Sárka Zubercová

2008-09 Inbound from Slovakia

Hometown: Martin, Slovakia

Sponsor: Martin Rotary Club, District 2240, Slovakia

Host: Orange Park Rotary Club, District 6970, Florida, USA

School: Fleming Island High School, Orange Park, FL

Bio

Sarka's Bio

October 22 Journal

My exchange year has began when I waved to my family for the last time and subsequently my first plane left the Slovak airport in Bratislava. I went here by three planes which took more 20 hours. My second stop was in Atlanta when I was already pretty scared (what was my first host family going to be like), but I couldn’t think about it very much because I had to run all the time to not to miss my next flight. It was very close but I made it :o). During that flight I wished I could stop the time to get more prepared or get out of that plane (and it didn’t matter to me where - even just jump to the air!). That was one of the most nervous moments in my life.

Then, when I finally arrived there was nobody because they were waiting for me near my luggage, so I was scared if I took another plane or if I wrote to my host family wrong time or place of my arrival (even that I knew that I had not :D). Eventually I saw my mom, dad and another people from Rotary waving to me. I was too tired (because I hadn’t slept for 35 hours and I was too stressed) that I had to look behind me if there was somebody who they were waving to! :D:D I still don’t know who was scared more. Me, because I couldn’t speak (not just in English, I couldn’t remember any Slovak word! :D), or they, because I looked like if I had never seen people before. It was a shock for me to see them because I had never believed that I would be able to become an exchange student and this moment showed me the truth.

At the airport I got my first pin for my Rotary blazer and a little alligator from my mom. After we got to my new American home there was a cake with “welcome Sarka” on the top, but I just had to go to bed and got a wonderful 7-hours sleep.

First three days were probably one of the hardest times in my life. I had felt as if I was from another planet pretty far from this one. I didn’t know how to do absolutely basic things - for example turn on the lights, set hot water, lock the door while I was in bathroom - and I couldn’t figure out under which cover should I sleep! :o) And I still couldn’t speak at all. I still was in shock, because I have dreamed about my exchange year before a lot and then, when it finally began, things were that different that I couldn’t take it! There is nothing to help you to get prepared for this. Although I enjoyed it… My speaking in English became better after a week!

My family here, they are GREAT! I feel like I am a real member of the Family! Thank you, mom, dad, John!!!

My family in Slovakia, I already have called my mom for her birthday and I found out that it wasn’t a very good idea… besides fact that I woke them in the middle of the night, when my mom picked it up, I didn’t know what to say. When I eventually found out what to say, without thinking I told it in English (she can’t speak English)! After she asked me pardon for the second time I realized the language mistake! But after that it was OK, besides the fact that sometimes I unknowingly told half of the sentence or just some part or word in English, but it is funny! :D:D:D I already forgot my first language?! :D:D:D:D:D

My school here, it is about 5 times bigger than my previous school in Slovakia. I have chosen subjects of American Government, American History, English, Chorus (where I don’t sing, I play on the piano), Drawing and Painting 2, Drawing and Painting AP. This school is much easier than my school in Slovakia but it hasn’t been easy for me. It became almost like everyday routine to stay up almost all the night studying for the tests and doing my homework. My average of sleeping during school days would be probably about 1 hour. But through all, I like this school a LOT. My favorite class is American Government.

I take school like a challenge. After school I run in our varsity cross-country team where I have found a lot of my friends... :o)

In my free time and through weekends I have been with my host family to Castillo de San Marco, beach, Alligator Farm, I went to my first American sleep over, out on a boat, to about 6 football games, or we go play tennis, or volleyball! :o) it’s great!!!

Some important dates which I want to remember:

August 22-24: First inbound orientation meeting at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center, located just outside of Leesburg, we had so much fun, thank you!!!

September 19: My first cross country meet, I was second of our girls

October 7: Our first chorus concert, I have played song just by myself (My Heart Will Go On)

October 16: the most nail-biting football game I have ever seen! Fleming Island High School won!

October 17: homecoming dance :o)

October 17-19: amazing Rotary weekend in St. Augustine - Thank you!!!

Something to my family in Slovakia… caute ja len ze toto je fakt uspech, drzte mi palceky nadalej :o): My grades on the first quarter were: Chorus : 100 Drawing and painting 2: 96 Drawing and painting: 92 American Government: 97 English: 85 American History: 101 (and the next closest person in the class has got about 84)

By the way, mom, I know that I have been here just a couple months but I already gained 6 pounds! :D:D:D

Like I already wrote in my BIO this was the best decision of my life... Thank you ALL ROTARIANS!!! You are amazing!!! I am having a GREAT time?

BYE!!! - AHOJ!!!