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April 15, 2011
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April 11th
It's been a long time that I haven't written my journal. So many things
happened since the last one which was in January.
These last four months went by too fast, seriously. As most of my friends
told me, as of January, you will wink twice and you'll already be back in
Belgium. And unfortunately, it's true. My exchange goes by too fast and I
try to enjoy as much as possible.
So, let's start by the beginning which is January. I changed host family
on the 12th. I switched from a Jamaican family to a Colombian family. I've
been able since I switched to learn and speak Spanish with them. Also,
because I changed city, from Davie to Weston, I had to change school too.
I was excited because I really didn't like my first school. I started
school on January 23rd. But before that, I got the chance to go skiing in
Key Stone in Colorado with another exchange student from Brazil. We had so
much fun!
Then came Seacamp. It was great but I wasn't expecting so much education.
We were divided in many groups. We couldn't spend much time with the other
exchange students, we didn't have much free time. I wish it was either
longer either less education. This Rotary meeting with all the exchange
students from Florida was the last meeting all together and we couldn't
spend much time all together. I really liked it though but I had other
expectations. I preferred Disney than SeaCamp.
After Seacamp, I went to the hospital by ambulance but nothing serious. It
was scarier than it really was.
Then, HAWAII. This trip was amazing. We had so much fun all together. We
had surf lessons, we went kayaking to a desert island, etc. Unfortunately
we didn't get the chance to see the LUAU because of the weather. I could
talk a lot about this trip but it would be too long.
Afterwards, came Spring break. I went skiing in Lake Tahoe, CA. It was
awesome. It was one of the best skiing week. Same thing than Hawaii, I
could talk a lot about this trip. One thing is that we had so much snow.
In total, we had around 4 or 5' of snow, if I remember well.
Then, it was the NYC & Washington trip with the exchange students. This
trip was different than Hawaii but it was still great. I loved New-York
City! Times Square was amazing, we had a lot of fun, we passed on a huge
screen! The view from the top of the Empire State Building was amazing as
well. Then Washington. Washington was a good trip but more cultural. A lot
of museum but the city is really nice though.
Since the beginning of this journal, I've been talking about all the trips
that I've done. Now, let's talk a little bit about other stuffs.
Once, I went with my host brother and a group of Broward College to help
homeless people. It was really interesting and all the people were so
happy.
About school, I really like my new school. It was easier for me to meet
people. Probably thanks to my English which is much better than before.
I'm doing a lot of activities and I'm more busy than I already was two
months ago. I'm playing tennis everyday at school and almost everyday
after school. I try to go to the gym everyday, but it's not possible all
the time.
I think I would be able to write a book about my experience when my
exchange year will be done. This is amazing! I would never say thanks
enough to the Rotary and all the Rotarians.
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January 11, 2011
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January 7th
2011!
The last five months went too fast. We are ALREADY in 2011!
I spent five great months with my first host family (Jamaica - Curacao) I
did so many things with them. It was amazing. Thanks to them for these
five last months! Now, I'm going to move soon into a Colombian
family. I've already met them and they are very nice too! I know that I'm
also going to have a LOT of fun with them! One great thing is that
I'll speak Spanish with them, only Spanish. That's one of the best thing
during my exchange. I'll be able to learn two languages for one year!
Talking about December.
December was a very good month for one thing, Disney! We all were
together. All the exchange students, four days - together. This 4 days
trip was awesome!
We had so much fun! We were able to know more the other exchange students
that we don't have the chance to see them during the year because we live
too far from each others. It was perfect. The hotel was great, with a huge
swimming pool. Some courageous went into the pool but it was freezing. We
went to 4 parks. Hollywood Studio - Magic Kingdom - Epcot -
Animal Kingdom. I preferred Epcot. We had a nice dinner all together along
the lake which is in the middle of the park and then, we had a VIP place
only for exchange students. We were right in front of the fireworks. It
was amazing. I'd never seen fireworks like these before. We all really
enjoyed it!
The Christmas break now.
Unfortunately, mine wasn't my best Christmas break. The first weekend was
very good! I had a great time with many friends. But after that, the first
week wasn't good. I stayed home, doing nothing. Unfortunately for me, most
of my friends were working, were on vacation or already planned something
else with other friends. But anyway.
However, Christmas eve was very good. I really enjoyed it. I celebrated it
with my second host family, because my first host family doesn't celebrate
Christmas on Christmas eve. I went to Miami in the house of one of the
uncles. We were 40 people. I hadn't celebrated Christmas with so many
people. It was great. They are all really nice! We did Secret friends for
the presents. We don't do that in Belgium but it was nice. I like the
idea. To describe me, one of my host uncle said "He's happy to be here,
he's sad not to be there." It was kind of true but I can say it. I didn't
miss Belgium on Christmas eve!
On 25th, I went to church at 6.00 am. It was the first time that I went to
church on 25th. It was nice, except that I had to wake up early. It was a
part of the culture and the religion of my first host family. After
church, we came back home to open the presents, we spent the day at home
with one of the uncle. Then we had a good dinner together. In conclusion,
I had a great Christmas!
About New Year's eve.
It was completely different. In Belgium, I used to stay in a house with my
friends partying. Here, it was way quiet and more relax. I spent New
Year's eve with an exchange student and his host family. I had a good time
with them! It was really nice. We walked on the beach before midnight.
Then for midnight, we drank champagne and watched Times Square. I really
want to go there once in my life. After that, we walked a little while
downtown and we came back home.
About school.
To start school after a break, that's always difficult. When I'll move
next week into my next host family, I'll switch school. I hope the new one
will be better because I don't like the one right one. I'll talk about
that in the next report.
Happy New Year to everybody !
See you soon.
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December 22, 2010
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October -
Beginning of November.
Everything is still going good. It's perfect with my host family. I'm
having a good time.
October was a good month. I went to Miami and Stiltsville with the
exchange students of district 6990. It was an awesome weekend. We went in
a beautiful house. The owner, Diana, lent her house to us. We had fun. We
went also in a house in the middle of the sea. It was great!
At the end of October, I went to Key West to see a parade. It was crazy.
Key West is beautiful and the Florida Keys too. I also went to the
Southern Most Point of the USA. That's a part of an experience.
The week after, unfortunately, I was sick.
Then I went to Homestead too. I don't really remember when but it was very
cool. The stadium is huge. I had never seen a stadium (track) so big. I
had fun too.
I just came back from the Rotary conference which happened on a cruise. I
was there with two exchange students. We spent a good time and the
meetings were interesting.
I've been feeling good since I came here. I don't feel sad or homesick.
Sure, I miss Belgium (etc..) but if someone tells that I should go back in
Belgium, I wouldn't go back. I don't want to go back now. I still have a
lot of things to learn, to see. I have so many things I want to do. I love
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October 22, 2010
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September
13, 2010
I'm here for
one month and I had a good time !
I'm lucky to be hosted by a very nice host family in a beautiful house !
It's very cool ! I have three siblings with who I talk sometimes but it's
more difficult to share anything because they are younger. (12 years-old,
10 and 4). But they are nice too. When I don't understand
something, I ask them and they explain me.
In one month, I already had a very good time ! I went to watch a Football
game (Miami Dolphins), a Baseball game (Marlins). I went to Orlando with
my host family in an aquatic park. It was very cool. I went to fishing two
times with my host father and my host brother. One time in Dania Beach and
one time on a boat. I visited the Ocean Drive in Miami the evening. It's
awesome :). I visited also Fort Lauderdale beach two times. One time with
my host family and one time with exchange students.
Since my first day at school, I met some students everyday. But almost all
the time, I met Columbian people. They are more friendly than the
Americans. I'm going to join interact club next Monday and I'm going to
join the tennis club. Maybe the Volley club or Baseball club too. I'll
probably learn Hip-Hop out of school.
Since I came here, I spent a good time with my host family and with other
people. And I know I'm going to have a good time here this year. I'm going
to be really busy all my exchange year!
I hope it's good.
Regards.
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