October 8, 2009
HOST FAMILY:
Simon Marcos7-4 C/ Andalucía28007 Madrid
HOST CLUB: RC Madrid- Serano
PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY FUNCTIONS: I attended a Rotary meeting/meal with the other exchange students and met my counselor. I also attended the Rotary Exchange Orientation weekend with the other exchange students.
PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: I have been attending IES Isabel La Católica daily and completing all assignments.
My first month in Spain has been wonderful. My host family is perfect and they are trying to make me feel as at home as possible. School is nice, although it is still difficult to understand everyone. I'm beginning to get into a routine here and have friends, and it's starting to feel like my home. My spanish is coming along little by little, and I'm trying hard to reach fluency as quickly as possible. I honestly am not feeling homesick for the most part, although I'm a little bit sad to miss the Upstate New York fall colors. I'm not sure what else to say, but I assure all is well with me.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Gilbert Thomas Strizich -- Argentina
September 15, 2009
District 4800
Club of San Savador de Jujuy, Argentina
Home address:
Familia Atencio
Pasaje Fatima S/N
Yala, ep 4616
Provincia deJujuy
Argentina
During the last month I have attended two Rotary meetings. At the first meeting, all of the exchange students were introduced to the members of the Club. We then discussed possible community service opportunities that we could participate in. During the second meeting, the majority of the meeting was spent discussing whether or not the Exchange students should take language classes at the local University.
I have been attending school regularly. However, because it is the 'National Festival of the Students' in September, all of the local schools have been working on their parade floats, so most of my time in school has been spent making paper flowers. Once the festival is over at the end of September, normal classes will start up again. I have also been attending a local gymnasium to work out, and in addition to that have been taking Jui-Jitsu classes at another local gym.
I am in good health. I had a minor cold early on, but that has since gone away.
District 4800
Club of San Savador de Jujuy, Argentina
Home address:
Familia Atencio
Pasaje Fatima S/N
Yala, ep 4616
Provincia deJujuy
Argentina
During the last month I have attended two Rotary meetings. At the first meeting, all of the exchange students were introduced to the members of the Club. We then discussed possible community service opportunities that we could participate in. During the second meeting, the majority of the meeting was spent discussing whether or not the Exchange students should take language classes at the local University.
I have been attending school regularly. However, because it is the 'National Festival of the Students' in September, all of the local schools have been working on their parade floats, so most of my time in school has been spent making paper flowers. Once the festival is over at the end of September, normal classes will start up again. I have also been attending a local gymnasium to work out, and in addition to that have been taking Jui-Jitsu classes at another local gym.
I am in good health. I had a minor cold early on, but that has since gone away.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Ariel Dunster -- Brazil
September 14, 2009
NAME/ADDRESS OF HOST FAMILY:
Adolfo and Solange Perez
Avenida Pinheiro Machado 678/95
bairro Marape, Santos, São Paulo
Brazil 11075- 002 .
.
WHAT WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY FUNCTIONS DURING THE PAST MONTH? .
*Attended 3 meetings
*District orientation meeting for all exchange students in district 4420 (Santos, ABCD, São Paulo)
WHAT WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL/EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DURING THE MONTH?
*Attended class regularly; completed work and tests in several subjects; stayed after school to complete labs
*Attended a PE class afterschool once a week
*I play soccer with classmates afterschool on Fridays .
WHAT IS THE STATE OF YOUR HEALTH? .
*Good; taking extra precautions because 5 students in my school were diagnosed with Swine Flu
I gained 3 pounds in my first month, but I just joined a gym 2 weeks ago that I go to 4 times a week. I have made several friends, and they are all very nice, patient, and accepting of me. I am learning new sports, such as handball and surfing. I´m enjoying trying new foods, and I´ve begun a Brazilian recipe book.
NAME/ADDRESS OF HOST FAMILY:
Adolfo and Solange Perez
Avenida Pinheiro Machado 678/95
bairro Marape, Santos, São Paulo
Brazil 11075- 002 .
.
WHAT WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN ROTARY FUNCTIONS DURING THE PAST MONTH? .
*Attended 3 meetings
*District orientation meeting for all exchange students in district 4420 (Santos, ABCD, São Paulo)
WHAT WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL/EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DURING THE MONTH?
*Attended class regularly; completed work and tests in several subjects; stayed after school to complete labs
*Attended a PE class afterschool once a week
*I play soccer with classmates afterschool on Fridays .
WHAT IS THE STATE OF YOUR HEALTH? .
*Good; taking extra precautions because 5 students in my school were diagnosed with Swine Flu
I gained 3 pounds in my first month, but I just joined a gym 2 weeks ago that I go to 4 times a week. I have made several friends, and they are all very nice, patient, and accepting of me. I am learning new sports, such as handball and surfing. I´m enjoying trying new foods, and I´ve begun a Brazilian recipe book.
Keegan Griffith -- Finland
September 9, 2009
Host Club: Akaa, 9883, Finland District 1390
Pyhtilä
Rauhantie 8
Vesilahti, 37470
Finland
Participation in Rotary: Attended 2 meetings and a fundraiser.
Participation in School: Went every day.
Everything is going well here. I am slowly learning the language. I have made many friends who are eager to speak English. The weather is starting to get colder but that was expected. The school is very nice the lunches are free and very good. My host family is wonderful, I have a host brother who I hang out with all the time.
Keegan Griffith
Finland
Host Club: Akaa, 9883, Finland District 1390
Pyhtilä
Rauhantie 8
Vesilahti, 37470
Finland
Participation in Rotary: Attended 2 meetings and a fundraiser.
Participation in School: Went every day.
Everything is going well here. I am slowly learning the language. I have made many friends who are eager to speak English. The weather is starting to get colder but that was expected. The school is very nice the lunches are free and very good. My host family is wonderful, I have a host brother who I hang out with all the time.
Keegan Griffith
Finland
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Maddie Lang -- Norway
April 24, 2009
April in Norway has been constantly switching between winter and spring. For the first half of the month, there was still snow on the ground, which was discouraging as I expect spring to begin in April. For the second half of the month, the weather has been switching every few days between warmth and sunlight, rain, and snow. We had a week long Easter vacation, which I spent in the county of Bø in a small fishing village, home to only 18 permanent residents, right on the ocean. The nature was beautiful, and I went ice fishing in a lake and fishing in the ocean. We are now back to school, where I can converse fairly comfortably in Norwegian and I understand almost everything that the teachers say. I go to school every day and spend my afternoons at the gym or hanging out with friends. I live in a very small town and can walk everywhere I want to go. I am starting to get excited about coming home again and seeing my family and friends again. However, I have made great friends and it will be sad to say goodbye to them in just two months.This has been a great year so far, and I am sad to see it nearing its end!
April in Norway has been constantly switching between winter and spring. For the first half of the month, there was still snow on the ground, which was discouraging as I expect spring to begin in April. For the second half of the month, the weather has been switching every few days between warmth and sunlight, rain, and snow. We had a week long Easter vacation, which I spent in the county of Bø in a small fishing village, home to only 18 permanent residents, right on the ocean. The nature was beautiful, and I went ice fishing in a lake and fishing in the ocean. We are now back to school, where I can converse fairly comfortably in Norwegian and I understand almost everything that the teachers say. I go to school every day and spend my afternoons at the gym or hanging out with friends. I live in a very small town and can walk everywhere I want to go. I am starting to get excited about coming home again and seeing my family and friends again. However, I have made great friends and it will be sad to say goodbye to them in just two months.This has been a great year so far, and I am sad to see it nearing its end!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Brittany Cruise -- France
March 04, 2009
This month went by even quicker then the rest. I met the local Roteracts here and went snowshoeing with the other students. It was a beautiful weekend with plenty of snow and sunshine. I also spent three days in Paris, and met my next and final family. I still haven't been to the new house, as we've been at their chalet in the mountains just north of our town for the past two weeks. I've been outside cross country skiing or snowboard almost everyday. Sad as I am that vacation is almost over, I'm excited to see all my friends as school again. This past month was a blast and I can't wait for the months to come, they should prove to be especially busy. There's also a huge conference in Toulousse, France with ALL the inbounds this year. I'm looking forward to it with impatients because it means I get to see all the friends I made the first day of this trip who're scattered throughout the country, and the people from my region who I've become close with. Less then 90days to go at this point.
This month went by even quicker then the rest. I met the local Roteracts here and went snowshoeing with the other students. It was a beautiful weekend with plenty of snow and sunshine. I also spent three days in Paris, and met my next and final family. I still haven't been to the new house, as we've been at their chalet in the mountains just north of our town for the past two weeks. I've been outside cross country skiing or snowboard almost everyday. Sad as I am that vacation is almost over, I'm excited to see all my friends as school again. This past month was a blast and I can't wait for the months to come, they should prove to be especially busy. There's also a huge conference in Toulousse, France with ALL the inbounds this year. I'm looking forward to it with impatients because it means I get to see all the friends I made the first day of this trip who're scattered throughout the country, and the people from my region who I've become close with. Less then 90days to go at this point.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Cathryn Salamone -- Japan
March 2, 2009
On the weekend of February 7th, I boarded the train for Okayama Prefecture, which is on the island Honshu, north of my island. That weekend was the 3-District Rotary Orientation for the outbound Japanese students going to either America, Canada or Australia. I was so excited to meet other exchange students, something I haven't done since the Rotary trip to Okinawa in October. As you can imagine, I was pumped to share my stories (and speak in English, for that matter) with other exchangers in Japan. I am the only exchange student in my entire prefecture, or state, along with three other exchange students on my entire island, so I haven't had much opportunity to meet with other exchangers. I met the two Australian exchange students who just came to Japan in January - they are the other two girls on my island, the fourth being a boy from Detroit. It was wonderful to talk with them, and I loved answering their questions when they had them. It gave me a really amazing feeling when I was answering questions, because it somehow gave me a senior kind of feeling -- like I was now a pro at this or something because I've been here for six months. They asked the same questions that I did when I came. It's hard to explain, but it gave me a wonderful feeling. I had an amazing weekend eating wonderful food, sharing hilarious stories, and just hanging out with other students from around the world during that weekend.
I've been wanting to mix my extra curricular activities up a little bit. In Japan, students usually only do one club or sport, which was hard for me to understand, since in high school I did many clubs and activities. Each club meets every single day, and the sports meet on Sundays for full-day practices. It's still amazing to me all of the time that these students put into their clubs. During the winter, I too followed this hefty practicing schedule with koto club, and thus I think I've become pretty good at it. However, it's become tiresome, and I wanted to try something new. I joined the school's choir, because there is nothing here that brings me more pleasure than singing. Occasionally my host family or friends and I go to kareoke, which is incredibly fun, but I also find myself singing or humming constantly when doing work or by myself...songs from America, Japanese songs (which I sometimes make up the words to...), songs from my childhood...anything. I also can read music (I actually have my clarinet here with me, and tried to join the school brass band, but the militaristic practice schedule of 3:30-7:00 everyday was way too much...) I went to my first meeting last week and had a wonderful time, and it brought me so much joy. I am finishing my time with the koto club after the last concert, in April, and then I am going to fully persue chorus and the school's swim team. I love being busy! =)
In the blink of an eye, it has become March already. I have a feeling it's going to be this way until the end. Valentine's Day was, as you know, the 14th, and in Japan it's actually widely celebrated - although a little different. On Valentine's Day, the women are supposed to buy chocolates or bake sweet treats for the men in their life, not just their spouses or boyfriends. Women buy chocolate for their family, co-workers, friends, aquaintances, even people they don't really like. In this case, it is called "obligation chocolate", where the chocolate is given to a boss or higher individual on the business ladder out of a feeling of necesity, not out of love. On White Day, which is March 14th (a Japanese invention), the men reciporcate the chocolate to the women, usually with white chocolate. My school is an all-girl's school, so friends gave friends chocolate. I tried my hand at origami hearts and was pretty successful...I then attached a candy to the backs with a small sheet of stickers. I was given a LOT of treats and candy, as did my host family, and I think we've all gained a kilo or two. I've only gained one, which is great :) It's funny how it seems like Japan practices the western holidays, but they really are very different. I was excited to see Christmas lights and Christmas trees go up all around the city I'm in...I was half expecting and lementing a year without Christmas. Working all the way up to Christmas Eve, the tradition in Japan is to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken and eat Christmas Cake, which is any sort of cake with a Santa figure on top and Merry X-mas written somewhere on it. On Christmas Day, everyone has work/school. It's really interesting to compare the holidays. Japan has it's own unique holidays which I enjoy very much, including festivals held at the start of each new season...and having a national holiday on the Emperor's Birthday. =)
Anyway, what else is new? Not much else happened in February. Feb. 23rd marked my official six months in Japan, which I thought was an incredible date. I'm already past my half-way point, which was somewhere in mid-January, since I am leaving the first week in July, but six months just seems like an incredible achievement. I always remember my little month anniversaries, but this one struck me as huge - I now have more months here behind me than before me. Six whole months in Japan? SIX? I was flipping through my journal and passed November 23rd, with "Today is my three month anniversary! I can't believe I've been here for three whole months! It's crazy!" I laughed for a long time at that. Yes, now I can sit back and say, "Wow...three whole months. Yeah, compare that to my big six." And then it will be seven and eight and nine, and I'm going to continue to marvel at the amount of time I've been here. I remember my trip to Europe two years ago for four weeks. Four weeks is nothing now! A smigent of time against this year long journey. I've gone nowhere and done nothing in comparison to this year. I've got four more months here and I'm going to make them count even more than the last six.
On the weekend of February 7th, I boarded the train for Okayama Prefecture, which is on the island Honshu, north of my island. That weekend was the 3-District Rotary Orientation for the outbound Japanese students going to either America, Canada or Australia. I was so excited to meet other exchange students, something I haven't done since the Rotary trip to Okinawa in October. As you can imagine, I was pumped to share my stories (and speak in English, for that matter) with other exchangers in Japan. I am the only exchange student in my entire prefecture, or state, along with three other exchange students on my entire island, so I haven't had much opportunity to meet with other exchangers. I met the two Australian exchange students who just came to Japan in January - they are the other two girls on my island, the fourth being a boy from Detroit. It was wonderful to talk with them, and I loved answering their questions when they had them. It gave me a really amazing feeling when I was answering questions, because it somehow gave me a senior kind of feeling -- like I was now a pro at this or something because I've been here for six months. They asked the same questions that I did when I came. It's hard to explain, but it gave me a wonderful feeling. I had an amazing weekend eating wonderful food, sharing hilarious stories, and just hanging out with other students from around the world during that weekend.
I've been wanting to mix my extra curricular activities up a little bit. In Japan, students usually only do one club or sport, which was hard for me to understand, since in high school I did many clubs and activities. Each club meets every single day, and the sports meet on Sundays for full-day practices. It's still amazing to me all of the time that these students put into their clubs. During the winter, I too followed this hefty practicing schedule with koto club, and thus I think I've become pretty good at it. However, it's become tiresome, and I wanted to try something new. I joined the school's choir, because there is nothing here that brings me more pleasure than singing. Occasionally my host family or friends and I go to kareoke, which is incredibly fun, but I also find myself singing or humming constantly when doing work or by myself...songs from America, Japanese songs (which I sometimes make up the words to...), songs from my childhood...anything. I also can read music (I actually have my clarinet here with me, and tried to join the school brass band, but the militaristic practice schedule of 3:30-7:00 everyday was way too much...) I went to my first meeting last week and had a wonderful time, and it brought me so much joy. I am finishing my time with the koto club after the last concert, in April, and then I am going to fully persue chorus and the school's swim team. I love being busy! =)
In the blink of an eye, it has become March already. I have a feeling it's going to be this way until the end. Valentine's Day was, as you know, the 14th, and in Japan it's actually widely celebrated - although a little different. On Valentine's Day, the women are supposed to buy chocolates or bake sweet treats for the men in their life, not just their spouses or boyfriends. Women buy chocolate for their family, co-workers, friends, aquaintances, even people they don't really like. In this case, it is called "obligation chocolate", where the chocolate is given to a boss or higher individual on the business ladder out of a feeling of necesity, not out of love. On White Day, which is March 14th (a Japanese invention), the men reciporcate the chocolate to the women, usually with white chocolate. My school is an all-girl's school, so friends gave friends chocolate. I tried my hand at origami hearts and was pretty successful...I then attached a candy to the backs with a small sheet of stickers. I was given a LOT of treats and candy, as did my host family, and I think we've all gained a kilo or two. I've only gained one, which is great :) It's funny how it seems like Japan practices the western holidays, but they really are very different. I was excited to see Christmas lights and Christmas trees go up all around the city I'm in...I was half expecting and lementing a year without Christmas. Working all the way up to Christmas Eve, the tradition in Japan is to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken and eat Christmas Cake, which is any sort of cake with a Santa figure on top and Merry X-mas written somewhere on it. On Christmas Day, everyone has work/school. It's really interesting to compare the holidays. Japan has it's own unique holidays which I enjoy very much, including festivals held at the start of each new season...and having a national holiday on the Emperor's Birthday. =)
Anyway, what else is new? Not much else happened in February. Feb. 23rd marked my official six months in Japan, which I thought was an incredible date. I'm already past my half-way point, which was somewhere in mid-January, since I am leaving the first week in July, but six months just seems like an incredible achievement. I always remember my little month anniversaries, but this one struck me as huge - I now have more months here behind me than before me. Six whole months in Japan? SIX? I was flipping through my journal and passed November 23rd, with "Today is my three month anniversary! I can't believe I've been here for three whole months! It's crazy!" I laughed for a long time at that. Yes, now I can sit back and say, "Wow...three whole months. Yeah, compare that to my big six." And then it will be seven and eight and nine, and I'm going to continue to marvel at the amount of time I've been here. I remember my trip to Europe two years ago for four weeks. Four weeks is nothing now! A smigent of time against this year long journey. I've gone nowhere and done nothing in comparison to this year. I've got four more months here and I'm going to make them count even more than the last six.
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