|
|
Luis' Final Report June 23, 2005 |
|
I have just experienced an awesome bus trip
around all of Europe for a total of two weeks, we basically headed out
with the bus every morning going to different countries in Europe... We
left a Monday morning, had to take a train all alone for the bus to pick
me up at a station, there I met The next two days I'd have to say were the best times I had in the whole trip, we went to Barcelona, Spain, as the first day ended, we took our free time and started walking around the city, a little bit outside Barcelona, near a a little beach, we started going to different shops, which was rather funny, because me and my friend got kicked out one of the shops, my friend started bartering with the shop keeper, while me and my friend were laughing not really sure why...the guy got really mad and kicked us out, and started cussing at us, pretty funny experience... The next day was nothing compared to it, it was incredible, we stayed basically the whole day in Barcelona, walked around the streets, saw beautiful things, bands playing in the streets, it was great, roads of just music stores and everything, I loved that city, so many things to do there...well knowing us, we stopped by a blanket to start checking out these sun glasses, I dont know why but the guy thought we were joking around, and well we got kicked out of a blanket...don't worry we didn't get kicked out of anything else...that was the greatest day of our trip...not to mention the nice hotel, swimming pool, and to finish it, an all you can eat buffet, ahhhh we ate so much, especially those juicy watermelons... The next few days we traveled back to France, explored the south a bit, visiting Nimes, Marseille, beautiful beaches...and went to Monaco, a separate small country, really loved that city... After all that we went to Italy, where we stayed for two days, visiting the historic city of Venice, oh my, great city, no cars, not sort of automobiles besides bicycles and the gondolas...but there is definitely way to many pidgeons in that city, its even hard to walk, afraid your going to step on top of them... For the next 3 days, we went to the country of Austria, such a beatiful country with such a wonderful landscape...it was a shame though that it rained most of the days, but I still had lots of fun...the only really bad thing that actually happend there was that I lost my camera, not really sure how, but it happend...so I went to the police station with my friend that were helping me, and when we got there they told us to go to the lost and found, and we left our number and everything, but nothing so far...still great though... Our 13th day of our trip, we went to visit one of the concentration camps in Germany, called the Dachau, it was a great experience getting to see it, I learned many interesting things, although I hope not to go visit another concentration camp...The same day we went to Switzerland in the city of Bern, really beautiful place, we stayed at a nice youth hostel, and enjoyed the city very much, beatiful place, fun city to have fun... Basically our second to last day of our trip, I will have to say is which I enjoyed the most after Barcelona, we went back to France, to a city named Chamonix, where we all went inside this glacier, it was amazing inside, beatiful, and inside there was a St. Bernard, and that really just made my day haha...after the glaciers, we went to the mountains, were we rock climbed for a bit, until I couldnt do anymore, it was really fun, I enjoyed very much... Our last day was probably the worst, we went back
to the city of Lyon, where only I lived there, so I stayed with all the
other exchange student, and see them all leave in front of my very eyes,
it was very sad, it didn't really hit me until every single one of them
had left, after that day, I keep thinking about them, every night that I
settle in my bed, thinking when I will ever see these people again, which
im hoping to be very soon... My exchange is coming to an end and thats when
you realize that you can handle way more than you could and would
ever imagine. You need to appreciate things you have because they might be
gone sooner than you think. Life is not easy. True friendships are really
forever. The best part about being an exchange student is not about the
parties or places you get to go. Not the independence and life experience,
but the friendships IŽm not talking about the friends you made from
your host country but about the other exchange-student friends. They were
the very first friends we had in this new experience. We met them in
orientation meetings or trips, etc. They
were the first people we actually talk to without having the fear of
speaking in a different language. Exchange students have a special bond.
Despite language and cultural differences, youŽll understand one another
because you experience similar situations. The hardest part of facing the
end of your exchange year is to accept the fact that itŽs gonna take a
while until you have the chance to travel the world to see your exchange
friends again. Because once you leave your host country, deep down inside,
you know that sooner or later youŽll be back, but when... Some of us
became friends because we were placed in the same schools, lived in the
town nearby each other. Others we met along the year, during trips and
meetings... The trips... first day nobody knows each other, everyone is
shy... By the end of the trip everybody knows everybody and says good bye
in the last day is as sad as when we left our friends and family in our
home countries... Once your year is done, it is when you realize who you
will always miss the most. Your exchange friends spread all over the
world, and one day youŽre going to be at a Geography or history class and
as some countries are mentioned, youŽll think about your friends that are
half way around the world away from you, and youŽll have to fight the
tears again... Their occasional letters, phone calls and emails are going
to be of unbelievable value and will bring joy to your bad day/week...I'm
never going to forget these very people, and neither will I forget the
very people who helped me out in school and in the language, people I
spent most of my time with, my french friends, I would like to tell all
you, thanks, thanks ofr everything! I'm going to miss you all, and I
already can't wait to see you all again! I want to thank the wonderful people of the Weston Rotary Club for sponsoring me and giving me this opportunity. I would like to say thanks a lot Jeffrey Wertman, you were always there for me, in every meeting before I left to France! I want to thank our dear Roy Joseph who made all of this possible and gave us a great support and orientation! Dear Alba, you were the best and the website
rocks!! I tried to check it whenever I had a computer near me!
Thank you for all your great work! |
|
