April 24, 2009
April in Norway has been constantly switching between winter and spring. For the first half of the month, there was still snow on the ground, which was discouraging as I expect spring to begin in April. For the second half of the month, the weather has been switching every few days between warmth and sunlight, rain, and snow. We had a week long Easter vacation, which I spent in the county of Bø in a small fishing village, home to only 18 permanent residents, right on the ocean. The nature was beautiful, and I went ice fishing in a lake and fishing in the ocean. We are now back to school, where I can converse fairly comfortably in Norwegian and I understand almost everything that the teachers say. I go to school every day and spend my afternoons at the gym or hanging out with friends. I live in a very small town and can walk everywhere I want to go. I am starting to get excited about coming home again and seeing my family and friends again. However, I have made great friends and it will be sad to say goodbye to them in just two months.This has been a great year so far, and I am sad to see it nearing its end!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Brittany Cruise -- France
March 04, 2009
This month went by even quicker then the rest. I met the local Roteracts here and went snowshoeing with the other students. It was a beautiful weekend with plenty of snow and sunshine. I also spent three days in Paris, and met my next and final family. I still haven't been to the new house, as we've been at their chalet in the mountains just north of our town for the past two weeks. I've been outside cross country skiing or snowboard almost everyday. Sad as I am that vacation is almost over, I'm excited to see all my friends as school again. This past month was a blast and I can't wait for the months to come, they should prove to be especially busy. There's also a huge conference in Toulousse, France with ALL the inbounds this year. I'm looking forward to it with impatients because it means I get to see all the friends I made the first day of this trip who're scattered throughout the country, and the people from my region who I've become close with. Less then 90days to go at this point.
This month went by even quicker then the rest. I met the local Roteracts here and went snowshoeing with the other students. It was a beautiful weekend with plenty of snow and sunshine. I also spent three days in Paris, and met my next and final family. I still haven't been to the new house, as we've been at their chalet in the mountains just north of our town for the past two weeks. I've been outside cross country skiing or snowboard almost everyday. Sad as I am that vacation is almost over, I'm excited to see all my friends as school again. This past month was a blast and I can't wait for the months to come, they should prove to be especially busy. There's also a huge conference in Toulousse, France with ALL the inbounds this year. I'm looking forward to it with impatients because it means I get to see all the friends I made the first day of this trip who're scattered throughout the country, and the people from my region who I've become close with. Less then 90days to go at this point.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Cathryn Salamone -- Japan
March 2, 2009
On the weekend of February 7th, I boarded the train for Okayama Prefecture, which is on the island Honshu, north of my island. That weekend was the 3-District Rotary Orientation for the outbound Japanese students going to either America, Canada or Australia. I was so excited to meet other exchange students, something I haven't done since the Rotary trip to Okinawa in October. As you can imagine, I was pumped to share my stories (and speak in English, for that matter) with other exchangers in Japan. I am the only exchange student in my entire prefecture, or state, along with three other exchange students on my entire island, so I haven't had much opportunity to meet with other exchangers. I met the two Australian exchange students who just came to Japan in January - they are the other two girls on my island, the fourth being a boy from Detroit. It was wonderful to talk with them, and I loved answering their questions when they had them. It gave me a really amazing feeling when I was answering questions, because it somehow gave me a senior kind of feeling -- like I was now a pro at this or something because I've been here for six months. They asked the same questions that I did when I came. It's hard to explain, but it gave me a wonderful feeling. I had an amazing weekend eating wonderful food, sharing hilarious stories, and just hanging out with other students from around the world during that weekend.
I've been wanting to mix my extra curricular activities up a little bit. In Japan, students usually only do one club or sport, which was hard for me to understand, since in high school I did many clubs and activities. Each club meets every single day, and the sports meet on Sundays for full-day practices. It's still amazing to me all of the time that these students put into their clubs. During the winter, I too followed this hefty practicing schedule with koto club, and thus I think I've become pretty good at it. However, it's become tiresome, and I wanted to try something new. I joined the school's choir, because there is nothing here that brings me more pleasure than singing. Occasionally my host family or friends and I go to kareoke, which is incredibly fun, but I also find myself singing or humming constantly when doing work or by myself...songs from America, Japanese songs (which I sometimes make up the words to...), songs from my childhood...anything. I also can read music (I actually have my clarinet here with me, and tried to join the school brass band, but the militaristic practice schedule of 3:30-7:00 everyday was way too much...) I went to my first meeting last week and had a wonderful time, and it brought me so much joy. I am finishing my time with the koto club after the last concert, in April, and then I am going to fully persue chorus and the school's swim team. I love being busy! =)
In the blink of an eye, it has become March already. I have a feeling it's going to be this way until the end. Valentine's Day was, as you know, the 14th, and in Japan it's actually widely celebrated - although a little different. On Valentine's Day, the women are supposed to buy chocolates or bake sweet treats for the men in their life, not just their spouses or boyfriends. Women buy chocolate for their family, co-workers, friends, aquaintances, even people they don't really like. In this case, it is called "obligation chocolate", where the chocolate is given to a boss or higher individual on the business ladder out of a feeling of necesity, not out of love. On White Day, which is March 14th (a Japanese invention), the men reciporcate the chocolate to the women, usually with white chocolate. My school is an all-girl's school, so friends gave friends chocolate. I tried my hand at origami hearts and was pretty successful...I then attached a candy to the backs with a small sheet of stickers. I was given a LOT of treats and candy, as did my host family, and I think we've all gained a kilo or two. I've only gained one, which is great :) It's funny how it seems like Japan practices the western holidays, but they really are very different. I was excited to see Christmas lights and Christmas trees go up all around the city I'm in...I was half expecting and lementing a year without Christmas. Working all the way up to Christmas Eve, the tradition in Japan is to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken and eat Christmas Cake, which is any sort of cake with a Santa figure on top and Merry X-mas written somewhere on it. On Christmas Day, everyone has work/school. It's really interesting to compare the holidays. Japan has it's own unique holidays which I enjoy very much, including festivals held at the start of each new season...and having a national holiday on the Emperor's Birthday. =)
Anyway, what else is new? Not much else happened in February. Feb. 23rd marked my official six months in Japan, which I thought was an incredible date. I'm already past my half-way point, which was somewhere in mid-January, since I am leaving the first week in July, but six months just seems like an incredible achievement. I always remember my little month anniversaries, but this one struck me as huge - I now have more months here behind me than before me. Six whole months in Japan? SIX? I was flipping through my journal and passed November 23rd, with "Today is my three month anniversary! I can't believe I've been here for three whole months! It's crazy!" I laughed for a long time at that. Yes, now I can sit back and say, "Wow...three whole months. Yeah, compare that to my big six." And then it will be seven and eight and nine, and I'm going to continue to marvel at the amount of time I've been here. I remember my trip to Europe two years ago for four weeks. Four weeks is nothing now! A smigent of time against this year long journey. I've gone nowhere and done nothing in comparison to this year. I've got four more months here and I'm going to make them count even more than the last six.
On the weekend of February 7th, I boarded the train for Okayama Prefecture, which is on the island Honshu, north of my island. That weekend was the 3-District Rotary Orientation for the outbound Japanese students going to either America, Canada or Australia. I was so excited to meet other exchange students, something I haven't done since the Rotary trip to Okinawa in October. As you can imagine, I was pumped to share my stories (and speak in English, for that matter) with other exchangers in Japan. I am the only exchange student in my entire prefecture, or state, along with three other exchange students on my entire island, so I haven't had much opportunity to meet with other exchangers. I met the two Australian exchange students who just came to Japan in January - they are the other two girls on my island, the fourth being a boy from Detroit. It was wonderful to talk with them, and I loved answering their questions when they had them. It gave me a really amazing feeling when I was answering questions, because it somehow gave me a senior kind of feeling -- like I was now a pro at this or something because I've been here for six months. They asked the same questions that I did when I came. It's hard to explain, but it gave me a wonderful feeling. I had an amazing weekend eating wonderful food, sharing hilarious stories, and just hanging out with other students from around the world during that weekend.
I've been wanting to mix my extra curricular activities up a little bit. In Japan, students usually only do one club or sport, which was hard for me to understand, since in high school I did many clubs and activities. Each club meets every single day, and the sports meet on Sundays for full-day practices. It's still amazing to me all of the time that these students put into their clubs. During the winter, I too followed this hefty practicing schedule with koto club, and thus I think I've become pretty good at it. However, it's become tiresome, and I wanted to try something new. I joined the school's choir, because there is nothing here that brings me more pleasure than singing. Occasionally my host family or friends and I go to kareoke, which is incredibly fun, but I also find myself singing or humming constantly when doing work or by myself...songs from America, Japanese songs (which I sometimes make up the words to...), songs from my childhood...anything. I also can read music (I actually have my clarinet here with me, and tried to join the school brass band, but the militaristic practice schedule of 3:30-7:00 everyday was way too much...) I went to my first meeting last week and had a wonderful time, and it brought me so much joy. I am finishing my time with the koto club after the last concert, in April, and then I am going to fully persue chorus and the school's swim team. I love being busy! =)
In the blink of an eye, it has become March already. I have a feeling it's going to be this way until the end. Valentine's Day was, as you know, the 14th, and in Japan it's actually widely celebrated - although a little different. On Valentine's Day, the women are supposed to buy chocolates or bake sweet treats for the men in their life, not just their spouses or boyfriends. Women buy chocolate for their family, co-workers, friends, aquaintances, even people they don't really like. In this case, it is called "obligation chocolate", where the chocolate is given to a boss or higher individual on the business ladder out of a feeling of necesity, not out of love. On White Day, which is March 14th (a Japanese invention), the men reciporcate the chocolate to the women, usually with white chocolate. My school is an all-girl's school, so friends gave friends chocolate. I tried my hand at origami hearts and was pretty successful...I then attached a candy to the backs with a small sheet of stickers. I was given a LOT of treats and candy, as did my host family, and I think we've all gained a kilo or two. I've only gained one, which is great :) It's funny how it seems like Japan practices the western holidays, but they really are very different. I was excited to see Christmas lights and Christmas trees go up all around the city I'm in...I was half expecting and lementing a year without Christmas. Working all the way up to Christmas Eve, the tradition in Japan is to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken and eat Christmas Cake, which is any sort of cake with a Santa figure on top and Merry X-mas written somewhere on it. On Christmas Day, everyone has work/school. It's really interesting to compare the holidays. Japan has it's own unique holidays which I enjoy very much, including festivals held at the start of each new season...and having a national holiday on the Emperor's Birthday. =)
Anyway, what else is new? Not much else happened in February. Feb. 23rd marked my official six months in Japan, which I thought was an incredible date. I'm already past my half-way point, which was somewhere in mid-January, since I am leaving the first week in July, but six months just seems like an incredible achievement. I always remember my little month anniversaries, but this one struck me as huge - I now have more months here behind me than before me. Six whole months in Japan? SIX? I was flipping through my journal and passed November 23rd, with "Today is my three month anniversary! I can't believe I've been here for three whole months! It's crazy!" I laughed for a long time at that. Yes, now I can sit back and say, "Wow...three whole months. Yeah, compare that to my big six." And then it will be seven and eight and nine, and I'm going to continue to marvel at the amount of time I've been here. I remember my trip to Europe two years ago for four weeks. Four weeks is nothing now! A smigent of time against this year long journey. I've gone nowhere and done nothing in comparison to this year. I've got four more months here and I'm going to make them count even more than the last six.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Cathryn Salamone -- Japan
February 9, 2009
On the 18th, the Kochi Rotex organization had a half-year party for me, which was very special for me because it made it clear to me that I really was half way through. On the 19th, my host father took me to the Kochi North Rotary anniversary party, where I met my third host family, the Masaki's, whose home I would be moving in to at the end of that week.
I still go to Koto club as usual. I'm doing very well and am now playing with the middle school 2nd and 3rd years now, not only with the middle school 1st years. I'm very proud of myself, haha! In January, we had a recital for Traditional Japanese Dance, where me and the girl who is going to America next year on exchange danced to the traditional song of "Sakura, Sakura." It was a great experience, and I wore an elaborate kimono. It was great!
I feel like I'm repeating myself when I write this, but January also felt like it went by quickly. Usually January is a slow month for some, being after the holidays and slowly getting used to the day-to-day again, but somehow I was equally, if not more busy in January than I was in December. I moved to my third host family on the 25th of January, which was a nice and refreshing change to my days. In Japan I will have had four host families by the time I leave, changing after about three months. I think this is the perfect number. Of course there has been a host family that I really did not want to leave, and the three months felt like three days, but there also was a host family where I was excited for the change. It is the perfect amount of time, because I get to experience four different families and ways of living. Any more families and it would be overwhelming to have to move so often, and any fewer and I might not experience any other lifestyles of the Japanese.
School is moving along, but it seems to have lost its charm that it had when I first started. Still not understanding anything is getting old; both because all of my teachers speak in the regional dialect spoken here, in Kochi, that is difficult to pick up on (imagine someone doing an exchange in Texas or somewhere with a heavy accent and completely different words used after studying standard English), but also because I am studying a language with three alphabets and 2,000+ characters. I sit down to memorize more characters and sometimes I feel a heavy sense of futility. I think, "What is the point of memorizing these characters when there are so many, and an individual character has so many meanings and pronounciations?" Three times a week, teachers tutor me in Japanese, but I get the feeling they don't really know how to teacher their language. I don't blame them, I don't know how I would go about teaching English, but a lot of my studies is self-motivated, and being the only exchange student in my entire prefecture (state), some days it's hard to give myself the kick in the pants that I need.
My diet is wonderful - I am so delighted that Japanese cooking is so healthy AND delicious! There was a part of me before this exchange that didn't think that was possible. I'm learning Japanese cooking from my host mother and I love it. This, along with several other aspects of Japanese culture, I will take home with me to America.
On the 18th, the Kochi Rotex organization had a half-year party for me, which was very special for me because it made it clear to me that I really was half way through. On the 19th, my host father took me to the Kochi North Rotary anniversary party, where I met my third host family, the Masaki's, whose home I would be moving in to at the end of that week.
I still go to Koto club as usual. I'm doing very well and am now playing with the middle school 2nd and 3rd years now, not only with the middle school 1st years. I'm very proud of myself, haha! In January, we had a recital for Traditional Japanese Dance, where me and the girl who is going to America next year on exchange danced to the traditional song of "Sakura, Sakura." It was a great experience, and I wore an elaborate kimono. It was great!
I feel like I'm repeating myself when I write this, but January also felt like it went by quickly. Usually January is a slow month for some, being after the holidays and slowly getting used to the day-to-day again, but somehow I was equally, if not more busy in January than I was in December. I moved to my third host family on the 25th of January, which was a nice and refreshing change to my days. In Japan I will have had four host families by the time I leave, changing after about three months. I think this is the perfect number. Of course there has been a host family that I really did not want to leave, and the three months felt like three days, but there also was a host family where I was excited for the change. It is the perfect amount of time, because I get to experience four different families and ways of living. Any more families and it would be overwhelming to have to move so often, and any fewer and I might not experience any other lifestyles of the Japanese.
School is moving along, but it seems to have lost its charm that it had when I first started. Still not understanding anything is getting old; both because all of my teachers speak in the regional dialect spoken here, in Kochi, that is difficult to pick up on (imagine someone doing an exchange in Texas or somewhere with a heavy accent and completely different words used after studying standard English), but also because I am studying a language with three alphabets and 2,000+ characters. I sit down to memorize more characters and sometimes I feel a heavy sense of futility. I think, "What is the point of memorizing these characters when there are so many, and an individual character has so many meanings and pronounciations?" Three times a week, teachers tutor me in Japanese, but I get the feeling they don't really know how to teacher their language. I don't blame them, I don't know how I would go about teaching English, but a lot of my studies is self-motivated, and being the only exchange student in my entire prefecture (state), some days it's hard to give myself the kick in the pants that I need.
My diet is wonderful - I am so delighted that Japanese cooking is so healthy AND delicious! There was a part of me before this exchange that didn't think that was possible. I'm learning Japanese cooking from my host mother and I love it. This, along with several other aspects of Japanese culture, I will take home with me to America.
Whitney McGinn -- Czech Republic
February 13, 2009
The month of January was really crazy for me. In the begining of the month I switched families for the first time. I was really nervous but it turned out to be really easy and I love my new family. Also this month with the help of my family I have been making big improvements in my Czech language. It still needs alot of work but it is deffinatly getting better. I have been spending all my free time with my family and friends and recently joined a girls indoor soccer team. I've realized here that its important to keep busy so that Is what I have been trying to do! So far the new year has been really great for me.
The month of January was really crazy for me. In the begining of the month I switched families for the first time. I was really nervous but it turned out to be really easy and I love my new family. Also this month with the help of my family I have been making big improvements in my Czech language. It still needs alot of work but it is deffinatly getting better. I have been spending all my free time with my family and friends and recently joined a girls indoor soccer team. I've realized here that its important to keep busy so that Is what I have been trying to do! So far the new year has been really great for me.
Daniel Gally -- Brazil
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Hope all is well. This is my monthly update.
Everything is fine with me here. I did a trip to Rio de Janeiro and I recieved three months worth of allowance from rotary before I left. Everything is working out well, I started school this week and I am ok.
Hope all is well. This is my monthly update.
Everything is fine with me here. I did a trip to Rio de Janeiro and I recieved three months worth of allowance from rotary before I left. Everything is working out well, I started school this week and I am ok.
Brittany Cruise -- France
Saturday, January 31, 2009
I must apologize yet again for my lack of updates.
December;
The month started off with a new host family. I moved from a little village just outside of Besançon to practically right in the center. My new family is extremely nice, but we don't do a lot of things together. Not like my last family anyhow. The parents work a lot and come home late during the week, so most of the time it's my younger host sister and I. We get along fairly well, so it's been nice. School is going great, with the language barrier having been down for a few months December was easier and easier. Christmas time wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I spent Christmas eve with my host family now, and spent my Christmas morning and the rest of my vacation with my first host family. I was extremly happy about that, because my first host family and I really got along. They really welcomed me as a part of the family and even brought me snowboarding with them.
January;
This past month went by very very fast. There were two other exchange students in my class and throughout my whole exchange and theirs we've been very good friends, they left this month to return home. That was a little saddening for me, but we had a lot of fun and made a lot of memories together. Other then that, this month I recieved news from home about my college acceptance and I've been accepted to the university of my choice. Other then that it's been very cold, with no snow. Mostly sunny, but very cold.
I must apologize yet again for my lack of updates.
December;
The month started off with a new host family. I moved from a little village just outside of Besançon to practically right in the center. My new family is extremely nice, but we don't do a lot of things together. Not like my last family anyhow. The parents work a lot and come home late during the week, so most of the time it's my younger host sister and I. We get along fairly well, so it's been nice. School is going great, with the language barrier having been down for a few months December was easier and easier. Christmas time wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I spent Christmas eve with my host family now, and spent my Christmas morning and the rest of my vacation with my first host family. I was extremly happy about that, because my first host family and I really got along. They really welcomed me as a part of the family and even brought me snowboarding with them.
January;
This past month went by very very fast. There were two other exchange students in my class and throughout my whole exchange and theirs we've been very good friends, they left this month to return home. That was a little saddening for me, but we had a lot of fun and made a lot of memories together. Other then that, this month I recieved news from home about my college acceptance and I've been accepted to the university of my choice. Other then that it's been very cold, with no snow. Mostly sunny, but very cold.
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