 Hello everybody!
I am in Florida for unbelievable 57 days. It seems to me,
that I am here just for first week…
First of all, I want to thank you Rotary District 6970,
and Gainesville Rotary Club, that I can be here in Gainesville, Florida. I
live in Gainesville for next 9 months. I am so glad, that I am here. Quite
funny is, that I am already in the third host family. No, don’t worry, there
weren’t problems. It is just strategy of my club. =)
I wanna to tell you something about my experiences during
my stay here. The first days were great. I can’t say that I had some
problems. Everything was absolutely fine. What was really a big surprise for
me, that I hadn’t got serious problems with my English. I thought before my
arrival to US, that I will have troubles with language…
In the first week I was at the launch of Discovery in the
Kennedy Space Center with Karen. This was made possible for us by Rob Overly
and Bob Rella, who is, by the way, her host father. It was awesome. It is
something, what I’ll never forgot. With my first host mom I was in St.
Augustine, which is a beautiful old city. We spent there half a day. We
visited also her friends here. We were on the beach, as well. I recognized
their family and they are very nice people. I love them so much. And I thank
you so much for caring about me.
During my stay in the second host family I did the most
important things. I found my bank account with help of my host mom and I
started to attend school. The first day in the school was horrible. I spent
a whole day in the office room, because in the first class I didn’t get a
schedule. In the office they told me, that I must wait a little bit. But I
waited almost 6 hours and finally they said to me that my schedule will be
completed on the next day. But after this bad experience I have just
positive feelings about school. The school system is very different. But it
is already very normal for me.
In the first week in the second family I spent a great
weekend in Camp Montgomery, where were all of the other exchange students
from District 6970. It was our first orientation meeting. All of us had a
wonderful time. In this family I had two sisters and one brother. The older
sister was an exchange student in Switzerland last year, so she knows what
is to be an exchange student in a foreign country. We were all together in
the Ichetucknee Spring State Park. There is gorgeous nature. I liked it. I
had great time with them. It is very nice of them, that they took care about
me.
Last week I was at the football game in Ben Hill Griffin
Stadium here in Gainesville. The capacity of this stadium is 90 thousand
people…It’s enormous. I was there with Laura, my club counselor (I want to
thank him once again) and other friends of them. Of course, the Gators won
(Gators are the BEST). It was one of my biggest experiences of my life. The
American football is amazing. We met there Viola, Julie, and Kuba, too. On
this Saturday, Laura and me were at a girl’s soccer game with one man from
our Rotary Club (thank you). Unfortunately, Gators lost. But we had fun.
So, and today I moved to my third host family. I am here
just for half a day, but I like it. My host mom is very nice to me. I have
also one brother. He attends middle school.
I forgot to say, that in every family they had pets. In
the first one a dog, Abbie, and a cat Boots. In the second a dog, Lanie, and
four cats. I don’t remember their names… And right here are 2 cats and a dog
Little Bear.
I think, that I mentioned every of my activities here in
Florida. I like this country, people, culture, and I think that I adapted
myself.
See you soon at DeLeon Springs State Park.
Ondrej
Celebrating with first host family |
Ondrej the Gator |
Girls' soccer game |
|
Ondrej Košalko
