Lene

2011-12 Inbound from Denmark

Sponsor: Rotary Club of Hundige-Ishøj, District 1470, Denmark

Host: Rotary Club of Altamonte Springs, District 6980, Florida

Lene's Bio

Hi, my name is Lene. I'm from Denmark and I will be spending the next year in Florida which I'm really excited about. I'm 16 years old and will turn 17 during my exchange year. I live with my mom, dad and older sister.

When people hear that I'm an exchange student they often ask: why?
Why? Well, I want to learn about different cultures and how people are on the other side of the world. I want to experience how it is to speak a different language and how it is to live in a different country.
And then some people might ask: But why the United States of America?
Well, I have always wanted to go to the US. It's a dream come true to be here. And even though the cultures of Denmark and the US have a lot in common there are still a lot of things to experience. And being here has made me realize that the two cultures do not have that much in common as you would think.

After school I like being with friends or family. I like watching a movie or going shopping or just relaxing with a book or a magazine. I really enjoy reading and I have to say, the books are best in the original language. I used to play the piano, I haven't played in a year though. But I love music, almost all kinds of music, and music can always make me happy.
If I should describe myself with 3 words it would be: friendly, helpful and outgoing. I like helping others and I really enjoy meeting new people, because we all have a different story to tell. Which is another reason for doing this exchange.

I'm so happy to be here and I wouldn't if it hadn't been for my parents, my family, my friends and Rotary and I can't thank any of them enough!
 

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Almost 3 months!
Now that I have been here for almost 3 month all I can say is that I love it. Homecoming, school spirit, family, friends, food! Everything. And I'm getting used to that no one can say my name and almost no one knows where Denmark is. Homecoming seems long time ago, it was in mid September. Nine-weeks exams has passed. Time is flying by and in two weeks I'm turning 17! Life is crazy! Two weeks ago I was in Georgia and it was really fun! I went with my hostmom's family and we stayed in a cabin with a pool table and a hot tub! It's was great! Last Friday I went to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. It was so scary and really funny! People went around with and scared you all the time. I screamed all the time! And on the way home a guy scared me and then he started laughing at me. Sunday we had an Rotary exchange student BBQ for the exchange students in this district and their families. It was great, we ate really good food, went tubing and had a lot of fun! Next weekend I'm going to St. Augustine and I'm really excited about that. And then Halloween is coming up, I already have my costume. I'm going to be a fairy. And then I'm having a small birthday party for some friends. So that is what happened in October!

Sunday, December 04, 2011
05:13 PM

November passed by so fast! But being an exchange student is still the best thing in the world!
Well November started with my birthday which was a lot of fun. The weekend before my birthday I had my first birthday sleepover with the rotary exchange students and we just watched movies (The Notebook, Dear John and Bridesmaids!!) and had awesome cupcakes and the next day we went to a Renaissance Fair which was special. People had dressed up and there was horses and stuff. The funniest thing though was this guy who had dressed up as Jack Sparrow! The day after my actual birthday my friend brought a cake to school for me and the weekend after my birthday I had my school friends over for my second birthday sleepover. We went bowling and then we watched Silent Hill and Bridesmaids (again!) and just talked to 3 am!

The 19th I went boating with my hostmom’s family and we saw some famous guy’s house (Shaquille O’Neal) and we also saw a house that Michael Jackson use to stay in when he went on vacation here in Florida. But there were some huge houses on that lake!

And then there was thanksgiving. Tuesday I went and saw Breaking Dawn with my friend! (We only paid $6 per ticket!!!) That movie is sooo good! (: Wednesday I just enjoyed my day off and Thursday morning we went to my hostmom's parent’s house where we had turkey and everything that goes with it. A lot of food!! And Thursday 11:15 pm I stood in line in front of Kohl’s to go Black Friday shopping! And the line was kind of long when we got there – half an hour later it was so long that we couldn’t see the end of it. After Kohl’s we went to target and then home. Unluckily I didn’t have any money but they transferred Friday morning so Friday afternoon we went shopping again and I got new shoes (!!) and a pair of pants and some other stuff. Friday evening we went to my hostdad’s mom’s house and had more turkey. Friday night (around 9 pm) we got our Christmas tree and we decorated it and Saturday my hostdad put up the outside Christmas lights. So now we are ready for Christmas!! (:

February 26, 2012

The new year started with a party at my friend and new host family's house. It was an awesome party and we had SO much fun!! After the first week of school I moved in with my new host family and I have 2 host siblings, a sister and a brother. They are really sweet and I love living with them! But at the same time I miss my old host family and I miss home. But the good thing is that I see everyone in my old host family all the time and will see even more of them in the next couple of months. So exciting! At the 19th the school had a blood drive, where students can donate blood, and I helped out. So I spend the entire day doing nothing but hanging out, chatting and making sure that people weren’t going to pass out after donating blood. Luckily no one did! I also found out that they do not except any European blood and they do not except your blood if you have been in Europe within a year I think it was, which I find really weird&hell ip;

On the 26th I went with all the other Rotary Exchange Students to Sea Camp, which was at Big Pine Key. On the way down there we drove in a bus and we drove all the way out to Key West which was SO beautiful! We spend the next 2 days at Sea Camp where we met American High School students from Michigan and from the Keys which was really fun. We also learned about the seas around the keys and how changing the sea affects us. And when we left early on the 28th we were all sad because it was the last Rotary meet up for all the exchange students. And it meant goodbye for some and see you soon for others…

On the 1st of February I went with my family and the other exchange students in my district to a Magic’s game and the Magic WON!! For everyone who doesn’t know what I’m talking about: the Magic is the Orlando basketball team.

On the 5th there was the Super Bowl! And it was NY Giants against New England Patriots!
This weekend I went to RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) with about 100 other high school students from the district and it was AWESOME!! One of the best weekends so far and I wish it wasn't over already! I already miss everyone I met there!

So January and February have been two busy months and there is only about 5 left till I’m going home. So the next 5 months is going to be even more filled with events and fun stuff to do and I’m looking forward to it.