District 7430 Youth Exchange - Rotex - Overflow E-mails Page 1

I've been here 2 months and having a great time. If you haven't been keeping up with my blog (www.chappetta.piczo.com) here's my latest entry that talks about this event. Hope everything is going great!

-Ray

September 21, 10:06

Well it’s been two months since I left PA! It’s kinda surreal looking back on it. I can’t imagine being at STHS or living in Oreland at the moment. It seems strange that that’s were I’d be if I wasn’t in Brazil. I don't really miss anything. Of course I miss things but I don't have too many saudades. Saudades is a Portuguese word that really only exists in Portuguese. In English it's like a feeling you get when you miss something soooo much that your hearts is breaking over it...or something like that. I really miss American humor and playing my trombone though! Like, I really really miss them. Everyone once in a while I get a strong pang of homesickness when I think about family or friends, but that generally passes pretty quickly. Thaks for keeping in touch guys! It's good to know I'm in your thoughts!

School has been going good. When I arrived in Brazil I was actually kinda excited that I wouldn't know/understand anything. In the US I was always sorta a person that knew it all (a.k.a a know-it-all [I stole that from facebook, haha]). However, I guess my brain knows no boundries because everyone says I get super good grades here and the President of my host Rotary Club said he checked and said I had the highest grades in the class...? What? That was really surprising (f it's actually true) especially because there are really smart kids in my class.

My cousin Mirella thinks I'm weird because I haven't missed any school yet, but, you know, I don't really mind. Sure it's not always fun, but I need the grades for STHS next year, and seriously, what would i do if I didn't go? Sleep and do nothing at home...I think I'll stick with garuenteed social interaction.

Speaking of social interactions, I'd guess I'd say making friends is going good. Everyone is pretty freindly to me and I'm not afriad to start conversations with them. I wish they did more...or invited me to more places if they actually are doing things. It's been two months and I've been to like, 3 parties...but it depends on how you define parties...and I'm Brazil, stereotypically the party country of the world! Anyways, again, it's still a bit cold, and I'm definantly going to a party tomorrow and then dancing with some people, so I guess it's getting better. However, I'm content on how everything is developing. I'm not bored. I go to the gym and have Portuguese lessons so I'm occupied.

I'm pretty surprised about how my Portuguese is developing. Maybe not so surprised about my comprehension, which is one par I guess, but my speaking is really developing. I can communicate in complex sentences, like "You should talk to her because she would like to go too." Sometimes I stumble a lot through sentences, but I don't have any problems being understood. I can have a conversation in Portuguese, although my vocabulary is lacking. However, my Portuguese lessons are closing the gap. Sometimes I really surprise myself and get into what is like "the Portuguese zone" where I can comprehend and reply with lightning fast speed. It's pretty cool, trust me.

My host family feels more like a real family after 2 months. They've always wanted a son, so it's cool. My little host sister is a typical little sister, and I could also consider my cousins little siblings too because they're over out house quite often. At the moment, Paulinha and my cousin Marcinho are rocking out on Super Nintendo's Super Mario World. I like to rock out on it too, I'm like 2/3 through the game. It's pretty much the best game ever. I still haven't met my older host sister Larissa! We were supposed to visit Floripa on the 7th, then she was gonna visit on the 17th, then yesterday, and so now the plan is to visit her on the 28-29. You see, she really was supposed to come this week, but Semana de Farropilha in RS sent hoards of gaúchos to SC and the hotel she works at was swamped and she couldn't get off work. Families are closer here in Brazil, like I eat every Wednesday at my grandmother's house and then every Thursday at the other grandmother's house. I often see my aunts and uncles and cousins.

I'm pretty pysched for a Rotary trip that I'll be going on in about a month. For nine days elapsing the end of October and the beginning of November I'll be traveling to the Pantanal, the largest swampland in the world (I think) and the beautiful Bonito, a eco-tourism city/town. It's a Rotary trip, so I'll be going with like 90 other exchange students. There are still a few kinks to be worked out, but I'm 99% sure I'll be going and like 75% sure that my Rotary club is going to pay for me! Isn't that cool! I'm really hoping it works out.

Yeah, again, it feels weird that I've been here for two months. I'm learning more about myself and American culture by living in Brazil. Its hard to say if I've changed a lot from "Old Ray." "New Ray" is probably more outgoing, more relatable, more relaxed, that kindas stuff, but it's hard to say since it's hard to compare myself...to myself...Generally Brazilian people are a lot mroe open with they're feeling and ask questions that were considered more private matters in the US. Questions like, "So Ray, didn't you think that girl was ugly?" That time I just gave an "Uhhhhhmmm" as I though of an answer. Luckily I didn't have to reply as my host sister cut in with "Yeah, but her older sister was MUCH worse." Hahaha. Maybe that isn't the best example, but it stuck out in my mind. So I'm feeling pretty good here. Keep in touch.

Peace out, bean sproutz.

9/18 from Christine in Germany

Hello Everyone!

I have been updating my address book so for some of you this is your first email from me. If you do not wish to recieve these emails, just let me know... it is no problem!

I hope everyone is doing well and everyone has settled back into the school routine by now!

So my Birthday has come to an end officially.

I had a wonderful 18th birthday here in Germany! I am really thankful because I have heard many horror stories about host families and friends not remebering or caring about an exchagne student's birthday.

My birthday started at midnight with my host sisters and a friend coming into my room and singing a Happy Brithday Song with a cake! Megan and Mom and Dad called too! It was a great start! I went back to bed and woke up to Grandma and Grandpa calling! ´
I then went downstairs for breakfast. Normally my host family does breakfast on our own as we are all running out of the house at different times. My host family though has a nice tradition of having breakfast together on someone's birthday. They sang Happy Birthday and I opened my presents. my host sibilings are going to take me to a Pancake house and my Host parents bought tickets for me to see a popular German Musical!
At school the students are writing their exams so I had the first two periods off. After my host family left, I chilled. I was suprised when someone came to the door and delivered 18 Roses! Thank you to the enitre Frye and Starankovic family for the beautiful Roses!
School was nice beacuse many people remebered it was my birthday! ''Hertzlichen Glückwunsch!" or "Happy Birthday" is the typical German birthday greeting.
Teresa called after school! She and I are making plans to see each other hopefully at the end of November (if we can find a cheap train ticket!).
I hung out with a friend after school and talked to Uncle Rob and Aunt Celeste. I had orchestra practice in the evening. A really nice freind brought a small cake and candles for me and the orchestra sang and played Happy Birthday!
I went out to a Chinese resteraunt for dinner with my host family.

The exchange student weekend was really cool. It started off a little bornign but by the end it was a great time. I made some great friends with people from Japan, France, Tiawan, Australia, and Tialand! i taught a whole bunch of the exchagne students how to make hemp necklaces! On Saturday night we had a switch party. The guys dressed in girl clothes and the girls dressed in guy clothes! It was really a fun time.

Last Friday I celebrated my brithday with some freinds. I was at frist a little nervous about how the would click but in the end it was a nice evening. i know it wasn't the most happening night for these guys but I was happy of how it went. First about 6 people came over to my house and we made Racklett. It is when you have these little pans and you put potatoes and cheese and veggies and what ever you want and then melt it on a special hot plate in the center of the table. It was really tasty.
We then took a train to Essen and went bowling. The bowling lane was really nice and had booths at the end of the lane for a more social atmosphere. It was like laser bowling at home with blacklights on and fog machines.

The weather has been a LOT better lately. Actually on my brithday the sun came out for the first time in a while. It has not been nearly as cold the past couple of weeks.

Soo... I know that may be really long.

I am very excited because this Saturday I am going on the Germany Tour!!! It is a two week tour of Germany. WE are traveling to 14 different cities in Germany. When I get back in two weeks, I will tell you guys all about it!

Pictures of my brithday will hopefully be on photobucket this week. I tried yesterday but for some reason it did not work. I am going to try before I leave.
A reminder...
My album name is ChristineGermany
on www.Photobucket.com

Please let me know how all of you are doing! I love hearing from you!

Smile and make the most out of today!
Christine

9/17 from Meredyth in France

So I've been here nearly a month now, but it feels like forever, and I'd like to know how you're all doing, hence the et toi? I'm anxious to hear the exciting news from good ol' PA! haha Really though I would like to know how things are going.

People have been commenting that my french is getting better. Already! That always makes me feel good, although I don't really feel like it's that much better. School, as much as I hate it, helps me learn French more. Speaking with my friends is especially good. Yes, I have friends here! I've been hanging out with them on the weekends too.

This weekend was really great. I finished school Friday at noon and after went shopping and to lunch with my new friends. They helped me pick out a "tres beau" bag for school instead of my backpack because all the girls at my school have them. People look at me funny for having a backpack because they're all rich being that it's a private school. So yeah we went to this store called Sac Chic where my friend works, so I could get a discount. It was fun afternoon.

Saturday I went out with Victor to downtown Valenciennes. Don't get the wrong idea Kyle! haha. Victor recently broke up with his girlfriend (or so he says.) He's definitely the sweet talker type. He showed me some cool places to go. He shops at this store called Zara and so do my other friends. I like it a lot. Does anyone know if they have that in the US? It sounds familiar. I asked my host mother about him because she knows him well. She said he's a very nice boy but he has a lot of betises. I think that means something like follies. I asked her what and she refused to tell me because she said he wouldn't want me to know. Who knows? I don't care that much. Afterwords I went to a party in Lille for the birthday of a girl in the Rotary. Lille is a really neat and very big as well. I definitely want to go back to visit there again. It's a happenin' place!

I took the Tram home for the first time by myself. I made it just in time. I had no idea what to do as I'd never taken it before and had no instructions. I read the signs and asked someone for help. I made friends with a deaf woman. We are 2 pees in a pod because neither of us could understand anyone. We both had to run to make it on time. I really have to be independent here. I like it a lot. I'm learning to do a lot more things on my own. I liked to be independent before, but now I really am like on my own. I learned the public bus system by myself too. I get to school and from school on my own using it. I go to the post office on my own. It's been a good learning experience for me.

Sunday I went to a farm festival called La Fete du Lait or something like that. It had all the region's specialty products, like cheese, wine, and various other things. It was rather interesting...

I get along with my host brothers really well. I have inside jokes with both of them. Once my youngest brother and I decided to burn some stuff when his parents were at work. We just burnt the McDonald's drink holder under a candle but it made soo much smoke. When my host father came home he was was like what is burning?! Who was playing with the matches?! We kept straight faces until he left the room and then we burst out laughing. It was a good time. I taught him the word for zucchini and he chants it all around the house. It's apparently really fun to say.

School is school. I'm having a meeting the with principal tomorrow. We're going to see if we can work on something, so it is not extremely difficult. I'm glad I asked my host parents because now I can do something about it. Sigh of relief. It was better last week too.

Well that's it for me this week. Until next time!

Love

Mer

9/14 stolen from Ray's blog

September 13, 2007 18:41

Heyyy. Long time no update! So here's the story of why this update seems nessecary. I was going to write an entry last Wednesday, but I lost track of time. Then I DID write an entry on Thursday, but it deleted itself. I didn't have time on Friday and during the weekend, and when I went to update on Monday, the internet didn't connect and wouldn't untill last night.

I'm gonna save my self the time and just do a general highlights moment of last week.
*Lots of listening o the nation anthem of Brazil
*I started going ot the gym (Mons, Weds, Fris)
*I started Portuguese lessons (Tues, Thus)
*I met Alekssandra, another exchanger from Poland and am taking Portuguese lessons with her
*On friday was Brazilian Independence Day and I attened a parade and met some new people
* Said new people took me out on Saturday and Sunday and we hung out in Uruguaiana

I can't believe I've been here 7 weeks! It doesn't feel like it at all!

Today was pretty good. I woke up and went to school. We started the day with history, which included a lot of writing. In biology, a group of kids gave a presentation on reptiles. We went to an auditorium like room because the teacher thought they would have a powerpoint presentation they would show. However, this group prepared posters instead and decided to cast a huge picture of a human that seeminlgy had been attacked by a boa constrictor. This picture. Nice. I didn't really understand the presentation, as I wasn't really listening. I was more interested in watching my other classmates makeing spitballs and thowring them at the wall with the projection. The presentation lasted a good 30 minutes and by the end there were also about 30 spitballs stuck to the wall! I must say, even though its childish, I thinks it's hilarious!

No that I understand more Portuguese and have settled in more, I like school a lot better. I'm generally just happier here now, so it's a lot easier meeting new people and I've warmed up to the kids and visa versa. I like how brazen everyone is. In the US it was weird because 24 out of 25 people in a class were quieter with that one loud person and it was almost awkward when that loud person...was loud, but here everyone is like it so it's different.

After school and lunch, I went to my third portuguese lesson. I like the lessons. I'm also taking them with another exchanger. The teacher, Cristina, is fluent in English and is actually an English teacher. Alekssandra and I are her first Portuguese students. Even though we've been here for sometime, we're still starting with the basics. I think it's good though, my foundation probably does need to be reenforced and my pronounciation can be better. I do think it's funny though, becasue today we were "learning" the present for of the verb ser, which I already know. It's like, do we really need to go over this? Did you not just hear me conjugate in the imperfect indicative and use the crazy reflexive sentence structure that is Portuguese?

After my lessons I went to my friend, Renan's, house, where I met some other firends. They showed me a movie they made more English class a while ago, and I must say, it was soooo funny. It was like a murder mystery, and all in English, so it had a lot of priceless mistake and great lines, like:

Mark: Ok, let's go to my house.
Davis: We're in your house now.
Mark: Now I have to go to the bathroom.
Lily: Quick, let's take all his money!

And it cracked me up when they tried to use either the world burgler or murderer. I couldn't tell which because they ended up making up their own word...murgler. Hahaha. I have a feeling they probably put it on youtube or something, so I'll try to get it. You won't want to miss the scene with "News with Macron."

I got home about an hour ago and about 20 minutes ago I recieved a hand delivered invitation to a party for a girl I met a while back. It's her 15 birthday, which is a super important event for Brazilian girls. Whenever it happens the girl and her party get like half a page in the news paper. It's a big deal, but it isn't for another week and some.

I'm excited to the weekend. My family and I and Alekssandra are going to Livramento for our first district orientation type thing. I believe I'll get to meet all the other exchangers in the district, so expect between 7 and 13 more kids. Livramento is about an hour from Uruguiana and lies write on the border of Brazil and Uruguay. I leave tomorrow afternoon around 1 or 2. Also coming up is me getting to meet my second host sister. Her name is Larissa and she lives in Florianópolis, a very pretty city in Brazil. Unfortunantly, my family and I weren't able to go there last weekend because something came up, so she's comming to visit on the 20th.

Don't expect an entry until Monday. After this weekend I hope to start updating a bit more frequently and eventually get to writing journals for my picture pages. I also will had photos from the Independence day parade. I'm having a really good time!

End of entry.

9/13 from Yoostin in Austria

Hi guys!,
What's everyone been up to? Now that school has started I've got a lot to talk about. The first day I had four hours of an 8th year French Class where we watched a movie and answered questions about it...or i should say i stared at the questions for a while. But the movie was pretty funny regardless of being 90% in french....god if only I had gone to France for a year first! ; ). the next day we pretty much did nothing a lot like the first day because apparently all the kinks in the scheduling are still getting worked out. The best part is the latest we've had school so far was till 1:30 and most of the time we get out at around 11:30, and there is a 20 minute break around 10. Oh yeah and my classroom is in the 'castle' part of the school. I swear, if the lights weren't so bright and the walls weren't painted white it would look just like the inside of Hogwarts. Wednesday, for some reason I don't remember exactly what we did. We had an administrative period where all sorts of little things were sorted out..apparently they have this position in the class called a Klassprecher, who speak on behalf of the class if there is a problem with a teacher. I found this kind of odd because we've never really needed this in the states. I'm still not sure what the Klasssprecher actually does. But the students also do other things like, for example, keep track of money for books, field trips, etc. This kid named Andi kept track of something like 500 euros of the rest of the class' money for books. Despite the fact that you have to stand every time a teacher enters the room, I think they still treat you more like an adult here than they do in US schools. Once a week I have a free period cause of a religion class that only half of our class takes, and during that free period I can pretty much do whatever I want. I could even walk into town for something as long as I was back in time (which wouldn't be enough time to exactly lounge around town). So Thursday, today, we actually had almost a full days worth of classes with the exception of another administrative period. First we had English...I think that was first...anyways she made me read every vocab word out loud for the ``correct´´ pronunciation. Right after that eternity, we started read Dead Poets Society, which I'm sure Meg and Mal will be delighted to hear. Moving on, and escaping the adoration of my English teacher, we went next to the chem lab were I understand absolutely nothing because, even though hes speaking Hochdeutsch or normal German, he has such a thick ths sound with every word he says that I'm completely lost. His writing isn't any better. Apparently in cursive G's are backwards and A's are more like fatter, smaller L's. After that we had the administrative period. Then my freed period, which was actually really helpful because I got a chance to make some friends finally and we had a good time in the Pause Lounge of the main school building. When Pause was over for us we had Psychology, which by far was the funniest class so far. Ahead of time some of the kids immediately said to me 'Sie ist ganz verrückt' which translates to 'She's freaking nuts.' This turned out to be completely true and completely hilarious. She had me and 2 other kids change seats twice with each other to 'get a new psychological perspective.' I got moved to the back of the room. I never really got the point of it. I guess I could see more of the classroom from back there. She also has all these strange mannerisms that definitely make her seem crazy, but a lot of people like her just cause its so entertaining. While the whole musical chairs thing was going on she had other people draw their problems inside a box on the board along with themselves inside that box. She said that if the problem was bigger than you that it meant that you felt kind of helpless or stressed about it. If the problem was in the middle than it was very urgent and needed to be fixed. One kid, however had no idea what to draw so he looked at the wall saw a clock and a drew a huge clock in the middle of his box prior to knowing all the psyche stuff. Then he was about go sit down when she reminded him that he had to draw himself too so he quickly ran back and drew the smallest quickest figure he possibly could. Yada yada yada, he's now the kid with 'issues,' which was absolutely hysterical to the rest of the class. So that pretty much covers the week so far, but next week is a whole new adventure. tomorrow, after school, I leave for a weekend at Tauplitz which is a mountain resort (a mountain resort in Austria, no way!!!) where I'll be staying with all the rotary kids. It's going to be a blast. Then, directly from Tauplitz on Sunday morning, I take the train to Vienna to meet up with my class which is spending a week there. That, too is going to be amazing...especially since the whole week is only 80 Euros for me. But wait there's more! On Wednesday night I'm meeting some of my friends in Vienna who aren't part of my class and were going to a Police concert. I feel completely spoiled right now, but I don't know if I will do anything for a long time in my life that tops a Police concert. But that's it. I'm done. I gotta go pack for the stuff I'm doing and take a shower because of soccer practice. Hopefully that's enough for everyone to chew on for the next week or so because I'm 99% sure I won't have a computer during all this. So Pfirt di aufwiedersehen tschüss tschau servus Liebe Grusse cya later!
Peace be with you,
Yoostin

Hey everyone,

Ca va? is what everything asks as like how's it goin? I always answer ca va tres bien, which means basically its going very well, because I'm always so happy. Well except for the first few days of school...

Ok so starting school here was probably one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do. It was more dificult than leaving the states. Now everything is great, but before I'd say otherwise... I was all alone because everyone else had friends, and I didn't. I can't understand a word that comes out of the professor's mouth. Even when I took English they made me speak french instead, and it was much harder because the teacher would explain the instructions in their own language, so they knew what to do when they had to write in a different language, but she wouldnt explain the instructions in english for me. Before she knew there was an American in the classroom, she made a comment about Americans obnoxiously chewing gum all the time, and we don't want to be like them because they're so gross, so you can't chew gum. I understood. Needless to say I was a little offended. When I tried doing the homework for a class called SES I was in tears. Not only did I spend hours translating the text I need a dictionary for the words in english and still can't understand what they are trying to ask. My host parents didn't even know how to do it! Haha It was really a quite terrible start. But... everything in good time.

By the end of the week I was feeling rather chippur. haha. After working my way up the social hierarchy in one week's time, I found several good friends. Some of the popular french boys were even anxious to talk to me! haha. My friends help me take notes because mostly all of the notes are oral. They help me understand directions and get the homework. They show me where to go and help me explain my difficulties to the teachers. The people are very friendly and nice. I talked to my teacher of SES, and he said all I have to do is try the homework, and it's OK if I can't finish because he understands.

On Friday, since I can't speak French, I didn't understand when the teachers said that classes finish at noon this week. I had no idea what to do because everyone else knew all week, and I hadn't yet learned where to take the public bus home. My host mother wasn't supposed to pick me up for another 4 and a half hours! However, it turned out to be the best day ever. I went out to lunch in Valenciennes with my friend Marion and a friend of hers. I ate my first french baguette! Then we went shopping at the mall. We were on the way to take the bus home because she was going to show me where we get on and off because she lives right near me and takes the bus also. I ran into another girl from my class named Julie. She invited me to go to a bar with her and some guys from our class. I went, but I didn't drink or smoke anything because it's against Rotary rules (aka I had no money with me) haha that one's for John Brady and my parents. Really though I almost always refuse alcohol even when my host parents offer it to me. It was a good learning experience though seeing how you can just walk right in. After I went with Julie to a haircut, then we bought some school supplies and after I met my host mother right on time. It turned out really great. I feel good about school now.

I'm really glad it was hard because now that it's better I really feel as if I've worked through a challenge. It's what I came here to do. I feel so accomplished. My french is much better after this week too.

Besides school, I've told some of you how a friend of my Victor asked me out on a date several times, and I was going to go and everything, but I found out he has a girlfriend! I'm absolutely positive he was asking me out as a date because he was all I like you so much blah blah blah. My friend Martin is Victor's best friend, and he said that Victor is a jerk to girls. All the adults and everyone was like that's a french boy for you right there. So anyways yeah a little bit of french culture for you right there!

I spent part of Saturday with my second host family, and now I feel better about living at their house. Before I really really didn't want to go there, but I feel much better now that I know them a little better. I live in a bigger town than where I am now and have my own room and bathroom on the third story. They have a really big house, which is nicely decorated. Since they're obese they have diet foods, which for some reason I really like to eat, so that makes me feel better about not gaining weight when I'm with them. Last night my host family had a huge party for someone's wedding. There was a 5 course meal, and everything was so good. It was such a fun time. I just love their family. Mostly everyone speaks English too. 4 of them are from England. 2 went on an exchange to the US. 4 learned English fluently in school. Its really neat being around all of them. I speak to them in french though.

Anyway this was a very long week but a good one in ways different from my previous emails. I'm really getting a lot out of this exchange already. Hope everyone in PA is enjoying themselves as much as me!

As always

Love

Mer

9/9 from Meredyth in France

9/9 from Jocelyn in Peru

Hola everyone! My first month has been pretty hectic. I`m definately getting used to Peru. I`m not really homesick at all anymore. It helps that I have made some friends at school. My host mom has been in Lima for about 2 weeks because she took Belle (my host sister) to the airport so she could fly to Vermont for exchange. She is apparently doing pretty well and enjoying high school. Since my host dad and brother are really busy and not home much I was to go live with my aunt while my host mom was gone (orignally for a week) but a friend from school, Patty, asked me to go live with her. I`ve been really lucky because Patty basically just stepped up and made the effort to be my friend...I was a little worried at first about making friends with people who`ve been friends for so long already especially when I barely can understand them. But Patty has been a big help and they include me in activities, parties and get togethers and what not. So, though it`s still hard at times, I`ve been busy and having fun. Living at Patty`s was a really good experience because her family is very different from mine here. My family is pretty well off and Patty is a bit more typical. She doesn`t have a maid and lives in a small house in town...it has 4 floors but most of the rooms they rent out to people as apartments. They also didn`t have hot water for showering...not my favorite, haha. But it was really cool to stay there because with Patty I could walk around town and go do lots of things with her. She and another friend, Dina, took me to a touristy town where I bought some souveniors and saw a museum of an old civilization. Also, I got to walk to school with Patty and (Jaimie will be happy to know this) I saw a donkey in the street! Every morning there is a donkey delivering something...milk maybe? I`m not sure...My host mom is STILL in Lima (until Wed.) and I didn`t want to impose on Patty`s family anymore so I decided to come live with Aunt who I was originally supposed to stay with. Plus I have a cold right now and figured I`d be more comfortable with family. I love how the family is here...cousins are all very close and do a lot of things together..I`m always welcome to go over whenever I want. I like to do that because there is really no one for me at my house because my host brother is 23. Mitch, the other American exchange student, lives with one of my aunts and they have a lot of kids so it`s fun for me to go hang out with them.My birthday is on Thursday! I really want a small party, but since my host mom hasn`t been home we haven`t been able to plan anything...However, Mitch told me that his host mom(my aunt) has ordered me a cake, so that makes me happy. And I`m sure we will manage a small party sometime...all my friends are expecting one haha. Parties here always include lots of dancing and lots of beer. That sounds bad, but no one really gets super drunk...they even drink beer at like any kind of get together. They get a few bottles and one glass and just pass it around. I haven`t taken part too much mostly because I don`t like beer, but I get the feeling sometimes I`m being rude, so I might try a little bit next time.I haven`t gotten the chance to upload my pictures yet, but when I do I`ll put them on photo bucket or something for everyone to see. Peru is very pretty and very different. I feel like I`ve written a lot but not said too much about what I`ve been up to! Mostly just school and some parties...I will write again in a few more weeks! I have a party to get ready for now! Hope everyone is doing well! Chau, kisses, Jocelyn.

9/6 from Hannah in France

I trust and hope all is well with you. I am writing to let you know that all is well in Reims. I started school two days ago and am a little frustrated because, although this year doesn't matter for me, I hate that I don't know everything that's going on. I am sure,however, that in due time I will figure it out and I have met many people who are nice enough to help me. My family here is so nice. For some reason I will be staying with them for the enture year but I am happy because they are such a kind family. I have updated my blog ( hannahtukeinfrance.blog.com). Talk to you soon.

Hannah Tuke

9/5 From Lily in Finland

Hello Everyone!

I have arrived safely to Finland and have been here for about a month. At first things were really busy with going to language camp and settling into my new home.

For a week I stayed in a small town called Karkku at a Christian boarding school. That school was on a lake (sure it's Finland!) and everyday we went swimming and rowing in a boat. I have met many people from all over the world and its really cool because we all understand what each other is going through even though we cant speak the same language. Camp really helped me calm down and break Finnish down a bit easier for me, now I'm not so afraid of it anymore! Camp Karkku introduced me to the art of the Finnish sauna! After swimming in the lake we run into the 80 Celsius saunas which can hold almost 15 people at one time. It is the more relaxing feeling in the world and you feel exceptionally clean! Sometimes they will collect young birch twigs and tie them together to hit themselves over the back with. Apparently, the twigs give off a small fragrance. If you can imagine how a bunch of teenage Americans reacted to that, we got a bit carried away with hi tting people with the branches.

I also learned about saw playing? A man from a small town in Finland came to our camp and played us songs on wood saws. It has a very peculiar sounds, reminds me of the music they play in alien movies.

When it finally came time for our families to pick us up and I found mine, they did not recognize me! I think they were a bit uncomfortable when I bounded up to them and gave them hugs. My host mother Annika, is a primary school teacher for ages 7 to 12. My father veikko was a air pilot in the air force, but now he has just completed school in Helsinki in medical sciences. My sister Tiia is my age and we get along just great. She is alot of fun and has been a great help to me.

We live on one of the oldest streets in Jyvaskyla where all the houses have a special architectural code and have to look the same. My house is lovely and decorated in tile everywhere! It is very common for every Finnish home to have its own shower room with a sauna attached. I have simply fallen in love with the Sauna and you can find me in it almost every night. Something interesting about me house is that instead of having a vacume cleaner, you attache a hose to the wall and it starts sucking up the dirt into the wall into a pit somewhere.

The Finnish love to drink coffee and tea several times a day. I don't believe i have ever had so much green tea, perhaps i will be addicted to it by the time i come home. For meals, we usually have bread, potatoes, rice, salad, or some kind of rice/potatoes pastry. For the first time last night, I had a blood sausage. I have never had one and I was slightly frightened with my host father fed it to me, but it wasn't as bad as i had anticipated. Other than being known for their alcohol, the Fins are famous for a kind of candy called Salmaikki. It is like licorice and it is only made here in Finland.

I am having the time of my life here! Every weekend we are going somewhere on the back of a friends moped or motorcycle. Some nights we have gone to concerts or others to the lake to hang out with friends from school. School is different here and I prefer it much more to the American system.

There are six periods in which you change your classes. You might or might not have morning classes, so you can sleep ;) We also have 20 minute breaks in between class. After school, we usually walk into center city for a coffee/tea or to meet up with people from other schools.

The Finnish people are very shy, but I am trying very hard to get through to them. I have had many tell me that they were afraid to talk to me, because they were insecure about their English.

In Febuary, all the schools gather together for this huge formal dance. The girls dress in fancy ballroom dresses and the boys in long tail tuxes. This is unlike American dances where you come up with your own dance moves! In fact, you take dance classes months before to learn traditional Finnish waltzes. The other schools learn the same and then we all dance together. In addition, each school makes up their own dance. This is a once in a lifetime chance for every Fin and so I am glad that I already have a date to participate in such an event.

A traditional activity here is to go berry and mushroom picking. You are allowed to pick as much as you would like on public property. So we went out the the wood and picked blueberries and lingenberries. We made them into a sauce to put on our ice cream and oatmeal.

The Finnish people love to travel, especially during the mid-winter when the weather is unbarable. I might spend my Christmas vacation in Spain!!! my family goes there every year, so I have the possibility of going!

I have run into some unlucky situations. The other week my bike was stolen from school. HOWEVER . . . when I was walking in the city I found some boys walking away with it and I screamed after them and got it back!

Finnish is a very hard language, but i believe i am catching on very quickly. I'm like a child just learning to speak . . . i repeat phrases I have memorized. Surely, all the students have taught me bad words and sayings in Finnish. So maybe i haven't learned all useful things. I am determined to learn the language, many have told me that I can get by with English. You probably could, but you will be left out when conversations are in Finnish. This Monday I start Finnish lessons, so hopefully they will help.

In school, I take an art class and art has never been so insulted. I don't think i will take it again, because i can accomplish alot more along. Perhaps i will take a music class and learn how to play the synths!!

Believe it or not, i might even take an African dancing class with my host sister!

alright, I'm gonna go in the sauna now!! I don't have everyone's email, so if you think anyone would be interested, please forward this mass letter to them.

sincerely,

Lily

9/4 from Ch ristine in Germany

Hello Everyone!

I have been in Germany for almost 5 weeks now!
    School is doing ok. I do not have to take Math anymore which was a huge blessing. Everyone is preparing for big class tests before break. The tests are like a midterm. They tak tests before every break. I have a 2 week vacation in the middle of September.
    Our Rotary District (with my exchange program) offers two tours to the exchange students. One through Germany and one through Europe. I am planning as of now on doing both! The first tour though Germany is during the Fall Break in a couple of weeks!
    I spent last weekend in the small town of Heek with the City Music School's orchestra. It was a practice weekend at this music retreat center. I had a very nice time and met some intresting people!
    My 18th Birthday is in two days and I am very excited.The 18th birthday is very special in Germany! On my brithday I have orchestra rehearsal but afterwards my host family and I are going out to dinner at a Chinese Restraunt. I am allowed to do yomethign with my firends on the weekend but I have a Rotary exchange student weekend. iI am excited though because I had so much fun with the exchange weekends in America. I may do something with freinds the following weekend.
    My German is doing pretty well. I need to watch how much English I speak in a day. In class when I have no idea what is going on, I just start writing random stuff in German (like what I think about the weather and what I am doing today after school). i have a freind correct it for me. I actually really enjoy doing that becasue I feel like I use my time better.
    Speaking of the weather... it sucks! It is really cold. The whole month has been cold! It is crazy though half the sky will be blue and sunny and then it will be raining under one big dark cloud. Today I was in the city during some free time and all of a sudden it started raining and the wind was blowign really really hard.. not digging it. THe leaves are starting to change colors and fall bit by bit.
    The main reason I worte this email today was because I have finally set up and got a picture site going.
   www.photobucket.com
Type in the search bar: ChristineGermany   (without a space inbetween)
It will say No results foudn but look at ChristineGermany's site. Click on that and you will see all sorts of sub albums. Let me know if you have any problems.

Smile and make the most out of today!
Christine

9/2 from Meredyth in France

Hey everyone!

Just want you all to know I'm pretty much having the best time of my life here! France was seriously made for me, not joking. Reasons why...

-lots of activity

-lots of parties

-never too hot in this region

-black and white is very popular

-acceptable to wear your clothes to bed!

-supermarkets!

-beaucoup de fromage (a lot of cheese)

-relaxed

-never rushed

-people are all lively and animated

-always good biking weather

-very clean

-most people do serious recycling

-even the streets are pretty

-im not allergic to the cat in my house

-the french people love their cats

-seems like everyone's got a trampoline

-loads of young people

-people are very friendly

-old houses with lots of plants

-and loads more

i miss everyone and wish everyone was here with me. i wish all my family and friends would move here! my family is just the greatest. after only a week and a half its been i can really seem to have my personality shine through and partake in conversation. everyone i've met loves that im american. they make jokes about my accent but all in good fun. the rotary meetings here and taken to a new level. every thursday of the summer they have a big party called an imperatif with singing and dancing and loads of food. my friends told me its normal for them to be drunk. very true. i made a speech at the last one in french, very short though. everyone laughed at my heavy accent but it was funny anyway, i finished with vive la france!

after the rotary meeting i went to a party with my friends. yes, my first party already! it was super fun. i think maybe it was what's considered an open house here but my parents were totally ok with it, and i behaved myself. i slept over at someone's house after.

i seem to have a real good time getting along with everyone. a smile at the right times goes a long way even tho i cant have full out conversations with anyone. ive learned to pick up on body language very easily.

oh my gosh, many of you know how i adore grocery shopping for some strange reason. well here, it is like you've never seen. twice the size of any grocery store i've ever seen. they have in the same complex clothes and other small stores. its kind of like a target or walmart just outside the food section of the grocery store. and they also have different types of shops like a patisserie, epicerie, boulangerie, boucherie... well those are the french names but they have bread shops, 2 different kinds of meet shops, a store with all frozen food, fish markets, vegetable and fruit stores and bakeries.

i've discovered that i love fish. i've really only eaten tuna from a can at home but man do i love the fish here. its so healthy too! except my family cooks everything in a kilo of butter. also my new favorite fruit is a prune. the fruit seems to me 5x better here. oh and im going to make thanksgiving dinner for my host family when that time rolls around.

ive slept over numerous people's houses by now. for the first time in probably my whole life i stop feeling too nervous to ask people for something or feeling so much like a guest in everyone's home by my own. i feel less like a burden or something, idk how to explain it. im learning to be more comfortable with myself.

i went to the belgian beach which was very cool but slighty disappointing as to the fact that it was too cold to actually go on the beach. but cool bc we went biking into the netherlands from there. i also this past weekend went camping with my host family, my 2nd host family, and some relatives of my first host family. it was really fun; we went kayaking.

my 2 little brothers are some of the cutest boys you've ever seen and so nice and well-behaved. i have yet to see them fight. last week we went to go picking blackberries and then we made our own jam. i think they like me.

i like doing the 2 kisses on the cheek but i do miss hugging people. thats ok tho. everyone is always interested to learn about the US so i always have something to talk about. its really so wonderful i love it.

there are a lot of ups and downs with my mood bc sometimes i get homesick, and sometimes im in the best mood ever. usually im never homesick for long and its usually when i have to spend a good deal of time without talking to anyone, for example in long car rides when people are sleeping. really other than that its just so great.

i start school this tuesday and im extremely nervous but everyone's confident by christmas it'll be a piece of pie for me. before that they said ill be drowning but after it will be good. hopefully i pass. itll be a good opportunity to make new friends though.

in northern france they speak with an accent called shti. its like kind of obnoxious and a really heavy accent compared to the other parts of the country. its hilarious. does everyone know how the french people speak yes which is oui pronounced wee? well everyone actually pronounces it like way or whey. its like saying yeah or yahh instead of saying yes all the time. i feel so cool when i say it like that haha.

attached are a few random pics! there are some of my host brothers and some of friends. enjoy!

love

mer

Pictures can be seen in photo Gallery