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.

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!!

Ariel Dunster -- Brazil

January 11, 2010

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.

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

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.

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.