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Kristijonas "Kris" Vasiliauskas

2008-09 Inbound from Lithuania

Hometown: Vilnius, Lithuania
Sponsor: Vilnius St. Kristoforo Rotary Club, District 1460, Lithuania
Host: South Jacksonville Rotary Club, District 6970, Florida, USA
School: Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Jacksonville, FL
 

Bio

October 28 Journal - "I still wake up with a smile and go to bed with a smile and head full of thoughts about how amazing that day was, the many amazing people I met, and what adventures are waiting for me!"
February 9 Journal - "Now I am a different person, now I love the world and all its people more than ever before. Now I know the world and its people, its culture, more than ever before."
 

Kris' Bio

Hi all. I am Kristijonas Vasiliauskas from real Europe's geographical center that is Lithuania. If you are reading this bio that means that you are or gonna be my friend, Rotarian, past exchange student, or perhaps future Rotary Youth Exchange student. Believe me and my words. To become a Rotary Youth Exchange student is best thing that could possibly happen for you! So don't be afraid to risk and take from life as much as you can! Believe me, you wont regret! And I am saying this not only to future RYE (Rotary Youth Exchange) students but to past, present, or future Rotarians and host families!

And now something about me. As I said in beginning I am Kristijonas Vasiliauskas from the most coziest country in Europe called Lithuania. Lithuania is one of the Baltic states between Poland and Latvia. I was born in 1992 June 25 so that makes me 16 years old. I was born in Lithuania's capital Vilnius. In 2009 Vilnius is Europe's capital of culture.

Back home I have a beautiful family witch contains 5 persons. My father Saulius, My mother Rita, my first brother Mikalojus (10 years old) and second brother Aistis/Salvijus (he is only 3 years old) . I really miss them very much because I love my family very very much. But they are doing good because they also have Michelle, an exchange student from Miami.

My hobbies are various kinds of arts like music, paintings, theatre and dances. In Lithuania I often go with my family to various kind of cultural events, concerts and performances.

My father Saulius is Rotarian from Saint Kristofer Rotary club in Vilnius. He was the one that told me about RYE program. Big thanks to him and all Saint Kristaforas Rotary club that are sponsoring me. I won't disappoint you.

My mother is a part of another Charity club called Warm Hearts Club. She with all other participants in that club makes events for kids which don't have parents or are sick. I always was surrounded by very good and kind people and there is old saying that you can say about person from people that surrounds him.

The other important thing is that I am first exchange student from Lithuania in Florida. So I am doing my best to make good impression and relationships between Lithuania and Florida that other kids from Lithuania could have same experience and emotions like me. And of course Lithuania will always welcome inbound students from all world.

And for the last I wanted to thank to everyone for such a opportunity to be here in America, in Florida. There is no such a word that I can express my gratitude for all Rotarians for everything they have done and are doing for me. For Webs family that are hosting me - I really love them as my real parents. For Douglas Anderson School Of The Arts that they let me study in their amazing school. This year Rotary's theme is to make dreams real. They have already made all of my dreams and more to become reality. Every day here is full of new experience, new emotions. Smile never goes off my face. And that is only because of you all.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

Kristijonas Vasiliauskas from Lithuania

October 28 Journal

Hey all readers!

And here I am again writing about my adventurers as a Rotary Youth Exchange student.

I will start and end my journal with thanks for District 6970 Rotarians and specially for South Jacksonville Rotary Club that makes my time unforgettable. Past 3 months were so amazing! I  still wake up with a smile and go to bed with a smile and head full of thoughts about how amazing that day was, the many amazing people I met, and what unforgettable adventures are waiting for me in future!

The main event for me in past month was 6970 districts RYE students gathering in St. Augustine! It was so amazing! It was so nice to see other exchangers! Spend time with them again! Explore and feel the history and spirit of oldest colony in U.S.A. - St. Augustine! All weekend was full of laugh and smiles! And flash lights of cameras! (I took like 1 thousand pictures). I haven't seen anyone that wasn't smiling! I think that means a lot! We saw old town of St. Augustine, we saw fountain of youth, evening at the beach with alligators tails dinner (the chef was amazing), alligators farm and trip with ancient boat in the ocean with dolphins. Can you believe that? We did everything in one weekend! And that's all because of the Rotary Club of St. Augustine and Rotarians crew that always were with us!

And here I am again and the same problem. I don't know how to express the emotions inside - there are so many people that I am very very thankful for let me being right here and right now. For letting me experience things that I had never experienced before in my life. For letting me to have friends from all world! Biggest thanks to St. Kristaforas Rotary club in Lithuania for sending me here!. Biggest thanks to South Jacksonville Rotary club for hosting me, for St. Augustine Rotary club for amazing weekend in their city! For my weekend host mom Rhonda and dad John! For weekend brother Diego! For my 1st host family the Webbs family! For Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, for District 6970, for my district manager Lee Mercier, for Al Kalter, for amazing weekends that keeping becoming better and better with Bill Learn, and all RYE students!

It's only because of you all I can truly say:

-I AM LIVING!!!

February 9 Journal

Hi to all my beloved Readers. Here is my new journal! And get ready cuz it’s gonna be very very long and still I won’t be able to describe all the amazing things that happened to me during this long period of time! Isn't this crazy? I am living in America for almost 6 months now and everything is getting better and better! I want to invite you all to join going through my experiences as Rotary International Youth Exchange Student!

OK let’s start from:

DISNEY TRIP!

The only place where you can feel that you are 5 years old again is Disney World in Orlando! Disney is amazing by itself but try to put all the exchange students from all over the world and you will get the best place in the world! The real fairytale that wouldn't be able to become reality without Rotarians that put so much time, effort, love, and passion! But as always they made it perfect! We visited all the four parks of Disney World: Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom! Besides that we had very fancy dinner at Epcot park where we all were stunned by unforgettable fireworks and laser performance. At that moment during fireworks show in Italian VIP place for all RYE exchange students everybody felt excitement, and happiness in the air. It was so amazing that there are no words in all the languages (believe me I know a lot of languages) that would describe what I and my all important people for me felt. It was time of miracles - after moments and times like that you really start to believe that miracles exist! Wait there is more!

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S PARTY!

After amazing time in Disney another time of magic and miracles came! It’s CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR IN FLORIDA JACKSONVILLE! I was so excited about all the decorations that were put on the houses, I loved that cozy atmosphere that was floating in the air , the x-mas lights in sunny Florida are so adorable. Christmas morning started very early, my host brothers Logan and Austin woke me up early in the morning and we were all excited to see what Santa brought to us! And as always Santa knew what all (even foreign) kids want! After unwrapping presents we had whole day to enjoy our presents! And in the evening me and my host family had a very very delicious Christmas dinner with all the family. I am really thankful for their love that wrapped me as most beautiful Christmas present paper best gift. Thank you for those amazing moments of my Christmas in your family, in Florida, in America!

After few days to enjoy our presents I left for Jacksonville’s new year parade. There I met my all best friends - other RYE students! We had our own huge and best looking parade float where we all stood and showed to Jacksonville how amazing we all are! We showed our pride, our country flags, our smiles and of course we give some candy for kids and adults. And after exciting time in parade we had the main event of the 2008 year was New Year’s Party! It was so much fun! All night we played pool, table tennis, went to huge swimming pool and hot tub! Super Massage chair and garbage prince Wall-e in Blue Ray, Isn't that cool?! Admired Jacksonville's Fireworks, drank soda! And wished to each other Happy New Years! And there is a saying your new year will be as good as your last year new year’s party. After party like the one we all had we can easily say that this year is and will be the best in our life!

Here are some events from my family life!

During all this time I had so much fun in Chihiro’s B-day party, huge thanks for her! Another Amazing Ralph's sweet-sixteen B-day party! That wouldn't be possible without his amazing Host dad and Rotarian Bill Learn, Huge thanks to him. Another major event in my life here Rotary Youth Exchange student was changing between host families! There is no words to express my gratitude for Webb family. For Paul Webb that always entertained me with his amazing and always interesting stories from his life, for Kimberly Webb that I still love her she is My American Mother Nr.1, huge thanks for her love, for her time, for all the chats that we had, for all the good things that she taught me! For my younger brother Logan Webb, for all the times he made me feel like his real brother, for all the times he made me laugh, for all his sincerity, for my soul brother Austin Webb, for his time, for amazing chess matches, for all the times he made me laugh till I started to cry, for all the good movies we watched, for all the good video game matches we played, for Sarah and Spencer Webb , for their hospitality and smiles, for their love and time. Biggest and most sincere THANK YOU Webbs house for letting me become part of your family! You all are very special people to me. You made this year TIME OF MY LIFE for me! Thank you for letting me feel the warmth of your family’s fireplace fire.

And here I am at the new host family, the Bartholomew family. It contains 5 members. Head of family Scott, Mother of family Laurie, and their three adorable daughters: Kalie, Shannon, and Larsen. Here my life starts again from beginning and everything is so perfect I fall in love with them very fast. They all are amazing people. Every day is full of new discoveries and I am felling how I am improving and learning the best from them. I am very grateful for them that they became my second host family.

Last but not least SEACAMP IN FLORIDA'S KEYS!!

This is was the last official trip with Rotarians and other RYE students from all Florida. And it was Blast! We all went on bus trip from Jacksonville to Keys that took 11-hour bus ride but with best friends from all over the world and full of love Rotarians, time passed faster than you can imagine. Our first stop was at the Dolphins center where dolphins and their trainers were making therapies for special kids. We all were impressed by the results of dolphins therapies. The people that work there are amazing, so passionate about what they are doing, it’s just because of people like that that the world is becoming better place for living.

After dolphin center we went to Seacamp. The first event was cultural night near bonfire. It was really very fun because exchange students were singing their anthems and other songs in their native language on the stage, it was so interesting to hear the variety and difference in different countries and cultures. First day of the Sea Camp we all got our groups and went to start our unforgettable weekend in Florida's Keys by going snorkeling. We all saw lots of sea creatures that instantly made us fall in love with world of underwater. Later that day we had dance that had best atmosphere from the second the DJ started to play music. There is nothing more fun than to see how all the different kids, from different countries and cultures are having time of their life, the biggest adventure of their life, that all those kids are growing, learning, evolving to something new, something majestic and that’s only because of people like Rotarians and Seacamp trainers!

Day after dance we spend learning as much as we can about sea creatures and environment and how we can save it for future generations! That was a lot of fun! Other really interesting city that we visited was the Key West, it’s like paradise on earth, it’s like pictures from the prettiest movies.

And here comes the sad part. After hanging out in Key West we knew that is time to say goodbye to our international friends. There were a lot of tears, but there were tears not of sadness, it was tears of happiness, happiness that we all met each other, that we all spent unforgettable time. After seeing that I realized it doesn't matter how different we are, it doesn't matter that we speak in different languages, at that point I realized that we weren't just exchange students from one or another country of Europe or Asia, at that point we were family, one huge family that lived through the same feelings, like joy of new discoveries, joy of new friends, joy of new families, joy of new life.

In the end I want to remember one thing. One person asked me did I grow? And I answered Yes I did, but I didn't grow as a growing boy, I grew up as person and I grew very much. Now I am a different person, now I love the world and all its people more than ever before. Now I know the world and its people, its culture, more than ever before. Now I can express my emotions better than ever before. Now I am living more than ever before! And I wouldn't be who I am and where I am without my Mother Rita, my Father Saulius, my brothers Mikalojus and Aistis, without all Saint Christopher Rotary Club members, without South Jacksonville Rotary Club, without my first Host family the Webbs, without my second host family the Bartholomews, without Rotarians of all Florida, without Al Kalter, without Bill Learn, without Jody Davis, without Roy Joseph, without Lawrene Bishop, without Louse Anderson, without Marcelle Debande, without Vicky-Lynne Gloger, and without all other Rotarians, without all my friends from here and Lithuania. Without all my friends from all over the world and let’s hope I will see you all soon. As one very smart exchange student once said : “The world is small, we gonna meet each other right behind the corner."

For some emotions, especially emotions that express gratefulness there are no words... let this journal be a small form of gratitude for you all, my friends!

For the end, the best way to understand how it really does feel to be exchange student or part of exchange program is to become one, or become a host family. Let’s make dreams come true together. Let’s all have time of our life!

Sincerely,

Kristijonas Vasiliauskas Lithuania

 


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