Fielding Padgett -- in France (Home Club: Salem)

October 16, 2012

My time in France has been great so far. I live in a small village about 45 minutes from Paris, which is very convenient for visiting Paris on the weekends. My relationship with my host family is great. I've been learning French more quickly due to the fact that they don't speak a word of English.  School has been very fun here, everyone is friendly and usually interested in me because I'm American. The rotary dinners have been great as well. My French is coming along well and I'm understanding more everyday. However, some classes are a little difficult because of how quickly the teachers speak, which is why I'm writing this report from my Spanish class. I'm on a soccer team here which has been a great experience so far. We won our first game 3-0, and I actually  had two of the goals. That definitely made me more popular with my teammates. To give a brief summary of the interesting things I've done since I've been here, I went to the top of the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame, a demolition derby, an island in western France for vacation, Disneyland, a soccer game in Paris, an Earth, Wind and Fire concert, and most recently, the beaches of Normandy and mont saint-michel with my rotary club.

Keith Roscoe -- in France (Home Club: Cobleskill)

October 16, 2012
 
Bonjour tout le monde!!

    Wow, do I have a lot to share.  I will start with most recent and work my way back.

This weekend I went to Mont St. Michel with Rotary. It was an interdistrict event, so there was about 200 students there! We were about 28 countries represented. A brief summary of the weekend: we traversed  (or at least half traversed) the bay by foot, returned and saw the traditional dance of the region (okay so really we were supposed to watch it but we were talking), then it was essentially a dance club with music and lights till the early morning (sanctioned by Rotary, don't worry), and then the next day I actually explored Mont St. Michel.  It is so beautiful. Unfortunately, I didn't have a large amount of time to explore.  However, I very much enjoyed it. The weekend started a little bizarre because our district came in two groups, one which was significantly later than the other.  Fortunately, I was on time.  My favorite part of the weekend was meeting everyone! Regardless whether it was the first time, or just seeing them again.  Everyone in rotary is a family, regardless.  This weekend and my other weekend also gave me a few ideas to share with the district back home.

I had the opportunity to travel to Concarneau, the town where my oldest host brother goes to college, and see the old "Ville Close" closed village. It is a historic town with ramparts and everything.  There is potential that I had "administrative things to do for my visa in Nantes" that Monday, if you catch my drift...

My Rotary Club had one big event I went to. Essentially it was a big fundraiser for this very old abbey, like we are talking 14th century old.  The theme was a garden party, sort of.  So, there were lots of venders of all sort of plants, etc.  It was fairly successful as it was the first event of its kind.

School is going well.  Honestly, I am making an effort to do the work...when I want to. That being said, I am motivated by the fact that I know it is all extremely good practice especially if I ever want to pursue a career in language or take the DELF/DALF.  This is something to share with all the other students.  Each government has its own special test that can certify a foreigner's capacity of the langauge.  I plan on taking a very high level of this test in May.  That being said, I need a fair amount practice.  The test I want to take is called the Diplome Approfondis de la Langue Francais.  Essentially, a test that says I am fluent and capable to form a solid argument in French.

Everything with the family is going well...Oh, I almost forgot! The family helped me throw my birthday party because it was my 18th birthday!! And, I just filled out my absentee ballot to vote (most uninformed political decision ever). Anyway, the party was very very nice, and I couldn't be happier.

Interesting fact, I have decided to learn portuguese.  I like it very much. 

Cordially,

Keith

Caleb Allison -- Venezuala (Home Club: Salem)

October 11, 2012

Host District: 4380

Current Host Family: The Fredianis

Counselor: Efraim Lopez Navarro 

I'm doing fine.  My health is good.  I am comfortable in my current home and my relationship with my host family is excellent.

I am attending school on a regular basis.  There aren't any extra curricular activities sponsored by the school.  I feel accepted by the students, even though I definitely occupy a unique "foreign kid" niche.

I have attended two regular rotary meetings as well as a meeting for exchange student candidates from Venezuela.  I last met with my counselor about a week ago in a diner.

I've been the guest of the host parents of the other exchange students. My relationship with my host club is excellent.

 

I am taking classes in karate and occasionally tag along in practice with the local swim team.  I went to a wedding of relative of my host family in Caracas three weeks ago.  The election just happened and Chavez was re-elected, but before that he and his rival Henrique Caprilles were in a closely contested race.  Both waged aggressive and at times dirty campaigns.  I observed rallies by both candidates and saw each in the flesh.

Aubrey Racz -- Ecuador (Home club: Southern Rensselaer)

October 9, 2012

4400 Portoviejo

7190

Medina

Pepe Lara

Health and Home: I am doing great!!! everything at home is fantastic. My health is good except for today. I stayed home from school becasue I was throwing up last night. I think I just ate something weird but my mom brought me tea and now I'm all better. My relationship is really good with my family.

School: I am still attending school everyday (except today). I feel very accepted by the students. They always help the exhange students when we need it and they invite us out when they do somehting.

Rotary: Every Wednesday I attend a meeting for rotary. I haven't met with my counselor in a while but he is going to the meeting tomorrow so I will see him then. One day I went with my friend from Denmark and her host brother who is a rotarian to the Miss Portoviejo beauty pagent. Last Wednesday I recieved my monthly allowance of 80 dollars. My relationship with both my host club and counselor are really good.

Activities: I have been to church a few times with my family. This past sunday, the exchagne students in my province went to la isla de la plata. It's an island similar to the Galapogos just smaller and has less species. It was really pretty and the birds have blue feet and use their poop for protection of their eggs.

Issues/ Concerns: I don't have any issues.

Antoine Fauville -- France (Host Club: Salem)

October 10, 2012

Health and Home:

1) Health? I'm good, I like football and I'm not sick yet
2) Comfortable in your current home? Yes
3) Relationship with your host family?  Ok

School

1) I go to each class,  I miss none of them
2) I participate in the play, and I play football
3) Kind of I feel like I'm a lion in a circus sometimes but I'ts ok.

Rotary

1) Attended any Rotary meetings? Yes
2)Met with your Rotary counselor?  two weeks ago, in the rotary House
3) Guest of any other Rotary members? Yes my third family, Padgett, they are awesome !
4) Receive your Rotary allowance?  Yes i did.
5) Relationship with your host club and counselor?  good, excellent

Activities

The week end in Maple Hill was the best moment ever; in Salem, not really much.  I've visit nothing yet, I'll go in new york with the Maple Hill city trip day in a few weeks

Issues

1) Well, I've some problem to pay the skipass for the whole season, and it's before the 16 october or it's going to be more expensive.. So I hope I could get a little help from the rotary, it could be really cool.

Thank you very much.

See you, Antoine

Ashley Costello -- Belgium

September 28, 2012

Host Rotary Club: Ocquier

Current Host Family:  Pierre Nicolai
Counselor Name: Christian Wery

Home Club:  Northern Lake George

Health and Home:

I am doing great! I am healthy. I am very comfortable with my host family. They are really nice. Immediately after my arrival in Belgium, my host family took me on a trip to Spain for five days. This trip definitely helped us get comfortable with one another before school started.

School:

I am attending school and going to class every day. I don't participate in any activities in school outside of class, however, I take a french course at the cultural center here every wednesday with another exchange student at my school. I definitely feel accepted by the other students in school and I've made many friends already.

Rotary:

I have attended several Rotary dinners and functions. My rotary club here organizes trips every other wednesday afternoon and they occasionally plan activities during the weekend for the exchange students. I see my Rotary counselor pretty much every day. He is a teacher at my school and he lives nearby so he occasionally drives me to and from school. I have received my allowance this month. My allowance is 65 euros. My relationship with both my host club and my counselor is fantastic.

Activities:

During our trip to Spain, my host family took me to see Salvador Dali's house and we visited a museum dedicated to him. We also visited a Monastery in Spain and a Roman Aquaduct in France. One of our Wednesday trips with Rotary was to a local coal mine. Very interesting :)

No concerns here! :) Thanks again!

David O'Connor -- France

September 27, 2012

I can't believe I've already been in France for a month! It's been an amazing experience. I've made a lot of progress in my French, and no longer have to ask people to slow down or repeat things (with the occasional exception). School's going well, I feel like I've made actual friends, and I still get random people who run up to me, say "Hello!" and run away. It's very tiring to think in French though, so by the end of most days I'm brain dead. The food's amazing and I've tried out every new thing I've been offered, which hasn't turned out bad yet. I spent my birthday in Heidelberg, Germany, which was absolutely incredible. I've been to a few Rotary functions and all the people have been very friendly and offered to take me out to do things - I'm going hunting this Saturday with someone from Rotary, and mountain biking on Sunday with a friend from school. All in all, it's going great!

David O'Connor
Home Club:  Albany Rotary