May 30, 2008
Saludos para todos!!!
Hello Everyone, I know it has been a long time since Ive written, but I figured I should still let you all know what is going on. I only have 17 more days until I am back in the big USA, and have really mixed feelings about it. Of course I am so excited to see my family, but I really really really dont want to leave this place. It has been such an amazzzzzzzzing year and its hard when things come to an end. I´ll be back June 16th.
Lets see....to catch up on what I have been up to... well, I am in love with my family. I switched in February and honestly I am so incredibly happy I did. It was a choice I wasnt really sure I wanted to make, but I am so happy now. I was happy before and I had a really great family also, but I am just feeling so comfortable with this one. They really have taken me in as another daughter and I just have the best time with them. I am not supposed to know, but my mom apparently is making plans to come visit the USA already. I will miss them so much. I have kind of finished the University. It has been going so great. They call me ¨La Reina de la U¨which is the queen of the university. I have such a fun time there, I get to see all of my friends and I have actually learned quite a bit in my geopolitica class. The semester ends on Monday so I think thats probably it for me. I was lucky to take a trip with my class about a month ago. We had such a fun time together.
Last weekend I went to a place called Samaipata with my family. We rented a cabaña and even though the weather wasnt perfect, we had a really nice time. The most dangerous road in the world is supposedly on the way to Las Yungas in La Paz, where theres pretty much one lane, you, and a huge cliff. I have never been there, but I joked that the road to Samaipata is the second most dangerous road. There are rockslides and probably enough room comfortably for one and a half cars. Then the cliff. But it was hard to be too scared because the view was just so amazingly beautiful. There were mountains rolling everywhere covered in trees, it was georgous. On the side of the road there were country people selling manderinas. Samaipata is in the valley of Santa Cruz, and its famous because well one, its beautiful, two, that is where Che Guevara spent the last days of his life and was killed in a town close by, by our very own CIA, and three, many years before the Incans built and lived in this really amazing ruins up on this mountain. So we went up to see the ruins in the afternoon, they call it the ¨fuerte¨or fort. It was just really amazing to have a 360 degree view of beautiful mountains, and I just thought that it was pretty obvious why they chose that place to live. It was so peaceful. We were up there for the sunset, it was really great.
It was one of my favorite places Ive been too, but then again, it seems like every place I go is my favorite, only that they are so distinto and I dont like one more than the other. I just love everything here!!
Its finally getting cold here. I mean its probably not cold for you guys, but when it was 95 one day and the next it is like 50, theres a huge change. And I dont know, the cold is different here. They are just starting their winter. I even have this big jacket that I have to wear because Im so cold. I feel like Im just not used to it though. At first I thought it was refreshing, but now Im really looking forward to hot weather again.
We are starting to do all of our ¨despedidas¨here. Which are the going away parties. I have had a few friends go home already, and Im starting to hate the airport. Everytime I go there it is a little reminder that my turn isnt too far off. But we are enjoying everything we can these last couple of weeks. Tonight I am going out with all of my friends and we are having a party at the place where I dance salsa. All of my salsa friends are coming, along with the exchange students, and friends from the U. So it should be really fun.
Well, I wish everyone the best, I know that you are all starting your summers and enjoying being together. I will try to write one last email before I go home, but if not, then you all know Im a litlte closer than I am now. Just in Minnesota. I miss you all so much!
See some of you in DC in about three months!!!!
Love,
Rach (Raquelita)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Whitney Brown -- Belgium
Monday, June 2, 2008
Hi Everyone!
I have been really busy since my last email. Belgium finalllllly has nice weather! Its finally warm and a lot less rain! Ive been busy going on day city trips around Belgium with other exchange students and concerts with my Belgian friends. lots of time spent outside, enjoying the sunny weather!
In the beginning of May I went to France with my host family for 4 days. They have a beautiful house in the countryside near Dijon. It was a quiet long weekend in the sun! It was so beautiful there... fields and fields of yellow flowers. We also went to visit an Abbey from the 1100s, so that was really exciting to see!
I also gave a presentation to the rotary about my year in Belgium. They had an American themed night which made it a lot of fun. Everyone wore american attire (jeans and sneakers), we had a big american BBQ with ribs and chicken wings and cole slaws, and they even arranged a line dancing lesson! haha it was a fun time. My presentation was a big hit! everyone loved it. I spoke for 45 minutes, entirely in dutch!! I was quite proud of myself and everyone was amazed at how quickly i learned the language! So that was an exciting moment!
Last week I went to sunny spain with my step mom, sisters, aunt, and grandma. And it was an amazing trip!! We stayed right on the southern coast near Malaga. It was soooo beautiful! We visit the impressive Picasso Museum, went to a spanish market, visited Granada and the Alambra, and had lots of delicious spanish foods and sangria! We had a great time soaking in the sun on the beach and catching up together. It was great! :-)
Tomorrow is my last day of school because then the final exams begin for the rest of the students. So I am free for the rest of June and will be spending a lot of time enjoying my last few weeks in Belgium with the other exchange students who are also finished with school. Only 23 more days and I am home sweet home! I hope all is well and see you all soon!!
Love,Whitney
Hi Everyone!
I have been really busy since my last email. Belgium finalllllly has nice weather! Its finally warm and a lot less rain! Ive been busy going on day city trips around Belgium with other exchange students and concerts with my Belgian friends. lots of time spent outside, enjoying the sunny weather!
In the beginning of May I went to France with my host family for 4 days. They have a beautiful house in the countryside near Dijon. It was a quiet long weekend in the sun! It was so beautiful there... fields and fields of yellow flowers. We also went to visit an Abbey from the 1100s, so that was really exciting to see!
I also gave a presentation to the rotary about my year in Belgium. They had an American themed night which made it a lot of fun. Everyone wore american attire (jeans and sneakers), we had a big american BBQ with ribs and chicken wings and cole slaws, and they even arranged a line dancing lesson! haha it was a fun time. My presentation was a big hit! everyone loved it. I spoke for 45 minutes, entirely in dutch!! I was quite proud of myself and everyone was amazed at how quickly i learned the language! So that was an exciting moment!
Last week I went to sunny spain with my step mom, sisters, aunt, and grandma. And it was an amazing trip!! We stayed right on the southern coast near Malaga. It was soooo beautiful! We visit the impressive Picasso Museum, went to a spanish market, visited Granada and the Alambra, and had lots of delicious spanish foods and sangria! We had a great time soaking in the sun on the beach and catching up together. It was great! :-)
Tomorrow is my last day of school because then the final exams begin for the rest of the students. So I am free for the rest of June and will be spending a lot of time enjoying my last few weeks in Belgium with the other exchange students who are also finished with school. Only 23 more days and I am home sweet home! I hope all is well and see you all soon!!
Love,Whitney
Allie Ritz -- Italy
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Ciao.
Sorry I haven't written these last couple months. I completely forgot until now. Well things are going better. Its warm and I can go outside and be active. Nothing special to report. But I stoked to see my sister in Italy tour with her after the school years done!!!!!!! Hope everyone is doing well.
Ciao.
Sorry I haven't written these last couple months. I completely forgot until now. Well things are going better. Its warm and I can go outside and be active. Nothing special to report. But I stoked to see my sister in Italy tour with her after the school years done!!!!!!! Hope everyone is doing well.
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