Ya No (Bellina) Huang

2009-10 Inbound from Taiwan

Hometown: Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Sponsor: Shin Shin Rotary Club, District 3510, Taiwan

Host: Miami Sundown Rotary Club, District 6990, Florida, USA

School: South Dade Senior High School, Homestead, Florida

Bio

Bellina's Bio

Hi! My name is Bellina Huang. I am from Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Kaohsiung is located in the southern part of Taiwan, and is the second largest city in Taiwan. I am 18 years old. My family members include my mom, my dad and my 3 lovely dogs. I spend a lot of time with my mom, we almost do everything together, except for this adventure. I spend time with my friends for sure. I love to make new friends, especially with the people from different countries.

I am spending my one year in such a beautiful state, Florida. I live in Homestead right now. Everybody said that I am so lucky!!! That's right; I don't have to stand the cold weather. Here's just like Taiwan. I live with my host family, I have new dad, new mom, new brother, new sisters, and 3 cats and one dog. I am in South Dade High School, which is 10 minutes from my house. I play volleyball in school, I love volleyball!! Football is the spirit of our school, so we play football in my school. That was so hard for me, but still fun.

I hope I can have the best year in my life, though I am enjoying it right now. I have to thank the Rotary Club of Shin-shin, the Rotary Club of Key Biscayne and the Rotary Club of Miami Sundown for such a great opportunity.

September 1 Journal

Hey, my name is Bellina. I live in a jungle, it is real. A beautiful huge house. I have new daddy and mommy and two younger brother and sister and one older sister. This is my first time to come to America and also my first to take such long time in airplane. When I arrived Miami airport, my host dad called my name. I was so happy.

I can't swim well, so I asked my host dad to teach me. Because my little brother and sister swim like a fish. In order to play with them, I practice it every day. Now, I can swim well. I think my mom will not believe me. :)

I went fishing last Sunday with my dad and my brother. It was my first fishing experience, though I didn't catch anything.

In the beginning, I didn't trust this exchange program. When my mom gave me more information, and I think it will be a good experience of my life. Really, I learn more and experience more. Because I'd love to try everything.

November 13 Journal

Hey guys! So how's going so far? I have been here for3 months already. Everything for me is still fresh and awesome.

We had an unforgettable weekend. We went to boat and jumped into the salt water, such a crazy thing for me! Everybody knows that I cannot swim very well, that was my first to try this amazing experience.

The day before that day, we spend a night at Diane's house. She is a adorable lady I have never seen. Her house was so awesome, big pool, jungle room, fish room, nice roof, super comfy couch ... have to thanks her very much again.

I still have great time with my host family. We went to my sister's house and had a Halloween party, that was so funny!!! I was an Asian pirate!!! We went to trick or treat which was my first time!!! I think I was the oldest one in there:)))We got bunch candies and have those candies for our dessert after dinner!!!

Now, I am the translator in my school. I am helping a boy who is form China and speaks no-English!!! That was horrible went to his class helped him and also helped the teacher. By the way, I used to hate the teacher!!! But I am helping him now, how nice I am:))

Last weekend, we went to Hard Rock hotel, which is an awesome place. I was so excited in there, because there are so many classical bands!!!!We went there for the district conference, we have to hold the flag of our country and introduce yourself. I was so nervous!!! The special talent show was in the night which we just practiced like less than 3 hours!!! My talent show was about kung-fu which I used my fan. I was so nervous that you cannot imagine how nervous I am!!! During my show, my fan fell down one time. I felt so embarrassed but I still have to finish it. I just keep myself concentrate!!

We still have fun after that day. Roy's house was so funny. I figure out every time we meet each other must have a schedule about swimming:)) That was really good for me so that I would have a pressure to make me learn how to swim better:))

Maybe you won't believe how much fun that we have, unless you have this experience in your life.

December 18 Journal

Just finished an awesome and unforgettable weekend!! Where “Dreams come true”---Disney World. We went there on Thursday morning, I was so excited that there would be no school on Thursday and Friday . We spent almost 3 hours driving to Orlando, where Disney World is located. We stayed 4 nights in Disney’s All-Star Movies hotel in the Herbie section. I didn’t really like that movie, but the car was still pretty cute!! We had 4 people in a room, and we didn't really know each other before, but we had met each other before in the orientation. It was a good opportunity to make more new friends.

The first day we went to "Hollywood Studios". There are so many characters in that park. We saw the ''Lights, Motors, Action!'' show which was about vehicles. They blew up the car and did so many action scenes. It was so coooool!!! We saw Beauty and the Beast live musical. The stage setting was so full of sparkles and very adorable. We took so many rides, but those were not really scary. Actually every attraction was so good!!!! They looked just like real!! We saw a show called ''Fantastic" at 6:30. They did fireworks with lasers, lights, dancing and special effects. They reminded me of my childhood that I still remembered from every Disney movie. After the fireworks we went back to the hotel, and jumped into the pool, but we totally forgot the weather was pretty cold!! Everybody was freezing and shivering in the pool, but we still had so much fun!! I felt very excited to be with all of exchange students having such a great time!!!

The second day we went to the "Magic Kingdom". We had a special class in the morning, it took us 3 hours. The special class was all about the physical characteristics of the park. We had to wake up at 6, but we went to bed at 3am, and I was so tired and the weather was super cold, so I didn’t enjoy those 3 hours!!! However, in one part of the class, we had to take the "splash mountain log ride where we got wet". It made us freezing all day. There is the classic "Cinderella’s Castle" right in the front of the park!!! I can't believe they made it look just like the real one – how did they build that??? There are so many attractions in this park. We had a very relaxing afternoon walking around, looking at everything and taking funny pictures:)) At the night time, they did the fireworks by the castle! That was so pretty. Just like New Year’s eve!! This day nobody went into the pool, but we still stayed up talking until 2am.

The third day we went to EPCOT Center. Epcot is not like Disney’s Magic Kingdom, no cute stuff, no sparkling lights.. We also had a lot of fun at Epcot. They have so many cool attractions, like mission space where it actually feels like you are flying a spaceship, they even put the pressure on you!!! It felt so real, I can’t understand how that they really did it! We went to a lot of attractions!! Because there were so many, I am too lazy to talk about all of them:)) The biggest attraction in this park is INTERNATIONAL STREET with 11 different countries being represented, including Mexico, Norway, Canada, United States, CHINA, Germany, Morocco, Italy, France, United Kingdom and Japan!!! We went to every one; it was really a fantastic representation of each country. In Italy, Marco was trying to speak Italian to the waiter, but that guy said he only speak Italian when he is sleeping!! We were yelling ''Italia Uno" front of the Italy section, everybody looked at us so weird, haha:) We had a French dinner next by the lake where we saw the fireworks again. They did the most awesome fireworks that I have ever seen!!!!! They do that awesome show everyday!!! 365 days!! I think that is why everything in Disney is so expensive. After the dinner, we went back to the street and sang lots of songs, we were so hyper:)) After that we went back to the hotel, everybody just jumped into the pool! Nice weather!!

The fourth day we went to “Disney Animal Kingdom". That was a really cool place. I love animals, so of course I loved it :) We took a ride which was so funny!! It was a high-speed train that zipped through the misty unknown. There was a section about dinosaurs. Another awesome ride, it was kind of a little car that carried you back 65 million years. The scenes were so realistic. We also went to the African section and took a van to a trail and discovered animals!! I love that place:) We only stayed until 2:30. It was the time to say goodbye to everybody:( We really didn’t want to leave there, we were trying to hide in the bathroom!! We would like to stay there for a year, but the big problem is we would all die of starvation because the food was so expensive. The price of clothes would kill you too, one T-shirt cost 20 dollars!!!! So, we just gave up that idea:(

I really, really had fun this weekend. I love to go out with the exchange students, they are so much fun to be with. I appreciate that I am exchange student now.

January 4 Journal

Can you believe I just celebrated Christmas in America? I never really ever celebrate Christmas before. We only did decorations and knew that December 25th is Christmas. We had school Christmas vacation from December 21st to January 4th. I didn't pay attention in the last day of school, we just went to auditorium and watched a movie for whole day. There were no decorations in the school, not like SK. We always put Santa, a huge Christmas tree and lots of decorations with sprinkling lights. I was expecting to see "America decorations" in the school, but I was disappointed that I didn't see anything in the school.

We purchased Christmas presents about two weeks ago before Christmas. I was so serious about choosing the presents for the Lary family. I won't allow them to forget me. I bought Guns and Roses album for Mom, a personal coffee cup for Dad in which I made the pictures and put them in, a Chinese style purse for Gramsie, a Polo mug for Granddad, and a photo frame for Izzy and Steve, in which I put the pictures first. I already said they are not allowed to forget me.

We had a Christmas Eve dinner at Gramsie and Granddad's house. That was my first time to experience such a big Christmas dinner with "Americans". I was a little bit nervous that night. We had stone crabs and chicken fingers for the kids, including me, but I also ate some stone crabs and some shrimp appetizers, which I think those make my stomach hurt the next day. After dinner, during the dessert time, we opened the Christmas presents. I got a Hello Kitty bathrobe, a pair of slippers and a book about Miami from Gramsie and Granddad. I think I really need that book.

After we got home, Santa had already come. He put the stuff in the stockings and delivered the presents already. This was the first year that Curtis and Brittney knew who Santa really is. We decided to open the presents, even though it was not Christmas morning yet. We delivered the presents to everybody, everybody had their own corner to open their presents. Time to open the presents. Let's see what I got, a pair of shorts from Banana Republic, a calendar, 365 new words a year and a book about earth atlas, a photo frame that I can put the Lary's family picture from Mom. A Sony digital camera, 3D puzzles, one of them is Hello Kitty and a necklace with Chinese and birthday stone from Dad. The stuff in stocking from Santa!! Letter B ornament, make-up bag and family games from our cousin Scott and Elizabeth. Three Cups of Tea novel from our neighbor Malotte and Bud. I love that story, I already have one in Chinese, now I have an English one:) A comfy blanket and super soft penguin from Curtis. A skinny shirt and nice scarf from Brittney. Such a nice and rich Christmas eve!!

Christmas morning, we had Christmas brunch with Izzy and Steve. It was a great and delicious brunch. They also brought presents for me, I am so appreciative about that. Let's see what I got, a new purse, an iTunes gift card and two adorable Hello Kitty ribbons. That kind of the purse is the one that I really wanted, I was so excited. Also, I had a pretty Hello Kitty Christmas!! Mom's brother and his family came and Gramsie and Granddad came over and had Christmas dinner with us. I was pretty uncomfortable that night because of the delicious stone crabs from last night, I think I ate too much though. I like to have dinner with everybody, I felt so warm and sweet.

That was the first Christmas for me and I loved it!!! It can almost compare with Chinese New Year in my heart!! It is a nice and great holiday!!

February 17 Journal

Seacamp weekend just finished. We had so much fun and lots of science. I skipped school on Thursday and Friday, and we picked up Kwan on Wednesday evening. Wednesday in school I couldn’t pay attention, as I just felt like "weekend time!!!" Kwan and I can talk all night long, no matter what was the topic. We talked about her paintings and also about the idol we both have.. Isn't that amazing?! She is so much my soul friend.

When I saw the agenda of Seacamp, my first reaction was "what's wrong with this picture, we have biology class?!" I felt so upset because I am not really interested in science, but when I saw that we would go snorkeling and wading, I felt better. I have never snorkeled before, even though there is a huge place in the south of Taiwan where you can snorkel., but I have never been there.

We went to the Dolphin Center in Key Largo first and watched dolphin show, it was adorable!!! We learned some stuff about ocean creatures in Keys and some basic knowledge of dolphins. I can't believe that dolphins can know if you are pregnant or not. They are my favorite mammal by the way!!! We had dinner in Marathon Key. Madeleine and I were wearing the same shirt. Everybody was so confused and kept asking "why are you wearing her shirt?". We didn't do it on purpose, it was totally a coincidence!!! We finally got to Seacamp which is in Big Pine key and totally a "camping" place. For example there were no lights in my bedroom,, no air conditioner and outside showers, exactly like a camping place.

We had a camp fire the first night and we played the "Beeper" game, it was so funny. Everybody was so crazy in the game. After the games we roasted marshmallows. I got two marshmallows by the way. They tasted delicious.. We had to go to bed at 10:30. Everybody was exhausted at the first day. We whispered a few minutes in the bedroom and everybody fell asleep gradually.

Snorkeling the second day!!! We went to the cafeteria for breakfast, then we had a welcome party and they separated us to nine different groups. Every group had their own topic they would have to to discuss. I was in the "water quality" group. I made more friends in my group, even a guy and a girl from local. Then we had a tour and after the tour, we went to get the wet suits, goggles and flippers for snorkeling. I felt embarrassed when I was wearing the wet suit, because everybody can see what you really look like. I felt naked. Before going to snorkel, we had a swimming test. I passed it!!!! You can't imagine how nervous I was and how excited I was after I passed it. Liz taught us everything about snorkeling. My favorite part is you have to spit in your goggles before you put them on. Totally disgusting, but funny. The point is to keep the glass from fogging up. The saliva coats the glass and prevents condensation. The water is cold and your face is hot so your perspiration from your face condenses on the glass and fogs it up so you can’t see. A soap film will do the same, like in the bathroom when you take a shower.

We then went on the boats which are designed especially for science expeditions. You have to wear a PFD the whole time and at least one foot on the floor when you are on the boat. We talked about the issues that affect water quality and tried to catch something to discuss when we were snorkeling. I thought it would be pretty. Like what we saw in the movies on the bottom of the ocean, but actually it wasn’t. It looked creepy instead. But I still loved it. Party at night!!! I didn't bring any skirts or dresses, so I wore a T-shirt and jeans instead. When I saw somebody wearing heels, I was like "Wowww". We danced crazy and excitedly. I haven’t been to a party for a long time. The party only lasted 2 hours. Obviously not enough.

Today is Bob's birthday, we bought the present together, which was a beer stein with "Exchange students 2009-10" printed on it. Isn't that sweet?

Marco's film about us was awesome and touched my feelings. I didn't know he is that kind of sweet person..

Boat trip on the third day again. We are really proficient snorkeling now. We put on the wet suit quickly, prepared everything in order and went into water without any hesitation.. Doroty and I were trying to catch something, but there wasn't anything interesting to catch. We had roundtable discussion with the other water quality group after we came back to prepare for our presentation. We had a guest speaker who gave us some suggestions about our presentation. He told me that he went to Taiwan 9 years ago and he noticed that we had water quality problems in Kaohsiung where I live. That was exactly correct. It was really nice to talk to a professor about the problem which is in my hometown. A lot of people cried after the presentations, because it was the last chance to see everybody, except for us that are going on the year end trip. Thank God I am going., no thank DAD. The last night in Seacamp, we sneaked out in the middle of the night and just hung out and talked.

Finally, we went to Key West on Sunday. This is where Kwan lives. I talked to a girl in my bedroom before we left Sea Camp who was from Key West. I told her that we will only spend 2 hours there, and she told me "oh, that's enough”! The downtown of Key West is just a street!!" How tiny!!! So we walked around on Duvall Street and looked around. Then Todd took us to the "Southern most point". I can't believe I was standing on the most southern point of continental America!!!

I had so much fun this weekend!! This was the first time I loved science stuff. Dolphin center, Key Largo, Seacamp and Key West, I have my second favorite weekend so far, an unforgettable weekend. Thanks to Mom for sending me on this exchange year!!

April 13 Journal

This is my best weekend ever, my first time skiing in the best place in the world, Colorado. Since the first month in here, Todd told me I am going to skiing with them in March. I pretty doubt about that. I have no idea if I would stay in this family until March. I just keep this thing in my mind. Fortunately, I am still here and I will stay with them in the rest of this year for sure.

We woke up at 5 on Friday, skip school (YES!!!), got to airport go to Houston and transferred to Denver. It was so pretty there, totally different than Miami. Now I see the real America. I love here so much, I am getting tired of beaches, humid and HOT. We rent a condo and plan to stay there in this week. When we get to the condo, it was uncleaned, smelled and dirty. Obviously the cleaner didn't clean since last time people left here. Disgusting!!!!! We set everything down, did some shopping and we just enjoyed a movie first night.

Time for my first skiing experience. I was so excited waking up and getting ready for skiing, put on all the warm clothes, long underwear, turtle neck, ski socks, ski outfits, ski boots and helmet with goggles. Cool!!!!! Though that was so hard to walk in ski boots, I almost fall from the stairs while walking to our car. Freaked me out though. We ski in Breckenridge in the first day and the second day. Kids and I all had ski lessons, I need them of course. Something stupid happened in the morning of the first day when I was having the lesson. My feet hurt so bad and then couldn't even fit into my skis. My instructor called the place where we rent our equipment. The guy in the store told my instructor those boots were not even mine. How stupid!!!! The truth was Curtis got my boots!!!!! I tried my best to do the lesson with people and I couldn't stand any more. Only way they can help me is wait for the lunch time, so I can change my boots with Curt. The people in there were nice too, one lady who helped me switched my boots and gave me lunch for free!!!! I just have lunch with whole bunch noisy kids.... the lesson in my first day was just practice how to turn and how to control your speed. we took a lift which is a really basic one going up to a little hill and ski down over and over again. Kinda boring but I should work on it. I figured out I can turn left better than turn right.

After we go back to our condo, we just jumped into the hot tub. The first night was horrible, my legs and arms were super sour. I could barely fall asleep. I had lesson in second day too. Hard to believe, I am in level 2!!!!!! This day was really really warm, I sweated all day. I got some tan too:) We took the car lift up to the mountain and ski down over and over again. This time was more fun than the first day. My instructor remind me of Roy, he talked like Roy, acted like Roy, looked like Roy!!! Seriously, I doubt he was Roy. Any way, he was really nice and patient. He corrected my position and gave me some tips about turning. I also met a lady who is from Miami Homestead too. I am the youngest in the class, I am so proud of myself.

The second night was better than the first night but not really much. I still couldn't fall asleep and my legs were killing me too. Don't even think about skiing is easy, all your muscles were used. After we finish today, Todd and I drive to the Town of Breckenridge and took a look. It looked exactly like old west town, cozy, cow-boy-look, I love this kind of feeling, actually reminded me about Disney.

New place skiing today, Keystone. I still have lesson this day but I think they put me in level two again. I am still the youngest in the class which cheer me up a lot. I don't like this instructor, he was cute but he talked way too much. I am used to go up to the mountain and ski down. We did a tiny bit of blue line, just a little bit. It was way steeper than green line, it freaked me out in the beginning. Have a dinner in Frisco which is like a old west town too. I think I fall in love with these old west towns. Skiing with Lary's in Cooper Mountain. No lesson for me today:) actually I was ski with Todd. Dad taught me so many, and ski with me instead of skiing with mom who is a great skier. I didn't have confidence in the beginning so I fall so many times and I cried out eventually. I really really lose all my mind about skiing. After skiing with dad couple runs and I even tried blue lines, I fall couple times but I still make them eventually. I ski better after lunch, I got more confident, I think that's why make me ski better.

Tonight was the most horrible night ever even worse than the first night. All my muscles fall asleep, not working at all, the most exhausted day ever!!!! I improved a lot, that's what Dad said, not me:) I still ski with them today, blue lines almost. I have more confident today, I think I ski better today. Mom told me it's all about your mind, if you think you can do it, you can do it; if you think you can't do it, you can't do it. I told myself I would be fine in blue lines. I still fall couple times but I ski all the way down without any crying or complaining. this is the last day we skiing, tomorrow's weather might be horrible so we decide just have a day-off.

Just like what we plan, day-off today. We went back to Cooper Mountain for breakfast in Belgian Bean. We had great Belgium waffles and hot chocolate. Hot chocolate supposed to be good but obviously not, but about the waffles were so good though I don't know if they were invented in Belgium. Weird. We did some shops in the village for some shirt of Cooper Mtn. We went to the town of Breckenridge for some shopping and dinner. Any way, I love these old West town feeling, I just looked at them all the way back to our condo.

I have my first and the best skiing experience ever. I really appreciate Lary's pay all of these for me including my lessons, rentals, tickets and so many things and they were so patient teaching me. They created my best time ever. When the last night on our back to condo, snowing outside, I was thinking about I am leaving in 3 months and all of these they have done for me. I really have to say this, thank you Lary's.

May 18 Journal

Now I know what paradise is. Grand Bahamas. I looked forward for this trip so long and now it just finished already. People always say the best is always the last. So true.

14th of May, our first day of Bahamas trip. Our plane was 10:30 am, but guess what, we were asked to get to the airport at 7:30. That doesn't make any sense at all, everybody was so tired and pissed but of course excited too. You know, there were some emergency happened, like Tim forgot his passport (good job!!!), and Kwan didn't show up at all. So, they know we would absolutely make some troubles. Everything was crazy in the airport, we only had one chaperone with us who was Susan. We had 12 people, obviously tough for her. It only took 20 minutes to go to Bahamas, it was like up and down immediately. The plane was tiny, but 20 minutes fly, what do you expect?

Gabriel and some kids in the Interact club at the airport for welcome us. They were so passion and kind. We went to Gabriel’s house to drop our stuff and have some lunch then we go to Port Lucaya. Port Lucaya was like a tourist place, kinda like Miami Beach. There were some bars, stores, restaurants stuff like that. We went to a village first where the beach was, spend an afternoon there. Bahama has the most amazing beach I have ever seen!!!! Waters were so clear and green, sky was so blue, sands were so clean and white, can you imagine the pictures? They had nice pool too. We went on the street and bought some souvenirs after we left the beach. Our local host families came to pick us up about 5:30, Sanne and I was in the same host family which was Gabriel’s host mom’s best friend. We all went to grandma's house for dinner. Grandma is a British lady, white and British accent. Totally a British old lady. They didn't really have some relationship with Grandma but they told us Grandma is like a core in the families. Anyway, she was so nice and friendly. She said she loves meeting exchange students and host exchange students. That's why she invited everybody to her house and had dinner with her. We had Bahamas local grilled ribs, some pasta and a local dessert with a carrot sauce. I love that so much!!!!! They were all delicious.

15th of May, our second day in Bahamas. They have a cool "Bahamian time" which is like no rush and no stress. We asked our host mom what time were we supposed to wake up last night, she said "whatever, just wake up whenever you want.". We didn't dare to wake up WHENEVER we want, instead, we woke up about 9 and get ready. Anyway, Bahamian time, our host mom woke up just right before the time that we supposed to be in the beach.

We were in a private beach today, called Fortuna Beach. If you are just regular tourists in here, 75 dollars per day per person. Fortunately, we are just so special, EVERYTHING is FREE for us!!!! Even including the foods, the drinks and all those water sports equipments. A Rotarian lady used to work there, she asked them, they gave. We really appreciate all they have done for us.

16th of May, the third day in Bahama. Today was really free, the schedule started at 1:30 pm!!!! We woke up at 9. Which doesn't really make any sense. anyway, We went to Unexso, where was like a club and they have so water activities. We swim with dolphins today!!!! So we took a boat out to The Dolphins Experience where we have some activities with dolphins. They said we would swim with them but actually not. We had a snapshot of dolphin kiss our cheeks:) and go into the water played with them. They were adorable!!!!! I almost wanna buy one or adopt one. I know that was impossible. Went to a beach after that again. I fall in love with Bahamas’ beaches, seriously they were all amazing and phenomenal. Friends, music, tanning and amazing beach, that what paradise is. Hung out at Port Lucaya at night with everybody and our host families. Our last night in Bahamas.

Sunday morning, 9:30 at the airport, ready for coming back:( We were trying to pretend we lost our passports so we have to stay there. All our host families were there for us. Gabriel’s host family and Gabriel have done the most for us, they gave us rides, planned all the schedule for us. Also the Rotary clubs. We really had wonderful time there and the best experiences in Bahamas.