mom made a pasta salad with chicken and bacon and she didn’t understand why that wasn’t counted as a fruit or a vegetable and she thought it was stupid and crazy and openly expressed it… but it was only a day and we had made an agreement (very serious things in Denmark, when you shake on it… they’re unbreakable deals) were full and it was fine.

The next Friday, my friend Hannah went home to Australia, so I went to see her at the airport. She gave us out some Australian stuff, and I told myself I wouldn’t cry, and she hugged us and kisses us on the cheek, and I felt a little tug, and she went to the security check, turned around, half-smiled, waved, and she was crying a little… and I just started crying. It brought a lot to my mind. My oldie was leaving, back to Australia, making me an oldie for the students coming this month. It meant half of my exchange was over. It meant I was going to be back here soon, saying goodbye to my friends, going back to everything…. very bitter sweet even now, and I know it’ll only get harder to want to go back. I would like to stay here, but I know it’s not possible.

Now, it’s almost the end of February. I got my new camera a few weeks ago, and I haven’t had one since October. I had to move on Sunday, and time is just slipping out of my fingers entirely. I have come full circle in writing these reports… At this time last year, I kept SERIOUS tabs on anything Scandinavian related, as well as reading the reports from my friends who were inbounds, and I couldn’t understand for the life of me why it was so hard to sit and write something down to send in on time. When I got here, I wrote long reports frequently (even some just for my family so I wouldn’t flood the rotary website!) and turned them in. As the year progressed, I got less and less motivated to sit down for an hour and write about what’s been going on, and as many times as I was emailed to hurry up from family, it made me slow down even more. I’ve come to the point where I don’t want to write them. Not because I’m ungrateful, or because I don’t want to share my experiences—believe me, I actually can’t stop talking about them. It’s only because every time I submit one of these journals, it means at least a month of my exchange has been moved from the future stack of files to the past. That being said, my reports won’t be shrinking in length any time soon (sorry to those of you who think they’re too long, ha-ha, you all asked for them) but once I get my fingers flowing, I keep thinking of things I feel like I should include. I’ll try to keep it to only a few big topics this time, though. J

In the time that has elapsed since I last wrote, I have been to Austria again. We went for week seven, the “official” winter break for most schools in this area. We stayed in Gosau, a ski area, at a family hotel. They have been staying at this hotel every year during week seven for the past twelve years, when Sabina and Sophia started skiing. A girl they met in baby ski classes, Selina, was there as well. The three of us decided to take snowboarding lessons together. We started out at the same level: we couldn’t even figure out how in the world to unstrap the snowboard from itself. However, I progressed much faster than they did, and the teacher moved me up to the advanced class after two hours. We took the entire mountain, on the first day. It was hard, and I fell, but it was really fun! The next day, the conditions were incredibly icy, so when I fell it hurt a LOT. I ended up with a swollen knee, so I put myself back down to the lower level class to take it easy. At the same time that I did this, the beginner’s teacher moved Sabina up to the advanced class. They asked if it was okay with us, and we had a whole conversation debating the pros and cons ( as well as where we would be eating lunch) of going separately, as well as how we would take the next few days. We ended up coming to an agreement, and I turned to the instructors and asked them if that was okay… in Danish. I didn’t realize why they were just staring at me until Sara said “I don’t speak that language… what were you guys saying?” At that point, my jaw dropped, because it wasn’t a big deal to me. That conversation had been so natural, it amazed me when I realized, of COURSE they couldn’t understand it. It was a great sign for me, though. For the rest of the day, I was proud… I had achieved a complete conversation in Danish without thinking about it at all. It had been natural. SO natural that I hadn’t even realized that we weren’t speaking English. This pride shone through my boarding, because the next day, we had a new instructor. A man, who wanted to challenge us. We were broken up into groups of two, and I ran down with him and another girl who wasn’t good at all. He said I looked bored, so he started teaching me tricks. I learned how to do a manual, I was doing little jumps, I was rubbing my stomach and patting my head while curving down a steep slope (seriously, he told me to do that and then follow in his tracks, it was crazy!) and all sorts of other things. He taught me how to jump to make directional changes, and how to make it look cool. He took me to the steepest slope and started going over the edge on the side and building up enough speed to jump back onto the approved track. It was a little scary and incredibly icy, but I had fun. At the end of the week, we were all covered in so many bruises and sore spots (like my thumb, which has been taped up for the past week) that anyone not on the trip could have assumed we had been hit by a car or something, but the best part, was our smiles. On that Thursday, they opened up the slopes after hours because there was a full moon. Usually they’re only open until 4PM, but they re-opened them at 7, only turning on a few spot lights. Sabina and Selina took out their skis, while our waiter and I grabbed our snowboards. We started doing late-night slope runs, under the moonlight and the stars. It was completely surreal.

I mean, how many people can say that when they were 17 years old, they lived a year of their lives in one country in Europe, went moonlit snowboarding in another country, developed adequacy in a whole nother language while picking up the basics of a third… it’s unbelievable.

All that being said, I am officially comfortable with Danish. I know I probably said this before, but I had to think about it then. Now, I’ll usually just answer a question in whichever language I’m asked in. I’m not fluent, but when I was on my ski trip, I realized that I’m a lot better than I thought I was, and I’m a lot better than I was three months ago when I moved to my second family. The only difference was that this family forced me to speak Danish, they spoke Danish to me unless I was absolutely truly lost. I was sort of forced to make the dive into language that most students in countries where English isn’t so prominent had to make at the very beginning. Now, I’m out of the wading pool. I might as well be in an ocean, because I didn’t speak Danish much with my class before, either. However, one day, the trains weren’t working and so Oliver gave me a ride home, and he told me I should just speak Danish. He said he had heard me on the phone with my host parents, and he knew I was good, so if I spoke it all day instead of half of the day, I would learn much faster. He was right, and I saw that immediately, and I also saw why I hadn’t: I was embarrassed because every time I spoke Danish, someone would comment on my accent. He pointed out that he had an accent when he spoke English as well, it was just part of language. Since then, I just feel closer to my class than before, and more comfortable with myself and Danish… it’s amazing.

I don’t feel as though I’ve changed, but when I revisit my journals, both the online and handwritten one from the beginning of my exchange, I can’t help but see I’ve grown up. I can’t pinpoint exactly what changed me, and rightfully so. It wasn’t any one thing. I think exchange students who choose this for themselves are one breed. We think we’re independent, and we think we’re capable enough to survive on our own. However, we’re also a little bit radical. Instead of just moving out, we risk everything to get everything in return. Once we’re alone, we find out what it really is to be independent. Sometimes we might wish we were back with our friends, or our pets, or our parents, but those of us that make it, those of us that successfully complete this amount of our exchange will come back independent. We will come back entirely capable of what we thought we could do before, and we will be more prepared than almost any other person. Though we’re underage and (usually) have a bit of a money dependency, we come to the country knowing almost nothing. We don’t know the people, in more cases than not we don’t know the language, we don’t know the intricate definition of the culture, and we have nothing with us. That which can be taken in a single bag defines us for the first time in our lives. We take all we have, a few pairs of pants, a few shirts, a pair of shoes, a blazer—and we offer ourselves entirely to any amount of possibility. From there, it’s entirely what we make of it.

April 10

March and the first week of April:

I moved families about a month ago. From then, everything has been a rush. I’ve been to parties, gotten closer with my class, celebrated St Patric’s day in Dublin, learned about the war in Northern Ireland first hand, met a whole new group of exchange students, established another family for myself, and created enough new plans to mke everything I just said sound like a cat nap.

I moved to my third and last family on the 27th of February. On my first day there, they told me I had three hours to unpack and change into something nice. I was a little confused, but they didn’t give me much time to think about it… they told me we were going to see Wicked. Wicked the musical, one of my favorites, in DANISH. We went to the first and only theater in the world approved to alter it at all because of size restrictions, and they got the approval to shift the language as well. It was fabulous. They used flat screen TVs,  dressed almost entirely in steampunk fashion (which I absolutely love), and made jokes about the Swedish! Those are our favorite here. 😉 After, we went out to dinner at a very nice resturaunt and I met most of the family. It was very cozy and it really made me feel at home, that they would do something so big just to welcome me in. As we were walking from the theater to the hotel where we ate, Sif took my arm on one side as Astrid took my arm on the other, and right from there, we were all as close as real sisters could be. They introduced me to their schedules, and the way they run things. It fits very well with my natural habits, which is perfect. We wach have a night a week where we cook dinner and then make lunch for us girls and set out breakfast for the next day. Sif has Mondays, I have Tuesdays, and Astrid has Wednesdays. My host parents deal out the rest. This means I get to experiment at least one night in the kitchen every week, which I really like. I can just tell them what I need, or if I come up with something else I need and no one’s home, there’s a little jar set in the kitchen with money to buy groceries, so it’s perfect.

For my study tour, we went to Ireland. We went with our English teacher and our History teacher, and since we were going at a historic time (St Patric’d Day week) to an English speaking country, our mandatory curriculum was minimal. We spent most of our mornings going to Museums and exploring Dubin’s wonders. We saw statues, visited historic houses, went out to eat, and of course, experienced the culture in the evenings. After our set plans with the class, we were allowed to do whatever we wanted as long as we were at least three people together at all times. Being a class of about 30, this wasn’t a problem. We went out to eat together, and we went out dancing almost every night. It was tiring, but it was the most fun I’ve had the whole year. I hadn’t been sure if it would be a good trip, because my class is so divided, but somehow, being away together made everyone resolve their differences and get closer than ever. Over the trip, I had multiple people from my class tell me how much they wish I could come back next year, and even a couple planning out how it could be possible… I would have places to stay, government funding for food and transportation (seriously, Denmark is THAT awesome), and a class who really, truly wants me with them for their final year. On Wednesday, we took a bus up to Northern Ireland. We stayed the day in Belfast, getting a taxi tour around between the Catholic and Protestant communities. This was necessary because the war still affects them today. It was incredibly interesting, and powerful to see the Irish people talking about their lives and their family and how they had been personally affected, while filling us in on the history of everything.  We went to a little cafe after our tour while we were waiting for a bus, and the man working there asked us how long we were here for. We explained that we had been staying in Dublin, and that we were only in Belfast for the day. He immediately got a little bit defensive, saying blfast was way better, and that the people in Dublin were really sour. We asked him why, and he said that when he goes there, and asks for directions or something, the’ll tell him the wrong thing, because they can hear his accent, and know he’s from Northern Ireland! It’s crazy! Anyway, we got back and the next day was St Patric’s day. We started the morning out with a tour of the Guiness Storehouse, which included a tutorial of how to pour the perfect beer. It was really funny, and my friend Oliver and I went around making little movies the whole time. We learned that Guiness can only be made with ONE recipe and that they don’t change it at all, except for one exception. They have a foreign export specialty which is 7,5% instead of 4,5% and one of them had more bubbles. However, the foreign export isn’t what you would get in Florida, you actually have to go to specialty stores to get it.

After my study tour (and this is a very important announcement!) it was finally warm enough to bike home! YAY! Well, when I got home, there was still snow on the ground, but it was the last week and a half in March and I was tired of not doing anything so I asked for a bike anyway. Sure enough, they had one stashed away tha I could borrow, and by the weekdays, it was in fact warm enough! Now it’s about 12 kilometers from my school to my house, but that’s not so bad. In the mornings, I bike to the train station, take the train from Lyngby to Birkerød, and then bike to school (about 3km total on the bike) and in the afternoons when I have no time constraints, I bike the whole way back. It’s really perfect, because it actually takes about the same amount of time to bike the whole way as it would to walk to the train station, take the train, and walk from the station home. I figure, if it’s not losing me any time, and I get huge gains from it, there’s absolutely no reason why I shouldn’t… So I do!

 Now I’m hanging out with everyone a lot more. We all know that (not to sound too eerie) the end is near, and of the time I have left on exchange, only about 65% is in fact in Denmark. because of this, I’ve been receiving more invitations than ever to go out to parties, and out to cafes and to the parks after school, and to go shopping in the city… and I keep learning, time and again, that the Rotary saying is true. Say yes. You might be feeling a little like staying in instead of going out to a party and being late, but unless you have a reason (like being seriously sick) to stay in, you should say yes. You’re not going to remember the times you stayed in and went to sleep at 11 PM, you’re going to remember the times you went out dancing. You’ll remember sitting in a cozy corner of a library with a cup of coffee and a friend instead of going home directly after school. Soon, I’ll be going to see Erin Harty in Aalborg, Denmark, where she lives. I was invited up for part of the easter holiday, and after I get back, my host family’s taking me to our summer house. It’s about an hour away from here and it’s actually two houses! One for the parents and one for the kids. Cool, right? From there, I have three weeks until my Eurotour, which lasts for three weeks, and then only three weeks back in Denmark before I come back to Florida. I can’t say I’m looking forward to it, at all. I love everyone here. I love my friends and my family, my class in school and my teachers. I love Danish, I love the trains. I know it might sound silly, but I really don’t see how my life will be possible without all of it. It won’t be the same, I never will be exactly the same. All I can hope is that I never forget everything I’ve learned and that I’m never forgotten. We’re all making plans to see each other again, and though the exchange students here have plans for that as well in Brazil, it’s not what I’m referring to. It’s not what I want. I want Denmark. I’m not even gone yet, but on the few trips where I’ve been away, I’ve received huge relief when landing back in the Copenhagen airport. It’s my home, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The night I had to leave everything behind in Florida was incredibly hard, but I know it will be nothing compared to leaving here. For now, I just have to make the best of my last time and savor every moment.

Robert’s Bio

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending” – Maria Robinson

First things first, I want to thank Rotary for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime! I do play sports and all that jazz but that’s not too interesting, so I’m just gonna skip to the exciting stuff.

The moment I got accepted into this program, I knew that it would change my life forever. All I find myself doing at the moment is thinking about how my life will transform in these exciting years to come. I find myself dreaming of le esperienze (the experiences) that lie ahead, gli amici (the friends) that I am to stumble upon, and la lingua bella (the beautiful language) I am focused on mastering. The moment I signed Robert de la Torre right next to the x on the Acceptance Contract, I knew that I had made the best possible decision for my growth as a student of life. Not just a student of life, but one on the search for the greatest gift we have on Earth, happiness.

From this day forward I am on the “pursuit of happyness”. My goal is to study the way other cultures act in everyday situations and compare them with mine… experimenting different ways of doing things. Ultimately, I will gain a greater knowledge of cultures, more specifically human behavior. By experimenting different ways of doing things by getting out of my comfort zone, I’ll discover things I never thought I would. I will grow in knowledge considerably, while gaining maturity. I believe that I will grow past my limits because I will spend a year living life in an Italians shoes. (and no…I don’ t mean that the growth will come from buying a pair of Prada shoes and walking around in them for a year 😛 ) I will put my prior knowledge to the ultimate test by carrying a new life on my back, while placing my other life in a recycling bin… and it will be there ready to take a new course when the “New and Improved Robert” arrives in town, as the new sheriff of Robertville.

I have quite a journey ahead, and I could not be more excited. Thanks again Rotary! Let the journey begin. Now it’s time to work on learning Italian. Bonne notte! Until next time,

-Robert

Robert’s Journals

September 27

 At the moment, I am sitting in my host room attempting to somehow sum up my last nineteen days here in this small, picturesque village known as Edolo. Writing this isn’t going to be as easy as I thought. Some of the feelings that you experience on exchange are extremely difficult to explain.

The beginning of my exchange hasn’t been easy, but then again, I had never heard a Rotarian say the word “easy” so… it’s expected. But when I say that it hasn’t been easy, I’m not referring to saying goodbye to my family though, that wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I couldn’t hold back a smile as I said my goodbyes and even though a few people were crying, I was just too excited to hold it back. As I walked towards my gate, I saw the singer Fantasia from a distance.

Fast forward two boring flights, and I was in Paris. It was here that I got more lost than I had ever been in my entire life, because no one spoke any English or Spanish. What a confusing airport! Luckily, however, I had made plans to meet up with a Canadian exchange student whom I had met on Facebook (we had the same four hour lay-over there). After having walked around for about an hour, I was about ready to give up searching for her when we ran into each other. After having coffee and breakfast, we excitedly talked about our expectations for exchange and just had an overall good time. Since French was here native tongue, she helped me find my gate and we said our goodbyes. After a 40 minute flight delay, the plane took off and I was on my way to Milan.

When I arrived, I headed to the Baggage Claim. After waiting for about an hour, I realized that my bags weren’t coming, and walked over to the information booth. There, the lady told me that the bags had been left in Paris, and I gave her my Italian address and headed out to find my host family. As soon as I walked out I saw them, and they were holding a large sign with my name on it. All of my worries faded away when I saw they’re smiling faces. I slept the entire way home, so I didn’t get to see Milan or the suburbs at all. I awoke the next morning with a sore throat.

Over the next few days, my sore throat became inflamed, and I could hardly eat or drink anything. I also caught a fever and was in bed for the next few days. After about a week, I was finally healthy. And my luggage had finally arrived after about a week.

The kids that go to my school don’t speak much English.. but I really like school, it gives me a chance to study my Italian and to think a bit. I’ve made multiple good friends at school, and have gone out with them a few times. I really like them, they remind me of my friends back home.. and a fun time is always had with them. My Italian has very much improved since I’ve been here and can basically say most of what I want (with the help of hand signals of course). * Future outbounds, study your target language! I know it sounds cliche’…but the Rotarians are right, come prepared…trust me. Also, buy a verb workbook…it has been a tremendous help for me. * I am going to conclude this journal with a list.

Notable features of my host town:

– A clock tower

– A piazza with a few restaurants, Gelaterias, and a bookstore.

– Multiple water fountains (very different than American fountains)

– A narrow river that flows beside the piazza complete with two bridges and two waterfalls.

-Multiple clothing stores

-Multiple bars

-A small church

-Extremely narrow back roads

-A small cinema

-Soccer field and outdoor basketball court

-Indoor community swimming pool and tennis court                                                                 

My host town looks like something out of a film… it’s unreal. As I walk to the bus in the mornings the clock tower with the mountains in the background  never seize to amaze me. I hope I never take this experience for granted… Huge thank you’s to Mrs. Cameron, Ms. Martin, and my family for all of the support. Rotary: I could never thank you enough for this opportunity, thank you for all of your sacrifice.

 December 5

So I’ve been in Italy for almost 3 months now. This is what has been going on recently in my life.

About a month and a half ago, my host family invited the other exchange student Zach and I to spend a weekend with them at their house in north Sardinia. Obviously when I found out I was going, I was thrilled! (For those of you not familiar with Sardinia, it is the big rectangular shaped island off the west coast of Italy). In Sardinia, we visited family friends and had typical Sardinian dishes. I was so surprised at just how different it was from my host region of Lombardy. The cuisine was different, the accent was different, and the landscape was too. The differences when it came the food was that the Sardinian dishes were more fish-influenced. Their signature bread is also very different, as they eat a lot more flat bread. The landscape and scenery was a big strange, but extremely beautiful. The water is spectacularly clear, however, strangely enough the vegetation is very dry and consists of shrubs and cacti, as it seldom rains. Think of a tropical island, just more desertesque, if that makes sense. Unfortunately though, we had picked one of those rare weekends in which it does not stop raining. Because of this, we didn’t t get to see as much as we would have hoped.

Two weeks ago, my family and I visited my host aunt who lives in a city called Merano. What’s special about this city is that it is located in a region called Trento-Alto Adige. This region belonged to Austria- Hungary before World War 1, which basically means that they don’t really consider themselves Italian, and most signs were labeled in both German and Italian. Most of the architecture was Germanic, and almost everyone spoke at least some German. It was pretty interesting seeing such a multi-cultural city, and to me it’s the Italian version of Miami. One night in Merano, we threw a birthday party for my 5 year old cousin, which was surprisingly fun. It started off with a puppet show and then musical chairs. They even sung happy birthday in English and had a hello kitty cake. The most amusing thing about this party was watching the adults pop champagne and run around with the kids. I found it a bit strange seeing adults actually enjoy a little kids birthday party. Never had I seen anything like this before in America.

Later on that night, my family took me to a hockey game to see Merano play Torino. This match showed me just how competitive and entertaining a sport it is, and consequentially, it has become one of my favorite sports. After the match, we and my family skyped with my host uncle, who is in Afghanistan. My family told me to come meet him. I was a little startled when he started speaking in English.. And I felt a little uncomfortable. I live in this small valley with the only other exchange student living 40 kilometers away (Zach from Oregon). Because of this, I rarely speak English, and I was so used to speaking Italian that it just felt strange to speak English. I never thought I would feel this way, I guess that’s why you should go on exchange with no expectations. It’s easier said than done though, and no amount of language learning or advice from Rotex and Rotarians could ever fully prepare you for this experience. I guess that’s the beauty of it.. You never know what to expect, because everyone’s exchange is different. Every now and then I look at the other exchange students pictures and can tell that they are having a good time, maybe even a better time than me. But I would give this exchange up for the world. All of the people I’ve met, friends I’ve made.. They make for good experiences. Although I may not yet have many exchange stories that will make you roll on the floor laughing, I do have countless inside jokes. In actuality, exchange itself is kind of like an inside joke. You could hear all of my inside jokes but wouldn’t understand one. Just like reading all of our journals will never satisfy you. This type of thing has to be experienced first-hand. I’m excited for all of you outbounds-to-be. The pre-exchange experience is a wonderful thing on it’s own, and I suggest that you communicate with your fellow outbounds at the two orientations, because when you return to the states, those will be the only people who you will be able to relate to. Surprisingly. I miss the other RYE Florida exchangers quite a bit. Even though I only knew them for a few months, I feel closer to them than people I have known for years. I guess that’s just another one of the mysteries of exchange.

January 25

It’s a strange feeling, to experience holidays in a foreign country with people you haven’t known for more than 4 months. I’m going to make a list of the American holidays and how they went for me:        

Halloween: Even though it was a Saturday night, my Halloween consisted of watching scary movies alone at home. I had been trying to make plans for the last week, but none of them worked out because none of my Italian friends felt like doing anything. (Sometimes, this happens when I try and make plans. Since we have school 6 days a week, some people study on Friday and are too tired after school to go out Saturday nights.)        

Thanksgiving: Fortunately, Zach’s English teacher invited us to go to his house for dinner. He told us that he would attempt to make a turkey dinner. It actually went pretty well (despite the fact that we had no gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, etc.) Even though I really missed being around my real family with all these great foods, it reminded me that Thanksgiving is mostly about giving thanks for that food and all the people that make up your life. I’m sorry about the tacky/cliché phrase guys… it’s completely true though. This was a real eye-opener for me, and made me realize how much of my life I used to take for granted.      

Christmas: Consisted of visiting family members and a big family dinner at night. This may sound strange, but people in my valley don’t exchange presents on Christmas. This is done on the 13th of December, on a day they call “Santa Lucia” (who kid’s believe brings them presents instead of Santa Claus) Yeah, I know it’s very random. But hey, tradition is tradition.      

New Years: My new years was spent at one of my Italian friend’s house. There were about 4 other schoolmates there as well. We played poker, some video games, talked a bit, and shot off fireworks at midnight. Even though, in America, when I thought of New Years in Italy.. a vibrant, neon-light filled Roman piazza with Italians dancing through the middle of the streets or something of that caliber came to mind, it was actually an enjoyable night and I can’t really ask for anything more than experiencing true cultural normalcy right? That’s all you should expect out of your exchange. Expect to be surprised.. expect to experience the real culture of your host country.. and have it put all the stereotypes that you had, to rest.    

Congratulations 2011-2012 Outbounds. It’s not easy getting accepted to be a Rotary Youth Exchange Student. It’s an impressive achievement on it’s own. If you’re reading this, feel free to add me on Facebook if you have any questions about exchange or if you just want to talk.

Sierra’s Bio

Namaste (or Hello in Hindi)! Hey, I’m Sierra Arnold, and I live in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. I’m a 14-year-old freshman at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. I’m a theatre major and I love it. One of my many goals in life is to help people. I’ve had many experiences which allow me to do so, including building houses in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina and working with the Salvation Army in Washington D.C. to feed homeless people. I am currently undecided on where I would like to go to college, but I always feel I want to do something influential, which would allow me to help people.

All of my friends say that I’m an extremely outgoing person. I’m best known for being the one who fills the room if there’s silence, often with laughter. I guess you could say it’s my sunny outlook on life that makes me this way. I love to experience new things, go new places and meet new people, and it seems Rotary is a great opportunity to do so.

In my spare time I take drama and dance classes. I’m active in my church’s youth group. I used to play lacrosse and swim, but since DA is an arts school, we don’t have sports.

I want to be a foreign exchange student because of the amazing experience I know I will have. I am most excited about learning about the culture, diversity and history of India! Once I found out I was going to India, I was ecstatic! While others… a little bit concerned. Most people first think about the poverty in India, but I think about the richness of the culture and knowledge that lies there. Besides, if helping people is something I love to do, it seems like this is a perfect place to go! I can’t wait for this experience of a lifetime and the process that comes with it! Many thanks to everyone who made all of this possible.

 Sierra’s Journals

August 4

It’s almost been a week since I departed for my year long adventure in India.

My first extremely frightening experience happened when I got off the plane in Delhi.

Everything was fine through the passport/visa check but it took a whole hour for my bag to come in! Then once I was through customs/immigration, I had to get to the Domestic terminal from the international terminal, and oh boy was that a mess. There weren’t any signs, so I was trying to ask people- and of course no one spoke English. Eventually someone managed to tell me I had to get a taxi to the domestic flights terminal, which was practically on the other side of Delhi! (or maybe it seemed like it to me because I was panicked the whole time!) So I hopped in a taxi and tried to explain to the driver that I need to get to the domestic flight terminal. Luckily, ‘domestic’ is similar in hindi- ‘domestica’. Then once we pulled up I realized that in my rush I hadn’t gotten any rupees yet! So I apologized as much as I could and wayyyyy over paid him in American money.

It was a little bit smoother sailing from then on. My boarding pass had already been printed in New York, since it was the same airline as my international flight. I had to get my suitcase security checked, and then re-check it onto my flight to Vadodara (which I figured out how to pronounce by the way!). There was a very nice guy who helped me do so, but then he wanted a tip so I had take more time to go exchange $10 into Rs. 400. And I know the guy at the foreign exchange counter took a lot of my rupees because the exchange rate is 48 rupees per dollar. So I gave the guy some rupees and then went through security. I also had a little bit of trouble there because apparently, you cant bring batteries on the flight?! And the guys didn’t know the English word ‘batteries’ so he had to take some out to show to me. I then showed him they went in my camera and he was nice enough to let me keep them.

I would have never made my flight through all of that mess if it wasn’t delayed an hour! So since it was delayed, I used a pay phone to call my host family and tell them. However, I couldn’t figure out how to pay for the pay phone! It basically just looks like a phone and is called AirTele and you dial your number and place your call and when your done a little receipt is printed out to tell you how much you owe, but not where to pay it! One last confusing thing at the airport was that in the domestic flights terminal, it has six ‘gates’, which are actually just doors that lead you to a bus that takes you to your plane. That wasn’t the tough part though, the tough part was that you don’t know which gate you are til the bus pulls up, and you have to wait for an announcement to tell you which gate is your bus. Or, you can watch the monitors, which is easier except they’re extremely inaccurate!

So once I finally got on the bus, I could relax. And I also ended up talking to some nice men who knew my host father! (oh I forgot to mention, on my flight from New York to Delhi, there was a lady next to me from Canada who recognized my rotary blazer and told me she was a rye student to new Zealand about 20 years ago! ) Once I got to the Vadodara airport, it was very easy, seeing as it was a small airport. Another bus picked us up and took us directly from baggage claim which led straight to the parking lot, where my host parents were waiting. Our driver was with them and he kindly took my bags and put them in the car. Driving back from the airport was AMAZING! I’ve always complained about how Ponte Vedra really has no town, but Vadodara is a huge city! My host parents pointed out things on the way and we almost hit a few wild dogs and COWS! The cows were everywhere it was awesome! And they don’t look like regular American dairy cows. These cows have horns and aren’t fat at all! And they aren’t grazing in the grass, either. They’re standing in the middle of the road. Also, I think we’re in monsoon season because the sky is always cloudy and everything is wet! That doesn’t mean its not hot though! Every room in the house has at least two fans and an air conditioner plus lots of windows.

Oh! Driving in India, Lesson 101: EVERYONE HONKS! Its just a thing they do, to let people know they’re merging or turning or to let people know they’re passing or who knows! Just to honk maybe! Also, they drive on the left side of the road, and sit on the right side of the car, just like the UK! When we got to the house, I was introduced to the family. They have two dogs, whos names I can pronounce but cant write! One is a fourteen year old male and has some kind of stomach cancer but is not in pain, for what we know. The other is a young female, oh they’re both labs, she’s a tan lab and he’s a black lab. She’s in heat right now. Another thing that’s different between America and India is that when a female dog is in heat, they try to get her mated. I have no clue why, that’s just how it is. So then I have my host sister, Ayan, who went on exchange to France a few years back. She is currently in college in the city. Then there is another girl, who is my host brother, Rajiv’s fiancée. I am staying in Rajivs room because he is in Ireland working on a medical thing right now. Then there are three other medical students staying with us. One is from Sweden, and went to Michigan on exchange (not RYE) and another is from Calcutta. The last one I haven’t even met yet because he’s been asleep the whole time I’ve been here! They work the night shifts at the hospital so they sleep during the day.

We also have servants. I cant tell you their names because they only speak Gujarat. My host family however, speaks English all of the time except when speaking to the servants or people on the telephone. I know there are two women who cook, another who cleans, a driver, and maybe two boys how do housework and other things? Also one of the women has a son who is adorable! But I haven’t gotten to say hello or anything and Ive only seen him walking around.

Last night my host mom was very kind and had the cooks prepare what they thought was an American meal! We had macaroni and cheese- the most delicious you’ve ever tasted because its barely mac and cheese! Its basically pasta with a cream sauce and potatoes, carrots and peas. After dinner & chatting, they took me upstairs to use a phone that they have to call my parents! Its actually very cool because its an American number and linked to their internet. It’s a 732 number (New Jersey) and I think that is because one of my host moms aunts lives in new jersey. Then I went back downstairs to my room and went to sleep!

This morning I woke up around 7:30. I would definitely have slept longer but I think sleeping on the plane threw me off! So I walked around and couldn’t find anyone except the servants so I went outside in the courtyard for a little bit with the dogs. The plants are beautiful here, everything is a very luscious green shade! Then I decided to go back to bed. My host father knocked on my door around 10, so I woke back up. He told me that one of the servants had said I was awake, and that I didn’t see them because they were all in yoga which takes place from 7-8 every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and I am welcome to join them. We had a quick breakfast which I managed to eat, breakfast in India isn’t spicy! However, there were many traditional India breakfast dishes that I kept trying I eventually got full without finishing any of it! Also, I found out that Chai literally means hot tea. So in America when people drink iced chai, they are extremely incorrect. I felt terrible, but I couldn’t finish it because it was so hot every time I tried to drink some I burnt my tongue! For about the next hour and a half my host mom and I sat in a sort of family area and talked, and then I went with Ayan to take the female dog to the vet to get her shots before they could mate her! She is really nice, and we talked a lot about her exchange in France. When we came back, she suggested I take a nap before lunch because she could tell I was starting to get tired. So I did! Then she woke me up and we went to her parents room (which is basically another family room were everyone sits and watches tv) and watched a really cool new show on FX called the Listener. Then we went down to lunch. I was so proud of myself, I actually managed with the Indian spices! The rice and chipati ( I doubt I spelled that right but its like a thinner form of naan) definitely helped dull down the spice a little bit. But again, I wanted to try everything so I took too much! Also, after each meal we have yogurt. They compared it to a Greek yogurt but it was really different, as im supposed to say. My host father told me that its home made. The Swedish boy was at lunch with us because they were back from the hospital, but the other two were sleeping. Actually, hes from Sweden, but is oriental.

After lunch, Ayan, the Swedish boy ( who’s name I cant spell) and I all went upstairs back to the tv room, as im now going to call it, to watch Death at a funeral, the British version, not the American. And it was hilarious! Also, while talking with my host mom, I found out a little bit about my school. I have to wear a uniform. Also, on my papers it said I was submitted to Arts, as opposed to science, which is taught mostly in gujarati, while arts is in English. Also, other exchange students who have gone to the mothers school have been in arts, so many of the teachers are familiar with how to deal with us! That’s actually not arts as in Douglas Anderson, but arts as in philosophy, psychology, and Hindi. I get to choose which classes I take though, and I definitely plan on taking Hindi as one of my subjects. School started in June, so I will go starting Monday!

Around nine o’clock we went to some friends house for dinner. It was a lot of fun. First we sat outside and talked and then we went inside for the meal. This meal was a bit more spicy. I’m going to take a shower then go to bed!

Wednesday Evening: 6:15 PM.

I had my first two days of school yesterday and today! School isn’t too bad here, and my favorite subjects so far are sociology and psychology, both taught by my favorite teacher. In those two classes, there are only 6 of us, which is better for me. Other classes I am taking are economics, English, gujarati, Sanskrit, and drawing. Everyone wants to talk to me at school and be my friend. However, I have always been more mature than my peers, even back home, and here, although I am in classes with kids that are older than me, they are even more immature because they have grown up more sheltered. My host sister Ayan warned me about this before school started. However, I feel the students in psychology and sociology are a little bit less immature than everyone else!

October 27

Wow! I can’t even imagine how I’m going to be able to tell you about all the amazing things I’ve experienced in the past 3 months! Let’s just say that I’ve seen more, done more and learned more than I could ever have dreamed of! And, not only have I learned about India and Indian culture, I’ve had a large dose of anatomy, biochemistry, psychology and medicine, no pun intended! What I mean is, when you’re living with three doctors (my host dad, host brother and host sister in law), a college student studying psychology (my host sister) and a friend from Calcutta who is studying biochemistry, the dinner conversation usually consists of some combination of those subjects. For example, someone joked with my host brother about his lack of biceps, my host dad started talking about the muscle development of the biceps, using a whole bunch of medical terms that I didn’t understand!

I’ve been going to school since my third day in India, and I’ve made lots of good friends. In India after Standard (grade) 10, a student chooses arts, commerce or science, depending on the career path he or she intends to pursue. Most schools don’t offer arts, but my Rotary Club always puts their exchange students at my school, The Mother’s School, because it offers arts. Unlike science, arts classes are taught in English, which makes adjusting easier for us. We have some classes with the commerce students, including Economics, English, and Gujarati, while the arts students have Sanskrit, Psychology, Sociology and Drawing together. My favorite class in school is definitely Sanskrit. I have learned many interesting prayers and pujas. Through the English translations I can tell that when the Hindus pray to their god, or to him through one of the many deities, they pray for the same things as all of us: luck, happiness, prosperity, knowledge, etc. I’d like to share one with you:

Pronunciation: Svasti prajabhyah paripalayantam/ nyayyena margena mahim mahisah

Gobrahmanebhyassubhamastu nityam/ lokassamastassukhino bhavantu.

Translation: May there be happiness for all people. May the rulers righteously rule the earth. May there be welfare for cows and men of wisdom at all times. May all beings be happy.

Since I arrived here in India, many festivals have taken place. First was Parsi New Year. My host family is Hindu, but they have many friends who are Parsi. Parsi is a religion that formed out of Zoroastianism, in which people worship the elements such as fire. During Parsi New Year, it is tradition to give lots of sweets. The next festival that occurred was called Raksha Bandhan, which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. The sister ties a Rakhi (a friendship bracelet) to the brother’s wrist, and in return, he gives her a gift. August 15th was Indian Independence Day, which was also the day of my Inbound Orientation. As we drove to Ankleshwar, the town where the orientation took place, there were tons of people out in the streets waving the Indian Flag.

Ganesh Chaurathi, was a really fun festival. It was the celebration of the birth of Ganesh, a Hindu god. The story is that Ganesh had an evil uncle, who was told that his 8th nephew would take the throne from him. So, in order to prevent this from happening, he killed all of his sister’s children and had his sister locked away. However, on the night that Ganesh was born, the guards fell asleep, and the child was kidnapped and raised in a village until he was old enough to defeat his uncle. So for this festival, we make statues of Ganesh and worship them for a period of 9 days and then take them and throw them in the river. The statues are made of clay from the river bank, but now most people buy them. My family does it traditionally, though, so my host father made a large one, while my sister and I made small ones. We then worshipped them for five nights and took them to the river on the fifth night.

The most recent holiday was Navaratri, a nine night festival in which kids do a dance called Garba from 8pm until midnight. We wear special clothes called chania and choli, with a scarf called a dupata. There is a traditional way of doing garba, but most kids have their own version. It’s a huge social event and while we’re dancing, everyone ends up running into each other!

I am very fortunate that in this short time I’ve been able to take two amazing trips! The first trip was In September when I went with my school to Mahableswar, one of the hill stations established by the British to escape the Indian heat. We spent 27 hours on a bus to get there! (You have to understand the toilet situation in India and the lack of ‘western toilets’. Most toilets are ‘Indian Style,’ or what are sometimes called squats. The only thing worse than squats, is when there are no squats. By the way, if you do manage to find one of the few Western Style toilets in India, there is an even less chance of finding toilet paper with it. I guess its all part of the experience, huh?)

The views were beautiful and being so high up it was very cool, which was a nice break from the normal heat. We woke up at 6 am on our first day but it wasn’t worth getting up so early because none of the rooms had hot water until around 7. This was my first encounter with another Indian specialty- bucket baths. It’s actually a great way to save water and help the environment. You use the tap to full up your bucket with warm water and then use a cup to pour it over yourself. Usually, only one bucket is needed to get your body wet, and then scrub down with soap and rinse. However, since we were washing our hair, two buckets were required.

We visited several viewing points up in the mountains including Monkey Point and Tiger Spring. Monkey Point was especially fun and it did live up to its name! Grilled corn is an Indian specialty, especially when its cool or raining. There were a few stands at Monkey Point selling grilled corn, and once people finished eating their corn-on-the-cob, it’s traditional to throw the cobs to the monkeys! It was a lot of fun watching them, but wild monkeys can be extremely dangerous. Tiger Spring is a naturally flowing stream up in the mountains, which legend tells the wild tigers used to come and drink out of. The water was very pure and sweet, and we all tried some! We also visited Table Land, which is an area of flat-topped mountains. There I had my first camel ride, which was pretty spectacular! And, on the bus ride home, I saw my first two elephants! (They are very common in South India but not in my area.) We were driving along the main highway when we passed them, walking on the road like they were cars! Let me just say that seeing those elephants pretty much made my night!

My second trip was a weeklong vacation with my family in the Himalayas. We went to the state of Himachal Pradesh and visited Dharamsala, the main town; McLeodganj, where the Dalai Lama lives and teaches; and Naddi, a small village at the peak of the mountain. We took a 24-hour train ride then a 2-hour bus ride. Now, I don’t think I’ve mentioned Indian roads yet, so let me do so. A 2-hour car ride usually isn’t so bad. Except when you’re going up and the altitude is rising. And you’re sitting in the back of a truck. Indian roads have potholes covering every square millimeter (I’m on the metric system now, remember). This made the journey up the mountain a bit unpleasant.

There were many things to do and see in McLeodganj, including temples, coffee shops and shopping. A lot of tourists come to visit the Dalai Lama and learn about Tibetan culture and Buddhisim. We went to the main temple where the Dalai Lama teaches but he was on lunch break. The temple had Buddhist prayer wheels, which are turned while chanting takes place. My favorite restaurant of the trip was the Tibetan Kitchen, where we had authentic Tibetan food, including momo’s and noodles. During the afternoon rain, we took shelter at a coffee shop where we drank Tibetan tea which is not my favorite. The waiter described it as butter and salt with black tea, but it just tasted like butter and salt.

In Dharamsala we visited Norbulingka Institute, which specialized in preserving Tibetan culture such as painting, making dolls and bronze statues and carving wood. We luckily visited a monastery just in time to see Karmapa, the next Dalai Lama, blessing people! He gave us all holy red string. It was undoubtedly one of the coolest experiences of my life. Later we watched a ceremony with 30 red-robed monks chanting and playing cymbals, horns and drums. At the back of the room was a giant statue of Buddha, with beautiful paintings all around, telling the story of Buddha’s life, and how he was a great prince who renounced his wealth. There was also an empty throne, waiting for the Dalai Lama. Since this was not the temple where the Dalai Lama preaches, a photograph of him sat in his place.

Also on this trip, I learned the art of bargaining. Now, I never really needed to bargain for what I bought, because everything seems so cheap for me. For example, I wanted to buy a Buddhist singing bowl which is used during meditation, and the seller wanted to charge me Rs. 650. Well that’s only $13 for us, so I was absolutely fine with that! But, of course, I knew that they were asking too much, so I managed to get him to give me the singing bowl and a Buddhist prayer wheel for only Rs. 600! After that, the shop owner asked me not to come back, because I always ended up taking money from him. Can you say, mission accomplished?

According to my host parents, I have made great progress learning Gujarati, which makes me very proud!! One of my favorites is beso (sit) which I am definitely going to use on my dog back home! Beso, Sandy! Also, the first Gujarati word I learned was challo, which means let’s go! Some helpful phrases are: ket la vagia (what time is it), taru nam su che (what is your name), ket la le so (how much is this), su che (what is it), su tayoo (what happened), and kem cho (how are you-formal). Keep in mind, what I’ve written is just the English pronunciation. There’s a whole other alphabet I’m trying to learn! My host family often speaks a mixture of English, Gujarati and Hindi so I can figure out what they’re saying. Another thing that helps is my interest in psychology and my acting training. Because even if I can’t understand what people are saying, I can watch their body language and facial expressions and know how they feel about what they’re talking about.

I’ve come to realize that nothing that I have done or seen has come as a shock to me. Maybe that is because of great preparation by RYE Florida, or by the mindset I was in when I arrived. Anytime I see something new, something that may have frightened me back in the US, I just think, this is India! And I also realized that the things I have come to accept as normal, e.g. seeing cows on my way to school, and the trash that lines the roads, are actually extremely abnormal where I’m from, I just don’t think twice when I see them because I’m used to it!

I have already learned some important things during my exchange. I wish I could share them with you; however, they are things that were important for me to learn about myself and the world, and each person must learn these things on their own. I hope that my experiences are interesting enough to get you interested in India and that you visit this wonderful country. I can already feel myself becoming wiser and more mature, and I really appreciate the opportunity I was given. For anyone reading this and considering applying for the rotary program, please do it. Even if you are afraid to leave your parents, or travel halfway across the world to a country you’ve never been to, to a place where you don’t understand a word that is being said, please, just do it. I’m not saying it will be easy. It hasn’t been for me, and I don’t know of any other exchange student who has found themselves in an environment in which they feel comfortable. But it will be an experience which will make you take a step back from the world and say, “How did I end up here?” Looking back, I could never imagine myself here, and yet, I absolutely love it.

December 30

Well, I have had an amazing few weeks! The first week of November was Diwali, the Hindu New Year. It is the biggest holiday of the year. We had off from school for three weeks! We celebrated Diwali by shooting off firecrackers, giving sweets and doing Rangoli (a design painted with sand outside the home).

I went with my host family to Rajasthan, the state north of Gujarat. It was an 8-hour drive to our resort town of Ajmer. Most places in Rajasthan don’t have many things to do so people stay at the resorts, go swimming, and relax. Ajmer, however, is home to one of the most holy Mosques in the world.

In mid-November, I switched to my second host family. My first host family was very wealthy, with a huge house and many cars. My new family lives in a two bedroom flat in an apartment building, with only one small car. I don’t mind the change, and frankly, this is a more typical Indian family. However, I wish I had a bit more privacy. Its okay, I’ve managed. It’s all about adjusting, right?!

My new family is from Kerala, a state in south India, and speaks Malayalam. Fortunately, they also speak English, although I am sad to have to rely on English after all the Gujarati I’ve learned. Even though I’ve only been with this family for a month, I feel like the relationship I had with my last family was a lot stronger. This is probably because they’ve hosted exchange students before, plus speak a mixture of Hindi, English and Gujarati on a regular basis, while this family speaks Malayalam at home. My host brother, Abhishek, has tried teaching me a few words of Malayalam.

Diwali vacation ended 21 November so we went back to school. This was a tough week for all exchange students since it was Thanksgiving and we were thinking about our families back home. But I was excited for our upcoming South India tour because I would finally get to hang out with the 13 other exchange students that are scattered across Gujarat, in 7 different cities.  (I am the only exchange student in Baroda.)

South India Tour – 1-17 December

My host parents took me to the Baroda train station where I met up with four other exchange students who live north of my town. The train ride to Mumbai was a lot of fun, especially because every hour we would have new additions to our group. The train ride to Cochin took forever; we departed Mumbai at 11:30 am and didn’t arrive in Cochin until 4 pm the next day. We enjoyed the train ride but were grimy and exhausted when we finally arrived at our hotel.

In Cochin we saw first church built on Keralan soil; it was established by the Portuguese. After that, we walked down to the water, and watched the fishermen use traditional Chinese Fishing Nets to catch fish to sell in the market. They even let us try! (Most of the exchange students loved this trip because there are many Christian and meat-eating Indians in the south and they could eat “Non-veg!”  Most of our Gujarati families don’t eat meat.)  We visited a palace where we ran into more exchange students! They were from RI District 3030, near Nagpur. And guess who I saw? Serenity! It was so good to see her, since I hadn’t seen her since our June orientation. I don’t think anyone paid much attention to the palace, we were so busy talking.  

Thekkady was my favorite city on the trip. The best activity was the elephant ride through a spice garden.   Our elephant was named Leschme, and she gave us a bath! We sat on her back while she stuck her trunk in a bucket of water and sprayed us over and over again! Later we hiked through a wildlife sanctuary. We had to wear these protective sock type things that went up to our knees so that the leeches wouldn’t get into our shoes. However, one leech managed to climb all the way up my leg and reach some bare skin where it latched on and sucked my blood! EEwww!

In Madurai we visited the famous and beautiful Meenakshi Temple. We were blessed by an elephant, which is believed to be the incarnate of Ganesh, the elephant headed god. Our next destination was Kanyakumari, the southernmost point of India.  We swam in the Indian Ocean and went to Land’s End Point, which is where the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea meet – very cool!

Our last stop was Goa where we spent a few days on the beach.  Goa is a popular tourist spot; lots of Indian tourists were taking pictures of the foreign tourists! We went parasailing, jet skiing and shopping. All too soon it was time to depart.  We boarded the train in Goa at 6 pm and arrived in Mumbai at 5 am. Then we had a train back to Gujarat.  Each hour more exchange students would leave until it was only the five of us left who were getting off in Baroda. It was sad to see everyone leave.  It was an amazing trip that I will never forget.

December 26

Christmas was a confusing time. At first, I was hardly homesick because it just didn’t feel like Christmas. There’s no break from school and the weather is still relatively warm. However, the calendar can never fool us. In the week before Christmas, phone calls and messages were being exchanged between the 14 exchange students, desperate to find a way to get together for Christmas. After numerous plans that fell through, we were forced to spend the holiday in smaller groups. I went back to my first host family’s house to spend the weekend. Since they have been hosting exchange students for the past thirty years, they have an artificial tree that they put up each year. Leo, who is from France and lives in a nearby village, joined us. We spent the afternoon setting up the tree, decorating the house, and baking. Some friends came over and we sat around the tree eating chocolate chip cookies and listening to Christmas carols. After dinner, we went to a movie.  It was a great day for me, because although it finally felt like Christmas, it was a new, exciting Christmas, and I was happy to experience it in a different way.

I woke up the next morning to my host sister, Ayan, who is 20, running into the room and screaming ‘Wake up! It’s Christmas!’  I fixed pancakes, then we opened presents, ate cookies and watched TV. Later that day, my host family had to go for a wedding (December/January is wedding season in India). That evening I showed Leo around Baroda. Today I returned back to my current host family’s house, and only now am I beginning to feel homesick. I keep thinking that the world has stopped while I’m on this adventure. It’s hard to believe that my family is 8,000 miles away, going about their own lives. One thing that shook me was seeing a photograph of my brother. He’s in the 7th grade and looks so grown up, since I haven’t seen him in 5 months. No doubt, if I was home, I would hardly notice the changes. I’m almost halfway through my exchange, and I keep looking to the future. I know there will be bad times ahead, but there will also be good. I just have to focus on those pluses instead of dreading the minuses.

March 15

Has it really been three months since I last wrote? I guess so. Its hard to believe because time has been moving so fast it feels like just yesterday I was writing to you about my South India tour and Christmas. And yet, at the same time, it feels like ages ago. Especially because now even my North tour has ended, and my exchange is coming to a close! Well not quite, but I do only have a few months left. Here’s an update on the present, then I’ll let you know what I’ve been up to in the past three months! I’ve just returned home from one of the greatest experiences of my life- our North India tour. In less than two weeks my family is coming and we’ll be spending some time traveling across India. School is coming to a close here, because its almost summer! All of my friends are studying hard for their exams, and soon they’ll be traveling with their parents. India gets so hot during the summer months (March, April and May) that many Indians leave India, or they spend all summer cooped up in their homes. The usual temperature is around 45 degrees Celsius or 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Quite a change from my friends who are freezing up in Europe!

Back to the past—When I last wrote, I had just had a very different Christmas celebration. New Years was the same way. We did not watch the ball drop in New York City on TV, instead, I went back to my first host family’s house and had a party with my host sisters and their friends! It was nice to be back there and hang out with my old friends, but we didn’t do anything special. Just dancing to Hindi music and eating delicious food. However, two days later I was back with the exchange students, who had quickly become my best friends. We all had to take the train down to Surat, which is a city of about 3 million people two hours south of Baroda, my town. We spent about 5 days there rehearsing for our annual Rotary district conference. All of the exchange students were required to perform, so we decided to do two group dances that were choreographed by a local dance studio. We did a relatively traditional dance to a song called Pee Loon from the movie Once Upon A Time In Mumbai and a mix of I Hate Luv Stories from the movie, I Hate Luv Stories and Zor Ka Jhatka from the retro Hindi movie, Action Replayy. Have I mentioned that almost all Hindi movies have songs and dances in them? For me, it makes movies much more interesting. However, they all end up being at least three hours long! We also had to sing Jana Gana Mana, the national anthem, in front of hundreds of Rotarians, while sweltering in the head because of our Rotary blazers. Still, despite exhausting daily rehearsals, we had a great time hanging out. And after many days of rehearsal, we all took the hour and a half drive up to the small town of Bharuch, where the district conference was being held. It was a three day event, featuring one of our performances each day, along with many other speakers and activities. We also had the interesting opportunities to meet the GSE teams from Germany, New Zealand, France and Korea.

When I returned back to Vadodara from Bharuch, an interesting change was in the midst. My current host family was taking their youngest son, Abhishek to Kerala for his first time to the temple, meaning I would have to switch host families, seeing as women were not allowed in the temple. That evening, I moved in with the Vakils’. My host parents are currently Tushar and Dipti, and my two host brothers are Aniket (13) and Yashu (10). One thing that’s really interesting about this family is that they lived in the US for 17 years before coming back to India. And, 14 out of those 17 years they spent in Miami! This had made them very western. As in, they sometimes eat grilled cheese sandwiches, and they watch the NBA whenever it comes on Indian TV. My host brothers are so loyal to American sports that they woke up at 4 am on the day of the Superbowl just to watch it! Of course, I woke up with them, and since we couldn’t watch it on TV or stream it online, we skyped with my family and they pointed the webcam at the TV. Pretty neat system, huh? It worked out surprisingly well, too. We live in a flat on the first floor of an apartment building, which I like better than any of my previous homes. My first was too large, and my second was too small. This is just right! It gives me a feeling of actually being a part of the family, and I get along so well with everyone here. After a few days of living here, we had a nice surprise. My host brothers’ cousin, Monica, who lives in Ft. Lauderdale was coming to stay with us for a few weeks. She was really nice, and it was great to hang out with her, but for a while I felt like I wasn’t in India. It was nice to return back to the regular culture and routine when she left. While Monica was visiting, my favorite festival happened. Let me clarify, my favorite festival so far! Uttarayan.

Uttarayan is the annual kite festival, which happens during January, when the winds are strongest. But even weeks before that, people begin to practice their kite flying. And on that one day, which this year happened to be January 15th, everyone gets together on the roofs’ of their homes and flies kites! Now this is no ordinary kite flying festival. Its much more of a kite competition. Each family buys 40 or so kites, and the goal is to cut other people’s kites. Let me explain. The string used to fly the kites is made out of Chinese glass, making it extremely dangerous. When two kites get close to each other, whichever person pulls hardest on their string cuts the other persons kite! The goal, of course, is to keep your kite in the air longest. Although the competition is tough, it’s a fun tradition and a great festival, which I really enjoyed. However, apparently Holi is the best, but I have yet to experience it! Nevertheless, I enjoyed spending all day up on my host father’s parent’s rooftop flying kites with my host family. During the weekend of Uttarayan, a few of my friends came to Baroda as well. Margaux, Leo and Oona all came and we spent a lot of time together just hanging out. The next few weeks were kind of slow for me. I spent a lot of time getting to know my family, working on Florida Virtual School and taking day trips to Bharuch and Surat to visit my friends. February 7th was an especially fun trip to Bharuch, because it was Mary’s birthday! Mary, who is from Chicago, is one of my best friends here, and on her birthday many of us went to hang out with her in Bharuch for the day. We had a party with some of her Indian friends and just enjoyed each other’s company.

I’m not sure if I’ve had the chance to express my love for the Indian railway. Maybe I’m just a small town girl who hasn’t had the opportunity to take the train that much in the US, but I find that taking the train here is so much fun! Who knows if it’s the idea of public transportation, which is a rarity in the US, or if it’s the feeling of independence I get when I buy my ticket, get on the train, and make it all the way to another city in a completely different language. Either way, I’ve come to love taking the train. Whether its just a one hour ride to another city, or if it’s a 36 hour ride all the way down to South India.

The final experience from the past few months that I would like to share with you is my North India tour. Man, what an amazing trip. I constantly compare it to the South India tour and try and determine which is better, but I think that it is an impossible feat. They’re just too different, and yet both were so amazing at the same time. We started out on the train on February 19th, stopping in Surat, Baroda and Ahmedabad to pick up all of the students. We directly went to Jodhpur, the second largest city in Rajasthan, also known as the blue city, due to the blue painted houses around the city fort. We did not stop in Jodhpur though, we drove west into the desert to a small city named Jaisalmer. In Jaisalmer, we visited the city fort, and two different Havelis, which are buildings with beautiful carvings. We also spent a lot of time visiting traditional Rajasthani shops. I think that the most common purchase among all the exchange students were Rajasthani turbans! The next afternoon, we took a short drive to the ‘Sam Sand Dunes’ in the Thar desert. These sand dunes are the beginning of the desert that extends into Pakistan. We took a camel ride from our tents in the desert to the dunes where we sat and watched the sunset. Not only did we get to ride the camels though, we also got to race them! I came in second! After the sunset concluded, we went back to the resort and watched some Indian dances at our resort.

The next morning, we returned to Jodhpur and toured around the blue city. There, we visited the fort and the city palace. And of course, we did more shopping! One thing that we realized about these Rajasthani cities is that they’re very alike, and after seeing a few forts and a few palaces, we got a bit tired of Rajasthan! After Jodhpur, we headed to Jaipur, the largest city and capital of Rajasthan, also known as the pink city. The Amer Fort in Jaipur was more interesting than the fort in Jodhpur, especially because they were offering elephant rides up from the city! We also visited the water palace, a science and astronomical museum, and a few palaces. After Jaipur, we headed to Agra, the home of the world famous Taj Mahal. The afternoon we arrived, we visited the Agra Fort, which was much larger than the other forts we had been too, but not any more interesting. The only exciting part was seeing a glimpse of the Taj from the outer gates. The next morning, we woke up extremely early to beat the lines to the Taj Mahal, and to see it at sunrise. Of course, with out luck, it was raining and the sun was no where to be seen. Nonetheless, the Taj Mahal is still as spectacular as it is in pictures, and yet no one could believe we were actually there. We had been waiting our entire exchanges’ for this moment and it had actually arrived. That afternoon, we proceeded to Delhi. By train, Agra is two hours from Delhi. By car, its anywhere from 5 to 10, depending on the traffic. By the time we reached our hotel, it was already time for dinner. We then took the subway to one of the only KFC’s in India, although Oona and I ( the two vegetarians ) ended up finding a delicious café where we actually found real lettuce, and real parmesan cheese. We were extremely happy. That night we did more shopping and then returned to the hotel and relaxed before turning in early because of our busy day of sightseeing the next day. In the morning, we quickly ate breakfast then boarded our bus to take us around Delhi.

We visited the India Gate, a famous war memorial honoring Indian soldiers who fell during WWI. Then we went to Qutab Minar, a monument built by the Mughals when they occupied India. Next, we stopped at the Red Fort, which unfortunately turned out to be just another fort- only with a longer wait in line. After the Red Fort, we visited the most exciting place of the day. The Baha’I House of Worship- The Lotus Temple. I’ll give you a bit of background on the Baha’I faith because I’m sure many of you don’t know what it is. In fact, I hadn’t even heard of it until I went to this temple! The Bahá’í Faith is the youngest of the world’s independent religions. Its founder, Bahá’u’lláh (1817-1892), is regarded by Bahá’ís as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad. The central theme of Bahá’u’lláh’s message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society. God, Bahá’u’lláh said, has set in motion historical forces that are breaking down traditional barriers of race, class, creed, and nation and that will, in time, give birth to a universal civilization. The principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth is to accept the fact of their oneness and to assist the processes of unification. I find this religion to be extremely interesting and going to the Baha’I House of Worship in Delhi was an amazing experience. There are 7 Baha’I Houses of Worship all over the world, at least one on each continent, and all are 9 sided, because the number 9 is sacred and represents unity. The one in New Delhi is shaped like a lotus because the lotus is an important religious symbol for many religions in India. It also has 9 pools of water surrounding the temple which acts as a cooling system in the hot Indian summer. The interior of the building is quite simple, just one large room that is open to prayer and meditation for anyone of any faith. After a memorable experience at the Lotus Temple we did some more shopping before heading over to the train station to catch our train to Dharamshala.

I’ve mentioned our terrible luck before, correct? Well we ended up missing our train, having to wait for two hours in the Delhi train station and then getting on our train at 10 pm, having to sit in the second class sleeper car because there were no ac sleeper seats available. There weren’t enough seats for everyone, so we had to double, triple and quadruple up. And the whole entire time, there were creepy guys watching us. Needless to say, I don’t think anyone got more than an hour or two of sleep that night, if any at all. I don’t think I’ve mentioned the card game, ‘President’ yet. It’s our favorite pass time. Anytime all of us are together, or even just a few of us, we always play president. It has become tradition, and we’ve started playing at least one round everywhere we go- Taj Mahal, Qutab Minar, the Thar Desert, and even at the top of the mountain! Its just one of the things that makes us ‘us’ and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to play president again without thinking of India. Oh, and the night we missed our train in Delhi? We sat on the dirty floor of the train station for two hours and played president with at least 30 Indians standing in a circle around us watching. So by the time we arrived at the Dharamshala train station at 6 am, everyone was exhausted, but extremely impressed with the beauty of the mountains that were spread before us. The entire two hour bus ride up to McLeod Ganj, in between naps, we were all staring out the windows at the snow covered peaks. The weather was a nice change, as well. We had gone from a hot and dry climate in the desert to a cool crisp breeze that blew off the mountains. We ended up staying in Naddi, the village on top of the mountain, where I had stayed back in October with my host family. Our time in Dharamshala was very relaxing. We were free to go as we pleased as long as we stayed in town, to go shopping or drink hot Tibetan butter tea in a coffee shop, or eat Tibetan momos, which are like Chinese dumplings. We did lots of shopping and lots of bargaining, and lots of hiking. We hiked so many times from Naddi to McLeodganj, that we managed to make it from 45 minutes to 30 minutes! The next day, we visited the Dalai Lama’s temple and spent more time walking around McLeod Ganj. We also met a lot of foreigners in Dharamshala. There was one man named ‘Coach’ who is from Cinncinatti but moved to Dharamshala and is now teaching English to a Tibetan refugee named Gyeltsen. We met Gyeltsen and learned that he had trekked across the Himalayas from Tibet into Nepal when he was just 17 years old. He went during October with only four other companions and it took them 25 days. Our goal for Dharamshala was to trek up the mountain and make it to the snow line, and Gyeltsen agreed to take us.

So the next day the seven of us, including me, who were feeling up to it met Gyeltsen in the village and then headed up the mountain. It was tough work, especially because we were all pretty out of shape, thanks to the lack of exercise we get here in India. Nonetheless, we made it up the mountain in about 4 hours. When we reached the snow, everyone was ecstatic, even me, who comes from a place where snow is quite rare. We didn’t stop there though, we continued up all the way to the summit! When we reached the half-way point, it started raining because we hadn’t yet reached a high enough altitude for it to snow. As we continued up though, the rain turned into snow and the snow turned into a giant blizzard! By the time we reached the top everyone was soaked and freezing, and luckily we found a little shack where some nice Indian men sold us Chai and Maggi- which is like Indian Ramen noodles. There was also a fire there, which warmed us up a bit, but not moving made us more cold than anything, so we decided to head back down after about an hour of sitting there, also because we needed to make it back down before it got dark. We also had seven or eight dogs from the village accompany us, which was a nice surprise. We took to naming them, there was Everest, Poser, Ears, Buster, Himalaya, Honcho, Ginger, Spots, and a few others. I think Poser was everyone’s favorite, because any time we took a short break, he would immediately take a seat and look out at the view, like he was posing for a picture. Coming down the mountain was shorter, it took about 3 ½ hours. By the time we got down, we all felt extremely accomplished. I mean, we had climbed one of the Himalayan mountains! How many people can say that? We found out later that the mountain we climbed was the Triund – Ilaqua, in the Dhauladhar range, one of the outer ranges of the Himalayas.

We got back to our hotel and were ready for a hot shower. Unfortunately, our hotel didn’t have hot water! That night we watched the Oscars in our hotel room, which was being repeated after a 3 am live broadcast, and we packed our bags for our departure in the morning. Everyone was extremely sad to leave Dharamshala the next day, and for our North tour to be over. It was the last time we were going to be all together again, because some of the students start leaving about a month later. Even so, we were still missing two girls whose parents were visiting at that time so they couldn’t come. This trip was still one of the most amazing of my life and I will treasure those memories forever. Its sad to know that we’re nearing the end, and also to know that the people I’ve met on this journey and the experiences I’ve had will stay with me forever, and yet I have to return to ‘reality’.

Shekirah’s Bio

Hi! My name is Shekirah Rolle. I am a sixteen year old senior at Sunland Baptist Academy and I am from Grand Bahama, Bahamas. My country has a population estimated at 307,451. For an entire country, that is awfully small isn’t it?

I live with both my parents and my younger sister. I go to school five days a week and participate in regular extracurricular activities; I guess you could say that I keep busy. But I’m not complaining. I love all of the things that I am involved in, from softball which I did last year, to my school’s musical productions right down to the Governor General’s Youth Award (GGYA) and volunteer work.

I love to help others, and while I am an outgoing person I do like to keep to myself. I love to read, I think books are the gateway to the world. You can experience so many different places and cultures all within the pages between two hard or soft covers. I also have a need for adventure. While I do spend a lot of my time inside, I love the outdoors. The beach is one of my favourite places on the island. I like to be involved, in school and out of it.

I chose to become a Rotary Exchange Student because I have always been interested in foreign languages and cultures. I understand that this is the experience of a lifetime, not one that many people get the opportunity to undertake and I am grateful for it. I look forward to the best year of my life in Brazil and to a new and better me!

Live, Love, Laugh – life is too short to waste time.

 Shekirah’s Journals

September 2

This isn’t goodbye, just “see you later”; this isn’t the end but a new beginning.

I don’t really know how to start this journal. When I think of RYE I think….why are people crazy enough to do this? And furthermore, why are there parents out there who are crazy enough to let their kids do this? All these feelings, however, disappear when I look through my photos of Brazil, and through the other exchange student’s photos. I take comfort in the fact that if I’m crazy, there are at least another seventy kids in Florida who are the same way.

When I left Freeport, Grand Bahama on Saturday August 7th, 2010 I didn’t cry. I wasn’t sad. I was more anxious, worried, skeptical, but most of all excited. There was a new life awaiting me just a couple of thousand miles away. I made my first stop in Miami Int’l and almost got lost (that airport is huge!). Next stop: Rio de Janeiro! On this plane I had many thoughts and concocted many schemes of how I could get kicked off the plane and go back home. Here, once again I had to remind myself that other kids have already been through this and I can do it too. All of this pep talk was rewarded with bright smiles, open arms, and excited if non-English speaking families-to-be and friends.

My first day in Brazil I took a shower in cold water, which doesn’t sound so bad unless you take into account the fact that it was maybe 12 degrees Celsius. Then I went to my first Churrasco (Barbeque). It was very nice! The types of food, oh my gosh, I ate chicken heart, yes chicken heart. And it was good! Haha. There was baked cheese and steak and lots of other things to try. In Brazil they don’t drink many varieties of sodas, basically coke and Guarana which is made from a fruit of the same name. It’s awesome!

My school here is really different from what I’m used to. The uniform is like slacks and a tshirt with the school name on it, and whatever shoes I want to wear. You can wear any kind of jewelry, bring ipods and cell phones. And the teachers are so cool! It’s easy to develop a very good relationship with your teachers because they are very easy to talk to, friendly and always willing to help; even if they can barely understand you and vice versa.

It’s been three weeks since I arrived in Brazil. I’ve been to two parties, a soccer game, a parade, RYE orientation, started Portuguese classes and school, been to the mall oh and of course taken the bus and gotten lost! I was coming home from the mall one day with one of the Mexican exchange students, we took the omnibus (big red bus that travels throughout the city) to the closest station to us and we were supposed to walk to her house which isn’t very far away. But it was night, and we got lost looking for her house. So we decided to go to my house, I was pretty sure I could find it even in the dark. It is about a thirty minute walk from the bust stop. It was an experience to remember. The entire time we were just laughing about it, because it was either laugh or cry. We passed hookers on the street, had random guys drive past and shout at us, tripped and got scared out of our pants by house dogs. Needless to say, my host parents were extremely worried, but we made it home okay if not a little tired and out of breath.

One of the things that really stuck out with me was the day that the son of my Rotary Club President came back from his exchange in Australia. He was due to arrive at about 11 p.m. and we all went to the airport to greet him. And I mean everybody! Not only did it seem like the entire Rotary Club was there but so were their families. Wives and children and friends, they were all there. And with signs, balloons, whistles, cameras and everything! I felt so bad for the cleanup personnel after we left. But the feeling there, it’s indescribable but I will try.  The love, it was buzzing through the room, you felt that everyone there was connected in some form or fashion. It felt like family, the things that you value most in the people that you love the most all together in about 30 – 40 persons. Like I said it’s indescribable. And to think that ALL of these people came to welcome just ONE person back to the country. They stood at the exit screaming “Oooooh O Bernardo chegou, o Bernardo chegou, o Bernardo chegouuuuuuuuuu!” It means “ooh Bernardo arrived”, Bernardo being the exchange student. It was a feeling I will never forget.

All in all I am really enjoying Brazil. The people are friendly, the other exchange students are awesome, and the city is so lively and beautiful. There never has to be a dull moment. I’d just like to say thanks again to Rotary for this once in a lifetime opportunity, I really don’t think there is ever anything I could do to make them fully understand how I feel and how grateful I am, but I will do my best!

Beijos e Abraços

October 17

I’ve spent 89 days in Curitiba, Brazil so far and I must say my biggest problem is the language. I want to go out and to enjoy the city life like a native Brazilian, but it’s impossible when you don’t always understand what everyone is saying. I want to ride the bus and not have people look at me funny because I speak English. Oh of course I can hold a conversation in Portuguese, I know enough to get what I need when I need it even if it takes a little longer than it would in English. But it’s not the same. Some days I feel like my Portuguese is getting so much better; other days I wonder if I’m learning anything at all. I love Brazil and I like Portuguese, but that doesn’t always make it any easier.

Sometimes being an exchange student is exhausting. Everybody wants your time and attention, and there is only so much of you to go around. Everybody thinks you’re so cool and so brave for doing exchange, they don’t know that some days you just want to be away from everyone, spend the day in your room reminiscing, reading a book, listening to music, watching TV, sleeping or whatever else you can do by yourself. If I had the chance, would I decide not to do exchange? NO WAY. There are downs definitely but there are ups as well. Sure it gets depressing and frustrating, sure you’re gaining a whole lot of weight, sure you miss home but doing exchange is about knowing all of this and STILL wanting to stay because it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. To live in a different country, learn a new language and culture, make friends with people from all over the world and experience something different every day.

This past weekend I went to Sao Paulo with two other exchange students and a host family. We drove there from my city, which took about five hours give or take. We arrived pretty late at night and had to get up very early the next day to take the train (my first time on a train) and then the metro into the city. I can honestly say that I have NEVER in my entire life seen so many people in ONE place. After getting out of the station I could only stare in awe at what looked like thousands of people going about their everyday lives. It was amazing! There was lots of shopping to be done. And after that day I was VERY tired. In Sao Paulo I visited a park, a mall and probably gained two pounds haha. It was an awesome trip and I was a little sad to be returning home.

A few weeks ago, I went to a theme park in Santa Catarina (the state above mine: Parana) with another exchange student and her family and my Rotary Club president and his family. It rained ALL day, but this didn’t stop us (or any of the other people) from having fun. We bought those raincoat caps and went on like the sun was shining. I thought it was very interesting because at home the park would have been closed, but here it seemed just as fun to ride a rollercoaster with the wind and rain slapping you in your face as to ride it with the sun shining. That night there was a monster show on a little island in the theme park where you entered into a cave and monsters jumped out from behind things in the dark and you couldn’t see. Sounds scary? Ha, you can’t imagine. I had a lot of fun.

My days in Curitiba are becoming almost normal. I still can’t believe I’m about to make three months here in two weeks. I don’t know where the time has gone. All I can do is try to improve my Portuguese and enjoy the time I have left. And this I intend to.

December 5

Life is a journey, and when it’s over it won’t matter who you were when you died but the things you did while you were alive.

I changed families about five weeks ago. It was a Friday and I was really, REALLY nervous. What’s my new family going to be like? Will they like me? Will I like them? What about where I live, will I have to take any new buses? Will it be far away from the city? I obsessed about these things all day until I just told myself that it doesn’t make any sense, because worrying won’t change anything. Luckily enough, my new family is AWESOME! I have two parents, a brother and a sister who are both older than me. I couldn’t be happier. I have Wi-Fi now (not that I’m spending all my time on the computer) but that’s not even the best part. My family is just…. they’re just the best. They are easy to talk to, completely understanding when I get frustrated and my Portuguese starts sounding like Chinese or when I don’t understand them, they make me feel so welcome and comfortable here, almost like my family at home. Don’t let anyone fool you, yes you should hang out with the other exchange students, yes you should make friends native to your host country but your host family can make or break your exchange, and mine is definitely making it! 🙂

The past few weeks have just been a blur. I can’t believe it is December already! Christmas is only twenty days away. It feels like I’ve been in Brazil forever and for just a few weeks all at the same time. I try not to think about Christmas too often, I don’t want to imagine what it’s going to be like without my family in the Bahamas, without our usual traditions, without the cold (but then again I’m living in Curitiba it’s quite possible it might be cold even though it’s summer). All of my friends who have gone to college are coming back, everyone keeps saying “you’re coming home for Christmas right?” or “I’ll see you on Christmas break” and I have to remind them that no, I won’t be coming home and no you won’t be seeing me unless it’s by webcam. Imagining all the parties that will be going on that I won’t be a part of, and as if to make it all a personal torture, every event will undoubtedly be posted on Facebook. Like I said, I prefer not to think about it. But at the same time, I’m thinking about how little time I have left (about 6 or 7 months and yes I did say little) and it makes me so sad, to think about all the things I will be leaving here, the friendships I have already made and will make. It’s the same emotion, sadness, but two different causes are warring for claim. I find it quite funny sometimes.

Last week Monday was my last day of school and my homeroom threw a party for me. They all brought food and drinks, dessert and my Geography teacher brought chocolate. We all had a good day. I thought it was really nice of them to do that, we took pictures and everything. All the teachers hugged me and said goodbye (in Portuguese of course). Then they all signed this paper, kind of like singing your shirt and the end of the school year. It was really sweet. It wasn’t always the best time in school, sometimes the kids were so into their work they didn’t have any time for me. Some days I just sat there, trying to understand what everyone was saying, staring into space, listening to music (yes Brazilian music too) and waiting for the day to end. But at the end of it, they were all really cool and I did learn a lot from being there.

I went to my first fifteenth birthday party about two weeks ago. It was really cool. There were these imitation alcoholic drinks (imitation because the drinking age is 18 and of course I wouldn’t have been able to drink it otherwise 🙂 }, lot’s of food and sweets and a wide open space for lot’s and lot’s of dancing. Did I mention there was a chocolate fountain? Okay there were TWO chocolate fountains, regular chocolate and white chocolate. Now let me tell you something, Brazilian music is good, some genres anyway but the stuff that they were playing in the beginning was just horrible. It was this pop techno funk kind of thing and you COULD NOT dance to it, but somehow the Brazilian girls managed to do it I don’t know how. Towards the end of the party, that is about 11:30 p.m. / midnight they started to put on the good music. And of course, no party is complete without “follow the leader”! We got home a little after 2:00 a.m. which was early (apparently), too bad we had a Rotary ecological project the next morning. The party was hosted in one of the rooms of the largest restaurant in the world. Yes people, the largest restaurant in the world in is Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil and it can hold about two thousand people. I’ve been there twice.

Last week, our district (4730) held a really big dinner for all the exchange students, former, present, and future. We all had to wear out district shirt and the blazer (Did you know that Canada and Switzerland have red ones?). All parents and Rotarians were invited as well, and it was a good time to get to know the future outbounds and the rebounds and Rotex better.

Rotary Youth Exchange has afforded me so many opportunities. To meet other people, whether they are other exchange students from outside my district or native Brazilians, to experience a new culture, to get to know other places than just Curitiba; I couldn’t be any more grateful to them for what they are allowing me to accomplish and experience. From horseback riding to visiting one of the largest cities in the world to learning a new language, not everyone gets an experience like mine and I am determined to enjoy it to the best of my ability. When my dad (Bahamas) makes fun of me because I get confused when I skype him and can’t remember enough of the English language to properly express myself, when I can start a conversation in English and someone simply says the name of a place in Brazil and I switch to Portuguese without even realizing that I’m speaking a different language, that’s when I know that all the ups and downs are worth it.

  January 11

 School has been closed for a little over a month now and time is just flying by. I’m officially out of the loop back home, I come on Facebook and everyone is singing a new song that of course I don’t know, parties are going on, people are coming and going and I have no idea what’s happening. And to be honest I don’t really have a problem with that. I have favourite Brazilian singers, I know about politics here, I can give directions in Portuguese. Life is going on at home without me, but it’s alright, because life is going on here too, with me, and it’s absolutely amazing.

The last few weeks have been full of firsts. My first Christmas away from my family and friends, first New Years in a different country, first time confidently giving directions in Portuguese, first conversation with a four year old; lot’s of new frontiers just waiting for me to confuse myself.

Let’s start with Christmas. I spent Christmas with my family here in my city. The WHOLE family. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and their boyfriends, everybody, and it was crazy. There was a lot of noise, kids running up and down, TV, conversations going on. And then there was the food. Oh my gosh, there was SO much food, they had this kind of vegetable rice thing that I really liked, white rice, turkey, some other kind of meat similar to turkey, vegetables, sausage, pork chops, pig meat and the lists goes on and on. Then for dessert, there was cake, and ice cream with multiple toppings and Hershey’s chocolate sauce. Can you say YUM?! Here Christmas is celebrated on the 24th of December, which is when the dinner was. The whole family did Secret Santa, which was really interesting in Portuguese because you had to guess who the person was (my gift was really nice) and then we went home and opened presents. It was different for me because of course we do all of this on the 25th and there was no ham which made me sad but all in all it was a lot better than I expected and there was so much happening I didn’t have time to be sad or miss my family too much.

I spent New Years 2011 on one of the beaches in my state. I stayed with my extended family in a beach house for about a week. It was very nice to go back to the beach, walk in the sand, get some sun (because Curitiba, my city, and the sun apparently are not very good friends), and just be away from the city for a while. On New Year’s Eve at about twenty minutes to midnight my family and everyone else in the city walked to the beach to watch the most spectacular fireworks show I have ever seen in my life. It was SO beautiful, I cried. I mean I cried because I missed my family but I was so happy, to think that I had to chance to pass this holiday in not only a different country but a different hemisphere. It was incredible. During this trip I had a conversation with my four year old cousin. Now this kid is the most hilarious, sensible, gentleman-like kid you will ever meet. He talked to me for about five minutes about this particular dragon movie and I understood maybe 20% of what he said. We were all sitting at the table outside and the kid says that someone “passed gas” and asks if it was me. Now I was not familiar with the word for “passing gas” in Portuguese so I said I didn’t understand and everyone starts laughing because nobody knows how to explain it. About a minute later I got it though and clarified that no, I did not “pass gas”. It made me laugh to think that I could be having a simple conversation with a four year old and not understand him; it also shows that I still have a long way to go.

Back to Curitiba!

The beach was nice but I was happy to be back in the city after that week. As the days went pass I realized just how much I was learning. I noticed that I can now watch TV in Portuguese and understand almost everything. I can watch movies; I even have a favourite Brazilian soap.  The other day I was trying to translate something from English to Portuguese and I thought of the translation and then put the English version in an internet translator and got the same thing that I thought of. I was so proud of myself.

An American exchange student and I often make fun of how we seem to be forgetting English. We make a game of trying to remember certain Portuguese words in English or trying to find the proper translation or if there actually is a translation (because there are a lot more words in Portuguese than in English). We often find that we sound like four year olds, or people whose native language is not English. A few days ago I met an exchange student from Canada who was spending some time in my city and after a few minutes of talking with him he asked me where I was from, and if I was sure English is my first language. I didn’t know whether to be happy or insulted! Now I’m just trying to manage both languages, after all that’s what being bilingual is all about isn’t it? 🙂

Tomorrow I will start one of probably the most awesome trips I will ever take in my life. Thirty days, with the other exchange students visiting Northeast Brazil. I will be sure to take lots of photos! Until next time 🙂

April 7

On January 12th, 2011 I embarked on one of the greatest adventures of my life to date. I began the journey from my city in Brazil to travel the Northeast. This trip lasted for thirty days, passing through some fifteen cities including the capital city Brasilia and two of the most populated cities in Brazil Salvador and Rio de Janeiro (I live in the city with the fourth largest population, Curitiba, with more than two million people). There is no possible way to express worthily how much fun I had but I’ll do my best!

I left Curitiba from the bus station sometime in the afternoon on January 12th, 2011. It was rainy and some almost twenty other exchangers from my district were there to get on the bus with me. In total this trip would consist of some forty exchangers from some thirteen different countries. As you can will probably imagine, our bus was big (double decker, air conditioned, fully furnished with a sound system, DVD and CD player, blankets, mini pillows, foot rests, freezer, coffee machine and a bathroom). We set out for Sao Paolo, where we just spent the night and then moved on to our first official stop, the capital city Brasilia. Here we visited various political places and a church where we walked the labrynth and found ourselves at peace. When I got there I just remember thinking “wow, this place is very…organized”. It was completely planned out, the city structure, the roads, it reminded me of a rut, of people in one of those commercials where they show the same day happening over and over again every day of your life. It was nice though. We only spent a day here.

The next stop on our journey was the city of Lençóis. Lençóis was one of my favourite cities, here we slid down a natural water fall, (it was lots of fun but the rocks do hurt your butt) trekked up a mountain to have one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen, and went swimming in this remote river, were we jumped from about 2 or 3 stories high. The actual city was so cute and quaint; it seemed like a little city that should be a hidden treasure somewhere in Europe. Here we also had a Capoeira class (this is kind of like Brazilian martial arts in the form of dance, the history is that the Brazilian ancestors who were brought here were not allowed to practice self defense but they did it anyway and disguised it as a dance) and a body painting session that I didn’t go too. Lençóis was a fun city, but it was a very stressful time. Simply because the layout of the city was lots of up and downhill, therefore something as simple as a five minute walk to the town center was a hike, and in the Northeast sun that wasn’t easy.

Our next stop was Salvador. I remember this city in particular because it is one of the largest cities in Brazil (only following Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro) and it was where I reconnected with two friends: Gabriel Abade, a Brazilian who did exchange in my city last year and Alejandra Garcia-Narvaez a fellow exchanger. I’ll be honest, I cried when I saw both of them. The thing about being the only exchanger from the Bahamas is that there will never be the possibility of seeing someone else from my country, because it’s only me. So you can imagine, that seeing another exchanger from Florida and an old friend was the closest I would get, and more than good enough for me! In Salvador we visited a market, where we were interviewed by a local newspaper researcher, met a couple from the U.S. who were on vacation and had an exchange dance party (with exchangers from the other district that was staying in the same hotel as us). Gabriel accompanied us on one of our adventures, to a beach not too far off of the coast of Salvador (where the water is A LOT more saltier than mine) and the party :).

The rest of the trip continued this way, moving on from city to city, different experiences, and extremely interesting bus rides. You can only imagine what it must have been like to be with an odd 40 or more exchangers in one bus for hours at a time. Sometimes our bus rides took us all day, to get from one city to another, sometimes two (of course with us spending the night in the hotels). There were many nights without sleep, many grumpy mornings, lots of jacking food from the breakfast buffet, some fights, misunderstanding and anything else you can possibly think of that would happen among so many teenagers. We watched movies on the bus, blasted music and had a theme song for our trip, learned how to dance to typical Brazilian songs and had dance marathons in the bus (yes we did that and recorded it too). It was a wild adventure. Some of my favourite cities were Jericoacoara, (to date the second best city of the whole trip only to be topped by Rio de Janeiro) where we got to ride SAND DUNES in BUGGIES. “Luiza 16” It was one of the most wonderful experiences. Then city was ever cuter than Lençóis! I don’t know how to describe it; everything was so close and in tune with itself. Jericoacoara was an awesome city! Another one of my favorites was Itacaré, for more or less the same reason of quaintness and being in tune with itself. Not to mention the nicest beach that I have seen here so far, it even reminded me of home.

I made unforgettable friends from various cities in Brazil, as well as memories that will most certainly last a lifetime. Anyone who has ever asked me about the trip will tell you, that I said and still say it was the best thirty days of my life hands down.

Sarah S’s Bio

Hi. I’m Sarah and I’m 15 years old. I’m from Florida! I love the sunny weather but Rotary is sending me to an opposite location: Austria! So I’m hoping for a great experience and that cold weather.

I attend Pompano Beach High School, go Tornadoes! I’m half Brazilian and half Polish technically because that’s what my parents are but I was just born in Florida. I speak fluent Portuguese and I have been visiting Brazil every summer since I can remember, sometimes even go for Christmas or for a special occasion. I have family and friends scattered throughout the world. I’ve traveled to Costa Rica, Brazil and various states in the United States.

I enjoy hanging out with my friends at the beach and movies mainly. I like to longboard, go to the mall, hang out with my friends, go to church or sleep in my free time. A little thing I do is throw bonfires. I love it because I get to make s’mores and eat hot dogs. I like the traditional/original style so it’s an in-ground fire pit with surrounding wooden logs.

I have an interest in many subjects in life such as languages. I speak English, Portuguese and French. However, my French isn’t the best. I understand Spanish and Italian perfectly. One of my options to be when I grow up is an interpreter. I like to write too, which leads me to my second option: a journalist. And my last interest is the human mind leading to psychology!

I am most definitely ready for Austria. I want that once in a lifetime, unbelievable, experience. And to learn another language. Thank you so much, Rotary, for this opportunity!

 Sarah S’s Journals

September 5

Okay, so I’m in Austria! My host family greeted me with a big poster that said “Welcome Sarah” and some sunflowers, it was cute I liked it very much. It’s very green and fresh here, it was chilly when i arrived.

So far there has been a few days of sunshine but mostly it lightly rains, it’s cloudy, and cold. For Floridians, everyone would be in boots and jackets but I’m getting used to it! I spent one night with my family before I had to go to language camp in a very small town called Altmunster. We had classes Monday-Saturday 8am-3pm with an hour lunch break at noon for two weeks. And on Sunday we visited the world’s oldest salt mine. We also went on two hikes that made me feel like I was in fat camp. To Austrians, the hike is considered short but none of the teenagers at the camp thought so! Neither did I… The view from both hikes, though, was gorgeous. I made a lot of friends at the language camp and I even met a few kids from the town and we got to be friends too. In Altmusnter, there wasn’t much to do. When class was over everyone would usually walk to town, swim at the big lake that there was, go to cafe’s or bakeries and eat. We ate very much at the camp, the food was delicious. We had traditional Austrian dishes and sometimes we would have things like pizza. On the last night at the camp, we had a talent show. I didn’t participate but many of the kids did and it was a lot of fun. I was amazed at how much talent wwas around. By the way, there were 63 inbounds at this camp. Our teachers were: Doris, Vikki (not sure if I spelled her name right), Martina, Daniel and Ingrid. Doris was a big hit, she could speak Spanish, Portuguese, English, German, and French, as far as we knew. Everyone called her Dory from Finding Nemo and she would do the whale talk, it was hilarious. Ingrid was my teacher.

My host dad and little sister, Herbert and Hannah picked me up on Sunday from the camp after two weeks. I learned a lot of German compared to the little I knew before. My family was impressed. I got to explore my town, it’s very small with 5000 inhabitants. I had a friend over already. Oh and the night I arrived in Kirchdorf(my town), my older host sister, Sophie who is now on foreign exchange in NY, and I went to a concert. I met many new people. Hannah and I baked a cake, and one day I helped with lunch so I now know how to make kanoodles.

A few days after being home, which I was so glad to be, we went to Italy for vacation, which I just got back from. I had a great time! I bought some postcards for family and friends. We stayed in a city near Venice called Jesolo. We were there for four days, on the fourth we headed home. We spent a whole day at Venice, we rode in a gondola, ate pizza, spaghetti, lots of bread, tried on the famous masquerade masks the little shops were selling, took hundreds of pictures, and bought coconut from a booth. It was all thrilling. Venice is surrounded by water. The other days, we stayed at the hotel and lounged around the beach all day. I got some color. The water was freezing compared to Florida summer water! I got to practice some Italian in Italy so being on foreign exchange, I’m indulged in various languages, I love it! The chocolate is irresistible in Austria too, Milka is the most popular chocolate around. Hope to hear from everyone else too!

Liebe, Sarah

PS I have definitely gained weight already….!