September 3
September the third,
One month in America... One month yet, far from France, far from my parents, far
from my friends.
One month only and I have already change my mind.
Growing up, being mature... this is the goal of this year. Discovering
a new culture, learning a new language, meet some new people... this is my job
this year. And it is a great job!! And it is a great experience!!
I arrived in Florida the 29th of July, after a long trip and
loosing my luggage. My host family, the Rountrees welcomed me, with Al Kalter in
the airport of Jacksonville. I was anxious but they made me feel quickly comfortable.
They live in a nice house in the southeast of Ocala, with
their four kids, Zac 18, Adam 16, Seth 12 and a cute little girl, Ally 9; which
change my way of life because I used to live with only my two parents (my sister
is at the university in Paris).
Debbie and Jeff are very sympathetic, Jeff is a pastor and
makes me discover a new religion, Baptist; Debbie doesn't work, she has too much
to do with all these kids! but she does some work out and I have fun, going with
her and learning many things to not get fat in the "country of the hamburgers'
(fun).
I started school the 8th of August. The beginning was quite
hard: I am shy, and I didn't manage to speak to the other teens. I put about 2
weeks to meet friends, and now, I feel better going to school.
I am glad to be able to speak a little bit more English every
day. I have already read a book in English, and often read magazines. I also
like watching a lot of TV, it shows me the American culture and I have a lot of
fun with all these "crazy" things.
At the end of this week, on Sunday, I will change host family.
I am sad to leave the Rountrees because I had a such good time with them. But I
am also looking forward to meet my new family.
This year will be a year with constant changes, I need to be
able to adapt quickly to these changes. I have to be strong and trust in my
self. "I just need to do it."
Lorraine
January 1
 The
fifth month in America, December, has been full of great activities:
First, in the beginning of the month, all the exchange
students staying in Florida this year, went to a Disney trip. Of course we had a
lot of fun, staying in a hotel for two nights, discovering four different parks
for three days. But the thing that was the most neat, was to be there with all
these kids from all over the world. This year, I am not only learning about
America, I am learning a ton of different cultures, visiting the world through
all these descriptions, all these kids' eyes.
The second week-end of December, on Saturday, I went to Sea
World with my host family, and a friend of mine invited by them. I saw the
sharks, my favorite animal - because it is scary! On Sunday, I went to the Gulf
of Mexico, I mean I SAW the Gulf of Mexico. How can you see the Gulf of Mexico
without going there? Well, take a little red plane and go up in the air, trust
me, it's simple fantastic.
And then Christmas. I thought it would be a horrible day for
me, that I would be more than homesick, far from my home, for this family day.
But it wasn't. It was the opposite, I felt extremely close to my host family. My
host parents surprised me, giving me a ton of great gifts; and they give me all
the love I needed on this day. I was expecting a horrible day and I had a great
time. It has been the most special Christmas I have ever had. I'll remember it
all my life.
I changed two days ago my host family for the second time.
They are very different from the family I was staying with before. They have
three little kids, Josh 8, Abigail 6, and Ellie 2 years old. The parents are
very young too. It is different and it doesn't bother me, it is part of the
experience to deal with things you are not used to. I am learning, discovering
and enjoying!!
This is all for December. I realize that I did half of my trip
all ready, it went fast and now I am scared that it is going to go even faster.
What a great experience I am living, could it slow down a little bit, please?
February 10
My
sixth month in America:
January sixth, the president of the Rotary International, from
Thailand was in Jacksonville, all the exchange students were invited to the
meeting.
My new (third) host family is great, the three little kids are
adorable, the parents are young (about 30 years old), and I am having a lot of
fun with them. I go biking with my host dad, John, every week-end to train for a
century (a hundred kilometers). I also continue to go often to the gym, I tried
a boxing class with some friends... experiences... this what I am doing this
year!! I joined the tennis team of my school two weeks ago, we practice every
afternoon and we are going to play some matches against other schools very
soon.
At the end of January, we had a Rotary week-end at the Keys,
south Florida. It was great! It is so beautiful down there! We went snorkeling
and I wasn't to much scared of sharks ( it is normally my phobia)! I was happy
too to see my friends exchange-students from Italy, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil
Etc... I am trying this year to do a whole lot of different things, stuff that I
will never have occasion to do in my country. This is what makes this year so
special and unforgettable.
April 15
Finally,
it is spring break.
I have been waiting so long for this vacation. I am
planning to go on the first Monday to Miami with my best American friend
and her mom. I am so excited. They are as much I am.
The Sunday morning before leaving I go to church with my
host family. When we come back, there is a voice mail for me. We are
leaving for Miami in 20 minutes. They couldn't wait one more day to go to
the beach. I packed in 10 minutes my luggage, throwing my prettier clothes
in it. And jump of joy 10 other minutes waiting for the car to pick me
up.
Six hours, that seems so long to get to THE city.
At eight o'clock, we arrived to the marina, Jessy's
uncle is waiting for us to take us cruising around Miami. We arrived by
boat at the restaurant. Everybody is looking at us. I feel so special.
We spend the night on the boat. Which actually wasn't
much of a good idea. It was cold and rocking. I couldn't sleep. :):):)
So at seven o'clock in the morning, waked up by the sun
rise, we went cruising around the most beautiful houses.
The rest of the week was as great. We stay in a nice
condo with the view on the ocean. Spend all afternoons at the swimming
pool with direct access on the beach. Got very tan. Went shopping,
dancing. It was so fantastic. Miami is an exceptional city. You don't feel
like being in America anymore. Spanish is a lot spoken there, and all
other languages. I even heard some French speaking.
And for the first time, since 8 months, I saw some fast
food empty.:):) In three words: I LOVED IT! |
