March 12, 2008
Well things have gotten better here. The weather is warming up so I'm passing more time outside. I've gotten in touch with a couple of the girls that I met at the airport and we are going to try to meet up in the last few months. So im really looking forward to that.
For Rotary here in Pisa, I wrote a short article of my experience, in Italian. I've rewritten it in English:
Dear Friends, My name is Alexandra Ritz. I'm an American exchange student in the Rotary Club of Pisa. I have been in Pisa since Setember 2007. This is a wonderful experience that I'll never forget. I have the oppurtunity to live with an Italian family and to be completely immersed in the traditions and in the italian culture.
There are some differences between the cultures but nothing drammatic. Some examples are that in the american schools the students change classrooms while the teachers remain in the same class. There aren't any oral exams only written exams. Then there are only four years of high school instead of five.
Another difference is that the italian teenagers have more liberty because when the are 14 yrs. old they can drive a moped and then at 18 they can get their drivers license whereas in the United States you can get the license when you turn 16. The italian public transportation is more efficent and used more. In the US public transportation is only common in the big cities because it doesn't exist in the small towns or it's expensive. I am happy to be able to use the bus because it gives me more independence and I don't need to rely on the host family to drive me plasses. Infact often I take the bus to go between home and Pisa.
The italian life style is more traditional. For example they eat lunch all together everyday. This isnt possibile in the US because we are in school until 3 so we eat in school. This aspect was different for me but now I am used to it and I rather enjoy returning home to eat and chat with my host family. The italian culture is more family orientated in respect to the american culture.
The eating habits in Italy are healthier. The diet is more balanced and the food is fresher, especially the bread which is made everyday. The food doesnt vary much from american food because we eat a lot of pasta too. I love the focaccia which is a type of bread and the vegetables because they have a lot of flavor the way that they are cooked. And then the coffee...its to die for!!!! I dont think Ill be able to drink american coffee when I return in the US after having had italian coffee.
Since I've arrived I have been living with the Mazzarosa family. I get along with them really well and they are all really nice. I have a sister, Lucrezia, 17, and a brother, Giuseppe, 13. I am very happy to have their company because I come from a family of five kids so I am used to having other kids around. I appreciate everything that the Mazzarosa's have done for me specially for their generosity and support. I couldn't thank them enough nor be able to express in words my gratitude. This experience wouldn't have been possible without their hospitality. I thank also Rotary for everything that they have made possible.
Allie Ritz
Monday, March 24, 2008
Rachel Hoffmann -- Bolivia
Monday, March 17, 2008
Hey Everyone!
I guess it is about time for me to write my March letter, I will really try hard to not make it a novel like the last one. It´s just there is always so much going on here.
It´s almost my 7th month anniversary here. Today is Saint Patty´s day which really isnt a holiday here, but there is an Irish Pub in the plaza so all of the exchange students are going there to hang out. I might even wear green. Last night was Palm Sunday and it was really cool to see. My family doesnt go to mass here, but I went to the plaza last night, which is in the center of town, and there were women all lined up along the streets with palm branches making crosses and other figures. There were men with carts loaded with big chocolate eggs. And the plaza was full of families and people that were going to the mass at the cathedral. This coming week is Semana Santa, Holy week, and I might travel with my family.
So I changed families about a month ago, just to see something else, a different way of life and what not, and to get to know more people. I absolutely love them. I live with my mom, Martha, my dad, Fernando, and my sister Marty(also named Martha). I also have two older sisters Claudia and Fabiola, but they married the past fall. I was lucky to go to the wedding of Fabiola. So they dont live here anymore, but I see them often when they visit the house. I love having another sister close to my age. Marty just came back from her exchange from Virginia. We have a great time talking. She talks probably twice as much as me, but we get along great and its fun to have her around. We go shopping and go out, its been so much fun with her. Plus it is nice because she goes to the highschool that I used to go to, so I know all of her friends, and it is nice to get back in touch with them after the summer.
I live a lot closer to the center now, only 7 blocks from the plaza, where we usually meet, so Its nice to be walking everywhere and to get to know the streets better. Before I lived in the 3rd ring around the city, and was always taking taxis, so I am also saving money! I have a maid named Vikki, and I love her so much. She has been with this family for a long time and is more a friend than a maid. Her daughter just got married. Before lunch while I wait for the family to get home from work, I sit in the kitchen and help her make juice or we just talk.
Now I am going to a University called Domingo Savio. I take a micro(bus that drives extremely crazy) to school every morning. I have class from 8 until 11:15. I am loving it so much more than highschool here. I understand everything that the professor is saying. Right now I am taking the class of Bolivian Culture. Before I took political science, and it was really interesting to get a different point of view on politics in the world. I have made a lot of friends in the U, so after class sometimes we just hang out or go to lunch. Today I took my first test, and I think I did pretty well. Wednesday I have to help present with my group about the second Bolivian president. It will be a test of how good my spanish really is.
Nothing new is really happening. I am still having a great time but am realizing that it is coming to a close and that time is flying by faster than I could ever imagine.
My other project is that I am helping with a school thats a few blocks away to make an English CD. I have to record my voice saying really simple phrases like ¨This is a bed¨ its a little boring, but its kind of cool to know that Im going to be the voice that all those cute little Bolivian kids here when they are learning english. I kind of feel bad for them now that I think about it. Its just another cool opportunity that came up.
One of my favorite things here that I started doing again is my salsa class. I absolutely love it. There has not been one time that I have gone and not had a good time. Even if my day is bad and I dont have energy to go, I show up and I always have an amazing time. Ive made a lot of friends in the class, by the way Im in the best level now. I remember when we attempted to learn in Spanish class, and I had to be the man. Well when I come back I will have to give some lessons. Its so great though, the guys are really nice to me and my friend Lucy, from Albany, because sometimes we can be disasters, but they help us learn and they are patient. The only problem is that half of the men are shorter than me so when it comes time for them to dance with me you see them get a look on their face like ¨oh no not the tall gringo girl again¨ because we end up twisting arms and its just kind of awkward. Its still so much fun though.
Well I hope that everyone at home is doing great. I heard that its finally feeling like spring there. Here its feeling like ¨fall¨ I guess you could say. Really hot in the day still, but it cools off a lot at night.
I miss you tons and love you all so much!
Love,
Raquel
Hey Everyone!
I guess it is about time for me to write my March letter, I will really try hard to not make it a novel like the last one. It´s just there is always so much going on here.
It´s almost my 7th month anniversary here. Today is Saint Patty´s day which really isnt a holiday here, but there is an Irish Pub in the plaza so all of the exchange students are going there to hang out. I might even wear green. Last night was Palm Sunday and it was really cool to see. My family doesnt go to mass here, but I went to the plaza last night, which is in the center of town, and there were women all lined up along the streets with palm branches making crosses and other figures. There were men with carts loaded with big chocolate eggs. And the plaza was full of families and people that were going to the mass at the cathedral. This coming week is Semana Santa, Holy week, and I might travel with my family.
So I changed families about a month ago, just to see something else, a different way of life and what not, and to get to know more people. I absolutely love them. I live with my mom, Martha, my dad, Fernando, and my sister Marty(also named Martha). I also have two older sisters Claudia and Fabiola, but they married the past fall. I was lucky to go to the wedding of Fabiola. So they dont live here anymore, but I see them often when they visit the house. I love having another sister close to my age. Marty just came back from her exchange from Virginia. We have a great time talking. She talks probably twice as much as me, but we get along great and its fun to have her around. We go shopping and go out, its been so much fun with her. Plus it is nice because she goes to the highschool that I used to go to, so I know all of her friends, and it is nice to get back in touch with them after the summer.
I live a lot closer to the center now, only 7 blocks from the plaza, where we usually meet, so Its nice to be walking everywhere and to get to know the streets better. Before I lived in the 3rd ring around the city, and was always taking taxis, so I am also saving money! I have a maid named Vikki, and I love her so much. She has been with this family for a long time and is more a friend than a maid. Her daughter just got married. Before lunch while I wait for the family to get home from work, I sit in the kitchen and help her make juice or we just talk.
Now I am going to a University called Domingo Savio. I take a micro(bus that drives extremely crazy) to school every morning. I have class from 8 until 11:15. I am loving it so much more than highschool here. I understand everything that the professor is saying. Right now I am taking the class of Bolivian Culture. Before I took political science, and it was really interesting to get a different point of view on politics in the world. I have made a lot of friends in the U, so after class sometimes we just hang out or go to lunch. Today I took my first test, and I think I did pretty well. Wednesday I have to help present with my group about the second Bolivian president. It will be a test of how good my spanish really is.
Nothing new is really happening. I am still having a great time but am realizing that it is coming to a close and that time is flying by faster than I could ever imagine.
My other project is that I am helping with a school thats a few blocks away to make an English CD. I have to record my voice saying really simple phrases like ¨This is a bed¨ its a little boring, but its kind of cool to know that Im going to be the voice that all those cute little Bolivian kids here when they are learning english. I kind of feel bad for them now that I think about it. Its just another cool opportunity that came up.
One of my favorite things here that I started doing again is my salsa class. I absolutely love it. There has not been one time that I have gone and not had a good time. Even if my day is bad and I dont have energy to go, I show up and I always have an amazing time. Ive made a lot of friends in the class, by the way Im in the best level now. I remember when we attempted to learn in Spanish class, and I had to be the man. Well when I come back I will have to give some lessons. Its so great though, the guys are really nice to me and my friend Lucy, from Albany, because sometimes we can be disasters, but they help us learn and they are patient. The only problem is that half of the men are shorter than me so when it comes time for them to dance with me you see them get a look on their face like ¨oh no not the tall gringo girl again¨ because we end up twisting arms and its just kind of awkward. Its still so much fun though.
Well I hope that everyone at home is doing great. I heard that its finally feeling like spring there. Here its feeling like ¨fall¨ I guess you could say. Really hot in the day still, but it cools off a lot at night.
I miss you tons and love you all so much!
Love,
Raquel
Alice Kelly -- Spain
Monday, March 10, 2008
Hello everyone!
February was a crazy, hectic, and fun month for me. I left the 9th and went on a rotary trip to Italy. It was fantastic. It was the first time I was able to meet the other exchanges in Spain since I missed the orientation. It was a blast. We went to Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, and Capri. It really was a great trip, if any of you are thinking about doing a rotary trip I fully recommend it, it is a great way to bond with other exchange kids.
After Italy I went to Barcelona to meet up with my parents and my brother who came to visit! It was so exciting to see them after 5 months! We were able to travel all around Spain and go to places I hadn't yet visited, like Toledo and Madrid. It was sad to see them go though. My spanish has gotten a lot better. I am really starting to understand a lot more, and although speaking is a bit dificult it is getting better. I will get 2 weeks of from school for Semana Santa, or Easter. I am not sure what I am going to do for my vacation yet. I hope all of you have a great Easter!
So here is a link to my Semana Santa Pictures. Happy Easter everyone!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=115&l=087a7&id=1370310008
Hello everyone!
February was a crazy, hectic, and fun month for me. I left the 9th and went on a rotary trip to Italy. It was fantastic. It was the first time I was able to meet the other exchanges in Spain since I missed the orientation. It was a blast. We went to Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, and Capri. It really was a great trip, if any of you are thinking about doing a rotary trip I fully recommend it, it is a great way to bond with other exchange kids.
After Italy I went to Barcelona to meet up with my parents and my brother who came to visit! It was so exciting to see them after 5 months! We were able to travel all around Spain and go to places I hadn't yet visited, like Toledo and Madrid. It was sad to see them go though. My spanish has gotten a lot better. I am really starting to understand a lot more, and although speaking is a bit dificult it is getting better. I will get 2 weeks of from school for Semana Santa, or Easter. I am not sure what I am going to do for my vacation yet. I hope all of you have a great Easter!
So here is a link to my Semana Santa Pictures. Happy Easter everyone!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=115&l=087a7&id=1370310008
Raffaele Pantaleo -- Venezuela (Schenectady Rotary, host)
March 15, 2008
I write to you about how it's going so far. Its going good; I change of family few weeks ago and this will be my third family.The school is going good; I don't have any problems at all everything its going all right.
This is my report of this month; I am not sure if the other ones that i sent to you, you had recesive it, i think that i made a mistake in the e-mail adreses. Thank you Raffaele Pantaleo
I write to you about how it's going so far. Its going good; I change of family few weeks ago and this will be my third family.The school is going good; I don't have any problems at all everything its going all right.
This is my report of this month; I am not sure if the other ones that i sent to you, you had recesive it, i think that i made a mistake in the e-mail adreses. Thank you Raffaele Pantaleo
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Milind Rupchandani -- India
March 10, 2008
Hello,
So finally we are almost near the end of winter and I am so happy about it because when I came here everybody used to scare me about winter in Albany but finally I made it through winter.
This winter break I had a very scary experience in my life. We went mount hiking in Adirondaks and we all had quite an experience there. Also I am going for baseball try outs in my school now on so I am quite tired at the end of the day. I hope I make through the team but since this is my first time playing baseball so I am little nervous and although if I am not selected I will be happy because at least I tried it.
My host family is great. We watch a lot of movies both Hollywood movies as well as Bollywood movies. My health is fine and everything is alright. My school grades are also good.
So I am enjoying a lot here and I think now that it will be so hard to leave in the end.
Hello,
So finally we are almost near the end of winter and I am so happy about it because when I came here everybody used to scare me about winter in Albany but finally I made it through winter.
This winter break I had a very scary experience in my life. We went mount hiking in Adirondaks and we all had quite an experience there. Also I am going for baseball try outs in my school now on so I am quite tired at the end of the day. I hope I make through the team but since this is my first time playing baseball so I am little nervous and although if I am not selected I will be happy because at least I tried it.
My host family is great. We watch a lot of movies both Hollywood movies as well as Bollywood movies. My health is fine and everything is alright. My school grades are also good.
So I am enjoying a lot here and I think now that it will be so hard to leave in the end.
Allie Ritz -- Italy
March 06, 2008
Well, its already march!!! It's exciting and saddening to think that theres only 3 months left. I'm sure it'll go by much quicker especially as the weather improves and I can pass the time outside in the sun!!!
Well there's really nothing too exciting to tell so until next month, ciao ciao a presto.
Allie Ritz
Well, its already march!!! It's exciting and saddening to think that theres only 3 months left. I'm sure it'll go by much quicker especially as the weather improves and I can pass the time outside in the sun!!!
Well there's really nothing too exciting to tell so until next month, ciao ciao a presto.
Allie Ritz
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Karissa Seeberger -- Argentina
Monday, March 03, 2008
Señor Dwyer y Rotary:
I´m not sure exactly when was the last time I sent an email, so I suppose it´s better to send too many as opposed to too few. As of now, i recently returned from a trip to Uruguay and Buenos Aires. Two Argentine members of Rotary accompanied myself and 2 other american girls with 2 germans on a day trip to cross the border in order to renew our visas. As much as I am enjoying Argentina, I have to say, it is very much so a hassle to leave the country every three months so that i can stay for another 3. The trip to Uruguay was pleasant. We traveled on a very nice ferry in order to cross one of the widest rivers in the world that segregates argentina from uruguay. We arrived and went to a small historical city called Colonia. Later that evening we returned to Buenos Aires and I stayed there for the weekend with a classmate of mine who is currently studying at the university there.
as of now, i will be starting journalism at the local universities in a week. I recently discovered that it is one of the best universities in all of south america, so i am greatly looking forward to that. I´ve been continuing with my classed for tango and feel as though i have learned very much in the six month time span in which i have been practicing. We should be having a recital soon! so i have chosen a return date after talking it over with my host parents and my real parents. I will be returning on the 21st of June, and will arrive in Albany on the 22nd of June...all is very well here in San Luis, and it will only be better once i am busy studying again!
Okay, thank you for you support!
hope all is well in New York!
un abrazo
Karissa Seeberger, San Luis, Argentina
Señor Dwyer y Rotary:
I´m not sure exactly when was the last time I sent an email, so I suppose it´s better to send too many as opposed to too few. As of now, i recently returned from a trip to Uruguay and Buenos Aires. Two Argentine members of Rotary accompanied myself and 2 other american girls with 2 germans on a day trip to cross the border in order to renew our visas. As much as I am enjoying Argentina, I have to say, it is very much so a hassle to leave the country every three months so that i can stay for another 3. The trip to Uruguay was pleasant. We traveled on a very nice ferry in order to cross one of the widest rivers in the world that segregates argentina from uruguay. We arrived and went to a small historical city called Colonia. Later that evening we returned to Buenos Aires and I stayed there for the weekend with a classmate of mine who is currently studying at the university there.
as of now, i will be starting journalism at the local universities in a week. I recently discovered that it is one of the best universities in all of south america, so i am greatly looking forward to that. I´ve been continuing with my classed for tango and feel as though i have learned very much in the six month time span in which i have been practicing. We should be having a recital soon! so i have chosen a return date after talking it over with my host parents and my real parents. I will be returning on the 21st of June, and will arrive in Albany on the 22nd of June...all is very well here in San Luis, and it will only be better once i am busy studying again!
Okay, thank you for you support!
hope all is well in New York!
un abrazo
Karissa Seeberger, San Luis, Argentina
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