Torri Herdegen -- Australia (Home Club: Delmar)

October 30, 2015

G'day,
It has been a fabulous month filled with great activities. I feel like everyday I push myself outside my comfort zone just a little more.
I was asked to be a year 10 leader at a year 7 school camp. I was supposed to be helping learning kids do something I was clueless about myself. It all worked out, though, and we all learned together. I made 15 new friends and we all had a jolly good time!
I gave a total of three speeches this passed month at school. One was to be sports captain and the other two were for my classes. Let's not forget my Drama Class where I had to not only write a script but also preform it by myself infront of the class. If that's not away of knocking down the barrier of your comfort zone then I don't know what is.
The Rotary has been training me up for an upcoming bike ride in February. My host dad took me out on a 20k ride this past week. After I caught my breath, could feel my legs again and my bum was no longer numb I'd say it was a great ride. Although,  note to self, do not tell a military bloke that your ok with going a little further or a little faster because he'll take you too the moon and back before you have time to realise what just happened. You will definitely feel it, though.
I do have to admit its crazy to say that I am already a fourth through my exchange. I am soon moving on to my second host family and I am not quite ready. I have 15 days to prepare myself for the sad and exciting day.
Regards,
Torri Herdegen

Shay Beneditto -- Brazil (Home Club -- Glens Falls)

October 30, 2015

With all the things I have already experienced, it sure feels like a lot more than just ten weeks here in Brazil. To start out, I have an amazing host family and the parents have been extremely welcoming to me, so I truly do feel like I'm part of a family here. School has also been quite enjoyable because everyone there has been so kind and interested in getting to know me. Living in a city has been different for me but I love that there's always something going on and it's not a far drive from other cool cities that I have been able to visit. My family has an apartment in the city where I spend most of my time but they actually live in a small town on the weekends so I've been able to see how people live in the small towns and the big cities. When I think of the big events or trips I already experienced so far, the things that come to mind are the exchange student orientation weekend on a beautiful beach, the soccer game I went to with my host family, spending a long weekend in Joao Pessoa (on the beach) with some of my best friends, playing handball for my school in an Olympic-style tournament, and attending some amazing shows with friends and family! 

I think the reason my exchange has been going so well for me is that I have lived by the advice I received to never say no when you are invited to do something, go somewhere, or join a group. During my first week of school I quickly looked to get involved in sports but I was also told that every year all the exchange students at my school join the dance group. At first I had no intention of joining since I have never ever been a dancer and I was always the sports guy that wasn't involved with music and dance activities. I then remembered my rule and agreed to join and I have absolutely no regrets! In fact, some of my best friends here I met in the dance group so it has worked out well for me. Now here I am, Shay, the sports guy, preparing for a dance performance next Thursday as well as my role in a school play the week after that.

Many people warned me about how difficult exchange can be but the last time I remember being truly stressed out or upset was during my crazy 24 hours of travel from the US that included two delayed flights, two flight changes and my luggage that was sent to the wrong city. When it comes to missing family and home, I don't really have time to think about it especially on the days I have school then handball practice then dance rehearsal. Very excited for what's to come!

Sutthikan (Prom) Sakulrungsap -- from Thailand (Host Club: Corinth)

October 10, 2015

Host Rotary Club: Corinth Rotary Club
Sponsor Rotary Club: Rotary Club of Suphanburi
Current Host Family: Eric Jensen/ Lynette Jensen
Counselor Name: Alysse Kasowski

Health and Home

              Now, I’m doing fine. I’m healthy but sometime i have cold because it’s windy outside. I’m very comfort with my host family right now. They care about me. Yesterday’s we go to watch the football game and i found my school friend there. we are talking a lot about the game and the other stuff.

School

             And about the school, i attend class properly. i’m have a lot of friends. Everyday when i walk to school everyone is talking to me a lot say hi to me and when we have freetime we talk about the class and how was it. Now, i sign up for the school basketball team. and 2 week ago, i going to homecoming dance at school with my friends. It’s was fun. Everyone in school like me they ask me a lot about my country and my languages. when i go to class the teacher and my friend say how to pronoun my first name they say wow!. Me and my friend like to play sport in P.E.. We play a flag football and the freezbie football for this month unit it was very fun and my friend tell me that i’m run very fast. 

Rotary

         I usually attend my rotary meeting and last month i go to the fishing contest that organize by my host club. i meet my counselor at rotary meeting 2 days ago. I receive allowance $75 for each month. My rotary club is very small. they meeting in cafe. And when i have a question or something to ask or consult i will email to my counselor to ask them.

Activities

      i think the most experience is the horse track and the fishing contest. It first time of me when go to fishing in my life and it very excited. I got 1 sunfish. I’m not won but i got a the most improvement reward for free breakfast at cafe. So, first when i go to the horse track it very excited to see the horse races. and it was fun. the horse track is in the Saratoga. This is the most experience of this month.
Thank you,

Sutthikan Sakulrungsap

Emma Graves -- Belgium (Home Club: Wilton)

Emma's blog is here.  She is a Rotary Exchange Student in Belgium, and describes her first two months.

Ben Weinstein -- Taiwan (Home Club: Delmar)

October 26, 2015

Ben is maintaining his own blog, which can be found here .


He has incredible descriptions and pictures of his first couple of months.

Maeve McKeeby -- Belgium (Home Club: Schenectady)

October 23, 2015

I have now been in Belgium for a little over two months and I have fallen even more in love with Belgium this past month. My French has improved so much, I am now able to understand most conversations and can speak basic sentences and conversations. School is becoming easier and my teachers are really great and always make sure I understand the lesson and are more than willing to help if I need it.

In the past month I have been able to explore more of Belgium and also the Netherlands. I went kayaking in the south of Belgium with all of the other Rotary Exchange Students that are in Belgium which was really fun. In this small country there are over 400 exchange students. Even though kayaking was cold I still had a lot of fun hanging out with all the other exchange students and sharing the different experiences we’ve all had this past month or so. In Belgium I have visited Coo, Namur, Mons, Tournai, and Brussels this past month. Brussels continues to be my favorite city in Belgium, there’s so much to do and see but Namur has become my second favorite city even though I have only been there once. Namur is a beautiful city with really cool architecture and lots of castles. The city looks very European I think and has a nice river that runs through it. I was also able to visit Amsterdam, Amersfoort, and Nijkerk in the Netherlands. All of these cities were absolutely beautiful but I really loved Amsterdam. The city was beautiful and I really loved all the canals throughout the city. Next weekend I will be travelling to London, and Paris which I am really looking forward to. It has been another great month in Belgium and I am looking forward to more great adventures! A bientot!

Hugo Bouillion -- Glens Falls (Home Club: France)

October 4, 2015

 

 I have been in the USA for one month and i'm very glad to be here! I don't have problems with my health, my host family is awesome, I don't have a problem speaking with her; they are very nice to me. I'm going to class every day, the students are very curious about me. I have made friends! I'm on the football team, it's a very good thing to meet people. Each month I have 2 meetings with my Rotary club. In September, I attended a meeting with my host family. I have never met my rotary counselor but it's not very important because I don't have problems. In spring I will try to have a scholarship to go to the college in the USA. Every month I receive an allowance. I have a very great relationship with my club everyone is nice to me !

Thank you so much for allowing me to live this experience !