September 11, 2008
I've been here for a little over a week and i love it. The spanish is going really well. Everyone keeps telling me that i can understand a lot and that my accent is really good. School hasn't started yet, because here it starts later but it's going to start next week and i'm really excited. I've already met a girl that lives in my neighborhood and she introduced me t a lot of her friends. I've been having a great time. The food is really good too and my family is very nice. They are very patient with me when they ned to talk a little slower of reword something. The weather is really nice, pretty sunny and around 80 degrees or up I'd say. Really, the only negative thing i can say right now is that when I hang out with a group of kids, sometimes it's hard because they all talk at once and it's really hard to understand them, but that all comes with time. I'll keep you posted.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Cathryn Salamone (Colonie-Guilderland Club) -- Japan
September 7, 2008
Kochi-shi, Japan
NAME: Cathryn Anne Salamone
NAME/ADDRESS OF HOST FAMILY: Kenji & Hinako Urata, 3-14-11 Hyakkoku-Cho, Kochi-City, Kochi Pref., JAPAN 780-8015
HOST CLUB: Kochi Chuo Rotary Club
ADDRESS: 1-3-35 Takajo-Machi, Kochi-City, Kochi-Pref., JAPAN
WHAT WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY FUNCTIONS THIS MONTH?
On August 28th my host club held a Welcome Party banqet for me at a nice hotel. Several Rotary memebers attended, along with a teacher from my school, the school`s principal, and four former exchangers who have just completed their year abroad in the US. In total there were about 30 or 40 people there, I was so thankful and couldn`t believe how many people came to welcome me to Japan. It was a wonderful night.
WHAT WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL/EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DURING THE MONTH?
I began school on September 1st, on which was the school`s welcome back ceremony as the school started up again for the next semester. I gave another speech at the ceremony, in front of 2,000 girls (my school is an all-girl`s school), all dressed alike in the school`s uniform. It was great, and I felt accomplished after giving the speech, as I wrote it and read it in the japanese script of hiragana, katakana and a little kanji, instead of using the roman alphabet. I have gotten involved in the Koto club at my school and am learning how to play the Koto, a traditional japanese instrument. In addition, I was offered to take Nihon-buyo, traditional japanese dance, which meets every Thursday, and I accepted. I love school very much and I enjoy my classes, even though I understand very lttle outside of English class.
WHAT IS THE STATE OF YOUR HEALTH?
I am healthy.
REPORT:
I arrived in Kochi Ryoma airport on August 23rd at around 8:30 or so at night after around 25 hours of travel. I was beyond the point of exaustion, when the mind spaces out and when you don`t really think or feel anything. But when I left the baggage claim and walked through the two automatic doors, a large cluster of cheering people appeared, with three girls holding a gigantic American flag. I remember walking out of Narita airport in Tokyo, anxious to make my connecting flight in a different airport, and seeing families holding signs of the names of my fellow exchangers that I had just met and eagerly scanning the crowd of people. I wished that my journey had ended there like so many of the other Rotexes, but I still had one more flight on my journey. But at that moment, finally at Kochi Ryoma airport, finally seeing my host family and Rotary club members and the girls from my school, I then realized that I was home. I left Albany, New York, I arrived in Chicago, then to Tokyo Narita, I boarded the bus to Haneda airport and navigated Haneda airport alone, found my gate and boarded the plane just in time. I did it, and I was finally home.
My life in Kochi has been great so far. I love my host family, Kenji and Hinako Urata. I speak enough Japanese and they speak a little english so that we can usually understand each other, which has been fantastic. I`ve always been a little nervous about not understanding people, but so far it has been not too bad. At school I can understand my classmates fairly well, and I am so thankful for the japanese class that I took at my high school last year, it has helped me so much. My home is small but not too small, and my room has an air conditioner, which is great, because Kochi is very hot, even in September. I ride my bike to school every morning and it is very nice, in America I`ve always wanted to ride my bike to school but I livet too far away and there was no place to put it. I like the ride to school, I ride over a large bridge and I look down at the river and look out to Kochi City in the mornings and the evenings.
Kochi is a great city. It`s big but not too big, and so far seems very safe. Everyone is so incredibly friendly at school and always are happy to help when I don`t know where my next class is or have a question about the lesson. My favorite subject in school so far is Dance, it is incredibly fun and I honestly get far more of a workout from Dance than from Gym. I again am so happy for the little japanese that I do know, because I have been able to make a few aquaintences and am able to hold a little conversation and make jokes at lunch time. I enjoy Japan so much already, it is very different and I enjoy learning about the differences greatly. I hope to have a year filled with experiences and I am working hard and studying japanese every day.
Kochi-shi, Japan
NAME: Cathryn Anne Salamone
NAME/ADDRESS OF HOST FAMILY: Kenji & Hinako Urata, 3-14-11 Hyakkoku-Cho, Kochi-City, Kochi Pref., JAPAN 780-8015
HOST CLUB: Kochi Chuo Rotary Club
ADDRESS: 1-3-35 Takajo-Machi, Kochi-City, Kochi-Pref., JAPAN
WHAT WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY FUNCTIONS THIS MONTH?
On August 28th my host club held a Welcome Party banqet for me at a nice hotel. Several Rotary memebers attended, along with a teacher from my school, the school`s principal, and four former exchangers who have just completed their year abroad in the US. In total there were about 30 or 40 people there, I was so thankful and couldn`t believe how many people came to welcome me to Japan. It was a wonderful night.
WHAT WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL/EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DURING THE MONTH?
I began school on September 1st, on which was the school`s welcome back ceremony as the school started up again for the next semester. I gave another speech at the ceremony, in front of 2,000 girls (my school is an all-girl`s school), all dressed alike in the school`s uniform. It was great, and I felt accomplished after giving the speech, as I wrote it and read it in the japanese script of hiragana, katakana and a little kanji, instead of using the roman alphabet. I have gotten involved in the Koto club at my school and am learning how to play the Koto, a traditional japanese instrument. In addition, I was offered to take Nihon-buyo, traditional japanese dance, which meets every Thursday, and I accepted. I love school very much and I enjoy my classes, even though I understand very lttle outside of English class.
WHAT IS THE STATE OF YOUR HEALTH?
I am healthy.
REPORT:
I arrived in Kochi Ryoma airport on August 23rd at around 8:30 or so at night after around 25 hours of travel. I was beyond the point of exaustion, when the mind spaces out and when you don`t really think or feel anything. But when I left the baggage claim and walked through the two automatic doors, a large cluster of cheering people appeared, with three girls holding a gigantic American flag. I remember walking out of Narita airport in Tokyo, anxious to make my connecting flight in a different airport, and seeing families holding signs of the names of my fellow exchangers that I had just met and eagerly scanning the crowd of people. I wished that my journey had ended there like so many of the other Rotexes, but I still had one more flight on my journey. But at that moment, finally at Kochi Ryoma airport, finally seeing my host family and Rotary club members and the girls from my school, I then realized that I was home. I left Albany, New York, I arrived in Chicago, then to Tokyo Narita, I boarded the bus to Haneda airport and navigated Haneda airport alone, found my gate and boarded the plane just in time. I did it, and I was finally home.
My life in Kochi has been great so far. I love my host family, Kenji and Hinako Urata. I speak enough Japanese and they speak a little english so that we can usually understand each other, which has been fantastic. I`ve always been a little nervous about not understanding people, but so far it has been not too bad. At school I can understand my classmates fairly well, and I am so thankful for the japanese class that I took at my high school last year, it has helped me so much. My home is small but not too small, and my room has an air conditioner, which is great, because Kochi is very hot, even in September. I ride my bike to school every morning and it is very nice, in America I`ve always wanted to ride my bike to school but I livet too far away and there was no place to put it. I like the ride to school, I ride over a large bridge and I look down at the river and look out to Kochi City in the mornings and the evenings.
Kochi is a great city. It`s big but not too big, and so far seems very safe. Everyone is so incredibly friendly at school and always are happy to help when I don`t know where my next class is or have a question about the lesson. My favorite subject in school so far is Dance, it is incredibly fun and I honestly get far more of a workout from Dance than from Gym. I again am so happy for the little japanese that I do know, because I have been able to make a few aquaintences and am able to hold a little conversation and make jokes at lunch time. I enjoy Japan so much already, it is very different and I enjoy learning about the differences greatly. I hope to have a year filled with experiences and I am working hard and studying japanese every day.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Rachel Hoffmann -- Bolivia
May 30, 2008
Saludos para todos!!!
Hello Everyone, I know it has been a long time since Ive written, but I figured I should still let you all know what is going on. I only have 17 more days until I am back in the big USA, and have really mixed feelings about it. Of course I am so excited to see my family, but I really really really dont want to leave this place. It has been such an amazzzzzzzzing year and its hard when things come to an end. I´ll be back June 16th.
Lets see....to catch up on what I have been up to... well, I am in love with my family. I switched in February and honestly I am so incredibly happy I did. It was a choice I wasnt really sure I wanted to make, but I am so happy now. I was happy before and I had a really great family also, but I am just feeling so comfortable with this one. They really have taken me in as another daughter and I just have the best time with them. I am not supposed to know, but my mom apparently is making plans to come visit the USA already. I will miss them so much. I have kind of finished the University. It has been going so great. They call me ¨La Reina de la U¨which is the queen of the university. I have such a fun time there, I get to see all of my friends and I have actually learned quite a bit in my geopolitica class. The semester ends on Monday so I think thats probably it for me. I was lucky to take a trip with my class about a month ago. We had such a fun time together.
Last weekend I went to a place called Samaipata with my family. We rented a cabaña and even though the weather wasnt perfect, we had a really nice time. The most dangerous road in the world is supposedly on the way to Las Yungas in La Paz, where theres pretty much one lane, you, and a huge cliff. I have never been there, but I joked that the road to Samaipata is the second most dangerous road. There are rockslides and probably enough room comfortably for one and a half cars. Then the cliff. But it was hard to be too scared because the view was just so amazingly beautiful. There were mountains rolling everywhere covered in trees, it was georgous. On the side of the road there were country people selling manderinas. Samaipata is in the valley of Santa Cruz, and its famous because well one, its beautiful, two, that is where Che Guevara spent the last days of his life and was killed in a town close by, by our very own CIA, and three, many years before the Incans built and lived in this really amazing ruins up on this mountain. So we went up to see the ruins in the afternoon, they call it the ¨fuerte¨or fort. It was just really amazing to have a 360 degree view of beautiful mountains, and I just thought that it was pretty obvious why they chose that place to live. It was so peaceful. We were up there for the sunset, it was really great.
It was one of my favorite places Ive been too, but then again, it seems like every place I go is my favorite, only that they are so distinto and I dont like one more than the other. I just love everything here!!
Its finally getting cold here. I mean its probably not cold for you guys, but when it was 95 one day and the next it is like 50, theres a huge change. And I dont know, the cold is different here. They are just starting their winter. I even have this big jacket that I have to wear because Im so cold. I feel like Im just not used to it though. At first I thought it was refreshing, but now Im really looking forward to hot weather again.
We are starting to do all of our ¨despedidas¨here. Which are the going away parties. I have had a few friends go home already, and Im starting to hate the airport. Everytime I go there it is a little reminder that my turn isnt too far off. But we are enjoying everything we can these last couple of weeks. Tonight I am going out with all of my friends and we are having a party at the place where I dance salsa. All of my salsa friends are coming, along with the exchange students, and friends from the U. So it should be really fun.
Well, I wish everyone the best, I know that you are all starting your summers and enjoying being together. I will try to write one last email before I go home, but if not, then you all know Im a litlte closer than I am now. Just in Minnesota. I miss you all so much!
See some of you in DC in about three months!!!!
Love,
Rach (Raquelita)
Saludos para todos!!!
Hello Everyone, I know it has been a long time since Ive written, but I figured I should still let you all know what is going on. I only have 17 more days until I am back in the big USA, and have really mixed feelings about it. Of course I am so excited to see my family, but I really really really dont want to leave this place. It has been such an amazzzzzzzzing year and its hard when things come to an end. I´ll be back June 16th.
Lets see....to catch up on what I have been up to... well, I am in love with my family. I switched in February and honestly I am so incredibly happy I did. It was a choice I wasnt really sure I wanted to make, but I am so happy now. I was happy before and I had a really great family also, but I am just feeling so comfortable with this one. They really have taken me in as another daughter and I just have the best time with them. I am not supposed to know, but my mom apparently is making plans to come visit the USA already. I will miss them so much. I have kind of finished the University. It has been going so great. They call me ¨La Reina de la U¨which is the queen of the university. I have such a fun time there, I get to see all of my friends and I have actually learned quite a bit in my geopolitica class. The semester ends on Monday so I think thats probably it for me. I was lucky to take a trip with my class about a month ago. We had such a fun time together.
Last weekend I went to a place called Samaipata with my family. We rented a cabaña and even though the weather wasnt perfect, we had a really nice time. The most dangerous road in the world is supposedly on the way to Las Yungas in La Paz, where theres pretty much one lane, you, and a huge cliff. I have never been there, but I joked that the road to Samaipata is the second most dangerous road. There are rockslides and probably enough room comfortably for one and a half cars. Then the cliff. But it was hard to be too scared because the view was just so amazingly beautiful. There were mountains rolling everywhere covered in trees, it was georgous. On the side of the road there were country people selling manderinas. Samaipata is in the valley of Santa Cruz, and its famous because well one, its beautiful, two, that is where Che Guevara spent the last days of his life and was killed in a town close by, by our very own CIA, and three, many years before the Incans built and lived in this really amazing ruins up on this mountain. So we went up to see the ruins in the afternoon, they call it the ¨fuerte¨or fort. It was just really amazing to have a 360 degree view of beautiful mountains, and I just thought that it was pretty obvious why they chose that place to live. It was so peaceful. We were up there for the sunset, it was really great.
It was one of my favorite places Ive been too, but then again, it seems like every place I go is my favorite, only that they are so distinto and I dont like one more than the other. I just love everything here!!
Its finally getting cold here. I mean its probably not cold for you guys, but when it was 95 one day and the next it is like 50, theres a huge change. And I dont know, the cold is different here. They are just starting their winter. I even have this big jacket that I have to wear because Im so cold. I feel like Im just not used to it though. At first I thought it was refreshing, but now Im really looking forward to hot weather again.
We are starting to do all of our ¨despedidas¨here. Which are the going away parties. I have had a few friends go home already, and Im starting to hate the airport. Everytime I go there it is a little reminder that my turn isnt too far off. But we are enjoying everything we can these last couple of weeks. Tonight I am going out with all of my friends and we are having a party at the place where I dance salsa. All of my salsa friends are coming, along with the exchange students, and friends from the U. So it should be really fun.
Well, I wish everyone the best, I know that you are all starting your summers and enjoying being together. I will try to write one last email before I go home, but if not, then you all know Im a litlte closer than I am now. Just in Minnesota. I miss you all so much!
See some of you in DC in about three months!!!!
Love,
Rach (Raquelita)
Whitney Brown -- Belgium
Monday, June 2, 2008
Hi Everyone!
I have been really busy since my last email. Belgium finalllllly has nice weather! Its finally warm and a lot less rain! Ive been busy going on day city trips around Belgium with other exchange students and concerts with my Belgian friends. lots of time spent outside, enjoying the sunny weather!
In the beginning of May I went to France with my host family for 4 days. They have a beautiful house in the countryside near Dijon. It was a quiet long weekend in the sun! It was so beautiful there... fields and fields of yellow flowers. We also went to visit an Abbey from the 1100s, so that was really exciting to see!
I also gave a presentation to the rotary about my year in Belgium. They had an American themed night which made it a lot of fun. Everyone wore american attire (jeans and sneakers), we had a big american BBQ with ribs and chicken wings and cole slaws, and they even arranged a line dancing lesson! haha it was a fun time. My presentation was a big hit! everyone loved it. I spoke for 45 minutes, entirely in dutch!! I was quite proud of myself and everyone was amazed at how quickly i learned the language! So that was an exciting moment!
Last week I went to sunny spain with my step mom, sisters, aunt, and grandma. And it was an amazing trip!! We stayed right on the southern coast near Malaga. It was soooo beautiful! We visit the impressive Picasso Museum, went to a spanish market, visited Granada and the Alambra, and had lots of delicious spanish foods and sangria! We had a great time soaking in the sun on the beach and catching up together. It was great! :-)
Tomorrow is my last day of school because then the final exams begin for the rest of the students. So I am free for the rest of June and will be spending a lot of time enjoying my last few weeks in Belgium with the other exchange students who are also finished with school. Only 23 more days and I am home sweet home! I hope all is well and see you all soon!!
Love,Whitney
Hi Everyone!
I have been really busy since my last email. Belgium finalllllly has nice weather! Its finally warm and a lot less rain! Ive been busy going on day city trips around Belgium with other exchange students and concerts with my Belgian friends. lots of time spent outside, enjoying the sunny weather!
In the beginning of May I went to France with my host family for 4 days. They have a beautiful house in the countryside near Dijon. It was a quiet long weekend in the sun! It was so beautiful there... fields and fields of yellow flowers. We also went to visit an Abbey from the 1100s, so that was really exciting to see!
I also gave a presentation to the rotary about my year in Belgium. They had an American themed night which made it a lot of fun. Everyone wore american attire (jeans and sneakers), we had a big american BBQ with ribs and chicken wings and cole slaws, and they even arranged a line dancing lesson! haha it was a fun time. My presentation was a big hit! everyone loved it. I spoke for 45 minutes, entirely in dutch!! I was quite proud of myself and everyone was amazed at how quickly i learned the language! So that was an exciting moment!
Last week I went to sunny spain with my step mom, sisters, aunt, and grandma. And it was an amazing trip!! We stayed right on the southern coast near Malaga. It was soooo beautiful! We visit the impressive Picasso Museum, went to a spanish market, visited Granada and the Alambra, and had lots of delicious spanish foods and sangria! We had a great time soaking in the sun on the beach and catching up together. It was great! :-)
Tomorrow is my last day of school because then the final exams begin for the rest of the students. So I am free for the rest of June and will be spending a lot of time enjoying my last few weeks in Belgium with the other exchange students who are also finished with school. Only 23 more days and I am home sweet home! I hope all is well and see you all soon!!
Love,Whitney
Allie Ritz -- Italy
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Ciao.
Sorry I haven't written these last couple months. I completely forgot until now. Well things are going better. Its warm and I can go outside and be active. Nothing special to report. But I stoked to see my sister in Italy tour with her after the school years done!!!!!!! Hope everyone is doing well.
Ciao.
Sorry I haven't written these last couple months. I completely forgot until now. Well things are going better. Its warm and I can go outside and be active. Nothing special to report. But I stoked to see my sister in Italy tour with her after the school years done!!!!!!! Hope everyone is doing well.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Lauren Bardin -- z Ceské Republice
May 29, 2008
Ahoj, So, here I am with less than 4 weeks in this country and I'm not so sure I'm ready to say goodbye and leave. Another boy in my town here is leaving in less than 2 weeks, which I can't imagine, but it'll be here all too soon.
May here has seemed very similar to May at home, when kids are getting antsy in school and the weather is getting warmer and people are outside wearing t-shirts and sandals. It's been beautiful here and the fields are FULL of bright yellow blossoms, it's amazing! We have corn fields everywhere at home, but here it is all bright, beautiful yellow, (used for oil).
We've had a few Rotary functions this month, one of which was a benefit concert. We had to dress in our lovely Rotary jackets with the pins and present some flowers to people on stage. It was pretty amusing (mostly for people in the audience) because not even the people in charge knew exactly when or to whom we were supposed to present them. Afterwards, we were invited to a little gathering and I got to meet some Rotarians from Germany and the Netherlands, so that made it exciting.
Last weekend, we had the Rotary District Conference in Prague. We got to meet the Slovakian exchange students and we presented and sang some songs for the Rotarians then had a big fancy lunch with everyone. It was the last time I saw a lot of my exchange friends and it was really difficult to say goodbye. It made me realize that the end is nearing and it officially hit me that this year is over and I have more, harder goodbyes to do soon.
The next two weekends there are some exciting things planned in Trebic, like a rock festival. It's supposively very notorious and there will even be an American band there. I'm excited to hear some live music and do something outside because the weather is finally nice enough.
There are so many things I realize I need to accomplish before I leave here and I just hope I can do it all. It's going to be a miracle to fit all my things in my two suitcases and bring them back to the States. I know the sun is finally coming out in NY as well, so enjoy it! I will be returning on june 24 and seeing you all soon! Take care!
Ahoj, So, here I am with less than 4 weeks in this country and I'm not so sure I'm ready to say goodbye and leave. Another boy in my town here is leaving in less than 2 weeks, which I can't imagine, but it'll be here all too soon.
May here has seemed very similar to May at home, when kids are getting antsy in school and the weather is getting warmer and people are outside wearing t-shirts and sandals. It's been beautiful here and the fields are FULL of bright yellow blossoms, it's amazing! We have corn fields everywhere at home, but here it is all bright, beautiful yellow, (used for oil).
We've had a few Rotary functions this month, one of which was a benefit concert. We had to dress in our lovely Rotary jackets with the pins and present some flowers to people on stage. It was pretty amusing (mostly for people in the audience) because not even the people in charge knew exactly when or to whom we were supposed to present them. Afterwards, we were invited to a little gathering and I got to meet some Rotarians from Germany and the Netherlands, so that made it exciting.
Last weekend, we had the Rotary District Conference in Prague. We got to meet the Slovakian exchange students and we presented and sang some songs for the Rotarians then had a big fancy lunch with everyone. It was the last time I saw a lot of my exchange friends and it was really difficult to say goodbye. It made me realize that the end is nearing and it officially hit me that this year is over and I have more, harder goodbyes to do soon.
The next two weekends there are some exciting things planned in Trebic, like a rock festival. It's supposively very notorious and there will even be an American band there. I'm excited to hear some live music and do something outside because the weather is finally nice enough.
There are so many things I realize I need to accomplish before I leave here and I just hope I can do it all. It's going to be a miracle to fit all my things in my two suitcases and bring them back to the States. I know the sun is finally coming out in NY as well, so enjoy it! I will be returning on june 24 and seeing you all soon! Take care!
Jessica Wilke -- Poland
May 26, 2008
I cant believe how long it has been since I have written! (I'm sorry!)
Ive been living with my 5th host family (counting the family i lived with for the 1st 2 weeks i lived in poland) for about 2 months now. Id say they are defiently my favorite family, and having 3 daughters there's always something going on! With them I've also gotten to go to many musical shows; philharmonica, an opera, a saxophone concert, and seen different parts of poland as well, which was great because the other families were also too busy for that.
In the begining of May as well as visiting family with my host family, was the 3rd exchange conference in Cracow (for sure one of my favorite cities in Poland!). It of course was tons of fun being with everyone again but also a very important time because we attended the March of the Living in Auszwitz (one of the largest concentration camps) where thousands of Jews gathered from all over the world to march through and around the camp. Going there was one of the most important things to me, to go and do while I was here in Poland. Although, as great as it was to be a part of something like that, it also took away from the solemness in this place, because of the joy that was there as this march is about conquering this horrible time and the fact that there still are millons of jews today. So i would really have liked to go a different time as well, that i could just really have the time and quietness to be in this place.
On a different note, the reality of this year coming to an end seems to be ever present in these last few weeks. It seems to be the most popular subject with just about everyone I talk to, in Poland and back home :( Last week I spent the week in Torun visitng my 1st host family and the other exchange students living there and most of the time we just sat by the river in the sun and talked about the year, and how we've changed and what we have experienced (mostly practicing answering the obvious questions we will be asked a million times when we get home haha). I didn't think I would feel so sad but the fact that this place, which has has been my home for the last year(through the best and worst times of my life) and the fact that most likely i will never see the majority of the people ive met here, ever again!
At this point im just planning my last few days here, trying to make the most of it and making sure to say goodbye to everyone that i can! And also, today is the last rotary meeting I will be attending and i will say a short speech in polish, saying goodbye and thanking them for allowing me to be here.
This Thursday is the last exchance student conference, its near the Baltic sea and should be the best meeting but also the sadest!!!! On sunday starts our 3 week Euro trip for those who are going (and for those who arent ill be saying goodbye to that day.) I am so excited to be going to; Germany, Holland, Belgium. France, Monaco, Italy and Hungary!! It's for sure the best way to end my year here and 2 days after i get back from this trip i will be going back to the USA.
Thank you so much for this opportunity, it really has been the best year of my life. Being an exchange student is something that can't really be understood unless you have experienced it. My friend has this saying "Americans don't get it, poles dont get it, only americans in poland get it". Of course its not just americans or just going to poland, but the point is the same. This year will forever be the hearts of all the exchange students all over the world this year, and now i can really understand why, when i talk to past exchangers, their year away still sticks out so much to them, as being one of the best!
-Jessica (poland)
I cant believe how long it has been since I have written! (I'm sorry!)
Ive been living with my 5th host family (counting the family i lived with for the 1st 2 weeks i lived in poland) for about 2 months now. Id say they are defiently my favorite family, and having 3 daughters there's always something going on! With them I've also gotten to go to many musical shows; philharmonica, an opera, a saxophone concert, and seen different parts of poland as well, which was great because the other families were also too busy for that.
In the begining of May as well as visiting family with my host family, was the 3rd exchange conference in Cracow (for sure one of my favorite cities in Poland!). It of course was tons of fun being with everyone again but also a very important time because we attended the March of the Living in Auszwitz (one of the largest concentration camps) where thousands of Jews gathered from all over the world to march through and around the camp. Going there was one of the most important things to me, to go and do while I was here in Poland. Although, as great as it was to be a part of something like that, it also took away from the solemness in this place, because of the joy that was there as this march is about conquering this horrible time and the fact that there still are millons of jews today. So i would really have liked to go a different time as well, that i could just really have the time and quietness to be in this place.
On a different note, the reality of this year coming to an end seems to be ever present in these last few weeks. It seems to be the most popular subject with just about everyone I talk to, in Poland and back home :( Last week I spent the week in Torun visitng my 1st host family and the other exchange students living there and most of the time we just sat by the river in the sun and talked about the year, and how we've changed and what we have experienced (mostly practicing answering the obvious questions we will be asked a million times when we get home haha). I didn't think I would feel so sad but the fact that this place, which has has been my home for the last year(through the best and worst times of my life) and the fact that most likely i will never see the majority of the people ive met here, ever again!
At this point im just planning my last few days here, trying to make the most of it and making sure to say goodbye to everyone that i can! And also, today is the last rotary meeting I will be attending and i will say a short speech in polish, saying goodbye and thanking them for allowing me to be here.
This Thursday is the last exchance student conference, its near the Baltic sea and should be the best meeting but also the sadest!!!! On sunday starts our 3 week Euro trip for those who are going (and for those who arent ill be saying goodbye to that day.) I am so excited to be going to; Germany, Holland, Belgium. France, Monaco, Italy and Hungary!! It's for sure the best way to end my year here and 2 days after i get back from this trip i will be going back to the USA.
Thank you so much for this opportunity, it really has been the best year of my life. Being an exchange student is something that can't really be understood unless you have experienced it. My friend has this saying "Americans don't get it, poles dont get it, only americans in poland get it". Of course its not just americans or just going to poland, but the point is the same. This year will forever be the hearts of all the exchange students all over the world this year, and now i can really understand why, when i talk to past exchangers, their year away still sticks out so much to them, as being one of the best!
-Jessica (poland)
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