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Zorbey Gokyildiz
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2003-04 Inbound Student from Turkey
Date of Birth: April 29, 1985
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey
Sponsor: Tarabya Rotary Club, District 2420, Turkey
Host: Ocala Rotary Club, District 6970, Florida USA
School: Forest High School
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| Zorbey's Bio |
| Arrival in Jacksonville |
| October 16 Journal -
"I have two little sisters here. They are
really cute and funny. Well it isn't always easy to be the big brother :)
This program is full of new opportunities." |
| January 5 Journal -
"The biggest change in ourselves is going to
occur when we go back and see how much the program contributed to our personality
and to our lives." |
| February 15 Journal -
"I am not sure if I should be happy or sad
since the time is passing by. I am trapped in different feelings, ... this
year helps me to understand about what I have in my life to appreciate and
to learn." |
| April 14 Journal - "Like
every beautiful thing in life, this year is slowly coming to an end, but it
doesn't mean that our friendships that we had gained are going to be over." |
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Zorbey's
Bio
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 Hi
People! My name is Zorbey, coming from Istanbul, Turkey. My host club is
Ocala Rotary Club in Florida.I have a brother and a sister -I am the
oldest one of them.I decided to be an exchange student, because I think
it's a big opportunity and a big adventure for all the people. You can't
even think about the chances in this program!
I like rowing, tennis, and swimming, and I also like to
be with friends. I am a very social person, I think. I've graduated from
high school and I'm planning to be a computer engineer.
My aim is to develop myself in every way. Hope I will
succeed! |
Arrival
in Jacksonville
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| On hand to welcome Zorbey
to Florida were host parents Anne and John, Ocala Rotary president
Glenn, and Rotarian Jorge. |
Although they came from
different places, Zorbey and Stefan's flights arrived in
Jacksonville just minutes apart. |
October
16 Journal
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| Hello
everybody my name is Zorbey, coming from Istanbul, Turkey. I came through
Jacksonville like every other exchange student on August 1st.
I stay in Ocala, a beautiful small town. There are lots
of golf areas in Ocala I guess also I heard that John Travolta lives in
Ocala too, yes I was shocked too when I first heard that :)
Anyway so far I can say that the time I spent here was
really beneficial for me. I love school, of course not every class, but
most of them are cool. I guess I am the only person who tries to learn French
at school based on English and originally speaking Turkish :)
My Host family is really cool, they like to travel a
lot. I went to a Yankees and a Gator game and I can honestly say that
Gators rule:) and I like the beach also a lot different from where I come
from. I am quite happy that winter is coming ahead. That humid weather was
really hard to handle for me.
I have two little sisters here. They are really cute and
funny. Well it isn't always easy to be the big brother :) This program is
full of new opportunities every time - you never know what's gonna happen
next day.
Actually there are a lot to write but you know you
forget everything when you are ready to write. I probably should write a
diary here (webmaster's note: we told you that at orientation!). A
point took my attention - did you realize that there are a lot more girls
than boys in this program. Shame on you boys! Girls are more courageous
then you are :))
There is one thing to say: "Hold on folks, new
adventures ahead." |
January
5 Journal
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| Hello
everybody it has been long time since I last wrote my journal let's see I
don't know from where to start usually I don't write down whatever I want
to say it directly goes from my mind to the computer anyway, as I remember
I go to Miami frequently and also for the holidays since my family's
relatives are living over there and almost I saw all the theme parks in Florida
and also the Disney trip was awesome we got closer to the other exchanges
in the first camp we were like strangers but after Disney camp we all felt
like we were a part of a big family that was a great feeling so because of
that we decided to organize something before the key's trip. unfortunately
not all the exchange students but with some of them we made a new year's
party which wasn't like the parties we have in my country next time if we
make a party it's gonna be without seats because everybody gets too
comfortable to stand up and do something anyway after that we hit the road
to palm coast that was fun too there were some surprising events of course
which is the fun part.!
It has been 5 months since I have been here and 5 more
months to go, don't know what's going to happen but I am looking forward
for the spring the beach season. I don't see English as a foreign language
anymore it is just a substitute for Turkish right now. We are all a part
of a big experience right now but my point of view is that the biggest
change in ourselves is going to occur when we go back and see how much the
program contributed to our personality and to our lives.
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February
15 Journal
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| Hi
everyone it has been long time since I last wrote my journal, look at that
more than half of the year is over I still can't believe how fast the time
is passing by. we had been to the sea camp lately and it was so much
fun!!!!!! snorkeling in the reefs chasing barracudas :) unfortunately
haven't seen any dolphin in its natural habitat. We exchanges all had a
great time I assume, there was another group from Michigan too, we had a
dance and all kinds of different stuff. On the way back we made some wrong
turns and end up in a different route but it was also funny. I started
swimming over here lately, you know I have to lose the weight that I
gained over here which has been caused by fast food:) My school is getting
more fun recently we have plans with my friends about the spring break
which will be awesome without any parental regulation haha:)
I am not sure if I should be happy or sad since the time
is passing by. I am trapped in different feelings, I got used to this
place actually and also this year helps me to understand about what I have
in my life to appreciate and to learn. I want to thank to everyone from
here who work hard for the prosperity of this program and who tries to
make us have fun and also teach about their lifestyles. Well I know that
is a short one but that's what I can think about right now, see you guys
next time. |
April 14 Journal
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Here I am after more than 8 months I look at myself, I
changed so much that I can't even recognize myself, in any way I can see
the change in the way I look at incidents, people and many more...
There had been lots of changes in my life over here as I
start the second half of the exchange year, I wasn't the new kid anymore I
got a nickname like an American kid some call me Zorro others prefer Fez
from that 70's show:) funny ha? I like it though. I went to spring break
with my friends from school not with my host parents over here which gave
me a little more freedom, I had the chance to experience the spring break
and many more events with my friends at school, I consider myself lucky
since my host family is very flexible about that. but I still think that
the best time I had over here was when I was with the other exchange
students in Disney World, wish I could see them more.
Life has been very different here for me now I have more
responsibilities and I know how to survive without my parents, hopefully I
did learn how to survive hehe:) and the biggest lesson I learned and the
biggest advice that I can give to the next exchange students is that being
outgoing pays off it really does. I want to thank everybody again and
again who works hard for the prosperity of this programme.
Like every beautiful thing in life, this year is slowly
coming to an end, but it doesn't mean that our friendships that we had
gained are going to be over, instead we are going to have worldwide
friends that not everybody in the world is lucky enough to have, we have
to determine the value of this gift and try to tie ourselves with our
friends over here with stronger ropes...as the years pass by.
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