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One of you commented I was 'District Mommy' again. Yep, that's me.
1.11.08
Outbound Updates-Logan, Christina, Elaina, Alexis
Nothing yet. Just saving a space.
ALEXIS ALTIER-
heres what i sent to siggy, but. i changed host families yesterday :) they are the Iwamoto family ,and are very nice. its the mom, dad, and i have two little sisters (age 6 and 2) and also the grandpa..... they live in sendai city, so its closer to my school (wake up later, horrah!)
As of now, my host family is the Otomo family (Satoko-chan's house) its my host mom and dad, the grandparents from my mom's side, and miyuki (host sister, 23) who live in the house. my host brother, masahiro (20) is in college in tokyo, so he lives there but occasionally visits. and of course, 'toko is in the states now :)
this upcoming week my school class trip to Kyoto is coming up, so ill be there for a week. upon return, we have monday and tuesday off,,,thats when im moving in with my next host family. at the last rotary meeting i went to i met my new host mom and one of the children, she seems very nice, so im not worried about moving. i will miss the otomo's though,,,,we have planned that some saturdays i can ride the train back to their house to visit after school. yeah, we have school saturdays (only until about 12:30, so its not bad)
monday-wednesday we get off school at 3, but i practice piano until 3:30 or 4:00, but sometimes just go straight to the bus with my friends. thursday and friday school gets off at 4, but on thursdays i decided to do sado- (traditional tea ceremony) practice, and dont get home until about 7:30. my address is :
6-2-19 Iinozaka
Natori, Miyagi
Japan
my counselor i see at rotary meetings, which are usually every other week, but sometimes they have me go to every week. i also am required every month to fill out a form similar to the quarterly report forms and fax to the counselor (regarding school, people im with, any problems, etc etc)
ahhh school, i think i have too much fun. before i came here, along with my other studies i had studied this slang book (VERY helpful for high school life, i suggest a slang book to anyone studying a foreign language if they can find one!) and since maybe 6th grade ive gone online and downloaded japanese music and movies, and looked up pop culture stuff...so everyone thinks thats pretty cool that i know stuff and we can even talk about older music and movies.
i also continue to study,,,and alot of kanji (chinese characters) i knew about up to japanese 2nd grade level of kanji and a bunch of really random ones prior to coming over, and ive been studying super hard because i love seeing a character that i couldnt read the day before,,its a good and fun feeling of more comprehension and makes me always want to know more and more.
my friends and i always do fun stuff together too,,,,which is easy to plan because we all live near or in Sendai, a nice big city full of things to do!!!!!!
i love it so much here, and dont want to come home! dont make me come home!!!!!
CHRISTINA MADEJ-
Hi Vicki, Im really sorry about the delay. Right now there is a 2 week break from school, and i went straight to the south of france for a week with a rotary family; and im still not home Im staying at their house for a bit and i dont know how to work these keyboards! Well, for the report at the moment i am not sure of the number of my host club, ill send it to you later. My email is cmadej09@yahoo.com. I receive about 80£ a month from my club. My host dad is the president of my club and for that its mandatory i attend the weekly rotary meetings with him every wednesday night, 7 to 11pm. its not bad, but my situation isnt exactly amazing. my host parents are in my eyes, ridiculously strict. it may be because im used to being completely free from my parents to do as i please i dont know. but if i really really want to go out with my friends, i have to literally think of a strategy. my host parents want to know at least a week in advance where im going, and they want to meet my friends, ask them a thousand questions, meet their parents, wont allow me in a car with anyone but them and rotarians. its bizarre and pathetic. but luckily, the family im with for this week is amazing. ive had a much needed break and i move from my first family on november 27th, and also move to the city, THANK GOD. and my host rotary club loves me and its going good. but they are also really strict. 7 australians got sent home from my district because of taking topless pictures in paris and they winded up on facebook in south africa hahah. gotta love the internet. but theres no second chances here with this french rotary. one wrong move and your considered dishonourable and get sent home on the next plane. my coordinator or whatever he's called loves me. he is normally very strict with the exchange students, but we get along very well. I am going on the euro trip in april (hopefully), and i am also going to Brighton, England for a bit and I'm staying in Paris for a couple weekends.. La Chance!#% But the language is going a lot better for me, school is amazing.. its like a little college. There's dorms, the food is gross, but there's a lot of free time. I have about 4 to 5 hours a day of no class. It's weird, and I never no what to do with myself, but with the free time I've made a lot of friends.. its just difficult for me to see them outside of school. And also, congratttts Vicki on making the outbound chair. I know you'll be amazing with it, keep up the good work and keep district 6650 amazing as always. I miss the overnighters. Bisous,Christina.
LOGAN HARSH-
Hey
Sorry its taken me a while to send my report but I have been experiencing laptop issues in the last two weeks so this was the first time I was able to send it!! My host districts number is district 2240! Ive recieved all three stipends wich are around 80 dollars each. I am still with my host family and I dont know when im switching due to other exchange students issues! (one is planning on going home and the other just got here) I have no problems because Prague is great and my host family is as well! I have at least 60 new friends and I know them all personally! (Like we all hang out) its a big group be we have more fun that way. My host club is great. They are an international club so they have roatarians from all over who live in Prague! Every week they have an ambassador from a different country or some other important people! Its very interesting but I only go to one meeting a month because they meet for lunch on fridays when im in school! School is actually pretty cool! Everyone speaks english and the teachers are very good! The tuition at the school yearly is around 18000 dollars, so there are some $RICH$ kids here! I am learning the language at a slow but steady pace! Czech is one of the hardest languages to learn for foreigners in Europe! Its very similar to Russian and Slovenian! Weird but it sounds cool. Again im sorry for the time it took to get this to you but I hope I answered all your questions! I swear itll be on time next time! :)
Cau
Logan
ALEXIS ALTIER-
heres what i sent to siggy, but. i changed host families yesterday :) they are the Iwamoto family ,and are very nice. its the mom, dad, and i have two little sisters (age 6 and 2) and also the grandpa..... they live in sendai city, so its closer to my school (wake up later, horrah!)
As of now, my host family is the Otomo family (Satoko-chan's house) its my host mom and dad, the grandparents from my mom's side, and miyuki (host sister, 23) who live in the house. my host brother, masahiro (20) is in college in tokyo, so he lives there but occasionally visits. and of course, 'toko is in the states now :)
this upcoming week my school class trip to Kyoto is coming up, so ill be there for a week. upon return, we have monday and tuesday off,,,thats when im moving in with my next host family. at the last rotary meeting i went to i met my new host mom and one of the children, she seems very nice, so im not worried about moving. i will miss the otomo's though,,,,we have planned that some saturdays i can ride the train back to their house to visit after school. yeah, we have school saturdays (only until about 12:30, so its not bad)
monday-wednesday we get off school at 3, but i practice piano until 3:30 or 4:00, but sometimes just go straight to the bus with my friends. thursday and friday school gets off at 4, but on thursdays i decided to do sado- (traditional tea ceremony) practice, and dont get home until about 7:30. my address is :
6-2-19 Iinozaka
Natori, Miyagi
Japan
my counselor i see at rotary meetings, which are usually every other week, but sometimes they have me go to every week. i also am required every month to fill out a form similar to the quarterly report forms and fax to the counselor (regarding school, people im with, any problems, etc etc)
ahhh school, i think i have too much fun. before i came here, along with my other studies i had studied this slang book (VERY helpful for high school life, i suggest a slang book to anyone studying a foreign language if they can find one!) and since maybe 6th grade ive gone online and downloaded japanese music and movies, and looked up pop culture stuff...so everyone thinks thats pretty cool that i know stuff and we can even talk about older music and movies.
i also continue to study,,,and alot of kanji (chinese characters) i knew about up to japanese 2nd grade level of kanji and a bunch of really random ones prior to coming over, and ive been studying super hard because i love seeing a character that i couldnt read the day before,,its a good and fun feeling of more comprehension and makes me always want to know more and more.
my friends and i always do fun stuff together too,,,,which is easy to plan because we all live near or in Sendai, a nice big city full of things to do!!!!!!
i love it so much here, and dont want to come home! dont make me come home!!!!!
CHRISTINA MADEJ-
Hi Vicki, Im really sorry about the delay. Right now there is a 2 week break from school, and i went straight to the south of france for a week with a rotary family; and im still not home Im staying at their house for a bit and i dont know how to work these keyboards! Well, for the report at the moment i am not sure of the number of my host club, ill send it to you later. My email is cmadej09@yahoo.com. I receive about 80£ a month from my club. My host dad is the president of my club and for that its mandatory i attend the weekly rotary meetings with him every wednesday night, 7 to 11pm. its not bad, but my situation isnt exactly amazing. my host parents are in my eyes, ridiculously strict. it may be because im used to being completely free from my parents to do as i please i dont know. but if i really really want to go out with my friends, i have to literally think of a strategy. my host parents want to know at least a week in advance where im going, and they want to meet my friends, ask them a thousand questions, meet their parents, wont allow me in a car with anyone but them and rotarians. its bizarre and pathetic. but luckily, the family im with for this week is amazing. ive had a much needed break and i move from my first family on november 27th, and also move to the city, THANK GOD. and my host rotary club loves me and its going good. but they are also really strict. 7 australians got sent home from my district because of taking topless pictures in paris and they winded up on facebook in south africa hahah. gotta love the internet. but theres no second chances here with this french rotary. one wrong move and your considered dishonourable and get sent home on the next plane. my coordinator or whatever he's called loves me. he is normally very strict with the exchange students, but we get along very well. I am going on the euro trip in april (hopefully), and i am also going to Brighton, England for a bit and I'm staying in Paris for a couple weekends.. La Chance!#% But the language is going a lot better for me, school is amazing.. its like a little college. There's dorms, the food is gross, but there's a lot of free time. I have about 4 to 5 hours a day of no class. It's weird, and I never no what to do with myself, but with the free time I've made a lot of friends.. its just difficult for me to see them outside of school. And also, congratttts Vicki on making the outbound chair. I know you'll be amazing with it, keep up the good work and keep district 6650 amazing as always. I miss the overnighters. Bisous,Christina.
LOGAN HARSH-
Hey
Sorry its taken me a while to send my report but I have been experiencing laptop issues in the last two weeks so this was the first time I was able to send it!! My host districts number is district 2240! Ive recieved all three stipends wich are around 80 dollars each. I am still with my host family and I dont know when im switching due to other exchange students issues! (one is planning on going home and the other just got here) I have no problems because Prague is great and my host family is as well! I have at least 60 new friends and I know them all personally! (Like we all hang out) its a big group be we have more fun that way. My host club is great. They are an international club so they have roatarians from all over who live in Prague! Every week they have an ambassador from a different country or some other important people! Its very interesting but I only go to one meeting a month because they meet for lunch on fridays when im in school! School is actually pretty cool! Everyone speaks english and the teachers are very good! The tuition at the school yearly is around 18000 dollars, so there are some $RICH$ kids here! I am learning the language at a slow but steady pace! Czech is one of the hardest languages to learn for foreigners in Europe! Its very similar to Russian and Slovenian! Weird but it sounds cool. Again im sorry for the time it took to get this to you but I hope I answered all your questions! I swear itll be on time next time! :)
Cau
Logan
Outbound Updates Group 5-Erin, Jon
ERIN BRUGLER
hey Sieglinde, Larry, and Vikki, sorry i just got back from london. how are you? congrats vikki on the new position, youll be great at it. -ok, i have one host sister, i love her and she only speaks french so that absolutly helps me out and i learn alot from her. im still with the first family, they're wonderful and really help me out with everything, i feel so lucky. yes i have my own room, first time in my life so its very nice. my address is Erin BruglerDieweg 28 1180 BrusselsBelguim-my conselor is very nice, i see him and every rotary event. my host dad takes me to the meetings because he is also in rotary. i go to the meeting the first friday of ever month. im getting 65 euros a month and my host family also gives me a 40 euros allowance a month. my rotart is realy good with getting the exchange kids together. i absolutly love them and have meet many great new people.-school is good, i feel like a celebritiy because everyone is so interested in me and everyone knows me. about the language, im so much better now then when i first got here, i alos have a tutor and 10 of french in school. friend wise, everyone is so sweet and ive made really good friends with this one girl and so im friends with her friends, and i love them, theyre so fun, and have showed me all the fun places in brussels.-i am soo busy here. i take dance class, and im in scouts im a leader with little girls. im also in a class where we go see a play or opera every week, then with my french studyings and being with the my host family and friends im crazy busy but i love it and i wouldnt change a thing. sorry again about the latenessthanks!erin I have recieved my stripend!
JON GUY
My email is Jonguy123@yahoo.com but you know that now.
i am in district 4650.
i am with my first family!
i move on the 10th of November!
i am not having any problems.
Just that i live in a boring town with boring host parents, but that will change when the tourists come and i change houses i think. My city is on the Beach so it is bound to liven up a little.
My Rotary club has like 7 people who come to the meetings. I really want them to take an intrest in the exchange students but they just dont.
My host family consists of a Retired man and his wife. I think of them as my grandparents. But no one wants to live whith their grandparents. i really like them, but we all have our quirks and they have a lot. At first i was not aloud to take a portuguese class and things like that. But honestly everything is great now. i have been being tutored by the neighbor lady once a week for two months. And It has been perfect for learning a language. I really enjoy my "class".
i have been involved with the interact group so i am able to do things with my firends that don't involve partying. My counsilor is really strict. But i think that he will loosen up as my portuguese improves.
The only really cool thing is the Beach! are you jealous?
oh and i have everyones emails
This should help!
Jon
hey Sieglinde, Larry, and Vikki, sorry i just got back from london. how are you? congrats vikki on the new position, youll be great at it. -ok, i have one host sister, i love her and she only speaks french so that absolutly helps me out and i learn alot from her. im still with the first family, they're wonderful and really help me out with everything, i feel so lucky. yes i have my own room, first time in my life so its very nice. my address is Erin BruglerDieweg 28 1180 BrusselsBelguim-my conselor is very nice, i see him and every rotary event. my host dad takes me to the meetings because he is also in rotary. i go to the meeting the first friday of ever month. im getting 65 euros a month and my host family also gives me a 40 euros allowance a month. my rotart is realy good with getting the exchange kids together. i absolutly love them and have meet many great new people.-school is good, i feel like a celebritiy because everyone is so interested in me and everyone knows me. about the language, im so much better now then when i first got here, i alos have a tutor and 10 of french in school. friend wise, everyone is so sweet and ive made really good friends with this one girl and so im friends with her friends, and i love them, theyre so fun, and have showed me all the fun places in brussels.-i am soo busy here. i take dance class, and im in scouts im a leader with little girls. im also in a class where we go see a play or opera every week, then with my french studyings and being with the my host family and friends im crazy busy but i love it and i wouldnt change a thing. sorry again about the latenessthanks!erin I have recieved my stripend!
JON GUY
My email is Jonguy123@yahoo.com but you know that now.
i am in district 4650.
i am with my first family!
i move on the 10th of November!
i am not having any problems.
Just that i live in a boring town with boring host parents, but that will change when the tourists come and i change houses i think. My city is on the Beach so it is bound to liven up a little.
My Rotary club has like 7 people who come to the meetings. I really want them to take an intrest in the exchange students but they just dont.
My host family consists of a Retired man and his wife. I think of them as my grandparents. But no one wants to live whith their grandparents. i really like them, but we all have our quirks and they have a lot. At first i was not aloud to take a portuguese class and things like that. But honestly everything is great now. i have been being tutored by the neighbor lady once a week for two months. And It has been perfect for learning a language. I really enjoy my "class".
i have been involved with the interact group so i am able to do things with my firends that don't involve partying. My counsilor is really strict. But i think that he will loosen up as my portuguese improves.
The only really cool thing is the Beach! are you jealous?
oh and i have everyones emails
This should help!
Jon
Group 4- Alex long & funny
ALEX BENNO-Email address: a.benno@yahoo.com =0 shocker I know. =]
District number: 6650.....just kidding it's 4490..I think.
Yes I've been getting my "monthly stipened"
I'm still with my first and aparently only host family which is fine they are stellar. Great people. My host rotary club is fine.. just a bunch of older people..meetings are boring..what's new? haha Really though I talked to students here about the things they had to do to be an exchange student and some of them didnt have to do anything but fill out an app. While I clearly remember intense boring training sessions, vigorous applications, alot of rules, alot of deadlines, BLUE INKK, and soul ripping interviews!! bastards.. haha na it wasnt that bad but still a pain in my ass (totally worth it just saying) it just seems like alot of kids got there spots handed to them >=< the other students (that I've met) really have sucky Rotary sponsers and what not (go 6650!). A girl had a problem with her family and they told her to suck it up and to not contact them about it or she would get sent home. and I thought wellll shit I'm glad I have Vicki back at home backing my ass up ;-] It wasn't like her problem was small and insignificant either. ANYWAYS I don't know if my rotary club here really cares and I don't think I've met my counsler and I haven't heard from him/her.. But I haven't put forth an effort to meet them either. I haven't been home sick at all since of been here and I won't be. Ohio sucks and it's cold there. ^_^ The water is effing cold here. Food is yum. I haven't gained weight..yet. I have actually lost weight haha. herrrmm what else. There's alot of trash here..Brasil reminds me of an industrialized Costa Rica...I love Brasil though. The weather is stellar. I hope to visit my friend Xandi (previous inbound in ohio) I don't know when but yeah that should be fun he lives in the deep south..hmm..hahaha ok so there are these girls in my school that are about twelve and either have the memory span of goldfish (which is about 2 seconds if you didnt know, which im sure you did.) or are just brain dead. almost Every day they come up to me and ask me, "where in the US are you from?" and I say "Ohio.."girls-" ohh ya ya ohio..hmm..ya" they walk away and come back about two minutes later and ask the same question and I say "Ohio..near NYC" and they say "oh ya ya right hmmm.." They do this a couple times and I'm about two seconds away from telling them to take there heads out of eachothers asses. But suddenly I think Alex..keep your temper..these nitwits can't help there ignorance for all you know they really might have the memory span of gold fish..wouldn't you feel bad? I thought about it..and no I don't think I would. So they come up to me again blah blah blah and this time I said "Disney land. I'm cinderella...couldn't you tell?" -girls-"SERIOO?? omgshh I knew you looked familularr!!!! woow." I just walked away after that. But seriously? How dumb can people get. And no they weren't mentally challenged or ill. They were just dumb. Im not a bitch I just dont have tolerence or patience for people like that. okay i am a bitch. Whattt else....I reallllly want to go to this SEVEN DAY rave on future beach.. But my host father says he doesn't think its a good idea hahah he is probably right but still that would be gnarleyyyy. okay I'm done I hope I fulfilled all your mandatory thing requirments..if not let me know.
p.s I hate how my spelling has gotten horrible hahahha
and here are some tips for your future outbounds!! bahahaha I will write more sometime but I didnt want to drag this email out foreverrrr. But regardless sorry for not sending it sooner.
tell me what you think.
-Alex Benno
TIPS for future out bounds:
1. If your going to get your family gifts don't go to good will or VDO to get them. They may smile and act like they like the giant stained USA shirt you just gave them but chances are they don't. Go to walmart..just as cheap twice as new.
2. BREAK UP WITH YOUR BFS & GFS!! I'm saying this out of experience. I promise you your exchange year will be 10 times better if you go single. I know you are all teens and you will miss your "babyboopooh" before you miss your parents. But once you realize your in a different country, with foreign, hotter, more intriguing guys/girls throwing themselves at you, your going to forget about your "boo" save the heart break and take your exchange year to the fullest. It may hurt at first but you will get over them quicker than you could have ever imagined. and it will keep you off the damned internet talking to that person and NOT learing the language and culture and NOT making new friends! let them go and if its supposed to work out it will once you get back. I dont want to hear "but but I love them. The have my heart and sould blah blah blah." talk to me when youv been in your host country for more than two months.
3. You will change over your exchange year whether you say you will or not you will!! Except that. Your year abroad will open your eyes to the worlds problems and force you to see that life is bigger than just your small hometown where everyone knows every one. Your going to experience hard almost unbearable times and amazing undescribable moments. You will get through those hard times. no matter how low you think youve gotten I know iv been through alot ask me about it Im easy to relate to. Later you will be thankful for those times because in them you grow, become stronger, and learn.
4. Europeans don't like it when you crack your knuckles, back, neck, etc. it freaks them out.
5. Do not go parading around like some college student on spring break. Not only are you embarrassing yourself your embarrassing your country & your rotary club. Chances are you will get sent home. Before you do anything dumb just please think to yourself "is it really worth it?" I hope you'll see that, one hit or one shot isn't worth, possibly the best year of your life. If your going to do it and I know you will don't be a fucking idiot teen and talk or brag or post pics about it online!!! There are people watching you constantly whether you think so or not. And you just get a reputation not a pat on the back. noone cares how drunk you got or how blazed you were. Your not in Kansas any more. They are impressed by your intelligence and your friendly personality not the bottle of jager you want to take to the face. "LETSSS GETT FUCKKKED UPPPPP!" is more like "LOOK AT ME! MY MOM NEGLECTED ME WHEN I WAS LITTLE AND I THINK IM HARDCORE BUT I KNOW MY PENIS IS ACTUALLY HALF THE SIZE OF MY PINKY AND GETTING YOU DRUNK IS THE ONLY WAY ITS GOING TO GET LOVE." -Alex Benno. Its not attractive and it just reinforces the fact that your an "idiot american" -in their eyes. ;-] think about what you say and do!!!
6. Inform yourself on world issues. Go read a book. Go look at a map. The last thing you want is to go to a country and be asked a thousand questions and you not knowing what the hell they are talking about. so you just sit there with your thumb up your ass. It is really sad when people know more about your native country than you do.
7. Know the climate of your host country. You may live in a warm or cold climate in the U.S but that doesnt mean it's going to be the same. Chances are the country your going to is the complete opposite of where you live now. Enjoy.
8. 90% of europeans dont like you. your an American and they will steryotype you. Your either fat and dumb or your fat dumb and a republican. Don't be upset or put down when you introduce yourself and say you are from the U.S then have that person say oh and turn away. Let them see that your not what they think. Dont force your opinion down their throat. They may force theirs. But then they will realize they are and will notice that they are the assholes not you. =] Alottttt of people will also love you for the onee reason that your a citizen of the U.S.
9. Your a citizen of the United states not just an American- Brasilians are Americans too and they find it affending when you forget that fact. cough cough Southern AMERICA cough.
10. When people ask what country your from your not from America you are from the The United States. They will probably know what your talking about if you say your from America but you will feel that much better when you see them smile at your non idiocy for saying the United States.
11.If your blonde and your going to Southern America. Dont be a dumb blonde. Your hair is a spot light..smile. People are already going to be on your nuts about you being an "American" but your hair will make them feel like they died and went to heaven. really. You will get your own personal poperotzi. I had people asking me for auto graphs and pictures. while some people just took random pictures. ya it sounds funny and cool but its wierd thinking that my face is posted up in someones home. weirrd. So if you want and like that much attention have at it. Im just saying if you dont like attention you need to blend yourself in as well as possible. Blonde hair is not going to do the trick in a crowd of burnettes. oh and they love light skin and pale eyes. *_*
12. the water is cold in Brasil unless you get lucky. Get used to cold showers while you can.
13. forget the world of processed foods and bask in the world of fresh homemade cooking.
14. Save up money for trips during your year abroad now. They are expensive and You will want to go on more than one.
15. You'll hear this again and again...Don't pack your life in your two suitcases! You will probably leave half of it there when you return home. You buy alot over a years time.
16. American straightners dont work in european outlits. get an adapter. or get a new straightner. if it doesnt look like it will fit and if its not the same shape as the outlet then its probably not going to fit. lets go back to preschool..square peg round hole. dont force it. stubborn ass. enough said.
17. learn your host countrys currency and it's value compared with the U.S dollar.
18. A couple of days before you leave go to a currency exchange place and get that out of the way.
19. never carry your full amount of money in one place on you.
20.-especially for ppl going to brasil- dont carry your passport with you unless absolutley needed. do not flash your money around be descret and count your change. oh and shiney items/jewelry is like painting a target on your forehead or wearing a sign that says "MUGG ME!" dont flash your electionic devices around. they will be stolen of forcefully taken. i hope you run fast ;-]
21. Encounter a skin head. Act natural. Dont speak if you dont need to. As far as they know your a deaf mute. ;-] or even a pureblooded native like them except your not looking for a fight..hermmm DONT SPEAK! i dont care how well you speak their language you have an accent.
22. Your parents dont need a play by play. This is your exchange year not there's if you want to buy an assless bikini buy one dont ask your mother in the states permission. The most they need to know is that your alive and well. A monthly call is a blessing. Once a month is alot.. Your friends havent forgotten you and they arent dieing with out you. They are your friends they will be there when you get back. The real question is will you want those friends when you get back? i know what your thinking..im a crazy straight forward bitch with horrible grammer that doesnt know what shes talk about..right? Just wait and you will see the light. Drama in Ohio is exactly that Drama in OHIO where are you? far far away. Stop worrying about whos banging who and what drugs were found in whos locker or what girl your most like like if not already soon to be cheating boyfriend smiled at. WASTE OF TIME!
23. Take your year abroad for granted and you will regret it later. unless your only there for a teeny little while. but still why go through all of that loongg mess and work just to fly home after a month?
24. If you are having second thoughts about going. look at all your options of countrys and realllly think about what would be best for you. if your having second thoughts still and close to your dead line.. Sig will tell you dont go. I will tell you Take the chance it may change everything. Unless they aree biiggg second thoughts. stay home in your sheltered uncorrupted perfect worlds. its warmer there.
25. Airports suck. and they should make a foreigners airport guide for idiots. but i dont think they do and if they do great go apply yourself with one. It may save you time/pressure/tears/and that all too cheery visit to the customers serivce desk with people who dont know what the hell your saying and who act to busy to have time for you. Find someone who speaks english to help you.
26. Yes we no you are pronouncing the word the same exact way they are but dont get frustrated they find pride in cratiquing your "poor pronounciation" into something they find brilliant (which they will take credit for) and yet it is exactly the same.
ex. You-"Como vai voce (vosay)?" (how are you) someforeignametocleverformetothinkof-"What?" You-(now a little unsure of yourself) "Como vai voce?" SFNTCFMTTO-"ohhhh como vai vosaayyy." you- "isnt that what i said?" SFNTCFMTTO-" No you said vo seeyyy." you-" oh okay then como vai voSAYY?" SFNTCFMTTO- "No its said like VO-SAYYYYYY!!!" *_* you- "Oh como vai VOSAYY!" SFNTCFMTTO-" yess very good!"
this will happen more than once.
okay I could go on but this is enough for now I suppose
If any of you have quesitons feel free to contact me at a.benno@yahoo.com
TCHAUUUUUU
p.s incase you all were wondering..no i never called any of my boyfriends babyboopoo.
District number: 6650.....just kidding it's 4490..I think.
Yes I've been getting my "monthly stipened"
I'm still with my first and aparently only host family which is fine they are stellar. Great people. My host rotary club is fine.. just a bunch of older people..meetings are boring..what's new? haha Really though I talked to students here about the things they had to do to be an exchange student and some of them didnt have to do anything but fill out an app. While I clearly remember intense boring training sessions, vigorous applications, alot of rules, alot of deadlines, BLUE INKK, and soul ripping interviews!! bastards.. haha na it wasnt that bad but still a pain in my ass (totally worth it just saying) it just seems like alot of kids got there spots handed to them >=< the other students (that I've met) really have sucky Rotary sponsers and what not (go 6650!). A girl had a problem with her family and they told her to suck it up and to not contact them about it or she would get sent home. and I thought wellll shit I'm glad I have Vicki back at home backing my ass up ;-] It wasn't like her problem was small and insignificant either. ANYWAYS I don't know if my rotary club here really cares and I don't think I've met my counsler and I haven't heard from him/her.. But I haven't put forth an effort to meet them either. I haven't been home sick at all since of been here and I won't be. Ohio sucks and it's cold there. ^_^ The water is effing cold here. Food is yum. I haven't gained weight..yet. I have actually lost weight haha. herrrmm what else. There's alot of trash here..Brasil reminds me of an industrialized Costa Rica...I love Brasil though. The weather is stellar. I hope to visit my friend Xandi (previous inbound in ohio) I don't know when but yeah that should be fun he lives in the deep south..hmm..hahaha ok so there are these girls in my school that are about twelve and either have the memory span of goldfish (which is about 2 seconds if you didnt know, which im sure you did.) or are just brain dead. almost Every day they come up to me and ask me, "where in the US are you from?" and I say "Ohio.."girls-" ohh ya ya ohio..hmm..ya" they walk away and come back about two minutes later and ask the same question and I say "Ohio..near NYC" and they say "oh ya ya right hmmm.." They do this a couple times and I'm about two seconds away from telling them to take there heads out of eachothers asses. But suddenly I think Alex..keep your temper..these nitwits can't help there ignorance for all you know they really might have the memory span of gold fish..wouldn't you feel bad? I thought about it..and no I don't think I would. So they come up to me again blah blah blah and this time I said "Disney land. I'm cinderella...couldn't you tell?" -girls-"SERIOO?? omgshh I knew you looked familularr!!!! woow." I just walked away after that. But seriously? How dumb can people get. And no they weren't mentally challenged or ill. They were just dumb. Im not a bitch I just dont have tolerence or patience for people like that. okay i am a bitch. Whattt else....I reallllly want to go to this SEVEN DAY rave on future beach.. But my host father says he doesn't think its a good idea hahah he is probably right but still that would be gnarleyyyy. okay I'm done I hope I fulfilled all your mandatory thing requirments..if not let me know.
p.s I hate how my spelling has gotten horrible hahahha
and here are some tips for your future outbounds!! bahahaha I will write more sometime but I didnt want to drag this email out foreverrrr. But regardless sorry for not sending it sooner.
tell me what you think.
-Alex Benno
TIPS for future out bounds:
1. If your going to get your family gifts don't go to good will or VDO to get them. They may smile and act like they like the giant stained USA shirt you just gave them but chances are they don't. Go to walmart..just as cheap twice as new.
2. BREAK UP WITH YOUR BFS & GFS!! I'm saying this out of experience. I promise you your exchange year will be 10 times better if you go single. I know you are all teens and you will miss your "babyboopooh" before you miss your parents. But once you realize your in a different country, with foreign, hotter, more intriguing guys/girls throwing themselves at you, your going to forget about your "boo" save the heart break and take your exchange year to the fullest. It may hurt at first but you will get over them quicker than you could have ever imagined. and it will keep you off the damned internet talking to that person and NOT learing the language and culture and NOT making new friends! let them go and if its supposed to work out it will once you get back. I dont want to hear "but but I love them. The have my heart and sould blah blah blah." talk to me when youv been in your host country for more than two months.
3. You will change over your exchange year whether you say you will or not you will!! Except that. Your year abroad will open your eyes to the worlds problems and force you to see that life is bigger than just your small hometown where everyone knows every one. Your going to experience hard almost unbearable times and amazing undescribable moments. You will get through those hard times. no matter how low you think youve gotten I know iv been through alot ask me about it Im easy to relate to. Later you will be thankful for those times because in them you grow, become stronger, and learn.
4. Europeans don't like it when you crack your knuckles, back, neck, etc. it freaks them out.
5. Do not go parading around like some college student on spring break. Not only are you embarrassing yourself your embarrassing your country & your rotary club. Chances are you will get sent home. Before you do anything dumb just please think to yourself "is it really worth it?" I hope you'll see that, one hit or one shot isn't worth, possibly the best year of your life. If your going to do it and I know you will don't be a fucking idiot teen and talk or brag or post pics about it online!!! There are people watching you constantly whether you think so or not. And you just get a reputation not a pat on the back. noone cares how drunk you got or how blazed you were. Your not in Kansas any more. They are impressed by your intelligence and your friendly personality not the bottle of jager you want to take to the face. "LETSSS GETT FUCKKKED UPPPPP!" is more like "LOOK AT ME! MY MOM NEGLECTED ME WHEN I WAS LITTLE AND I THINK IM HARDCORE BUT I KNOW MY PENIS IS ACTUALLY HALF THE SIZE OF MY PINKY AND GETTING YOU DRUNK IS THE ONLY WAY ITS GOING TO GET LOVE." -Alex Benno. Its not attractive and it just reinforces the fact that your an "idiot american" -in their eyes. ;-] think about what you say and do!!!
6. Inform yourself on world issues. Go read a book. Go look at a map. The last thing you want is to go to a country and be asked a thousand questions and you not knowing what the hell they are talking about. so you just sit there with your thumb up your ass. It is really sad when people know more about your native country than you do.
7. Know the climate of your host country. You may live in a warm or cold climate in the U.S but that doesnt mean it's going to be the same. Chances are the country your going to is the complete opposite of where you live now. Enjoy.
8. 90% of europeans dont like you. your an American and they will steryotype you. Your either fat and dumb or your fat dumb and a republican. Don't be upset or put down when you introduce yourself and say you are from the U.S then have that person say oh and turn away. Let them see that your not what they think. Dont force your opinion down their throat. They may force theirs. But then they will realize they are and will notice that they are the assholes not you. =] Alottttt of people will also love you for the onee reason that your a citizen of the U.S.
9. Your a citizen of the United states not just an American- Brasilians are Americans too and they find it affending when you forget that fact. cough cough Southern AMERICA cough.
10. When people ask what country your from your not from America you are from the The United States. They will probably know what your talking about if you say your from America but you will feel that much better when you see them smile at your non idiocy for saying the United States.
11.If your blonde and your going to Southern America. Dont be a dumb blonde. Your hair is a spot light..smile. People are already going to be on your nuts about you being an "American" but your hair will make them feel like they died and went to heaven. really. You will get your own personal poperotzi. I had people asking me for auto graphs and pictures. while some people just took random pictures. ya it sounds funny and cool but its wierd thinking that my face is posted up in someones home. weirrd. So if you want and like that much attention have at it. Im just saying if you dont like attention you need to blend yourself in as well as possible. Blonde hair is not going to do the trick in a crowd of burnettes. oh and they love light skin and pale eyes. *_*
12. the water is cold in Brasil unless you get lucky. Get used to cold showers while you can.
13. forget the world of processed foods and bask in the world of fresh homemade cooking.
14. Save up money for trips during your year abroad now. They are expensive and You will want to go on more than one.
15. You'll hear this again and again...Don't pack your life in your two suitcases! You will probably leave half of it there when you return home. You buy alot over a years time.
16. American straightners dont work in european outlits. get an adapter. or get a new straightner. if it doesnt look like it will fit and if its not the same shape as the outlet then its probably not going to fit. lets go back to preschool..square peg round hole. dont force it. stubborn ass. enough said.
17. learn your host countrys currency and it's value compared with the U.S dollar.
18. A couple of days before you leave go to a currency exchange place and get that out of the way.
19. never carry your full amount of money in one place on you.
20.-especially for ppl going to brasil- dont carry your passport with you unless absolutley needed. do not flash your money around be descret and count your change. oh and shiney items/jewelry is like painting a target on your forehead or wearing a sign that says "MUGG ME!" dont flash your electionic devices around. they will be stolen of forcefully taken. i hope you run fast ;-]
21. Encounter a skin head. Act natural. Dont speak if you dont need to. As far as they know your a deaf mute. ;-] or even a pureblooded native like them except your not looking for a fight..hermmm DONT SPEAK! i dont care how well you speak their language you have an accent.
22. Your parents dont need a play by play. This is your exchange year not there's if you want to buy an assless bikini buy one dont ask your mother in the states permission. The most they need to know is that your alive and well. A monthly call is a blessing. Once a month is alot.. Your friends havent forgotten you and they arent dieing with out you. They are your friends they will be there when you get back. The real question is will you want those friends when you get back? i know what your thinking..im a crazy straight forward bitch with horrible grammer that doesnt know what shes talk about..right? Just wait and you will see the light. Drama in Ohio is exactly that Drama in OHIO where are you? far far away. Stop worrying about whos banging who and what drugs were found in whos locker or what girl your most like like if not already soon to be cheating boyfriend smiled at. WASTE OF TIME!
23. Take your year abroad for granted and you will regret it later. unless your only there for a teeny little while. but still why go through all of that loongg mess and work just to fly home after a month?
24. If you are having second thoughts about going. look at all your options of countrys and realllly think about what would be best for you. if your having second thoughts still and close to your dead line.. Sig will tell you dont go. I will tell you Take the chance it may change everything. Unless they aree biiggg second thoughts. stay home in your sheltered uncorrupted perfect worlds. its warmer there.
25. Airports suck. and they should make a foreigners airport guide for idiots. but i dont think they do and if they do great go apply yourself with one. It may save you time/pressure/tears/and that all too cheery visit to the customers serivce desk with people who dont know what the hell your saying and who act to busy to have time for you. Find someone who speaks english to help you.
26. Yes we no you are pronouncing the word the same exact way they are but dont get frustrated they find pride in cratiquing your "poor pronounciation" into something they find brilliant (which they will take credit for) and yet it is exactly the same.
ex. You-"Como vai voce (vosay)?" (how are you) someforeignametocleverformetothinkof-"What?" You-(now a little unsure of yourself) "Como vai voce?" SFNTCFMTTO-"ohhhh como vai vosaayyy." you- "isnt that what i said?" SFNTCFMTTO-" No you said vo seeyyy." you-" oh okay then como vai voSAYY?" SFNTCFMTTO- "No its said like VO-SAYYYYYY!!!" *_* you- "Oh como vai VOSAYY!" SFNTCFMTTO-" yess very good!"
this will happen more than once.
okay I could go on but this is enough for now I suppose
If any of you have quesitons feel free to contact me at a.benno@yahoo.com
TCHAUUUUUU
p.s incase you all were wondering..no i never called any of my boyfriends babyboopoo.
Outbound Updates-Group 3-Sam, Greg, Dan,Jennifer M
SAM SNELLER-The host club number I am without, the name is Club Amboro. I recieve my regular monthly stipend from Rotary the first thing of the month, $50, which is a ton of money here!... Haven't even spent the amount of money I've recieved so my funds are going up. I am with my first host family and have no intention to move, they are great. They are extremely Bolivian, Papa is a taxi driver from the jungle and Mama was raised in the city and works in ER at a children's hospital. I have a ton of extended family, lots of cousins and they all live closeby or across the street. I'm really part of the family here and am always doing things with them. I have no problems with them, ha jest that they sometimes talk to me so much in Spanish I get worn out! The host Rotary club is fine, kind of neglective but I think they are jest Bolivian. I do think they are one of the best to be hosted by although, because they jest approved all these trips I want to take! The club is pretty concerned about all the exchange students. The city is not very safe, as I've been robbed twice in the last 2 weeks and other exchange students have had worse things happen, and of course the country is close to the brink of civil war. Especially for the gringos, who are not supposed to be in Bolivia. The club has an evacuation plan for us incase we need to get out, but I don't honestly trust them to get us out... We'll see. I think all will be fine until the vote for the referendum of the constitution comes around in January. But it's not worth worrying about, cause' here in Bolivia you never know what will happen... Anyways, school is alright most of the time. School is really easy here and kids don't really do anything but talk all day. But colegio is about to end, November 7th, and then we have the longest summer, until mid February. Then I'll be entering University, taking one course a month to keep my student visa valid. I want to take a Guarani (native language here) class, then Cultura Boliviana, and then this Photography class. So I'm excited for that... Well not much is bothering me, sometimes it's a bit overwhelming to be in a large city in a 3rd world country but I'm diggin' it. Spanish is coming along really well, at 2 months I can pass for fluent (seriously, I've been mistaken) in some conversations, and when I arrived I knew nothing. I can understand everything that is said too. My host parents speak no English, so it helps a lot. I've made a lot of Bolivian friends as well. I've been having a good time... Learning to DJ with some friends I've made who have a record company and recording studio, playing drums for my cousins Punk band on occasion, and playing basketball for a University team here. Only problem would be about my visa, it's been extremely complicated here. Almost was imprisoned for having a "false and tampered" passport, my visa I came with was wrong, Bolivian government hates gringos, was going to Immigration for hours a day for a week or more, had to say I "lost" my passport adventually so I didn't get deported, now I'm waiting to get my new passport, then I will need to be brought over the Argentinian border, stay for a while and get a new visa, then come back to Bolivia with a new entry stamp for my "first" time entering, then keep going back to Immigration to get my visa for a year. Yeah, that's real short. But I don't really care anymore, you can't worry about things here because everything is jest so wild and everything goes! Jest go with what comes. I'm jest real excited for travelling throughout South America comin' up real soon! Well all goin' good here and gettin' better by the hour. Take it easy to all. Peace.-Sam Sneller
GREG LAMBERT-
Greetings to you all!
Now that most of you have been in your new “home country” for a while, I would like to touch base with you to see how you’re doing.
It is vital that we (District 6650 YE Committee) ensure your safety and happiness during this year, and the only way we can do this is, if we hear from you. Remember when we talked about those “quarterly reports” during the training sessions?
Several of you have been most diligent in adding me to your general update, or blog, sending e-mails, setting up a picture page, etc. Please know that this is very much appreciated. I’ve enjoyed reading about your “adventures.”
Even though I have heard from some of you, I would still like all of you to respond to the following questions.
What is your home situation like?
Do you have your own room; any siblings; how do you get along with your siblings and host parent/s?
Yes I have my own room. I have 2 brothers one is 17 and is currently on exchange in Illinois and the other is 12. I get along with my host parents great.
Have you changed homes or are you in the process of changing, etc?
No
What is your address?
Hanulova 38 Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia
How is your local Rotary helping your exchange?
Do you have frequent contact with your counselor; is he/she helpful; does he/shepick you up for meetings; how often do you attend; are you getting your stipend?
I haven't really talked to my cousenlor because of language problems he doesn't speak English and I dont know enoug Slovak to hold a conversation. No i usually walk to the meetings since they are only down the street from my house. I go every week and yeah i recieve the stipend.
Does your Rotary District provide an opportunity for you to get together with other exchange students to compare notes and to see that you are not alone in this exciting year of your life?
Yeah we have overnights but i was dissappointed to find out that we dont have as many as we do back home. We had one in september and our next is going to be in December.
How’s school going?
Are you making friends; learning the language; able to converse beyond the very basics?
Yes I have been making friends and learning the language. I can converse a little but my grammer is horrible.
Remember that the more language you learn and utilize, the more your true personality will emerge.
How’s your social life?
Are you involved in fun things with students other than other exchange students?
Yes i do a lot with my classmates.
How are you limiting your e-mail and phone contact with US friends and family?
All i really do is email my mom i havent called and i dont plan to.
If there is anything that “just doesn’t feel right,” please let me know and we’ll check it out.
Remember: It’s not better, it’s not worse; it’s just different.
If there is something you need from District 6650, please let me know?
Enjoy your great adventure!
Sieglinde and Larry
DAN SEGURA-Have you been receiving your monthly stipend? Are you with your first host family? If you have moved, please let me know why. Do you have any problems? How is your host Rotary club? Is the host Rotary District concerned about you? I'll assume you hate school, but let me know about anything else that bothers you. Tell me something cool to make me jealous, too. :)
I have not received a monthly stipend, because I have not yet met with my Host Club. My host mom told me that there were no meetings in September, and I missed the first one in October. I will be meeting with my counselor on the 30Th so that he can sign the forms. I am still with my first host family. I am having major problems with my situation. To spare you the details, unless you want my full account, I don't think that my time spent here is worth it. I am in an all boys christian school in a city of 20 million so it feels like i could be anywhere in the world. The Rotary is extremely strict and so are the host parents. I don't see my situation changing for the better, even when trying hard to be optimistic. I am in the process of figuring out a solution with my counselors, so I will keep you updated on my situation. :) I will tell you something cool that makes you jealous as soon as I experience it.
Thanks
DAN SEGURA, PART 2
Well I will begin with school, since the majority of my time is spent here. Through the course of my week I have few classes that are even close to rewarding. I have a Thai language class on Wednesday and Thursday. My teacher speaks little English, brings books points at photos and gives me the word. So far my list consists of fruits, animals, body parts, and some verbs. Recently she has given me worksheets that do help, but I do them on my own time and she checks. All things that I can do on my own. I talked to one of the English Program Teachers in my school and he thinks that this method of learning will take me nowhere. I also have a Thai flute class, a couple of drawing class with the 7th graders, and lots of PE. The rest of my schedule is filled with classes such as Biology, Physics, Math, Social Studies, etc all taught in Thai. I have tried to sit through these classes and listen to the language, but usually do not last. I either fall asleep from all the processing, or have to leave the room due to the volume. School here, at least high school, seems to be a joke. The students chant and jeer like soccer rivals and disregard the teachers amplified voice that is booming from the speaker in the back of the room. All this noise reverberates off the flat walls and is more than I can handle. Today I had plugs in and cupped my ears, but the volume was enough to irk me from the room for the remainder of the day. When I leave the room, and mostly every day I do, I struggle to find a quiet place and then settle down to read, draw, or sleep until the day is through. It may sound far fetched that a school could be so loud, but it is so. I cant even find refuge in the library! That is the school day. After the day ends, on average at 4, most of the students linger around or head off to their tutors. As far as having Thai friends, it is nearly impossible. For the most part they are mere acquaintances and that's where it ends. However, I have recently joined up with the soccer team so I get to hang out with the soccer players during transit time to matches and practice. Now that I am on the team my free time except for sunday is filled with practice and transportation time. When I wasnt playing soccer and still when i am not, the best option for enjoyment is to walk in circles around the malls, eat, watch movies or bowl. On occasion I can make it to the park, usually alone, and this has been my favorite part of the city thus far. When I do go out it is with the other exchange students, after the average of an hour of transit to meet in one place we usaully start with some ice cream or other food and then sit and wonder what we can get accomplished before our early curfews for most 6 or 7. More often than not our time is exhausted looking for plans so we end up wandering the streets or sitting and talking about our situations.
The Rotary here is the second major issue. They are extremely strict and keep a keen eye on all the students and parents through their tight gossip network, which often ends up as a game of "telephone" where all the facts are distorted. They are very strict on the travel issue as well. I had the opportunity to go to Chain Mai twice over my vacation but was denied both times. The first opportunity was with the Head Master at my school, granted she couldnt chaperone me every step of the trip once we got there. And the second was to go with my Thai friend from school and his family on a Universtiy Visit. I understand that they are liable for my saftey, but I also understand that it means I will only see a very narrow view of Thailand.
My host parents are very busy and I often feel that I am in their way. I think this is true, since the exchage is direct here. I rarely see my host father, which suits me well. I can tell he has a ditaste for me, and apparently the west in general. My host mom and sister speak very good english, and until the past few days have made no attempt to talk to me in Thai. If I leave the gated house it is only by my moms car. I have never left the house alone, and my mom has yet to attempt to show me how to get to the SkyTrain by bus despite the many times I have asked. So in turn if any weekday I wanted to sleep in past 7am over my vacation was a full day spent at home. I have spent many days secluded behind the iron gate of the house alone for the whole day. The only time I do see or talk to my Host mom or sister is during the car ride or brief dinner if it is at home. Then they go into their bedroom and watch tv. So i never see or talk with them much.
There are more details that I could file through but it is late for me now. The bottow line for me is that I want to truely experience Thailand. I will never achieve this being stuck in a city of 20 million in an all boys Chistian school with a curfew of 7oclock. I will not meet traditional Thai people, see the many regions, and learn of Buddhism. I feel like I am under house arrest, and feel like I am treated with the same reguard as an elementary student. Being in a city this magnitude, and especially this school could be about the same experience for me in any country of the world. As far as learning the language, what I do learn I learn on my own time. I do find it hard to muster the will power to push myseld hard to learn this extreme language, especially under the weight of my curcimstances.
Thats my bit, this is my two month account of RYE in Bangkok. I do appreciate all the effort and time put into the exchage program here. I dont mean to bash rotary, this is just my true though and situation.
JENNIFER MILLER-Emails still the same: jennmiller_oh@hotmail.comHost District Number is 4240Ive gotten my stipend but only every other month, 140 lucas.Still with my first family. I love them like my own. Especially my mom.Problems? only my own personal battle with eating all the bread in the world... its so good... ive gained like 2 kilos and im sure its just on big ball of migas in my belly. not good but whatever. I knew it would happen. se la vie.The Rotary here has called me to a meeting to give my presentation with my friend also here from rotary but whose from Minnesota. We talked about the US together then about our indivigual states. Other than that I have very little communication with them. They´re not incredibly responsive when I have questions for them. I usually have to ask my host dad to ask my conselor multiples times about things when he goes to rotary meetings.All in all. Life is Good.--Jenny(haha theres something for ya.. use to be a big pet peeve of mine being called Jenny. but here its what they prefered to call me and now its stuck. i dont mind so much.)
GREG LAMBERT-
Greetings to you all!
Now that most of you have been in your new “home country” for a while, I would like to touch base with you to see how you’re doing.
It is vital that we (District 6650 YE Committee) ensure your safety and happiness during this year, and the only way we can do this is, if we hear from you. Remember when we talked about those “quarterly reports” during the training sessions?
Several of you have been most diligent in adding me to your general update, or blog, sending e-mails, setting up a picture page, etc. Please know that this is very much appreciated. I’ve enjoyed reading about your “adventures.”
Even though I have heard from some of you, I would still like all of you to respond to the following questions.
What is your home situation like?
Do you have your own room; any siblings; how do you get along with your siblings and host parent/s?
Yes I have my own room. I have 2 brothers one is 17 and is currently on exchange in Illinois and the other is 12. I get along with my host parents great.
Have you changed homes or are you in the process of changing, etc?
No
What is your address?
Hanulova 38 Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia
How is your local Rotary helping your exchange?
Do you have frequent contact with your counselor; is he/she helpful; does he/shepick you up for meetings; how often do you attend; are you getting your stipend?
I haven't really talked to my cousenlor because of language problems he doesn't speak English and I dont know enoug Slovak to hold a conversation. No i usually walk to the meetings since they are only down the street from my house. I go every week and yeah i recieve the stipend.
Does your Rotary District provide an opportunity for you to get together with other exchange students to compare notes and to see that you are not alone in this exciting year of your life?
Yeah we have overnights but i was dissappointed to find out that we dont have as many as we do back home. We had one in september and our next is going to be in December.
How’s school going?
Are you making friends; learning the language; able to converse beyond the very basics?
Yes I have been making friends and learning the language. I can converse a little but my grammer is horrible.
Remember that the more language you learn and utilize, the more your true personality will emerge.
How’s your social life?
Are you involved in fun things with students other than other exchange students?
Yes i do a lot with my classmates.
How are you limiting your e-mail and phone contact with US friends and family?
All i really do is email my mom i havent called and i dont plan to.
If there is anything that “just doesn’t feel right,” please let me know and we’ll check it out.
Remember: It’s not better, it’s not worse; it’s just different.
If there is something you need from District 6650, please let me know?
Enjoy your great adventure!
Sieglinde and Larry
DAN SEGURA-Have you been receiving your monthly stipend? Are you with your first host family? If you have moved, please let me know why. Do you have any problems? How is your host Rotary club? Is the host Rotary District concerned about you? I'll assume you hate school, but let me know about anything else that bothers you. Tell me something cool to make me jealous, too. :)
I have not received a monthly stipend, because I have not yet met with my Host Club. My host mom told me that there were no meetings in September, and I missed the first one in October. I will be meeting with my counselor on the 30Th so that he can sign the forms. I am still with my first host family. I am having major problems with my situation. To spare you the details, unless you want my full account, I don't think that my time spent here is worth it. I am in an all boys christian school in a city of 20 million so it feels like i could be anywhere in the world. The Rotary is extremely strict and so are the host parents. I don't see my situation changing for the better, even when trying hard to be optimistic. I am in the process of figuring out a solution with my counselors, so I will keep you updated on my situation. :) I will tell you something cool that makes you jealous as soon as I experience it.
Thanks
DAN SEGURA, PART 2
Well I will begin with school, since the majority of my time is spent here. Through the course of my week I have few classes that are even close to rewarding. I have a Thai language class on Wednesday and Thursday. My teacher speaks little English, brings books points at photos and gives me the word. So far my list consists of fruits, animals, body parts, and some verbs. Recently she has given me worksheets that do help, but I do them on my own time and she checks. All things that I can do on my own. I talked to one of the English Program Teachers in my school and he thinks that this method of learning will take me nowhere. I also have a Thai flute class, a couple of drawing class with the 7th graders, and lots of PE. The rest of my schedule is filled with classes such as Biology, Physics, Math, Social Studies, etc all taught in Thai. I have tried to sit through these classes and listen to the language, but usually do not last. I either fall asleep from all the processing, or have to leave the room due to the volume. School here, at least high school, seems to be a joke. The students chant and jeer like soccer rivals and disregard the teachers amplified voice that is booming from the speaker in the back of the room. All this noise reverberates off the flat walls and is more than I can handle. Today I had plugs in and cupped my ears, but the volume was enough to irk me from the room for the remainder of the day. When I leave the room, and mostly every day I do, I struggle to find a quiet place and then settle down to read, draw, or sleep until the day is through. It may sound far fetched that a school could be so loud, but it is so. I cant even find refuge in the library! That is the school day. After the day ends, on average at 4, most of the students linger around or head off to their tutors. As far as having Thai friends, it is nearly impossible. For the most part they are mere acquaintances and that's where it ends. However, I have recently joined up with the soccer team so I get to hang out with the soccer players during transit time to matches and practice. Now that I am on the team my free time except for sunday is filled with practice and transportation time. When I wasnt playing soccer and still when i am not, the best option for enjoyment is to walk in circles around the malls, eat, watch movies or bowl. On occasion I can make it to the park, usually alone, and this has been my favorite part of the city thus far. When I do go out it is with the other exchange students, after the average of an hour of transit to meet in one place we usaully start with some ice cream or other food and then sit and wonder what we can get accomplished before our early curfews for most 6 or 7. More often than not our time is exhausted looking for plans so we end up wandering the streets or sitting and talking about our situations.
The Rotary here is the second major issue. They are extremely strict and keep a keen eye on all the students and parents through their tight gossip network, which often ends up as a game of "telephone" where all the facts are distorted. They are very strict on the travel issue as well. I had the opportunity to go to Chain Mai twice over my vacation but was denied both times. The first opportunity was with the Head Master at my school, granted she couldnt chaperone me every step of the trip once we got there. And the second was to go with my Thai friend from school and his family on a Universtiy Visit. I understand that they are liable for my saftey, but I also understand that it means I will only see a very narrow view of Thailand.
My host parents are very busy and I often feel that I am in their way. I think this is true, since the exchage is direct here. I rarely see my host father, which suits me well. I can tell he has a ditaste for me, and apparently the west in general. My host mom and sister speak very good english, and until the past few days have made no attempt to talk to me in Thai. If I leave the gated house it is only by my moms car. I have never left the house alone, and my mom has yet to attempt to show me how to get to the SkyTrain by bus despite the many times I have asked. So in turn if any weekday I wanted to sleep in past 7am over my vacation was a full day spent at home. I have spent many days secluded behind the iron gate of the house alone for the whole day. The only time I do see or talk to my Host mom or sister is during the car ride or brief dinner if it is at home. Then they go into their bedroom and watch tv. So i never see or talk with them much.
There are more details that I could file through but it is late for me now. The bottow line for me is that I want to truely experience Thailand. I will never achieve this being stuck in a city of 20 million in an all boys Chistian school with a curfew of 7oclock. I will not meet traditional Thai people, see the many regions, and learn of Buddhism. I feel like I am under house arrest, and feel like I am treated with the same reguard as an elementary student. Being in a city this magnitude, and especially this school could be about the same experience for me in any country of the world. As far as learning the language, what I do learn I learn on my own time. I do find it hard to muster the will power to push myseld hard to learn this extreme language, especially under the weight of my curcimstances.
Thats my bit, this is my two month account of RYE in Bangkok. I do appreciate all the effort and time put into the exchage program here. I dont mean to bash rotary, this is just my true though and situation.
JENNIFER MILLER-Emails still the same: jennmiller_oh@hotmail.comHost District Number is 4240Ive gotten my stipend but only every other month, 140 lucas.Still with my first family. I love them like my own. Especially my mom.Problems? only my own personal battle with eating all the bread in the world... its so good... ive gained like 2 kilos and im sure its just on big ball of migas in my belly. not good but whatever. I knew it would happen. se la vie.The Rotary here has called me to a meeting to give my presentation with my friend also here from rotary but whose from Minnesota. We talked about the US together then about our indivigual states. Other than that I have very little communication with them. They´re not incredibly responsive when I have questions for them. I usually have to ask my host dad to ask my conselor multiples times about things when he goes to rotary meetings.All in all. Life is Good.--Jenny(haha theres something for ya.. use to be a big pet peeve of mine being called Jenny. but here its what they prefered to call me and now its stuck. i dont mind so much.)
Updates-group 2 Andrew P, Sandra, Renee, Ryan,Alaina, Clint,Jennifer H
ANDREW PADACH-Hey Vicki,My email address is andrewpadach@hotmail.com my district number is 4650-Forteleza. Thankfully, I have been receiving my monthly allowance. I am still with my first host family, I have been told that I will move sometime next month though. No problems so far, just a little homesick here and there, nothing to major. My rotary club is good. They are all older men and they seem nice, although I cant really speak to them (damn portugues). School is fine, its nice to sleep in class and listen to my IPOD. I have been pretty busy this month with the second biggest Oktoberfest in the world taking place in my city.
SANDRA LEVITSKI-Hi Vicki, Congratulations on the outbound chair!Everything is going extremely well for me here in Austria. My email address is s_levitski@hotmail.com, and i'm in district 1910-1920. I've met my sponsering club, and gone on several trips with them already. We went canoeing in Hungary, and I also went to Graz with them. I've been faithfully recieving my stipend. I'm with my first host family, and apparently I'll be with them all year. I really have no problems, besides learning German of course, but i signed up for an extra German course at night, so I should be improving, i hope. My host club is nice, they have invited me to several meetings, plus those little trips i've taken with them. They seem concerned in how I am doing, i think. School is okay, but very different from my school in Ohio. I tried taking a chemistry test the other day, and I could only answer 5 questions. I had no idea what the other questions were asking me. But that'll get better in time probably. I live right in Vienna, so I get to see the city basically every day, i love it! So everything is going excellent. Sandra Levitski
RENEE FUSCO-Hi Vicki,First of all, congratulations on being the new outbound chair!Everything is going great here in Chile. My district number is 4340. I live in a very nice neighborhood with an AWESOME family! The next person to live with my family is extremely lucky! I have gone "trekking" several times with my family through the Andes.. Its sooo beautiful! I'm infinitely jealous of the people that live here that get to see that landscape all the time! My extended family is also very fun. For example, my uncle and aunt and grandparents have taken me to Vina del Mar and gave me a tour of downtown. They all are very excited to show me around and thats super helpful. They have really made me feel like I am part of the family. I wish there was a way I didn't have to switch. Because it seems like the time with each family is uneven.. for example, I will be with this family for about four months if we switch after new years like they said.. I would prefer to wait until later, (or never at all =) ) but i guess thats something I'll have to really discuss with my counselor here as well. But anyways, I have received the monthly stipend twice now, once for September and recently for October, so no problems there. I'm finding all the Rotary members to be very kind and welcoming. I went to a meeting last month (where they surprisingly don't allow any women to attend! therefore i was the only girl! haha) So i hung out with some old guys and stuff, but it wasn't bad at all. They were all very friendly. I got up and did my little introduction, no big deal, and it went fine.. I love my counselor, Raquel. She's very helpful and I feel very comfortable talking with her and her husband Raul. Yes its true, school isn't at the top of my list of fun things to do, but its not terrible either. I think all of us that have already graduated have found school to be a bit boring naturally, but I can deal with it. My only complaint is that its TOO long! After i take the bus, i don't arrive at home until about 4:30.. to me, thats a looong day to be at school especially when I finished already in the US, but luckily summer is coming. I recently asked Raquel if there was anyway I could spend half day or not go a full week and spend the other time volunteering at a charity. She answered as I expected, that I had to go to school, but that once my spanish was better that i can definitely find some program to be involved in. I don't know, i just feel as if my time in school could be spent doing something more useful, something thats helpful to other people and something that will still help me learn spanish. But who knows, we'll see! I only have the rest of the month and november left, and then december is real short!I also wanted to tell you that the training that you guys prepared for us was awesome! I get asked quite often about the election and I'm thankful that I know something about it! I also think that you guys were right on target with most of the things you told us about learning the language, the family situations etc.. Everything i learned throughout the year is playing some sort of role in my life now, and for that i want to thank you! The language especially is the most difficult thing for me, but it is coming along.. I am very jealous of other students that had the opportunity in their high schools to learn a second language and learn it well. my host sister thats in the US right now went to Nevada already speaking very well, and now shes simply perfecting it and learning how to spell and use grammar correctly. I thought i knew spanish pretty decently before i arrived, and i was dead wrong haha.. but all and all things are good.. i just can't wait for the day when i can understand everything! and say anything! and ahhh to be able to converse like a normal human being, without flopping my arms around and stuttering and forgetting or simply not knowing the right word! hahaWell, i guess thats all from me for now.. I'll let you know if anything changes! Once again, congratulations!besosRenee
Ryan Meditz-Hey Vicki! Everything in Bolivia has been great. I've been really busy with school, friends, ect. I have received my monthly allowance of fifty dollars as scheduled. I'm still with my first host family, and I plan of staying with them for the rest of the year. They are great. I couldn't have asked for a better family. I really can't think of any problems. Well, I guess my only problem is that I have to have another summer break starting monday. I think I'll be able to get through it ok! My host rotary club is pretty good. I have had very good relations with them. They are very friendly, and care about the exchange students a great deal. I wouldn't say the were concerned about me. I havn't done anything for them to be. I can't think of anything that bothers me here, other than the weather is beautiful. I guess you should be jealous of the fact that I belong to the Country Club here. I don't know if you have been there, but it's amazing. They have a huge pool, golf course, gym, tennis courts, and much more. Ryan
ALAINA MCCONNELL-
¡Hola from España! So far I´ve been in Spain for a little over six weeks and am loving every minute of it. Even when it´s cold and rainy and boring and there´s nothing to do, I´m still like: Wow, I´m in Barcelona. I´m sure you have a lot of updates to read so I´ll get right to the questions. Home life is good. I have my own bedroom, computer, cell phone, windows with automatic shutters...all that jazz. My family is w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l. I have a little sister (age 10) and another sister (age 18) and a mom and dad. They speak very, very minimal English so we converse entirely in Spanish...for now. Because Barcelona is a bilingual city, as soon as I master Spanish, we´ll be switching to Catalán in the house. Spain works a little differently that other countries in terms of having only one family for the entire year. Personally I don´t mind, as I love my family and am quite comfortable here. Ohh, they´ve given me a stipend of 60 euros a month. School is... school. Let me just say that the first week I hated it. I never wanted to go back. But, as with most things, it got better rather than worse and now I don´t mind going. My school is taught entirely in Catalán, so as of now I understand about 2% of the material. All I can say is, I´m glad I´ve already graduated. I spend most of my time listening and just trying to grasp the subject of the lecture, but I´m not going to lie...it´s pretty boring.However, I´ve enrolled in Catalán Second Language courses at my school, and have five classes a week, so that helps to pass the time. I find it´s been kind of hard to make friends at my school for a number of reasons. One, is that there are four other American exchange students at my school, three in my class alone and I´ve had to compete with them for attention. Another factor is that the kids all speak Catalán to one another and are not always willing to switch back to Spanish for me. I believe it stems from some national pride issue where the region of Catalyuna thinks of itself as a seperate country from Spain. My local Rotary district has been pretty mysterious, quite frankly. I was asked to do a presentation about a month ago, but since then I´ve heard nothing, have had no meetings, and I don´t even know who my counselor is or how to get a hold of him. In September, we had an orientation in Madrid with the head honchos of Rotary Spain, but since then I´ve heard nothing. (There is a trip to Italy planned for February though!) But this is how it is in Spain, and it hasn´t really been a concern to me. However, I was supposed to get an insurance card in case of emergency (which I´ve already paid for) and still haven´t received it... Social life is pretty good. I´ve been going out on the weekends with friends from school and with my host sister and we always manage to have a good time. Haven´t joined any extra curricular activities yet, becase there is nothing affiliated with the school. I was too late in signing up for classes outisde of school and everything is full until December. So I´ll just have to wait and start Flamenco lessons then... In short, everything is really, really good. No pressing concerns, or questions at this point. I have a blog if anyone is interested. http://amcconnell27.livejournal.com/My address here is:Alaina McConnellCalle Cardenal Vives i Tutó 62 (4.2) SarriáBarcelona 08034 Spain¡Muchas Gracias y Adios!AlainaCLINT ERICKSON-Hello,I have very limited internet at the moment so uploading pictures and such isnear impossible. I have my own room, with my own bathroom. My host brother is awesome. He and iget along rather nicely. We do a lot of things together. He got me to do FieldHockey because they dont have any of the sports that i play.I also do many activities with my host father. Every friday we play volley ballwith a bunch of people from around Meckenheim.I am currently with my first host family. We will be switching after christmas.My address here is:Clint EriksenKlosterstr. 84 53340 Meckenheimi think that is all for the address. My local rotary club is really nice. However there are not too many meetingsbecause all the people in the Rotary are usually working. Every now and then wehave a meeting. But it is a little different that just sitting in a room, theyusually go on a hike or something. When i do have meetings to attend, i have totake the train to the town next to mine, and when i get there my counselor picksme up. I get my stipend at the beginning of every month. From what i hear fromthe other kids here in Germany, my stipend is the most. I receive 100¤. Last weekend i attended a meeting that was run by the Rotex. At that meeting iwas able to meet with all the kids in my district. There are three kids in mytown so we usually help each other out. School is going great, they let me pick my classes. I mostly picked classesthat my friends were taking. I have made many friends thanks to my host brother.I do activities with whomever i can. If something comes up i take it. Most ofthe time it is at random. The ids in germany usually plan things right beforethey do them. So at the moment it is a little difficult to catch what is goingon. I have only called my house two times. The first was to let my family know that i arrived in germany, and that i was doing fine. The second was for mymom's birthday. I have also done two skype chats with my parents. It is freeso i like it a little more. I would be glad to answer any other questions, and please tell any kids thatwant to go to Germany to email me if they have any questions. I would be glad to help them. Clint EriksenJENNIFER HOFFMAN-Greetings from France. I hope that all is well for you. I know that everything is great here!As of yesterday, I have been in France for 2 months. It is crazy how fast the time has gone by. Just for your information, I have a blog. The address is http://princesseaurore.blogspot.comMy home situation is a little wierd. My host family is great its just that we have two houses. The dad works in Nancy (in Lorraine near Germany and Luxembourg) and that's where I stay throughout the week with my dad and host sister Marie. The mom and other host sister live in a little village on the lake Der about one hour and a half away from Nancy. On the weekends, we travel to the country and stay there. I absolutely love this living arrangement and will be sad when I go to stay with my second family in December (the 6th to be exact). I love my second host family too. They are very cute. I have a little sister named Pauline who is the same age as my little sister back home. She's absolutely adorable. I haven't really had any problems at all with anyone here. We all get along very well. I guess that I'm lucky but my exchange hasn't really been that hard yet. I have my own room in both the city and the country.My Rotary club is really nice. They are an active bunch people lol. I finished my first 16 kilometer walk/race with them and just last weekend, we biked around the Lake of Der (which is 40 kilometers!!!) My counselor is a nice guy with a young family. He's great but I don't really talk to him a lot. I guess that I've just never been an exchange student before and it's a hard thing to get used to. Any real problems that I have my host mom helps me out with. The rotary meetings are Tuesdays at noon and, because I go to school in Nancy but my club is in Toul (kind of like school in Alliance and club in Canton) and because I only have 1 and a half hours to eat on Tuesdays, I can't regularly attend the meetings. I have gone to a few dinners that they have had though. About 3 weeks into my exchange, I gave my presentation in French. It was a lot of fun! I recieve 80 euros each month and, so far, I have gotten them at the beginning of the month.With the district, we have regular meetings like we did back in Ohio to meet with the other Inbounds. It's really cool to hang out with them but, also a little frusterating because everyone only speaks in English. I've made some nice friends though. Two weeks ago, we met in St. Dié and we climbed a mountain!School is going well now. In the beginning, it was a little hard because I was in a class equivalent to a senior who took all economic classes (of which I have never taken in my life) but, I talked with the principals and got it worked out where I am a junior in the Litteratue section. The classes are a little boring though. I am taking a theater class which is interesting but, the majority of my classes aren't really what I had thought that they would be. Oh well. It is only October. The actual French part of being in France is surprisingly easy. I was lucky to have an amazing French teacher back in the States. I can communicate with basically anyone about anything now. School is a little harder though. It's not that I don't understand everything, it's just that spending an hour or two listening to a french or history lesson in french is not as interesting as talking to someone. I feel like I have already gotten the chance to be myself here!I've been doing a lot of really cool things here. I haven't really made any good friends but, it's coming along. I actually made friends with two italian girls in my class who are here studying for their French test. They are pretty nice. Tomorrow, my host sister and I are going to go to a dance club! I'm really excited and nervous. This is one thing that I have never done and is a little out of my character. Europe is opening new doors for me! With the internet and contact back home, it's a little difficult. My problem is that my little sister (who's 14) has to have surgery on Monday. She has to have her pacemaker changed. I'm finding it really difficult to deal with. I think that I have handled myself really well though. I talk to my family through the webcam 2 or 3 times a week for about 15 or 20 minutes. I have that it's a little much but, it's working for me. I haven't really been homesick and I feel as if I have adjusted well.I feel as if I've written a book and it's only been 2 months! For the fall break (which starts tomorrow at 12), I am going to go to Paris to spend the vacations with a friend. Don't worry, it's already been Rotary/host parents/Adèle's parents/my parents approved. I'm really excited. Adèle came and stayed with my family in August for two weeks just before I left. Then, in Febuary, I am going skiing in the French Alps with my second host family. I am also going to do the Eurotrip in April. I am really excited!Well I need to go now. I am going to try to bake some cookies. Hopefully I don't burn down the house. Thank you! Gros Bisous
SANDRA LEVITSKI-Hi Vicki, Congratulations on the outbound chair!Everything is going extremely well for me here in Austria. My email address is s_levitski@hotmail.com, and i'm in district 1910-1920. I've met my sponsering club, and gone on several trips with them already. We went canoeing in Hungary, and I also went to Graz with them. I've been faithfully recieving my stipend. I'm with my first host family, and apparently I'll be with them all year. I really have no problems, besides learning German of course, but i signed up for an extra German course at night, so I should be improving, i hope. My host club is nice, they have invited me to several meetings, plus those little trips i've taken with them. They seem concerned in how I am doing, i think. School is okay, but very different from my school in Ohio. I tried taking a chemistry test the other day, and I could only answer 5 questions. I had no idea what the other questions were asking me. But that'll get better in time probably. I live right in Vienna, so I get to see the city basically every day, i love it! So everything is going excellent. Sandra Levitski
RENEE FUSCO-Hi Vicki,First of all, congratulations on being the new outbound chair!Everything is going great here in Chile. My district number is 4340. I live in a very nice neighborhood with an AWESOME family! The next person to live with my family is extremely lucky! I have gone "trekking" several times with my family through the Andes.. Its sooo beautiful! I'm infinitely jealous of the people that live here that get to see that landscape all the time! My extended family is also very fun. For example, my uncle and aunt and grandparents have taken me to Vina del Mar and gave me a tour of downtown. They all are very excited to show me around and thats super helpful. They have really made me feel like I am part of the family. I wish there was a way I didn't have to switch. Because it seems like the time with each family is uneven.. for example, I will be with this family for about four months if we switch after new years like they said.. I would prefer to wait until later, (or never at all =) ) but i guess thats something I'll have to really discuss with my counselor here as well. But anyways, I have received the monthly stipend twice now, once for September and recently for October, so no problems there. I'm finding all the Rotary members to be very kind and welcoming. I went to a meeting last month (where they surprisingly don't allow any women to attend! therefore i was the only girl! haha) So i hung out with some old guys and stuff, but it wasn't bad at all. They were all very friendly. I got up and did my little introduction, no big deal, and it went fine.. I love my counselor, Raquel. She's very helpful and I feel very comfortable talking with her and her husband Raul. Yes its true, school isn't at the top of my list of fun things to do, but its not terrible either. I think all of us that have already graduated have found school to be a bit boring naturally, but I can deal with it. My only complaint is that its TOO long! After i take the bus, i don't arrive at home until about 4:30.. to me, thats a looong day to be at school especially when I finished already in the US, but luckily summer is coming. I recently asked Raquel if there was anyway I could spend half day or not go a full week and spend the other time volunteering at a charity. She answered as I expected, that I had to go to school, but that once my spanish was better that i can definitely find some program to be involved in. I don't know, i just feel as if my time in school could be spent doing something more useful, something thats helpful to other people and something that will still help me learn spanish. But who knows, we'll see! I only have the rest of the month and november left, and then december is real short!I also wanted to tell you that the training that you guys prepared for us was awesome! I get asked quite often about the election and I'm thankful that I know something about it! I also think that you guys were right on target with most of the things you told us about learning the language, the family situations etc.. Everything i learned throughout the year is playing some sort of role in my life now, and for that i want to thank you! The language especially is the most difficult thing for me, but it is coming along.. I am very jealous of other students that had the opportunity in their high schools to learn a second language and learn it well. my host sister thats in the US right now went to Nevada already speaking very well, and now shes simply perfecting it and learning how to spell and use grammar correctly. I thought i knew spanish pretty decently before i arrived, and i was dead wrong haha.. but all and all things are good.. i just can't wait for the day when i can understand everything! and say anything! and ahhh to be able to converse like a normal human being, without flopping my arms around and stuttering and forgetting or simply not knowing the right word! hahaWell, i guess thats all from me for now.. I'll let you know if anything changes! Once again, congratulations!besosRenee
Ryan Meditz-Hey Vicki! Everything in Bolivia has been great. I've been really busy with school, friends, ect. I have received my monthly allowance of fifty dollars as scheduled. I'm still with my first host family, and I plan of staying with them for the rest of the year. They are great. I couldn't have asked for a better family. I really can't think of any problems. Well, I guess my only problem is that I have to have another summer break starting monday. I think I'll be able to get through it ok! My host rotary club is pretty good. I have had very good relations with them. They are very friendly, and care about the exchange students a great deal. I wouldn't say the were concerned about me. I havn't done anything for them to be. I can't think of anything that bothers me here, other than the weather is beautiful. I guess you should be jealous of the fact that I belong to the Country Club here. I don't know if you have been there, but it's amazing. They have a huge pool, golf course, gym, tennis courts, and much more. Ryan
ALAINA MCCONNELL-
¡Hola from España! So far I´ve been in Spain for a little over six weeks and am loving every minute of it. Even when it´s cold and rainy and boring and there´s nothing to do, I´m still like: Wow, I´m in Barcelona. I´m sure you have a lot of updates to read so I´ll get right to the questions. Home life is good. I have my own bedroom, computer, cell phone, windows with automatic shutters...all that jazz. My family is w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l. I have a little sister (age 10) and another sister (age 18) and a mom and dad. They speak very, very minimal English so we converse entirely in Spanish...for now. Because Barcelona is a bilingual city, as soon as I master Spanish, we´ll be switching to Catalán in the house. Spain works a little differently that other countries in terms of having only one family for the entire year. Personally I don´t mind, as I love my family and am quite comfortable here. Ohh, they´ve given me a stipend of 60 euros a month. School is... school. Let me just say that the first week I hated it. I never wanted to go back. But, as with most things, it got better rather than worse and now I don´t mind going. My school is taught entirely in Catalán, so as of now I understand about 2% of the material. All I can say is, I´m glad I´ve already graduated. I spend most of my time listening and just trying to grasp the subject of the lecture, but I´m not going to lie...it´s pretty boring.However, I´ve enrolled in Catalán Second Language courses at my school, and have five classes a week, so that helps to pass the time. I find it´s been kind of hard to make friends at my school for a number of reasons. One, is that there are four other American exchange students at my school, three in my class alone and I´ve had to compete with them for attention. Another factor is that the kids all speak Catalán to one another and are not always willing to switch back to Spanish for me. I believe it stems from some national pride issue where the region of Catalyuna thinks of itself as a seperate country from Spain. My local Rotary district has been pretty mysterious, quite frankly. I was asked to do a presentation about a month ago, but since then I´ve heard nothing, have had no meetings, and I don´t even know who my counselor is or how to get a hold of him. In September, we had an orientation in Madrid with the head honchos of Rotary Spain, but since then I´ve heard nothing. (There is a trip to Italy planned for February though!) But this is how it is in Spain, and it hasn´t really been a concern to me. However, I was supposed to get an insurance card in case of emergency (which I´ve already paid for) and still haven´t received it... Social life is pretty good. I´ve been going out on the weekends with friends from school and with my host sister and we always manage to have a good time. Haven´t joined any extra curricular activities yet, becase there is nothing affiliated with the school. I was too late in signing up for classes outisde of school and everything is full until December. So I´ll just have to wait and start Flamenco lessons then... In short, everything is really, really good. No pressing concerns, or questions at this point. I have a blog if anyone is interested. http://amcconnell27.livejournal.com/My address here is:Alaina McConnellCalle Cardenal Vives i Tutó 62 (4.2) SarriáBarcelona 08034 Spain¡Muchas Gracias y Adios!AlainaCLINT ERICKSON-Hello,I have very limited internet at the moment so uploading pictures and such isnear impossible. I have my own room, with my own bathroom. My host brother is awesome. He and iget along rather nicely. We do a lot of things together. He got me to do FieldHockey because they dont have any of the sports that i play.I also do many activities with my host father. Every friday we play volley ballwith a bunch of people from around Meckenheim.I am currently with my first host family. We will be switching after christmas.My address here is:Clint EriksenKlosterstr. 84 53340 Meckenheimi think that is all for the address. My local rotary club is really nice. However there are not too many meetingsbecause all the people in the Rotary are usually working. Every now and then wehave a meeting. But it is a little different that just sitting in a room, theyusually go on a hike or something. When i do have meetings to attend, i have totake the train to the town next to mine, and when i get there my counselor picksme up. I get my stipend at the beginning of every month. From what i hear fromthe other kids here in Germany, my stipend is the most. I receive 100¤. Last weekend i attended a meeting that was run by the Rotex. At that meeting iwas able to meet with all the kids in my district. There are three kids in mytown so we usually help each other out. School is going great, they let me pick my classes. I mostly picked classesthat my friends were taking. I have made many friends thanks to my host brother.I do activities with whomever i can. If something comes up i take it. Most ofthe time it is at random. The ids in germany usually plan things right beforethey do them. So at the moment it is a little difficult to catch what is goingon. I have only called my house two times. The first was to let my family know that i arrived in germany, and that i was doing fine. The second was for mymom's birthday. I have also done two skype chats with my parents. It is freeso i like it a little more. I would be glad to answer any other questions, and please tell any kids thatwant to go to Germany to email me if they have any questions. I would be glad to help them. Clint EriksenJENNIFER HOFFMAN-Greetings from France. I hope that all is well for you. I know that everything is great here!As of yesterday, I have been in France for 2 months. It is crazy how fast the time has gone by. Just for your information, I have a blog. The address is http://princesseaurore.blogspot.comMy home situation is a little wierd. My host family is great its just that we have two houses. The dad works in Nancy (in Lorraine near Germany and Luxembourg) and that's where I stay throughout the week with my dad and host sister Marie. The mom and other host sister live in a little village on the lake Der about one hour and a half away from Nancy. On the weekends, we travel to the country and stay there. I absolutely love this living arrangement and will be sad when I go to stay with my second family in December (the 6th to be exact). I love my second host family too. They are very cute. I have a little sister named Pauline who is the same age as my little sister back home. She's absolutely adorable. I haven't really had any problems at all with anyone here. We all get along very well. I guess that I'm lucky but my exchange hasn't really been that hard yet. I have my own room in both the city and the country.My Rotary club is really nice. They are an active bunch people lol. I finished my first 16 kilometer walk/race with them and just last weekend, we biked around the Lake of Der (which is 40 kilometers!!!) My counselor is a nice guy with a young family. He's great but I don't really talk to him a lot. I guess that I've just never been an exchange student before and it's a hard thing to get used to. Any real problems that I have my host mom helps me out with. The rotary meetings are Tuesdays at noon and, because I go to school in Nancy but my club is in Toul (kind of like school in Alliance and club in Canton) and because I only have 1 and a half hours to eat on Tuesdays, I can't regularly attend the meetings. I have gone to a few dinners that they have had though. About 3 weeks into my exchange, I gave my presentation in French. It was a lot of fun! I recieve 80 euros each month and, so far, I have gotten them at the beginning of the month.With the district, we have regular meetings like we did back in Ohio to meet with the other Inbounds. It's really cool to hang out with them but, also a little frusterating because everyone only speaks in English. I've made some nice friends though. Two weeks ago, we met in St. Dié and we climbed a mountain!School is going well now. In the beginning, it was a little hard because I was in a class equivalent to a senior who took all economic classes (of which I have never taken in my life) but, I talked with the principals and got it worked out where I am a junior in the Litteratue section. The classes are a little boring though. I am taking a theater class which is interesting but, the majority of my classes aren't really what I had thought that they would be. Oh well. It is only October. The actual French part of being in France is surprisingly easy. I was lucky to have an amazing French teacher back in the States. I can communicate with basically anyone about anything now. School is a little harder though. It's not that I don't understand everything, it's just that spending an hour or two listening to a french or history lesson in french is not as interesting as talking to someone. I feel like I have already gotten the chance to be myself here!I've been doing a lot of really cool things here. I haven't really made any good friends but, it's coming along. I actually made friends with two italian girls in my class who are here studying for their French test. They are pretty nice. Tomorrow, my host sister and I are going to go to a dance club! I'm really excited and nervous. This is one thing that I have never done and is a little out of my character. Europe is opening new doors for me! With the internet and contact back home, it's a little difficult. My problem is that my little sister (who's 14) has to have surgery on Monday. She has to have her pacemaker changed. I'm finding it really difficult to deal with. I think that I have handled myself really well though. I talk to my family through the webcam 2 or 3 times a week for about 15 or 20 minutes. I have that it's a little much but, it's working for me. I haven't really been homesick and I feel as if I have adjusted well.I feel as if I've written a book and it's only been 2 months! For the fall break (which starts tomorrow at 12), I am going to go to Paris to spend the vacations with a friend. Don't worry, it's already been Rotary/host parents/Adèle's parents/my parents approved. I'm really excited. Adèle came and stayed with my family in August for two weeks just before I left. Then, in Febuary, I am going skiing in the French Alps with my second host family. I am also going to do the Eurotrip in April. I am really excited!Well I need to go now. I am going to try to bake some cookies. Hopefully I don't burn down the house. Thank you! Gros Bisous
Group 1-Patty, Andrew W, Andrew S, Joe, Nathan, Arianna, Sean, Sarah
SARAH SPECTOR-Hi Vicki and congrats on your new position. My host district number is 4690 for Rotary Club Amboro. I am recieving my monthly stipend and am still with my first host club. Actually I think I stay with this family for the entire year, but I am a little confused on that point. I really wish we switched families here, because I know I would like to switch after chirstmas, but I do not want to hurt my host families feelings or create a problem. I really like my host dad and sister, but My host mom is a little much for me to handle. I have been using all of my adaption skills and I know that if I can't switch families I will survive and be fine, but I would definitly prefer to switch families. But other then the uncomfortableness I feel around my host mom I am really doing great. My spanish has improved a ton, although I am still not great at speaking but I can communicate and have lots of Bolivian friends that do not speak english either. I even see Estaban about everyday at school and sometimes we hang out out side of school aswell. We went on a weekend trip with rotary about a week ago to two Jesuit missions, San Javier and Concepcion. I really enjoyed the trip and it was nice to see other parts of Bolivia, especially to see how other people live. Well I hope everything is well with you! Sarah. P.S. I don't mind if you share this, but just as long as not to any of the in bounds since Jose Videza is my host brother and I don't want him to think I dislike his family. thank you, and thanks for everything.
SEAN HENSON-
Hey Vicky,
Just thought I'd let you know, everything is going great! I love Germany, and I'm having the time of my life. My host club here is very good, and is always willing to do whatever they can to help me have a good year. They make sure that I recieve my monthly stipend on the first of every month, and have taken me out to do things such as amusement parks, Ice hockey games etc.. I go to the Rotary meetings every Monday. I am still with my first host family, and they are way better than I ever could have hoped for.. I wish I didn't have to change =) I feel like its my home... I don't really have any problems that I can't deal with... School is... school.. but I am doing everything I can, and meeting lots of new people.. Last week, my Class did an "exchange" with a school in Poland... So we went there for 7 days, and Got to travel all around, go to school there for one day (Which we actually missed, because the Polish kids challenged the German kids to a Soccer game... and that took up the few hours we were supposed to be in a class.. =) but the teachers knew so it was all good), We went to 5 different cities including Warsaw (and the Hard Rock Cafe!) Anyway.. point of the story.. Schools deffinately getting so much better than it was at first..
I'll put all my information below...
Talk to you later,
Sean Henson
Email: sdhhenson@yahoo.com
Host District Number: 1800 (Germany)
PS: Im glad to hear that you are the Outbound Coordinator.. Its good that it is someone we already know and trust and can talk to.. =)
ARIANNA FIORITA- Hola Vicki, this is my e-mail adress and my host district number in Santiago, Chile is district 4340. Yes, I have been recieving my monthly allowance. I am with my first host family now and they are wonderful, and treat me like their own daughter. I am very fortunate to have a family like them. I have had no problems at all since I have arrived in Chile. I have been to one rotary meeting since I have been here and everyone was very nice, and the food at the meeting was delicious! My counselor here is also very involved with all of us and is always concerned with our well being. Yes, at first I did not like going to school but now it's a lot better because it has given me an opportunity to meet many good friends. Nothing else here really bothers me that I can think of. I have already been to a beach a few times with my host family, and again last weekend with the Rotary Club. I ran in a marathon with my host brother and host dad and some of their family friends in Vina del Mar along the sea. It was quite an experience considering I DONT RUN!! but it was definetly something to remember and I felt good after the race. I also may run another in December! I am really enjoying my time here so far, and I want to thank district 6650 for sending me to Chile, and all the work that was put into my trip here. It is greatly appreciated. Also, congratulations Vicki on being appointed at Outbound Chair :) Take Care, Ariana Fiorita
NATHAN WILLIAMS-Hello, This is Nathan WIlliams and I am in Santiago, Chile, district number 4340. I have been recieving my monthly allowance and it is around $75. I am still with my first host family and I will probably be with them until the end of December. For the most part everything has been great...though I have had some slight problems..but not enough to make me want to move right away. I love the host rotary club though, as I believe with all of Chile, they are NEVER on time. It is kind of frustrating for me becasue I always arrive on time for things and everything always starts super late The only thing that the club has been worried about me with is I have lost, as of now, around pounds. I lost the first 22-25 within the first 2 and a half weeks. They were worried that I may be super homesick or just having terrible problems at home. Vicki, you hit it right on the nose the thing that bothers me...school! I absolutley hate going, especially when it is over 2 hours longer than our classes in the states and it doesnt serve me for anything. The thing that I like is that summer is coming so it is getting super hot. Im glad to be here because you folks in Ohio are quicky approching winter :P so I am very content where I am.
UPDATE about his weight-Yea I am healthy...I feel great. I think what it was is that my last week before coming my family and friends were taking me out to eat like everyday..plus I was a bored eater haha. The food here is a lot healthier and I do a lot more than I was doing the last few months. Also, I have not been to a gym so I have lost a lot of muscle. I am fine though...I feel a lot healthier than I did in the states. As of now I have lost about 30. I should be fine when I get back into a gym.JOE BOBBY-monthly money is getting too me.still with first host family and they are greatonly problem is the languge and everyweek it gets a bit betteri belive my host rotary club is the coollest in the region there are so many freindly helpful people.school is ok the firzt trip was too a beutiful canyon aand it was amazing the entire trip was so relaxing. (as if brasil could et any more relaxed) and congrats on the outbound thing
ANDREW SNYDER-In the two months that I’ve been here in Brazil, I’ve experienced more than I having the proceeding 18 years of my life. Whether it may be a food experience or a bad experience they all are impacting me in a great way, to make me a better person when I go back to the United States. I have nothing but enjoyed my last two months here and I can’t wait to see what else Brazil has in store for me. Each day I wake up with a new adventure ahead of me, and that only been made possible because of Rotary.
When I got to Brazil, I was warmly welcomed from my 36 hour voyage by my first and second host family. Living with the Schoeppings has been nothing but a blessing. I think it is very helpful that there is a child in my house. I feel very comfortable around him and actually I probably learned most of my Portuguese from him because I can talk with him the most not in fear of speaking wrong. We play games, watch movies and hang out together. I’ve never had a brother and its going to be hard to leave him. I also appreciate Louise very much because she put up with me for the first two or three weeks when all I did was walk around and say, “Eu não entendi”. I know how frustrating it was for me and I’m sure she felt the same frustrations. Finally, Felipe really takes a lot of time to explain things to me, although it is in English I feel I have a better understanding of the local are because of all the history he shares with me. I also feel lucky because Felipe takes me around to see other cities, the country, poor villages and ECT. When I talk with the other exchange student who only get to see from their houses to CCAA, I feel they are being denied of the exact things they came here for. I feel I know my second host family pretty well so I think that will help with the transition between houses. I know I will be torn because I won’t want to leave but I know its all part of the exchange. I would really like to start to communicate with my third host family. I don’t know their contact information and I don’t want to hurt my families feeling. Asking them for it might make then think I am ready to move.
School here in Brazil is very different than it is in the United States. Here it seems like learning is optional, the teachers don’t demand you attention. During class kids here talk, are playing games, on cell phones, have laptops out, are sleeping, or just sitting there and the teachers don’t care, then just teach to those who listen. Also, what strikes my odd is how after a rest you just leave the class and go down to the “Jiffy” until the next class. I am still having a hard time understanding how the class rooms work. I usually just follow my friends, I feel like I’m tied to a string. I have made lots of friends at TUPY but I find they want to speak English with me, I have to ask them to speak in Portuguese. The good thing is it is becoming easier to talk to them in Portuguese than it is in English now, so I must be getting better. For the first two weeks I didn’t have to go to school and they drug on for so long. As soon as I started school my time began to fly.
I have a really ruff time seeing the poverty here, I think mostly because I was not exposed to that in the United States. My host family took me to Joinville South and we drove through a neighborhood that really gave me a new outlook on life. I saw houses the size of my room and children as little as 7 or 8 picking up trash to recycle for money. The kids in the neighborhood had a kite to play with and there were 6 children all holding the string together while they played with it. That night I got home and called my mom because I felt such weight on my shoulders that I need to tell someone to let the weight off. Still when I walk past people on the street in central my heart begins to race. I want to give them money but I know it won’t help.
As for the exchangeract, I think that its great that all the exchange student are coming together and want to help by forming a club but to be quite honest, I don’t feel like we are doing anything to help. I’ve got 10 hours invested already and we have done nothing for the community. Hopefully soon we will have some projects or otherwise it will have been a complete waste of a year.
I really like how John Guy and Andrew Padach are in my district because at all the district functions I get to see two people from my town. It’s nice to talk to people from Salem who are experiencing and missing the same things. We can be talking about something and we don’t have to explain because they know Salem and the events, location of things and ECT. It’s hard to explain but it’s like a little escape to Ohio when were together.
One thing I’m still not used to is locking everything! In the United States I didn’t even have a key to my house; here I have 5 keys to get into my house. Also, with the car door I don’t know why but my brain just won’t process it to lock it first. In the staes I leave my car windows down with the doors unlocked and the keys in ignition. There are a million other things that I do here that I didn’t do there and I don’t even know why, like we always wear sandals in the house. After we use everything we unplug it from the wall. My host family walks around while they brush their teeth. If you go shopping you cant go into the store or someone comes up and helps you to shop, this is something I enjoy to do by myself. Also, here we eat with a fork and knife and always drink for a cup.
I’m currently facing my first really hard time with homesickness. Before I didn’t really miss anything from home I just wanted the food back. But this past Wednesday my grandfather passed away and its very hard to grieve a loss without your family. I know I have people all around me but I still feel alone. I really would have liked to go home but it’s really early in my exchange and it would one make it harder for me in the long run. My family is with me in spirit but it doesn’t seem like enough. I hope these feelings pass soon, and I can get back to my exchange.
ANDREW WILSON-hello vicki.this is andrew wilson reporting to you from italia. everything here is going wonderful. i have not gotten my monthly stipend yet and should have it for two months now. im not sure how much it is but anything will help here.. my rotary is verygood....i think. we have had only one dinner, no overnighters ofcourse(only in district 6650) haha. my italian is coming along quite well and everybody is more than happy to help me with anything i need. well i hope to hear from you soon. ciao!!Andrew Wilson
PATTY RHODES-Hey Newly Appointed Outbound Chair! That's great to hear, I think you have a good understanding of what it's like to be an exchange student, so I'm glad it was you who they chose and not some crazy person. Well okay, maybe you fit that description too :) You asked in the facebook message if any of us are planning to go out again next year through Rotary Exchange. I'm 16, a junior in high school, and when I come back next August, I will be 17, a senior. I want to finish my senior year, and then I thought about going to a different country, again through the Rotary, after I graduate. So not leave again next year, but in August of 2010. By then I will be 18, and I heard that things are different for students who will be 18 while they're on exchange? I don't know if it's still possible, and I'm not sure it's what I want to do, but maybe you can help me with that a bit. Let me know if you think it's a good idea, etc. My host district number is 1580 Noord-Holland. I have been getting a monthly allowance of 100 euro, which is great! I'm with my first host family, and I move to my second family in January (we haven't set a date yet). No real problems with this family, but it has been INCREDIBLY difficult to fit in and adjust to their life style. I still haven't figured out a good way of living here. I've asked advice from a million different people, and still my discomfort isn't settled. I've talked to my immediate counselors, my district counselor, my host parents, my real parents, and friends who know me really well. It's not that my host family are bad or mean people, or that they've done anything wrong. I just can't seem to fit in, and it's very stressful for me. Other than that, everything is amazing! I've made a million friends, school's great! The language is coming along, but literally everyone speaks English really well. So I need to lay off that crutch and start speaking more Dutch. I understand mostly everything, and when I read things I always understand. It's just the speaking back part that's difficult.Another thing I find difficult is that Holland is really close-net. Like, both the fathers of my 2 host families are Rotarians of my host Rotary club, my counselor is of the same Rotary club, and so everyone talks to each other a lot, so if I have a problem (like what I brought up with my counselors about being uncomfortable in the family) then people try to reason with me by saying "Ted and Bea are lovely people, the family is lovely, we've known them for years! Just give it another shot, I'm sure you'll fit in in no time." But still, nothing has changed, and I've kept a positive attitude throughout everything! I've tried everything I know how to do to accommodate and nothing seems to work for me. Okay you get the point. But my Rotary club is very nice, also very strict I think. No real problems though. Something cool, hmm... well I'm going to Germany this weekend. It's our "herfst vakantie", so I'm going with the Rotary, but not the other exchange students. I love all the exchange students in Holland! We all get along so well. I still like how we did things in 6650 better though. They have no training here for the potential outbounds, and so they don't get to meet all the inbounds like we did! I had so much fun getting to know the Belgians, the French, the Brazilians, etc.! I think it would be great for you to show this to the rest of the Outbounds! Maybe they're having some of the same problems, and I'm so curious as to what they're up to. Groetjes van Patty
SEAN HENSON-
Hey Vicky,
Just thought I'd let you know, everything is going great! I love Germany, and I'm having the time of my life. My host club here is very good, and is always willing to do whatever they can to help me have a good year. They make sure that I recieve my monthly stipend on the first of every month, and have taken me out to do things such as amusement parks, Ice hockey games etc.. I go to the Rotary meetings every Monday. I am still with my first host family, and they are way better than I ever could have hoped for.. I wish I didn't have to change =) I feel like its my home... I don't really have any problems that I can't deal with... School is... school.. but I am doing everything I can, and meeting lots of new people.. Last week, my Class did an "exchange" with a school in Poland... So we went there for 7 days, and Got to travel all around, go to school there for one day (Which we actually missed, because the Polish kids challenged the German kids to a Soccer game... and that took up the few hours we were supposed to be in a class.. =) but the teachers knew so it was all good), We went to 5 different cities including Warsaw (and the Hard Rock Cafe!) Anyway.. point of the story.. Schools deffinately getting so much better than it was at first..
I'll put all my information below...
Talk to you later,
Sean Henson
Email: sdhhenson@yahoo.com
Host District Number: 1800 (Germany)
PS: Im glad to hear that you are the Outbound Coordinator.. Its good that it is someone we already know and trust and can talk to.. =)
ARIANNA FIORITA- Hola Vicki, this is my e-mail adress and my host district number in Santiago, Chile is district 4340. Yes, I have been recieving my monthly allowance. I am with my first host family now and they are wonderful, and treat me like their own daughter. I am very fortunate to have a family like them. I have had no problems at all since I have arrived in Chile. I have been to one rotary meeting since I have been here and everyone was very nice, and the food at the meeting was delicious! My counselor here is also very involved with all of us and is always concerned with our well being. Yes, at first I did not like going to school but now it's a lot better because it has given me an opportunity to meet many good friends. Nothing else here really bothers me that I can think of. I have already been to a beach a few times with my host family, and again last weekend with the Rotary Club. I ran in a marathon with my host brother and host dad and some of their family friends in Vina del Mar along the sea. It was quite an experience considering I DONT RUN!! but it was definetly something to remember and I felt good after the race. I also may run another in December! I am really enjoying my time here so far, and I want to thank district 6650 for sending me to Chile, and all the work that was put into my trip here. It is greatly appreciated. Also, congratulations Vicki on being appointed at Outbound Chair :) Take Care, Ariana Fiorita
NATHAN WILLIAMS-Hello, This is Nathan WIlliams and I am in Santiago, Chile, district number 4340. I have been recieving my monthly allowance and it is around $75. I am still with my first host family and I will probably be with them until the end of December. For the most part everything has been great...though I have had some slight problems..but not enough to make me want to move right away. I love the host rotary club though, as I believe with all of Chile, they are NEVER on time. It is kind of frustrating for me becasue I always arrive on time for things and everything always starts super late The only thing that the club has been worried about me with is I have lost, as of now, around pounds. I lost the first 22-25 within the first 2 and a half weeks. They were worried that I may be super homesick or just having terrible problems at home. Vicki, you hit it right on the nose the thing that bothers me...school! I absolutley hate going, especially when it is over 2 hours longer than our classes in the states and it doesnt serve me for anything. The thing that I like is that summer is coming so it is getting super hot. Im glad to be here because you folks in Ohio are quicky approching winter :P so I am very content where I am.
UPDATE about his weight-Yea I am healthy...I feel great. I think what it was is that my last week before coming my family and friends were taking me out to eat like everyday..plus I was a bored eater haha. The food here is a lot healthier and I do a lot more than I was doing the last few months. Also, I have not been to a gym so I have lost a lot of muscle. I am fine though...I feel a lot healthier than I did in the states. As of now I have lost about 30. I should be fine when I get back into a gym.JOE BOBBY-monthly money is getting too me.still with first host family and they are greatonly problem is the languge and everyweek it gets a bit betteri belive my host rotary club is the coollest in the region there are so many freindly helpful people.school is ok the firzt trip was too a beutiful canyon aand it was amazing the entire trip was so relaxing. (as if brasil could et any more relaxed) and congrats on the outbound thing
ANDREW SNYDER-In the two months that I’ve been here in Brazil, I’ve experienced more than I having the proceeding 18 years of my life. Whether it may be a food experience or a bad experience they all are impacting me in a great way, to make me a better person when I go back to the United States. I have nothing but enjoyed my last two months here and I can’t wait to see what else Brazil has in store for me. Each day I wake up with a new adventure ahead of me, and that only been made possible because of Rotary.
When I got to Brazil, I was warmly welcomed from my 36 hour voyage by my first and second host family. Living with the Schoeppings has been nothing but a blessing. I think it is very helpful that there is a child in my house. I feel very comfortable around him and actually I probably learned most of my Portuguese from him because I can talk with him the most not in fear of speaking wrong. We play games, watch movies and hang out together. I’ve never had a brother and its going to be hard to leave him. I also appreciate Louise very much because she put up with me for the first two or three weeks when all I did was walk around and say, “Eu não entendi”. I know how frustrating it was for me and I’m sure she felt the same frustrations. Finally, Felipe really takes a lot of time to explain things to me, although it is in English I feel I have a better understanding of the local are because of all the history he shares with me. I also feel lucky because Felipe takes me around to see other cities, the country, poor villages and ECT. When I talk with the other exchange student who only get to see from their houses to CCAA, I feel they are being denied of the exact things they came here for. I feel I know my second host family pretty well so I think that will help with the transition between houses. I know I will be torn because I won’t want to leave but I know its all part of the exchange. I would really like to start to communicate with my third host family. I don’t know their contact information and I don’t want to hurt my families feeling. Asking them for it might make then think I am ready to move.
School here in Brazil is very different than it is in the United States. Here it seems like learning is optional, the teachers don’t demand you attention. During class kids here talk, are playing games, on cell phones, have laptops out, are sleeping, or just sitting there and the teachers don’t care, then just teach to those who listen. Also, what strikes my odd is how after a rest you just leave the class and go down to the “Jiffy” until the next class. I am still having a hard time understanding how the class rooms work. I usually just follow my friends, I feel like I’m tied to a string. I have made lots of friends at TUPY but I find they want to speak English with me, I have to ask them to speak in Portuguese. The good thing is it is becoming easier to talk to them in Portuguese than it is in English now, so I must be getting better. For the first two weeks I didn’t have to go to school and they drug on for so long. As soon as I started school my time began to fly.
I have a really ruff time seeing the poverty here, I think mostly because I was not exposed to that in the United States. My host family took me to Joinville South and we drove through a neighborhood that really gave me a new outlook on life. I saw houses the size of my room and children as little as 7 or 8 picking up trash to recycle for money. The kids in the neighborhood had a kite to play with and there were 6 children all holding the string together while they played with it. That night I got home and called my mom because I felt such weight on my shoulders that I need to tell someone to let the weight off. Still when I walk past people on the street in central my heart begins to race. I want to give them money but I know it won’t help.
As for the exchangeract, I think that its great that all the exchange student are coming together and want to help by forming a club but to be quite honest, I don’t feel like we are doing anything to help. I’ve got 10 hours invested already and we have done nothing for the community. Hopefully soon we will have some projects or otherwise it will have been a complete waste of a year.
I really like how John Guy and Andrew Padach are in my district because at all the district functions I get to see two people from my town. It’s nice to talk to people from Salem who are experiencing and missing the same things. We can be talking about something and we don’t have to explain because they know Salem and the events, location of things and ECT. It’s hard to explain but it’s like a little escape to Ohio when were together.
One thing I’m still not used to is locking everything! In the United States I didn’t even have a key to my house; here I have 5 keys to get into my house. Also, with the car door I don’t know why but my brain just won’t process it to lock it first. In the staes I leave my car windows down with the doors unlocked and the keys in ignition. There are a million other things that I do here that I didn’t do there and I don’t even know why, like we always wear sandals in the house. After we use everything we unplug it from the wall. My host family walks around while they brush their teeth. If you go shopping you cant go into the store or someone comes up and helps you to shop, this is something I enjoy to do by myself. Also, here we eat with a fork and knife and always drink for a cup.
I’m currently facing my first really hard time with homesickness. Before I didn’t really miss anything from home I just wanted the food back. But this past Wednesday my grandfather passed away and its very hard to grieve a loss without your family. I know I have people all around me but I still feel alone. I really would have liked to go home but it’s really early in my exchange and it would one make it harder for me in the long run. My family is with me in spirit but it doesn’t seem like enough. I hope these feelings pass soon, and I can get back to my exchange.
ANDREW WILSON-hello vicki.this is andrew wilson reporting to you from italia. everything here is going wonderful. i have not gotten my monthly stipend yet and should have it for two months now. im not sure how much it is but anything will help here.. my rotary is verygood....i think. we have had only one dinner, no overnighters ofcourse(only in district 6650) haha. my italian is coming along quite well and everybody is more than happy to help me with anything i need. well i hope to hear from you soon. ciao!!Andrew Wilson
PATTY RHODES-Hey Newly Appointed Outbound Chair! That's great to hear, I think you have a good understanding of what it's like to be an exchange student, so I'm glad it was you who they chose and not some crazy person. Well okay, maybe you fit that description too :) You asked in the facebook message if any of us are planning to go out again next year through Rotary Exchange. I'm 16, a junior in high school, and when I come back next August, I will be 17, a senior. I want to finish my senior year, and then I thought about going to a different country, again through the Rotary, after I graduate. So not leave again next year, but in August of 2010. By then I will be 18, and I heard that things are different for students who will be 18 while they're on exchange? I don't know if it's still possible, and I'm not sure it's what I want to do, but maybe you can help me with that a bit. Let me know if you think it's a good idea, etc. My host district number is 1580 Noord-Holland. I have been getting a monthly allowance of 100 euro, which is great! I'm with my first host family, and I move to my second family in January (we haven't set a date yet). No real problems with this family, but it has been INCREDIBLY difficult to fit in and adjust to their life style. I still haven't figured out a good way of living here. I've asked advice from a million different people, and still my discomfort isn't settled. I've talked to my immediate counselors, my district counselor, my host parents, my real parents, and friends who know me really well. It's not that my host family are bad or mean people, or that they've done anything wrong. I just can't seem to fit in, and it's very stressful for me. Other than that, everything is amazing! I've made a million friends, school's great! The language is coming along, but literally everyone speaks English really well. So I need to lay off that crutch and start speaking more Dutch. I understand mostly everything, and when I read things I always understand. It's just the speaking back part that's difficult.Another thing I find difficult is that Holland is really close-net. Like, both the fathers of my 2 host families are Rotarians of my host Rotary club, my counselor is of the same Rotary club, and so everyone talks to each other a lot, so if I have a problem (like what I brought up with my counselors about being uncomfortable in the family) then people try to reason with me by saying "Ted and Bea are lovely people, the family is lovely, we've known them for years! Just give it another shot, I'm sure you'll fit in in no time." But still, nothing has changed, and I've kept a positive attitude throughout everything! I've tried everything I know how to do to accommodate and nothing seems to work for me. Okay you get the point. But my Rotary club is very nice, also very strict I think. No real problems though. Something cool, hmm... well I'm going to Germany this weekend. It's our "herfst vakantie", so I'm going with the Rotary, but not the other exchange students. I love all the exchange students in Holland! We all get along so well. I still like how we did things in 6650 better though. They have no training here for the potential outbounds, and so they don't get to meet all the inbounds like we did! I had so much fun getting to know the Belgians, the French, the Brazilians, etc.! I think it would be great for you to show this to the rest of the Outbounds! Maybe they're having some of the same problems, and I'm so curious as to what they're up to. Groetjes van Patty
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