Maggie

2011-12 Inbound from Austria

Sponsor: Rotary Club of Kirchdorf, District 1920, Austria

Host: Rotary Club of Brandon, District 6890, Florida

Magdalena's Bio

Hey! My name is Maggie. I am 16 years old and an exchange student from Austria. In Austria I lived with my parents and my little brother in a small village in the mountains.
Here, in Florida, it is totally different. I live near the big city Tampa and everything is flat. There isn't even a hill. I really do like it here. It is great, well I have to get used to the hot and humid weather, but everything else is just awesome!
I attend a big High School here. The best thing about school is, that I have chosen my courses, so I like every subject. School is also good to meet other students in my age and to make some friends.
In my free time I like to do sports. In Austria I went hiking, skiing, mountain biking, climbing and swimming.

Two years ago I heard about the exchange program from a friend. She spent her exchange year in Mexico and she told me something about her experiences. Since that day I was interested in doing the same, she did. So I signed up and and now I am here, in Florida.

Thank you, Rotary, for giving me the opportunity to spend one year in an other country, to learn a foreign language and to get used to a different culture.
 

Monday, December 19, 2011

I am in Florida. Away from my family and my friends.
However, I am having the best time of my life right now.
And actually I am not away from my family and friends because I also have a wonderful family here. They accepted me in their life and they treat me like their own daughter. It is always something going on and we are having a lot of fun together. I can proudly say that I have the best host family!

I have been here now for 4 months and my friends accepted me as a “normal” student. Well, you can still hear my accent and some things are still new for me, but for them I am a “normal” student. Of course they keep asking me about my home country and I always try to answer their questions as good as possible. And we also talk about the differences between Austria and the U.S.

Back to the beginning of my life as an exchange student. When I first heard that I will spend my year in the U.S. I thought the culture and the life would not be that different, because Austria and the U.S. both have a higher standard of living and I often thought about American movies. Well, since I am here I always experience that life is different. Many things are similar but everything is still different.
Back again, when Rotary told me that I will come to Florida my fist thoughts were about beaches, Disney World and hot weather. And after 4 months in Florida I can say, yes. It is hot here! Even thou I am from Austria and used to colder weather and snow I have to say that I like the warm weather. Especially the time from October up to now is great. I do not have to freeze when I am outside; it is like spring in Austria.
However to be honest Christmas without snow feels wrong. It is hard to get the “Christmas feeling” while I am walking around in shorts and shirts. Christmas is my favorite holiday and I am really looking forward to celebrate it in a different way and to get to know the tradition of my host family.

I also mentioned Disney World before. A few weeks ago all the Rotary Exchange Students in Florida went to Disney World. RYE Florida invited for 4 days in Disney. We had a lot of fun and it was just to be on the “happiest place on earth”. And it is true; Disney is a very happy place!

I also have to say that I am proud to be an exchange student in Florida. First I thought no matter where you are it is great, and I still think that is true. However to be an exchange student in Florida has something special. All the experiences we make here are amazing. Disney was one of them, but there will be many more and I cannot wait for it.

I am at the end of my journal now, and before I stop writing I have to say something very important:
I cannot say “THANK YOU” often enough.
To RYE Florida, for having me here and letting me have the best time of my life.
To my Rotary club in Austria and Florida, for sponsoring me, without you I would not be here.
To my family here, for being the best host family and for letting me be a part in your life!
To my family in Austria. Even thou I am not with you it is amazing how much you support me with all your heart. I cannot have a better family, Thank you!