Vilius Simanskis

2009-10 Inbound from Lithuania

Hometown: Klaipeda, Lithuania

Sponsor: Klaipedos Maris Rotary Club, District 1460, Lithuania

Host: Davie/Cooper City Rotary Club, District 6990, Florida, USA

School: Plantation High School, Plantation, Florida

Bio

Vilius' Bio

I'm Vilius Simanskis, sixteen years old from Lithuania. I prefer when people call me Will here in US, because I think it's easier for both me and them. Back at Lithuania I have nineteen years old sister Rugile, and two cats - I hope they don't fight any longer! I mean the cats.

Now I go to Pompano Beach High School in Florida. It's pretty nice and interesting but not a big one - about 1200 students but it's ok. I like going out, concerts, playing and listening to music, yoga, reading books, paint and draw, and much more - I ain't picky for what to do.

Why I'm in this exchange program? Because I want to explore a different culture, learn new things, and of course try new things. So far so good, thanks Rotary!

September 15 Journal

First of course I want to thank again Rotary International organization for this wonderful exchange program!!

And second I want to write a little about my experiences in US. ;P

So thanks to my short memory I don't know where to start... Well everything started when I came eh? So when I came I met my counselor Roy (cool guy) and first and second host families. My first host family is very friendly and helpful to explain new things around me, it's my host mother Marita - she makes very good meals to be honest, host brother Alexy - very kind dude, and host sister Rebekka - she went to exchange herself about a week after I've been in US. Second host family seemed very nice too.

Well I have been taken around the village I live in by my host mum, shown where food stores etc is. And it's pretty far away for me. About 1-2 hours walk to one side, so I don't go to shops on foot often. Well I went few times...

Later on I've been to orientation camp - it was really useful. Now I know all rules by heart! I went to Depeche Mode concert few weeks back, it was great, and I went to jazz brunch it was great also!

Well I've done a lot of minor stuff about which I forgot or don't mind writing. So anyway I'm having a good time! So thanks again, and have a nice day!

October 19 Journal

Hello!

This month seemed more routine based - I'm getting used to living here. But that doesn't mean I didn't have fun!

I started to use buses and trains and that helped me to visit Miami and West Palm Beach. Few weeks ago I visited West Palm beach, and honestly it was awesome. Architecture seemed European in some places but the city still had American feeling, so city felt kinda mixed. Later in the evening in the centre of the city few bands played, sad I couldn't listen to them long because I had to take the train home. Trains here don't have long schedules like in Europe. Last train is about nine o'clock!

Later on I went to Miami. If West Palm Beach is mixed city, so then Miami is much bigger mix. Some people don't speak English at all! My Spanish lessons paid off a little when I understood how long will take the bus drive to south beach. Miami was really nice and cool. Beach, people, everything is like in the movies and looks great, so I visited it again last weekend. I really enjoyed just taking a cold coffee from Starbucks and walking around the town. Last weekend I went alone, but still walked with some people, here in US people are much more chatty and willing to be friends.

And of course Rotary weekend in Everglades! It was great. alligators, snakes, airboats - very exciting and interesting. We even got to hold baby alligators - it was very cute, but let's be honest - I'm sure the alligators didn't enjoy it.

Last weekend I went to Bar-mitzvah, Jewish b-day for 13th year old boys. It was really nice, before the party we went to a ceremony in a synagogue. It was very interesting to read book from the other side and try to read in Hebrew. And the party was fantastic - it happened in western hotel; we have been in big room dancing (with dancers and dj) eating 'n' stuff. Thanks again Ruth and Marita for this thingy!

And of course thank you Rotary for this exchange program!

November 25 Journal

Hi there!

Hmm well last month was pretty nice, that's for sure! I visited Miami once again and this time on Sunday. It looked like a different city - streets were empty, shops and restaurants closed in downtown.

Later on I went to my first ice hockey game with some friends from the gym - Florida Panthers vs Buffalo Sabres! It was very interesting but sadly Panthers lost (5-2). What surprised me the most was so many commercials during the game - it was kind of crazy!

Also I went to a Halloween haunted house with some other exchange kids, it was very much fun and excitement. I would like for us to have something like that in Lithuania.

Also I've seen Miami University football game! Big thanks for Greavers family for that, it was very interesting and before the game we did tailgating, I liked just to sit down, relax, and watch people flowing round.

Same weekend with my host mother I visited art festival in Fort Lauderdale. It was cool, I liked some stuff and of course there were some I didn't. But most of the stuff in it was very good - they had really nice sculptures. Next day we went to jazz brunch in Fort Lauderdale again, and I was listening to a band which does Rod Stewart covers - it was VERY good, It kind of felt like original and the vocals guy looked just like Rod and even was hitting girls during performance like Rod too ;D.

Oh yeah and we had a wonderful weekend in district conference! Maybe, just maybe it was so good because district 6990 is the best one. But just maybe. Kidding. It's because of that.

And... I have changed my host family. Very BIG thanks for Marita for everything . Thank you! My new home is very nice, big thanks for my new host mum! Now I live with four other kids, I never lived in a big family and so far I like it.