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CAN-AM
GAB SCAN
The
Official
Youth Exchange Publication of
Rotary
District 5080
Volume
6 - Fall
2003
Editor
- Brad
Mingay
1007
Beardmore, Priest River ID 83856 USA
208-448-2875
FAX: 208-428-0806 |
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FALL 1999,
FALL
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Fall 2002 |
Adancito Osuna
is from District 4150 in Mexico and
is Staying in Creston British Columbia
Hi,
I am Adan from Mexico I was looking the page, and I saw that you don't have
pictures from the rotary's exchange from this year so I decided to send you some
pictures
This one was at rotary tour in
Creston.
If you want more pictures I have my Webster
www.adancito.cjb.net
or you can send me an email.
Thanks
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Briett Wood
is from Walla Walla in Washington and is
staying in Mexico
Hey,
It's Briett from Mexico. I had a great year! And here's a pic of some of the
exchange students that went to a big District Rotary conference in Nuevo
Vallarta. It was a great trip!
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Gordon Nish
is from the Cranbrook Sunrise Club and is in
France
Hey,
This is Gordon Nish. I would have had some photos with this but the librarian
wouldn't let me send them. So maybe latter I can. Ummmmmm. Oh I'm in France. I
live in Angouleme. It has around 100,000 people. 1 hour north of Bordeaux or 4
hours south of Paris. Got lots of friends, miss lots too. Hope everyone in
America is having fun. France is cool. Houses and castles are awesome. Other
exchange students too. Aussies, Americans, Thai, Japanese, Finland, Mexicans.
Everyone is here, from everywhere. Vacation starts next week. I can't wait for
that. On the 3, 4, 5 of Oct. I went to a Rotary weekend thing at Royan. 40
students there. Tons of fun, that's where I met all the people. In my class at
school I got 1 American and two Germans and about 30 French people. Everyone
here smokes, drinks, and eats a lot. But there are cool. I only do one of those.
Guess. French people like me, cuz I am Canadian. I don't know what else I should
put in here other than I'm glad I came on exchange and id do it again, but maybe
somewhere nice and warm.lol. cya
That Guy everyone loves.
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Jennifer
Tynan is in Poland
Hi Everyone!
Poland is proving to be more and more fun every week. Things here are wonderful!
I can't believe it has already been 3 months, the time is flying by. It's hard
to believe that in 9 months, I'll be going home!! I live in a city called To Ruñ,
which has so much history behind it, like every other Polish city. The old
buildings and churches here are amazing, unlike anything in Canada or America.
Everything has a story behind it, and the Poles are more then willing to tell
you these stories.
School is very different, but the students are very enthusiastic about having a
foreigner in their classroom. The first day of school was definitely one of the
most confusing days of my life. I didn't know any one, the language, or where I
had to be. But I made it through, and every day got a lot easier. Now, I can
understand a lot more, and I know my way around both the school and the town.
The language is probably the hardest thing to get used to, but Rotary has set us
up with Polish lessons twice a week. These lessons are amazing, such a help to
learning the language.
My host family is great - although there aren't any one my age here. My older
host brother, Piotr, moved to Kraków (a city about 5 hours away) at the
beginning of September, to go to University. Even though there isn't any one my
age, I love my house and the family. My host parents own their own restoration
company, which restores old castles and architecture. They travel a lot, which
is really cool. Last month, it was the 10th anniversary of their firm, and they
held a big party, which was a lot of fun.
At the beginning of October, we had the Rotary Orientation, which brought
together all of the exchange students living in Poland. It was a lot of fun,
especially seeing the people I had met on the plane (there were 36 of us!!) It's
amazing how quickly bonds form between exchange students, saying goodbye after
the weekend was definitely hard for some people, but we have 2 more meetings
scheduled this year. It's great to know that if I wanted to travel to another
city in Poland, I would have a house to stay at, with great friends. The other
students in my city are great, I can't believe the bonds we have all already
made.
The food here is very different. It took a little getting used to, they eat so
much! First is breakfast, and then lunch, and then dinner, and last, supper!
Plus the snacks! I can't say that I am Ever hungry at the end of the day!
Potatoes are served at every meal, and tea! Tea is served every time we are in
the kitchen! It's good though, to keep away the cold.
You can definitely feel winter coming now, although there isn't any snow yet.
The weather is really clear, but cold! I need to get used to this weather still.
I have been travelling a little bit - The first week that I was here, I went to
Malborg, which is the biggest brick castle in all of Europe. It was absolutely
amazing. My host parents had done a quite a bit of restoration on that castle,
and could answer any of my questions, which was great. Last Saturday, I went
with the two other exchange students in my city to a bunch of Castles, Palaces,
and ruins near to my city. It was amazing, the pictures I've included are the
ruins of a large castle, which was beautiful. I've also traveled to Kraków with
some exchange students. Kraków is the most beautiful city. It was absolutely
amazing. Very many tourists though - in one room, we met someone from Canada,
Mexico, North Korea, America, and of course, Poland. It was a really great trip,
I got to stay with my host brother, in his flat, which was right in town. Next
week I am going to stay with a friend in her city, Poznan, about 2 hours away,
which should be great.
Everyone here is very Catholic. Holidays are taken very seriously - No Halloween
here, but they have a holiday which is called All Saints Day. It is a day of
paying your respects to those who have passed away. We went to the graveyard at
night, and lit candles on the graves. All that you could see in the graveyard
were lights from the candles, it was beautiful!
Thank you, Rotary, for sending me. Although Poland wasn't my first choice, I
don't think that I would rather be anywhere else now. I have met so many great
people, and already made some amazing friendships. Bye for now!
Jennifer Tynan
Toruñ, Poland
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Mallory
McKenna is from the Creston Valley Club and is
in Germany
Hi,
I'm Mallory McKenna. There was a paper in my folder saying that I have to write
a little something about how I'm doing that's due this month.
I'm on exchange in Mainburg, Barvaria (Germany) and am hosted by the club of
Mainburg-Hallertau (D.1840). I'm attending the local gymnasium (Gabelsburger) in
the 11th Class, am playing on an all girls Football (soccer) team, the School
Track team, the school Choir, the school Orchestra (Cello), currently trying to
join the School Handball team plus balancing all this with friends, homework and
traveling. So far I've been to Austria twice with my Rotary club and will be
spending the next week in France with my host-family. I feel VERY involved here
and so far have had no problems. However I'm working very hard on my German with
11 classes (in school) during the week and I am trying also to learn my areas'
Barvarian dialect. So far I've not been homesick and I'm enjoying living in
Europe very much! My host families are all completely awesome, and I have many
friends here (I think more than I had in Canada). So in all I'm having a great
time and really making the most of my exchange. Thanks District 5080!
Mallory McKenna
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Jake
Oakland is from the Orofino Club and is in
France
Bonjour from France!
It's been 2 months since I left home and I've learned a lot, besides some of the
language, which is tough since I never had French before. I actually enjoy
school much more than I did back home, even though it goes until 5:30 in the
afternoon. I'm amazed at how nice the other students are. I thought being an
American and going to France would be, uhm, dangerous hehe, but I couldn't be
more wrong! I have more friends than I do back home. The French love food and
wine (especially) more than anyone else. It's crazy to see how many bottles of
wine they go through at dinner. My host family is really great too. They are
both teachers in Pontivy, my town, so they are very patient with me.
Well I need to go...au revoir!
Jake Oakland
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Libby Bruce
is from the
Spokane 21 Club and is in Germany
Click here to see Libby's Pictures
Dear fellow Rotarian,
You receive the Report of Libby Bruce, Spokane, who is staying at my family in
Weilheim, Germany.
Sincerely,
Peter Handel, RC Weilheim D 1840
PS: More pictures will be sent in a different mail
It has been my dream for over five years
to be able to travel to Germany, and at last, I am able to recognize that dream.
I have been in Weilheim, Germany for two months now, and I am loving every
second of every day. Weilheim is south of Munich and in the middle of the most
beautiful landscape I have ever seen. When I was still at home, my friends asked
me why I wanted to leave my school, my family, my friends, my life for an
entire year, and now I know exactly why. Though I left my life behind in
Spokane, I have added a new life that I would not give up for anything. My year
started with a weeklong trip to Austria, which was perfect to get reacquainted
with my host family. Shortly thereafter school started. Though it is hard to
understand everything, school has been priceless. I have made so many friends,
my German is improving, and overall I have learned so much that school is an
integral part to my life right now. Outside of school, I have attended church
and youth group with one of my friends, I have played volleyball, I have been to
Legoland, I have danced for the first time in a ball, I have seen churches and
towns older than the United States, I have been to Oktoberfest, and I have
become a part of a culture that has easily become a part of me. My host family
is also a strongpoint in my exchange. Through welcoming me into their family,
and involving me in their everyday activities, I feel like I have truly been
accepted into this family. No matter how much I write, or how many pictures I
send, I would never be able to fully explain my life right now. But I do know
that I have learned and seen so much that I would never give up this experience.
It has been truly a once-in-a-lifetime first two months, and I hope that the
rest of the year continues on as well as it has begun. With that, Hi to everyone
reading this, and I will see you all at the end of the year! Keep in touch!
-----Please spell check everything for me, as everything is wrong right now,
considering the fact that it is not in German. Thank you. The attached pictures
are 10 out of probably 500 that I have taken. They concern visiting a town
called Bamburg, my visit to Legoland, school, Oktoberfest, the Münchner Gartens,
and more. If you would like actual captions to go with the pictures, you can
have them in about a week. I am in Berlin from Tuesday until Sunday, then I can
email you anything else you may need.-----
Thank you,
Libby Bruce
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Claudia Schneider
is from District 1840 in Germany and is staying in Rossland, British Columbia
I am the German exchange student in
Rossland, BC. My host family is very, very nice, I like them a lot.
Unfortunately, I will move next weekend. As this is my last weekend with the
first family I am going to cook "Spaetzle" (German dish) for them tonight. I am
doing a lot of outdoor activities like hiking, biking and pretty soon skiing as
well, which I am enjoying! Next weekend we are going to Silver Star for
cross-country skiing. I am pretty excited. Also the school is fun, the people
are very nice! All in all, I have a fantastic time here!
Thank you!
Claudia
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Stephanie Tolman is from the Castlegar
Sunrise Club and is staying Finland
Hello!
My name is Stephanie Tolman and I am currently on a Rotary Exchange in
Pihtipudas, Finland. I left for Finland on August 2, 2003, so I have been gone
for just over three months. It's funny because it seems like a lot longer than
just three months.
I'm having a wonderful time here. My host family and I get along really well and
the people in Pihtipudas are really nice. I'm lucky that almost everyone speaks
English though, otherwise I would be completely lost. Finnish is said to be one
of the hardest languages in the world. I believe that; it is very difficult.
Other than the language, everything else is going wonderfully. Finland is so
beautiful. So far there hasn't been any real big shocks! I guess the main
differences, other than the language, are that the food is quite healthy, (even
McDonald's is healthier here), and the sauna. Saunas are a really treat and I
don't know how I lived without one for so long!
I don't regret coming here at all. Of course, the only way to find that out is
to come yourself! I hope everyone else is having a wonderful time on their
exchanges too!
Näkemiin,
Stephanie
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Note #2
Stephanie Tolman is from the Castlegar
Sunrise Club and is staying Finland
Hello everyone!
Wow, I can’t believe that it is March. Time is passing
by so quickly! Everything here in Finland is going great. We still have lots of
snow, (in fact we had a huge snow storm just the other day), but the days are
getting longer and soon it will be spring. Lots of interesting things have
happened since October. In December, all of the Rotary Exchange Students in
Finland went to Lapland. We got to ski, see reindeer and even see where Santa
Claus lives. Then there was Christmas, which was nice. There was all these
wonderful foods and everyone was so happy. Christmas here is celebrated on
December 24. On the 26th my family and I went to Estonia.
Unfortunately, I had some trouble getting in (the boating line had told us on
several occasions that I didn’t need a visa, but I did), but it all worked out
in the end. The new year came quickly and soon it was time to go back to school.
Last week, November 23 to March 1st, we had Hiihtoloma, or
Ski holiday in English. We went visiting family and the holiday was nice, but it
was also nice to get back to school. That’s really all that’s been happening
here. In the spring, my family and I are going to Russia for a couple of days
and then in the summer I’m going on the Eurotour. It gives me something to look
forward too. I hope everyone else is having as much fun as I am!! Have a great
year!
Stephanie Tolman Finland 2003-2004
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