Maria Paz Arends G.

2008-09 Inbound from Ecuador

Hometown: Ibarra, Ecuador

Sponsor: Ibarra Rotary Club, District 4400, Ecuador

Host: Kissimmee Bay Rotary Club, District 6980, Florida, USA

School: St. Cloud High School, St. Cloud, FL

Bio

Maria Paz' Bio

Hola a todos! Hi everybody! I'm Maria Paz from Ecuador "the centre of the world." Well, it is. Probably you didn't know this but Ecuador is located on the Equator, that's why the name of the country is Ecuador. And if you still are a little bit lost yet about my wonderful country, let me tell you that it's very famous because we have the Galapagos Islands! I've been there a few years ago and it's a true paradise!

I live in Ibarra, "the white city," because guess what? Most of the houses there are white! haha. It's a small city bordered by mountains and a lot of lagoons, everything is actually very close so you don't need a car. That's why this is a big change for me, because here in Florida everything is spread out and you must have a car! haha but well I think I'm getting used to it.

I'm the oldest of four children, that definitely means a lot of responsibility! Believe me, it is very hard work! it's not easy to be the "step mom" haha. But here I live just with my parents and I have to confess, I always used to complain about it, but I miss so bad my noisy siblings! It's weird to be alone at home with nobody to argue jeje.

This is a year of a lot of challenges and changes, happy and hard moments, but as exchange students we all need to enjoy every minute here because I'm pretty sure that everyone noticed that the time here has been passing faster than we thought it was going to.

I think that one of the best things of being an exchange student is that we are never gonna be the same guys when we decide to be part of this amazing adventure, because even if you don't realize it, we are growing with every day here, every experience and challenge.

I just can say that this has been starting to be the most amazing experience of my life! And that's all thanks to Rotary. I can't even express how glad I feel that you gave me this opportunity!!!

The best wishes for everyone! With love from the Ecuadorian girl,

Maria Paz

December 8 Journal

Hi everyone! I had my first change already and I have to say I'm really happy with my new family, they are awesome people! We went to Tallahassee to the FSU homecoming game and we have a wonderful time there! I also have to tell you guys that I went to New York City for Thanksgiving with my family and a big group of people from my host family church!!!

I was literally freezing! hahaha but I had a wonderful time! New York it's just amazing!!! I felt like I was in a middle of a movie hahaha but it's also very expensive! We were in the statue of liberty, the museum of natural history, we went ice skating in central park, a play in Broadway "the wicked witch" (unbelievable!), the Rockefeller Center to see New York at night, the Macy's Thanksgiving parade was incredible!!! and I also met my best friend there! She is an exchange student there so that was the best part for me...

School is going really good! I'm in the drama class and I already had my first performance! I was fricking nervous that day but the performance was amazing! haha...A lot of my friends at school are exchange students because there are like 30 exchange students from different exchange programs! I know, it's crazy! hahaha.

I'm starting to feel like in home already, to getting used to the American culture also what it's really good...I bet it's the same with all of you guys, it's amazing how fast is the time going! We are almost in the middle of our year, so we all have to enjoy every minute here!!!... I just want to say thank you all guys for this awesome weekend at Disney! I bet everyone had a great time! I can't wait to see you again!!!

I wish you a HAPPY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!!! At this time I'll be in Montana, probably freezing hahaha! It's gonna be hard to communicate with you so I send you all a big hug and I hope you have a great time with your families!!!

Thanks Rotary! and happy merry Christmas!!!

January 11 Journal

Happy New Year everybody! I hope you all had great Holidays! Mine were wonderful!!!

On Christmas day my host family took me to the cold Montana, and believe me it was very cold! haha the lowest temperature was -25 degrees F! The extreme-ist temperature I've ever been. They have a cabin in the middle of the mountain, close to a little town named Kalispell. Beside the cold everything was amazing! The view is just indescribable! I've seen snow but never that much. I learned to ski! Of course after a few falls I finally figured it out, and I just loved it!

On  January 15 we are going to ski again in Tennessee! I'm so excited!, but well back to the cold Montana, and talking about Christmas day; we went to ski and we spent all the day in the ski resort, by the way our third and last day skiing; it was weird though cause I didn't feel it like Christmas day haha, we opened presents at night and we didn't have a big meal as I used to back home, it was very different but I liked it...let's say that was a Christmas that I'll never forget!

After a wonderful 10 days in Montana we went back to the hot Florida a day after that we expected because the airplane that was going to take us to Florida form Utah didn't make it so we spent a whole day in Salt Lake City in Utah haha...

New Years Eve was very calm for us, nothing special; we went to the movies and then we went back to receive the new year at home. This week it's gonna be crazy and tired cause I have my final exams at school and I'm gonna need good luck lol .

Well that's all for now...I'm just waiting to see you all again in Seacamp!...