Outbound 2013-2014 Winter - Youth Exchange Rotary 5060

Transcription

ROTARY
INTERNATIONAL
Service Above Self – He Profits Most Who Serves Best
ROTEX
Round-up
2013 – 2014
OUTBOUND
Students
Second Edition - 2014
Rotary District – 5060
ROTEX - Roundup
OUTBOUND Students
2013 - 2014
Where are they now …..
Claire Stanhope ‐ CdnN
Narain Spolia ‐ CdnN
Jake Wallach – CdnN
Prescott Wick ‐ CdnS Caroline Hoesing ‐ CdnN Jackie Wagner ‐ USA Rachel Janzen ‐ CdnN Claire Ferguson – CdnN
Nicole Johnston ‐ CdnS
Brett Cosco ‐ CdnN Hana Ouchi ‐ CdnS Katie Bieber ‐ CdnN Michaella Haidenger ‐ CdnS
Steven Vas ‐ CdnN
Taiwan
Austin Kent ‐ USA Kelty Slaney ‐ CdnS Ali Everhart – USA Laura Chapman ‐ CdnS Madeline Winters – USA
Selena Skalisky ‐ USA Quinn Campbell ‐ CdnS
Katie Kottkamp ‐ USA
Amaya Black ‐ CdnS Natalie Johnston ‐ CdnS Greta Schock – USA
Hailey Bech – CdnN Adri Rios – USA Karin Keller ‐ CdnS Kate Sullivan ‐ CdnN Grace Whitmer ‐ USA Argentina D_ _ _ _
Grace Whitmer
Yakima, WA USA
Submitted: 03 – February 2014
5 Months in Argentina
Loving two places is NOT easy
Happy February! I'm pretty sure that as of today I have lived in Argentina for 5 months. This is really
hard to believe, I feel like in the beginning I was counting each day and when I reached the 1,2 and 3
month I consciously thought about it. Now, today I barely realized that, "Oh my god I've lived here for
5 months!" Time really does fly... I am so happy, but have recently been flooded with the sad
realization that I have reached the half way point of my trip and only have a little over 5 months left. It
is a really strange feeling when you fall in love with two countries and you realize (I sure am
"realizing" a lot of things) you can never be in both places at once. At first I simply recognized how
lucky I was to be on this trip and to have this amazing experience, but was frequently fantasizing about
seeing my family and best friends. But now...although, I still miss my friends and family and have
grand plans to do things with my sister and go up to Lake Chelan with Jacqueline (etc. etc.), my
stomach is now also clenching with the dread of having to leave certain people and places here in
Argentina. The idea of having to hug my host families, Charline, Juan, Lisandro, and say goodbye
makes me sick, but then I turn around and think that that will only lead to me running into the arms of
my mom, dad, siblings, Jacqueline, Megan (ect.) after a year to say "hello again!", and that brings a
smile to my face. So, can you imagine how confusing it must feel to be an exchange student? Don't get
me wrong, this experience, this life, is AMAZING! I don't regret a single moment, and I remember
quite clearly that before I applied to be a Rotary Youth Exchange student and I was having doubts, I
thought, "If you don't at least try to get in, you'll really regret it." And boy was I right, I'd be kicking
myself right now, if I hadn't of gone for this. I guess I'm trying to say that being an exchange student is
one of the best things that can happen to someone, but with it you must experience a new world of
emotions, good and bad, and know that when you leave you will always be missing someone and
somewhere.
(^First part was taken from blog.)
I suppose I should also talk about what I’ve actually been doing... Well, because it’s summer, not
much, which I actually love! Sometimes I think “What the heck am I doing with my day? Grace go do
something.” But because I have all the time in the world here, I have realized something I never
realized about myself in America…quality alone time is important to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love
hanging out with friends and family, practicing my Spanish and drinking mate, but sometimes I wake
up with no plans for the day and decide…not to make any plans. Then I spend the rest of the day
swimming, biking, reading, running, drawing…well you get the idea. I have discovered I’m more of an
“ambivert” than a complete “extrovert.” Hmm, what else? Let me cut this down in sections.
Food: It’s safe to say I’ve gained at least six pounds. Fortunately, I’m a bit of a nut about running,
but unfortunately that doesn’t really stop the weight from “sneaking” up on me. In the morning,
breakfast isn’t big, but I’m pretty religious about breakfast, so I always have at least a coffee and some
fruit. For lunch you can usually count on milonesas or carne with salad, noodles or rice and for dinner,
sometimes it’s the same thing or we mix it up with some empanadas, pizza or tortas. I really love, that
for almost every meal you eat it is with your family. I remember life just got so busy my senior year of
high school that often I would eat alone while doing homework, so I really appreciate that I get to sit
down with my whole family and eat together. As for dessert…The ice cream is to die for. Can anyone
say “dulce de leche” please?
Family: I am currently with my second host family…and I just love them. I live with my mom,
Veronica, and my sister, Lola (I also have an older sister, Delfina, that lives in Buenos Aires). Having
all girls in the house can be pretty great; for
example (sorry a little personal), I can walk around
in my undies and shirt anytime I want (as long as
we don’t have guests of course) and not have to
worry. I loved my first host family so much, but
my first host mom was very worried about me,
which in turn stressed me out, so having a host
mom (Veronica) that is calmer than calm is really
just a weight off my shoulders. Having sisters is
wonderful too! Although, I don’t spend every day
doing something with Lola, we are always giving
each other hugs, kisses on the cheek and telling
each other “Tequiero!” and she is a wonderful
friend to go out with. Finally, I am in love with the
where-abouts of their house; they live near the country and have a pool…so you can imagine how
perfect that is for summer.
Language: “Che,” “Boludo,” and “Dondeesta el mate?” are all very important words you must know if
you want to survive here. But seriously, my Spanish is getting better, and although yes I do get really
frustrated with myself sometimes, I know I’m trying. I’m reading Harry Potter in Spanish, that’s
something!
Culture: In Argentina we also kiss on the cheek, which by now is a piece of cake, and I actually think
how weird it will be that I’ll have to stop this when I go back to America. People are very relaxed…for
example, because it’s summer my sister will sometimes sleep all day, just because she wants to. I can’t
tell if people here are better drivers or worse, they have the amazing capacity to drive as close they
possibly can with one another without hitting each other, but I also seriously fear for their brakes (they
do not sound good!). I will say I am becoming more “Argentinian” in some ways; the other day I was
riding my bike and one car was in the wrong lane because it was trying to pass another (so two cars
were coming my way). And instead of thinking like an “America” and believing, “I have the right of
way, that man better stop!” I thought, “I better get the hell out of that man’s way if I want to live!” So,
I calmly drifted to the side of the road. Also, staying up late, arriving late and waking up late are all
becoming daily actions in my life. Finally, the boys… Oh goodness gracious, the Argentinian boys
make all American boys seem like a bunch of wimps (or maybe a bunch of gentlemen. Whichever way
you prefer to look at it). Strangers I’ve never met before will sometimes stop me in clubs and ask me
my name or try to grab my hand and occasionally I’ll be “whisked” away to dance with someone I
don’t know, before I go back to my friends. One day I was walking home and a group of men started
clapping and whistling and saying things (that I couldn’t here because of my Ipod). Clapping!?
Whistling!? Are you serious!? I was sweating and my hair was a wet mass of chlorine and MORE
sweat and my face was the infamous red it always is during summer… but those are Argentinians.
When they like something they let you know. I don’t think I’ve actually ever felt threatened and in
some way it’s flattering, but sometimes (like when I run), I’m just tired of it. When I first was warned
of South American boys I thought “How fun! What a confident booster! They REALLY say that?” and
I couldn’t really believe it nor did I think I would be getting any serious attention. But when you’re a
blonde foreigner you’re kind of asking for it… So, yes it is a little tiring, but this is la vida de
Argentina!
To rap this up I just want to say, I really love this exchange
and really can’t wait for these next 5 months, but also don’t
want them to go by too fast.
☺
/ Grace Whitmer
[email protected]
Austria – Multi District D1910-1920
Claire Ferguson
Kamloops, BC Canada
Submitted: 31 – January 2014
6 Months in Austria
I can't believe I'm already writing my second update, I swear I just wrote the first one yesterday…
Life in Austria is good. I'm living with my second host family, and fortunately, due to luck, amazing rotarians,
and an amazing family here in Austria, my final host family. I was suppose to switch host families at the end of
March, but after speaking to some people I get to stay with my family. It's a hard thing to describe, calling
someone else's family your own. Even after two weeks here I knew that I loved them. They tell me they love me
too, and honestly there's no feeling quite like it. Being an exchange student, no matter how hard you try, you are
a bit of an outsider, constantly looking in. But not here, not at this house. There was a time when Rotary said no,
I couldn't switch, and my host mom said to me, "I cannot imagine you being in this country, and not living with
us." So, long story short, she made it so I am allowed to stay. I have no words how happy this makes me.
All other aspects of my life are almost too good to be true. School finishes at the end of April for me, so for the
month of May I will be travelling around Italy, Spain, Monaco, France, Belgium and many other countries.
Then, once I return home from that excursion I will be going to Rome and the Vatican with my host family.
Honestly, everyday I have a moment and think to myself, "Wow, how did this become my life?"
I could say the cliche thing, that being that my favourite part of exchange is travelling, but living alone and
abroad for the last six months has made me realize this isn't the case. My favourite part of my exchange is the
love I feel and the relationships I've made. It's one thing to have amazing friends and family back home, but
here, being a foreigner, a stranger to this land and language, and have people love and care for me, that's the best
part. I love being able to look forward to going to school to see my friends, and to be excited to come home and
see my host family. A couple days ago I had a moment of weakness and broke down. The first person I thought
to call was my best friend here in Austria, so I did. Then I got home and talked to my host mom about it and she
held me while I cried. This made me so happy, knowing that I have people here who love me unconditionally
despite the fact I've just recently entered their lives.
Although everyday may not be perfect, I wouldn't change a thing. A saying I've come up with is,
"I try to make everyday better than the last, thus, everyday becomes the best day of my life."
Hope life back home in Canada is wunderbar (that’s wonderful in German).
Tschüss!=
If you have any questions, comments or anything feel free to write to me on Facebook, or check out my blog at
www.clairefergiee.blogspot.ca
Claire Ferguson
[email protected]
Austria – Multi District D1910-1920
Nicole Johnston
Kelowna, BC Canada
6 Months in Austria
Oh Austria, where do I begin?
I would like to start this update off with a bit of an odd note- please forgive my English! I very, very
rarely speak English here and I am even thinking in German most of the time now so my writing is
often a little strange. Please forgive me!
Austria in the winter is a fairy tale. To start with, winter means something pretty incredible here: ball
season. I went to my first ball at the beginning of December and although there were no glass slippers
or carriages made of pumpkins, it was a magical evening. Most of the balls are held by the graduating
class of each school and combine a mix of new and old culture through dancing, music, talking, and a
lot more dancing. So far I have been to four school balls: each one an incredible opportunity to meet
new friends and connect with old ones. They are all held in one of the large even halls in Innsbruck
and the entire place is decorated very elegantly. There is always a lot to do, see and enjoy. The only
real disadvantage is having to stand in heels the entire night, but that seems a small sacrifice to pay.
The start of winter also meant the start of the Advent season! The advent season is the season leading
up to Christmas and for me it started with making wreaths from branches and other tree garnishes that
were then brought to the Church to be blessed with Holy water during the mass. On the 6th of
December, we get a special visit here from Nikolaus (St. Nick). He brings chocolate in the morning,
which I was a pretty big fan of because the only adjective that I have to describe European chocolate is
"heavenly." In the evening, there was an event in my village where the "real" Nikolause made an
appearance! The youth music group that I play in played as he handed out chocolate, peanuts and
oranges to the kids.
However, Nikolaus is not the only one to come at the beginning of December. For the kids who did not
behave, the Krampus comes! These are big, animal looking devil figures who hit children with whips
(the threat of coal on my stocking suddenly seems a lot better). We went to a parade of the Kampus
and it was a cultural experience, to say the least. There were about 60 men in HUGE costumes of wool
dyed a deep brown and wood masks with long animal horns. Many of them had chains as they ran
through the street making sounds and scaring the audience. There was also a chariot that the chief sat
on and the whole thing was on fire. To add to that, they all had whips which they would hit audience
members with in the ankles. Lucky me, I got dragged (several times) into the middle of the parade to
be held and hit by these costumed figures. I really hope that nobody reads this as a nightmare situation,
because it was all in good fun and I found the entire night very funny.
Some other events that I went to leading up to Christmas include another "devil/evil spirit" themed
event and the coming of the Christkind (Austrian version of Santa who may or may not be baby Jesusnobody is quite sure)! My favorite part, however, was the Christmas Market. Christmas Markets are
why I love Austria. Every village has one and they are basically a collection of stands outside where
people can buy food, drinks, gifts and other small Advent-related items. However, I love the Christmas
market because they are an incredibly social event. People from all walks of life come together and
socialize. Everyone is happy and the sense of community is so strong, it's almost visible in the air.
Everyone is buzzing with excitement and happy to be with each other.
Christmas day was also great. I spent the day with my host father going to museums and learning about
Tirolean culture. After that, I headed to the church for a quick rehearsal before I played in the mass
with my music group. After the mass, we all headed home and prepared dinner. My host grandparents
came and we all visited while getting everything ready. Finally, we were told to all go into my sister's
room. I did as I was told, although I wasn't sure why. Once we came out, the Christkind had already
come, lit the candles on the tree and turned on the Christmas music! My host dad then came running
into the room claiming that he "didn't know he was late." We all laughed and got to opening gifts. My
host family is amazing. Truly. I did not expect gifts from them, but the thought and care that they put
into everything brought me to tears. It was really beautiful. We then ate dinner and headed out to mass
#2 of the day where I was singing in the choir.
A few days later came the New Year which I brought in with all of my amazing exchange student
friends in Vienna. New Year’s in Vienna- sometimes I don't think my life is real. After an incredible
few days there, I came home to resume my normal life. My life here seems to now consist of balls and
skiing. That may come as a shock, because I had never skied before coming here, but it's such a big
part of the culture here that I was eager to learn. After a ski course and a few somewhat shameful days
on the mountain, I am really starting to enjoy the sport!
School is going really well. I understand everything in the vast majority of my classes and am starting
to become a bit more of a normal student. My German is really coming along well and I surprise
people every day with the progress that I have made. I think my exchange has stopped being an
exchange and become my life. I am so happy and grateful with everything here. This year has been the
best and most difficult year of my life. I can't say that it has all been perfect, because that wouldn't be
fair. It wouldn't be fair to ignore the hard work that I have put in and that every single person in my
support system has put in to bring me to the place that I am now. It may not be perfect, but I am so
happy. Every bump along the way has been a lesson learned. I am not the same girl in the bright red
blazer who stumbled crying through the security gates of the Kelowna International Airport in August.
I have taken her passion, and I have let it grow and turn me into somebody stronger, smarter, and with
a more worldly view. But I have not done that alone. Rotary has allowed me to do all of this and
bcome who I am. For that, I want to say thank you. There is no way to tell you the way this has shaped
me, but I hope that I can show you all with my actions and passion.
What I have learned above all this year is what it means to be happy. It doesn't mean that life is perfect;
it just means that you are enjoying the things that you can. So smile a little brighter, laugh a little
louder and enjoy today.
Check out my blog or send me an email for more information!
http://www.youtube.com/user/nicoleonexchange?feature=watch
Nicole Johnston
[email protected]
Belgium - D1620, 1630, 2170
Rachel Janzen
Merritt, BC Canada
Submitted: 03 February 2014
5+ Months in Belgium
Rotary Exchange Report # 2
Well, I just passed my halfway mark! It's insane to think of how fast my exchange is going, and I have
a feeling that these last few months are going to go flying by.
In January I changed to my second host family, and wow, is it ever a big difference. I was so scared to
change host families, as it was as if i was starting all over again, but boy do I ever feel so welcomed in
my new home in a way I never did in my first family. I guess you could say that we “click.” Being
with this new family really makes me think of how I am going to welcome people into my own home
when I'm older, and how I'm going to treat them. From this I've learned how having a good host family
makes an enormous difference to your exchange in the best way. I feel more comfortable to be myself.
Actually, I just got back from a trip to Amsterdam with my host family and it was a blast! It's crazy
how different the atmosphere was there, and we only drove a couple hours away. Quite different from
Canada eh?! My host family took me on a boat ride through all the canals, and when it got dark all the
bridges lit up and it was so beautiful. One of the days we walked all over the city visiting different
museums, and we even took a tour of the Anne Frank house.
School has gotten harder since the first semester. I have continued taking Dutch classes cause I want to
make sure I have good structure of the language before I leave, and these classes I'm taking after
school two days a week. This means that twice a week I have thirteen hours of school for two days,
and I can barley get myself out of bed the next mornings. Besides the long hours, it's as if my
classmates aren't as interested in me anymore. They don't come up and ask how I'm doing etc. and
before the Christmas break I thought that I was gaining some strong relationships. Also, they get
frustrated really fast if I don't understand something or I say something incorrect in Dutch. But I
suppose all this hard stuff is apart of the experience right!? Right now I'm just focusing on all the good
things I have here, and all the amazing opportunities I'm about to have. Stress can really have a toll on
you, especially as an exchange student, and sometimes you have to pick your battles, and realize what
is worth stressing/worrying about.
Only fiveish more months to go!! Gonna make them the best and savour every minute of it!
Rachel Janzen
District 5060
Canada-Belgium Groetjes!
Rachel Janzen
[email protected]
Home Club: Merritt Rotary Club & Merritt Sunrise
Host Country/Club: Belgium, Brugge t' Vrije
Belgium - D1620, 1630, 2170
Jackie Wagner
Yakima, WA USA
6 Months in Belgium
Second Rotary Report
Time is flying by! I can’t believe that it is already February!
My last two months have been filled with activities! I am becoming better friends with the
people at my school and we have been going out together more! Some of my friends even want to start
a cheerleading group that I will lead and we will perform during Abiball (prom) as a sort of flash mob,
which would be really cool!
As for the two languages I’m learning… they are improving. My French is constantly getting
better; I’m learning the grammar and conjugations and picking up new vocabulary every day. My
German on the other hand isn’t very good, but it is
improving. I’m understanding more of what people say and
am able to have basic conversations; since my school never
put me in a beginners German course and my first host
family spoke French I feel like I’m doing pretty well.
Speaking of host families, I changed to my second
host family at the beginning of January and they are very
nice! However, I can never tell when the Dad is being
sarcastic.. haha. They have been really nice to me and we
are still adjusting to each other; they have two younger girls
so having someone my age is different for them, but we are
doing well! And the parents and grandma (who lives a
couple houses down and I eat at Tuesdays and Thursdays
when the parents are at work) are amazing cooks; thank
goodness (I’ve had food by bad cooks here and it is hard to
swallow it down with a smile on your face). Today I had
Mousse de Spéculos for the first time and it is my new
Trip to Bruge, Belgium on a rotary activity
favourite thing!
In December I spent most of my days with family
members and probably gained 5 pounds within one week from all
the amazing, incredible, delicious food and dessert we were
eating for Christmas! The last week of the month I went to Paris
with my (first) host family and OH MY GOSH! It was incredible,
I started to tear up when I first set eyes on the illuminated Eiffel
Tower! I got to see the Musée de Louvre, Champs d’Elysées,
Sacre Cœur, Arc de Triumph and more! It was absolutely
stunning walking through the streets of Paris!
This month there was three of four of my family
member’s birthdays and each one came with friends and family
coming to our house for 6 hour long suppers. I never knew dinner
parties could take so long until I came here, but it gives everyone
a chance to talk and connect which is nice!
Yesterday I went to Germany with some Belgian friends
and I watched my first movie in the Cinema in Europe. It was
“The Wolf of Wall Street” and in German. The popcorn is sweet
not salty and they don’t put ice in your drinks and your seats are
assigned; completely different and interesting!
Overall, I am having an amazing time here. My English is Paris, France with my first host parents
getting worse while my other languages improve! I want for time to slow down a bit so I can enjoy the
amazing adventures and moments this place offers me! Thank you so much for helping me get here
and have the experience of a life time. Everyone on exchange has always told me that this is a life
within a year and I didn’t really understand that until now. Exchange is one year where you can be
someone else, create memories that will never be repeated, meet new friends, learn a new culture, have
a different family, and become Belgian, or Taiwanese, Russian, or Portuguese. This is an entire
different life all tied into 8 months, 8 months of being
Jacqueline MOCKEL an adventurous, traveling, book
reading, French speaking, Raeren living, bus riding,
chocolate eating, teenage Belgian girl.
Merci beaucoup, Dankeschön, Thank you
Jacqueline Wagner
[email protected]
Maastricht, Netherlands for a day of hot cocoa and
shopping with friends
Bolivia – D4690
Kate Sullivan
Kamloops, BC Canada
6 Months in Bolivia
Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe that it is already February and once again so much has happened
since my last update. We celebrated the New Year as a family just a little bit outside of Santa Cruz.
There was tons of food and fun. We also went to a fancy restaurant where they cooked everything right
in front of us! The meal was amazing and my favourite dish was the alligator.
My summer break (November – February 2nd) was relaxing, hot and easygoing. The best part was the
Rotary trip to see Bolivia. We left on January 20th and were gone for 12 days. The six exchangers from
my club: Richard, Quiten, Bastien, Alizee (All from France), Mille (from Denmark), me and two
exchangers from Sucre: Kristi and Adrianna (both of the USA) went on the trip.
Our first flight was to Sucre which is the historical capital of Bolivia. It is most famous for its white
colonial buildings. This city has not changed in over one hundred years. We went to Jurassic Park a
dinosaur museum, one of the largest in the world. It was so cool to see all the life sized exhibits. It
made me very glad that we don't live with dinosaurs around us today. We went to House of Liberty
which had lost of stained glass and gold. The cemetery in Sucre was huge and had tons of large tombs
and crypts. This is considered to be one of the largest cemeteries in all of South America. Fun fact, one
of the other exchangers on the trip with us, Mille, and also one of my very good friends now… has a
place in the cemetery for her family. It was crazy to see her family name written on one of the doors. It
was an awesome first day.
Then we took a bus to Potosi one of the highest cities in the world. It is a very famous mining city. The
Cerro Rico Mountain is in Potosi and over half of the all the silver in Europe came from Mount Cerro
Rico. When they started mining here over one hundred years ago they say the veins of silver running in
it were bigger than the mining tunnels. We toured the active mine, chewed on coca leaves and brought
gifts for the miners inside the mine. The miners work long hours with no breaks so it is tradition for
tourists to bring items to them while on tour. It was cold, muddy and wet but as we got further in it
became harder to breath and much dustier. Almost everyone in Potosi works in the mines. There are
little shops on the streets that sell nitrogen, dynamite, fuses, coca and all mining equipment. This is
where visitors can buy gifts to bring the miners. The miners also believe in a god, Tio, who will protect
them. They have statues in the mine that they present with gifts especially after an accident which they
believe will prevent future accidents. It was all very interesting. I really enjoyed the whole mining
experience.
After the mine we went to the Convent of Santa Teresa and learned about convent life. We also went to
the Mint House and saw how coins were made from the 1600 – 1950s. Again, it was all extremely
interesting. No money is produced in Bolivia now. Currently all of Bolivian currency is made in
France and Canada. Visiting the mines and being able to go inside was for sure my favourite part of
this trip. It was something I had never been able to do before and probably won't again, but it was
amazing.
Near Potosi we went to Uyuni which is a town known for its Salt Flats, the Salar de Uyuni. This is the
biggest salt flat in the world. It was unbelievable to watch the sun set while standing in the middle of
the flats. When we were there the weather was perfectly clear and there
was water on the flats so it made it seem like a mirror. The salty water
reflected the sky and made for some amazing photos. We stayed out
on the flats for 8 and a half hours the first day just to watch the sunset.
And let me tell you, time flies while you're out on the flats. Also,
before we left we made a quick stop and got to go into a big field with
llamas! It was super cool. We were walking … well more like running
with them.
So many great memories …
Then we flew to La Paz possibly my favourite city in Bolivia. It is the
highest capital city in the world. It is very large and located in the
Andes. Luckily we had our altitude pills. La Paz is a clean and wellkept city. The shopping was fun because there were so many markets
and the streets were full of people selling traditional alpaca clothing,
leather, silver and amazing handmade items. We also went to Calle de pas Brujas, the Street of
Witches where they sell idols, incense, and things to bring luck, love, and fertility. It was very different
and I saw some really unique and also a few disturbing things. In the plaza there were hundreds of
pigeons. We bought bird seed and had fun seeing how many birds would land on us. Another cool
thing we did in La Paz was visit Valle de la Luna, the Valley of the Moon. In the valley are massive
rock formations that make you feel like you are on the moon. The rocks are made of loose sediment so
they are constantly changing with the wind, water and time.
Next we bused to Lake Titicaca. This lake is the highest navigable lake in the world. Half of the lake is
owned by Bolivia and half is owned by Peru. We swam in the lake well not really swam more like
stood up to our knees … it was freezing but I love that I can say I was in the highest lake in the world.
We took a ferry to the Island of the Sun and it was gorgeous. This island was part of the Incan Empire
and descendants of the Incas still live there. The land is all rolling hills with farm land. Being that we
were so high in the Andes it was like the clouds almost touched the water. We spent the night on the
Isla del Sol. It was absolutely beautiful.
Then we were off to Cochabamba. Cochabamba is known for always having great weather. It is like
spring year round here. We went to see Cristo also known as
Christ the Statue. There are statues of Christ all over, the most
famous one is in Rio de JaneriroBrazil but I learned that the
Cristo in Cochabamba is the largest Christ statue in the world.
Cochabamba was another beautiful area. We were able to meet
up with another exchanger who wasn't on our trip who lives in
Cochabamba, Marin (From France). It was nice to have him with
us. We also got to see the house of the richest man in Bolivia. It
was amazing! But dinner had to be my favourite part of the day.
Everyone got to pick from different food stands and I got a taco
and it was the best taco I have ever eaten! Yeah,
Cochabamba was pretty cool. I wish we could have stayed for
longer.
Finally we went to Tarija which is considered Bolivia’s wine
country. We went to a vineyard that makes wine the traditional
way … stomping grapes with their feet. This winery was over
400 years old. Bolivian wine is grown at the highest altitude in the world and is most famous for
making sweet wine. We went wine tasting which was a neat experience but I really didn’t like the
taste. That afternoon we were able to relax and enjoy the area. We went swimming in freezing cold
water! It was a gorgeous area. Some of the kids went cliff diving … NOT me … and they loved it! I
saw the most amazing, beautiful and unique things on this trip. Best of all I was with 7 wonderful
exchangers. It was a trip of a lifetime during a trip of a lifetime. I will never forget it.
We got back on Sunday the 2nd of February and summer break was over. February 3rd was the first day
back at school. I am now in the Promo (graduating) class. It is nice to go back to school already
knowing the other kids. The first thing I noticed was how much my Spanish had improved. I could
understand almost everything that was being said and many of my friends commented on how much
better I was speaking. I know I still have a long way to go but it is nice to be out of the constant
confusion state. During the summer I spoke with my host family about spending some time helping in
the elementary classes when I went back to school. They supported my idea and told me to approach
the Director of the school. This is not something the school or my Rotary club has done in the past but
I presented my case to two of the teachers speaking totally in Spanish and I am really excited that this
term I am going to be a teacher’s assistant in a grade three class. My first day was Friday and it was the
best school day I’ve had since being here. The kids were so much fun and I was able to practice so
much more of my Spanish. I have the best of both worlds because being at a K-12 school all the breaks
are at the same time so I can still connect with my friends during the social times of lunch and class
breaks but not have to sit through classes reading text books I didn’t understand. I know that by being
with eight year olds I will have an excellent opportunity to improve my Spanish not only with speaking
but also reading and writing. I will keep you posted on how it goes.
// Chau. Kate (blog: xkatesullivanx.wordpress.com)
Brazil – D_ _ _ _
Hailey Beck
Armstrong, BC Canada
6 Months in Brazil
Here I am again, on my laptop, writing my second entry. It has been just about 5 months since I have
arrived here in Brazil and I can honestly say that I am used to calling it my home. Since the last time I
wrote I have been travelling a lot, learning a lot, taking way too many pictures, and making way too
many stories to tell all in one post.
I will start by telling a little bit about my travels. For Christmas I travelled to a city 6 hours away called
Patos de Minas where the rest of my host mom’s side of the family lives. She is one of 8 siblings so
needless to say it was a very full house. Everyone dressed up all beautiful, we ate appetizers, opened
presents at midnight, said prayers, hugged, and ate much more food. Santa came to the house at
midnight to give the kids their presents and candy. It was really such a beautiful night spent with
amazing people. After travelling already 3 times to Patos to visit them, I feel like they have welcomed
me as a part of their family.
The day after I got back from Patos with my family, I had to pack up all my stuff and move to my next
and final family: Sofia’s family! Sofia (my current host sister) did exchange in Canada 2 years ago and
lived with my family. It was really easy to move in because I already feel very comfortable with them.
After moving in, Sofia and I travelled to a city 6 hours more south to a city called Escarpas Do Lago to
spend New Years with her friend’s family. They have a huge summer house on the lake with a pool
and everything; it was paradise! We went to this luxurious party, dressed in all white, danced until the
sun came up, and boated home.
A week later, I packed up even more things and headed out on my 3 week-long vacation all up the
northeast side of Brazil. We went to Lencois, Maceio, Natal, Salvador, Porto Seguro, Rio de Janeiro,
Angra Dos Reis, and other little stops along the way. We stayed in 10 hotels, visited too many beaches
to count but they were the most amazing beaches I have ever seen in my life. All of which were
surrounded by palm trees and tiny bathing suits. I held countless little sea creatures including a blow
fish, a sand crab, sea urchin, etc. We rode buggies through the sand dunes of Natal, I rode a donkey,
tried sand boarding (completely failed), I danced and sang on the stage at a couple different events, we
took boats on 4 separate occasions to get to other beaches or islands. We got to visit the most famous
and largest stadium in Brazil, Maracana, in Rio, took a tour of the biggest favelas in the world, visited
the Christ, and watched the sun set over top of Rio on the Pao de Açucar. To know more about my trip
and to see some photo evidence, you can visit my blog ☺. I’ll just say that that trip was a dream and I
recommend for any future exchange student going to Brazil to try your best to do it as well.
As for my daily life right now: I returned to school but with a different set of people this year. All of
my friends last semester graduated to I got to meet a whole new group. Everyone is super nice and it
seems to be a lot easier this time because I actually understand Portuguese a lot better now. I am at the
point with the language that I basically understand everything and say a lot but still not a full
vocabulary, obviously. I never speak English at school and I never do at home either. I think in
Portuguese a lot of the time and I dream in Portuguese sometimes as well. It is really one of the
strangest feelings thinking in a language that isn’t your own but it is also one of the coolest feelings.
After being here for 5 months there is no longer a culture shock but that is not to say that I am immune
to the beauty. I still find myself walking the streets thinking of how amazing it is that I am here and
how beautiful even the little things are. There are still so many things to see, learn, and experience and
so I am so thankful I still have 6 more wonderful months to look forward to.
Thank you so much for all who supported me through this experience; you are all appreciated so much.
Hailey Beck in Brazil
Email: [email protected]
Blog:
http://haileyinbrasil.blogspot.ca/
Brazil – D_ _ _ _
Karin Keller
Kelowna, BC Canada
Submitted: 20 March 2014
6+ Months in Brazil
Hello Everyone ! I hope everything is great in our wonderful District-5060 !
Here’s a brief update on my adventures.
I recently got home from my 23 day Northeast trip, up around the coast of Brazil. It was magnificent I
spent the days enjoying the beaches and beauty Brazil has to offer and I have to tell you I fell in love
with this gorgeous country. It was wonderful! I also made many great friends with fellow Rotary
International exchange students from all over the world.
I arrived home in Sao Paulo in February and re-started grade 12 here. To be honest, I wasn't liking it, I
wasn't learning and I knew I needed to maximize my opportunities so I asked if I could start
University! It was the best decision! I have just about finished my first week in a Brazilian University
and I love it ! I am in Communications and learning all sorts of different things about Brazil and the
world. My favourite class so far is Photography and Anthropology/Cultural studies. I think the best
thing about going to University here is that it is completely in Portuguese and that makes it quite
challenging. They speak very fast and the Portuguese is so advanced ! I'm managing thanks to finally
being fluent in this crazy language.
I just hit my six months mark so I can't believe I will be home before I know it. My next big adventure
is my upcoming trip to the Amazon in April! I'm going to live on a river boat, hangout with the
original Amazonian natives tribes and swim with pink dolphins and live my dream! I am so excited.
I hope everyone is doing well and I can't wait to go back and see you all!
Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for this amazing opportunity! I’m enjoying the
spring sun as it dips into autumn over here.
Beijos do Brasil,
/ Karin
[email protected]
Brazil – D_ _ _ _
Greta Schock
Wenatchee, WA USA
Submitted: ___________
4 Months in Brazil
No submission
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Brazil – D_ _ _ _
Adri Rios
Yakima, WA USA
Submitted: ___________
4 Months in Brazil
No submission
Ecuador – D4400
Kelty Slaney
Kelowna, BC Canada
6 Months in Ecuador
January has been yet another action packed month. From experiencing firsthand the craziness
surrounding New Years in Ecuador to changing host families. Celebrating my birthday with an
Ecuadorian and exchange student twist or visiting the Amazon, this past month was full of adventure.
Ecuadorian culture is filled with many festivals, holidays and has an ample supply of traditions. And
there is no other holiday with quite as many whacky, over the top traditions as the festivities for New
Year's. It is the pinnacle of all holidays in the Ecuadorian calendar. Internationally New Year’s tends to
be a hold much symbolism and importance but I have never encountered such enthusiasm as I have
witnessed in Ecuador. The excitement is contagious, sometimes overwhelming and over-all
fascinating. Before even arriving in Ecuador I was anticipating the New Year’s celebrations. I have
truly enjoyed learning about the many rituals performed and even more ecstatic that I was able to
participate.
The most iconic tradition of the Año
Nuevo, which I have been toldis exclusive to
Ecuadoris the burning of the año Viejo (old year)
by burning monigotes or muñecas. Monigote is the
name given to any form ofaño Viejo whereas the
term muñeca is used exclusively to those
resembling a human being. They are also
sometimes referred to as simply añoviejos. They
are constructed normally out of wood, cardboard
and newspaper and then painted to resemble a
character, creature or human being. Traditionally,
they were exclusively human forms, created through stuffing old clothes with wood chips and then
adding a paper mache head. Often, añoviejos also contain firecrackers. They are burned to symbolize
the passing of the old year and all the negatives things that occurred. While burning, you are supposed
to reflect on the past year and release any negativity.
While touring the streets, I came across another strange tradition. Viudas; cross dressing men
who dance provocatively in the streets in return for a tip, normally ranging from 25 cents to a dollar.
Unlike the tradition of burning the año Viejo, I was completely unaware of this and it definitely caught
me by surprise. In total I saw about 15 viudas, ranging from simply wearing a dress and asking for
money on a median to viudas fully decked out with makeup, wigs, fake breasts and suggestive dancing
in front of cars causing traffic delays.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever predict that I would have been trekking through the Amazon in
2014. That is indeed the magic of Rotary which provided the opportunity for a wonderful trip to the
“Oriente”. With my fellow exchange students from Portoviejo and neighbouring coastal cities, we
spent four days in the Ecuadorian portion of the Amazon. The accommodations were stunning, only
accessible by a three hour journey by river boat and the food absolutely fresh and delicious.
First hand we were exposed to the remarkable diversity of this unique region. As our canoes
glided silently along the small streams, monkey and tamarins could be seen overhead, skilfully
jumping between branches and vines with the precision of Olympic gymnasts. Eyes glued to the rims
of binoculars, we admired the flurry of colours ordaining parrots and toucans perched in the distance.
We stifled shrieks of fear during our night tours, having encountered way too many furry tarantulas
and other uncomfortably large spiders. With bated breath we were amazed as we gazed at sunrises,
sunsets and what seemed like the endless stars that lit up the night sky. I even took a leap of faith along
with some other brave students and swam in a lagoon frequented by caiman (crocodiles) and piranhas
after being reassured by our guides we would return to the surface in one piece.
My favourite part was our three hour long morning and afternoon hikes into the forest, allowing
us to be completely surrounded by the smells, sights and sounds of this famed ecosystem. On several
occasions these hikes led us to structures that allowed us to get a bird eyes view. Whether it was the
zipline, suspension bridge or watch tower built around a 400 year old tree, they all brought us above
the forest canopy, allowing us to appreciate the incredible height of many of the trees.
It is hard for me to comprehend how much I have experienced in one month alone. That is what
made sending my return date request form so bitter sweet. As I write this I have only five months left
in this beautiful, quirky, unique and diverse country. However, with the deadline creeping that much
closer with each passing day, it motivates me to
fill my weeks with adventure. Maybe not with
anymore tarantulas, but adventure none the less.
If you are interested in more musings and
anecdotes about my life in Ecuador. My blog can
found at
www.keltysecuadoradventure.weebly.com
/ Kelty Slaney
[email protected]
Finland – D1400
Claire Stanhope
Coldstream, BC Canada
6 Months in Finland
I have passed the half-way point, as well as the six-month mark of my amazing exchange to
Finland. Voi helvetti! These past few months have been filled with such amazing experiences!
Christmas in Finland is very different from our North American version of the holiday; in Finland,
joulupukki (“Santa Clause”) actually comes to your house and gives you the presents directly. They
don’t tolerate any of this silly “climb down the chimney” charade, he drives up to your house and
knocks on your door! Most of you are probably assuming that it is the family’s grandfather or an uncle
that dresses as Santa, but if you think about it that is a bad idea for any kids over the age of three. They
know their grandparents and uncles and family members, which would give away who was hiding
behind the white beard and glasses. Because of this, certain
men make quite a handful of cash every year dressing as Santa
and going to random houses. They put adds in the paper as a
“santa for hire”, and can charge anywhere from 50-200 Euros!
Crazy! I asked my host parents, after the kids had ran off with
their toys, who the man was who was our Santa, and they
honestly didn’t know. My host mother said that she would see
him at the supermarket and not know who he was. I found this
extremely fascinating that families let a stranger into their
home to celebrate a family holiday. It’s not weird; it’s just
different, very different.
My first host family, the same family I spent Christmas with,
has 7 children, one of which is currently on a Rotary
Exchange in the United States. My oldest host sister is 18
years old, and my youngest sibling is 6 years old. Having a
six- and eight-year-old in the house for Christmas was really
amazing. I am known as a sort of scrooge in Canada when it
comes to Christmas, but my little host sisters’ excitement was
extremely contagious! It was impossible not to get pumped up
for Santa’s visit.
Santa, myself, and my six host siblings
Helping my little sister put decorations in the
hard-to-reach places
Between Christmas and New Years I moved to
my second host family. My new host family is a
huge change from the first one; they are an older
couple, whose children have grown up and
moved out. Going from the chaos of my first
host family to this peaceful house was almost
more of a culture shock than when I was first
dropped into my first family’s madness. Though
I enjoy the quiet when doing homework, I
sometimes feel very alone and I miss my host
siblings very much. I’m really grateful that I get such contrasting families, so I can really see the
differences in lifestyle, traditions, and habits.
My fourth jakso (“term”) has started this week, which means the third years are now leaving our
school. In your last year of lukio (“highschool”), you only actively come to school for the first three of
the five jaksos. After the third jakso is finished, you spend your time at home studying for these bigger
tests, that cover all the material you learned in school. I have been told the tests are really hard, and
I’ve had the privilege of writing an English test – that is, English as a Second Language – that was
written by the third years two years ago. I can honestly say that the test was tricky. I don’t think I
scored 100%! Props to you Finns for writing that test, it’s a real challenge.
This point in the year is when many interesting things happen in the Finnish school system, and I am
very excited to take part. Next Thursday, the 13th of February, is Penkkarit. This is the day where the
third year lukio students are ‘kicked out of school’. On this day they wear crazy costumes and weird
outfits to school, as well as write a song for their teachers. After the performance of the song, they all
jump on a trailer and throw candy for the students in the lower schools, as well as random people on
the street. I’m not 100% certain how everything works since this is my first time in the Finnish school
system, but this ritual happens every year. After this Penkkarit day, the 14th of February, the second
years perform something called the vanhojen tanssit, which translates to “the old dances”. The
performance is sort of like a celebration of the coming the oldest in the school, and is kind of a Finnish
version of prom. I have been lucky enough to take part in the practices, and will perform the old
dances along with my fellow second years.
A lot has happened these past few months, and I have high hopes for the coming weeks and months. I
am truly having the time of my life here, and cannot thank Rotary enough for this spectacular
experience.
Kiitos paljon!
Claire Stanhope
Silver Star Rotary Club's Outbound Exchange Student to Muhos, Finland – Rotary District 1400
[email protected]
PS. View my blog address is: www.tervemuhos.blogspot.fi
France – D1740
Brett Cosco
Kamloops, BC Canada
6 Months in France
Rotex Report #2
December-January 31st
Bonjour à tous,
Depuismadernière lettre, j’ai fait beaucoup de incroyables choses. Pendant la première semaine
avec ma nouvelle famille, j’ai commencéà jouer au tennis de table. C’est très difficile au début, mais
je suis mieux maintenant. J’ai aussi commencéla philo au lycée. Le mercredi,4 décembre,
j’airencontré un nouvel ami. Il s’appelle Isaac, et Il vient
d’Australie. En France, l’école
s’arrête pour les vacances, le 20
décembre, et donc, j’avais du
temps
pour
cuisiner. Ma
première aventure des vacances
a étéun voyage à Toulouse dans
le sud de la France.A Toulouse,
nous avons marché pour visiter le centre de la ville. Nous avons aussi
visité La Cité De L’Espace. Apres notre aventure à Toulouse, nous sommes allés à la maison des
parents de Denis pour la veille du noël. Le jour de noël, nous sommes allés à la maison de la sœur de
Denis pour le repas de noël. Plus tard en fin de la journée, nous sommes rentres à Boisseuil avec
Clément. Notre première jour d’après, j’ai cuisiné pulledpork, et
poutine. Le vendredi, je retournais à la maison de ma première
famille. Le samedi nous sommes alléspour Trinité Sur Mer,
dans l’ouest de la France.En Bretagne, j’ai nagé dans
L’Atlantique, c’était froid ! Puis nous sommes retournés à
Limoges.
Le
premier weekend
en janvier, Denis,
Racket Man,
et
moi, nous sommes allés à une compétition nationale pour
le tennis de
table. C’était très amusant ! Le weekend suivant, mon conseiller Bert, et sa femme, nous
sommes allés au deuxième Rotex dans la ville de Vichy. Le vendredi, j’ai fait le melting moments
avec ma mère d’accueil. Puis, le dernier vendredi nous avons fait et mangé une tarte à la citrouille. All
in all, j’adore le vie àBoiseuil, avec ma nouvelle famille !
Brett Cosco
D 1740 Limoges France
[email protected]
http://brettcosco.blogspot.fr/
Brett et Racket Man
France – D1710
Hana Ouchi
Vernon, BC Canada
6 Months in France
BONNE ANNEE! Holy second update already. It’s weird cause it doesn’t seem like time is
passing quickly, then all of a sudden you’re like “wow I’m already half way done my exchange..”
These past months have really given me a chance to see the French culture over the holidays. The
Christmas was definitely one to remember. I had a casual Christmas holiday spent in PARIS! This city
is really is something else. The atmosphere, the architecture, everything just kind of has a sense of
magic. I did all the important tourist attractions like
the Eiffel Tower (which I climbed by foot, there’s my
exercise for the year, or two), the Louvre, Notre Dame
(for Christmas day mass), and we also saw a ballet at
the Paris Opera, talk about class. And of course, I did a
little (a lot) of shopping. My family and I spent le
réveillon (Christmas eve) as well as Christmas day
with my host dad’s side of the family. It was really
cool, and somewhat awkward, to be a part of another
families traditions for Christmas and see a different
idea of how to spend the holidays. However, I wasn’t
entirely a fan of the traditional foods for Noel in
France. There is this thing called foiegras which
everyone here likes and essentially its goose liver, not
really my thing. They also like to eat oysters, which
aren’t bad when they’re cooked, but the ones the
French usually eat are raw..and alive… but the main
course we ate was super delicious! Everyone was
really nice and made this time a bit easier because I
was missing my family.
Then it was back to reality and school….
School has been getting a bit easier, I’ve grown accustom to the 10 hour school days now, and I can
follow the courses and attempt to take notes if I’m feeling really determined. I am really happy with
all the friends I’ve made at my high school. They’re all so amazing and I really can’t picture what it’s
going to be like when I leave. Ooooo I went to my first rallye. This is pretty much a French tradition
where the rich held these parties so that their rich children could meet other rich children. It’s not like
that anymore but the dress code is still black tie. And I’ll tell you, French boys in bow-ties, not bad, not
bad at all.
We also had our ski weekend
with all the inbounds as well as
future French outbounds in January.
I
LOVE
MY
FELLOW
EXCHANGERS. We had such a
good time. Almost everyone is our
district hadn’t really skied that much
before besides myself and the Polish
girl, Magda, so it was pretty
entertaining to see everyone on the
bunny hill attempting to get down
the hill without dying. It was so
good to be able to see everyone all
together again. We don’t have that
many opportunities for us all to be
together so it was good to catch up
with everyone. We also had some of
the new inbounds come with us too. We have about 4 new Argentinians and a new Australian.
I’ve still been playing volleyball with my team here in Lyon. It’s going so well! My team is
amazing and I’m so happy I decided to play. It’s helped me to meet people, do at least some kind of
sport throughout the year, and allows me to keep something from home that I love to do with me in
France.
It’s so weird seeing all the future outbounds
that are going to be participating in this exchange
next year. It’s hard to think that that was me
already one year ago. I’m really excited for them
though, this exchange really is something else. I
don’t think anyone of us outbounds this year can
really express how much this exchange has
changed up for the better.
Grosbisous xo
Hana Ouchi
[email protected]
Vernon BC, Canada – District 5060
Lyon, France – District 1710
France – D1690
Katie Bieber
Clearwater, BC Canada
6 Months in France
Rotex Roundup Letter 2nd Issue: November 2013-January 2014
It's hard to believe that as of January 23rd, I have passed 5 months in France and am at the half way
mark of my exchange. It's really hard to believe and I know that these next 5 months will go really fast !!
Juno Beach, Normandy
In November, I had to the opportunity to go to Normandy with a family in my
rotary club. We went to a WW2 museum and to the Omaho Beach where the
Americans landed during the war as well as an American cemetery and to Juno
Beach where the Canadians landed, and to a Canadian cemetery. They were
both really moving and I am really thankful that I was able to see them as it is
another connection between the French and Canadian history. I also had my
second Rotary weekend in a town called Nérac. Highlights included an
evening show where different students sang and danced and an evening where
we were all grouped by country and we made a typical dessert of our country.
My fellow Canadians (two girls from Alberta) and I made date squares and
they turned out really good!
December went by really fast. It was weird for me to not have snow for
Christmas. There was a Christmas market at the central bus station in La
Rochelle which was nice and very festive. On January 1st, myself and a
rebound who was in Taiwan for his exchange last year, went swimming
in the Atlantic Ocean. I had heard that it was the "tradition" in this area
to bathe in the ocean on January 1st at least once in a lifetime and as I
don't know when I'll be back in France for New Year's Day, I had to do
it this year. It was really cold but a great experience!!
I changed host families in early January and I know live in a small town
called Surgères just outside of La Rochelle. I have to take the train to
school and back each day ( 20 min.). I will be there until April and then I mpve back to La Rochelle for
the last 3 months.
I am now part way through "winter" in France but it really doesn't feel like it. For one, there is no snow
and it doesn't get as cold. It feels more like Spring to me as it rains often and it doesn't reach the minus
15 temperatures that I get in Clearwater.
It feels weird to be writing so much in English.
Sometimes some French words and expressions
come more naturally to me !! I love it !
Happy New Year 2014 everyone and see you
all in 5 months !!
Kind regards,
Katie Bieber
[email protected]
Sponsored by: Clearwater, B.C. District 5060
Hosted by: La Rochelle, France District 1690
Spending the day with my two future host siblings in Bordeaux the
largest city close to La Rochelle, France
Germany – D1800
Jake Wallach
Revelstoke, BC Canada
6 Months in Germany
I'm just going to try and list the things I have been up to lately in point form to begin.
-I just came home from a week long ski trip in South Tyrol.
(Italy)
-I switched to my second family. (they're fabulous)
-I attend birthday parties quite often. Most of which are for
50yr olds. Birthdays are very formal here. (Invitation only, live
bands, shows, everyone is well dressed, etc...) They are
comparable to wedding parties.
-I attend school every week.
Me with my first and second host families at a
wedding
-I have experienced a ton of culture here in Germany from seeing great old castles and learning the
history of this land. ( see: picture below )
-I have visited many countries during my stay here. The count is
now up to 5! (Germany, Austria, England, Czech Republic, and
Italy)
-Most of my friends are 40+yrs old but that's perfectly fine
-My German skills pick up a little more every day. Definitely
stressful at points but that's natural.
my first host mom at a resort in Turkey
(she found pins for my jacket)
-I have paid for my Euro tour which takes place in March/April so
that put a huge hole in my exchange funds but I'm very excited about
the trip!
-I haven't had any homesickness so that's a plus. I realize a year goes
by fast so there's no time to mope about.
-I attend piano lessons every Wednesday so that also puts a decent
hole in my bank account but I'm trying to convince my club here to
help me out with the cost.
I don't really know what to expand on here. Everything has been
perfect! I just keep searching for more experiences and jump on
every opportunity that is given to me.
Big stone head of Karl Marx in Chemist
(former East Germany)
School for me is really quite redundant here. There's no time to speak during class. All the students
are 2-3yrs younger than me. I have already studied all of these subjects in English and because all of
these students live in villages scattered around the land it makes meeting up quite difficult. Regardless
of that I have a load of other things to keep me busy here.
Hopefully everything is clear here. I'm trying to make this message simple since you have so many to
sort through.
Best regards,
Jake Wallach from Germany
[email protected]
Old castle which is relatively close to where I live
Me and my first host-bro
Christmas tree decorating with first host mom
Germany – D_ _ _ _
Prescott Wick
Oliver, BC Canada
6 Months in Germany
Well to start out a lot has happened in a rather brief amount of time. when I got here I was more
nervous then I thought I would be and joining a new family was an experience I never thought I would
get. I started to take karate here to help me integrate and as a stress relief while also spending much
time after school with friends I have made. The kids at school have been wonderful and I have already
made many friends I am sure will be part of my life for a long time to come. When I left I was told I
was going to a "small town" which I have now discovered means something much different then our
small town so when i got here and looked at the 100 thousand plus "small town" and thought about my
Oliver with a population less then 10 thousand it was a bit of a surprise though a pleasant one and I
have had new experiences of trying to figure out where I am and all those pleasant things that go with
being in a larger town then what you come from but my friends have been kind and tried to show me
around.
When i got here one of the things I worried about most was making friends and for the first few
weeks of school it was hard to until the Berlin trip. During the Berlin trip I started to talk to people and
get to know them by the end I had made a group of friends. We decided to have a Halloween party
which helped solidify many friendships which has been quite exciting for me. I often go on walks with
Jan around the neighbouring who I would say is my best friend here, and we take a look around town
and just take in the sites which has helped me get to know my surroundings quite a bit better.
At first I thought it would be hard to get along with a new family but it proved to be a quite
enjoyable experience I enjoyed spending time with them. Celebrating my host grandfathers birthday
and Christmas with their family it was quite an experience and helped me understand German families
much better. They had card game nights which where fun and helped me understand how they
communicate. I had gotten to know my first host family well and hope to do the same with my second.
As everyone has I know I have been missing home though I know this is part of the experience that
will help us grow. I have been trying to communicate with home as little as possible in hopes that it
will help with home sickness. the few times I have talked to friends they have told me not much has
changed which has helped. I have talked to my parents as well and they understand why I am trying to
limit communication.
To end I would like to thank everyone that has helped this happen not just for me but countless others
without you this could have never happened.
So that’s about all for now if you have any questions please email me at [email protected]
Prescott wick
India – D3060
Katie Kottkamp
Wenatchee, WA USA
6 Months in Vapi, Gujarat, India
These past few months have been the most intense months I have ever experienced in my
whole life. India is so very different from anything that I have ever experienced. I have grown so much
and learned not only about India and the people I live with but also about my self and my hatred for
mosquitos. All the exchange students from district 3060 will be performing 7 dances for 2000
Rotarians this weekend. My mind is blown at the things I have done. I see all the things I wanted to do
when I was coming to India like learn the language, ride an elephant, go to an Indian wedding and see
that I didn’t realize all the other opportunities that would present themselves to me. Like being
vegetarian, or making the friends that I have made. When you think about Indian festivals you think of
mostly Holi the festival of colors or people will sometimes know the Hindu new year Diwali. I never
ever knew about the kite festival where you fly kites all day and then when the sun goes down the skies
fill with hundreds of
lanterns. Or that in the
state of Gujarat they
celebrate a festival called
Navratri and you get to
dance for 9 nights
straight. I had always
seen things on TV about
the colorful India and I
just can’t explain how
true it all is. I don’t really
know
what
I
am
supposed to write for this
and I really wish that I
could properly tell you all
how I am feeling about
my adventures and what
I’ve been up to. There are
days where I do nothing
but some days we really
do need to recharge and take a second to remember that I am in India. In fact there have been times I
get in the car and forget where I am only to look out the window and see a cow staring right back at
me. Or maybe I’m sitting in the class room and I realize that I don’t understand a word the teacher is
saying only to realize that she’s speaking in Hindi and there’s a lizard on my foot. I can’t explain the
feeling of getting sun burnt in Goa or swimming in the Arabian sea. I am constantly in awe of the
things I am able to say that I have done. I am going on our tour of North india this month and I will be
seeing the Taj Mahal and other beautiful monuments that most people will never see in their whole
lives.
I’ve been trying to update my blog but internet is not my friend over here so if you’re interested
you can see up to December at katiesmostexcellentindianadventure.blogspot.com. I think...
Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I’ll be talking to you soon.
Katie
[email protected]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Italy – D_ _ _ _
Ali Everhart
Wenatchee, WA USA
6 Months in Italy
Hey everyone,
I'm not sure you've lived until you've experienced an Italian
Christmas. My two week vacation was filled with lots of family
time, traveling, and, well, food. Christmas traditions here are
fairly similar to those we have at home, but the food ratio was
unparalleled. There’s a type of sweet bread called panettone that
is basically the symbol of Christmas here. It stands a little less
than a foot tall with a circumference of a regular sized cake, I
would say. It has a density much thinner and lighter than regular
bread, and is sweet, usually with small pieces of dried fruit
inside. It’s usually eaten after dinner as a dessert, often covered
in cream, or for breakfast. My host mom had a dinner party one
evening with family friends, where everyone brought various
things, such as fruit, bread, and homemade dishes to contribute,
and apparently panettone is also the popular to choice to bring as
a contribution to a dinner party, because that night we received
nine, and let’s just say I ate my fair share of panettone this
Christmas. My youngest host brother is six asked Santa Claus
for a dog sled ride with a team of huskies, and the month leading
up to Christmas that was all he could talk about. Santa held up
on his end, and we all ended up heading to the mountains. I
figured we’d all be watching as Giovanni rode around, but little
did I know everyone in the family got their sled with a team of
dogs that led us through the most pristine, beautiful, snow covered mountains.
After New Years my host family took me to Rome, where we spent five days running around the ancient city
trying to soak it all in as much as we could. During those five short days I fell hopelessly in love with the city,
and I’m fairly convinced I could live there for the rest of my life and still not be able to experience everything
that it has to offer. In Italy every region has its own distinct dialect, more distinguishable than simple accents
and slang, Rome being no exception. It was amazing to be able to go there and be able to hear the differences in
others speech, and I was blown away by the fact that I was able to pick up on the difference. It truly felt like a
movie, wandering around the tiny, cobblestone streets, mesmerized by the amount of history that had passed
occurred right there, where I was standing. The city was booming with all of the tourists, and I feel like I heard
as many foreign languages as I did Italian. One of the most amazing things I noticed when we were there was
that there wasn’t rush, everyone was just content to be where right there where they were. With the mix of the
lingering holiday spirit and the enchantment of Rome, it was magical. When we returned from Rome I switched
host families, and I’m now living with an exchange student who came to my city last year who my family
hosted. Things really have came around full circle, and it amazes me how being a part of Rotary makes the
world shrink.
Starting after Christmas break and continuing through March my school is busy with a lot of different trips and
activities for the students. One week we had a week of school called a “makeup” week, where if students were
passing they were able to participate in other activities put on by the school, such as lectures by professors and
professionals, skiing, snowshoeing, watching movies, yoga courses, and taking cooking classes. I was able to go
snowshoeing in the mountains for a day, and I’ve always went on some day trips with class to Milan and
Verona. The next few months are going to be jam packed with traveling and spring right around the corner, the
time is just going to fly by. I can’t wait to see what’s awaiting me.
Sincerely,
Ali
[email protected]
Blog: alitaliali.tumblr.com
Italy – D_ _ _ _
Laura Chapman
West Kelowna, BC Canada
Submitted: 31 January 2014
6 Months in Italy
Rotex Roundup- Update 2
The last three months of my exchange have flown by faster than I ever imagined. I know everyone
says that, but it couldn’t be more true! I feel as
if I have grown and seen and learned so much
in the past three months it is incredible. I don’t
know where to start, but I’ll begin with
November.
November began on a holiday which I spent in
the beautiful Italian Alps. We stayed in their
house in a little town called Antagnod, situated
among the Alps in the gorgeous Valle D’Aosta.
It was amazing. We also visited a bigger
nearby town, Aosta, and visited a chocolate
festival as well as touring the city’s historical
sights. November also brought me to Cremona
for a nughet festival and an amazing day of
exploring the historic city.
December was really a blur, filled with smiles
and food and good spirits all around. I visited
so many friends and family members I can’t
distinguish one visit from the other. The
atmosphere here during the holidays is much
more personal and intimate and genuine than in
North America and I felt so warm and included
the entire time. I always feel that way here, but
I especially felt so much love and happiness at
Christmastime. No material items could have
brought the kind of happiness being together in that way exuded. I went to several dinners with Rotary
and with family friends during December to celebrate the holiday season and exchange well wishes
over a delicious pizza or four-course dinner. December brought me many places: Milan, for a classical
concert INSIDE the colossal Duomo, Meda for a Christmas lunch complete with an in-house orchestra,
and the Valle D’Aosta for New Years fun and Alps skiing. The month flew by extremely fast but I
enjoyed every second of it and found myself really bonding with people. It was such an amazing
experience to be able to celebrate the holidays in another culture and I hope to bring some aspects of
my new home and what I experienced back to Canada.
January almost feels like it didn’t happen, it went by so fast. Right when I got back from Antagnod, I
switched host families. I am so extremely happy and content with this family, it almost surprised me
how fast I clicked with them! I sat down on my bed on the first day here and felt so completely at
home and welcome. I have been thoroughly enjoying myself in their company and couldn’t be luckier
to have had two such amazing families! They have already given me a tour of Milan’s churches, taken
me to a classical musical concert, and have done a tour of Milan’s canals with me!
School has restarted and I
am really enjoying myself at
school as well. I have made
some genuine Italian friends
as well as having become
quite close with the other
Rotary kids. As far as
language, I feel like recently
I have made some really big
leaps and would say I’m
intermediate-advanced level
now. Hard to believe five
months ago I didn’t even
know how to say “me”!! I
am so proud of myself for
having accomplished what I
have and for getting myself
here.
This has without a doubt been one of the most beautiful and rewarding experiences of my life and I
will enjoy every second of the next five months. Every day I am reminded of the fact I am the luckiest
girl in the world and I couldn’t express this more. I really am. I am so appreciative of being given this
opportunity and promise to soak in very possible word, smell, taste, lesson, sight, and smile I
experience for the rest of the year.
Ciao ciao,
Laura Chapman
[email protected]
Italy – D_ _ _ _
Madeline Winters
Leavenworth, WA USA
Submitted: ___ February 2014
6 Months in Italy
>> No Submission <<
Madeline Winters
[email protected]
Leavenworth, WA, USA
Cantú, Italy
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Italy – D_ _ _ _
Selena Skalisky
Wenatchee, WA USA
6 Months in Italy
Sei mesi nella Città Eterna
(Six months in the Eternal City)
When you have more adventure in half a year than some people do in half a lifetime, you know you are
one lucky person. Living in Rome and traveling through Italy with the
Rotary Youth Exchange program has certainly made me feel that way.
These past six months have been some of the most unique and eyeopening of my life, and I can safely say that I’ve learned far more
about myself than simply my favorite gelato flavor (which is
pistacchio) or my espresso preference (“cappuccino alla soya senza
zucchero”), though both are important to know.
Being an exchange student is as beautiful as it is intimidating -- you
leave behind everything you ever knew, minus the contents of a single
suitcase, shedding your old self in order to adapt to a new culture, a
new country. This can be a rather painful process, but at the same time,
it allows you to grow into something bigger. In order to do so, you
have to be willing to lose your dignity some, to laugh when you hit that
language barrier, and to tap into your adventurous, yes-I’ll-try-thatstrange-looking-food side. I have certainly tried to do so, and because
of it, these past few months have been extremely special.
“The streets are narrow, the apartments covered in crawling ivy...”
Since my last update, I have switched host families and now live a whole two doors down from my
first home. My new family is full of life and good humor. I have three host sisters, though two are in
college (Federica in London and Claudia in Pisa) and the other, Vittoria, is in Texas this year on a
Rotary Exchange. My host parents, Elena and Claudio, are open and warm people. We often sit for
long periods of time after meals and chat, talking about everything from Roman history to American
politics to the delicacies of traditional Italian cooking. (My host mother is a goddess in the kitchen, by
the way.)
Claudio loves history, so he has taken me to several interesting archeological sites, such as the worldfamous Ostia Antica (which is literally a ten-minute drive from my house). This site is home to 2,000year-old ruins which reveal just how complex and intricate Roman life was. There are amphitheaters,
bath houses, marketplaces, bars, and homes sitting there, waiting to be explored. It was somewhat
surreal walking along pathways that were once
covered in white marble and crossed by masses
of people living a lifestyle not so different from
our own, only with a few more togas in the mix.
I have also spent some time in Tivoli, a town
famous for its gardens and irresistible charm.
One of my American exchange student friends
from Minnesota lives there, so I occasionally
take a train to visit her. The last time I did so, we
came together and made Valentine’s Day
cookies at her home. We also spent a bit of the
weekend in the ancient part of town with her
host sister. Rustic Italy is truly something to be
seen. The streets are narrow, the apartments covered in crawling ivy, and the windows, always
shuttered, are adorned with boxes brimming with colorful flowers. Italy still maintains that old, momand-pop feel. Clothing hangs from lines out of third-story balconies; elderly folks still meander up and
down the streets with brown paper sacks in their arms and scarves tied around their heads. It is all
idyllic and peaceful.
A city that lasts the ages
Rome itself also has an endless amount of museums and monuments to visit, so I have slowly been
checking things off of my to-see list. Rome is a culmination of architecture and artifacts from over
2,000 years of history, so there is obviously quite a bit to do here. I usually visit during the weekends
and occasionally during the week after school. I have now mastered the transportation system (for the
most part), and the language is coming pretty naturally. I find it funny because I go downtown more
often than some of my Italian friends do, so I know parts of the city better than they do at this point.
I will be leaving the city (and the
country) again this month to go to
Berlin with my class, and the
following month I will be going to
Venice for Carnivale, which will be
incredible. Afterwards, I will be
participating in a Model United
Nations conference here in Rome as
a journalist, and then I will go to
Israel for over a week for a Rotary
peace conference. Really, this
experience feels like a dream, and
I’ll be sad to wake up again this July
when I return home.
In the mean time, I will continue doing “as the Romans do,” and with any luck, I will be able to
understand Italian culture and life as well as if it were my own.
Until next time,
Selena Skalisky
[email protected]
Japan – D2700
Steven Vas
Salmon Arm, BC Canada
Submitted: __ February 2014
6 Months in Japan
>> No Submission <<
/ Steven
[email protected]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Peru – D4450
Natalie Johnston
Vernon, BC Canada
Submitted: 29-January 2014
6 Months in Peru
My first 6 months
I have had an incredible journey so far and it is astonishing that I am half way through. A year seems
like a long time until six months sneaks up on you. I came on this trip very responsible and mature and
that has only continued to grow, but also I learned the essence of a stress free life, living in the moment
and having fun. I came to Peru knowing literally one word of Spanish ( Hola) no word of a lie. I am
now nearly fluent and understand everything. Sometimes after a conversation I have to remind myself
wow I just did that all in Spanish without thinking about it and that is an incredible feeling. I came here
a picky eater and now I try everything with an open mind and try not to think of what it is made of, on
average I enjoy most foods, here each with it’s own unique taste. Not only have I become a family
with my fellow exchangers, I had the most amazing high school experience here on I don’t know that
every student get’s. I was in a graduating class of 24 students me included for the final half of there
school year. Here the few that spoke little English were my life support at first. Becoming my best
friends because I could understand them and tell them about me. They became my teachers for Spanish
and the people who showed me peru, and taught me to dance. I made such incredible friends in such a
short period of time. At the end of the year I am pleased to say that without any pity marks which at
the beginning I got all the time I passed all of my final exams. Which isn’t a necessity but I did it so I
could show everyone how far I had come in my Spanish. I learned how important it is not to be shy
and thank goodness my fellow peers are the most outgoing, comedic people I have ever met so they
got me involved and invited me out with them every week, they made me part of there family which is
incredible because they have spent ten years together and they were so inviting to me, I can’t thank
them enough. To finish the year I went to prom with them, which I danced for seven hours straight, but
it was one of my best memories ever. In the beginning I hated my uniform but I became one with it and
will truly miss it. I also learned the value a game of charades and Spanglish are when telling a story,
and very entertaining for people watching.I have developed a life here and I call it home, people ask
where I live I recite my address here. Peru is a country with nearly zero similarities to Canada and I
have changed my lifestyle but I love my new one I am still me but with so much more. My love of
sports was changed to love of dance, I learned to move my hips in my school dance class and in my
recital I received the best compliment, “Natalie you danced that just like a Peruvian.” I have learned to
surf as well because here is too hot to run. Here I don’t so much work in Science and Math like at
home but my brain is always turning because I have worked to understand and speak Spanish. Which
at first my brain was like a translator. My love of leadership and the outdoors in found in teaching
people of Canada and helping with Rotary. My social aspect is in my friends and family here who feel
like my actual family and friends for a lifetime. I have learned the history of Peru and traveled nearly
all of it with Rotary; I have been to deserts, the Jungle, Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Arequipa. I have
learned the culture from being in school and emerging myself. Then with all that I learned my family
visited for a few weeks and I taught them it all no need for tour guides when they have me around. I
had a time and a half learning to use the buses here and lima is a very large city of over 9 million
people I know the city like the back of my hand and help people with directions here. It only took
getting lost in every district but I learned and now I can walk on the street and hail a taxi or bus with
no problems. I am teenager with a love of adventure and although my first week and month were some
of the toughest and I looked up plane tickets home , I did it and I have come so far. I love this
experience and I can’t have imagined me without it. I still look forward to university but I will live
every day I have left until June with no regrets and stretch every day beyond possible. Thankyou
Rotary for this incredible experience. If you have any questions ask away I love talking about my trip.
Natalie
[email protected]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sweden – D2360
Narain Spolia
Kamloops, BC Canada
6 Months in Sweden
>> No Submission <<
If anyone wants to keep in touch or see any of my pictures from my adventure, find me on
facebook: Narain Spolia. Or you can check out my blog: narainspolia.blogspot.com
http://narainspolia.blogspot.se/
Skål!
Narain Spolia
[email protected]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Switzerland – D1980
Austin Kent
Selah Washington
6 Months in Switzerland
>> No Submission <<
Austin Kent
[email protected]
Blog: [email protected]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Taiwan – D3500
Michaella Haidenger
Summerland, BC Canada
5 Months in Taiwan
>>> No Submission <<<
/ Michaella
[email protected]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thailand – D3340
Amaya Black
Penticton, BC Canada
6 Months in Thailand
Apparently reading instructions isn’t my strong suit, so this quarterly report will encompass 2 months
instead of 3 because I wrote about November in my last entry.
On Rotary trip numero 2 our band of craggy travellers found ourselves province hopping all over the
intensely mystical Northern Thailand. All that pops to mind when the syllables “Thai and land” are
uttered are beaches, sun and sand. Famed for the ocean lifestyle, the north is often overlooked, but it
was glorious. Over-nighting it on the tour bus to get there on the other hand, was far from glorious.
Neither was the bowel imploding food
poisoning that smote half of our crew when
we got there (yours truly included) [just a
note that this was the one and only time
during the past 6 months I’ve lived here and
I’ve eaten street meat, fermented snake, bugs
and cafeteria food, so prospective
exchangers to Thailand or parents, need not
worry]. I’ll tell you what though, going to an
elephant conservatory and trolloping through
jungle and wading through elephant-chestdeep pond that was, was for lack of the
words to forge the description: something
else. It provided this deep natural
reconnection that I’ve missed living in a city.
We also watched the elephants paint… with
their trunks… one was even a painting of an elephant. Elephant-ception.
We bird watched at highest point in Thailand and spanned 7 provinces, one of my favorite so far in the
whole country was Chiang Mai, a diverse and culturally radiant hot spot for travellers. We visited the
zoo where I saw a panda… being one of the cutest animals on the cheek of the earth. We set foot in the
notorious golden triangle where Myanmar, Thailand and Laos kiss, but it was smooth sailing to Laos,
although when we got there foreignersway outnumbered the Laos people. We were misted under a
rainbow manifested by a waterfall; we were among monks draped in earth toned robes atop a mountain
temple. We ate traditional Thai food with our hands, on a river, on haphazard tables built on the water,
similar to hastily crafted rafts. We laughed, hard. We shared ear buds, beautiful and foreign music
blossoming in our brains, and gorged our already overindulged eyes on the cultural signature that is
architecture, art and Buddhism. We were let loose on the snowflake that is the white temple: intricate,
unique, a testament to symmetry and blindingly white.
We adventured through royal botanical gardens and visited a long
neck hill tribe where the women wear rings to prolong the length
of their necks. There were ruins to photograph, we stayed in a
National park and an outdoor education centre, we were unleashed
on winding markets to barter our way in Thai. 6 hours after
arriving home from my first Rotary trip I repacked what I could
salvage from the wrinkled mess of clothes and headed to the
airport.
I met up with our Canadian family friends in Bangkok (a flight
which I proudly found and booked myself at a whopping 23$
CND) and made our way to Krabi, a sea side town. 3 days of
tepid salt water and crushed shell beach stretched into our trip, at
the end of the beach we happened upon a community of monkeys,
quite at ease with the human crowd they draw. (Not literally, as
they don’t own pens) Heading my doctor’s and travel vaccinator’s
specific advice not to touch monkeys I kept my distance, but a
little wiry one jumped on my back as I hiked a trail and proceeded to gnaw on my phone. A ferry ride
took us to Phi PhiIsland where we snorkeled amongst some of the most prolific marine life and
explored yawning caves dripping into the ocean where we swam below. We rang in the New Year
amongst a colourful crowd of world travellers on the beach, under fireworks.
We finished off our trip in the heart of Thailand: Bangkok. It’s this
immense pulsing entity that you could get utterly lost in, as matter of
fact, that’s exactly what we did, and found ourselves smack dab in the
centre of the governmental protest that has been making world news. It
was docile at the moment, and we carried on unscathed to our
accommodations, later checking out the Koh San road, a walking street
market that is wildly popular amongst foreigners, where dinner may
only cost you 30 cents.
Due to the great Chinese population in my city I had the pleasure of
experiencing Chinese New Year at the end of January (one of three
New Years I will celebrate here, the others being Thai New Year and
the traditional Gregorian New Year on January 1st) and further
explored my city ofUdonThani by going on an early morning boat ride,
slicing through fields of floating pink lotuses.
I received the third Rotary trip itinerary in my mailbox as I write, so yet another thing to look forward
to! (Keeping in mind to look in the ever present.)
I also hope my fellow Outbounds are having incredible adventures and are soaking in the good life,
and a quick hello to the future Outbounds, enjoy this anticipation!
For those of you interested in reading my terribly updated blog, here’s the link:
http://travelpod.com/members/amayainthailand
Amaya Black
Canada to Thailand [email protected]
Turkey – D2440
Quinn Campbell
Penticton, BC Canada
6 Months in Turkey
>> No Submission <<
The link to my blog is quinnisinturkey.blogspot.com and I try to update it every few weeks.
Quinn
[email protected]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Outbound 2013-2014 Winter - Youth Exchange Rotary 5060

Transcription

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