Belen Lara T.

2008-09 Inbound from Spain

Hometown: Garrapinillos, Spain

Sponsor: Zaragoza Rotary Club, District 2210, Spain

Host: Gainesville Rotary Club, District 6970, Florida, USA

School: Buchholz High School, Gainesville, FL

Bio

Belen's Bio

Hello! I’m Belen Lara and I’m an exchange student from Spain. I’m 15 years old. In Spain I live at home with my father, mother, and my younger brother Fernando (12). I live in Zaragoza, a big Spanish city with 1,000,000 people.

I like playing tennis and dancing. I usually play tennis 4 times a week and on the weekend I play some matches. I really like traveling everywhere and when I’m older I’d like to travel all around the world.

From August 7th I’m in Gainesville, it’s a city that has a population of 250,000 and it has the University of Florida (the second largest university in all the USA). My family is very nice and they have given me everything that they had. Here I’ve got 3 sisters, but one of them has gone to Argentina (Zhoe) as an exchange student. I’ve got a little brother too, Dakota, he’s so cute and he’s always saying Belen =)

Also, I’m a sophomore in Buchholz High School. It’s a huge school, it has 3,000 people and 8 or 9 buildings (it’s a folly!).

I’m very excited to live this year in Florida, The Sunshine State =), so I can know about another culture and language way different to that of my family.

Hugs, Belen!

September 10 Journal

My new life started on August 7th. I went from Madrid to Orlando but before I had to be in Philadelphia airport. The trip was very long because I had to be 9 hours in the plane to Philadelphia and then 2 hours to Orlando. It was very boring and I couldn’t sleep so it was more boring. When I was in the plane I remembered all things that had happened in my life and It was hard because I didn’t want to leave my family, but I had chosen going to USA to start a new life far from my family. I know it’s hard, very hard sometimes, but I think that it’s good for you and for your future because you’re going to learn a new language and a new culture. It’s good for me.

Since I was here I’ve lived a lot of moments and I’ve done things that I hadn’t never done. To be here is like a dream come true. Each moment that you’re here is better than the past.

Arrive at Orlando airport:

The arrival was at 9 pm at Orlando airport. There were a lot of people (including my 1st and 2nd host family). I felt very welcomed because everybody had paper where there was my name, Belen Lara, it was a very exciting moment for me because I was very nervous (I didn’t know what was happen here and I didn’t know who was going to take me at the airport, how they receive me, etc), so thank you to everybody who were there that day.

First days:

They were very confused because I couldn’t understand any question, any word, any English! The first days are very funny too because everything is new for you and you like all. I tried to speak through gestures and signs because nobody understands you and you don’t understand anybody, so it’s very hard to communicate the first days. First days I was in a Rotary meeting in Gainesville were I met Borna (other exchange student from Croatia) and a lot of people who tried to help me in every moment. I was also with Zhoe (an exchange student that she was going to Argentina –right now she is in Argentina- and both were very exciting to be there)

My First Host Family:

They’re so kind! They live in Gainesville and they have a farm close home. I’ve got 2 host sisters (16 and 15 years old) and 1 little brother (2 years old =)). They only eat healthy food and a lot of fruit (that’s good for me=)). They have a gym and a tennis court. They have milk and eggs when they want because they have a lot of chickens, 2 cows and a pig.

My School:

Buchholz High school =). It’s a huge school because it has 2,500 students. There are people from any place of the world: Chinese people, South American people, Spanish people, French people, Hungarian people, and African people and so on. It’s great for me because in some classes people who speak my language (Spanish) can help me if I don’t know something. In this school everybody has a car, everybody! In Spain you can drive when you’re 18, but here you can drive when you’re 16. I’ve taken World history, French, Algebra, Biology, English and Spanish =). English class is very hard for me because it isn’t my language and everybody can speak English except me. It’s the most difficult class.

Orientation weekend:

Orientation weekend!,, wow! It was great. We had a lot of fun, we could meet us. It was a wonderful weekend. Everything was great and fun. There were 67 people from all over the world (Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Norway, Peru, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Turkey). Amazing people but I couldn’t meet all them because there were too many people to meet and you couldn’t meet each of them. I can’t explain - you have to live that to explain it.

Also here, I’ve been in a Gators’ game (go Gators!) with my second host family. It’s a crazy place where everybody is screaming. Gators are the University of Florida team and all Gainesville is with them (well, all Gainesville and more places =))

This 1st month here has been amazing because I’ve met a lot of new people (really good people), I’ve improved my English, I’ve been in places that I’ve never been before, I’ve done things that I couldn’t imagine that I could do. Sometimes I’m homesick, but I think that it’s a normal feeling because you’re far from your family and you love them.

This year is being an exciting year. Thank you. Belen!

November 8 Journal

- Si no supiera donde estoy, pensaría que estoy soñando.

That is a good sentence to describe my life here, sorry if someone can’t understand it (you always can use a translator =))

My life here is very different than my regular life in Spain. I like living here but, sometimes, it’s very hard and you miss a lot your family but, of course, you spend great moments here. It’s very different the feelings that you live, you can cry and you want to return to your country, and then sometimes you would like to live here your entire life. I know, they’re completely opposite feelings, but I’m feeling them.

I’ve been here 3 months. 3 great months I’m going to remember them my whole life. Good and bad moments but they are part of this life. Of course there are more good moments than bad. I’ve really enjoyed these 3 months because I have to enjoy every single moment I spend here because in less than 7 months I’m going to return to Spain and it’s going to be hard because I’m going to leave here a part of my life, a good part of my life. But I knew that before I came here so I have to live with that.

School

Buchholz! Of course it’s one of the best schools ever (or the best =)). There are a lot of people there and that is really fun because you are discovering new things every single day and that is really cool. Classes are very easy! I thought they were easy but now, I’m living how easy classes are!. My grades are 6 A’s! I don’t know how people can fail their classes =S.

I’m really happy with my school because there are a lot of activities to do and a lot of events that you can go and of course, wonderful people! I’ve made a lot of friends there and they are the best friends I could have. My school is also very cool because the principal speaks Spanish (so if I have any problem I can talk with him in Spanish=)), well, here, everybody speaks Spanish so it’s bad for my English but good for me =). My favorite class is Spanish (of course!) and some days ago we made a cultural. There you have to take food (something Hispanic) and everybody eats and there is no class! It’s really fun and food is really good.

Homecoming week

It was a really funny week because every day there was something different. Each day there was a theme and some people dressed up with clothes about that theme. There was a Fairy Day, Beach Day, Safari Day, Celebrity Day and Black&Gold Day. Also students haven’t got homework! (Well, some teachers). It was a “free” week and people dressed up very weird=)

Homecoming dance

It was absolutely great! From that day I am happy, and a lot of my problems were forgotten there. September 26, 2008. I went with my host sister Sierra and her friend Natasha. We had met with more people in the dance so we weren’t alone. There were a lot of people and food. Music was a bit loud but ... that is homecoming!

American people dance different than in Spain. Music is also different because we don’t usually dance rap or hip hop but I tried to dance as well as I could. I made a lot of friends there and from that day I really love them.

A normal night in my crazy house=)

My night time is one of the best moments in my day. I usually (well, always) go to my sister’s bedroom (Sierra) and while she does her homework we talk. Sometimes (when she hasn’t got any homework), we dance, record videos, take pictures, etc. I really have fun with her. I consider her like a sister. She has helped me a lot since I am here and she is always trying to do things with me. She is the best host sister =)

English

Well, this is hard for me. In Florida there are a lot of Hispanic people so it’s easy to find one. I try to speak English all the time but sometimes it is hard. However, my English is better and better each day. Now, I can understand almost everything. To speak is harder but with time and work I’ll improve it. From now I have just 6 or 7 months more so I have to work very hard and I have to try to learn as much English as can be possible.

St. Augustine. Rotary weekend =) d.6970

It was great! We had a lot of fun and we could meet more other exchange students and wonderful families that they hosted us in their houses (Thank you!). We went to the beach (and we ate alligator), to the alligator’s farm, to a big ship and to go shopping in St. Augustine. I am waiting for the next Rotary get-together (Disney!!). Thank you everybody for that amazing weekend =)

Thank you Rotary for giving me this life time experience, because this is more than an experience, this is a dream that if you hadn’t given me I couldn’t be living it. Thank you so much.

Kisses, Belen =)

December 19 Journal

Hello everybody!

After more than a month I’m going to write an entry again, because in this last month there are a lot of new things in my life.

ELECTIONS

I’ve been in one of the most exciting elections ever! America was crazy about them, everything was about it, they were all the time on TV, teenagers were talking about them at school, people was promoting his candidate and we had to vote secretly, EVERYTHING was around them.

Finally, Obama won. Some people were happy and some people not but you have to know when your ideas aren’t accepted and when they are.

SEA FOOD FESTIVAL

My Rotary club organized a sea food festival. It was on November 6. I went there with my counselor Margaret and her husband John. Borna was there too. It was so much fun and we ate too much! At the end of the festival I had stomach ache. There were a lot of sea food, fish and desserts, it was really fun. Next day I couldn’t wake up from bed but I had to go to school anyway so I did what I could.

OUTBOUND’S INTERVIEWS

ON November 15th to November 16th, some exchange students went to Palatka to help Rotary with the Outbounds for 2009/2010. It was kind of hard because we had to be the whole days walking and talking with parents. Of course there was time to have fun and eat =P. At night all the girls were together in the same house. It was fun and the host family was super nice with us (Thank you!).

LAST GATORS GAME

Of course, we won! And it was 70-19 =)…not all football teams win with that difference of points!

Allen’s family invited me to go with them, it was so much fun but it was sooo cold! Brooke and I (my second host sister) were with a blanket all the time! ... it was around 40’s =S… But it was the last game and I was there (Go Gators!)

THANKSGIVING!!!

Oh my god! I’ve never eaten so much in my life and also, food was so good!

I made “tortilla de patata” and cookies. Everybody liked them and of course, we ate turkey!

After Thanksgiving we had food in the fridge for one week!! There were a lot of leftovers (and they were so good too!)

It was a special day because a lot of people were in the house and we were talking, eating, sitting, relaxing… It was really fun and I’d like to celebrate it next year in Spain with my family. I know they’d love it!

DISNEY

First of all,,, thank you Rotary for this wonderful experience, it really was a dream come true and you were the responsible of it. Thank you so much.

Disney was absolutely great, wonderful, super cool, unbelievable, fantastic, incredible … you cannot explain it with words it … it was just amazing!

We went on December 4th to 7th (of course we missed 2 days of school =D) and we met in All Star Movies Resort (the hotel was so cool. It had a lot of statues of movies and it had a big and warm pool!). We went to Hollywood studios and we were in a lot of places (of course, we went to the Rock n’ Roll coaster and to The Tower of Terror!). Next day we went to Magic Kingdom (my favorite park =D) and it was like a movie. The Castle of Cinderella was just beautiful! And at night it had lights and they were changing colors… There, I loved “it’s a small world” and “Space Mountain” (we were there like 3 times!).

On Saturday we went to Epcot…Here we were in a special program before everybody went inside the park. We had a guide and she was showing us things in this park. It is the best park if you like cultures but if you like exciting attractions, this is not your park. Well, Mission Space was pretty good. It was like you were in a spaceship and your face and your body looked like you were there! It was really cool.

We were eating in Italy. We had a reservation in front of Italy’s pavilion and we saw the fireworks (they were just great!). After Epcot we went to the hotel knowing it was going to be our last night together.

Last day. It was really short day! We started in Animal Kingdom at 8:30-9 and we finished at 2! We should be there the whole day but, next day there was school so we had to say goodbye to everybody and each one of us went to our homes knowing this trip had been one of our best moments in America (and in my case, one of the best moments in my life).

FAMILY CHANGE

This has been one of the weirdest feelings I’ve ever felt.

2 days after Thanksgiving I moved with the Allen’s. I had been the whole day sad (and crying most of it) and when I was going to say my last goodbye I started crying again. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to move with my second host family (because I love all of them) but, you have been 3 or 4 months with the same host family and finally you feel like you are one of them, for good or bad things. I really love every single body in that family. Sandra, Jackie, Randy, Sierra, Havana and the small Dakota.

Now I’m in other house, with other family and they are great! I really love them. We have always something to do and they are always trying me to do new things. They are a really good family and I’m sure I’m going to miss all of them a lot when I come back to Spain. Thank you Allen’s family for your welcome, it really made me feel at home.

Also, thank you Rotary. Not just for Disney, it’s for everything you all do every single day. Rotary is making my dreams come true. Thank you to my counselor because she is always doing things with me and she is always worried about my life. Thank you to my host Rotary club because I’ve met amazing people in it and they have always something for me. Thank you to Rotary in Florida. Thank you to my family because they let me do this. Thank you to my Rotary club in Spain to sponsor me. And thank you to everybody who makes me smile every single day.

I love you guys! Belen :)