Mónika Ignácz

2008-09 Inbound from Hungary

Hometown: Györujbarát, Hungary

Sponsor: Györujbarát Rotary Club, District 1911, Hungary

Host: West Jacksonville Rotary Club, District 6970, Florida, USA

School: Paxon School of Advanced Studies, Jacksonville, FL

Bio

Mónika's Bio

Hello Everybody!

My name is Monika Ignacz. My friends call me Moni. I have come to Jacksonville, Florida, to spend a beautiful year. I hope I can. I'm from a big village in the north-west part of Hungary. The village name is Gyorujbarat. This is very close to a bigger city, Gyor. Gyor is in the middle of Vienna and the capital city, Budapest.

I lived there with my lovely family. My mom, dad, and my older brother, Tamas. I really liked Gyorujbarat, and Gyor too. I studied in Gyor, in a very good high school, where I have lots of good friends. But even though I have all these things, I decided to come to the other country, for ONE year! Why? Because I would like to meet with different people, I'm interested about a different culture, and I would like to show my culture to these people. I would like for everybody to know that Hungary is a very good place! We have got very good foods, nice and old culture, customs, and a very nice language! Hungarian.

I didn't have a host family for a long time and just one week before I came here, I learned who is my first host family was. And now I love my new "mother", "father", "sister" and "brother". The first hard time started in the school. The first days I was always lost in the big Paxon High School building. Now I started making friends, and I can find my classrooms.

I think this year will be a lot of fun. Everything is so different than at home. My host family's house is wonderful, and I love the big trees around the house, and a beautiful big river. We live about 20-30 minutes from Jacksonville Beach, and I went there. I love it.

In the evenings I'm so tired, everything is new. I always study new things, and I have to learn a lot after the school. Paxon is the third best school in all Florida, so it's a hard school for everybody. But every day, it will be better and better.

I think I can learn a lot in this year, and my English will be perfect... I hope.

October 27 Journal

Hello Everyone!

The time has come for me to start my journal! So, the first time I would like to write about a usual day at my school... My school started at 8:15, and the first 10 minutes we always just watch the school news on the TV. So the first period starts at 8:25! School is finished at 3:25. Every day we have 4 periods, so the classes last a pretty long time, but we have 45 minutes at lunch time! You can spend this time with your friends! That's cool. In Hungary these are very different.... So, for me, the first time at lunch there was interesting, with many different things sometimes it was too much!! Now everything is pretty normal. This is my new life!

I have a new host family! They are so kind too!! I really enjoy my 3 host sisters!! :) I live with Lee (host dad), Bizzy (host mom), Betsy (20 years old), Mary Katherine (17 years old) and Lee Harden (12, almost 13 years old :).. and two cats Weeza and Rufus, and a dog Walker! I just love them!!! :) Very kind and nice people! I think I'm really lucky I can stay here! :)

Let's start with the unusual things: One week ago (2008 October 17-19), I had a wonderful weekend with the other exchange students, and some Rotary people in St. Augustine! This was amazing!!! We arrived on Friday evening, and we met with the host family who hosted us for the weekend!! Two exchange students got one family. I was with Marta, from Italy! I really enjoyed! Our house was on the beach!! The sunrise was amazing and they were a wonderful family. Saturday I met with all district exchange students! We went on a tour on the trolley around St. Augustine, and we could see every interesting things in the Oldest city in the USA!! Nice! All that day we had fun! A lot of pictures, a lot of jokes! I loved it!!! The last activity that day, was the beach! We played volleyball, swimming, laugh, whatever you want! :) Dinner was a fried chicken.. and after dinner.. they tell the secret about the fried chicken, it was fried ALLIGATOR!! Wow! :) Thank you so much I could try it!! The evening came... I went back with Marta to the Marilyn and David Wiles beach house! Walking in the dark on the beach... spoke with the very kind host parents, and went to bed! Sunday morning said good bye! And again have fun with the children from different country, and of course wonderful people from the Rotary! We went to see, what we ate the before day! :) Alligator Farm! :) The very last program was a sailing. I have to repeat myself! AMAZING!! I really enjoyed! So that was an exchange student meeting! I really miss everyone, and everything about from this weekend! Thank you very much for the Rotary, for everything!!!

On this weekend (2008. Oct. 24-26) I was at home...  :) Friday it was pretty quiet, just hang out with Mary-Kat, and her friend... Just go shopping. In the evening I went to bowling with other exchange students, Ralph (from Taiwan) and Kris (from Lithuania) . That was amazing from at 11 to 2.. in the evening!! Bill (from the Rotary) took us! I really enjoyed. Saturday I left with Bizzy and Lee Harden. We went to the neighbor, who's got a boat. So left with the boat, and watched the Blue Angels Airshow! Wow!! :) End of the day, I went my first Homecoming. It was really interesting. In Hungary the parties are very different. Everybody wore a nice dress. It was good! And Sunday, amazing day again! Andy (from the Rotary) and his wonderful family, took me to the Blue Angels Airshow! This was the first time when I met famous people! I have pictures and signature from the pilots! Thank you so much!!

So this is the exchange student life! This is my new life in America! I just can't believe it!! Thank you so much for everybody! I will write soon again! Bye Everybody!