Jakub "Kuba" Walenczak

2005-06 Inbound from Poland

Date of Birth: March 25, 1989

Hometown: Łódź, Poland

Sponsor: Łódź Rotary Club, District 2230, Poland

Host: Daytona Beach West Rotary Club, District 6970, Florida USA

School: Spruce Creek High School

Bio

Kuba's Bio

I am very thankful for the opportunity to be the exchange student. I am sure that during this year I'll become fluent in English, gain a lot of life experience, meet people from all around the world and get to know whole American culture. I did not come just to school ... I came to America, so I'll try to get from this year as much as I can!

September 8 Journal

Six weeks here, wow, that was quick! I don’t want to think how fast it will all be gone. Carpe diem! Seize the day! You can’t forget about it even for a minute when you’re an exchange student!

I arrived in Jacksonville at July 23 around 1am, few hours late. I really liked the look of the city from the plane at night. I wasn’t prepared for the humidity, though. Now I’m fine but for the first few days it was worse than the heat for me.

At the airport there were two people waiting for me – my host father Bill Griffin, and my friend Michael Criswell whom I met during his exchange year in my city back in Poland.

It was a two hour ride to Port Orange, so I had a chance to talk with Bill the first night. By the time we reached my new home we knew we’ll get on well. And I think I do, both with him and Diane, my host mother.

I slept only a few hours after 27 hours journey. I was too excited to stay in bed longer! And that was a wise choice, because I wasn’t bored even for a moment for the following weeks. What a great holiday. I did something fun (and often new for me) every day. I met a lot of people – Bill’s family, other exchange students and their host families (thanks to Tom McDermott and his pool party), and many Rotary members.

To be honest I hated my school for the first week. I couldn’t find my way even with the map (the school is huge, 3000 students) and I was late for all periods, I didn’t have a locker and when I finally got one I couldn’t open it and so on. But gradually I figured out everything that was new to me thanks to a group of friends I made on Joe Brumenschenkle’s barbecue. Thanks Joe, it saved my life!

After a few days I changed my schedule – I switched physics to music theory. I know I’m lazy, you don’t have to tell me. Now that’s my favorite class! My great teacher, Mr. Kidd, also invited me to play the guitar in the school jazz band! Everyone in the band is much better than me, but I’m working hard now to catch up. It’s worth it – in December we go to play during the Peach Bowl in Atlanta! I can’t wait!

I used to do my homework during breaks between classes. Even though it was ten minutes in between every period, changing the class took you a minute. Here there’s no way I could do that. It takes me about five minutes to go to my locker and then to another class, so I had to get used to doing my homework in the evenings. I guess I was supposed to do that a long time ago, but now I have no choice. Here they really care about it – it’s a huge part of your final grade. There are plenty of other differences when it comes to school. Here I could choose my schedule, even the weird electives like pottery or fashion designing (I wonder how many people take these). I don’t have to change my shoes when I enter the school (and I like it! I wonder where you can leave your jacket during winter, though. Does it not apply for Florida at all?), class is not a group of people that has all the classes together but just a year here, and you can have classes with people of different ages. You can also choose cool clubs you want to join. I wanted to join Interact and cultural diversity club; they haven’t started yet, though.

Today the school was cancelled due to strong winds and rain. They don’t want school buses on bridges during such weather. I don’t really mind it, haha. It has been raining heavily for the last few days because of the tropical storm Ophelia. However, last night it turned out that it swerved towards the ocean, so it won’t hit us after all.

The orientation meeting was just great! I met so many great people from all around the world that now I can’t wait to another meeting. We had a lot of fun on the high ropes course, and during team games. I think that was a great way to meet each other.

I know it’s a shame but I still don’t know all the rules of football. Hey, don’t blame me, this game is weird. Everything starts all over again every ten seconds (at least at high school games), so you have to look very close to actually enjoy the game. But I’ll give it another try next weekend, as I’m going to the Florida Gators game in Gainesville with Julie from France and her host parents, Judi and Mark. I’m really looking forward to it!

As you can see, so far so good! I really like it here and I’m thankful for Rotary for giving me a chance to be an exchange student.

October 7 Journal and Pictures

Can I have your undivided attention, please. I’ve just learned the rules of baseball! Bill spent most of the Yankees – Red Sox game explaining it to me. I felt I got it three times, but then camera just went crazy, people started running, ball flew from one base to another and finally one guy was chasing the runner. I’m almost positive that was only for the sake of confusing me. But anyway, I learned it and enjoyed the rest of the game.

To commemorate this turning point in my life, I decided to update my journal ;)

Last thing I wrote in my previous journal entry was that I’m going to the Gators game the following weekend. It was simply amazing! People tailgating everywhere (some of them were extreme – they set camps with their own generators, little kitchens, TVs, big coolers and all kinds of Gators-related junk surrounding them). Everyone was of course wearing their team colors. Stadium was very impressive, especially when it filled up. Then you could see how big it actually is (hey, players are pretty big, but people on the other side look like a blue or orange dot). Game itself was entertaining, too. Crowd was responding to everything what was happening on the field. From time to time the band started playing either the Gator cheer (I wrote that down, it goes like: go Gators, go Gators, go Gators ihaaa yeah wooooo clap clap clap) or the Jaws theme (with people making their arms look like a snout, and closing the “jaws” to the music). Pretty neat, huh :)

One of my and Bill’s favorite shows is CSI. I mentioned to him once, that I wanted to shadow a medical examiner in Poland, but I could not do it. It wasn’t much of a problem here. One Wednesday I shadowed Dr. Thomas Beaver, the medical examiner for Volusia County. I couldn’t believe how many questions I had, and Dr. Beaver couldn’t believe why he agreed to the whole shadowing thing in the first place. He he, I’m just kidding, I was behaving myself. I would never think how many different things the ME does. In the morning we went to retirement house in Daytona Beach, where Dr. Beaver gave a little speech about different matters concerning death. Then we went back to his office. Wednesday was his “cutting day”, so we dressed up (apron, face mask, goggles) and did the case. The whole autopsy took little over an hour. Dr. Beaver developed his own system that demanded the assistant do more when he was the only ME in the county few years ago – it was the only way he could manage to do all the cases. He narrated the whole autopsy for me explaining what he is doing at the time, why is he saving pieces for further examinations etc. He showed me all the organs (from different angles and in pieces hehe). I had a chance to see everything I learned about from books! It wasn’t pleasant, but it was extremely interesting, so I don’t regret it at all. After lunch I was playing with microscope and skimming through pathology journals, while Dr. Beaver filled all the documentation. Sorry for rather long description, but that was quite unusual thing for me and I wanted to tell you about it!

Hmm what else did I do last month. Let me check my paper journal. Last entry – Gators game. Darn, serves me right, I could have updated it. But wait, there’s all kind of stuff here (it’s more like a scrap book now). Krispy Kreme hat? That’s right!

That was last, busy weekend! On Saturday I played on Port Orange family days. The performance itself was pretty good, but I didn’t like the fact that we play maybe for 50 people and half of it is probably our parents… Everyone was disappointed. During the show my music teacher asked me to say something in Polish to the microphone to entertain the audience. I did what he asked me for, and I said: this guy just asked me to say something in my funny sounding language just to make you laugh, I think I’ll just babble for few more seconds and that should do, yeah I think I’m good now, thank you. But then he asked me to translate it so I just said: I’m really happy to be here, although not playing many songs yet. I hope you’re enjoying yourselves ‘cause they all put a lot of effort into it. Thank you. After the show two people from the audience told me in Polish that they liked my speech. Oops :) The performance ended about five o’clock and we headed to Jacksonville to meet with my two friends, who were in Poland last year. Michael laughed out loud the first moment he saw me because I had a bag of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Why? Because that was the very first thing I had after he picked me up from the airport. He warned me that they're dangerously good then. Yeah, I’m an addict now. We just hanged out in Jacksonville for an evening. The next day Amélie joined us and we went to the beach. Waves were enormous and we had a lot of fun. We ended the day with a dozen of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. That’s what I’m talking about!

One of the Rotary members in my club gave me a YMCA membership card. Today I went with Bill to check it out. That’s a pretty nice place. We decided that we’ll come every evening to play squash. I really want to learn it! We’ll probably end up in sauna every day :)

School is just fine, I even got pretty good grades for the quarter. I don’t think I find anything surprising in it anymore.

I have some cool thing coming up this month including few days motorcycle ride. There’s also Biketoberfest coming. I’m sure I’ll have even better time than I had so far!

Bye for now, Kuba

January 3 Journal and Pictures

It’s been a while since my last journal. It wasn’t because there was nothing to write about. Actually there was a lot going on and I just postponed writing it all down. Well, the time has come haha.

The motorcycle trip to the mountains I mentioned last time was really awesome. A little chilly at times (maybe more than a little in Virginia), but it didn’t matter. I saw a part of this country in a way not everyone got to experience. I went with Bill, my host dad, and bunch of his friends. First we went to Orlando, from where we got on a train and went to Lorton near Washington DC. Then we headed back home, riding parkways through the mountains. It was amazing to see how the country changes with miles you make. From tall mountains of Virginia, through hilly North Carolina, and peaceful countryside of Georgia, to swampy and flat Florida :) I was tired but happy when we got back home because I knew an adventure like that won’t happen to me fast. When I just mentioned the trip to my parents I heard that I’m not getting a motorcycle, because the winter is too long. So I said: it’s no problem, because I want to ride through SE Asia anyway. That didn’t work too well. But anyway, Blue Ridge mountains was definitely a good place to make my first thousand miles.

Biketoberfest was all right, at least I saw that dull Daytona can be busy. Bikers everywhere, so many motorcycles you have to squeeze in between them, and Bill yawning and telling me that it’s close to nothing in comparison with Bike Week in March. Nonetheless, I was quite impressed.

That wasn’t my last motorcycle event. Bill took me to charitable Poker Run and my friend Ron, whose wife is in my hosting Rotary club, took me to St. Augustine.

For Halloween I went to Horror Night in Universal with Julie, Mariana and Olya. It was much better than I thought it would be. I don’t know if it’s better than trick or treating (no free candy involved) but it definitely was something worth seeing. My favorite – a guy rushing at you with a noisy chainsaw.

What’s next in my journal…the homecoming week. That was pretty funny. We had wacky tacky day, geek day, top hats and tails day, twin day and spirit day. I dressed up only for the spirit day, however, I heard “good costume, man” at least five times during the geek day. What’s wrong with the way I dress? I think it’s too normal. Not having a style is unimaginable for most of American teenagers. I didn’t go to my homecoming. I still knew very few people there at the time.

Thanksgiving! That holiday left me with a very good impression. My family didn’t go anywhere. Their kids and friends visited us instead. The turkey was great (because I kept my eye on it when it was frying). That’s right, we fried it. You need a lot of oil and a special pot to do that, but it didn’t take very long, unlike in the oven (besides, they even fry Oreo cookies in the South, so what did you expect) We also had ham, sweet potatoes, different casseroles, and pies (I think I’ll pass minced meat next time, I didn’t really like it). American food can be more than just fast food. I heard about the shopping spree that usually takes place the following day, but I couldn’t think of anything worth getting up at five o’clock.

Before I came here, I had never seen a parade. Here in two months I marched in three, and saw two more. Two of them were Christmas parades in theme parks – Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios. I went there with marching band from my school. I “played” instruments I held in my hands for the first time in my life. I marched with trombone (which isn’t a smart choice because it doesn’t look natural at all) and french horn (much better, although I don’t think I was holding it right. And I can’t figure out what’s French about it ;) ).

Then the big day came – December 1, and all the exchange students from Florida went to Disney parks. We had a blast. After orientation and previous meeting in De Leon Springs I knew that those four days would be unforgettable. The parks were great. MGM studios had the best rides, but what better place can you find for a bunch of foreign kids than Epcot. Too bad that Disney and Sea Camp are the only times we meet with Miami District.

I keep skimming my journal looking for anything interesting to I missed. Oh, there we go, Christmas ;) I’m just kidding, how can you forget Christmas. This year I saw that December doesn’t necessarily mean slushy roads, thick coats and shoveling the snow in the mornings. I know I’ll always miss Florida in the wintertime. I don’t see myself putting all the Christmas decoration on the house every year, but it was beautiful to see whole streets illuminated. The Christmas Eve was also different from what I’m used to, but it was great. Just like during Thanksgiving the whole family came, and everyone enjoyed just being together. The day after Christmas I went on a school field trip to Atlanta.

I was back for the Gator Bowl parade and New Year’s Eve with other exchange students. Once again we had a blast. The parade was pretty neat. Everyone wore a blazer and waved his country’s flag. After that we went to Orange Park Rotary Club president’s house, where we were to have our little party. While waiting for the midnight we played table soccer, roasted marshmallows and just hanged out. Someone reminded that we have to go home in the year we are so eager to welcome, and no one waited for it anymore. But I suppose that’s part of the deal. Here, we’ll let you go into unknown, without parents friends or even language, you’ll experience how it is to live in different country, later you’ll assimilate become bicultural, and then you have to go back home, where you can’t really tell anybody what you’ve experienced. At the beginning of the year I was trying to tell my friends how it is here, but I couldn’t find words. And they didn’t really care. But I know it’s me who is changing, and who’s experiencing all those things so hard to explain so it doesn’t matter.

I am really grateful to my hosting Rotary Club, Daytona Beach West and district 6970, I think you guys do a terrific job. I am grateful to my host parents, Bill and Diane Griffin for welcoming me to their home and making me part of their family. It’s because of you that I’m not homesick all the time, I don’t feel alone or lost, I can understand this country better and enjoy this year. I thank my sponsoring club for organizing this exchange; my parents for letting me leave them and go for such a long time and other exchange students, for being wonderful friends who changed my life forever. That’s a lot of people I’m thanking, but it’s only because of them I’m so happy now.

It’s too late to wish happy Thanksgiving or merry Christmas, but I can still wish you a happy new year :)

Szczesliwego nowego roku!

Take care, Kuba

April 25 Journal and Pictures

Hi guys, how’s it going? During our orientation camp we got a packet describing an exchange year month after month. March and April are labeled as “assimilation” time, and it’s absolutely right. I’m not a tourist anymore, I really feel I live here. I’ve been pretty busy, so let me review what I was up to lately.

First of all, Seacamp! That was a great, but a little sad meeting. Sad, because it was the last chance to get together with Miami district. But how can you be worried in the Keys! Big Pine Key was really pretty. It was the first time I saw a dolphin. I’m not sure if I would like to swim with them, seeing someone doing that was enough for me. They’re huge! Key West seemed like a true party town. Does everybody there have a moped? They were buzzing everywhere! I also saw Ernest Hemingway’s house, and ate the famous Sloppy Joes. They tasted just like Sloppy Joes in Daytona, so next time you can just come over hehe.

Bike Week – I think you just have to see that. Nuts, Daytona Beach was a circus for a few days. So many motorcycles! I think things as weird as that happen only in America. Anyway, it was quite an experience. I drove around with my host dad, and with our friend, Ron. The weather is great now, so I hope we’ll do some more riding soon. I’m getting addicted. When I go home I need at least a scooter. On the second thought, I would not be able to resist setting off too far. Belgium or Italy for instance. Yeah… I think need a full size motorcycle after all…

The day before the spring break I spend few hours with Dana. She taught me how to drink Argentinean maté. It’s really good, and for an unskilled maté-drinker (me!) it tastes like a very strong tea. One should pass the special cup to another person when he’s finished, who adds new water and continues. What a great custom! After that me and Bill, my host dad set off to Baltimore, to finally arrive in Brushton, New York. It’s a small town where Bill grew up. We spend a day there, and then he drove me to Ottawa, where my aunt lives. I don’t have many opportunities to see this part of my family, so I’m glad I got to see them. I went to Ottawa Senators – Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game. What a sport! I somehow managed to live sixteen years without seeing a single game on television, so that was a neat new experience. I hoped I would ice skate on Ottawa canal during my stay, but it turned out to be “too warm”. Are you kidding me?! It was cold. It’s pretty funny how me and Bill were saying, that everyone there must be crazy to live in such cold. And mind you, it was almost a spring when we visited. We would stop to get gas, and after a minute outside race back to the car screaming “no way!” or “this is nuts! It’s so cold!”. Half of our conversations in the car was about how pleasantly warm and green it is back in Florida. I got thin blooded this year. Awesome! :)

School – I’m doing all right in all of my classes, and as far as atmosphere goes, you can really feel the end of the school year approaching. It’s hard to concentrate when there’s such a beautiful weather outside. I have only one exam coming, for AP music theory. Huge part of it is writing down the melodies or harmonies you hear on the staff, which I’m not really good at, but I should be able to pass it. So I may have one college credit – how useful ;) We are really busy with the band lately. Look at my concert schedule – 3 days long Lakeside Jazz Festival in Port Orange that my school organizes, and then eight more gigs – and that’s just second part of April and beginning of May. I’m really enjoying it, though. After the concert we always hang out together. Last time we went to Johnny Rockets, a restaurant which looks like it’s from the fifties. Since I’m a root beer fanatic, I decided to try a root beer float for the first time. Basically it’s a soda with vanilla ice cream and it tastes like soda with vanilla ice cream. I pointed out to the waitress that she gave me too much change (in fact she just gave me a change and didn’t take any money), and in return I had unlimited root beer float. How many can you drink before your friends drag you out because they’re bored waiting? Three. How many can you drink and not get a sore throat? I don’t know exactly, but apparently less than three.

I think I was lucky to join the Jazz Band. We had some pretty good gigs this year. We got straight superior notes in state jazz competition in Ocala, and in national competition in Atlanta. As I’ve mentioned before, we also organized a whole festival. I worked on a soundboard with a professional technician. How did that happen? Well, actually I happened to be passing his booth when he needed a runner-boy to the stage. But hey, don’t laugh! It got fun later, after the sound guy spotted me whistling a Jethro Tull tune, whilst reading Jimmy Buffet’s book during our lunch break. These happened to be good conversation starters, as the guy turned out to be a fan of both. Later, when I was doing a guitar amp sound check on a main stage, he was calling through the microphone – play, my Polish buddy, play! Too bad I’m not going to be here next year. Our band was invited by the minister of China to do a little tour in November. One of the gigs is going to be on a Great Wall of China! That’s why we’re playing so many banquets lately, we’re trying to get donations. They mentioned that in a newspaper. It was just a small note, though. Unfortunately I’m not a Brazilian tennis star like We-All-Know-Who… :) (I’m just teasing, congratulations Mari!).

Unfortunately I forgot the rules of baseball by now, but I got the crash course in surfing instead! That’s right, now when I tried surfing I can finally say I have lived on the coast. As far as my surfing abilities go, I don’t want to go into details. I’m not sure if standing on the board for three seconds really counts. I get few points off for waving my hands hectically, too. And for complaining all the time that there’s no way I can do it hehe. Anyway, huge thanks to my friend from school Kelcey and her father for their time and patience while teaching me! I had a lot of fun!

I know my exchange is almost over but it’s not over yet. There’s still plenty of stuff to do, so I no time to lose :)

I’ll try to keep you posted!

Kuba