Rotex - E-Mails from Abroad 08-09

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The following are e-mails from the class of 2008-09.

6/5 from Alison in Argentina

The end:   I leave here june 7th.  (i am growing increasingly nervous about the trip home, espially after hearing about that plane over brazil).  I decided to visit the family i had for a day and a half in bs.as, for my last week in argentina.   And im having a blast.  They are impressed with my spanish, though laugh because i picked up the tucuman accent.  they say its very "campo", or in otherwords- hick.  However, i love the tucuman accent, so im keepin it.

bs.as and tucuman are totallly different countries and cultures. I am amazed. Everything is soooo differnt...i felt some cultural shock and im in the same country! Its kind of a medium between tuc and usa. Its in between 2 very vastly different cultures.  I love the family i am visiting.  Theyre so sweet. The eugee, the sister, 17yrs old and i are very close and she has the best english and is always trying to learn more "yanke" english...we have so much fun together, esp playing rumie 500...it is an awesome game...they made brownies w. ice cream and i felt so at home...so the other day i made apple pie...which was eatten up in 1day...we go shopping and to the movies..they make sure i get to soak up as much as possible...  Today, since the mother is a teacher, she took me to school today to talk in her clases, and then i spoke in an english class.  2hrs in spanish, 1hr in english. one as easy as the other.  though i had noo idea that i was going to be speaking so when the mother says- allison, up here...i went- what? ...hahahaa. it was all improvised and i had a blast doing it.   All my suffering and heartache was instantly turned into a joke and stories and people were laughing and enjoying it.

in the english class they had prepared some questions for me...i smiled when i saw their hestitation. I said- hey, if it makes you feel any better i once mixed up the word pig and shell, which just so happends to be slang for a female body part, so really, dont be shy, its okay.  one question i got was- how did you learn spanish? (TO ALL FUTURE EXCHANGE STUDENTS U BETTER READ THIS PART) I said- by failing.  I knew nothing, i needed 5min to say one little sentence, i understood nothing, people got horribly impatient with me, but i kept trying...and failing. Its okay to fail or mess up, you just gotta find some quirks that work for you- like, hand motions, or memory tricks or reading spanish subtitles while you watch reruns of friends...but the biggest help is figuring out the difference between your language and the one you are learning.  You get that down, and it gets soooooooooooo much easier.   Before you can fly, you gotta fall.  And trust me, the bruises and battle scars are worth it.

I am having a blast the last few days im in argentina...its a really nice way to end the year.   Heres to you usa and argentina. heres to you.

5/28 from Danielle in Italy

 Ok so I wanted to write another email because I haven't written many this year and I don't have an excuse other then I don't really like to write emails back home and this is because I dont know what to say. It's really hard to explain this experience. You hear the kids say the same things over and over again, "This has changed my life" "This has changed my way of thinking" "This has changed who I am", and although these things are repeated many times they are absolutely true.

   Last weekend I had my last Rotary event with my Italian Rotary, we were asked what advice we could give to next years students. There was so much that I wanted to say, but couldn't find the words to describe how I felt. I really don't think that there are words to descirbe this experience. I think it's just something that you have to do and find out for yourself. I don't think that there is really any advice that one person can give, because honestly each person is different and this experience affects each person in a different way. You can give some suggestions, like what you should bring along and what places you should go visit, but good heart to heart advice, that's hard to say. If I had to give some advice, if they really wouldn't let me leave without saying something, I would simply say...You'll See. That's all there is to it.

   As my year is winding down in Italy, and my friends that I've made here that have become my family are starting to fly back home to different corners of the world, I'm left with some time to reflect. I can honestly say that I'm a different person then I was 8 months ago. I can't really think about leaving Italy too much or I get really girly and by that I mean I get really emotional and I wanna cry. haha But none the less it's something that needs to be thought about. I have to say though, that I still have absoutely no idea what to say. Which  brings me back to square one.

   I would really like to apologize for not writing more emails throughout the year. But please know that I am absolutely 100% thankful for the Rotary back home and I think of all of you often. I am very grateful for all the work that you all have done to get me here and the least I could have done was writen a couple emails back home to show this. But one thing I've learned this year is even if you don't know the words, you still gotta try. So I will leave you with two little words, probably the most significant in any language....

Thank You!

-Danielle B

4/20 from Allison in Argentina

Okay so its been 8 months now...startin to get up there in the number of months.  I am enjoying this part a little more now that i am in school again, and understand the classes.  Plus theres more things to do now- i have theater which i absolutly love.  Its a small class but everyone is really close and gets along great.  (we had to go around hugging each other for 10min before we even knew the names...you get oddly close oddly quick).  Its safe to say i look forward to those hours in the hot metal tin roof gym, every week.  The great part about it is, i get to be wierd and get applauded for it.  (in the real world people just look at me like im nuts...i dont blame them).

Also i am getting my ass to the gym...trying desprately to loose my student exchange weight.  Its really rough...i have lost a bit a weight but still have those days when i eat things i shouldnt...espically when its easter and everyone gives you sooo much food and sooo much chocolate....oye...not cool folks, not cool.  But its gettin there....slowly.

My spanish is pretty much fluent.  Though still there are times when people swallow their words or talk over each other and i just dont understand and feel like a complete retard....then again, i did the same thing to others in english. So, oops, lesson learned.

Then the other day i was walking in the center, and this woman thinks she regonizes me.  She stops me and asks- were you at the llampa? (the 8hr hike up a mountain in the cold rain)..yeah.. why? Do you remember, how you came into my hut when you were so cold?  My eyes bulged- ohhh my god, yes! I tell that story to everyone, everybody loves it. I love it.   She was so sweet. we stayed and talked for a little.  Some people really just touch you.

I have a little less then 2 months here.  I go back june 7th (i have 3 flights and 5 airports to go through, not exactly looking forward to taveling day).  Im startin to get everything wrapped up. Between getting those back home gifts, to teaching the host mother american deserts, to making sure eventually ill get everything ready, and taking photos that capture the life and culture that i have experienced here, and doing everything else in between...the time is flying by.  Sometimes, it feels like ill never leave...that home or the usa is just a figment of a past life or a place in my dreams.  Its slightly unsetteling.

Hasta luego.
allison

4/13 from John S in Peru

Hi Max,
Its been a while since I have updated the Rotary on the on goings down here, and I apologize for that. I have been having a great time here in Peru. I finished out my colegio (high school) school year in december and then went onto summer break. Colegio was alright but a little boring so it was nice to finally get to summer holiday. But I was able to sing in a band at my prom which was a great opportunity. It was so much fun and everyone really enjoyed it.
       Christmas was a little strange without my family but it was still nice. My host family are not big christmas celebrators but we did have turkey and a huge meal, which was really good. Again the food here is delicious. Everything is fresh and you can definitely tell the difference. I then was able to spend new years on the beach which is so much better than spending it in the snow. I was able to go to the beach multiple times throughout the summer. The beaches here are really nice, the only bad part is that the sun is so strong so you have to be very careful about being exposed for to long in the sun. 
     Throughout the summer I have also been volunteering at a Kindergarten outside my city with two other exchange students. The kids we help with are 2 to 5 years old which are really tough years. And the Kinder is very under staffed. There are approximately 100 kids and only 5 workers, so they are really appreciative of our help. I have been doing that mondays, wednesdays, and fridays from 730 to 1230.
      I also have jsut gotten back from a trip to Cusco where I was able to hike the Inca trail to Machu Pichu. It was unbelievably amazing! The way they built the city and the age of the architecture was just mind blowing. The hike was four days long and some parts were tough but it was so worth the work. And the group that we went with had some really cool and interesting people in it.
     I then went from Cusco to Iquitos in the Jungle. Where I met my parents. First off it was really good to see my parents. But the jungle was incredible. We took a boat up the amazon to a lodge in the middle of the Jungle, surrounded by the coolest animals. We went Parana fishing, saw monkeys, tarantulas, pink dolphins, and many different types of birds. It was amazing just being in the jungle for the whole time.
     I am now back in my home town of Arequipa where people are celebrated Easter. Thursday I did the church walk which is when thousands of people walk from church to church praying and meditating. It was packed full of people. It looked like a huge carnival, there were bouncy castles, and food venders. 'The entire town was shut down, no cars in or out just because there were so many people. It was such a cool experience.
     Well that is what I have been up to as of late, I am hoping to start university tuesday but it depends how long it takes to make my schedule. I will send you another update in a few weeks.
From down south,
John

3/30 from Sam in France

Hey!!! So, I'm over here in little old France for 7 MONTHS TODAY!!! And I felt that I had to send some heart home...
France has been an incredible time of my life. I've changed, from ways of thinking, my weight (lost) , styles, language, tastes, character, and more ways that I'm affraid I can't think of because, my english has started to lack... =]
But I'm having the time of my life. Over vacation I've been to the Alpes and seen Mont Blanc, went to England with my school for 4 days and stayed in a wierd host family..., had a bus trip to Toulouse, and got to see Kyle!!

7 months, so fast....

I'll send you's more info when I have some more time... At the moment I'm sick, but I take advantage of every minute of my exchange!!

Love Peace Ciao

Samuel

P.S. No worries, I'll send more photos too!!

And the attached photo is of Myself and Kyle, In Toulouse, where all the exchange students got together for the JRJ!!! Journees Rotariennes de la Jeunesse!! First time I've seen him in... 7 months!!

2/09 from Alyssa in Brazil

Hey guys! Sorry it took me an absurdely long time to write, i've just been having too much fun! I'm in Brazil in Teresina which is the capital city of the state of Piauí. And I LOVE it. I've gone on two trips through Rotary where all the inbounds from the northeast of brazil get together in one major city and they plan all kinds of stuff for us to do. The first one, we went to Maragoji, and we all stayed in a hotel that had separate little villa things so we shared a room with 3 other people. It was right on the beach and it was beautiful! A few of us stayed up all night and watched the sunrise in the morning and its enough to take your breath away. One of the most amazing and beautiful things i've ever seen. We had so much fun. We met people from all over the world and are all friends. Its fantastic. The next trip we went to Natal. Where we went on buggy rides through the sand dunes and saw all kinds of different views of the lakes and ocean all around them. Before that, we all brought a present for a child suffering from cancer in a local hospital, that part was really emotional for everybody, knowing that these kids will most likely not survive since their families don't have the money to get the proper treatment for them. It really makes you take a look at how good you have it.  I've been keeping a diary, which i've never been able to do in my life cause i always forget to write in it for about a month. But this time, it's working out, probably because i actually have things to write in it too! 
Anyway, i love brazil, i'm actually considering moving back here in a year or two to live. How crazy would that be?! But that all depends on many different variables. I love portuguese too. I've been here for six months already and everybody that i meet asks me how many years i've been here. Some of them actually think i'm brazilian! except for the being SUPER pale part... I have met people in rotary and outside of rotary, that i know i will remain friends with for the rest of my life.  It has been a hard change, because everything is so different, but its definitely worth it.  The homesickness part hasn't really been a factor for me. I have missed parts of home and things that i'm used to and family of course, but nothing too serious I havent cried or whined about how much i miss home. I know that i'll have to go back eventually, and once i do i will want to come back to Brazil, and i dont want to waste my time here crying about home.
Sorry i'm terrible at writing these things! Haha, i never liked writing. Hope things back home are good!
Alyssa
 

2/09 from Kevin in Croatia

Hello, everyone!
I'm still here in Republika Hrvatska, having a pretty great time. My absurdly long winter 

break is now over, and I've been back in school for about two weeks, and I'm getting back to 

the rhythm of school life- but thankfully school still starts for me at one o' clock or 

later (= . My zimska ferija (winter break) was pretty awesome. My host family gave me a 

really great book in Croatian, and some other pretty cool stuff. And of course, we then 

went to host grandma's house to eat lunch. Or dinner. I'm not really sure which, it lasted 

seven hours, and I needed a half hour nap in the middle! So I got some really good Croatian 

talking done with my family, and ate enough to gain probably a couple of kilos. 

Two days after that, I left on a ski trip in the Alps. Pretty awesome, really beautiful, 

but I have no pictures. I'm a really good skiier now, and I got some good downtime. And, 

soon after getting back, I moved away from the family Ježic, a some of the best people I've 

ever met, and I now live with the Piskac family. It's a nice change after the somewhat 

hectic Ježic, and I'm having a good time here. So, to my first family- Thanks for 

everything. They really helped me learn Croatian, find a great group of friends, and gave 

me some interesting times (Grandma really should stay away from those cigarettes anyway).

I'm having a fun time with the Rotary kids here too- all six of us- and whenever we can, we 

go to visit each other in our cities. Last weekend, we went to see the city of Vukovar, in 

the far northeastern part of Croatia. I've heard it's sad, I've heard it's triumphant, I've 

heard that it's a sign of Croatia's will to resist, or the lack of humanity in the world.  

The fact is, Vukovar is a city that was well and thoroughly destroyed, in the war with 

Serbia. Houses are still shelled out, the cemetary has an active minefield right next to 

it, and there is still a factory standing with holes near the top, where the Serbs shot the 

Serbian snipers with tank shells. I've seen pretty stunning parts of Croatia, and that this 

city is unrepresentative of the rest of the country, and that's what makes it the saddest 

part. It would have been infinitely better if it had never happened.

School is going pretty great, I'm having a good time. It's really different from America, 

you go to all but one of your fifteen classes with the same 25 people, who stick together 

all through high school. It is a very different feeling than American schools- that's the 

best I can describe it- different. People in school have been really great and accepting, 

and I think I like this system better.

I'm reading long Russian novels for Croatian class (in English, thank God:) and discussing 

them in Croatian. So, my Croatian teacher really likes me, and the class has only burst out 

laughing once at my spoken Croatian, and I can actually rightly pronounce the Russian names.

I've taken up swimming lessons at the local pool three times a week, which are good for 

escaping winter and lots of snow, jogged half the way to Slovenia in the park, and walked a 

half mile to school every day. When I get back, I better look like Schwarzeneggar.

And the handball championships were just held in Croatia. Croatia had a really good team 

this year, we got all the way to the finals (which were held on Super Bowl Sunday), but lost 

to France. The finals were pretty interesting, we played really sloppily, and the best 

player got a red card for pretending to hit the Ref with the ball. It was in the last two 

minutes, so it doesn't matter, and people laughed pretty hard. And one of the French 

players was ethnically Croatian, his parents taught him Croatian, and he spoke with a thick 

French accent (Croatian spoken with a thick French accent- you can't imagine!)- but he 

committed some pretty bad fouls, so I would say it wouldn't be fun for him to walk Zagreb 

for at least a few months. It was a good time, though, watching the championships in cafes 

and houses with friends, and I really enjoyed it.

Croatia- The one shaped like a 'C' across from Italy. They speak Croatian, a lot like 

Russian. Just so you know!

I'll post again sometime!

2/09 from Moriha in Argentina,

Hola,    Its Mariha M and my exchange has been, in two words, life changing. Integrating myself into a completely different life style then my own. Living in a very small town where stores are run by my neighbors, everyone knows my name, and the town sleeps between 1:30pm  and 5:00pm. A culture where time seems to be of importance. It has been an adventure climbing mountains to catch sights no picture can descibe. Making life long friends from around the world. And finding a confidence and strength within myself, I didn´t know I had. I now know that I am a strong person and willing to face the challenges that come my way. I would recommend this exchange to anyone I see, its a year you´ll never forget.
                                                                - Mariha, Argentina -

2/09 from Danielle in Italy

I'm sorry that it took me forever to write but i'm going to write a good email now.  Ok so Italy, well Italy is amazing. First off, the food (I'm convinced) is the best in the world. If you ever go to italy you need to eat Pasta alla Ragù, it's the greatest thing i've ever tasted in my life and that's not an understatement. The history here is unbelievable, i remember the first time that I saw the Duomo in Milan, which is a 300 year old cathedral, I was absolutely blown away. I never get tired of seeing it, even though I've been to Milan 100 different times. School is good here. It's alot different from the US, but it's good. Its more relaxed here. Your with the same class for the whole day, so you get to know the people really well and that's an awesome thing. I love my class. The one thing that I am still not used too, and I don't think i ever will get used to is going to school on Saturdays. Yes as much as it pains me, I do go to school on saturdays.  Most of the people here are so nice and they're really interested in learning about where your from and what you do. It's great. It was espeically interesting during the election, I think the number one question I've been asked while I was here, was not what my name was or even what state I came from. The question was weather I preferred Obama or McCain. But everyone was always very respectful and just wanted to learn my opinions. Which was a nice surprise. I really love Italy and I feel so fortunate and lucky to be here. I'm having a blast and I don't want it to end! :)  Ciao, Danielle B

2/09 from Allison in Argentina

Hello all,

okay well its been a little while since ive written Rotary so heres a little update for you guys:

Its summer, its hot. Really, really hot. And turns out, i dont responde well to all this heat and often find myself faiting to a point where its a little embarrasing....oops.  I can take getting bucked off a horse, but when it reaches into the 100s...im out.   In any case, i have been escaping the heat by going off into the mountains.  Ive been to Tafi del Valle, Catamarca, and San Pedro.  I loved every single one, and got to ride a horse in Catarmarca.  24 pesos for 2hours...no complaints. I found a flat strip of land between two mountains and a river, and i galloped.  I was sooo happy to be on a horse again. It was fantastic. The mountains, river, and galloping between it all made me feel so alive and free. I smiled the rest of the day.

Apart from the vacation here are some routine (everytime i meet someone new) things i have to say- 1st off, when they hear my name (allison doesnt exist) or just look at me (red hair, pale skin isnt exactly the norm here). They always ask- where are you from?- United states- what part?- Pennsylvania- Transalvania? Like Dracula?- No, Pennsylvania as in William Penn a hippie who founded Pennsylvania. And then of course, the thing i loath to talk about- Obama. Always they ask- Oh, USA, Obama! He is very good and they go off about that. Now, Im one of the few now being outted and discriminated against, republicans.  I often find myself getting very offended and frusterated when they bring obama up and have this great big opinion about it all. I usually say- Please,  i really dont want to talk about this for it is a very touchy subject for myself and for you guys. You all love obama, but i really really dont. So please, to avoid any  issues or silly agruments, id rather not talk about it.   And many, still insist and i say- Well, first off, please dont spread your ignorance. Things here and things there are 2 completly differnt worlds. You do not understand how things are, and the differences between the two parties for you have only known extreme left (and i know that because i did research on the history of argentina).  And so i explain the differences and at that they subside a little and say- okay, understand, and there is no harm done.  But still, its hard at times. There are so many greater and bigger things about the united states that isnt just obama.    I am very proud of my country, and often eagar to teach others about the sweet things about my culture. Politics are ugly in every country, and for this id rather talk about groundhog day or baseball or apple pie or peanut butter or snow and how boring the money or the movies (they love american pop culture here)  or the differences between different parts of the country or why the call the nyc the "big apple" or the story behind "uncle sam"....anything but.

Though despite all of that  i manage to hold my own and enjoy the moments where im not drowned by steriotypes. I have some really awesome friends, one espically, Andrea.  She is the sweetest person i have met in both countries.  We do everything and share everything together. She is one of those people that as an exchange student, you pray, exists. Right from the 1st day of school she was there, and really didnt speak english as nor did i speak spanish. Now, her english is better then mine, and my spanish is better then hers. She is patient, and fun, and every time we go out we always have a blast. People often ask her- where are you from? because shes blonde. A few times we got people to think she was from the united states and that we were cousins. It was pretty funny. I am also in love with her family.  Theyre the argentine version of the family from, Little Miss Sunshine. Right down to the broken down car in the middle of the desert.   I once made them an orange float to which they reacted with suspicion...I said- orange soda, tastey. Vanilla ice cream- tastey. Put the together- awesome combination.  The brother made the argument of- porc, really good. Ice cream really good. put the two together- really really good.  I laughed, and said- if you try this, ill try that..  And they did love the orange float...i wonder if her brother is gonna make me try porc with ice cream...ill try it, afterall he tried mine.
  And the wierdest thing ive ever had- Brain.   I thought it was chicken and thought it was pretty good, and then my host brother and sister say to me- its not chicken.- oh well, what is it?- just finish it, afterwards we will tell you--no i wanna know now--okay its chicken- no its not what is it?- fine, its brain.- I lost my appitite at that moment.  (later i saw the brain in the refrigerator..that was different).

I have roughly 4 months left here in argentina. So far its been quite a ride and i am enjoying it. I enjoy the highs, and the lows. I have learned so much about myself, about government, culture, and life. I have become proud of who i am, and the country i come from. I said right off in rotary interviews that im okay with challenge for you learn from it.  The experience challenges you, and often times give you the lows you never want to feel, but thats really really okay. You learn, you grow, and are stronger because of it. So hey, why not?

Hi to all those back home.

2/09 from Kyle in France

Dear Everyone,
Im so sorry i havnt written in a while its just been one thing after another, and the draft for this email has been sitting in my drafts box for months now.  So here it goes.  Ill start with my second host family (whose house i have just left)  They were very nice, i had five host brothers, aging from 10 to 21 so there was alaways something going on, and alaways someone to talk to.  I was also very close with my host mom because she didnt work and was alaways around the house.  This whole period of time was great for just talking with people and learning the french vernacular, because the family was very laid back and relaxed.  Also i was able to go into the french countryside with them over the holidays.  We stayed at my host-grandfathers house for a week with alot of family, i believe there were about 25 people staying in the house because not only did my family have five kids but each of my parents relitives had about 3-5 kids.  So that was very nice. We spent alot of time just playing cards, billiards or other games like that.  Its really interesting to see the similarities and differences in how people interact here compared to the united states, and the environment with my second host family was excellent for that.  School also became much more interesting a little while after i moved to my second family because i was able to understand more and more of what was going on in class, and i was able to communicate with, and grow closer to my classmates.  Just this last weekend i was at a rotary function for the outbound french kids, and i was talking to the other inbound students, and i found that it was easier for me to think of some of the phrases i wanted to say in french than it was in english which really suprised me.   I also started practicing yoga with my second host family because its hard to get out and have the time to excersise.  I also normally am invited to go and play soccer at a local club on sundays which is alot of fun because all the french kids, even those who have never played on a team are amazingly good at soccer.  I've been trying to read some french literature also recently, i read a book by sartres with my class, although i was not able to understand much of it, and right now im going through some simpler classics such as le petite prince.  Its really crazy how quickly the time passes here, i feel like it was just yesterday that i arrived and the austrialian students who had been here for 6 months already were showing me around, and now theyve left and the new austrialian students have arrived ( because they come and leave in january) and im showing them around.  Its really a crazy role reversal just being able to say yea i know where you are right now, and before you know it youll be in my position.  So one of the things Americans generally think aobut when they think of France is the food so i suppose ill talk about that.  One of the things that is very important that ive discoverd is the order of the different courses.  Even if your just having a q uick lunch you generally eat four different courses!  For dinnerI generally have first an apparatif, then soup, then a main course, then salad, then cheese, then dessert and finally coffee.  Regular seven course meals also tend todrag on for quite a while so diner is alaways quite a production.  As for the different types of foods ive had the oppertunity to try the classics such as snails and frog legs, as well as many other french specailties.  Ive been lucky to have families that were very good cooks although i believe most french families have good cooks so perhaps it wasnt all luck.  Just a little while ago I was at a dinner with both French, American and Austrilian students and we were eating at "mystery" meat.  So the french kids made all the forigners believe it was pigs heart, which created quite  an uproar.  Although we all later discovere that they had no idea what it actually was it goes to show you never know what yoru eating and its generally better if you dont ask.  I think one other thing living in france has given me is a romantic state of mind, in the sense that if you ask an american what the best thing about america is theyll probably tell you the sports, or the girls, or something concrete and actual such as that, but if you ask a frenchman what the best thing about france is they will say the most romantisized convoluted vauge thing they can think of such as the french ambiance or le vie francaise (the french life).  So I think a bit of that spirit has rubbed off on me.  The election of Obama was also a big thing over here,  I have not yet met a single person (right or left) who did not support Obama wholeheartedly.  In addition quite often the first question I'm asked is my opinion of him.  School is going pretty well, I take all the same classes and tests as the french students although i dont get graded on all of my tests. I've also been able to present on several "american" topics for my class.  French cinema is also a big part of life, and I've been seeing quite a few french historical films, as well as modern films.  I met a famous french producer the other day who came to my school because he was an alumni.  Everyone was very excited for this.  Another funny thing about the school here is there are alot of strikes because the school systems are generally not content with sarcozy so schools been cancelled several times because of manifestations in the streets and things such as that.  I guess thats their equivialent of snow days because it hardly ever snows here.  Thats about all I can think of for now, but I hope everyone is doing very well in the states and I miss you all.  Also please excuse my spelling its been a while since I've written this much in english, and I'm typing this up this rather quickly because I'm in a cafe and need to get home (where I have no internet right now).  Ill try to write again soon. best wishes Kyle S 

12/4  from Remy in Ecuador

I first want to apologize for being incredibly late on my emails. I will not give excuses because in reality I have none but I would like to inform you on what my year so far has been like and how everything has been going. This is probably going to take you a while to read so I hope you have a comfy chair and something to drink. I guess I will start from the very beginning of the story while I was sitting in the airport waiting for my plane to land and so I could begin my journey to Ecuador. I honestly thought that being here would be the hardest part of my journey but in reality It was not. The hardest part so far for me would be leaving. Sitting there looking into the unknown scared the hell out of me. I still don't know why because as soon as I stepped on the plane I was fine again. It was the oddest thing. I literally went from freaking out to accepting everything in the course of an hour. Well the plane ride was a plane ride like most of them you just sit there and stare in some direction while thinking about where your going to end up and the works. They are pretty boring and usually I end up looking out the window checking out all the landscapes which is something I thoroughly enjoy. I landed in Miami and after a about an hour of waiting I finally met up with Hollis who was also in Miami. Which was good we both just talked for a while and got some food while we both waited for our next flights. It was good for both of us to see each other and just talk. Well after saying good bye I had my first odd experience...I almost got arrested. I was trying to get back to the other terminal via a tram when this guy walked out an elevator and said. "What are you doing!". I being stunned because he had his hand on his gun next to him dumbly said...Trying to get to the other side of these doors. Well that didn't go over so well with him and he said "You need to go through customs." Me still not really understanding what he was talking about said. "Why?" All the time making myself sound like I was some stupid kid from another country who did not know what he was doing. Finally he asked me where I came from and I just looked at him and said...I came from Pennsylvania. He said "oh...well then what are you trying to do." Blah Blah Blah long story short he helped me get to my plane and apologized for almost arresting me. So that was my first odd experience and I had not even left the US. After that ordeal I finally met up with the other students who were on my plane. Rolly, Emmy, Chelsea, and Arial. All pretty cool Rolly and I became Instant friends and now I consider him one of my best friends. After the plane ride we all decided to stick together to try and get through Quito Airport which was relatively easy for not knowing a single word of Spanish. After we got to a certain point our familys all grabbed us and we had absolutely no time to say goodbye to each other which was annoying but fine. We hurried to my family's van and we went to the house I was shown around we had a little bit to eat and then I went to bed. That was my first night. Luckily for me my host sister Isabella and Ana spoke a good amount of English so my first couple of days I could figure things out. Those first couple of days were interesting. I hung out with Ana who would be leaving in 2 weeks for Portland a lot. Which was a mixed blessing. I wouldn't say I didn't like her but I didn't like things about her. She was constantly and I mean constantly with her boyfriend which meant I was usually 3rd wheel. In the States being 3rd Wheel is somewhat ok depending on the person but here in Ecuador.....Its impossible. I went ice skating with Ana and her boyfriend and literally skated around by myself while they sat in a corner and pretty much kissed the entire time...Fantastic. I couldn't wait to make my own friends. In those two weeks. I met the family who is really really cool. My Aunt is the most famous fashion designer in all of Quito. To say the least shes one of the coolest older people I know. Her son is annoying and has a thing for throwing random objects at people...especially me but you get used to it. Oh and in those two weeks I also played the game "Life" about 5 times and this card game about 40. I didn't know how much more I could take of that haha. The same game over and over again is annoying. My sister told me that on Fridays,  Saturdays, and Sundays all the teenagers in Quito go to this place called "Plaza de las Americas" so I was excited to go there, check it out, and have a good night out. And I thought that day had come when my cousin had come over and my sister said hey lets go to Plaza de Las Americas. I said YES!!!! Lets go! Well...that turned out to be a disappointing night. We got there and they turned into this store before Plaza de Las Americas bought dog food...and then we went home. I was pretty bummed. My older sister Isabell ended up being one of the best things thats happened to me so far. She has taken me out to discotechas or clubs whatever you want to call them and has helped me get out of the house. Which in the begining seemed a bit difficult but now its much better. I have gone to Karaoke bars with her and a whole bunch of other places. She is awesome and I will be sad to leave her when I switch houses. Ha Karaoke is actually a lot more fun then I thought, especially when you sing "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen with a bunch of Ecuadorians. My family has been incredibly wonderful with me and has helped me the two times I've been pretty sick. The first time I have no idea what the cause was and the second time was Food poisoning...which let me tell you ruined my week for me. That was a rough time. But they took care of me and got me everything I needed. I am very thankful for that. I also found a very common interest in the game of Risk with my padre. Our family plays almost 3 times a week with a new map "Designed by my host dad" each time. Its incredibly cool. He also invented his own way of playing which makes the game very very interesting. To say the least I've become apart of the family. Its been very good for me. They have taken me to Soccer games, Bull fights, and Museums. Its been awesome. My favorite was the Bull fight. They are incredible. The killing of the bull is very disturbing but if you focus on the matador and not the bull you can appreciate the art behind it. I love it. Another experience I had was at the Bull fight. A pretty intoxicated Ecuadorian came up to Rolly who was with me at the time. And Said "Hey you need to cheer like the gringo over there!" and pointed to another guy who was from Holland. The funny thing was he said this to Rolly in English and then looked at me and started speaking Drunken fast Spanish. This parallels and another story of when I was in a club and I was talking to these girls and told them I was from the U.S. They literally said. No you arn't your from Ecuador. I ended up having to show them my drivers license. They still didn't believe me. Its been very interesting. School on the other hand has not. I've been told its the worst private school in Quito and that its also the most boring. I completely understand when people say that. That is the only thing I have to complain about besides people continuously talking to me in English. That is so incredibly annoying. My counselor is trying to find me an orchestra or a group to join because my school doesn't really provide anything but soccer which I can't play because everyone is way to good. Its not even fair. I might be joining a Bowling league but I'm not sure. I really hope I do I hate just sitting at home. Good news though I think I'm getting taller. I'm very excited about that. Besides that I've just been studying my Spanish and talking more and more. Its very interesting. I've hit a few "brick walls" In my spanish but I've managed to get around them and continue moving forward. I think its pretty natural. Oh and I had my first rotary group trip about a month and half ago. It was horrible...Whoever planned that trip should take lessons from our rotary district. For the first day and a half I was starving. Sat in a bus for about 10 hours. That was only the first day. It was a beach trip so everyone thought we would be on a really nice beach. We thought wrong I think it was the ugliest beach in all of South America. There was Trash everywhere and we were in the middle of nowhere and there was still no food. Haha it was pretty miserable. That was also when I got food poisioning the 12 hour ride back was awesome! So pretty much I was hungry and when I had food in my stomach I puked it up because something the rotary fed me. I got incredibly bad sun burn and peeled for about 3 days even though there was no sun and it was slightly cold on the beach. The whole trip made little to no sense. haha but I still had fun. Don't ask me how but I managed. I don't even know what else to say. The rotary set us all up with Spanish Classes which helped me get my first steps of Spanish. I'm still grateful for that. But I do have to say the Rotary tells me literally nothing about anything. Everything I hear comes from my friend Rolly who lives 3 hours away from Quito about things going on in Quito. I still don't know how that works. My bus ride from school takes me an hour to and from so I read a lot. So far I've gone through about 8 books. It took my friend 2 weeks to finish a book called the "Patagonian Express" I would recomend that every exchange student who is going to South America should read it. My point is it took me about 3 days. I also discovered that things just randomly break in Ecuador. My Ipod was old but was showing no signs of malfunction. I put in my backpack and when I turned it back on 5 minutes later the screen wouldn't work. I can still listen to music but now my Ipod is pretty much a giant 30 GB Ipod shuffle with about 3000 songs on it that doesn't shuffle. Its funny what you can get used to. And then about 2 weeks later my headphones that have never let me down and have a lifetime warrantly on them strangly stopped playing music in the right ear. I can't figure that one out either. I know I'm going out of order but there is a good amount to tell and I still won't even get to all of it. So I think I will start just telling individual storys such as the driving in Ecuador. If I ever move here or have a house in South America...I will never drive. It is one of the most frightening things I have ever experienced. People pass people who are passing a bus while there is an oncoming bus driving way to fast towards you with a sheep on the roof...And I'm not kidding there was a sheep on the roof of a bus driving down the road. Some things down here are completely beyond me. I just don't understand it and its sort of caused a mentality among the other exchangestudents here. We see something that makes absolutely no sense you look at eachother laugh and say "Its Ecuador" and then keep on walking. Anyway I think thats enough for now. Its taken me about an hour to write this. I still want to apologize for not writing before. I feel incredibly bad about it. I hope this slightly makes up for it and doesn't hurt your eyes to bad for starting at the screen for to long. I just wanted to say all is well here and hope the new kids arn't giving you to much trouble while I'm away.


Chao,
Remy

12/4 from Allison in Argentina

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!.............while youre enjoying the cold....its a 100 plus humidity here....

Okay...so...yikes....me, cooking, never done it alone, no tempurature or time on the oven, dont have everything i need....yeah, this should go over realllll well right?

(now i know how all people feel when they cook for other people...and now i understand my mothers hostility during the holidays).

They dont sell pie shells...and i didnt have all that i needed for to make a shell...plus they didnt have a pie pan...so, i thought okay, and I went to the grocery store (which is half the size of ours), and looked for what i could use instead....found a shell for things like quiesh...okay, ill try that...

I didnt have any things for measuring, so i had to eye-ball it....ohhh god, it was one of those times when i wished had one of those- "just add water" kits...they were so good, and fooled you into thinking you could cook...

I managed....and carefully watched (with nervousness) the pie cook....then, i also needed to make stuffing....once again, no "just add water" kits....ohh goodie...i had a reciepie from the internet, but i didnt have the things it required...so...i imprivised...instead of celery- use this thing thats a realitive to a zuccini..instead of onion, i used corn...made a beef broth, riped up a lot of bread, threw it all together, then stuck it in the oven and prayed...

(then because of the imense heat....went into the pool...sweet reliefe).

=0 AAnd to my amazement...the food wasnt bad...you might even said it was good   ...Monica made chicken and mashed potatoes...and just us girls- aldana, luisenana, monica and myself, sat down, and ate. We said our thanks- I said i was happy for my friends back home, my friends here (for their patience), for my family in the states, and for the one here...and for all the love that is shared...oh and pools and cieling fans.. the girls went too...luisiana was the last to go and aldana says- no copying! I told them (not very well, but i told them), the story of thanksgiving.   When you think about it, it was kind of like an exchange...someone from one world, coming to another, and asking for their help in survival in this new world, and the exchange of food, and culture. The idea that two very different ways of life, and mentality can come together in peace, and enjoy the simplitic joys of life. Family, friends, food, and a pool when youre skin is melting right off of you.

We laughed, and talked... to be honest with you, i thought i was going to be very very sad today....i was yesterday because i just had one of those moments where i missed home, and holidays are coming, and all of that...but when i got the chance to share something that is so personal, that i could to bring home to me, i was so happy.  the smell of apple pie filling the house, just brought me back to such wonderful days...that simplicity made me feel so close to home...that i wasnt 5000miles away, but rather, just down the street at a friend´s house.

A house is just a house. A town is just a town. A provence is just a provence. A country is just a country.  There is no magical paradise...you have to make it one.

Happy Thanksgiving all, heres to you guys...i love you all.

Oh, mom---after reading this, check facebook- pictures there.....and freewebs.com/allisonblairphotography.com-- new ones there too...

From Kevin L in Croatia   

Hi, Mr. Berg,

 sorry, Facebook doesn't let me send personal messages, and it also recently stopped me from putting on and taking off pictures.  So, I'll have to write to you through gmail for now.  Anyway, my host family here is great, I don't want to say goodbye to them in January.  We Rotary kids in Croatia (all six of us) are organizing to have Thanksgiving at my house, and that should be pretty fun- on December 13th.  Croatian is hard, but I'm really starting to learn and speak it- they say I have the best Croatian out of all of us.  School is interesting, all the kids are really nice.  Croatia has surpassed all my expectations, and more.  Thank you so much for recommending it.  I love this exchange, and don't want to go home.

Cujemo se!

Kevin

11/12 from Mariha in Argentina 

10/28 From Jessica F in Brazil

Greetings from Bagé!

Life here in Brasil has been quite a whirl-wind thus far! I started dancing at Acadamia Viva Vida with my host sisters. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I dance jazz and on Fridays I dance contemporary. It has been such a thrill to have the opportunity to participate in activities such as dance. Back in the U.S., my life was so hectic; I always had tons of school work, clubs, and sports practices, that I never really had the opportunity to branch out. I am incredibly greatful for the chance to be a kid again!

            Many of my dance classmates where debutants this year, so I was invited to the Debutants Ball! It was incredible! Eleven girls ages fourteen and fifteen were introduced to society as young women. Each wore a custom made white gown that was so beautiful! Then, they dance a “valsa” or waltz with all the men in their family and their “par” or partner. I was not allowed to take pictures, but it was so cool! They poured smoke over the dance floor so it actually looked like the girls were dancing on a cloud! My wonderful mother mailed me my prom dress and it arrived just in the nick of time. The formal dresses here are anywhere upwards of 800 reais, so I consider myself extraordinarily lucky.

            In that same package, my mom sent peanut butter or “pasta da almenduin.” I have never seen anyone go crazy over peanut butter as did my entire host family. I think one day for dinner, they just experimented with peanut butter, spreading it on every cracker, bread, fruit, really anything we had in the house.

            The next week was “O vinte de Setembro” this is the independence day of Rio Grande do Sul (my state), also known as Dia Gaúcho. So everyone dresses up in the typical roupa gaúcha (gaúcha clothing). There was a parade along the main street, Aveneida de Sete do Setembro, and everyone rode by on horses with flags, cheering. There is so much pride in this state! At night we went to a “CTG” which stands for Centro de Tradiçôes Gaúcho, where we saw typical gaúcha dancing and ate gaúcha food. You’re not allowed in certain areas if you don’t have the right clothes, so I mostly stood back and took pictures, but hopefully at some point in my life I’ll have the clothes and be able to return.

            In October, I traveled to Cachoeira do Sul, a city about 3 hours away from Bagé for my first District 4780 Orientation. That has been a real highlight of my exchange thus far. I met nine other “intercambistos” or exchange students and it was as if we were instant best friends. We traveled as a group to Santa Cruz to see the Oktoberfest there, where we stayed until about 3 am! The next morning, we had a rotary meeting at 7:30, but it didn’t matter because I learned back in Pennsylvania that when exchange students are together, sleeping is rarely a part of the experience. I stayed in Cachoeira for about 5 days and then returned by bus to Bagé. What an experience!

            That is about all for now. The weather here is starting to get very warm because of the strong sun.  My high school graduation is in December, so I will be sure to let you know about all the preparations!

Tchau!

Jessica 

From Kyle S in France 

Hey Everyone,

10/21 from John S in Peru

Here is an update on what has been happening in Peru,
 
      Well I am living in Arequipa, Peru which is the second largest city in Peru other that Lima, but once you get to know the city itself you find that it has a small town feel. The people here are very nice, they are very welcoming and are eager to help. My host family is great I have a mom and a dad who do not speak english but can communicate with me in spanish very easily. I also have four host siblings, three sisters and a brother. The oldest sister is currently living in Arizona with her husband and speaks perfect english, and my youngest sister is on an exchange in France at the moment. My brother is 18 and is currently attending a university here for agricultural engineering. I also have a host sister who is 22 who goes to a different university for tourism. Here in Peru it is very common for the kids to live with their parents until they are in their thirties or get married. But my family is great and so far I have not had any problems.
 
     Another great part about Peru is the food. People here know how to cook, I'll put it that way. The main meal here is lunch and these lunches are feasts. They usually consist of a beginning starter of some vegetables and lettuce but then quickly move on to the meat. Peruvians love meat. There are just pounds and pounds of meat every day. And there is always rice. My host mom makes a huge bowl of rice in the morning and then when ever you are hungary, you just put some rice on a plate, top it off with meat and pop it in the microwave. And I have never seen people eat so fast, it doesn't look like they are in a rush, but everyday I am the last one to finish, and I'm not a particularly slow eater. But the food is just delicious.  

     Just wanted to let you all know that I'm doing great and loving it here, I'll send some more reports later for sure.
 
John S

9/24 from Talia in Thailand 

From Kyle in France

Hey,

Sorry that im writing so late, but its taken me a little while to settle down here.  Tours (the city im in) is very beautiful, it resembles the image everyone has in their head of a little french town with cobblestone streets, saturday markets, and whatnot.  My family here is wonderful, theyve been very accomodating and have helped me alot with school, and getting to know my way around the city.  My house is right outside the main part of town, so it is very easy for me to get to school, or wherever i need to be.  The school i attend here is called Lycee Descartes, its about 3000 students and is in the middle of tours.  It is one of the best public schools here, so the academics are supposedly difficult.  I can understand very little of what goes on in class so mabe i will verify the difficultly level later in the year.  Right now all i can say is mathamatics is not very hard.  All the kids here are very friendly, and since i have most of my classes with the same people i have made some good friends.  The food is also amazing in school, espeically comparing to my old high school, we alaways have fish, or chicken, pasta, yogurt, fresh fruit, bagguette, ah, it is awsome.  This past weekend we had our first district meeting in paris with the other exchange students.  It was a really great experience.  We all met up at the train station, checked in at our youth hostile then immediatly went out to see the city.  it was alot like our washington trip in the sense that saturday and sunday were both very full days.  We went on a boat ride on the Siene and saw all the famous bridge, of course we saw the Eiffle tower.  We climbed all the way to the top by foot, which was very very very tiring...the next day we walked around a bit, and went to the Louvre, where we saw the Mona Lisa, Nike of Samathrais, the Venus de Milo, Hemmnurabis code, and many other works.  It was good to see the other students, and hear about their experiences thus far.  In addition we have several austrialian students who have been here for several months already becasue their inbounds come in in January, and they helped alot with the language and translations.  My french is gotten alot better since ive arrived, although its still definitly the most difficult part of the trip.  everyoen talks very fast and before you can even begin to learn the words you have to be able to slow them down in your head and seperate them.  But thats comming along.  The Loire Valley, which encompasses tours is famous for its Chateaus also.  Up till now ive only visited two, Chinon, and Villandry.  They were both very beautiful, and had rediculously huge gardens.  Generally the gardens are the best part.  I guess thats about all for now, hope everything is going well for everyone in the states.

Ive attached some photos of the journey

a bientot

Kyle

From Allison in Argentina 9/15

Friday- walked, through a thic k forest, over a massive bed of boulders, and up a mountain, in the cold rain for 8hrs(thats right it rained the whole time)...I did get to ride a horse a for a little while...he was the cutest little quarter horse with the nicest neck and temperment. Sturdy little thing. I rode him through the most tretcherous part...steep, slippery paths up the mountain...every other minute i was leaning forward, leaning back, leaning forward, leaning back. The guacho looked at me said- very good very good, youve done this before havent you?- my reponse- a little. It felt good...my body knew exactly what to do... In any case, after about 7 hrs we were on the top and there were cows, and poor "ranches". Andrea and I saw some people taking in others for warmth...so we went inside the hut...everyone was sucking something out of a thick carton, i was hungry so why not? well, turns out it was strawberry jam. Good deal.

Then after saying our thanks we left and walked another half an hour where we saw more people, once again motioning our welcome. This i will never forget...its cold, very very cold, and raining. Andrea and I are drenched...we go into this hut (imagine a large triangle made of leaves, wood and plastic bags ontop)...there was a small fire in the middle, a dog (who had a puppy), a small table off to the side, stumps to sit on, and a pot for food. They didnt have much of anything, and they welcome us in, and give us cup upon cup of mate, and a lot of bread to eat. I=2 0was so shocked at how much they gave us. They talked and seemed very pleased when they found out i was from the USA. The mother said how much she loves english...she doesnt understand any of it, but loves the way it sounds. They laughed, and were happy...and i couldnt get over it...it was amazing. And so as we left, I said (since she loves english)- thank you so much for all of your hospitality, you are so wonderful, and warm and friendly, and i am so greatful, and will never forget you all."---Andrea translated---the woman smiled with such pride and joy. It was amazing.

Finally, (after chanting- allison! andrea! the whole time to keep our feet moving and to prevent from dropping to the ground) we got there. the things in my bag were soaked....including my precious notebook. So i changed, into semi- dry clothes. Went into the big hut and sat by the fire, where once again, cups of mate are given, and bread, and simple wonderful warmth from others. At around 10 we ate dinner...some noodle thing, it was really good.  Then after talking and what not, andrea and I said we should probably try to get some sleep....ohh but wait- somebody took our sleeping bags. Fuck. now what?   We went just outside the hut, and there was a small fire where some gauchos were standing around talking. There was this older guy, that when i met met him, i thought he was drunk...but no hes just always happy, and NEVER stops talking....ever. He was drapped in 2 thick blankets and when we told him what happened he told us to sleep out there with him and a couple other guys. And so, under the full moon, snow capped moutains behind us, old fence poles, barbed wire, and gently rolling landscape, next to the fire, we layed there. I rested my head on the old guy, and andrea rested her head on me, all three of us, under the same blankets...oh and a dog joined me at my feet.  Andrea didnt sleep much...or at all...so every couple of hours id feel the shake at my shoulder and andrea saying- ahh lee sohn queres cafe? (want coffee), and so id wake up, drink the coffee (it was really good), eat some bread or melonasise, and go back to sleep. It went like that the whole night....no complaints.

Saturday morning- Praying. The whole reason behind this hike, and being literally in the middle of nowhere, was religious and spirtual...okay, so im not catholic, but I can agree with that....that is how i feel about my spirtuality anyways so....And at one point, they all started singing...and it was so cool, because...its cold, and foggy, and combined with the landscape, and the sound of all those voices...it was just an atmospshere like no other.    I did meet the father....he was a very nice man, and apprently knew all about me through Natalia. He even insisted on getting a picture w. me. I just laughed in my head...  Natalia said to me that- "we are all very proud of you, and proud that you are with us, because you are a very beautiful person. We tell you, oh allison youre going to be walking for 8 hours, or, youre going to be cahtolic now, or you must leave your language behind you, and you are so far from home, and you never complain. You just are always smiling and say okay, and you are just always making peace with everybody...the father thinks you are a beautiful person for this reason as well." I was so flattered that such strangers could have such nice things to say about me....it was really nice.  Oh, and then there was a small service in the "inglesia" (church).  I did understand a fair bit of it...the father talked about how happy he was of all the people that came. To experience god, and to feel and be apart of something bigger then yourself. That the hike was symbolic. A test of your faith in God, that in the rain, in the cold, when you can walk no longer, you continue forth, for you have faith. 


Mom, you would have loved it. I felt a little bad...you deserve an experience like that...it was us just really awesome.

Andrea and I shared everything. Cups of mate, plates of food, clothes, shoes, blankets, laughter ..i love that about the argentine culture. You just are always sitting, talking, eating, drinking...whatever you have, you share with everybody else. Its really awesome.  And then, andrea and julia and some other girls wanted to learn a funny american song, so i taught them 2- Im too sexy, and I like big butts....it was the funniest thing listening to little innocent argent ine girls sing- "I like big butts! and I cannot lie!" I laughed so hard, and said- i love you guys....julia loves to practice her english on me...so we had a converstaion where i talked in spansih and  she talked in english, and if we got stumped on how to say something the other would help. it was really cool. We all had a good time.


Sunday-walk down the moutain. for 8 hours. I did ride a horse for the last half hour because i was so tired. When they offered i felt bad, so i said no, im okay...but the one kid who had been walking w. me the whole time, insisted that i get on the horse. So happily i did. Cute little black thing. As soon as he lost sight of the other horse he trotted...i was like score, lets go faster!! but I couldnt because the path was very narrow and there a lot of rocks....i just happy i got to ride...neck reining is so easy....i was like, this is great...a sane horse...havent ridden one of these in awhile.

Oh, and they love juice here. We were walking back, and we stopped at the river, to fill up a cup of water, and then of course, add powder to make juice... they needed a way to stirr it, so they used a pocket knife. I laughed so hard. I was just like--why do u need to add the powder?

When my host family picked me up the church, they laughed...because i looked terrible and smelled of smoke. So, the mother insisted on taking my picture...real nice monica....i look like crap, i cant walk, im tired, ple ase, dont take my picture...but i just smiled and laughed....oh and once we got into the house she insisted on me saying hi to diego for the sole purpose of he could see how bad i looked. They got the biggest kick out of it...i just laughed and said- i need to shower....oh and my hair still smells like smoke. Good deal.

If you want to really experience a culture- go camping with them.

Check allisonblairphotogprahy.com after reading this...tell me what you think of them!! i need feedback!!!!

Send my love to everyone,
Happy birthday a day early mom!!
Feliz Compleaños!
al

 From Jessica in Brazil 9/11/08 

Oi Pennsylvania!
greetings from bagé, brasil!

I apologize that I have not written sooner, but it has taken me a while to get settled in to my new home in Bagé.

Bagé is a small city of 120,000 people in the south of Brasil. It is actually the most southern city in the country, about an hour away from the border of Uruguay.

Now I know that it is hot and humid in the states, but here it is absolutely freezing! The seasons (and inadvertently the school year) are reversed. For the past few weeks it has been about 40 or 50 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, but in the 20s at night! (NO heat in houses, schools, stores etc...,)

That said, the cold weather certainly hasn't stopped me from having a great time! I have met so many people here, it is truly remarkable! The Brasileros (Brazilians) are extraordinarily welcoming and eager to meet “the tall American.”

Because I am living in such a small town, I have become sort of a celebrity. There are two exchange students in Bagé: myself, the American, and Michael, a German boy. We go to the same school, Instituto da Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora. School is from 7:30 to 12 everyday. We have a break at 10 (where Michael and I are asked to take tons, and tons of pictures haha), and at 12 (meia dia) the whole city shuts down, and everyone goes home for almoço (lunch). In the afternoon, many of minha colegas (my classmates) study English. The schools here are certainly not as advanced as the United States; however, I am completely awestruck by the language proficiency of my classmates.

As for learning Português, I think I’m learning pretty quickly! Many people ask me how I learned to speak so fast. I usually chalk it up to the Spanish I studied in high school, but I think it’s really my longing to be able to understand everything around me! It’s such an odd feeling no knowing the language, but I’ve found that it really has helped me to appreciate things three weeks ago I would have considered insignificant.

Over the past four weeks, I have done so many things completely foreign to my life in the U.S. First and foremost, I have eaten stranger foods than I ever could have imagined including chu-chu (an excellent green vegetable) and coracão da galinha - chicken hearts (a favorite among brasilians). But the food is really fantastic! A new favorite dish of mine  – arroz e feijão (rice and beans). We don’t eat it every day, but it’s certainly a major part of the brasilian diet, and it’s delicious!

            I have also been introduced to the fútbol (soccer) phenomenon. The rumors you hear about Brazilians and their fútbol (soccer) are so true! One day, my class decided that we all wanted to watch the match between Argentina and Brasil (I don’t want to talk about the complete disaster that the game was). Everyone pulled out their cell phones, called their parents, then had the teachers talk to their parents on the cell phones, and the entire class walked out at 10. Literally all 21 of us just left school! It was crazy!

Another new love is mate, also known as yerba mate. It is a tea drink that is very, very popular in Rio Grande do Sul (my state!), Uruguay, and Argentina. It adds to the gaucho (cowboy) lifestyle!  

Learnin Português has come pretty naturually, but there are always a few things that just don’t translate or that I do not understand. A funny story:

The day I arrived, we stayed the night in Porto Alegre (the next largest city about a 5 hour drive from Bagé). I asked my tia Arlete (aunt arlete) if there was somewhere safe I could put my passport. “Claro que sim!” (of course!) she said. So she opened a drawer and I immediately saw a shiny black gun.  I’d only seen guns in movies, so I thought to myself “Ok. Brasil is dangerous, they need guns.” Then, meu primo Jãoa (my cousin John) grabbed the gun and started waving it around. Everyone was yelling “Brinquedo! Brinquedo!” and I thought that meant be careful, be careful. I was petrified, I think my face was stark white. Finally, someone yelled “Is toy! Is toy!” So apparently Brinquedo means joking or playing in Português. Very good to know.

For now, this is all, but I promise to continue to write about life in Brasil. I would also like to apologize in advance for my deteriorating English skills as the year progresses.

tchau, tchau, beijos! (bye, bye kisses)

Jes

From Sam I AM in France 9/9/08 

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My depart picture!!!

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Ma mere, Virginie, Mon frere, Lucas, Moi

HEYYYY !OIYLQIAURYBL#IUAVGnfKJ:DLFKJS:L JLKSFHJLlkbsune;fklgjvsnefkgjwklefhj;hkljgf!


Well, Sam is doing Marvelous, Fabyoulous, Fantastic, Terrific, honestly, to tell you the truth, who ever told us about homesickness, no such thing!!! I'm so great... if there wasn't a date on my visa, I wouldn't come home!!! (Except for familly!) But schools a little hard, but great!! Who would of thought i was going to be good at english!?! Its just different, but cool, little bit frustrating because notes on the first day, like seriously, and my schedule has like no comparison to the usa, and cause you don't know alot of the language and the teacher is talking fast and big words and other words that through yahh off!!! so you just at the end of the class tell them what you understood and what you didn't!!! and the other best thing is to sit next to a french person!!! with me there is a girl from switz (AFS) and another boy from new york casey! who i met in DC and he is aweesome!!!! , although , today, we think someone might have sliced my tire.... Don't know for sure, but in the morning , i will take the bus , and a pump, and see how it holds air, it was fine when i biked the 20 minutes to get there!! But My family is amazing and i don't want to leave my first family, when i leave them in november , i seriously might cry!!! this weekend is our first inbound weekend!!!  But in all seriousness, France, Is lovely, and Sam, is Sam, Smiling, having a great time, Being Happy! Which "be happy" was the name of a movie we saw at the cinema in town , british english film with french subtitles, hilarious and at parts i could've cried it was just an amazing film, and after we ate at mcdonalds, and that friday we had dominos , so i'm sorta at home!! in a sense!!! But everythings been good, i've cooked for them, bought the mother flowers, watched my brothers football games (soccer). And talked alot with my father, bought a cell phone, got a credit card, should be in the mail very soon!! (credit card of france) i've made some friends at school!!! but, how are the newbee's?? lol and if you guys need anything , just holle r, tomorrow i will ask my mother to call my host club again so i can attend some meetings, because the last time we called we talk to max rousie's son (max rousie is the president of my host club) and he said that his father was out preparing for his sisters wedding and he will call us back... so... i'll beat him to it!!
Lille, very beautiful!!! Very fun!!! The most said things by the host family are 1. Sorry... ( like i didn't hear, repeat, slower) 2. As you want...


Well, it's 10:00 at night i was just sending pictures of the braderie which was like the Lille yardsale for the year, everyone sells everything in the road, they close it, amazing, like alot of people, and a 50th birthday party we went to, my older host brother is in India right now for his exchange so, i'm fillin' in the spot!!! I joined a volleyball group and a chorale group!!! Switched my Spanish 2 class to another english class, the kids my age in school have taken english for like 8 years and spanish for like 2 and me, just french for two , english for life, so... you see!!!  But!!! talk to you later!!!


Love!!!

"frenchie"

Some Letters home from Talia In Thailand 9/9/08 

I'm responding to eliana's fb post by email cause its easier.  Today was awesome!  I'm kind of tired now, but I held up pretty well for most of the day.  I actually woke up at 8:30 this morning (way earlier than usual!).  I got some sleep on my flights (waking up @ 3 does that to you).  Today I went to this palace/temple in the morning and saw the emerald budda (wearing his rainy season attire), the budda has different gold outfits that are changed by a member of the royal family each season.  Somphop (my 3rd host father) took about a million photos of me, including one where I posed w/ a guard.  He was kind of like a thai version of the queen's guards in England.  Speaking of the queen, I also found out that I have the same b-day as thailand's queen and as somphop's mother!  Aug 12th is also mother's day because the queen is the mother of thailand so mother's day is on her b-day.
We (somphop and i) went to lunch at a place on the main river where Tuk (my host mother) and somphop's mom met us.  By the way mom, I am definitely going to gain weight over here if I keep eating like this (a-rau ee is one of my new favorite words, it means delicious).before the meal, somphop and I walked around a bit and I had my first tuktuk ride (a tricycle taxi).  after the meal we went to this huge, and very high class mall (at least four or five stories).  I felt a bit underdressed.  everyone else was very fashionable.  They had a huge food court that included starbucks, au bon pain, mcdonalds, and a bunch of other "international" foods.  It had every type of store you can imagine and it was by far the most modern and classy mall I've ever been to.  Later we went to another slightly less expensive mall and also to a movie.  We saw Mummy, it was very strange but i enjoyed to previews.

the mummy movie was in english w/ thai subtitles.

Also, i meant to tell you about customs.  They were much easier than I expected to get through.  I filled out a card on the plane.  Then handed it to a woman at customs along w/ my passport.  She barely said anything to me, just stamped it and then took a photo of me (im sure I looked gorgeous after a day and a half of traveling).  After that, we (the exchange students) picked up our luggage and  went through the "nothing to declare" line.  My suitcases were not opened at all.

I spent yesterday w/ somphop and today (mon) w/ Tuk (my 3rd host mom).  She is really nice (don't worry you are still #1).  We visited the president of either the rotary district of bangkok or one of the clubs (im not sure which).  She was very friendly and let me have a green mango from her front yard!  It looks nothing like the mangos we have at home.  I explained that I am one of the first exchange students from the saucon club and that it is very new so I dont have any flags yet. Tuk explained this to the president.  They were very understanding (Tuk is also part of a very new club), but Tuk told me the flags are very important w/ rotary.  So please try to send me some as soon as you can.  If possible, try to get me etras because it seems like I will be involved w/ multiple clubs (kanchanaburi and bangkok-through tuk).

Tuk is now at work for an hour (she owns a laundromat).  When she gets back we will go to the park.  If you come here I know you and tuk will become friends.  she is super generous and knd and (get this!)  she took french in high school!  (although she says she is very rusty).

Sunpetch (my first host father) took me to the market and it was great. i was pretty sure that out of everything I've had to eat and drink so far, the market food was the most likely to make me sick, but luckily I feel fine (thank goodness).  You wouldn't believe some of the stuff at the market.  One person was selling fried chicken - looked the same as KFC and right next to that, deep fried chicken feet dipped in some type of batter ( I didn't have any of that).  one person also had a table/stand made out of bamboo covered in baby bunnies wearing little outfits!  i felt bad for the animals at the market, but it was also amazing to see.  the same person was selling a little black puppy, a kitten, dwarf hamsters, and hedgehogs (including an albino hedgehog!). some of the other animals I saw for sale were pitbull puppies, regular hamsters, and what I think was a baby flying squirrel!  We bought some mangoes (not at all like the ones in the United States) and guava (this was also different from the guavas we are used to).

Today we went to a temple with a huge gold buddha to start celebrating the queens b-day/mother's day.  Either all or almost all of Kanchanaburi's police were there, along with groups representing all of Thailand (at least I think that was the idea of it).  At first we sat down and I expected to watch the ceremony,  instead Sunpetch (1st host father) and Chalermchat (2nd host father)  were part of the ceremony.  Sunpetch had me come with him, so I was part of it too.  I was mostly trying to figure out what I was supposed to be doing and reading the minds of everyone at the ceremony (hmmm...what is that farang -foreigner- doing here? and why is she in the middle of the ceremony looking clueless?).  I think I might even be on TV tonight.  it was a pretty cool way to celebrate, a sapling was given by the police to each group of people and then the trees were planted.  afterwards, i met the head of Kanchanaburi's police.

I have to go prepare for a rotary meeting tonight where I will give a speech about myself.  By the way, I'm also giving a speech at my new school on the 11th in thai and English in front of 3,000 people!

9/7/08 from Carl in South Africa 

Hello Everyone!
I am having the time of my life here in South Africa! I have been here for 7 weeks and they have gone by so fast. I live in Klerksdorp. The cities population 350,000. It is located in the North West Province of South Africa. Klerksdorp is a large Afrikaans area of South Africa. I can say only a few Phrases like Asseblief (Please), Baie Dankie (Thank You very much), Goeiemôre (Good Morning), ETC. The landscape in Klerksdorp is a desert and low lying thorn bushs.
 
I go to a small private catholic school called St. Conrad's College. The schools in South Africa are very different from schools in the states. You have to wear a uniform, there is religon in schools which is hard to get used to, very english manners like you address the teacher's as Sir or Ma'am. You have to stand up when an other teacher walks in to your class. St. Conrad's have around 700 student K-12. I am in grade 11 where I am here in South Africa. I am playing Cricket! Cricket is an amazing sport. I am a good fielder and an ok Batsmen and not a good bowler. I am on 1st team.
 
My rotary district is HUGH! It is 98,000 sq. m or the size of Oregon, it has 52 clubs. Two weeks ago I had my first orientation. The district is hosting 7 students: Roxana Bell (USA), Amalie Wedege (Denmark), Lukas Jung (Germany), Louise Cherpion (Belgium), Annelien Vos (The Netherlands), Julia Caballero (Brasil), and me. It was very nice. WE had our orientation on Saterday Aug 23 and from Sunday Aug 24- Wed Aug 28 the 7 of us went to a nature park and had a leadership camp where we did team building games and getting to know each other more. At the park we saw Rhino, Bushbuck, Hartebeest, Sable, Zebra, ETC. It was so much fun!
 
The people of South Africa are some of the nicest, welcoming, loving I have ever met. They want to know about me and the states. I have some really great friends. My host parents are great! I am going to have 4 host families, each three months. I am going to my next host family at the end of this month. My hosting rotary club is really small but thery do a lot for Klerksdorp.
 
Bye for know,
Carl 
 
PS GO SPRINGBOKS! 

9/5/08 from Justin in Denmark 

Hello all,

I am sorry to disappoint all of you, but Denmark may be the best country in the world. Yes, it may be getting a bit chilly as I write this email, but its amazing. People in Denmark are always with a smile, and if you have been doing your research, Denmark is the happiest country in the world. Sorry guys, but doesnt that mean I will be the happiest? I am only kidding. So I live in a city of 40,000, called Næstved. And yes, the spelling is correct, they have a few extra letters in the Danish language, which is not the easiest to learn. In Denmark, 40,000 people is quite a lot, and Næstved is currently the ninth largest city in Denmark! Wow, with only 40,000 people too. But with a country of five million, 40,000 tends to be a big number. I have been here for two weeks, but only one week and a day in Næstved because I had a week orientation for the exchange program. The week was amazing, and we actually learned a little Danish during that time. I have met some friends who live close and afar, but we will all be in touch. I think it was the best way to get in touch with the Danish culture, since we learned about the people, and actually did some city visits during that week. While most of you will have an easier time learning your language, I am stuck here trying to learn Danish! It sounds like they have a píece of herring in their mouth when their talking. And speaking of herring, they love to eat fresh seafood and cheese. Its quite the appetite, although my stomach needed some time to get used to it. Alrighty, back off to life, and learning about this fascinating culture!

Jeg elsker Denmark (I love Denmark)!!!!!!!!!!

Justin Lukoff

(Happiest Exchange Student)

Næstved Rotary Club

Enjoy you all! keep in touch!

9/2/08 from Allison in Argentina

Hello all!!!

okay so its been...like 2 1/2 weeks here in Concepcion Tucuman Arg., its a very very tiny litte town....but everyone seems really nice... you do the whole kiss the cheek thing every time...the first person i met i accidently went to shake their hand....the confusion on their face made me feel awkward...so i said- lo siento yo soy una americana...they just laughed...i have had made friends here...we speak spanglish...i try to say all that i can in spanish and go into english...or i guess the words...(it feels great when i get a word right)...they understand me, and are my walking dictionaries...the guys here get reallly reallly annoying...its a constant slue of- "ahh lee sohnn!" "have boyfriend?"...plus they are always trying to touch me and my hair...yeah i get it, u like red heads...move on!....my friends are very funny and very patient w. me...for which i am sooooooo greatful....my host family is nice....the parents are a little impatient w. me and my poor ear/tongue...but when i try to get my point across, they just kind of smile....

oh and everybody here hangs out gas stations...its like a convenice store, cafe, and gas station all in one...its really funny. when my friends said- yeah lets go to la aceo...its a gas station!....i was like....hahahahahah are u serious? why??.....the whole town was there. we ate, and talked....thats all they seem to do here...eat and talk...hey theyve got great food so why not? (yeah im gonna gain weight).

And funny story...saturday we have to march for the school...its been 75years....so....yeah....and today, we practiced marching...oohhh goodie! for the whole hour we heard- cerdo, cerdo, cerdo, dercehe, cerdo--- left left left right left. at one point i guess i wasnt in line and she yelled at me....it didnt ring any bells that she was yelling til i heard a mass of people yell- ahh lee sohn!   colorroja!! ...........oops.....it was really really boring....but it would have made a very very funny picture, because in the middle of the road, is this mass of girls in blue and white uniforms, off to the side little shacks as houses, and in the background- the giant overseeing andes mountains....it made me chuckle.

so yeah, it is right at the base of the andes....you drive 20 mintues west and youre in the andes...you drive 20 minutes east and your in the flats like the mid west, combined with the exotic look of africa w. all the sugar cane and baren trees...and yet, as you walk around, there are all these really pretty and exotic flowering trees and plants....it really is unique.


chau!
ahh lee sohn.

8/26/08 from Kevin in Croatia 

 I really liked the email column from last year, so here's my input, from the blog I'm keeping. Hey guys! I'm in Croatia now, so this is the first post from the house of Damir Ježic. The flight was long, and we flew out of JFK, me and this Greg kid who also happens to be going to Croatia. We finally touched down around two o clock in Zagreb, and I fell asleep that night after 28 hours of uninterrupted, uncomfortable airline awakefulness. But Croatia is awesome!! My family is really cool- they have their own house, and I have my own room. My host mom is really helpful, she helps me learn Croatian by reading the newspaper for a half hour every day, and doesn't laugh at my horrible Croatian mispronunciation. Varazdin is this cool little town, not at all like Pennsylvania. For one thing, there are absolutely no suburbs, only more intact and towns that aren't declining. Everything in the city has this very Mediterranean feel though, almost like an Italian small town. My host mom pointed out a world famous professional kayaker in front of us in line at the supermarket, and she stops to say hi with people walking on the street every five minutes. The Croatian language isn't impossible. I am actually the best off out of all the exchange students, who mostly knew about ten to fifteen words, but they were really fun to hang out with on the plane and at the airport. When spoken quickly, it has this odd rolling quality to it, like Dutch or old English. I can pick out words, but full meanings are tricky. Lara, my host sister, introduced me to her friends, and we went to a concert, and they all spoke to me in English and really liked me, so I had a lot of fun. This place is pretty awesome. Till whenever!