April 4, 2010
Miao-li Mountain Club
In March, I attended one Rotary meeting. With the other exchange students in my district, I had a weekly tai-chi class to learn a routine that we will perform in mid-April in front of about 2,000 Rotarians. I’ve seen our costumes, and supposedly we get to keep them, which is really exciting. In the middle of March, I went on a bus trip with about 50 other exchange students to the east of Taiwan. Although the whole of Taiwan is smaller than NY, I’ve never been to the east coast before, so it was really interesting to see lots of famous places for the first time. My favorite place was Taroko National Park, which is a huge area filled with gorges, forests and waterfalls. I just wish we had more time there, since we only had an afternoon in the whole park!
In March, I was mildly sick for about a week, which gave me an insight into the Taiwanese medical system-totally different than the United States’! I think the most shocking part to me was how eager the Taiwanese are to take medicine to clear up your sickness-even a cold!
I’ve now been in my new family for about a month, and I’m really happy here. I have three siblings here and it’s really easy to connect with them so that’s helped me feel a lot more at home. I’m already worried about leaving them in June!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Ariel Dunster -- Brazil
April 11, 2010
Rotary District 4420, Santos- Boqueirão
This past month has been a lot of fun. I started surfing lessons. They´re every Saturday and Sunday from 8-10 in the morning. Surfing has become one of my favorite hobbies here. I´m part of a class of about 60 surfing students, and then we´re broken down into smaller groups based on our skill level. This week the waves have been pretty big actually. Some of the waves yesterday were 3 meters!
Last week I presented a powerpoint to my Rotary club about my life in the United States. I was happy because I actually didn´t have any trouble presenting in Portuguese. I wasn´t at all nervous either. I discussed numerous topics including Ballston Spa, Sacandaga Lake, Niagara Falls, and Dry Brook Sugar House (maple syrup).
About 3 weeks ago I was robbed while out with my friends one night. 2 Brazilians and I were robbed by an armed man. He seemed both drunk and high, so we gave him our stuff without much negotiation because we didn´t want to cause trouble. Amongst the things I lost, I lost my cell phone, camera, and R$50. Strangely enough we had more trouble 3 days later. A young girl called our house screaming that she had been kidnapped and that she was our maids daughter. The man who had "kidnapped" her stayed on the phone and demanded a lot of money from our family. He also had called my host fathers cell phone number and persuaded him that his oldest daughter had been kidnapped as well. We thought this was connected to my cell phone being stolen, but it wasn´t. The man had gotten all of our information about our family through previous conversations on the telephone. Fortunately everything turned out alright and no one had been kidnapped. Our family was shaken up quite a bit, so we created new household rules to ensure our safety.
Easter was last weekend. It´s actually a pretty casual holiday here. I woke up and went to surfing classes. Later, my host family and I went to my host grandmothers house for lunch. We had fish. But afterwards my family went to the mall to go Fall clothes shopping. Here the tradition is to give big chocolate eggs to everyone.
My day to day life has been pretty normal. The weather has gotten a lot colder. It dropped from 91° to 55° in the past few days. I learned that I have a 4th host family and I´ll be moving into their home in June. All I know about them is that they have 4 children.
Beijos!
Rotary District 4420, Santos- Boqueirão
This past month has been a lot of fun. I started surfing lessons. They´re every Saturday and Sunday from 8-10 in the morning. Surfing has become one of my favorite hobbies here. I´m part of a class of about 60 surfing students, and then we´re broken down into smaller groups based on our skill level. This week the waves have been pretty big actually. Some of the waves yesterday were 3 meters!
Last week I presented a powerpoint to my Rotary club about my life in the United States. I was happy because I actually didn´t have any trouble presenting in Portuguese. I wasn´t at all nervous either. I discussed numerous topics including Ballston Spa, Sacandaga Lake, Niagara Falls, and Dry Brook Sugar House (maple syrup).
About 3 weeks ago I was robbed while out with my friends one night. 2 Brazilians and I were robbed by an armed man. He seemed both drunk and high, so we gave him our stuff without much negotiation because we didn´t want to cause trouble. Amongst the things I lost, I lost my cell phone, camera, and R$50. Strangely enough we had more trouble 3 days later. A young girl called our house screaming that she had been kidnapped and that she was our maids daughter. The man who had "kidnapped" her stayed on the phone and demanded a lot of money from our family. He also had called my host fathers cell phone number and persuaded him that his oldest daughter had been kidnapped as well. We thought this was connected to my cell phone being stolen, but it wasn´t. The man had gotten all of our information about our family through previous conversations on the telephone. Fortunately everything turned out alright and no one had been kidnapped. Our family was shaken up quite a bit, so we created new household rules to ensure our safety.
Easter was last weekend. It´s actually a pretty casual holiday here. I woke up and went to surfing classes. Later, my host family and I went to my host grandmothers house for lunch. We had fish. But afterwards my family went to the mall to go Fall clothes shopping. Here the tradition is to give big chocolate eggs to everyone.
My day to day life has been pretty normal. The weather has gotten a lot colder. It dropped from 91° to 55° in the past few days. I learned that I have a 4th host family and I´ll be moving into their home in June. All I know about them is that they have 4 children.
Beijos!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Ariel Dunster -- Brazil
March 16, 2010
Rotary District 4420, Santos- Boqueirão
Current Family Address: Rua Alberto Bacarat nº50 apt 21Boqueirão, Santos, SP, Brazil11050-050
In the past month I´ve done a lot. It began with Carnaval here in Brazil. My family and I went to an island just off the coast of Santos. At night they had samba/pagode bands along the beach. I had a head cold for a little over a week, but a lot of rest helped me to get better quickly.
My American sister and her fiancée came to Brazil from March 6th- March 14th. It was good to see them. I was able to do a lot with them while they were here. I ran a 10k, and was able to visit a lot of turistical places that I hadn´t been to before. We visited the old historical part of Santos, including going to the top of one of the morros surrounding the city, as well as passed through the coffee museum. There were several interesting facts in this museum, such as that there were competitions to see who could walk with the most bags of coffee beans on their back. The champion could carry 5 coffee sacks, which altogether weighed about 300kg.
One of my favorite things I did with them was learn how to surf. All of us succeeded in standing up and balancing on the board after only 1 hour.
One of the most difficult things about this month is that 3 more of my good friends left to go to college in different cities. I felt like I had a going away party for a good friend practically every weekend.
This month has been one of my favorites because of all the opportunities I´ve had. I now go to Santos soccer games on a regular basis, and I´ve learned the portuguese chants. I learned how to surf, and I´ve seen some of the greatest views of Santos possible. It was also a month of hard work and training with running in order to complete the 10k. This will be one month I´ll never forget.
Rotary District 4420, Santos- Boqueirão
Current Family Address: Rua Alberto Bacarat nº50 apt 21Boqueirão, Santos, SP, Brazil11050-050
In the past month I´ve done a lot. It began with Carnaval here in Brazil. My family and I went to an island just off the coast of Santos. At night they had samba/pagode bands along the beach. I had a head cold for a little over a week, but a lot of rest helped me to get better quickly.
My American sister and her fiancée came to Brazil from March 6th- March 14th. It was good to see them. I was able to do a lot with them while they were here. I ran a 10k, and was able to visit a lot of turistical places that I hadn´t been to before. We visited the old historical part of Santos, including going to the top of one of the morros surrounding the city, as well as passed through the coffee museum. There were several interesting facts in this museum, such as that there were competitions to see who could walk with the most bags of coffee beans on their back. The champion could carry 5 coffee sacks, which altogether weighed about 300kg.
One of my favorite things I did with them was learn how to surf. All of us succeeded in standing up and balancing on the board after only 1 hour.
One of the most difficult things about this month is that 3 more of my good friends left to go to college in different cities. I felt like I had a going away party for a good friend practically every weekend.
This month has been one of my favorites because of all the opportunities I´ve had. I now go to Santos soccer games on a regular basis, and I´ve learned the portuguese chants. I learned how to surf, and I´ve seen some of the greatest views of Santos possible. It was also a month of hard work and training with running in order to complete the 10k. This will be one month I´ll never forget.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Gil Strizich -- Argentina
March 5, 2010
Host Club: Rotary Club of San Salvador de Jujuy, 4800
Over the last month I attended one rotary function. In late Febuary I attended the one hundred and fifth anniversary of Rotary international. I gave a small speech in Spanish, thanking them for accepting me into their rotary club and giving me this wonderful opportunity.
The first week and half of Febuary I was on vacation with my host family in Chile. My real parents came in late Febuary and are still here, we will be leaving for Buenos Aires tommarow. I will begin attending a local University here in Jujuy to study anthropology on March 22.
I am in good health.
Host Club: Rotary Club of San Salvador de Jujuy, 4800
Over the last month I attended one rotary function. In late Febuary I attended the one hundred and fifth anniversary of Rotary international. I gave a small speech in Spanish, thanking them for accepting me into their rotary club and giving me this wonderful opportunity.
The first week and half of Febuary I was on vacation with my host family in Chile. My real parents came in late Febuary and are still here, we will be leaving for Buenos Aires tommarow. I will begin attending a local University here in Jujuy to study anthropology on March 22.
I am in good health.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Emma Fullem -- Taiwan
March 4, 2010
Host Club: Miao-li Mountain Club, Taiwan
In February, I had the last 3 weeks of my winter vacation. I spent 1 week of that in Taipei with a ROTEX member, Jessica Hsia, who stayed at my house 3 years ago through Rotary. I spent a lot of time with her family, which was really cool since I met them when they came to visit her in NY. I also got to see lots of new places, like a famous geological park and some really interesting museum exhibits. At the end of vacation, I celebrated Chinese New Year with my host family, which was very interesting. It seemed to mostly center around big meals! Very similar to American Thanksgiving or Christmas, except it lasted for about a week! I also moved families in the end of February.
In the last month, I have attended one official Rotary club meeting that was the first one of the Lunar Calendar, so it was mainly just a potluck with very little actual business. On New Year’s Eve, I went to a Rotarian’s house for dinner with my host family. Also, I had three tai-chi practices with the other exchange students in preparation for a performance in April at the district conference. Last weekend, my district’s exchange students joined with a larger district in Taipei for a second orientation where we went over the benefits of learning Chinese and of following all the guidelines and rules for exchange.
I am in good health, and trying to make the most of my last 3.5 months in Taiwan!
Host Club: Miao-li Mountain Club, Taiwan
In February, I had the last 3 weeks of my winter vacation. I spent 1 week of that in Taipei with a ROTEX member, Jessica Hsia, who stayed at my house 3 years ago through Rotary. I spent a lot of time with her family, which was really cool since I met them when they came to visit her in NY. I also got to see lots of new places, like a famous geological park and some really interesting museum exhibits. At the end of vacation, I celebrated Chinese New Year with my host family, which was very interesting. It seemed to mostly center around big meals! Very similar to American Thanksgiving or Christmas, except it lasted for about a week! I also moved families in the end of February.
In the last month, I have attended one official Rotary club meeting that was the first one of the Lunar Calendar, so it was mainly just a potluck with very little actual business. On New Year’s Eve, I went to a Rotarian’s house for dinner with my host family. Also, I had three tai-chi practices with the other exchange students in preparation for a performance in April at the district conference. Last weekend, my district’s exchange students joined with a larger district in Taipei for a second orientation where we went over the benefits of learning Chinese and of following all the guidelines and rules for exchange.
I am in good health, and trying to make the most of my last 3.5 months in Taiwan!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Eliza Chappell -- Spain
February 24, 2010
HOST CLUB:
ROTARY CLUB MADRID-SERRANO
I have been attending school daily at IES Isabel La Catolica in Madrid and have completed all assignments, projects, and tests.
I resumed with school after Christmas vacations, and all is well. My mother and little sister can to Madrid to visit me at the end of January. It was great, and it was a good boost for me. I think I've reached a certain level of fluency, which of course is very exciting. The Rotary sponsored trip is fast approaching, and that is something I'm really looking forward to. Everything is going great!
HOST CLUB:
ROTARY CLUB MADRID-SERRANO
I have been attending school daily at IES Isabel La Catolica in Madrid and have completed all assignments, projects, and tests.
I resumed with school after Christmas vacations, and all is well. My mother and little sister can to Madrid to visit me at the end of January. It was great, and it was a good boost for me. I think I've reached a certain level of fluency, which of course is very exciting. The Rotary sponsored trip is fast approaching, and that is something I'm really looking forward to. Everything is going great!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Eliza Chappell -- Spain
February 24, 2010
HOST CLUB:
ROTARY CLUB MADRID-SERRANO
I attended the Rotary meeting and been in contact with the club.
I have been attending school daily at IES Isabel La Catolica in Madrid and have completed all assignments, projects, and tests.
I resumed with school after Christmas vacations, and all is well. My mother and little sister can to Madrid to visit me at the end of January. It was great, and it was a good boost for me. I think I've reached a certain level of fluency, which of course is very exciting. The Rotary sponsored trip is fast approaching, and that is something I'm really looking forward to. Everything is going great!
-Eliza Chappell
HOST CLUB:
ROTARY CLUB MADRID-SERRANO
I attended the Rotary meeting and been in contact with the club.
I have been attending school daily at IES Isabel La Catolica in Madrid and have completed all assignments, projects, and tests.
I resumed with school after Christmas vacations, and all is well. My mother and little sister can to Madrid to visit me at the end of January. It was great, and it was a good boost for me. I think I've reached a certain level of fluency, which of course is very exciting. The Rotary sponsored trip is fast approaching, and that is something I'm really looking forward to. Everything is going great!
-Eliza Chappell
Ariel Dunster -- Brazil
February 25, 2010
Rotary District 4420, Santos- Boqueirão
In the past month I´ve finished up summer vacation and started the 3rd year (senior year) of school here. I´ve been in good health. From the 14th-18th of January I went to Porto Alegre and visited my host brother. It was interesting to see a southern city of Brazil. Everything was different; the way people dressed, spoke, and the traditions that they had. For example, everyone knew that I was from the coast because I was wearing shorts. For me, shorts is an article of summer clothing, but for them, it is beachwear.
The hardest part about summer was that a lot of my friends moved out of Santos. Several went to a University in a different city, and others went to different countries either starting or ending their exchange trip.
On February 2nd, I started school as well as switching homes. It was sad to leave my 2nd home because they were an excellent family, but fortunately my 3rd family is just as perfect.
I´m beginning to run regularly again, but I´m taking extra precautions to not hurt my ankle again. Carnaval is also this week. For Brazil that means that there´s alway axé music and dancing on the beach, as well as samba bands on the streets.
Lastly, I´ve received my return date. It is Friday July 16th, 2010.
Beijos,
Ariel
Rotary District 4420, Santos- Boqueirão
In the past month I´ve finished up summer vacation and started the 3rd year (senior year) of school here. I´ve been in good health. From the 14th-18th of January I went to Porto Alegre and visited my host brother. It was interesting to see a southern city of Brazil. Everything was different; the way people dressed, spoke, and the traditions that they had. For example, everyone knew that I was from the coast because I was wearing shorts. For me, shorts is an article of summer clothing, but for them, it is beachwear.
The hardest part about summer was that a lot of my friends moved out of Santos. Several went to a University in a different city, and others went to different countries either starting or ending their exchange trip.
On February 2nd, I started school as well as switching homes. It was sad to leave my 2nd home because they were an excellent family, but fortunately my 3rd family is just as perfect.
I´m beginning to run regularly again, but I´m taking extra precautions to not hurt my ankle again. Carnaval is also this week. For Brazil that means that there´s alway axé music and dancing on the beach, as well as samba bands on the streets.
Lastly, I´ve received my return date. It is Friday July 16th, 2010.
Beijos,
Ariel
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Kate Clarke -- France
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
The month of December was extremely hectic but was filled with excitement! There were so many tests, so many birthdays and a lot of chocolate! The regular gossip was filled with plans of Christmas vacation and I was extremely happy to be apart of it, for I was leaving on a trip to Paris on the 22nd of December, resting at Sophie's (my mother's) parents apartement, and spending christmas day with them and her family. I have never been more excited in my life! And as I road the train to Paris with Sophie, the anticipation was unbelievable, I could hardly sit still. As we finally entered the city from the train station I was on a Photo-spree instantly!The city was so beautiful and the christmas decorations made it even more lively and inviting. I was automatically in love!
Of course I visited all of the usual Paris attractions, the Eifel Tower, the Louvre, Les Champs-Elysée, and I even watched Avatar in 3-D! It was amazing! I spent most of my time with my brothers Paul and Joseph, it was a really great time. The night before Christmas we went to Sophie's brothers house for presents, diner and so on, for the French celebrate their christmas the night before, or at least my family did! It felt really great to be there, I honestly felt apart of their family, and I got to sleep in the little girls princess room which was really funny, but it was a good experience!
Paris was to me the most important part of the month of december, I don't really remember much that happened before! But I deffinately am on serious diet now after december! -- Katelyn
The month of December was extremely hectic but was filled with excitement! There were so many tests, so many birthdays and a lot of chocolate! The regular gossip was filled with plans of Christmas vacation and I was extremely happy to be apart of it, for I was leaving on a trip to Paris on the 22nd of December, resting at Sophie's (my mother's) parents apartement, and spending christmas day with them and her family. I have never been more excited in my life! And as I road the train to Paris with Sophie, the anticipation was unbelievable, I could hardly sit still. As we finally entered the city from the train station I was on a Photo-spree instantly!The city was so beautiful and the christmas decorations made it even more lively and inviting. I was automatically in love!
Of course I visited all of the usual Paris attractions, the Eifel Tower, the Louvre, Les Champs-Elysée, and I even watched Avatar in 3-D! It was amazing! I spent most of my time with my brothers Paul and Joseph, it was a really great time. The night before Christmas we went to Sophie's brothers house for presents, diner and so on, for the French celebrate their christmas the night before, or at least my family did! It felt really great to be there, I honestly felt apart of their family, and I got to sleep in the little girls princess room which was really funny, but it was a good experience!
Paris was to me the most important part of the month of december, I don't really remember much that happened before! But I deffinately am on serious diet now after december! -- Katelyn
Monday, February 8, 2010
Gil Strizich -- Argentina
February 4, 2010
Family Atencio
Pasaje Fatima s/n,
Yala, Jujuy
4616Argentina
Host Club: Rotary Club of San Salvador de Jujuy, 4800
Over the last month I have not attended any formal Rotary meetings. However I have been traveling alot to visit other exchange students in Argentina, which has given me the oppurtunity to meet and interact with rotarians outside of my district. The majority of the exchange students I have visited have host parents who are part of their local rotary clubs.
As I stated earlier, for the past month and a half of summer vacation I have been traveling around Argentina to visit other exchangers. This has been very exciting and has allowed me to practice and truly make use of my Spanish. Right now I am on vacation in Chile with my host parents, and i will be here for the next two weeks. I am in good health.
Family Atencio
Pasaje Fatima s/n,
Yala, Jujuy
4616Argentina
Host Club: Rotary Club of San Salvador de Jujuy, 4800
Over the last month I have not attended any formal Rotary meetings. However I have been traveling alot to visit other exchange students in Argentina, which has given me the oppurtunity to meet and interact with rotarians outside of my district. The majority of the exchange students I have visited have host parents who are part of their local rotary clubs.
As I stated earlier, for the past month and a half of summer vacation I have been traveling around Argentina to visit other exchangers. This has been very exciting and has allowed me to practice and truly make use of my Spanish. Right now I am on vacation in Chile with my host parents, and i will be here for the next two weeks. I am in good health.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Katelyn Clarke -- France
December 30, 2009
During the beginning of November the vacation days were finishing and everyone was on their way back to school. School started on the first wednesday of the month and so it was a short school week. That weekend there was a Rotary function that the five exchange students in Lannion all had to attend. It was a long night and each of us had to present ourselves in french in front of all the guests which were quite a few, and we also had to present the courses of the menu in french and in our own language. But nevertheless it was a fun night and there was also cultural dances featuring the dances of Bretagne, the United States and India and Spain. It was fun because we got to experience one another's culture through dance.
However, the night didn't end very well because i ended up getting sick from the night, I later figured out that it was angina...So I didn't go to school for 3 days. But when i returned the school was the same as before the vacation. Everything was normal.
I also joined a scouts group, it is a catholic organization that involves community service and camping and things of that sort. It's fun, the people in it are so nice and welcoming and they include me in everything. We have had several meeting to plan our december functions for the scouts. We are going to wrap christmas presents for the poeple who are in a hurry or just don't want to do it themselves. I think that it's going to be fun.
During the beginning of November the vacation days were finishing and everyone was on their way back to school. School started on the first wednesday of the month and so it was a short school week. That weekend there was a Rotary function that the five exchange students in Lannion all had to attend. It was a long night and each of us had to present ourselves in french in front of all the guests which were quite a few, and we also had to present the courses of the menu in french and in our own language. But nevertheless it was a fun night and there was also cultural dances featuring the dances of Bretagne, the United States and India and Spain. It was fun because we got to experience one another's culture through dance.
However, the night didn't end very well because i ended up getting sick from the night, I later figured out that it was angina...So I didn't go to school for 3 days. But when i returned the school was the same as before the vacation. Everything was normal.
I also joined a scouts group, it is a catholic organization that involves community service and camping and things of that sort. It's fun, the people in it are so nice and welcoming and they include me in everything. We have had several meeting to plan our december functions for the scouts. We are going to wrap christmas presents for the poeple who are in a hurry or just don't want to do it themselves. I think that it's going to be fun.
Audrey Sabatini -- Belgium
December 26, 2009
Sponsor Club: Rotterdam Sunrise Rotary
Host Club: Rotary of Andenne (Belgium)
Host Family: the Ancions (Pierre, Marie-Paule, Gilles)
Rotary Meetings: Normally my Rotary Counselour texts me, or e-mails me and tells me if I should attend a Rotary meeting. The last meeting I attended was in November, and I gave a small speach about myself (in French).
Health: I am doing very well!
School: I took two exams this December (as required by the Rotary), and passed both. I took English and Math. My teachers just tell me to continue trying.
I am changing families the 3rd of January. I am excited for the change in atmosphere. The mother and one of the host sisters know a lot of english, so I hope to learn a lot from them. I am required to send an update a week after changing families to my district chairman here, so I will make sure to translate it and send a copy to you as well :)
I hope you had a very wonderful Christmas with your families and have a Happy New Year!!
Sponsor Club: Rotterdam Sunrise Rotary
Host Club: Rotary of Andenne (Belgium)
Host Family: the Ancions (Pierre, Marie-Paule, Gilles)
Rotary Meetings: Normally my Rotary Counselour texts me, or e-mails me and tells me if I should attend a Rotary meeting. The last meeting I attended was in November, and I gave a small speach about myself (in French).
Health: I am doing very well!
School: I took two exams this December (as required by the Rotary), and passed both. I took English and Math. My teachers just tell me to continue trying.
I am changing families the 3rd of January. I am excited for the change in atmosphere. The mother and one of the host sisters know a lot of english, so I hope to learn a lot from them. I am required to send an update a week after changing families to my district chairman here, so I will make sure to translate it and send a copy to you as well :)
I hope you had a very wonderful Christmas with your families and have a Happy New Year!!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Ariel Dunster -- Brazil
January 11, 2010
Claudenir and Prescila Couto
Rua Tocantins 77/51
Santos, SP, Brasil
11055-341
Claudenir and Prescila Couto
Rua Tocantins 77/51
Santos, SP, Brasil
11055-341
Summer vacation has been going well. I´ve been at the ocean practically everyday. There´s a group of Brazilians that like to play soccer every morning, so I´ve been hanging out with them a lot. I spent Christmas with my friends family because my host family was traveling, and it was amazing. All of the relatives got together for Christmas. It didn´t really feel like Christmas, but we were constantly in the pool or playing soccer. The Christmas traditions are so different here. We stayed up on Christmas eve and ate dinner at midnight on Christmas morning. Then my friend and I played Santa and Mrs. Claus and we gave the presents to the children of the family.
New Years Eve was a blast as well. The tradition is to wear a new white dress, and luckily I had bought a cheap one a couple days before New Years. I spent the time leading up to New Years with my family. It was a very religious New Years. My host uncle gave a sermon and we sang hymns all night. I enjoyed learning some Portuguese hymns. Then at midnight we went upstairs to watch the fireworks that were going off on the beach. After midnight I went to the beach with my brother and his friends. Everyone goes to the beach on New Years.
As for health, I was diagnosed on New Years with an ear infection, but the doctor prescribed ear drops to me and my ear was better after a week.
My Rotary club had a Christmas barbeque, and that was a lot of fun. The people in my Rotary club are very welcoming of me and always make me feel like part of the group.
Nothing has been going on in school. Summer vacation will be ending soon and school will be starting up in early February.
I´ll also be switching families soon. I´m suprised that I´ve already spent almost 3 months with my second family.
Eliza Chappell -- Spain
January 11, 2010
NAME/ ADDRESS OF HOST FAMILY:
SIMON-MARCOS
CALLE ANDALUCIA 7-4
28007 MADRID, MADRID
ESPANA
HOST CLUB:
ROTARY CLUB MADRID-SERRANO
ROTARY PARTICIPATION:
I have been in contact with my Rotary club.
I have been attending school daily at IES Isabel La Catolica in Madrid and have completed all assignments, projects, and tests.
This past month I experienced my first bout of real homesickness... something I suppose is considered normal during the holidays. I spent my Christmas, New Years, and Reyes Magos with my host family. For New Years, we went to the nearby city of Salamanca to visit relatives, which was absolutely beautiful. I am still loving every minute here.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Eliza Chappell -- Spain
December 13, 2009
HOST CLUB:
ROTARY CLUB MADRID-SERRANO
I attended the Rotary sponsored dinner for "Día de la Acción de Gracias" (Thanksgiving).
I have been attending school daily at IES Isabel La Catolica in Madrid and have completed all assignments, projects, and tests.
There is not much new to say, as I continue with my routine and my life here. I've been trying to take advantage of the cultural offerings in Madrid, so I've recently gone to the nearby city of Segovia (BEAUTIFUL) with another rotary exchange student friend, and I've also been checking out the many museums in Madrid with my spanish friends. Everything is going well with my friends- I have a nice close group as well as many other friends (it's easy to make friends when you're the "famous" American in school with the crazy glasses), and also with the family. We are now starting to try to arrange my USA family's visit to Spain. I must say, I haven't really gotten homesick... of course I'll have my moments, but overall I'm loving every minute of my exchange.
:)
-Eliza Chappell
HOST CLUB:
ROTARY CLUB MADRID-SERRANO
I attended the Rotary sponsored dinner for "Día de la Acción de Gracias" (Thanksgiving).
I have been attending school daily at IES Isabel La Catolica in Madrid and have completed all assignments, projects, and tests.
There is not much new to say, as I continue with my routine and my life here. I've been trying to take advantage of the cultural offerings in Madrid, so I've recently gone to the nearby city of Segovia (BEAUTIFUL) with another rotary exchange student friend, and I've also been checking out the many museums in Madrid with my spanish friends. Everything is going well with my friends- I have a nice close group as well as many other friends (it's easy to make friends when you're the "famous" American in school with the crazy glasses), and also with the family. We are now starting to try to arrange my USA family's visit to Spain. I must say, I haven't really gotten homesick... of course I'll have my moments, but overall I'm loving every minute of my exchange.
:)
-Eliza Chappell
Ariel Dunster -- Brasil
December 11, 2009
The past month went really well. My new family is perfect for me. I´ve been able to go out with my host sister sometimes as well as keep my own friend group. I turned 18 this month, and my host family made it a very special day for me. They even let me have my own birthday party upstairs in the party room.
I had tendonitus in my ankle this month, but it is getting better now. I had to take some time off of it, but I am beginning to return to the gym again and this Monday I will begin a program called "Face2Face," in which I will have a personal trainer for 40days, to help make sure that I do not overwork my ankle.
Many of the exchange students, including me, became homesick as the school year was wrapping up, but it was good because we were homesick together. We now are planning several activites to keep us distracted and create a greater bond between us. We´ve seen movies, had a sushi/ice cream night, and gone to the beach and the gym together. We also had a new exchange student from Australia enter our district for the short term program last week. Since we always have something to distract ourselves with, I don´t think anyone was homesick for more than a week.
One of the things that I love to do here is go to the Rotary meetings. Over the past month the governor has visited my Rotary club twice. I´ve also participated in the secret santa for my Rotary club and I have visited the Rotary Club of Santos a couple of times. The first time I visited this club, I actually met the man from ESSEX who placed me in Santos! He was there visiting our district.
School has ended for this year and it is now summer break. I´m spending a lot more time at the beach and the mall now. Everything here is going well and I´m excited for the holiday season to begin.
The past month went really well. My new family is perfect for me. I´ve been able to go out with my host sister sometimes as well as keep my own friend group. I turned 18 this month, and my host family made it a very special day for me. They even let me have my own birthday party upstairs in the party room.
I had tendonitus in my ankle this month, but it is getting better now. I had to take some time off of it, but I am beginning to return to the gym again and this Monday I will begin a program called "Face2Face," in which I will have a personal trainer for 40days, to help make sure that I do not overwork my ankle.
Many of the exchange students, including me, became homesick as the school year was wrapping up, but it was good because we were homesick together. We now are planning several activites to keep us distracted and create a greater bond between us. We´ve seen movies, had a sushi/ice cream night, and gone to the beach and the gym together. We also had a new exchange student from Australia enter our district for the short term program last week. Since we always have something to distract ourselves with, I don´t think anyone was homesick for more than a week.
One of the things that I love to do here is go to the Rotary meetings. Over the past month the governor has visited my Rotary club twice. I´ve also participated in the secret santa for my Rotary club and I have visited the Rotary Club of Santos a couple of times. The first time I visited this club, I actually met the man from ESSEX who placed me in Santos! He was there visiting our district.
School has ended for this year and it is now summer break. I´m spending a lot more time at the beach and the mall now. Everything here is going well and I´m excited for the holiday season to begin.
Gil Strizich -- Argentina
December 8, 2009
ArgentinaHost Club: Rotary Club of San Salvador de Jujuy, 4800
The majority of the month of November(9th- 27th) was spent traveling around Patagonia with fifty other rotary exchange students here in Argentina. It was a very fun trip and exposed to the great things that Argentina has to offer. We started the trip in Cordoba, then drove two days in bus to visit the Patagonian port city of Puerto Madryn, where we visited a seal colony in the Peninsula Valdez National Park and went on a whale watch. After spending three days in Puerto Madryn, we headed South to the town of Calafate, which was another two days on the bus. From Calafate we went on various excursions to experience the incredible nearby scenery, visiting the famous Petito Moreno Glacier( one of the few glaciers in the world that is still growing), and other National parks. After a couple days in Calafate we headed even further south towards the Tierra Del Fuego, crossing through Chile and over the Straight of Magellen, to reach Ushuaia(the Southern most city in the world). We spent 3 days in Ushuaia, then headed back north to Bariloche, stopping briefly to spend the night in the beautiful Patagonian town of Esquel. In Bariloche, Argentina's famous ski resort town, we visited the nearby lakes and other outdoor attractions. From Bariloche we headed 3 hours north to visit the last town on the tour, San Martin de Los Andes. This was my participation with rotary for the month of November.
ArgentinaHost Club: Rotary Club of San Salvador de Jujuy, 4800
The majority of the month of November(9th- 27th) was spent traveling around Patagonia with fifty other rotary exchange students here in Argentina. It was a very fun trip and exposed to the great things that Argentina has to offer. We started the trip in Cordoba, then drove two days in bus to visit the Patagonian port city of Puerto Madryn, where we visited a seal colony in the Peninsula Valdez National Park and went on a whale watch. After spending three days in Puerto Madryn, we headed South to the town of Calafate, which was another two days on the bus. From Calafate we went on various excursions to experience the incredible nearby scenery, visiting the famous Petito Moreno Glacier( one of the few glaciers in the world that is still growing), and other National parks. After a couple days in Calafate we headed even further south towards the Tierra Del Fuego, crossing through Chile and over the Straight of Magellen, to reach Ushuaia(the Southern most city in the world). We spent 3 days in Ushuaia, then headed back north to Bariloche, stopping briefly to spend the night in the beautiful Patagonian town of Esquel. In Bariloche, Argentina's famous ski resort town, we visited the nearby lakes and other outdoor attractions. From Bariloche we headed 3 hours north to visit the last town on the tour, San Martin de Los Andes. This was my participation with rotary for the month of November.
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