Keith Roscoe -- France (Home: Cobleskill)

March 15, 2013
Bonjour,

    How is everyone? I decided to start with this question because it seems that I am always sending out updates but never receiving any. Now, it is your turn! Even if it is just a short message. I would very much like to hear from you. Now what have I been up to?

    Well we just had our 2 week mid-winter break. I went to Paris with my host family! That's right. Paris! More details about that in a few; Other than that things have been pretty normal around here.  The weather seemed to have given us a sneak peak of spring, but now we are back to snow, sleet, and rain.  I am growing fed up of the weather. All I want is nice warm weather. School is as annoying as normal, but I feel like I am starting to get along more and more with the frenchies. Rotary Life; I have been going to my usual club meetings and events. The other day I stayed overnight at my councilor's house after going to the movies; In France the rotary does a fundraiser where they sell movie tickets to a movie debut. So, it is like a rotary specific premiere.  The movie we saw was the new version of "The Wizard of Oz." To give you an idea of the "time difference" between American Culture and France, that movie just came out.

    Now, Paris! We were in Paris for 5 nights/4 days. On arriving Monday we took a quick tour of Paris by night in the car. The first time I saw the Eiffel Tower.  Then we went to the family friend's house where we were spending the night. The next day we fought through the traffic and finally made it into Paris; We started off by seeing the "Place Vendôme." I'd say it is like the equivalent of the "5th Street" of Paris.  This is where the most expensive stores I have ever seen are located. My host mom made the choice that if I wanted to buy a new suitcase then I should do it here.  What made that funny is that we were in front of the Louis Vuitton store. In the same little plaza there were Chanel, Rolex, Dior, and even the Ritz. Can you imagine? I believe it is obvious that I did not buy my souvenirs here. Sorry to let you guys down, but no Louis Vuitton or Chanel for you.  That day was essentially non-stop. We also visited the Champs Elysées, Place de la Concord, L'Arc de Triomphe, Jardin des Tuileries, Champs de Maris, Eiffel Tower, Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and we walked along the Seine. The next day we did Versailles in the morning and the Louvre in the afternoon. Both were very beautiful but since the weather wasn't that nice the gardens at Versailles weren't that great. Since it was the off-season the fountains were not working.  There was also a fountain under restoration. I feel as if every fountain I go see is under construction.  But, the next day we visited the "Happiest Place on Earth." Since, it was my first Disney Experience, I am very happy to have done it. It was great. I recommend Disney to everyone!

 
   6 Months! Soon to be 7 before I know it. I know I repeat it in every email, but its true. I just can't believe it. I will be back in the states doing my college work before we realize it!

Alyxe Perry -- Belgium

 This past January, Alyxe Perry posted the following in her own blog, alyxeperrybelgium.  It is a wonderful statement on how the Rotary Exchange experience can affect a student.  Thanks, Alyxe!

Living the dream. by alyxeperry

So I can't even begin to express in words how much exchange has changed my life, but I'm going to take the challenge and try. I came here as an 18 year old girl not knowing what to expect just hoping for the best ready to learn. I had ideas about life, what I was going to do and where I would live, the things everyone thinks about. I look back now and the words that go through my head as think about those moments were "wow how could my mind be so small" and I wasn't one with a "small mind" I thought. I realize it's not that I wasn't thinking big enough, it's that my imagination was controlled by what I knew and my previous life experiences. As the months went by I began changing, in the best way possible, I learned so much. Met friends from around the world and started to understand how the once so BIG world is actually very small and reachable. Anything is possible. I think my brain is different now. I dream so much more than I ever did before. Not the dreams you have at night, but life dreams, and goals. They are not just dreams, they can easily become reality. Through this whole process I have learned how to do that. Make connections with people, don't ever be afraid to talk to someone. Everyone has something to offer in this world and who knows you could be a part of that something, for the rest of your life. KEEP AN OPEN MIND, a closed mind gets you no where. I have found that a lot of people, and I think I was a bit like this before my exchange, don't take in all thoughts. When minds work together they are one thousand times stronger than minds that work separately. One person can't always be right. Respect everyone, you never know when you will see them again or what opportunities they could present you.

As I approach the halfway mark of my exchange I have so much to reflect on, and think about. I have never felt so many emotions in my entire life. I am so grateful to have this opportunity. I never would have thought that being so far away from your home can actually bring you so much closer. I was thinking the other day about the word "home". We always say it but what does it really mean. The place you were born? The place you are currently living? The place your family lives? Throughout our lives "homes" come and go. The phrase "home is where the heart is" has never meant so much to me before because it defined the word home for me. I AM at home here in Belgium. I have two homes here, two families that have taken me in, provided for me, loved me, and nourished me for the time that I stayed there. I will always love them and leave a piece of my heart with them, therefore calling it my home. I also have a home back in New York. What my real family likes to think of as my "real home" where i grew up, and spent so much of my life. Where so much of my heart is too. I have never loved that home more than I do now being away from it. It is really hard to wrap your head around and I apologize if you have to read this paragraph a few times. If you've ever questioned where home is, don't. Whatever comes to your head and you feel in your heart, is home, you can have more than one.

I want you guys to feel inspired. Think about life and all that you have done. It's honestly amazing. A truly beautiful thing. It's something everyone has, but nobody's is the same. We all chose different paths different ways of living. Through that we develop thoughts and ideas we learn from. Everything you do is important, every decision you make has an effect. Think about one day you were planing to go out, even if it was just to the grocery store, but instead you decided to stay home or do it tomorrow. That changes the people you see, the people you could potentially meet, the opportunities you could have. Don't let those opportunities wait until tomorrow, they may not be there.

I think a really good word to describe myself right now is open. Open to new things, open mind, open heart. This all leads me to who I have become, something school could never teach me only I could find by myself through exchange.

Live like there's no tomorrow. Enjoy the little things in life. Slow down, look around and take a deep breath. Put a smile on your face, even if you're sad, life looks better when you smile. :) Be thankful. Appreciate. LOVE. Make everything fun. Sing at the top of your lungs. Dance like you just got new legs.

.......and just enjoy life, it's not a chore, it's a gift. Pretend it's Christmas and reopen the best gift you've ever gotten...today :)

Kirsten Beth Lomnitzer -- Brazil (Home: North Creek)

March 12, 2013
Sponsoring Club: North Creek Rotary Club District 7190
Host Club: Sao Luis, Sao Fransisco Rotary Club District 4490


Hello again! Sorry about being late for this months report, I can down with a bug the day it was due and am only now catching up to where I'm supposed to be with both my school work and other parts of my life. I'm fine now, I made sure to drink lots of juice (which is something I will really miss when I return to the states, there is nothing quite like fresh squeezed juice that isn't Tropicana...) and get lots of rest. I wasn't the only one to come down with it, my host sister caught it as well. But enough about me getting sick, February was rather boring... Who am I kidding? February had Carnival, loud music, Carnival, dancing, Carnival, spraying (and getting sprayed) your host sister with cans of foam (apparently it's a tradition...) and did I mention Carnival? Needless to say I had a very fun February.

Sincerely,
Kirsten Beth Lomnitzer (a.k.a. Kiki)

Aubrey Racz -- Ecuador

March 11, 2013

 

Everything is going really well here. I had to adjust to my new family becasue they are very different from my first family but everything is going well. Life has been a little boring during the vacation. It's not always easy to just get up and say "Oh lets go there today." My parents work and can't always bring me and taxis arent the safest option either. I definitely miss having my car. Neverthelesss , I really love it down here. My health is great. Everything with Rotary as well is great. Im really excited because tomorrow i have my trip to the galapagos islands!!! Should be a blast!!!