Martha "Celeste" Marazita Espinoza

2006-07 Inbound from Ecuador

Hometown: Machala, Ecuador

Sponsor: Machala Rotary Club, District 4400, Ecuador

Host: Daytona Beach Rotary Club, District 6970, USA

School: Seabreeze High School

Bio

Celeste's Bio

I am an Ecuadorian girl, I am eighteen years old. I am graduate of Liceo Naval Jambeli, a high school. My interests in academics are Theology and Dentistry, in sports Basketball and Volleyball.

I like to read mystery books and drama books; also, I like drawing and painting. I am the second of five children, my parents are Ricardo Marazita and Martha Espinoza and my sister is Martha and my brothers are Pedro, Ricardo and Pablo. My dad is a Dentist, my mom is a homemaker.

I wanted to be an exchange student because my father told me about the exchange program of my cousins and I liked it, Also, I heard from my sister about her good experiences in her exchange. She lived in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. My first impression of Florida was that It is a beautiful state with pretty houses, friendly people and beautiful beaches.

August Journal

Hi Chicos!

This month served to adapt me to a style of life something different. I am enjoying so much. I had already my first meeting with the exchange students and my host club. In the Inbound weekend I was able to know all the exchange students, we are twenty-nine, during those three days we had some activities like games and chatting, It was a wonderful experience, I was able to listen to the comments of each boy about the differences that they found here, by example, the cities, the people, the food and the high school.

In the meeting with my host club, I had breakfast with them and I knew some of the members of the club, also I knew some activities that they do around the world. It was a very good meeting.

High School for me was a change because in my country it is something different - we are used to uniforms, the class is in the same classroom, usually we don't use lockers, I had eleven subject during the week, and the form the homework is different too. I like my new high school because I don't have a lot homework and I am able to practice a sport. And I am learning little by little the English.

I am in Daytona Beach in front of the coast, it is still and very pretty. I was able to go to Miami and I liked it, I felt like in my country, the people speak Spanish there, you can know people of many Latin countries.

My counselor Bill Griffin had a party in his house, and we were seven exchange students and host families and Bill's friends, we had a good time. During all this month, I learned more of English, I am appreciating what I got and to be more independent.

I am enjoying of this year and I thank GOD because He blessed it and He is blessing this exchange that He made possible, to my parents that gave me this opportunity, to my host family, to my host club in Daytona, to my counselor Bill Griffin, to my Chairman Al Kalter and to everybody.

Hasta la proxima

Celeste

September Journal & Pictures

Hi amigos

Another month has flown by and I continue to learn English and new things that will help me for the rest of my life.

In this month I changed of Family. I had very good host parents and I am grateful with them, they were good with me. Now I have a new family, my host father, Alberto from Venezuela, He is a Latino father, my host mother, Cintia from here, She is not Latina but she cooks like one and my host sister, Alicia, She is nine years old. They have a dog Roxi, she is very crazy. I am happy with my new host family, with them I had the opportunity to visit Disney World in Orlando. We were there for a weekend, we went Friday afternoon for the Halloween event at Disney, where children were able to dress up. Children brought bags and received candy and I had a bag for candy too. This event was in Magic Kingdom and at eleven o’clock at night there was a parade with Disney’s characters. The next day we went to Epcot, this park was very interesting because it is about the world, you can see places of the world, the antiques ages, new ages and how would to be the future. Then we went to Disney MGM Studios , in this park I was in some shows like The Beauty and Beast, The Litter Mermaid, Pocahontas, Narnia and others more but the best was Fantasmic! This show was in a litter island of rock with mickey and some characters of Disney. The third day we went to Animal Kingdom, This is a really good park, they show you the forest, the jungle also they have two sections about Africa and Asia and many things more. For me was a familiar and fun weekend.

I am very good with my host family. My host mother and father cook very good, they talk with me, we laugh together and my little host sister is a very sweet girl.

Thanks to God I am fine with my health. In the High School everything is good with my classes, I have four and only one it is difficult, English.

I went to my first football game, it was played by my High School and the name of the game was Homecoming Game because it was dedicated to the Seniors.

The bands played very good, after of the game we knew the King and the Queen.

When I was in my high school the way for to choose to the King and the Queen was different, we have a program where the girls that decided to participate in the election make a show and a few persons choose a girl, we have only a Queen and after of this program we have the dance with a little concert.

Well, this month was very good, I am learning and enjoying in the high school and in my host home. I hope that everything is good with all the exchange students, God bless all of you.

I see you later…good-bye (Te veo despues…Adios)

Celeste

My host family	Cinderella's castle	Halloween in Magic Kingdom	Epcot
In Disney MGM	My host sister and me in Animal Kingdom	Parade in Magic Kingdom	The hotel in Disney

October Journal & Pictures

I will tell you guys how it was going in this last month, well I would like to start with the homecoming, it was in October sixth at the night, for me it was a new experience because I am Christian and I do not go to parties but I decided to go to this one and before of the party my friends told me how it is but in the day of the dance it was different to how they said it, I really did not like it, for the whole dance I sat and was talking with my friends between them Helene, I did not like the style of the students were dancing I think that there are others ways to have fun with friends. But this is not all of this month with my host family I am enjoying my year, my host mom Cintia is a sweet person and she take care of me, my host dad Alberto is a funny person and my host sister Alicia is like her mom a sweet person. I went with Cintia and Alicia to Orlando to spend two days in Magic Kingdom, I had a lot fun to knowing the park. I went to another place with Cintia to the hospital because I needed to vaccine and I really did not like it, I have never been afraid to the vaccines but this time I had it.

In my High School everything is doing well, I already have my credits and I got three A and one B. We had one day in which the students went dress up like in the seventies, it was so funny and new for me.

I had my second meeting with the exchange students, we were in Daytona Beach which it is close to my host home. At the first day we were together in a house we ate good food, deserts and to asking each other how is everything doing in our High School with the friends and about our host families. At the second day we went to the Kennedy Space Center where we could to know about the spatial flights that the NASA realizes, also we saw a movie in 3D, we knew a stone from Mars, we were present in a simulacrum of the achievement of a spatial flight, after this Elena, Kaori and I went with Jackie to her house and we cooked a cake with Jackie’s help, Hal and she cooked a wonderful dinner and we ate together. I enjoyed a lot that night..

At the third day we went to Daytona Speedway we knew the place very good, I know is a famous place where the people come to see racing of cars and it not only for cars also motorbike, we saw motorbikes. We had a lot fun that weekend.

I don not remember If I told you about my first friend in my High School, well she is Dailyn from Cuba, I went to her cousin’s birthday with her family, I enjoyed with those people and I ate Cuban food, it is really good.

I had other new experience, how I told you I am Christian and I am going to Christian church but my host family is Catholic and a day I decided to go with them and I knew a Catholic service and this is really new for me because all my life I have gone with my family to the Christian church.

My host sister and I made our pumpkin for Halloween, it is a tradition to make a face in the pumpkin here but in my country it is not, we have other celebrations.

Hasta el proximo mes (Until the next month) Adios Celeste

November Journal

In the beginning of this month Cintia, Alicia and I went to North Carolina, it is a cold and beautiful state, we traveled during the fall and the entire trip I enjoyed observing the different colors in the leaves of the trees. I could meet my host mother’s family, we spend a weekend in her sister’s house, and they are very friendly people. The first day that we arrived Cynthia’s sister showed us her lands; she lives far away of the city. The next day I helped Cintia to cook the food as we had a dinner a family dinner also I learnt to cook a chocolate cake. One night we had a bonfire with food and watching the full moon. On Sunday we went to Asheville to know The Biltmore Estate, it is a Huge mansion and in those days had Christmas Decorations. The mansion was built by George Vanderbilt with 1000 men, it has 250 rooms and the land where it is has a beautiful landscape. We were two hours to knowing the entire mansion. It was a wonderful weekend.

I would like tell you guys about Thanksgiving, in my country we know Thanksgiving but we do not celebrate it. The day before Thanksgiving my host mother and I were cooking many kind of food and after this we went to see a movie, well to the next day we were ready for Thanksgiving and let me tell you it was a big dinner, a lot food and of course desserts. It is a good day of the year because families get together.

In this month I had another meeting with the exchange students, we went to DISNEY WORLD for four days, we lodge at the All Star Sport Resort also we met other ex-change students of other districts and between them I met an Ecuadorian from Quito, he is in The Islands of The Bahamas. The first day we went to MGM Studios, I rode some games as The Tower of Terror, this is my favorite also I rode the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster; it is super fast and cool. The park has many games and shows, we enjoyed the last show, it called FANTASMIC, it is incredible, beautiful and magical, and we were excited during the whole show.

To the Second day we went to Magic Kingdom it is a big park, we were early and separated for groups with a guide that showed us how some of the game work also the guide taught us lessons of physics to be able to understand the games after we rode them. They were three of all the games of the park, Space Mountain, Buzz Light-year Space Ranger Spin and Big Thunder Mountain. Then that the guide finished, we went to every game and show, there was one so good Mickey’s Philharmagic in three dimensions. At 6:30 pm we met in the front of the Cinderella’s Castle to watch the fireworks, it was wonderful, the castle shiny beautifully with all the colors of the lights reflected in, after this we returned to the hotel where we had a party with pizzas and cookies and then to the pool, the girls were playing in the water doing a circle and singing for shifts in our languages, it was so cool.

To the third day we went to Epcot, an interesting enough park for the occasion because it has The World as a topic. This park has games and shows but also has buildings as an attraction reflecting to different countries between them, Italy, Canada, Mexico, France, Japan, China, Germany and Morocco, with shops for to buy typical stuff from these countries. After of to know all park we met front to Canada and we watched the fireworks, this spectacle is called Reflections Earth, what can I say of this show…it was magical. In coincidence of the moment which we are now living the exchange students (friends from around the world) this show was perfect for us and for to finish a great voice said in different languages PEACE IN THE EARTH.

To the fourth day we went to Animal Kingdom where we knew the different sections that to show as Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia, Camp Minnie Mickey and Dinoland U.S.A. with their attractions each one, my favorites are Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids and It’s tough to be to Bug.

This weekend definitively was FUN and FRIENDSHIP.

I AM VERY GRATEFUL with my CHAIRMAN, HOST CLUB, MEMBERS OF ROTARY and everybody that worked in this wonderful weekend.

ALL THE EXCHANGE STUDENTS ARE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WITH DIFFERENT CUSTOMS AND SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES BUT WE ARE JOINED BY THE FRIENDSHIP THAT WE ARE CONSTRUCTING.

THANK YOU FOR THESE PRETTY MEMORIES

Celeste

December/January Journal & Pictures

QUE FUE A TODOS

I am sorry because I have not written in long time, I do not have excuse but I will try do my best telling you what I have done in these two months.

I have to say that December have been the months busier so far, in the beginning of this months my host family and I went over to North Carolina to celebrate Christmas with my host mother’s family, we spend two days. In the second day we were walking around in the stores looking for presents and interesting stuff then late in the afternoon we were ready to start with Christmas dinner, I should say my host grand mom is a excellent cook, she cooked the whole dinner and desserts. After of the dinner we exchanged presents, the little girls and I were Noel delivering the presents to the persons who belong them. That day was special because I could meet the whole family of Cintia.

Before Christmas we had been getting ready all the presents and the letters, my host mom was very busy and she did very well in everything - she prepared the Christmas party of my host sister in her school, also we cleaned the house very well and put the whole Christmas’s decorations. After that the house looked so pretty of course more than how was it, near to Christmas’s eve I was thinking so much of my family, it would be the first time that I would be without my family and I would have in some ways a different Christmas but I am glad to say it was kind a different but it was a good one. The day before Christmas we were getting ready the Christmas’ dinner which was pretty big and good, my host family join with my host father’s family got together for that dinner and we enjoyed sharing conversations and smiles. I remember that I said the prayer and I was so happy because I could say it in English. After the dinner we went over to church where we listened the sermon and the songs of the children which was in three different languages, English, German and Spanish it was pretty cool, to the next day at the morning my host sister called me to open the presents, I got good presents from my host family then we went over to my host father’s sister house where I got more presents, in this last Christmas I talked with God being thankful with him because he has been good with me, taking care and loving my life. Also in December I had my vacations, two weeks out of school which flew away so quickly.

In the last day of December the exchange students went over to Jacksonville to spend New Year’s Eve together. Also we participated in a parade in which Rotary had a float with the theme The Exchange Students Program. We were invited by our chairman Al Kalter, that was the beginning of an amazing day, we were holding our flags and some of us were on the float and others were walking on the street, for me it was an honor holding my flag and screaming my country’s name and wishing to the people a HAPPY NEW YEAR. Everybody were excited - some of us were giving candies to the people, running, sweating but happy for being showing a little bit about us. After the parade we went to one of the houses of the Rotary members and also a host family, they were very nice with us, they made a very special night for us I won't ever forget that night; far away from my family and living a new experience I was with my new and international family, for me was a very special night, everybody was so excited because we knew that, that night will be different and unforgettable for us… Just thinking in that after many years we are going to remember the night in which friends of around of the world got together to celebrate a special day and enjoying the company of each others. The word family was strong that night, I remember when I asked Al Kalter where was his family spending New Year’s Eve and he said that his family was with him. Every one of us are a family, not only the exchange students, but also our chairman, counselors, and everyone who sees us like part of their life.

Another thing that the exchange students did, it was in January when we went to the Interviews in Orange Park, it was very interesting because we could talk about our experience since we came to this country and it was more cool to see the parents to be interested in everything that we could share with them, they were asking us questions about what is the most different thing here that we do not see in our countries? Or what we think it is harder for us staying without our parents? Also we could talk with the students who were trying to get be an exchange student and they were really excited to listen us talk about how wonderful this year is. I could talk with a guy who wants to go to South America and we had a very good conversation with his parents I could see in him how I was before starting this year. I really want that every exchange student who is going to do this wonderful experience can have a great year and enjoy every opportunity that they can have.

Talking about being with the exchange students, there is another thing that I would like tell you to whoever is reading this journal. We went to Key West… Pretty place and very nice people… where we spent four days and three nights. We could see the exchange students from South Florida, and we shared rooms with students from Wisconsin. I really enjoyed to meet the girls in my room because they were so nice and friendly, we exchanged mails and other information. In those days we started with a bell and a pretty good breakfast and after that we were snorkeling per groups, that was very nice because it was my first time doing that and I liked a lot. One of the main things that we did were the speeches. It was very interesting hearing the students speaking about everything that affect in different ways the environment under the ocean; for me was even more interesting because I am from of a place where many of the basic elements of our economy are from the ocean, and for many people who have made their style of life part of the fishing it is really hard to have to face problems that to affect the ocean.

The day in which we leave we were signing the shirts that the people of that place gave us, I got to make sign my shirt of some of the people who work in there and many of the exchange students, I know that that day was the last one in which I could see some to some of the exchange students, I know I am not going to see them again but I will remember each opportunity that I had to enjoy their company, I hope everyone have a wonderful and success life. And I just want that GOD BLESS THEM.

LES ESCRIBO LUEGO

Celeste

February/March Journal

These two months has flown so fast that I can even remember them as it was yesterday, and I am glad to say they were good as the others.

I'll start telling about February, I have to say it was special, in that month I made my speech in my Rotary club, I was so nervous to start talking in front of the Rotary members just because I was afraid they are not going understand me, but hopefully my counselor helped me making a work in power point so I would show pictures of my country and also a video. And I can not forget Annalina, she went to see my speech but also she was helping me with the pronunciation. I am thankful for having her as my friend, my Austrian girl ... jeje.

Bill gave the introduction of my speech and then I started. It was the first time that I spoke to a group like that about my country. I have to say I was so happy to speak about my country because first not many people know much about my country, maybe they have heard the name but that it is all, and I would like the people see my country like I see it - I love that small country, it has all that I need, my family, my church, my friends, my lovely Ecuadorian people and hundreds of beautiful lands. I know maybe the people think that it is not a wealthy country, but I can find the richness in its people. Second it made me think about my family and my life there.

It was a great time with my Rotary club, they were a excellent audience. In the end of my speech I showed them a video about Ecuador, it was really cool because they enjoyed that time and also I could express to them my gratefulness for this wonderful year.

Also in February I went to North Carolina again but this time with one big purpose. My host mom and host sister and I, we wanted see snow, for my host mother would see snow after 8 years, for my host sister the second time but she does not remember the first that she saw snow and for me the first time so it was an exciting travel. We had to go north from the city where we were spending those days, we got to see snow raining and also to play in the snow. I enjoyed the snow fight with Alicia, it was really cold but just playing made us forget the weather and everything around of us.

In March, I changed host family, the family name is Davis. In my new family I have two brothers and four sisters, but I live with two of the girls, Jamie and Allie; my new dad is Jody and my new mom is Cindy, I am enjoying living with them. I am lucky to have them because they are really nice persons with me, also I met Cindy's family and I like them, they are close to each other and that makes me feel that I am living in a big family where you can share everything. I already spent time with my host grandparents, they live in a beautiful house close to the beach where you can take a walk in the sand and talk and also the weather is so nice and warm. It was a great weekend in grandma and grandpa's (like that it is how I call them) house, they made me feel like one of their grandchildren. Grandma taught how make an apple cake and an upside down pineapple cake ... those cakes are so good, I will make them for my family in Ecuador, I am sure they will like it. There is something special in grandma and grandpa's house that I just love see it, they have in the room where I was sleeping on the walls, the pictures of their kids and also of their grandchildren and great grandchildren, They have a big family J.

Also in March, it was my host mom's birthday. Her birthday is on Saint Patrick's Day, so the house was decorated with Saint Patrick's Day stuff and also the stuff that we used for her birthday, like plates, napkins, and also the cake was green thanks to Jamie. It was a big birthday, the family got together and we had a good time. My host mom was very pretty and excited that day. After being in the house celebrating her birthday, we went to downtown to see what it was going on for Saint Patrick's Day. There was a party on the street, it was so cool, the people were dressing up with Saint Patrick's Day stuff and everybody was so happy.

With every experience, every change and each of the host families that I have had, I have learned and have enjoyed. I take everything that can change my life to the better.

Les Escribo Luego

Adios