October 9, 2013
Hello from Ecuador! My first month here has been quite an experience.
I've gotten to know my host family a lot better, learn how they live
their everyday lives and managed to learn a good amount of Spanish.
I've attended school for several weeks but just returned from a
language camp on a resort on the beach in Monpiche. My Spanish is coming
along but very slowly. Luckily some of my friends at my school know a
little English to help me get by in class and to teach me spanish. I
also just joined a track team last week to practice pole vaulting again
and to stay in shape. I'm having a lot of fun here and I will be going
on a trip next week to a different beach. I really enjoy the city and
being able to walk or take a taxi everywhere. So far it's been quite the
adventure and I can't wait for what the next months ahead have in
store for me.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Brendan Kelley -- Brazil (Home Club: Albany)
October 10, 2013
I'm having a great time in Brazil. I just had a meeting last week with a bunch of other rotary students, and I realized that I hadn't done any monthly updates. I'm really sorry I forgot about them, and want to get back on track as soon as possible.
Here in Brazil I'm living on a farm outside my city, Pirapora. It's nice to be around animals, and to eat lots of natural foods all the time. My second week here I milked my first cow. My host family is really nice, and I'm doing well with school as well.
I've acclimated really well to Brazilian culture and my Portuguese is coming along nicely. I have next week off so I'm looking forward to that.
I'm having a great time in Brazil. I just had a meeting last week with a bunch of other rotary students, and I realized that I hadn't done any monthly updates. I'm really sorry I forgot about them, and want to get back on track as soon as possible.
Here in Brazil I'm living on a farm outside my city, Pirapora. It's nice to be around animals, and to eat lots of natural foods all the time. My second week here I milked my first cow. My host family is really nice, and I'm doing well with school as well.
I've acclimated really well to Brazilian culture and my Portuguese is coming along nicely. I have next week off so I'm looking forward to that.
Shilo Christiansen -- Japan (Home club: Cobleskill)
October 11, 2013
Host Rotary Club: 7190
Sponsor Rotary Club: 2560
Current Host Family: Minami
Counselor Name: Nishiyama-san
I’m doing really well these days. I’m very healthy and loving life at school and with my friends....
School is amazing! Of course it’s boring like school in any country is. I’m so lucky to have such great friends that make school interesting for me. Most times during classes, I study my languages, read, or do nothing. I joined Japanese tea ceremony club, which is a perfect club for me. I sit in a room, drink tea, eat some snacks, and chat with my friends. I feel so accepted by my classmates. My class is like one big family.
I went to a Rotex picnic in Kyoto a couple weekends ago. It was really nice, and the Rotex members were all so nice. I last met Nishiyama-san at the monthly rotary meeting. He’s taking me to a tea ceremony at a temple soon, I’m really excited! I did receive my allowance, it was roughly 90 dollars, because of my cellphone bill. My relationship with my host club is excellent, and with my counselor excellent.
I haven’t done anything super exciting recently. I’m just really content with spending a lot of time with my friends, and learning Japanese. It has become a lot harder as I have advanced. I think a lot of times the older people around me expect a lot more out of me than the rest of the exchange students in my group. That’s a bit of a burden. All in all, I’m really happy with my time here so far.
Host Rotary Club: 7190
Sponsor Rotary Club: 2560
Current Host Family: Minami
Counselor Name: Nishiyama-san
I’m doing really well these days. I’m very healthy and loving life at school and with my friends....
School is amazing! Of course it’s boring like school in any country is. I’m so lucky to have such great friends that make school interesting for me. Most times during classes, I study my languages, read, or do nothing. I joined Japanese tea ceremony club, which is a perfect club for me. I sit in a room, drink tea, eat some snacks, and chat with my friends. I feel so accepted by my classmates. My class is like one big family.
I went to a Rotex picnic in Kyoto a couple weekends ago. It was really nice, and the Rotex members were all so nice. I last met Nishiyama-san at the monthly rotary meeting. He’s taking me to a tea ceremony at a temple soon, I’m really excited! I did receive my allowance, it was roughly 90 dollars, because of my cellphone bill. My relationship with my host club is excellent, and with my counselor excellent.
I haven’t done anything super exciting recently. I’m just really content with spending a lot of time with my friends, and learning Japanese. It has become a lot harder as I have advanced. I think a lot of times the older people around me expect a lot more out of me than the rest of the exchange students in my group. That’s a bit of a burden. All in all, I’m really happy with my time here so far.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Michaela Schnore -- Finland (Host club -- Glenville Rotary)
October 2, 2013
Wow! I can't believe I have been living in Finland for 8 weeks now! Practically two months! The first jakso of school has already come to an end, as of today. And on Thursday I start a new jakso and a new schedule.
Wow! I can't believe I have been living in Finland for 8 weeks now! Practically two months! The first jakso of school has already come to an end, as of today. And on Thursday I start a new jakso and a new schedule.
I haven't had to attend class since last Tuesday because it
has been the exam week at school, and on Thursday I return to school
for just over a week until it is Autumn Break already. I will be taking
conversational English and Spanish, textile design, recording studio
music, and physics. I am looking forward to a more challenging course
schedule.
It has gotten colder and darker here already and it has put
me in a Christmas mood prematurely. Admittedly, I did watch White
Christmas the other night, and I have already begun practicing some
Christmas music for guitar.
I was only homesick a few times this month, and not for very long either. Within the month, on October 26th
I will be moving into Klaukkala city to live with my second host
family. I'm sure it will be a very bittersweet time for me. I really
love my current host family, but it will definitely be nice to be closer
to the school and all my friends.
A lot has happened in the past month, its hard to remember it
all. The Rotex organized their first meeting with the students in
district 1420 and it was a fun time. My best friend from Rotary, Sarah,
got to spend the night in Lepsämä which was a lot of fun, we made real
American pancakes. I attended a few Rotary meetings, one was a visit to a
rehabilitation center, and the other was a presentation on Nuclear
safety in Finland. And tonight, I went with Sarah's host family to a
hockey match between Jokerit of Helsinki and Ilves of Tampere. Jokerit
got slaughtered at 4-0.
Sincerely,
Michaela Schnore
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