Lucy Holecek -- Belgium (Home Club: Albany)

Bonjour tout le monde, ça va?
Hello everyone, how's it going?

Belgium is pretty cold, but I can't complain because it's warmer than Albany right now. French is coming along, I still have difficulties, but I love the language so I'm trying my best. It's almost Christmas time and my presents are bought for my lovely host family. I love my family; me and my sister are finally starting to be great friends which is sad for me because I am moving out soon. This is okay though because we go to the same school and are in the same class. I hope everything is going well for everyone. It's all going so fast and can't believe another month has gone by. Happy holidays!

Lucy Holecek
Albany, NY --> Belgium

Shilo Christiansen -- Japan (Home Club: Cobleskill)

December 9, 2013

Host Rotary Club: 7190

Sponsor Rotary Club: 2560

Current Host Family: Sumimoto

Counselor Name: Nishiyama-san

It has been four months already? It's shocking to even think that! November was a very busy month. I went on the Rotary Excursion to Hiroshima. On the way we visited some beautiful shrines and temples, including one that required me to climb 1300 steps. It was hard, but the view was beautiful. We went to the Hiroshima Memorial, and it was difficult for everyone in the group. However, one thing I noticed, and was appreciative for was the message of the memorial. It wasn't placing blame on anyone, but it preached for peace and a message of:  "let's never let this happen again". I really found the memorial beautiful in many different aspects. 

School life is pretty much the same. I just began my one month of winter vacation! After that one month ends, I will be moved to a different class. The class I was with finished their college entrance exams and no longer need to attend school. I'm a little bit sad and excited for a new class and new friends. I took a Japanese Proficiency exam a week ago. I think it went pretty well. I did find that the listening section was the easiest among the sections, that's due to the immersion.

I changed host families. This host family is pretty different from my first one. They're an elderly couple and are very traditional and conservative. We do have a good relationship....It will be a good learning experience.

My relationship with my host club is good. Among the other exchange students, their expectations run higher for me. I'm not allowed to make the same mistakes as the others, because I'm held at a higher expectation. That is a little bit stressful, but I think it's because I often act as a translator for the other exchange students. My counselor is still amazing! Nishiyama-san is the kindest and thoughtful consoler I could wish for here. 

So all in all, it has been a great month! I'm really looking forward to Christmas and New Year's here. I am a little sad that it won't be the same warm Christmas I'm used to every year. I won't sing carols or watch Christmas movies with my family because Christmas isn't that big of a deal here. It's actually considered a romantic holiday, like Valentine's Day. I will be spending Christmas with my Japanese best friend and her lovely family. I'm really looking forward to it! 

Sincerely,

Shilo Christiansen

Anthony Vandyke -- Ecuador (Home Club: Salem)

December 4, 2013

So now I am a good way into my year long adventure in ecuador, I have made many more friends and have kept myself fairly busy here. School is rather boring but it has its fun moments. My friends invite me to go with them on the weekends which is a good break from the normal weekday routine. My Spanish is getting slightly better as the months pass but it is still quite difficult for me to speak more so then than the other exchange students, but I understand a lot more then before and can have simple conversations with my friends and host family. Recently I've been going out with the other exchange students and getting to know them and their cultures better.
I just recently came back from an amazing trip to the Amazon jungle in a resort called yasuni. It was a 2 hour boat ride from the airport into the jungle. It was very hot and humid but the scenery and wildlife was amazing, monkeys, lizards and many kinds of insects were everywhere. It was one of my favorite trips so far with rotary. It was kind of a short trip but very enjoyable and memorable.
So I think that's about it. I really am enjoying myself here and look forward to what more ecuador has to offer me in the the mother to come. I'm also hopeful that my Spanish will improve with practice. Adiós for now