Sunday, December 23, 2007
I'm sorry its taken me so long to write this month, but I completely forgot until my friend Priscila told me she had to email her Rotary today!
Everything has been absolutely perfect in Belgium for me though. Lately, I've been visiting other cities in my region with some other exchange students. As of right now, I've seen the following cities: Liége, Verviers, Brussels, Brugge, Stavelot, Spa, and La Panne in Belgium, and Aachen, Germany and Maastricht in the Netherlands!
Last night was also my first experience going to a discotheque with my Belge friends! Today is my friend Melanie's birthday, so we went out last night to celebrate (I didn't come home until 4:00 this morning!)
As for the language, I'm not having any problems at all anymore. I've been getting lots of compliments (including one from my Rotary counselor here) about how good my french has gotten.
Hope you're enjoying all that snow in New York!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Friday, December 28, 2007
Allie Ritz -- Italy / Cobleskill Rotary
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
CiaoCiao, Its been about 3 months already!! Im improving and able to understand much better now, but I still have a ways to go. Ive made some good friends from my class. Im really not doing to much because I have school 6 a week and then I have italian lessons 4 days a week so that takes up most of my time. Im hoping that when my italian lessons are finished I can do something, like dance lessons or even go to the gym. I am pretty bored since my schedule never changes. For christmas Im going on vacation with my family so Im looking forward to that. Well talk to you soon.
CiaoCiao, Its been about 3 months already!! Im improving and able to understand much better now, but I still have a ways to go. Ive made some good friends from my class. Im really not doing to much because I have school 6 a week and then I have italian lessons 4 days a week so that takes up most of my time. Im hoping that when my italian lessons are finished I can do something, like dance lessons or even go to the gym. I am pretty bored since my schedule never changes. For christmas Im going on vacation with my family so Im looking forward to that. Well talk to you soon.
Rachel Hoffman -- Bolivia / Salem Rotary
December 12, 2007
I just had my 19th birthday here in Bolivia, and it was by far the best birthday I've ever had. I woke up on Saturday when my Mom and Dad here came to my room and sang happy birthday and brought me breakfast in bed. Then midday we had a lunch at my house with my family, my Bolivian friends, and my exchange friend. I got to pick out an amazing chocolate cake called the Rosa Negra, it was so delicious. Bolivians are lucky, here they get to make three wishes before they blow out the candle, only then they push your face in the cake. Later we had tea with my aunts and my grandma. And in the night I went dancing with my exchange friends and friends from school. It was so much fun.
It is hard to believe that I am about to complete my fourth month here. I would say that I'm pretty well adjusted to everything. I call my parents Mami and Papi, and my sister and I get along so well. I am definately a part of the family. All November I took classes in cooking, and learned to make some great foods. I brought them home to my family for lunch and they loved every dish I made. Now they've given me the official cooking job in the house. I've been going to the gym to stay in shape, hanging out in the plaza with friends, and also three days a week I take salsa and marange classes from Cubans. It is probably my favorite thing right now. It's so much fun, I am going to continue that as long as I can.
I think I am probably the luckiest out of the exchange students, so far I have not been sick because of the food. (Knock on wood) This woman told me that I must have a garbage stomach then, so I dont know if thats a good thing.
For the New Year I will be traveling to Brasil with some exchange students and a chaperone from Rotary. I am trying to get my aunt to come with us. We will be going to the beach in Camboriu and then the Foz de Iguazu. But I wanted to let you know I will be out of the country from December 26th to January 9th. I have permission from everyone, and we are going to the consulate this week to get a visa for Brasil. Oh and luckily everything with my Bolivian Visa worked out well. I like to show everyone my carnet, or ID card, it makes me feel more Bolivian I guess.
But everything is going great with my family and friends. I am enjoying the summer vacation, although it will be very strange having a 90 degree Christmas in shorts and a t-shirt.
I hope all is well at home in New York.
Have a great Holiday!
Rachel Hoffmann (they call me Raquel here)
I just had my 19th birthday here in Bolivia, and it was by far the best birthday I've ever had. I woke up on Saturday when my Mom and Dad here came to my room and sang happy birthday and brought me breakfast in bed. Then midday we had a lunch at my house with my family, my Bolivian friends, and my exchange friend. I got to pick out an amazing chocolate cake called the Rosa Negra, it was so delicious. Bolivians are lucky, here they get to make three wishes before they blow out the candle, only then they push your face in the cake. Later we had tea with my aunts and my grandma. And in the night I went dancing with my exchange friends and friends from school. It was so much fun.
It is hard to believe that I am about to complete my fourth month here. I would say that I'm pretty well adjusted to everything. I call my parents Mami and Papi, and my sister and I get along so well. I am definately a part of the family. All November I took classes in cooking, and learned to make some great foods. I brought them home to my family for lunch and they loved every dish I made. Now they've given me the official cooking job in the house. I've been going to the gym to stay in shape, hanging out in the plaza with friends, and also three days a week I take salsa and marange classes from Cubans. It is probably my favorite thing right now. It's so much fun, I am going to continue that as long as I can.
I think I am probably the luckiest out of the exchange students, so far I have not been sick because of the food. (Knock on wood) This woman told me that I must have a garbage stomach then, so I dont know if thats a good thing.
For the New Year I will be traveling to Brasil with some exchange students and a chaperone from Rotary. I am trying to get my aunt to come with us. We will be going to the beach in Camboriu and then the Foz de Iguazu. But I wanted to let you know I will be out of the country from December 26th to January 9th. I have permission from everyone, and we are going to the consulate this week to get a visa for Brasil. Oh and luckily everything with my Bolivian Visa worked out well. I like to show everyone my carnet, or ID card, it makes me feel more Bolivian I guess.
But everything is going great with my family and friends. I am enjoying the summer vacation, although it will be very strange having a 90 degree Christmas in shorts and a t-shirt.
I hope all is well at home in New York.
Have a great Holiday!
Rachel Hoffmann (they call me Raquel here)
Kristen Kilpeck -- Mexico / Cobleskill Rotary
Monday, December 10, 2007
This month seemed to fly by, i can´t believe i´ve been here for four months already! i hope everything´s well in the states, and you´re all dealing with the icy cold weather while i´m burning up down here in mexico!! it´s actually gotten a bit cooler, but just at night so we all cover up. school´s over for me until january and has been for a week. i´ve finally found the right group of friends and we go out all the time, to the beach, to the restaurants, to the clubs to dance.. whatever we find to do. i´ve learned so much it´s unbelieveable. with rotary, we´ve recently had a presentation from an exchange student from brasil who´s leaving wednesday, and tonight we´re going to have a party for her. we´re running a drive to collect blankets and sweaters in this supposedly cold season for people in the state of oaxaca with my club, as well. i´ve been getting ready for christmas with my host mother buying decorations, sewing pillows and couch covers (never sewed in my life), and she´s teaching me new recipes and customs. after a few problems with my family situation and town gossip, everything´s finally getting on the right track. little by little every day gets better, i learn more, and become more mexican.
Happy holidays!!¡feliz navidad y prospero año nuevo!
This month seemed to fly by, i can´t believe i´ve been here for four months already! i hope everything´s well in the states, and you´re all dealing with the icy cold weather while i´m burning up down here in mexico!! it´s actually gotten a bit cooler, but just at night so we all cover up. school´s over for me until january and has been for a week. i´ve finally found the right group of friends and we go out all the time, to the beach, to the restaurants, to the clubs to dance.. whatever we find to do. i´ve learned so much it´s unbelieveable. with rotary, we´ve recently had a presentation from an exchange student from brasil who´s leaving wednesday, and tonight we´re going to have a party for her. we´re running a drive to collect blankets and sweaters in this supposedly cold season for people in the state of oaxaca with my club, as well. i´ve been getting ready for christmas with my host mother buying decorations, sewing pillows and couch covers (never sewed in my life), and she´s teaching me new recipes and customs. after a few problems with my family situation and town gossip, everything´s finally getting on the right track. little by little every day gets better, i learn more, and become more mexican.
Happy holidays!!¡feliz navidad y prospero año nuevo!
Miland Rupchandani, India (Albany Rotary)
December 10, 2007
Happy Holidays!!! I am enjoying here a lot. I have send some pictures of mine. I had a UN trip in November and then in December we had NY City Radio City Christmas play trip. It was awesome. I also visited Niagara Falls. I always wanted to see that and now I have crossed that out of my list..I am still living with my first family and I will change within a week.. My school is going excellent and my 1st quarter grade was 95%. I joined the Underground Railroad Workshop also. My state of health is good. I went ice skating first time in my life and it was great. I had so much fun. I also send a picture of my first host family. Rest all is good and Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Bye.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Erika Kristiana, Indonesia (Host: Delmar Rotary)
November 2007
I really enjoy being here. I have gone to many places. A Rotarian brought me to the Festival of Nations, and I really loved it. Also I went to the 'Forces of Nature' movie. It was a great movie. I went to the Albany Museum with my host sister, and I found and learned lots of things there. It was fun!
I really enjoy being here. I have gone to many places. A Rotarian brought me to the Festival of Nations, and I really loved it. Also I went to the 'Forces of Nature' movie. It was a great movie. I went to the Albany Museum with my host sister, and I found and learned lots of things there. It was fun!
Lauren Cuyvers, Belgium (Host: Albany Rotary)
September 2007
I don't remember that much of September, only that we went to the football game and Albany lost!! And we went to Vermont with my host family towards the end of September (Burlington), because my host Mum had a convention there. It was my birthday on September 7th, so we celebrated it: some friends came over and we had a Ben&Jerry's cake. The first day of school was okay... it was a lot of fun, not really felt the homesickness.
I was in good health in September, but at the moment my ankle is very bad and I am forced to take a break from Cross Country.
October 2007
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: Cross-country meets, meets, meets.. + practice a lot!. Homecoming game + the dance!; party at Carli's, my friend's house; guitar lessons at New Music.
STATE OF MY HEALTH: bad ankle.
Halloween, I'll start with that. It's crazy out here! Everyone's really into it, even the grown-ups. We went trick or treating and afterwards me and my two host sisters traded the candy we didn't like. The homecoming dance was fun, and we went to a sweet sixteen birthday party afterwards. Two weeks after that I went to a Halloween party dressed up as a prisoner. It was a lot of fun. School is going okay, it's not hard, so my grades are fine.
I don't remember that much of September, only that we went to the football game and Albany lost!! And we went to Vermont with my host family towards the end of September (Burlington), because my host Mum had a convention there. It was my birthday on September 7th, so we celebrated it: some friends came over and we had a Ben&Jerry's cake. The first day of school was okay... it was a lot of fun, not really felt the homesickness.
I was in good health in September, but at the moment my ankle is very bad and I am forced to take a break from Cross Country.
October 2007
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: Cross-country meets, meets, meets.. + practice a lot!. Homecoming game + the dance!; party at Carli's, my friend's house; guitar lessons at New Music.
STATE OF MY HEALTH: bad ankle.
Halloween, I'll start with that. It's crazy out here! Everyone's really into it, even the grown-ups. We went trick or treating and afterwards me and my two host sisters traded the candy we didn't like. The homecoming dance was fun, and we went to a sweet sixteen birthday party afterwards. Two weeks after that I went to a Halloween party dressed up as a prisoner. It was a lot of fun. School is going okay, it's not hard, so my grades are fine.
Miland Rupchandani, India (Albany Rotary)
October 2007
I have joined many clubs after school like chess club, badminton, international club, Chinese club and will also join math club. And you will be glad to know that I am the Secretary of International Club for the whole year. My health is good and getting prepared for the winter season.
November 2007
Recently I went to the UN trip. I have joined many clubs in school like chess club, badminton club, international club and I am the secretary of that; so recently I gave the presentation of India in the club, math club, and now I am planning to take guitar lessons on weekends. It's getting cold here but I will surpass that and my state of health is OK. In between I got a little cold like sneezing and coughing but now I am fine.
I have joined many clubs after school like chess club, badminton, international club, Chinese club and will also join math club. And you will be glad to know that I am the Secretary of International Club for the whole year. My health is good and getting prepared for the winter season.
November 2007
Recently I went to the UN trip. I have joined many clubs in school like chess club, badminton club, international club and I am the secretary of that; so recently I gave the presentation of India in the club, math club, and now I am planning to take guitar lessons on weekends. It's getting cold here but I will surpass that and my state of health is OK. In between I got a little cold like sneezing and coughing but now I am fine.
Marta Gramza, Poland (Colonie-Guilderland Rotary)
November/December, 2007
PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY FUNCTIONS:
This month I went to NYC for the Christmas show in the Radio Musical, it was
awesome!! Also I went to the International Festival where I was able to
meeta lot of people -- I really enjoyed it.
PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY: I didn't participate a lot in Rotary Club last month, but I went once for a lunch on September 19, 2007 and I sold raffle tickets which I got from my tennis team.
PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL: This month in school I participated on the women’s tennis team.
November 2007
PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY: This month I went to the UN day to the New York City. I had a great time, I met a lot of people .I am so happy that we are able to keep contact with other exchange students.
PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: This month in school I did not participate in any extra activities, besides going to school.
STATE OF YOUR HEALTH: My health is excellent!!!
Leonardo Beretta, Brazil (Host: Cobleskill Rotary)
October 2007
I twisted my ankle playing soccer, so I go to school and come back home, but nothing else! I have been to a Club meeting, and State Fair in September.
I like my family and chocolate...
I twisted my ankle playing soccer, so I go to school and come back home, but nothing else! I have been to a Club meeting, and State Fair in September.
I like my family and chocolate...
Matthias Ruethers, Germany (Host: Rotterdam Sunrise Rotary)
October 2007
I really enjoyed my first weeks of school here. I made new friends and met lots of people. I also had fun at the Rotary meeting and did some activities with the Rotarians of the club. I also like playing soccer what keeps me fit. All in all I have a great time here and i enjoy the exchange.
I really enjoyed my first weeks of school here. I made new friends and met lots of people. I also had fun at the Rotary meeting and did some activities with the Rotarians of the club. I also like playing soccer what keeps me fit. All in all I have a great time here and i enjoy the exchange.
Francesca Rossi, Italy (Host: Ballston Spa Rotary)
October 2007
PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY FUNCTIONS: I went to some lunches during this month and I enjoyed much.
PARTCIPATION IN SCHOOL/EXTRA CURRICOLAR ACTIVITY: I participated in Interact Club and Senior Class.
STATE OF YOUR HEALTH? Really good, I haven't been homesick and I stay with a good family. I enjoy myself at school.
PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY FUNCTIONS: I went to some lunches during this month and I enjoyed much.
PARTCIPATION IN SCHOOL/EXTRA CURRICOLAR ACTIVITY: I participated in Interact Club and Senior Class.
STATE OF YOUR HEALTH? Really good, I haven't been homesick and I stay with a good family. I enjoy myself at school.
Whitney Brown -- Belgium / Middleburgh Rotary
November 25, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
No festivities here, but I am certainly thinking of you all and I hope you are enjoying the holiday!
Things are still going really well here in Belgium. At the begining of November I went to Egypt for the week with my host family and it was an unforgettable trip! It is like a whole different world there. I learned and saw so much. Everything is so old, it is almost unbelievable. And the hot desert weather was a nice change from cold and rainy Belgium. We went to lots of museums, rode camels and horses along the nile, went inside the pyramids... oh I was great! And I got to spend last weekend in Paris with my Uncle David!!! It was fabulous! We went to a show at the Lido, viewed the exhibit of Monet's Lilies, walked a whole lot all over Paris, and wined and dined in great restaurants. It was so much fun and great to see a familar face!
School is going well. Still pretty boring because I don't understand the lessons in Dutch. So I'm still just focusing on the language. The students have 2 weeks of exams in December and since I don't take the exams, I will be doing a lot of studying. And then 2 weeks of holiday so that will be great! It's interesting to see the differences around the holiday season here. Just for example, Santa Clause does not come on the 25th of December to bring presents to the children, but he does come with his friend Pere Zwarte Piet on the 6th of December. Neat huh?
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
No festivities here, but I am certainly thinking of you all and I hope you are enjoying the holiday!
Things are still going really well here in Belgium. At the begining of November I went to Egypt for the week with my host family and it was an unforgettable trip! It is like a whole different world there. I learned and saw so much. Everything is so old, it is almost unbelievable. And the hot desert weather was a nice change from cold and rainy Belgium. We went to lots of museums, rode camels and horses along the nile, went inside the pyramids... oh I was great! And I got to spend last weekend in Paris with my Uncle David!!! It was fabulous! We went to a show at the Lido, viewed the exhibit of Monet's Lilies, walked a whole lot all over Paris, and wined and dined in great restaurants. It was so much fun and great to see a familar face!
School is going well. Still pretty boring because I don't understand the lessons in Dutch. So I'm still just focusing on the language. The students have 2 weeks of exams in December and since I don't take the exams, I will be doing a lot of studying. And then 2 weeks of holiday so that will be great! It's interesting to see the differences around the holiday season here. Just for example, Santa Clause does not come on the 25th of December to bring presents to the children, but he does come with his friend Pere Zwarte Piet on the 6th of December. Neat huh?
Lauren Bardin -- Czech Republic / Salem Rotary
November 25, 2007
Hello everyone, How are you all? I'm trying to think where to start.... Honestly, this past month has not been too too exciting. I was sick for about 3 weeks of it. I found some sort of lump on my neck and went to the doctor a couple days later to find the lymph nodes in my neck were inflamed and I had to spend a week in bed and take antibiotics. It was pretty hard for me to hear that because I didn't feel awful and I'd never spent more than three days at home for a sickness. And here, when they say "stay at home and rest" they really mean rest. I was in bed all day and didn't go outside the house for about 5 days, it was torture for me. The following week, I felt very healthy and returned to the doctor, expecting him to tell me I was back to normal and I could return to school. But, he said the opposite. He was worried I could have mono and he told me to stay home for another week. That weekend was the Halloween gathering in Cesky Krumlov that we'd been planning for the past month and I'd just finished collecting my costume and making my accessories for it. So, I begged my host parents to let me go and they're the nicest people in the world so they of course said yes. The Halloween party was a lot of fun because I got to meet new exchange students from Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. We all dressed up and took pictures, carved pumpkins, played silly games, and laughed a lot. We also got to see the beautiful town of Cesky Krumlov and tour some castles and museums. When I came home I realized I was sick again and it was strep throat. I went to the doctor again and he couldn't do much, he just told me to sleep it off...of course. After another week I was back in school and it had never felt so good to be out and about. That Monday morning I woke up an hour early just because I was so excited to see people again!
One of my friend's host dad works at the nuclear power plant here in Trebic so I got to get a tour! Much of it was in Czech, but the part where we actually went inside and walked around was great. Actually, it was hilarious. We got to dress up in bright yellow lab coats, hard hats, and slipper things! Then we each got name tags with special electric codes and about 4 other things to pin on us. We never figured out what everything was for but I think half was to keep us from being radioactive and the other half was to keep track of us in case we got lost. It was pretty intense; we had to go through security cages and scan our name tags about every 5 minutes.
The past two Saturday nights I went to an ice hockey match. It's very very popular in the Czech Republic and even more popular in Trebic because the Trebic team is so talented. The first game I watched was a landslide and Trebic won, but the next was an overtime game with individual goals at the end. I don't know what they're called in ice hockey but they're similar to strokes in field hockey. The "thing" to do at the hockey games is to eat a sausage with mustard and a piece of bread. You don't use the bread as a roll though; you take a bite of the sausage then a bite of the piece of bread, bite of the sausage then a bite of the piece of bread, and so on. All Czechs do it, and they do it with just about every food. The only thing I can think of that's similar is having soup and some bread. But that's not really a good example, it's just funny because Czechs eat bread with everything, except soup, which we have it with. I'm getting used to it, it's interesting. But this month the hockey games are changed to Wednesday nights and I can't go because I have Czech lessons.
I just went to my first Czech lesson set up by Rotary and it was really good. The teacher is fun and encouraging and I think it will really help me. I am speaking Czech in my host family every day but I know they are speaking slow for me because when I try to speak to others it's much more difficult. It's such a different sound than I'd ever heard before so it's taken me a while just to get used to the pronunciation of the letters.
I mentioned in my last email that an English teacher from my school wanted me to help organize and run a Halloween party. I was worried I wouldn't be able to because it was when I was sick and supposed to be in bed 24/7, but luckily my host parents understood I was beginning to go crazy so they let me do it! I was really nervous at first because the teacher wanted me to tell the kids about Halloween's history then partake in a skit about Jack and the Devil. But, it turned out to be a lot of fun and the kids really liked it. We got to carve pumpkins too, so that was extra exciting. I had forgotten how difficult it is to actually carve them; I think Dad was usually the one handling the hard work and I just never realized it. Cleaning out the seeds and mushy stuff was always the best part. The Czech students couldn't believe we just used our hands, haha. I also learned a lot of Halloween that I never knew before, which was interesting. I didn't know it started as an ancient Celtic ritual in Ireland and farmers dressed up in animal hides and attended bonfires with animal sacrifices, did you? Then I learned all about how the Jack O'Lantern came to be and I got to act as the Devil in the skit....my acting skills haven't improved much.
I just recently started helping another English teacher in her class. She teachers an older grade of English students and she asked me to come in every Wednesday morning and "answer some questions." Little did I realize that I would be basically teaching the class. I don't mind, it's fun to be in charge. I read some stories in English, asked them questions about the reading, they did some writing activities, and the teacher insisted I ask them questions and make conversation from the activities in the book. I know teachers do it all the time, but it is hard! I felt strange asking the students why they were going to the gym after school and what they wanted to be doing in 10 years.
After being sick for so long I really felt like being active, so I started going to the fitness center near my house. Another exchange student goes with me so it makes it fun and entertaining too. The first time we went we were like, "huh, our gyms at home have bottles of spray and they make you wipe down the machines after you use them." ....then we looked around and realized EVERYONE had brought their own towels and laid on them while using a machine. oooops. We also felt a little funny because we were changing all the pins on the machines to about 30 lbs instead of 90lbs. I guess we'll work up to that....
Last weekend I went cross country skiing with my host family! It started out as my host Mom, host Dad, the little dog, and myself. About 100 feet through the snow and the dog was whimpering and refused to walk any further. It had on a special, high-tech coat thing, I don't understand what it's problem was. His coat was probably warmer than mine was. So my host Mom took him back to the car and my host Dad and I ventured out into the woods. It was fun and after a while I felt more comfortable. I only fell twice and my host Dad only saw me one of the times, thank goodness. He raced back to save me, it was so embarrassing. After a long trip, we came to the main road. But, we were lost and had to walk on the road with our skis and poles for about 20 minutes.....I was happy to see the car. It was a beautiful trail and so many times I wished I'd had my camera. It really looks a lot like home but something about snow on the ground always makes everything 100x prettier.
This coming weekend I am headed to Praha!(Prague) The ROTEX (previous exchange students) have organized a meeting for us this weekend. We'll do the typical tourist things and hopefully some shopping. We're staying in another hostel, which is such a great experience. I'm hoping there will be some snow on the ground and buildings to make pictures pretty pretty pretty. Tomorrow night I'm making STUFFING and chicken drumsticks for dinner! Wish me luck, I'll need it! There is a cooking school right next to my school and I always wonder why I'm not going there, I would definitely benefit from that kind of education. So, I hope all of you are doing very well. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are ready for the real holiday season! I miss you all, take care!!!!
Hello everyone, How are you all? I'm trying to think where to start.... Honestly, this past month has not been too too exciting. I was sick for about 3 weeks of it. I found some sort of lump on my neck and went to the doctor a couple days later to find the lymph nodes in my neck were inflamed and I had to spend a week in bed and take antibiotics. It was pretty hard for me to hear that because I didn't feel awful and I'd never spent more than three days at home for a sickness. And here, when they say "stay at home and rest" they really mean rest. I was in bed all day and didn't go outside the house for about 5 days, it was torture for me. The following week, I felt very healthy and returned to the doctor, expecting him to tell me I was back to normal and I could return to school. But, he said the opposite. He was worried I could have mono and he told me to stay home for another week. That weekend was the Halloween gathering in Cesky Krumlov that we'd been planning for the past month and I'd just finished collecting my costume and making my accessories for it. So, I begged my host parents to let me go and they're the nicest people in the world so they of course said yes. The Halloween party was a lot of fun because I got to meet new exchange students from Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. We all dressed up and took pictures, carved pumpkins, played silly games, and laughed a lot. We also got to see the beautiful town of Cesky Krumlov and tour some castles and museums. When I came home I realized I was sick again and it was strep throat. I went to the doctor again and he couldn't do much, he just told me to sleep it off...of course. After another week I was back in school and it had never felt so good to be out and about. That Monday morning I woke up an hour early just because I was so excited to see people again!
One of my friend's host dad works at the nuclear power plant here in Trebic so I got to get a tour! Much of it was in Czech, but the part where we actually went inside and walked around was great. Actually, it was hilarious. We got to dress up in bright yellow lab coats, hard hats, and slipper things! Then we each got name tags with special electric codes and about 4 other things to pin on us. We never figured out what everything was for but I think half was to keep us from being radioactive and the other half was to keep track of us in case we got lost. It was pretty intense; we had to go through security cages and scan our name tags about every 5 minutes.
The past two Saturday nights I went to an ice hockey match. It's very very popular in the Czech Republic and even more popular in Trebic because the Trebic team is so talented. The first game I watched was a landslide and Trebic won, but the next was an overtime game with individual goals at the end. I don't know what they're called in ice hockey but they're similar to strokes in field hockey. The "thing" to do at the hockey games is to eat a sausage with mustard and a piece of bread. You don't use the bread as a roll though; you take a bite of the sausage then a bite of the piece of bread, bite of the sausage then a bite of the piece of bread, and so on. All Czechs do it, and they do it with just about every food. The only thing I can think of that's similar is having soup and some bread. But that's not really a good example, it's just funny because Czechs eat bread with everything, except soup, which we have it with. I'm getting used to it, it's interesting. But this month the hockey games are changed to Wednesday nights and I can't go because I have Czech lessons.
I just went to my first Czech lesson set up by Rotary and it was really good. The teacher is fun and encouraging and I think it will really help me. I am speaking Czech in my host family every day but I know they are speaking slow for me because when I try to speak to others it's much more difficult. It's such a different sound than I'd ever heard before so it's taken me a while just to get used to the pronunciation of the letters.
I mentioned in my last email that an English teacher from my school wanted me to help organize and run a Halloween party. I was worried I wouldn't be able to because it was when I was sick and supposed to be in bed 24/7, but luckily my host parents understood I was beginning to go crazy so they let me do it! I was really nervous at first because the teacher wanted me to tell the kids about Halloween's history then partake in a skit about Jack and the Devil. But, it turned out to be a lot of fun and the kids really liked it. We got to carve pumpkins too, so that was extra exciting. I had forgotten how difficult it is to actually carve them; I think Dad was usually the one handling the hard work and I just never realized it. Cleaning out the seeds and mushy stuff was always the best part. The Czech students couldn't believe we just used our hands, haha. I also learned a lot of Halloween that I never knew before, which was interesting. I didn't know it started as an ancient Celtic ritual in Ireland and farmers dressed up in animal hides and attended bonfires with animal sacrifices, did you? Then I learned all about how the Jack O'Lantern came to be and I got to act as the Devil in the skit....my acting skills haven't improved much.
I just recently started helping another English teacher in her class. She teachers an older grade of English students and she asked me to come in every Wednesday morning and "answer some questions." Little did I realize that I would be basically teaching the class. I don't mind, it's fun to be in charge. I read some stories in English, asked them questions about the reading, they did some writing activities, and the teacher insisted I ask them questions and make conversation from the activities in the book. I know teachers do it all the time, but it is hard! I felt strange asking the students why they were going to the gym after school and what they wanted to be doing in 10 years.
After being sick for so long I really felt like being active, so I started going to the fitness center near my house. Another exchange student goes with me so it makes it fun and entertaining too. The first time we went we were like, "huh, our gyms at home have bottles of spray and they make you wipe down the machines after you use them." ....then we looked around and realized EVERYONE had brought their own towels and laid on them while using a machine. oooops. We also felt a little funny because we were changing all the pins on the machines to about 30 lbs instead of 90lbs. I guess we'll work up to that....
Last weekend I went cross country skiing with my host family! It started out as my host Mom, host Dad, the little dog, and myself. About 100 feet through the snow and the dog was whimpering and refused to walk any further. It had on a special, high-tech coat thing, I don't understand what it's problem was. His coat was probably warmer than mine was. So my host Mom took him back to the car and my host Dad and I ventured out into the woods. It was fun and after a while I felt more comfortable. I only fell twice and my host Dad only saw me one of the times, thank goodness. He raced back to save me, it was so embarrassing. After a long trip, we came to the main road. But, we were lost and had to walk on the road with our skis and poles for about 20 minutes.....I was happy to see the car. It was a beautiful trail and so many times I wished I'd had my camera. It really looks a lot like home but something about snow on the ground always makes everything 100x prettier.
This coming weekend I am headed to Praha!(Prague) The ROTEX (previous exchange students) have organized a meeting for us this weekend. We'll do the typical tourist things and hopefully some shopping. We're staying in another hostel, which is such a great experience. I'm hoping there will be some snow on the ground and buildings to make pictures pretty pretty pretty. Tomorrow night I'm making STUFFING and chicken drumsticks for dinner! Wish me luck, I'll need it! There is a cooking school right next to my school and I always wonder why I'm not going there, I would definitely benefit from that kind of education. So, I hope all of you are doing very well. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are ready for the real holiday season! I miss you all, take care!!!!
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