October 14
After a few problems with my passport and visa I am finally
here!!, enjoying the first month of my exchange.
When I was 11 years old one of my cousins from Argentina went
for an exchange in Washington DC. and Christina Shell from Arizona stayed
with my relatives. At that moment I met Rotary and all the activities that they
do such as exchanges with students. In that moment I also realized that was what
I wanted to do with my life. I started investigating and found out that the
exchange was possible for me. I think this is the most exciting experience I
ever had. It is something that I have always wanted to achieve, an experience
that changes your life forever opening your mind and preparing you for life. I
believe this is unique and happens just once in your life.
The day that my parents from Argentina told me that I had been
chosen for the exchange, my life changed at all. There was nothing else that I
could ask for.
When I left Argentina, I left a lot of people that love me as
I love them like family and friends. That was the hardest thing to do, saying
good bye…but I knew that sometimes we have to leave people, places, and things
that we love, to make our own future and learn how to be independent.
After having a few problems with the flights I was on the last
airplane flying to Jacksonville. I was really nervous thinking what I should
say, where I should go and how I should find my family. But the welcome in the
airport was so big and nice, that I didn’t have to worry about it.
My family and Rotary were there with a huge banner that said,
"BIENVENIDA AYELEN". I was very happy to see all the people
waiting anxious for me. Thanks family, Al, John, Kathy (John's wife), Fer, Ale,
Kathy (exchange student from Germany), Ling that were there for welcome me (and
Feli who wrote me a letter)!
My first month here was great!!! At first it was kind of
difficult get accustomed to the school, periods, partners, teachers and language
(sometimes it's still difficult). The first week, I used to get lost every day,
changing my classrooms between periods specially because the teachers changed my
schedule thousand of times.
I think I was very lucky to have this family that host me. My
parents and brother are very patient and supportive with me. I am really
grateful because they're helping me a lot with this big change. I think that is
the reason because I feel great here!! Every day I feel more and more confident
with them.
I really enjoyed both lunches with Rotary Club from
Gainesville I had a great time with you!! I met a lot of people that were very
nice with me. Thank you John and Kathy for being all the time with me! And
thanks Al, Ale, Fer and Feli for coming here to my house on September 29 to made
me the orientation. It was really fun sharing with you that Sunday!!!
It is not very easy to adapt to a different life, language,
culture and ways to seeing life, but it is the most exciting and interesting
part of the exchange, to learn from them. That is why I recommend this
experience to everybody.
Thanks Rotary, Mom, Dad from Argentina and Family from here to
make this possible and such a GREAT experience. Thanks for making this dream
true!!!
January 13
 …And
after a long time, I am here again. First of all I really want to apologize for
being so late, but I had been really busy with my finals. I’d spent a lot of
time studying which turned out to be good because I earned good grades too! (I
still have to take two more finals after the winter break on Monday) At the
beginning of the break I went to the Keys with my host family. My host mom and I
went snorkeling on the Coral Reefs and the guys (my host dad, brothers and one
of Aaron’s friends) went diving. The reefs were gorgeous! There were lots of
pretty fish of different colors and you could see the reflection from the
sunshine on the white sand 20 feet below. After the keys we stopped at South
Beach in Miami, it was awesome! I really liked it. We went to a restaurant to
have lunch and we spent a few minutes on the beach .too.
Now…I know that the “Daytona Beach” trip was a long time ago, but
anyway I would like to thank Rotary again and to the people that made that
possible like Tom McDermott, Al Kalter, all the people who drove us all over the
place. Also, thanks to the lady that made the huge brownie tower! They were
really good! “Lolo” (Lorraine) and I pigged out that weekend! We really had
fun! We went to the beach, swam in Tom’s swimming pool, played pool, got
tanned =) and we also went to see the motorcycle parade and to the downtown sky
coaster (it’s like a ride) and had lots of fun with other exchange students.
On December 5th we went to Disney and I really appreciate all the help that
Rotary gave me to share such a nice experience with the other exchange students.
I really enjoyed it because it was something that I have always wanted to do. In
Disney we went to four parks, the one that I liked the most was “Epcot”
because of the Christmas decorations (I Know that it’s a little bit late but,
anyway MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY) and the different
country’s buildings. We also went to Magic Kingdom which was really neat, MGM,
which in my opinion, had the best roller coaster and to the Animal Kingdom that
had a water roller coaster, poor Laurita got soaked because of the position of
her seat =).
On Saturday night we went clubbing (with Al’s companion) and we also got a
“mini fluorescent light” to prevent us from getting lost at night. So we all
followed the big lights (that were Al and others Rotarians with a lantern). In
Epcot we saw lots of fireworks and “dancing water” (the illuminated water
fountain show). I had a really fun time with the exchange students …I miss you
guys!
Later in January I will change my host family. The date is not arranged yet,
‘cause the new host family is traveling. I am really excited about meeting my
next host family, but in the other hand I think It would be a little bit weird
not to see my actual host family every day. I only been here for three months
but I feel this home is like my own and I know that I will really miss them,
because they are like my own family now. Once you get used to being surrounded
by the same people the change is kind of difficult, but I also know that
changing families is an important part of the Rotary exchange experience. It
helps you to adapt to different situations and makes you have different points
of view from the country and culture.
Since the time I’ve been here I’ve experienced a lot of things that I’ve
never experienced before. Of course there have been some moments in which I
missed my country (especially on Christmas and New Year’s eve) but I think it’s
normal to miss your loved ones when you are far away, especially on those
important dates that you usually spend with family.
I know that this experience would make a big difference in my future because
it will help me to be more independent, social, outgoing, and open-minded.
Finally I really want to thank to my Family (in Argentina), Rotary and Host
family for being really supportive to me and giving me such an incredible
opportunity to experience a different life in another culture.
April 15
Hello
everybody!! It’s me again; well I have to admit that after some months, I have
some things to tell you…
First of all, I have a message for the ones that are in doubt of going for an
exchange, DO IT!! YOU WON’T REGRET!!! This is an experience that changes me so
much. It doesn’t matter how your exchange goes, you can always get something
positive about it, also you learn how to be independent , because you have to
solve things by yourself, makes you more open minded, you became more mature,
you acquire knowledge and enjoy a world of new things!!!! Nowadays I am having
so much fun!!! This is great, and everyday it keeps on becoming better and
better
Three month ago I switched host families and schools. At first I didn’t
want to change my host family because the first one it was so great, that I was
afraid the second one, wouldn’t be as good, but now that I’ve been living
with Bob and Sherry for a while, believe me that it is as good! My “new”
host parents, have three children, but since they are living in college I have
the hole “up stairs” for myself =) and now I am only child, so I have been
really spoiled lately, and they’re very good hosts!! Regarding school …I
love it! This school is so much better! I have lots of friends, and I like most
of my classes … especially Spanish (just kidding).
Besides the changes, I went with Rotary and the exchange students to Sea Camp
(January) in the Keys, and Orlando (February) for the international Rotary
Conference. Both of the trips were a lot of FUN, in the keys we snorkeled in the
coral reefs and we met some “guys” that were not exchange students that were
really nice and friendly, we have a dance one night (there in the camp) and some
presentations to preserve the environment. In Orlando we went to Sea World and
met some other exchange students and chairpersons from other districts. At Sea
World something really funny happened we went into a “splash” roller
coaster, and when we got out from it, one of the exchange students from France
was so wet her clothes was so heavy, that it begun to fall down to the floor
wile she was walking …she didn’t realize, but everybody else did!! And we
all laugh at her bright lime green underwear …
I would like to thanks to John and Peggy Kanpatrick for hosting me during my
spring break …I really had fun (we went to St. Augustine, a lake house, they
took me in their boat, and airboat, etc.) and thanks to all the people that
support me to make this possible.
Well I’m sorry but I have to go now , because I’m in my host mom's
office, and she is already done !
‘ Hope you enjoy my journal !!…see you (well, I guess I have to say write
you!)
Take care!
BYE!!!
Aye
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