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Marzena "Marzen" Frankowicz

2008-09 Inbound from Poland

Hometown: Kielce, Poland
Sponsor: Kielce Rotary Club, District 2230, Poland
Host: Davie/Cooper City Rotary Club, District 6990, Florida, USA
School: Nova High School, Davie, FL
 

Bio

September 22 Journal - "As I’m meeting more people, the school is getting more interesting for me. It’s not really challenging so far and I’m doing rather good, but we will see how it will be later."
November 21 Journal - "We could explore the beauty of Everglades National Park, talk till we want to, get bitten by plenty of mosquitoes, and just have fun in general."
March 29 Journal - "As everybody can see my exchange is VERY interesting. Everyday I am able to do stuff that I wouldn't ever be able to do at home; for example we don't have alligators in Poland!"
 

Marzen's Bio

Hi everybody ! My name is Marzena (Marzen) and I’m 16 years old. I am exchange student from Kielce, Poland. Kielce is rather big city (about 205,000 inhabitants) situated in central Poland. It’s about 3 hours from the capital of my country - Warsaw. In Poland, I live only with my parents, because my sister Magda and my brother Maciek are already at the universities. Actually my sister graduated about 3 months ago and sooner or later she will start to work as a pediatrician. My brother is still studying: German and law at the university in Szczecin, Poland.

In America I attend Nova High School, which is in Davie. At first I didn’t really like it, but now I’m slowly getting used to it.J

In my free time I love to take pictures, draw, snowboard, play tennis, listen to music, read books and meet with my friends.

I came to Florida 7th August, now I’m here for more than a month. Time is passing so fast here! I like the weather here, because it’s so warm. At the beginning the weather was a problem for me, because it differs a little from Polish weather, but I’m getting better!

I’m really enjoying my exchange here and I‘m glad that such an opportunity was given to me! I want to say thank you to the Rotary Club from my city in Poland and to the Rotary Club that is hosting me here! My year here has started so nice and I hope it would finish in the same way!

September 22 Journal

Time is passing so fast in here!

1. Exchange students:

We already had our first Inbound weekend and I did really enjoy it. I met a lot of new people from different countries and it was great! I just regret that the orientation weekend was so short ! I’m looking forward to seeing all of the exchange students again in Disney World.

2: Host Family

My 1st family that I am hosted by are Janet and Dave . I’m really glad that I have host parents like that. They’re helping me a lot with everything. They’re always here when I need them! I can really talk with them about everything. We don’t have any problems and I hope we will not have any in the future. Besides parents at my host family’s house, I have also 3 cats and 2 dogs. Both Janet and Dave really like animals, that’s what I’ve already noticed!

3: School

I’m junior at Nova High School in Davie. At the beginning I didn’t really like the school but as I’m meeting more and more people the school is getting more interesting for me. It’s not really challenging so far and I’m doing rather good but we will see how it will be later.

November 21 Journal

Soo… I know I haven’t been writing for a while and a lot things have happened and changed. I will try to include everything that happened in my report, although I know it's not possible. So ok… Let’s concentrate on the most important cases.

So what happened during the time - 2 months ( really that long ? ) that I wasn’t writing… Hmmm

I will start with our district meeting at Supas’s host mum house in Miami. It was great, but I guess it’s not a shocker, cause every time we are getting together with the exchange students we are having only good times.

Our meeting was from 10th to 12th October, so we spent 3 days together! 3 interesting and really busy days, while we could explore the beauty of Everglades National Park, talk till we want to, get bitten by plenty of mosquitoes, and just have fun in general.

At the wonderful Friday evening (10/10/2008) we all finally got together. I was so happy to see all our district members again especially Anna, Agathe, Aude, Tong and Supas, cause those are the ones that I hadn’t seen since orientation camp. Friday’s evening passed by really quickly ; we had a pool party , where we were playing water basketball. We split up into 2 teams: girls against boys ( girls obviously won!). After all the activities; together with our guardians, we were talking about our stay here and how much we enjoy our year exchange in sunny Florida in district 6990 ( the best one ever ( just after 2230))! They reminded us about our reports (!) and helped solving any problems that we might have had.

The next day we woke up early and we start our trip to the Everglades National Park. It was so beautiful there, the alligators were a little scary, but as far as I was in some distance away from them I kind of enjoy looking at these ugly creatures. I took a lot of pictures (some of them I’m including). After our day-trip to Everglades we were back to Supas’s mum house, where she threw a party. The evening was really nice, I met a lot of nice people and it went away so quickly, just like the previous one. Sunday was the last day we spent together (sigh) and I think the best one. We went out for a small cruise by yacht. We had so much fun during our trip! We were sightseeing beautiful places, such as Miami skyline. We were sunbathing, swimming. We even saw dolphins in the ocean! Then the trip was over and we all went back to our houses.

That was a wonderful experience and I hope having only good ones like that while my being here.

The next thing I must mention about is Halloween. It was a lot of fun too. We organize a meeting to spend it together (with other exchange students). In my country we don’t celebrate this holiday, so I haven‘t ever had an opportunity to see how it works, but as soon as I got first candies I started to like the way you have it here. We all got dressed up differently (picture). We were the only ‘older’ and very, very international group of people playing ‘trick or treat’ in the neighborhood. Once, when we knocked on the door the guy asked us, if we are already ready for college. By the way I was always wondering what should you do when you would say ‘trick or treat’ and the person would respond ‘trick’?!

The day after Halloween we had small kind of party at Gabriel’s house. It was really nice, mostly what we were doing was socializing J

The next important thing that happened was election; really important thing for the country. I remember when I was still in Poland and on our Polish TV they were talking about this event. I didn't really pay attention then, but ever since I got here I started to care as pretty much it was impossible not to; it was subject number one everywhere; shops, newspapers, TV, school… Finally we know: Obama won !

I’m really glad that this presidential election is already over. I was really bored everyday on a school bus listening to the radio (It’s louder than my iPod when the volume is put on maximum) when they were talking ONLY about what one of the candidates did or did not do. Every single statement started with ‘Obama’ or ‘McCain’ !

Last week was our spirit week, that’s how the people in America call week before homecoming. I had a lot of fun. I’m joining an exchangetts club and everyday my big sister was dressing me up as someone else: Monday I was superhero, cause it was a superhero day, Tuesday was day off, Wednesday was rock star day, Thursday- nerd, and Friday- your class color, but as my ‘big sister’ is a senior I was supposed to wear white, even though the junior color is silver. ( I’m sending pictures)

Because of exchangetts club I met a lot of people and made a lot of American friends; on Monday after school I went to a powderpuff and then to sleepover at one of the girl’s (joining the club) house. It was a lot of fun.

On Friday I went to homecoming football game; my ‘big sister‘ took me there, I was sitting with her and her friends, all of them were really nice to me! That was the place I met a lot of new people too!

Now I can say I start to like school, every time I’m going through the school hallway I can hear someone screaming ‘POLAND’, some people are even trying to make an effort and scream my name, but it is not always worth it, because their pronunciation of my name is so different that mostly I don’t know that they are talking to me and I just keep going! The way they say it sounds more like ‘Marsha‘; at least to me.

I think that those are the most important things that happened recently J I will try to write my reports more regularly. Oh, I forgot. Yesterday I went with my counselor - Roy to the performance, that Oona was playing in. She did great job, me and Gabriel (because he was there too) really enjoyed the whole show.

Now, I really think I’m done with my report, and the only reason I did not write it and send it earlier is, because I am doing something everyday, today for example after school, when I was back in my neighborhood me and my friend from a bus - Mimi went to have lunch together. We were in some restaurant in my neighborhood, as I was bored waiting for my meal, I start to looking around and I saw coca-cola commercial on the thing to pour yourself drink. On the picture there was a cola bottle and word ’always’ under the name of the drink and under that what catch my eye was a Polish translation for always ’ zawsze’ ; I found it pretty funny, cause Polish was the only other language it was written in. As always I had my camera with my so I took a picture that I’m enclosing. After our meal, we met with some other friends and went play basketball together. Me and Mimi were mostly watching them playing, we tried join for a while, though I don’t think our basketball skills were good enough to stay on the pitch/ field ; however you call that area that they are playing on ; for more than 10 minutes.

I’m so happy to be here right now. I really started to enjoy my new, American life. Today, they got the first snow in Poland, I guess winter has already settled in. I don’t have to worry about it this year, even though I did not expect that temperature will get that low in here. I must admit and this might be a little bit shocking but I’m COLD in Florida.

Now, I’m waiting for Thanksgiving and Christmas and obviously DISNEY !

I don’t believe in 2 weeks the next month will start! It’s impossible, I’m almost 4 months (106 days) (the reason I’m counting is only cause I’m a little bit bored at some school subjects)! I think I’m doing pretty well and now it might be only better!

‘Beginnings are the hardest’ - I don’t know who said that, but whoever it was, was completely right !

Marzen

March 29 Journal

I haven't been writing for a while. A lot of things happened that I will try to mention about (:

My last report was written just before Thanksgiving, which was really interesting holiday. A lot of food, GOOD food, a lot of fun, a lot of talking.

Janet, me and Dave went to Janet's friend house- June. I had a lot of fun with her daughter Allison, which even though is only 8 years old got along with me perfectly. I had the biggest piece of chicken in my life, I swear ! The biggest and one of the most tasty one ever!

Next significant event was Disney World trip. 4 days, 4 parks, over 20 nationalities , 100 people, countless amount of fun! Like all times spent with exchange students this time passed by REALLY quickly. 4 days seemed like and hour and the one thing that made me sad was the fact that it was one of our group last meeting.

On the way back home we got flat tire and we were stuck on the highway for like an hour but it passed by quite quickly.

Shortly after Disney Christmas has came. I was expecting to get a little homesick this special time, but everything was perfect and i didn't even think about my home that much. The day before Christmas day we went to Polish church located in Davie, where one of the members of my Rotary Club - father Paul was saying the mass.

I finally ate Polish food: my favorite pierogies and it made me so happy.

The next day we spent at June's house as Dave's and Janet's closest family live out of the state. When we got back home we exchange our Christmas gifts. I got a lot of marvelous presents that i thanked Janet and Dave for. I hope they were enjoying theirs too.

Between Disney trip and Christmas at house I went to Sarasota with Janet, Dave and my cousin Kyla to celebrate pre Christmas with Janet's and Dave's son's wife's parents (sounds a little complicated) and went to Panther's game (Hockey) with Nadja and my host family!

As Janet and Dave were supposed to go to a cruise in January, Roy found me a place to stay for this time, where I end up staying as in my second host family.

3 days after Christmas I met them Dave, Melissa, Julia, Ashley and Kate seemed very nice from the very beginning. On a dinner I went to their house during winter break Kate invited me to a New Year's party. Now I can tell: It was a lot of fun. Celebrating American New Year's is a little different than Polish one. The party here started kind of late, weather was warm unlike last year and the fireworks show wasn't such a big deal.

On 8th of January I moved to my new host family (it was also my new host sister Julia birthday). I was really sad to leave Janet and Dave and happy at the same time as finally I will have some siblings at the house. First month at my new house went by really quickly.

3rd week of January I went with my host mom Melissa and host sister Kate to Daytona Beach, where Janet's parents live. I had a lot of fun discovering this other part of Florida. I really enjoyed my 3 days spent there. With Kate we went shopping, went to kind of theme park and beach to get some color sunbathing. I also had an opportunity to meet up with some exchange students living in that area, even though I knew I would see them again week from that weekend.

Week later was Sea Camp in the Keys. It was really interesting, I got to know a lot of marine science. We had a lot planned activities in groups. My group was working on Coral Degradation subject. I got to know how important even small things we are doing affect our environment. Sea camp lasted 4 days - from Thursday till Sunday. Our last official meeting, what even if now I am thinking of is making me a little sad, but I still hope to meet all this people one day, maybe in Europe? We'll see ...

In February there weren't a lot of significant things that happened. Maybe one - yes, definitely ...

As in Poland they had 2 week winter break a lot of people traveled out of my country. One day when I was on the computer my friend that I used to go to middle school, and one that I was still keeping contact after wrote me a message on Polish Facebook, if I am still somewhere near Miami, cause that's where he is right now.

Within 2 days I met with him in Miami, my host sister's boyfriend and Kate went there with me. All 4 of us had really good time, we went to eat something and then we went to the beach to look at the water and talk.

Now it's March. In March a lot of things happened. Starting with my Rotary Club fundraiser (I hope that's how you are supposed to spell it). My host dad Dave, Kate, Julia and me attended this event and had opportunity to meet sheriff of Broward county. We went to really fancy dinner and actual fundraiser. Later this day one of the members of my Rotary club took us to a boat ride in the Everglades. It was fun... Definitely a lot of alligators!

Then the weekend after I went with Oona to Miami to meet with other exchange students (Judith and Francesca) from other district, because their host parents took them there.

Last week was all good, I had to take the FCATs at school. I think I did pretty well that's at least what I hope so. In America they also celebrate an Irish holiday - St. Patrick's day, so me and Julia went to school dressed up in green clothes to not get pinched.

So to sum up everything;

As everybody can see my exchange is VERY interesting. Everyday I am able to do stuff that I wouldn't ever be able to do at home; for example we don't have alligators in Poland!

Now I am waiting for April, cause my sister is coming. I am really happy to finally see her, but at the other hand I know that when April will come my exchange will be almost over. I really cannot believe it.. Though, I still have time to get as much as possible out of it, even though I think that I got most of things that I came here for.

  • I improved my English
  • I definitely saw the culture
  • I visit a lot of beautiful places
  • I am able to attend American High School.

I am not promising that I will be always on time with writing reports, but I can definitely promise that I will try to. I really was trying to write them every month, but there is so much stuff going on around me that I keep forgetting about it.

Now, though I made a note above my desk : ' REPORTS FOR ROTARY', so I guess it will be a little harder to forget... I guess we will see ...

Thanks again to Rotary for giving me this opportunity!

 


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