Kata "Kate" Stumpf

2007-08 Inbound from Hungary

Hometown: Budapest, Hungary

Sponsor: Budapest Szent Gellért Rotary Club, District 1910, Hungary

Host: Flagler/Palm Coast Sunrise Rotary Club, District 6970, Florida, USA

School: Matanzas High School

Kate's Bio

I'm living in the capital city of Hungary, in Budapest. It's a big, busy and beautiful city. I have a big family; I've 2 sisters and one brother. My older sister Anna is studying in NY now, so she is not very far from me:) I hope that I'll be able to meet with her. My brother Andris is 20 years old he is studying in a University in Budapest, and last but not least my younger sister Sara is 8 years old, she is a very active, lovely and friendly child. My Mom and Dad are very clever and nice people.

I've been doing Synchronized Swimming for more than 9 years. The trainings and the competitions were always a part of my life. And I can do it here in Florida too!!! :)

I'm in Florida since August 8th. wow! It's almost one month! The first days, the first "steps" were hard for me, everything is different, everybody is new... But I started to get use to it. I miss my family, my friends, and everything from Hungary, but now I already know how I have to handle it. I want to enjoy every day in Florida and to take the opportunity, that I can be here...

Last weekend we had our first camp with the Rotary! It was awesome!! I enjoyed it. I met with 30 other exchange students and approximately 10 Rotary members. All of them are really nice and helpful people. I made new friends from all over the World! I'm waiting for the next meeting with you guys.

As an exchange student I'm a very busy person, there is always something to do, somewhere to go. But I like it. I can meet with nice people, learn, teach and discover this new World.

All in all, I've started a totally new and different life here, and I hope that this new life is gonna be unforgettable...

September 22 Journal

My new life has begun on August 8th when I left everybody and everything at home and I've started my new voyage completely alone. I wasn't frightened, rather just very confused. I've never flown alone before, so I was afraid of it a bit. But I enjoyed it. While I was waiting for my flight in Washington, I started to realize, that: 'Oh my God, It has begun!' – I was very confused. After a day traveling, I finally arrived to Orlando.

First days:

The first thing that I've noticed in Florida was the sultry air J It was very strange in the first couple of days… But now I get used to it.

Yes, America is different but meanwhile it is very similar too. I mean that in Hungary we have the same things, just in another way… (so yes, we've cars in Hungary! :) )

Anyway, I'm living in Palm Coast in Florida. It's a relatively small city so it's completely the opposite of Budapest. But I'm here because I wanted to try out something new, something different, and it's very different from my usual life.

My host parents, Jerry and Diane, are very nice people. They really take care of me, and they are trying to show me as much as they can about America. James my host brother is 14 years old. I've never had a younger brother, so now I can experience how it is… J

Experiences so far:

Since I'm here I have lived through a lot of experiences as the others. My first days at school (hard…) my first practices with the synchro team (funny…) my first day at the Beach (beautiful…) the first movie (fun…) the first Rotary club meeting (embarrassed…) and so on. Of course every day is a new experience.

The school:

The first days in the school were very hard. I had to change my schedule several times, but now I like my classes. (My mom told me before I left that 'never give up, always fight for better…') Another hard thing was that here I've all of my classes with different people, so it's harder to make friends. Now, after one month in the school I can say that I've got used to it. And I like it J

My synchro team:

If you are an exchange student, the best thing that you can do if you want to have fun and make friends is to join a club. I'm very lucky because besides that I'm in the dance team in the school, I can practice with the synchronized swimming team too. I love it! I feel like I've become a member of a big family…

I'm looking forward to the next ROTARY experience, I hope you guys are having fun…

October 18 Journal

Here I am... again… More than two and a half month here. I've felt more feelings since I'm here than during my whole life… It's just weird. My feelings are like a roller coaster, up and down, up and down. I get used to the every days here. The school starts at 7:30 and although the classes seems still very long (because in Hungary they are just 45 minutes), I like the most of them, so the time is flying… After school I have to get my homework done real fast, because I have trainings at night. I love to go to the trainings, and actually I like it better than the school:) My coach and the girls are really nice, and we always have so much fun…

At the weekend I have always something to do. My host family keeps my busy, so actually my calendar is full for the next two months :)… Some of the biggest experiences, that I have lived through in the last month:

In the end of September my host family, Laura and I went to the Universal Studios. I bought a ticket for the whole year, so I can go every time (thus if anyone is planning to go, call me!:) ). Anyway we had a really good time. The roller coasters (though they are not as scary as I thought…), the 3D rides, the biggest Hard Rock Cafe (yeah) and everything were just fabled. Of course I'm gonna go back several more times…

An other big experience was the homecoming week, and the dance, of course J During the homecoming week we had to dress up every day different ways (crazy hair day, twin day, jersey day, nerd day and spirit day). For me the crazy hair day was the best. It was so much fun. I colored my hair with pink, green and purple paintings… Friday evening was the homecoming game. It was fun but actually the cheerleaders were better than the football players. Yes, our team is very bad… therefore I don't want to tell the result. Believe me, very bad J

Saturday was the dance. I was so excited. And yes, just like in the movies… I went to the hairdresser, to straighten my hair, well actually the plan was to make curls, but finally it turned to straight hair. And I loved it, it was something different, hmmm yeah, for the first one hour… Why? Because it rained for a while… J and everybody knows what happens with the straight hair if it's raining or just sprinkles . Ok, that's enough about my hair J So I met with my friends, took pictures, and had dinner…I enjoyed it, it was so much fun. And finally the dance at the school. It was pretty good, however the way how the girls are dancing here, is a bit weird (and not just for me, the other exchange students noticed tha same…).

The last and at the same time the best BIG experience, the fall weekend with the Rotary. Oh my gosh, it was awesome! My best times here are always with the other exchange students. Why? Because on one hand we are very different but on the other hand we are very similar. What do I mean? I mean that we are from different countries, from different cultures, but at the same time we have the same feelings, we notice the same things here, and we live through the same experiences. Sometimes I can't converse with my school friends, because we don't have the same experiences, the same feelings, but with the guys we always have fun. Anyway, we had a great time at the Kennedy Space center, and in Winter Park. I love to spend the time with you guys, and with the adults as well as they are the nicest people I've ever met. Thank you Rotary! I'm really thankful… I think every meeting is better and better, and our relationship is getting stronger as well. I can't imagine how I'm gonna feel at the last meeting.

I'm looking for the next month. It's gonna be so much fun… Just a bit taste of it: Halloween, Fall Festival, musical (RENT-oh yeah!!!), Thanksgiving-Washington J etc.

On the whole, I have a good time here so far, even if sometimes I'm homesick, or feel lonely, because now I have friends, who I can fall back on… GO FLAGLER KIDS!:)

For farewell: Never forget:

Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.

December 29 Journal

5 months in Florida… I don't know who said to me that the first 3 months are the hardest months, but I can maintain, she was right. Now, I started to feel, that the end of this experience approaches so fast. I already have plans for all the remaining months and I have so many goals that I need to achieve before I leave. But I know that I can do it. Because I've already learned so much here.

I learned how to look always on the good side of everything and being able not to care about things that you cannot change in… I think this is the way to achieve a successful year. I also learned how to utilize all the offered opportunity. I changed my host family almost a month ago. Honestly, it wasn't hard for me, I was looking forward it. This is why we are here. To experience new things and different ways of life. Now, I'm living with Niky's (from Taiwan) first host family. They are a lovely couple, who really make me feel comfortable here. Moreover, I feel myself very lucky, because my coach and her family take care of me as well. They are the nicest family I've ever met with. Funny, because when I came her they told me that I'll likely have just one or two host families, but see now I have two at the same time:)

I was a bit worried before Christmas. I thought that obviously it's going to be hard, since I've never spent this holiday without my loved ones. But it wasn't. I spent Christmas Eve with my coach's family and my friends, and Christmas day with my host family. Actually I was very happy, because I've just realized how lucky I am, that they are here for me.

I also had an amazing time in Disney World with the other exchange students. These four days just enriched the collection of the unforgettable experiences I will always remember. Not just from the hundreds of photos that we took, but I won't forget the feeling of standing before Cinderella's sparkling castle with wet eyes because you just realized how lucky you are…

2735 miles, 13 states… My trip to Washington and back… My first host family took me for a trip up north. I'm so thankful for them. It was beautiful. We drove through 13 states and I've seen more in this one week, than somebody during their entire life. The peak was of course Washington. Honestly, I think I fell in love… I love that city, and I've decided, that I'm gonna go back sometime….

I could continue this list of my experiences for long (Halloween, school, birthday parties…), but I need to go and LIVE them. I need to go and make somebody happy, because those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.

February 27 Journal

7 months have already passed and I feel magnificently. I can maintain, my strategy proved to be good… I made people happy and I got all that love back, or more… I got a big family in the person of my synchro team. And now, here I am, this Hungarian girl, who in the first month of this year just wanted to get through everything, just wanted the time to fly because she missed everything, but now she could cry every night when she realizes again and again, that one day (that is approaching very fast) she has to leave this family here. FOREVER.

I consider myself very lucky, that I found this team, who really cares about me, makes me happy every day, and brings sunshine in my life... I don't know what I would do without them. Now, I'm trying not to pay attention on the time's flying, and make the best use of my remaining time here…

But let's see how I am doing in in the year of 2008… I had a competition in the beginning of January, in Tampa. And guess what?! I won! I came back with two gold medals hanging on my neck moreover with the feeling of contentment, that even more people know about Hungary… I also got to see the Olympic National team's performance in Sarasota, which reminded me of the years, when I was in the national team in Hungary…

Shortly afterwards, all the 30 or more exchange student attacked the Sea camp… We had a wonderful, full of fun and at the same time educational weekend there. The environment and the whole underwater world with all of its beauty was just amazing!!

February begun with an other synchro meet in Washington D.C., which wasn't my age's competition, subsequently I couldn't compete there. But I went with the team anyways, helped them by coaching and cheered for them… They did an awesome job, Flagler synchro belles rock! We surmounted the field and collected approximately 15 medals. I also got to see some of the monuments in DC again. But for me, it's never enough of DC! This weekend was my best weekend since I'm here, I really felt loved and part of a team…J

The school is much better now, since I am able to really be a part of the classes. I don't feel "isolated" anymore, I'm not afraid of starting conversations with the teacher, and so on…

Eventually, my host family… They are exceptional! Since I'm with them, I have no problems at all. I've started to truly enjoy my being here. They are doing an incredible job, I'm so thankful… But you know what does 7 months mean? Moving again. Yes again. I've just realized that the time came by… The time to begin another experience… And at this time I don't have any doubt. I'm strong, confident and brave. I'm able to make my dreams come true, I just have to believe it, everything else is given.

March 31 Journal

Another month passed, I didn't even think about writing a journal, because I feel like it was two weeks ago when I sent my last one. But no, it was more than a month ago. So I think now it's obvious for everybody, that how we, exchange students feel about the time's flying at this time of the year. So I don't want to talk about it anymore, it's depressing enough…

I had another meet in the beginning of March, in Coral Springs. It was a very important meet, since I had to get good scores there… And I did! I qualified to attend the U.S. nationals, which is the biggest championship in the US. I'm so happy, because even though I have to practice very hard now, and probably I won't get a very good place there, since just the best of the swimmers are gonna be there, I know, that it will be so much fun, and such a good and unforgettable experience. So now, I'm really into the practicing, I'm trying to go to the pool as much as I can. And my new host family makes it even easier! I changed host families in February, at this time the last, and now I'm living very close to the pool which significantly makes my life so much easier since I have the opportunity to go there by myself whenever I want to. (It's such a big thing in Palm Coast!!) It means so much for me, since I always felt a little bit "handicapped" here, in Palm Coast, so this makes me feel more independent in some way…

Anyways, my new host family is really good, I have no problems whatsoever, and we get along really well.

My parents came last weekend for 4 days. It was such a good feeling to spend some time with them. You know, even though by this time I have a few people who really make me feel being loved, it could never be a love that my parents give me. Their love is unique and unfungible. I missed the feeling as well... The sense of being totally relaxed, totally myself, totally comfortable. Because even though I'm really enjoying myself here, I could never feel like I'm home, I'm always a guest here at some point…

They left, but I'm not sad at all, since I know, that I'm gonna see them in THREE, yes, only three month. That's nothing.

I'm anxious. I want to do so many things before I leave, but I'm that kind of person, who leaves everything on the last minute… So now, I just keep writing the list about the things that I have to do, but this list keeps growing instead of decreasing…

I'm pretty comfortable with my English now, even though my expectations are very high… I'm never content with it, since my main goal of this year is the language. Accordingly this is the first on my long list, and it always stays the first. Then comes everything else, as far as friends, culture, fun, love, happiness… and there is one key for the whole list, for this whole year… Be positive, open, live and never forget to give love.

May 4 Journal

It's pretty depressing, that it's already May. But I had an amazing April, that couldn't have been better. I'm trying to spend my last month with those people who I really love here. Yes, LOVE. I've never thought that actually I will get this close to people here… I'm giving thanks every day for God that I'm here. School is OK, Prom is next weekend, so I'm excited, but it's almost over…Just a few more days left… So basically my best times are with my synchro team, my big family… I love them so much.

Two weeks ago was the ROTARY DISTRICT CONFERENCE. I had to leave earlier, but it was, just amazing! Kevin did such a good job with his speech, he almost made every single person in the room cry. I carried the Hungarian flag proudly for the Hungarian anthem, which I haven't heard for such a long time… I remember standing there, wearing my ROTARY blazer, holding my own flag, and I looked at Lea who was crying… She made me think about how special and lucky we are, and how thankful I am for all these Rotarians, who really take the time, FOR US!

So sadly I had to leave earlier, but it was worth it. We had a competition in Brandon. It was a really important one and all of us did great! I got first place and all of the girls got at least one medal! So Flagler County can be really proud of the synchro belles…J By the way we were in the newspaper, I hope some of you got to read it… Aw, and before I forget it, on June 1s we're giving a water show, so if anyone wants to come, just contact me! J

I just got back from Arizona where the US Nationals was held. It was the biggest competition in the US. I went there with my coach, since I qualified for that earlier. It was fabulous and amazing experience! I got 17th! Which is pretty good, since it was a very hard competition. Arizona was… hmm, well, it was good to see the US from and other aspect, but honestly it's not my "style". It was too bleak and dry.

So that's all for now. Tomorrow back to school again, which is always hard after a really good weekendJ. I'm really happy now and I don't wanna think about going back yet, even though I have to decide my departure date soon, which is really hard.

Post-exchange Journal

It's time to give an end to my journal… And believe it or not, my fairytale has a HAPPY END! This past year has got the biggest and brightest page in the book of my life. The biggest because I experienced more than ever in this year and the brightest because I became truly HAPPY by the end of this journey!

But let's go back to June and July, what happened to me in the last months. First of all the unmissable PROM! The highlight of the school year the dance where everybody looks just about perfect. I was expecting something like what I saw in the movies before and I have to say that yes it was almost the same, with the exception that at this time I was the princess, dancing in the spotlight J. I found the perfect dress for myself and I think that was very determinative because it made me feel comfortable and confident. So we took pictures (of course) at my friend's house before we left to the actual prom. There were a bunch of girls and NICKY J I bet it was a blast for him… The dance was really good, we had a dinner there and disco (kind of…). The whole thing ended around 11-12 but then we kept partying somewhere else… All in all it was a really nice experience J. For me, it was the last big happening in school. For everyone else all kinds of important exams followed. School ended quickly and quietly…

The month of June was just CRAAAZY ! I went to the Western tour organized by the ROTARY. I have seen more than some Americans in their whole life!!! It was a bus tour, started from Phoenix, ended in Arizona. We visited uncountable beautiful and amazing places such as Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Yellowstone, Klamath Falls, San Francisco, Las Vegas and so on…. And the company!!! Gosh! More than 100 exchange students from all over the World! It was so exciting to get to know each other.

After I got back to Florida I had to leave again. My plane to New York left 2 hours after my other one from Las Vegas arrived. I was so worried that I'm going to miss the connection. And I did. :) LOL My whole synchro team was there waiting for me to go to a competition, but they had to leave without me since my other plane was late and they didn't let me check in. I tried to say everything but it was too late. So finally I went after the team a day later.

So the competition was in New York, called US age group nationals… Since I'm a foreigner, I wasn't allowed to compete, so I went as an assistant coach, helping my coach. I had the best time ever. The girls did really good and I was so proud of them. They made me cry several times and I felt loved by them in every single moment…

After the competition we stayed in Manhattan with one of my friend's family and my coach's family. During the one week that we spent there I never felt that I'm not part of the family. I was happy, excited, cherished, and I enjoyed every single fragment of being there… It was amazing that I have been there only once before and I felt like knew the city for a long time. I was confident by going anywhere and I could always orientate myself…

Once we got back to Palm Coast I felt like I'm a stranger. I haven't been there for a month by that time!! And it was time to start packing, saying goodbye to everyone, preparing myself for the big day, the departure.

I spent my last days with those people whom I really became attached to. They made my last days perfect! We made a Hungarian dinner, that we never had time for. It came out really good! I took a whole day to prepare all the foods but it worth it J. I got beautiful presents from the team that proved our really close and deep relationship we developed. The last day was one of the hardest days in my life! I can't really describe how I exactly felt but I know that I was totally broken inside. I couldn't imagine my life without those people.

Here I am now, sitting in my room, realizing that I can't really pass my feelings and my experiences over because without being in it, nobody can understand it. Almost two months have passed since I got back to Hungary. I'm over the days of realization, the emotional valley, and much more effects that an exchange student has to face at this time….

I'm glad, because I got amazing experiences and developed deep relationships that NOBODY can take away from me! I believe that God made me leave my country into the unknown world, because something was missing from my life… So I took the chance and now I know what was missing. I'm living according to what I've learnt in this past year and with ALL THAT LOVE THAT I GOT THERE!!!

I had bad, hard days and good, fabulous days just like everybody else. Fortunately I had more of the good. But I would never wish not to have those bad days. Those days made me stronger, taught me so much about life and made me become who I am now. What you get by reaching your destination is not nearly as important as what you become by reaching that!!!

My journey to the Enchanted World ended, but I still want to tell you just a little bit about what I am doing now… Believe it or not, I'm still in the process of organizing all my stuff in my room. Yes, I've already unpacked my 3 giant luggages, but I still don't feel like I'm totally settled down.:) My family is hosting an exchange student, Drake from Florida. He is doing really good and my whole family is enjoying having him in the house. Now it's even more crowded J. Can you imagine 4+1 kids? Crazy, but I like it… I got accepted to the best Law University in Hungary. So I'm starting school soon. Moreover! I've been selected for the National Duet in synchronized swimming and we are practicing for the World Championship next year. It will be in Rome in July so EVERYONE! that would be a perfect time to visit Laura and cheer for me! :D Finally, I went to a traditional Ball in Hungary and I got selected as the second prettiest… It was an amazing experience I felt like I was in a real fairytale!!! All in all I'm fine back in my own country even though I'm missing Florida a lot but I have to bow to the fact that the time is over, I have to start my new life, using all that I have learnt in the following year.

I'm wishing the BEST TIME for all the exchange students and Rotarians! Love, Kate