Tibor Veselý

2004-05 Inbound from Slovakia

Date of Birth: August 4, 1987
Hometown: Zohor, Slovakia
Sponsor: Bratislava Rotary Club, District 2240, Slovakia

Host: St. Augustine Sunrise Rotary Club, District 6970, Florida USA
School: Pedro Menendez High School

Tibor's Bio

Here, I live in the oldest town in the US: St. Augustine. My home is in a quiet neighborhood near the Matanzas River and 15 minutes from the sea. The atmosphere is so magic and calm. The best feeling is walking in the downtown, which is the old Spanish part of the city. I must say that my host family is the best in the world. Why? Because they care about me and they help me with everything. In my opinion for them it wasn’t so easy. When I arrived in the USA, I didn’t speak English very well and the first week with sign language was very difficult for me and for them also. But I’m  now content and the life in US is very cool.

If I have to describe every place in St. Augustine, my letter would be very long, but I can say that this city is the best and I’m looking forward to the next activity with Rotary.

Many thanks to my host family Barbara Spaulding and Bill Blythe.

October 24 Journal

In my last email, I gave you a promise, that I’ll describe my other activities with Rotary and with people that I meet during this time. It means, that you have to sit in yours chairs so comfortable, and we can begin.

My biggest and also wonderful adventure, it began probably a month ago when, I looked from my window with the big scope, and I’ve seen my new family. And, my last host mom said to me that I need to leave my space galaxy, and move to another galaxy. But now, really, I’ve lived in my new family one month and it’s so cool. I live with three teenagers, and this is for me very a nice challenge.

I’d like tell you something about my traveling so far. I’ve been in Georgia so far, and it was a very wonderful trip, because this state is little similar to Slovakia. There are a lot woods and hills like ours. I’ve been in the home of my family’s daughter, and I saw my first American wedding and I was in the wedding party. It means for me, that I could compare traditions in Slovakia and here. I’ll say to you, it was wonderful.

December 14 Journal

Hi, everybody.

My time’s going too fast in America. I didn’t know, when I looked in my calendar, that I’ve been in US almost half the time of my exchange program. It’s going so quickly. But I don’t have any problems and these experiences that I’ve spent so far, are amazing and incredible.

At this time, I live with a family which owns a restaurant. It means that I’ve been able to taste the best food that I’ve eaten so far in the US. They’ve got there a lot of seafood that I love. Also, my life is little bit similar that there is in Slovakia. They’ve got a grandfather, who has farm between Jax and Tallahassee, with so pretty horses and some cows, actually, for me the most likely of kind: longhorns. There it was so fun, and for me probably the best a hang up that I could have. I love this.

But listen to this, absolutely bomb was, when I’ve been able to meet everybody from our Rotary exchange program group and to spend together with them a weekend in Disney World’s parks. We had a really pretty weekend, full of fun and jokes with super moods and together changing the opinions about everything. I think so, that we spoke about actually all problems of teenagers. I had a really great time with a lot of fun. And too I could see this very interesting attraction that people can see in Disney World. I’m so appreciative and glad, that my Rotary club and Rotary Districts could help me to go there and meet my friends in so wonderful surroundings that was Disney. Also now, I’ve got a wonderful other schedule for a new year's party in Jax and another meeting, this time in Key West. I’m excited too much. Thank you for all.

Tibor

February 21 Journal

Inspiration with the name: Seacamp on Big Pine Key

It was still darkness, when my alarm woke me up at 4:30am. I didn’t know. What was happening? I was so confused. But then I realized, that it’s a day today, about what I dreamed a couple months before. So first I took everything to the car and I and my host mom left the home around 5:30am. When we come to the place of meeting, I saw there everybody from our inbound student group. I felt so well, because however it was during the night and so early, everybody was so amazed and so glad, that we were going to Florida Keys. I usually don’t like so far ways. But that time, it wasn’t bad for me, because I had around me the best company that I could have.

When I’ve seen the South Florida a first time, I must say that this area is so different, than where I live now. I have seen the first the biggest island of Florida Keys; Key Largo, where we could see some dolphins and some sea lions. We arrived in Big Pine Key during the afternoon. It was the place, where I spent the three days of our Seacamp. So sweet! We arrived during the night and I didn’t see too much from the property. But I got next following morning big surprise; everything around the Seacamp was the sea. I couldn’t believe that something can be prettier than this island. Employers were so nice. Probably the best experiences were the sunrises and sunsets that I’ve seen there. They were so wonderful in these islands. Also big challenge for me was snorkeling. I could see a lot of marine animals and plants. Everything what I saw only in TV before. There I could see live. I took a lot of pictures. I have the beautiful memories.

After Seacamp we visited the pearl of Florida Keys what is without mistake the most south island; Key West. I had so great time there. I think that when somebody says, that this place is similar like some places, it isn’t valid about Key West, because Key West is only one on the world, and I don’t know to describe my feeling on this wonderful island pretty well. It’s so amazing. I read before, that people on Key West don’t have the time, that they live only for vacation and sweet things. But what I’ve seen there it was so far over. I’ve seen there a lot of paradise in Key West and my feelings were, that if I have a chance to choose where I want to live. I’m sure this was the place for me. There was the life so slowly and without problem and also beautiful weather. For all I’d like to thank everybody who organized this trip and also everybody who supported me in this trip.

Thank you

Sincerely

Tibor