Torri Herdegen -- Australia (Home Club: Delmar)

 May 31, 2016

I love Australia!! And I love being an exchange student! I can't believe I am already writing to y'all again! This month went by so fast! Too fast!


This month was my big Aussie Tour! Australia!! Oh my gosh! Australia is so so beautiful! From the red red sand of the desert to the blue blue water of the waterfalls and the ocean!

It would take ages to talk about my whole experience and all the amazing things we got to see. Plus there are not enough words to describe how awesome it was!! At the moment I am going through a post Aussie tour depression. There were 33 exchange students and 4 districts that went on this tour and we all became one huge family! We are all constantly snapchatting, talking on messenger, and or skyping each other. They were such an awesome group of people and I really do miss being with them!

To give you just a brief overview of the trip we went on I will tell you some of the highlights. We first flew to Adalaide then from there we drove to a very famous and beautiful rock called the Uluru. Haha, yes I said rock but it's huge and so popular because it is literally just a random, huge rock in the middle of the flat desert! Literally nowhere! What was so lucky is that it is a rare sight, as in it only happens once or twice a year, but it rained hard enough for the waterfalls to come down the Uluru. A sight so beautiful and so, like I said, rare. We were pretty lucky. We then traveled to Cains where we slide down waterfalls and went snorkeling/diving in the Great Barrier Reef! Moving down the coast we stopped in Arlie Beach, such a gorgeous place! Here we went snorkeling again and visited white heaven beach. The sand is so white it almost looks like snow and you could get burned in a record of 6 min if sunscreen is not applied generously. We passed through the Gold Coast and Byron Bay landing ourselves in Sydney!

Everything I saw was just amazing and the people I was with were even more amazing! I want to go back!!
This week consists of exams for school. Its so sad to face the fact that I have to start saying some goodbyes now.

It's been such a fantastic month, not to mention I am also 17 now!
I can't thank Rotary enough for everything!!!!!!
Thanks heaps,
Torri

Pic 1- my safari family infront of the Uluru

 Pic2: A beautiful waterfall!

 Pic3: The great barrier reef

Maggie Driscoll -- Mexico (Host Club: Albany)

May 18, 2016

 Getting to the end of my exchange I realize I should probably write another "monthly report". I don't know what kept me from writing them. I have so much to write about. But for some reason it is difficult to put these experiences on paper. Since the last time I've written I have done so much so this might be a bit long. I've gone on 2 trips, one of which I was able to see me real mom, I have switched to a new house from a family I loved to a family I love, and I have made many new friendships, Mexican and international.

My second family had the best food ever. This is partly why I fell in love with them. My host father loved to cook so in the morning before school I would wake up to an omelette with my favorite salsa and beans or pancakes (hot cakes here). For lunch we ate chicken a lot but every Sunday he would make special lunches which consisted of some of the best meals I have tried in Mexico. Including enchiladas, chimichangas, fish tostadas and TACOS. Another reason I loved this house is because I had to keep my room clean and wash the dishes. I hated it at first but I learned to love it because even now I keep my room clean making everything easier, and when I washed the dishes I talked to my host mom helping us get to know each other better and making me more comfortable in the house.

While living in my second house I went on a trip with my real mom in February. We were planning on just spending a week in Mexico City but my host family suggested we travel to a city about 2 hours away so we stayed there for 2 nights and I'm glad we took their advice cause it is a beautiful Mexican colonial city with beautiful churches and cool markets to walk through and look at the traditional Mexican candies designs and lots of souvenirs. The rest of the time we were in Mexico City and since I love big cities so of course I loved Mexico City too. The architecture, parks, museums (especially the Frida Kahlo museum) and monuments in the middle of the streets were some of my favorite parts. I also liked that I acted as a kind of guide to my mom who speaks 0 Spanish. My Spanish now is a lot better but in February I was able to communicate and ask questions when we needed help which was cool.

 In April I changed my house for the last time and 4 days later I left for the big, month long trip through Mexico called The Ruta Maya. It was the best trip of my life and I'm not sure any vacation I go on in the future could beat this one. 50 students from all over the world for 30 days in the most beautiful places in Mexico. My best friends during the trip were some Italian girls, a Korean girl and some Brazilian girls, including the one from my city. I enjoyed being with them because we spoke almost always in Spanish. Before the trip I thought I was going to speak in English the whole time but was pleasantly surprised to find that I was able to practice and learn more Spanish while away. A cool thing about one of my Italian friends is that her aunt lives in Philadelphia and will visit her for 4 days before returning to Italy and we made plans for me to visit her before the leaves. Some of my favorite parts of the trip were: Mexico City (again), a mezcal (stronger tequila) factory in Oaxaca, rafting in Veracruz, las cascadas de agua azul in Chiapas (blue water waterfalls), the ruins at Tulum and the beach at Tulum, also the beaches in Playa deal Carmen and Cancun. The water was clear as you entered then when you were fully in looked like you were swimming in blue Gatorade. I didn't want to leave any of these places but I know that someday I will definitely go back.

When I returned to my city, Navojoa, I had to get used to living with my third family. This family has 4 children (one of them is in Brazil on exchange). A 17 year old girl, 14 year old boy and a 6 year old boy. They are a loud family that spends a lot of time with their extended family, reminding me of my own family. I have never had a sister so I hope we become good friends. I spend a lot of time with my 6 year old brother and I think he has been my best Spanish teacher, so far. He loves to help me in Spanish and always makes sure I'm understanding and if I don't understand he is happy to explain the meaning of a word. I watch movies and play with him and even went to see captain America with him at the movie theater. My 14 year old brother listens to a lot of music in English and asks me a lot of questions about the pronunciation of the names of songs or the meaning of the song. My sister and I have gone to the gym together and gossip sometimes which I imagine are some things normal sisters do together.

With only about a month left I've been thinking a lot of what I want to do before I leave, some things I want to bring back with me and what I will do when I get home. I miss my family but I don't want to leave all my friends and families here because I don't know when will be my next chance to see them. I hope I can return in a few years. But instead of thinking about that too much I'm going to enjoy the remaining time I have.

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

May 16, 2016

  Since the last time I posted I have experienced so many new things and reached a much higher level of Portuguese proficiency. I was not excited to be trading host families because I had such a great relationship with the first one but the trade did occur at the perfect time because I traded families a few days before Carnaval and my new host sister lives in a city famous for its great Carnaval! I also have been to five soccer games since the family trade and it's always an interesting experience because Brazilians truly are crazy about soccer. CRAZY. With all of the police barriers between opposing fans and foul language used even by children and the fireworks and flares lit up you almost feel as if you're in a war zone! One of the games I saw was between Brasil and Uruguay and that was definitely the most entertaining of them all.

     I'm currently now with the high school "seniors" since here the school year starts in January and they have a ton more class and studying to do so that has been a bit of a bummer for me because nobody is willing to do anything during the week and there are no school sports activities or clubs I can get involved in. However, I have been making the best of this situation throughout my exchange by killing my free time listening to Brazilian music. I know all the words to a ton of popular Brazilian songs which has really impressed and surprised a lot of people but more importantly it has helped me so much with my Portuguese. Music is so great to adjust to the speed as well as picking up on slang. One big piece of advice I would give to future exchange students is to listen to a ton of music in your host language!

     I would also like to share some details from the best experience/trip of my entire life, the Amazon Expedition! The trip consisted of 9 days, 3 boats, 60 exchange students, and numerous memories that I will always hold close. I had the chance to visit an indigenous tribe, see the encounter of the Rio Negro and Amazon River, and trek through the forest during the day and night. I also saw so much amazing wildlife which involved me watching monkeys swinging through the trees, fishing for piranhas, swimming with the rare "pink dolphins", and holding an anaconda/sloth/alligator all in the same day! Not only will I leave with these new experiences but I now have friends from all over the world that I hope to visit one day. 

     

Thank you rotary for making all of this a possibility!

Tori Herdegen -- Australia (Home Club: Delmar)

April 30, 2016

I thought I was a busy exchange student... then I got to April...!
My calander is filled with blue ink and exclamation marks!
Some of those marks have been for traveling to many beautiful national parks. This consisted of ducking under stalactites in the Caves, dodging branches and the giant leaves of the rainforest and climbing over rocks down to a waterfall.
I got invited to go on a camping trip with a family I have been babysitting for. We went to Wilsons Prometry! It is such a beautiful place!! Wombats casually walk around your campsite like their no big deal, we saw a baby tiger snake, some emu's and beautiful Aussie birds!
Oh I also moved host families! I am on my last one, I can't believe it!! But this family, the Nicholls, are an absolute amazing family!!! I feel so included and loved even though I have only been with them 2 weeks. I already feel part of the family. They have 3 kids. A girl 17, who just got back from her own exchange, another girl 15 and a boy who is almost 12 (we have the same birthday). They love to party!! Well mainly dance but the usually means party! They are so generous and loving!! I am so happy to bee with them!!!!
I also spent half the month stressing about preforming my theatre studies play, The Laramie Project. After many rehearsals and a bit of... well... Drama, we did manage to put on two very successful productions.
Last night was my Debutant ball (Deb). We had 8 or more rehurasals since February preparing for this night. All the girls wear white dresses. The girls do a dance, then the boys do a dance, then boys and girls do 3 dances together. This was so much fun! After our dances we had a parents dance. Obviously my dad is not here so for this dance I asked my host sisters boyfriend Matt to dance with me. It was funny because we kept dancing the waltz in the wrong direction,haha.
Anyway after our planned dances we stayed up till midnight partying with the DJ.
One of the Best compliments I have had on my exchange was tonight!! My head of year was talking to my current host mum. She said that if I were to be staying in Australia for year 12, I would be on her list to be School captain!!!!!!! (Every year the principle, vice principles, teachers, and the head of year choose 2 students, a boy and a girl, to be captains of the whole school and take on numerous responsibilities) I felt this was such a complement that she would think so much of me to nominate me for a position like that!
Tonight was yet again another dance party, this one was a maskarade in honour of Shakespeare. Again I just got off the dance floor an hour ago and am awaiting my ride to the airport to go on my big Australian Tour!!
Tell y'all about it next month!!

Thank you all so much for your support!!

Talk to you later,
Torri :P

Pic1:  its a bit blurry but its me and my theatre studies class right before our last performance

Pic2:  right after our footy team, Collingwood, dominated! My host mum is taking the photo because she goes for the team that just lost so she doesn't get to be in the winners pic

Pic3:  At my deb.

Maeve McKeeby -- Belgium (Home Club: Schenectady)

April 14, 2016
 

March has been yet another exciting and crazy month. The first and second week of March my parents came to visit which was really exciting. It was so fun to be able to show my parents a little bit of my life here in Belgium. Together we visited multiple cities in Belgium, along with Luxembourg, and Ireland. My parents got to meet my host families here and see my school which was really cool but also strange.

                The week after my parents left was the Brussels explosions so that set the country into a frenzy. I am currently living just about twenty minutes from Brussels and attend a Brussels-run school so my school was immediately placed on high security lock down with police and army on site. All of the trains, buses, and many roads were closed so getting home from school was not easy. We were not allowed to leave school to get lunch, and could not exit the building for any reason until 4 o'clock when a guardian pulled the car up to the school gate. My host parents work in Brussels but were all safe. Things are now just starting to go back to normal here in Belgium but the airport is still partly closed and will most likely be closed for at least another month.

                The last two weeks of March was Spring break from school and I travelled to Greece with about 60 other exchange students here in Belgium! Greece was an amazing trip and was one of the best weeks of my exchange thus far. I was able to visit Athens, Olympia, Corinth, Hydra Island, and Spestes Island. Greece was honestly the most beautiful place I’ve ever visited and I already want to go back and visit. After I got back from Greece I had to pack up my bedroom and change host families for the last time. I already love my new family. They are so fun and very welcoming and have already planned to take me to France, and Finland. It’s hard to believe I have already moved into my final host family. This year has gone by so quickly and I don’t even want to think about it coming to an end.

Adam Boese -- Brazil (Home Club: Schenectady)

April 6, 2016
 

Ever since I arrived in Brazil people told me I was going to love the month of February. They were right. At the beginning of February I moved to my next host family. This is the host family that owns a gym and has been letting me study jiu-jitsu during my exchange year. They have been wonderful and I will be sad to leave. But the highlight of February, if not this year,  is carnival. Carnival is tough to explain because its radically different than any holiday in the US. The general idea of carnival is that the entire country celebrates (partys hard) from morning to night for 4 days straight to welcome in a year of happiness. Part of the reason the celebrations are so wild is because during these four days many social expectations are dropped, such as gender roles.

My schedule during carnival more or less consisted of me waking up, training jiu-jitsu, and then quickly getting dressed in drag (as is the tradition) to go to a parade. These parades drew huge crowds of people that followed a bus with a band on the roof. The band played samba and everyone danced. I am disappointed to report that after much dancing, I still cannot dance samba well. After this parade I would go down town or to the beach (or both) with my friends and dance some more. We usually didn’t make it home until well into the morning.  But the most important part about carnival is the atmosphere of the country. During carnival, an extremely friendly country becomes even friendlier. Everyone talks to everyone and everyone is always doing something. You never stop.

                Despite these amazing four days, February also held something much more sinister: School. Shortly after carnival my summer vacation ended and school started, much to my disappointment. Because the Brazilian school year is opposite of ours, I am now with a new class because the last one graduated. But I was already friends with many people in this class so it has been an easy transition.

                There haven’t been any other landmark events this month but I will mention I am still training jujitsu every day. I spend a lot of my down time at the beach, as my new house is right next to the ocean, or with friends. Can’t complain!

Victoria Herdegen -- Australia (Home Club: Delmar)

March 30, 2016

Another great month I'd say! When is it not a great month, though? I have had a few more experiences to share with y'all.  

First off, in school I tried out for the SEISA (varsity) Softball team. We have been competing against others schools all month and we went undefeated. We made it to the Grand Finals and with a close game we WON!!! This means at our weekly monday school assembly I get to be presented next to my team in front of the whole school with an Australian certificate. 

In my school every student is split into four different, what they call, houses. Its like Harry Potter. Throughout the year we all participate in activities and events earning points for our houses to get an overall winner at the end of the year. This past month was House Athletics Competition. We all signed up to represent our house while competing in events such as throwing, jumping and track. I gave a go to Javelin and, haha, failed miserably. Out of my three throws only one actually counted. At least i made it onto the board. I did a bit better in my track competitions. I have not had much of a running background. At least not much track but i had to run the 500m. Its a whole lap around the oval and can be a bit of a funny run because technically your supposed to be sprinting but its way to far to sprint. I came 7/8 and had NO breath left. I felt i could do much better with a 200m or 100m sprint. So i went and asked if any of my house members that were signed up for the 100m did not want to do it. I replaced one girl and was excited to try it out until i realised i was in the 100m A not the 100m B this meant i was racing against super fast girls. Way out of my league! I came 8/8. I was glad i got to try though. 

Raping up the 1st Term was school photos. I got a school photo in my school uniform! Also because it was so close to Easter the school gave us all Hot Cross Buns. This a Very Australian traditional Easter food. Everyone has them! Other than that Easter isn't very big. Again Australians are not very religious so a holiday that is surrounded by religion is only really celebrated for the chocolate. Not to say that there are not some religious Aussies out there but for the Australians i was with it just seemed like another regular day. Although another thing Easter means is NO SCHOOL. It is the end of Term 1 so we are now on school Holidays for two weeks!

My second host family, the Davies, went to go visit family friends for Easter  in Perth and invited me to go with them! I have been to Adelaide, Melbourne , Sydney and out of all of them Perth is my favourite! It is the perfect city for me because it is small and spread out. Its not huge and crowded with people and buildings and cars. The roads are wide and the footpaths are wide. There is so much space! Perth is the cleanest city and is in one of the warmest (all year round) places. It felt especially warm because we are now in the fall season and Victoria, where i live, has the worst and rainiest weather.  Perth  has heaps of green parks and one specifically called Kings Park that over looks the whole city. Next to the city is a nice lake which is confusingly called Swan River. Perth sure loves their black swans.

While in Perth we took a ferry over to a nearby island called Rotness Island. Its not very big but sure is beautiful. My family and i started on a bike ride around the island. Its only 22K around the whole thing. After about 5 - 10k my sister, chloe, and my mum, Linda, decided they had enough with the ups and downs. Did i mention it started raining as well? Well my host dad, rick, and i decided to ride on around the whole island. It was tough, haha, but it was so much fun!

There is an animal on Rotness Island called, well, Rots,haha. People used to think they were big rats but discovered they weren't  so they called them Rots. I think the Rots look like baby kangaroos. They are so used to people that they will actually walk up to you and they love to be pet! When we started to pet them they nearly looked like it was going to fall asleep. 

Anyway i was glad to have been able to visit yet another Beautiful part of Australia!!

Its hard to believe that i only have another term left!! Some exchange students are already counting down but i don't want to do that! 

Thank you all so much!!

Cheers,  

Torri

 

 

 

Pic 1- Beautiful Perth City 

Pic 2- My sis chloe petting one of the rots that walked up to us

 Pic 3- Family selfie in Kings Park with the city behind us