Inbound 2010-2011

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Hi : ) My name in Chiraphon. My nickname is Am. I come from Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. It is 3 hours Northeast of Bangkok. It is a city of over 200,000 people. My home is at a iron factory which my parents own. We have 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. I have a sister who is 24 years old and is a student at the university. She has been to Florida because she worked at Disneyworld for a summer. I have a brother. He is 14 years old. He studies at Boonwattana school in grade 8. I studied at the same school but 11th grade. My school has over 5000 students so it is a big school.

When I have free time, I practice the violin. I have played for 2 years. I love classical music. My favorite composer is Mozart. At school I also played sports. My favorite is basketball. I like it a lot. In the future, I would like to be an architect because I like to design new and unique buildings. I would like to design my own home. I like to read about homes and gardens. I like to plant trees and garden. I like to watch Korean and Japanese movies. I also like to listen to music and surf the internet.

I am excited about my year in the Florida. Thank you to Rotary for this opportunity.

October 4

I have been in St. Augustine, Florida about a month. It was a very long flight. I first drove 3 hours to Bangkok. Then I flew from Bangkok to Japan and then from Japan to Atlanta and then from Atlanta to Jacksonville. It took me two days. I arrived August 13, 2010. I'm so excited everyday about what I do and where I go. My first weekend I had my first party at the St. Augustine Lighthouse. I met the other exchange students who would be at my same school. They are from different countries. Solene from France, Guiherme from Brazil and Adam from Poland. I really liked meeting Rebound student Jay who had spent the previous year in Thailand and could speak Thai. It was also fun to go to Lake Yale and meet all the other exchange students.

In this first month I have a lot experiences with host family and my counselor Louise. I have been to my Rotary club meeting, Interact club , football game at school, baseball game in Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, and shopping. I have tried different American food. My favorite is french fries, hamburgers, and pizza. The food in USA has very big servings then Thailand. My one American Thai meal I ate for two days!

My host family, they are very nice. I have sister Ariana (17) but now she is an exchange student to Hungary and brother Ian (15). We have same school but no classes together. In the morning, my host mom drives us to school and he sings songs from radio. He is funny. He helps me with my homework sometimes. I learned I could not cook a hotdog in the microwave for 5 minutes. It burned and smelled the whole house. I like to cook Thai food because it is spicy. My host dad John tries my Thai food and he said it was very "hot". My host mom ate a little piece of a chili and her mouth was burning. I love spicy food. I make Thai dessert but I could not make it right. It was very hard.

I live with two cats that need lots of attention. They always want to get in front of the computer when I am trying to work. They like to walk in my room so I keep my door shut.

My school is St Augustine High School. My first day at school I was very excited. I wanted to make new friends but I can't speak English very well. At lunch, I saw someone sitting alone and I ask her "Can I sit here" She said ok. That is my friend, her name is Hunter. She comes from California and we have the next class together. My favorite class is cooking. I have a lot of friends in that class, Hunter, Luca, Kyle, Andrew and Sara. In this class I make omelets, apple pie, cookies. After school, I come home and practice cooking. One week I made an omelet everyday.  I also like Chorus and Algebra. One class period I work in the library checking out books with my friend Lisa. She helps me with everything.

In Thailand I play basketball. In Thailand, I don't like to watch sports but now I like to watch American Football. I got to go to a Gator game and now I am a Gator fan.

One of my favorite days was when a number of exchange students met at the beach and then went to Adam's host family for a cookout. Another fun day was going shopping for a homecoming dress. I am so excited for Homecoming dance since I have never been to a dance before.

I have also watched all the Harry Potter movies and I am so excited to be able to go to Universal Studios one day soon.

November 20

Now I have about 3 month in St. Augustine Florida.

I did a presentation in my cooking class about Thai food. I made Tom yum goong Spicy Soup. I went all over St. Augustine to find the right ingredients and I finally found a Asian store owned by a Thai women. It was nice to find some Thai food I could make at home. At school, they liked the soup but they said it was very spicy and very hot. Solene, from France, tried some also, but she thought the green peppers were green beans and ate two of them whole. Yikes...she was a good sport about it.

On my birthday, October 6th, my counselor, Louise took me and my friend Lisa out to dinner. After dinner she took us to the go cart track. It was very fun but it was a very cold night. My host family gave me a ticket to go to Universal Studios to see the Harry Potter exhibit. I am hoping to go soon. They also gave me the first Harry Potter book in English and some Harry Potter Silly Bandz. On my birthday, I also got to Skype with my family in Thailand. It was fun to talk with them and see everyone.

On the first day of Homecoming Week, it was pajama day, on the second day I were a costume from the 80's, on Wednesday, I wore bright yellow for being a junior, We had the football game on Friday and then after the game I went to Horror Zone with some friends. I was so scared that I couldn't get to sleep until two o'clock in the morning. The next day was the Homecoming Dance. It was fun to get all dressed up and go out to dinner before the dance.

On the 19th, I had my first choir concert. I was really excited and I liked the songs that we sung. I got to sing the national anthem. We are now preparing for the performance a Disney World. I have a lot of songs to learn.

In October we had a District weekend in St. Augustine. Blanka and Donata got to sleep at my house. It was fun to see all my friends and explore everything with the other Rotary students. Flagler college was beautiful. The beach day was really fun. The next week we have Halloween party in Jacksonville. It was really fun to see them again.

My friend Luca from Switzerland returned home last Sunday. We had a little party for me at my house. We got to eat pizza and went in the jacuzzi for hours !!!It was fun to relax with my frineds. The boys went home but Solene spent the night and we watched Harry 6 movie. We got to play pool and Guitar Hero.

On Saturday, we worked with the Coast Rotary Club to clean the beach for a couple of hours. On Sunday, I went with Luca's host family to the airport. It was very sad. His host sister Keira and Host brother little Luca, hugged him and cried to see him go back. And me too. The only good thing about Luca leaving is that I got his old locker which was an upper locker.

On Thursday night I got to go to the Dance Concert to see Solene dance. Afterwards, I went to the movie theatre to see Harry Potter 7 at the midnight show. There was a lot of people there and it was a lot of fun. I was tired at school the next day but it was worth it. Harry Potter is amazing. I would like to see again.

Today, I went to downtown to see the lighting ceremony and listen to the concert. There were a lot of people there but it was fun to see Solene and another friend at school. It is so beautiful.

Tomorrow in Thailand we have a annual ceremony to honor Water Princess. We place incense, flowers, candles in a boat made from banana leaf. When finished making the boat, we can put into the water. I will go with my friend Lisa to place my boat in the water.

It is too much fun in here to see a good friend and speak English. I am looking forward to our Disney trip and my first Thanksgiving and Christmas.

December 27

On November 28 2010, I have been to Awesome place " Universal " I go just 1 park and I very like it make me have a lot of fun and make me Dreams come true Because before I came here I know about the wizarding world of Harry potter and I really want to go there. On my birthday my first host family give me a ticket and I very happy. When I be there, I play the Incredible Hulk Coaster 5 times it so awesome I want to play more but I not have time. next time I went to The castle in Harry Potter story it name " Hogwarts " in side very cool but I play just 2 times because have a lot people wait for play it. And another ride Hippogriff , Dragon Challenge it fun , I try to drink Butterbeer. It drink from Wizarding world in Harry Potter story. I not want to go home but I'm so tried. And I won't forgot this memory in Florida.

On December 4 2010, I have to move to my second host family. They live near Downtown St. Augustine and school. They have son, who go to Japan this year. Host mom , She is teacher . Host Dad , He is International Soldier. And I have host sister name " Meg ", She have same school with me and we go to school together by her friend. They so funny. But I very miss my first host family too.

On December 9-12 2010, I'm so excited for Disney world. I will see all friend exchange student in Florida and have fun together. first day we go to Disney Hollywood studio.

I have a lot of fun with Rock on Roller Coaster and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. And walk around the park , watch the Fantastic show it awesome show about Mickey and friends. Second Day , We went to Magic Kingdom , have a lot of ride but we go before park open so not have a lot people there, first we have to learn about science, and let's go to first ride in Space Mountain , Toy story , big thunder mountain railroad , Pirates of the Caribbean , Haunted Mansion scary zone have a lot of ghost , Winnie the pooh ride , Small World in side have a lot country in the world and my country " Thailand " It so cool. I went to Minnie & Mickey House and take photo with them. Third Day ,I go with my friend Mon Julia Praew and another time I go with Simone Chisato and Hanka. We went to Epcot. My favorite ride is Soarin , It very awesome. and Spaceship Earth very funny because they made my future , So cool after we went to another ride Nemo , Dinosaur , Mission Space , Test Track and when we play all the ride. We went to World Showcase there have al lot country but not have my country. After we have to go Odyssey Center for dinner and take a group picture when finish we go outside and wait for fireworks show it so beautiful. Fourth day , We went to Animal Kingdom. my favorite ride is The Everest mountain and Dinosaur it Awesome if I have time I want to play again.

On December 15 2010, I have chorus concert at school. I'm very excited because after this concert I will go Disney World again for sing. On December 16-17 2010, I have to go Disney world for Disney's Candle Light in Epcot. Next day I went to Magic Kingdom again and I know about this park so very easy for get every ride in this park and have fun with my friend. I love Disney World so bad!

On December 24 2010, Christmas Eve I'm so excited for tomorrow but today I have to make Thai food for dinner. In the morning I have to go to shopping for my food at Asian store and after I have to go shopping at outlet with my host sister "Meg" and her friend "Marisa", I bought glove Ironman for Meg because I know she very like it so I give her for Christmas present. When we come back home I have to make dinner for to day. I make a little spicy soup with shrimp, spicy soup with chicken and a little spicy noodle with chicken.
And when dinner have my host family , meg friend Marisa and Chelsea. We have funny story today because Chelsea try to eat my food and she eat red chili pepper her think it's carrot. Chelsea give me eat chili but it not spicy for me because I very like spicy food and she told me " Why you can eat it like potato chips ". Another funny story, Meg try to eat chili pepper and I give to her a half uncooked chili pepper when she eat finish, it very spicy and I told her chili pepper when uncooked it spicy than cook and everyone laugh her, it so funny.
Today we can open present just only one so I pick open present from my Rotary club, I got St. Augustine history book and scarf.

On December 25 2010, I'm excited for open all present and I get up early than everyday. It my first Christmas and I'm so happy. I very like my present I got.

April 3

From the last journal is the first journal after New Year 2011 and now I have about 3 month before I will go back to Thailand. Everyone ask me " Are you excited to go back to Thailand? " and my answer is "No" I have and I got a lot thing in America and I really enjoy to stay here because here like my second home have a lot of friends it not just America but I have around the world and have 3 different family.

In January, In my district has New Year Party in Jacksonville. I went to football game with Jody, his daughter and Solene it very fun but me and Solene like sleepy because we sleep late. I have a new thing in my life because I join in Lacrosse team at my school, They have first lacrosse team in this year and I'm so Lucky.

In February, I went to SEA CAMP I have so much fun there I have to do a lot stuff in the Ocean and I went to Key west it very pretty there.
I went to DISNEY WORLD again with my host mom Kate, my host sister Meg and my friend Lisa because we got free ticket from chorus class at my school, We have a lot fun but I'm so tried from lacrosse practice because it first practice and hard work I have to do like run up-down in stadium.

In March, I went to North Carolina for wedding party with my host family and got to see historical in Savannah Georgia when we done from the wedding, Savannah, It is a old city and have a lot of Art and I very excited about that I got to see a lot of art there. And when we came back to St. Augustine I got a lacrosse game but I can't not play because I miss school in that day.

In East trip, I went to Columbus Ohio for pizza party and stay there one night before we wll go to Washington, At Washington Dc, There have a lot thing to do and a lot to walk but I didn't go the White house that is so sad for me and my friends we stay in DC. for 3 day and 2 night and go to New York City, In New York I got snow!! and this is my first snow forever and I sew it in New York " THIS IS AWESOME ". I went to China Town we eat Chinese food they are like speak all Chinese and the menu is all Chinese and we can't not understand what they say. After we went to China town we just lose how to go back to Time Square and we try to ask everyone who walk pass us and they are like tell the different way so we are so lost but we sew the subway and when we in Time Square we just go to shopping and now I have a favorite store is " FOREVER 21 " This store so awesome because they are like big and have a lot stuff and I spend money a lot for shopping in New York and we went to Thai food restaurant and there have a real Thai food I never have in America. This is the best thing I have from New York because I eat Thai food with my friends from Thailand. After New York we went to Boston and we spend money for shopping again. And we went to Hersey's Chocolate World Store in Gettysburg and go back to Columbus and say good bye to all exchange student who go in this trip and all my Thai friends. It is a short time but I'm so happy to see them.

After I came back from The East trip my host family pick me at the airport in Orlando And go down to Miami for Spring Break and say good bye to my second host family and now I move to my third host family.