November 7, 2009
HOST FAMILY:
Simon Marcos
7-4 C/ Andalucía
28007 Madrid
HOST CLUB: RC Madrid- Serano
I attended a Rotary sponsored trip to Pico de Peñalara, a mountain in the Sierras. There were about 30 other exchange students, mostly from the Madrid area, and we hiked to the top.
I have been attending IES Isabel La Católica daily and completing all assignments.
I can now say that I feel as though I fully fit in here. Everything is going wonderfully, and I'm loving life. I can just about understand everything, though speaking correctly is still a challenge. I can't believe that it's already november 7; time is going by far too quickly now that I've got a steady routine (weekdays- school, studying, family time; weekends- out with spanish friends, relaxing, more studying, etc...). All is well here and I absolutely love Madrid.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Gil Strizich -- Argentina
November 4th, 2009
Family Atencio
Pasaje Fatima s/n,
Yala, Jujuy
4616
Argentina
Host Club: Rotary Club of San Salvador de Jujuy, 4800
Over the last month I have met with the Rotary club twice. The time was spent discussing and preparing for a Rotary trip to Patagonia from Novemeber 8th- 27th, We covered such topics as: how much money we would need, what to pack, how to pay, and necessary letters of permission. I have also been meeting with a local rotarian every Saturday to recieve her volunteered Spanish instruction.
I have been attending school regularly and doing the assingment asked of me. However, there have been many days off due to testing and holidays. I have continued to do Jiu-Jitsu twice a week and have been going to gym on the other days. I have also been taking Spanish classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays with all the other students here in San Salvador.
I am in fine health.
Family Atencio
Pasaje Fatima s/n,
Yala, Jujuy
4616
Argentina
Host Club: Rotary Club of San Salvador de Jujuy, 4800
Over the last month I have met with the Rotary club twice. The time was spent discussing and preparing for a Rotary trip to Patagonia from Novemeber 8th- 27th, We covered such topics as: how much money we would need, what to pack, how to pay, and necessary letters of permission. I have also been meeting with a local rotarian every Saturday to recieve her volunteered Spanish instruction.
I have been attending school regularly and doing the assingment asked of me. However, there have been many days off due to testing and holidays. I have continued to do Jiu-Jitsu twice a week and have been going to gym on the other days. I have also been taking Spanish classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays with all the other students here in San Salvador.
I am in fine health.
Ariel Dunster -- Brazil
October 14, 2009
Adolfo and Solange Perez
Avenida Pinheiro Machado 678/95
bairro Marape, Santos, São Paulo
Brazil 11075- 002
My second month here was excellent. I´m already understanding Portuguese pretty well. School is probably the most difficult part. I still am attempting all of the tests, no matter how difficult. If the teacher is giving a lecture I usually lose focus quickly, therefore I usually use that time to study Portuguese independently.
I´m excited for this upcoming weekend because it will be the first time that I will be hanging out with my school friends outside of school. Friday I´m going to a school dance, Saturday, playing American football, and Sunday I´ll go to a barbeque with them.
Oddly enough, I feel like I have been welcomed in by a few families here, not only my host family. I have a friend living in the same apartment building as me and sometimes I go to his apartment and just spend some time with his family watching a movie or eating dinner. It´s also very nice because he has 3 other siblings close to my age so there´s always a lot of conversation.
Also, one of my good friends here is another exchange student from Arizona. Last weekend was a holiday weekend (children´s day) so I went with his family to a town nearby to do volunteer work. It was a lot of fun. We made candy bags as well as cake and gave them to more than 200 poor children. I also enjoyed this trip because we stayed at a camp on a farm. It was amazing there. We ended up getting stuck there for an extra day because the traffic was backed up for 8 hours.
I´ve been growing closer with my family as well. I have found some things that my family and I have in common. Both my host mom and I enjoy cooking, so I usually like to sit in the kitchen and help her cook dinner. With my father, we both enjoy soccer, and he´s actually taken me to a couple of soccer games, which is really nice. We also went to São Paulo for dinner one evening which was nice.
Other than this, mostly everything has been going well. I attend Rotary meetings every week. They´re a lot of fun and I´m beginning to understand some of the things that they are saying.
Adolfo and Solange Perez
Avenida Pinheiro Machado 678/95
bairro Marape, Santos, São Paulo
Brazil 11075- 002
My second month here was excellent. I´m already understanding Portuguese pretty well. School is probably the most difficult part. I still am attempting all of the tests, no matter how difficult. If the teacher is giving a lecture I usually lose focus quickly, therefore I usually use that time to study Portuguese independently.
I´m excited for this upcoming weekend because it will be the first time that I will be hanging out with my school friends outside of school. Friday I´m going to a school dance, Saturday, playing American football, and Sunday I´ll go to a barbeque with them.
Oddly enough, I feel like I have been welcomed in by a few families here, not only my host family. I have a friend living in the same apartment building as me and sometimes I go to his apartment and just spend some time with his family watching a movie or eating dinner. It´s also very nice because he has 3 other siblings close to my age so there´s always a lot of conversation.
Also, one of my good friends here is another exchange student from Arizona. Last weekend was a holiday weekend (children´s day) so I went with his family to a town nearby to do volunteer work. It was a lot of fun. We made candy bags as well as cake and gave them to more than 200 poor children. I also enjoyed this trip because we stayed at a camp on a farm. It was amazing there. We ended up getting stuck there for an extra day because the traffic was backed up for 8 hours.
I´ve been growing closer with my family as well. I have found some things that my family and I have in common. Both my host mom and I enjoy cooking, so I usually like to sit in the kitchen and help her cook dinner. With my father, we both enjoy soccer, and he´s actually taken me to a couple of soccer games, which is really nice. We also went to São Paulo for dinner one evening which was nice.
Other than this, mostly everything has been going well. I attend Rotary meetings every week. They´re a lot of fun and I´m beginning to understand some of the things that they are saying.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Gil Strizich -- Argentina
October 11, 2009
Family Atencio
Pasaje Fatima s/n,
Yala, Jujuy
4616
Argentina
Host Club: Rotary Club of San Salvador de Jujuy, 4800
Over the last month I have attended one Rotary meeting. I also had the oppurtunity to meet all the Rotary exchange students in Northwest Argentina, when they traveled here for the festival of the students . We had two exchange students, one from Belgium and another from Seattle, stay in my house for three days. In addition to that, this past Thursday there was a meeting of Rotary members and exchange students to discuss a possible Rotary trip to Patagonia in November.
I have continued to do Jui-Jitsu two times a week, and go to the gym three times a week. In addition to that I take Spanish classes on Wednesday and Thursday nights, with all the other Rotary exchange students here in San Salvador. I have also started school back up again after the week long break for the festival of the students.
I am in good health.
Family Atencio
Pasaje Fatima s/n,
Yala, Jujuy
4616
Argentina
Host Club: Rotary Club of San Salvador de Jujuy, 4800
Over the last month I have attended one Rotary meeting. I also had the oppurtunity to meet all the Rotary exchange students in Northwest Argentina, when they traveled here for the festival of the students . We had two exchange students, one from Belgium and another from Seattle, stay in my house for three days. In addition to that, this past Thursday there was a meeting of Rotary members and exchange students to discuss a possible Rotary trip to Patagonia in November.
I have continued to do Jui-Jitsu two times a week, and go to the gym three times a week. In addition to that I take Spanish classes on Wednesday and Thursday nights, with all the other Rotary exchange students here in San Salvador. I have also started school back up again after the week long break for the festival of the students.
I am in good health.
Eliza Chappell -- Spain
October 8, 2009
HOST FAMILY:
Simon Marcos7-4 C/ Andalucía28007 Madrid
HOST CLUB: RC Madrid- Serano
PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY FUNCTIONS: I attended a Rotary meeting/meal with the other exchange students and met my counselor. I also attended the Rotary Exchange Orientation weekend with the other exchange students.
PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: I have been attending IES Isabel La Católica daily and completing all assignments.
My first month in Spain has been wonderful. My host family is perfect and they are trying to make me feel as at home as possible. School is nice, although it is still difficult to understand everyone. I'm beginning to get into a routine here and have friends, and it's starting to feel like my home. My spanish is coming along little by little, and I'm trying hard to reach fluency as quickly as possible. I honestly am not feeling homesick for the most part, although I'm a little bit sad to miss the Upstate New York fall colors. I'm not sure what else to say, but I assure all is well with me.
HOST FAMILY:
Simon Marcos7-4 C/ Andalucía28007 Madrid
HOST CLUB: RC Madrid- Serano
PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY FUNCTIONS: I attended a Rotary meeting/meal with the other exchange students and met my counselor. I also attended the Rotary Exchange Orientation weekend with the other exchange students.
PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: I have been attending IES Isabel La Católica daily and completing all assignments.
My first month in Spain has been wonderful. My host family is perfect and they are trying to make me feel as at home as possible. School is nice, although it is still difficult to understand everyone. I'm beginning to get into a routine here and have friends, and it's starting to feel like my home. My spanish is coming along little by little, and I'm trying hard to reach fluency as quickly as possible. I honestly am not feeling homesick for the most part, although I'm a little bit sad to miss the Upstate New York fall colors. I'm not sure what else to say, but I assure all is well with me.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Gilbert Thomas Strizich -- Argentina
September 15, 2009
District 4800
Club of San Savador de Jujuy, Argentina
Home address:
Familia Atencio
Pasaje Fatima S/N
Yala, ep 4616
Provincia deJujuy
Argentina
During the last month I have attended two Rotary meetings. At the first meeting, all of the exchange students were introduced to the members of the Club. We then discussed possible community service opportunities that we could participate in. During the second meeting, the majority of the meeting was spent discussing whether or not the Exchange students should take language classes at the local University.
I have been attending school regularly. However, because it is the 'National Festival of the Students' in September, all of the local schools have been working on their parade floats, so most of my time in school has been spent making paper flowers. Once the festival is over at the end of September, normal classes will start up again. I have also been attending a local gymnasium to work out, and in addition to that have been taking Jui-Jitsu classes at another local gym.
I am in good health. I had a minor cold early on, but that has since gone away.
District 4800
Club of San Savador de Jujuy, Argentina
Home address:
Familia Atencio
Pasaje Fatima S/N
Yala, ep 4616
Provincia deJujuy
Argentina
During the last month I have attended two Rotary meetings. At the first meeting, all of the exchange students were introduced to the members of the Club. We then discussed possible community service opportunities that we could participate in. During the second meeting, the majority of the meeting was spent discussing whether or not the Exchange students should take language classes at the local University.
I have been attending school regularly. However, because it is the 'National Festival of the Students' in September, all of the local schools have been working on their parade floats, so most of my time in school has been spent making paper flowers. Once the festival is over at the end of September, normal classes will start up again. I have also been attending a local gymnasium to work out, and in addition to that have been taking Jui-Jitsu classes at another local gym.
I am in good health. I had a minor cold early on, but that has since gone away.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Ariel Dunster -- Brazil
September 14, 2009
NAME/ADDRESS OF HOST FAMILY:
Adolfo and Solange Perez
Avenida Pinheiro Machado 678/95
bairro Marape, Santos, São Paulo
Brazil 11075- 002 .
.
WHAT WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY FUNCTIONS DURING THE PAST MONTH? .
*Attended 3 meetings
*District orientation meeting for all exchange students in district 4420 (Santos, ABCD, São Paulo)
WHAT WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL/EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DURING THE MONTH?
*Attended class regularly; completed work and tests in several subjects; stayed after school to complete labs
*Attended a PE class afterschool once a week
*I play soccer with classmates afterschool on Fridays .
WHAT IS THE STATE OF YOUR HEALTH? .
*Good; taking extra precautions because 5 students in my school were diagnosed with Swine Flu
I gained 3 pounds in my first month, but I just joined a gym 2 weeks ago that I go to 4 times a week. I have made several friends, and they are all very nice, patient, and accepting of me. I am learning new sports, such as handball and surfing. I´m enjoying trying new foods, and I´ve begun a Brazilian recipe book.
NAME/ADDRESS OF HOST FAMILY:
Adolfo and Solange Perez
Avenida Pinheiro Machado 678/95
bairro Marape, Santos, São Paulo
Brazil 11075- 002 .
.
WHAT WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY FUNCTIONS DURING THE PAST MONTH? .
*Attended 3 meetings
*District orientation meeting for all exchange students in district 4420 (Santos, ABCD, São Paulo)
WHAT WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL/EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DURING THE MONTH?
*Attended class regularly; completed work and tests in several subjects; stayed after school to complete labs
*Attended a PE class afterschool once a week
*I play soccer with classmates afterschool on Fridays .
WHAT IS THE STATE OF YOUR HEALTH? .
*Good; taking extra precautions because 5 students in my school were diagnosed with Swine Flu
I gained 3 pounds in my first month, but I just joined a gym 2 weeks ago that I go to 4 times a week. I have made several friends, and they are all very nice, patient, and accepting of me. I am learning new sports, such as handball and surfing. I´m enjoying trying new foods, and I´ve begun a Brazilian recipe book.
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