Freitag, 24. Juli 2015

Farewell Party - Goodbyes suck

Hi guys.

Today it is a sad post. But also a happy post. My exchange is pretty much over. It hasn't really hit me yet, it still feels like I'm gonna be in Marquette tomorrow and not heading to Chicago from where I will fly back to my home country Germany. I don't know if it feels weird or normal, whether I'm happy or sad. I am sad that I have to leave my (new) home, but I'm happy to be at my (normal) home again very soon.  All the great people I met during my amazing year, my new family that I found, my new home, I will miss it so bad. I paid a high price when I went on exchange. I will never be completely at home again, because part of my heart will be elsewhere. That is the price I pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place. I just hope and wish that I will see all of these amazing and great people again, people that I can now call friends, brothers, sisters, that I call my family now. It was great to see all my friends again at my farewell party and to spent one more amazing night with them!
I will miss you all guys! Until we see each other again!

Dienstag, 14. Juli 2015

Central States Rotary Youth Exchange Conference 2015 in Grand Rapids

Hi guys!

Past weekend I went to the biggest conference of the year! 17 Rotary Districts with over 1000 exchnage students from all over north of the United Staes and Canada. We stayed on Calvin Campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For me it all started on Thursday. I left Marquette early and we drove down to Escanaba which took about an hour. From there we took a bus that started in Green Bay and picked up other exchange students, many of them that we knew already. 7 more hours to drive to Grand Rapids, downstate Michigan. We arrived and went to our dorms. It was already late and breakfast was already over so we hurried up to get some food. We met many people again, and almost everybody from the West Coast Bus was there! It was so great to see them all again! there wasn't much going on on Thursday because the conference would begin on Friday. So we just hang out on the roof of one of the dorms.
The next morning we started with breakfast, and played some volleyball after that. then we had the opening ceremony. It was a lot of fun! We had all flags shown and music playing to it. There also were many important people, such as the Rotary International President-Elect for 2016-2017, John Germ. He hold ha speech about the Rotary Youth Exchange and Rotarys' number 1 concern, to end Polio. We could also meet him and talk to him! As well as the President-Elect, there was the Director of the Rotary Youth Exchange International. We got to talk to her as well. We were talking about our experience, what we liked, or disliked, and how we would improve Rotary Clubs and Rotary all over the world! Here is a video from the conference with both the Rotary Intenational President-Elect and the Rotary Youth Exchange Director!
We also had sessions with our own districts and it was so good to see all the people again, but it was also sad to think about those that are already back home. As the evening came they set up a dancefloor and food and drinks. Later we went up to the roof again, telling stories, playing the guitar, singing and laughing about funny stories and memories!
Saturday was pretty much the same. Session after session until the afternoon. Then we had an event called 'Brazil against the World'. So we played soccer against all the outbounds, inbounds and rebounds from Brazil. Guess who won? The World of course!!! 3:1! Wohoo, beat Brazil, again!
Following that we had a huge pin exchange. All the exchange students came together and exchanged pins from the host or home country. Now my blazer is really filled with all kinds of pins! We had a nice closing session in the evening, and then were able to go to a party. Most of us went to the roof though. We had more fun then ever! But we also had to say goodbyes this time and took some last pictures. Inside our dorms we were allowed to stay awake as long as we wanted because it would be the last time for most of us to see each other. We stayed up almost all night and had a lot of fun. On Sunday morning it was the last time that we all would see each other for a very long time. Many people cryied and it was very sad. But we will see each other again. It might sounds weird but those people became part of my family, one big family of brothers and sisters from all over the world and from all different cultures. It was an amazing weekend and an frecking awesome year! I could't be happier with my life and the opportunity I had  to experiece the life of exchange. I am so sad, my last days of my exchange have come and I really do not want it to be over.
I am gonna miss everybody and I am thankful for everybody I got met during this year!
Thank you so much!

Day 14 - Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Walk of Fame

Last-day-Hello!

Today is the last day on our West Coast Tour. We are going to spent time in Los Angeles and we will be doing some sightseeing.
We started the day by going to the Griffith Park Obersatory, from where we were able to see the Hollywood sign as well.


From there on we went to the Downtown Los Angeles and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. We saw about 50 Spidermans, Ironmans, Transformers and so many more, found stars aof many famous actors, artists, singers and comedians and so many more. Me and my friend Rostand from Brazil also got interviewed by the Playboy magainze! 


Our next stop was Beverly Hills. Lots of cool cars and nice houses!


We went on to a big Farmers Market (the first one I saw in America). After we bought some stuff and had lunch we went back to the hotel, where we had a surprise party from Terra North America. The second West Coast Bus was there too and we had so much fun! We danced all night and ate a lot of food. Made new friends with the people form the other bus, although we already knew some of them. It was sad becasue we had to say goodbye for the first time that evening. We would stay up longer and probably not go to bed because some of us would leave to the airport at 2 am. So we stayed up to say 'See you later!' because we knew we would see each other again at Central States. Although, there were some Goodbyes and it was very hard to know that you wouldn't see these people for a long time. That really made us all very sad, becasue we grew from strangers to friends, and from friends to family. Words cannot descripe how amazing and great these past two weeks and the trip were. I will never forget these people and how much the mean to me. We will stay friends for life! #BUS1




Day 13 - Disney's California Adventure and Disneyland

Hi everybody!

Today was a magical day! We left the hotel and walked for about 10 minutes to Disneyland! In California there is a Disneyland and right across it there is another themepark called 'Disney's California Adventure'. That was the one we went to first! Freefall towers, rollercoasters with loopings, car racing, water tube rides and lots more! Later on we went to Disneyland. Even more rides and even more magical adventures that took as to a different magical place. We even saw Adam Sandler and his kids! *-* Later at night we watched the Disney Parade and the fireworks over the castle! It was amazing and sooo much fun! I already miss all the people I met. But I'll meet them again in two weeks at the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange conference! Cant wait!

Day 12 - San Diego Zoo, back to Los Angeles

Hallo!

Thank God that it was the last night in the hotel in San Diego! Breakfast was ok, the rooms were very small and the pool area was dirty and not cleaned. But, Hey it was cheap! So we got up and went to the Zoo in San Diego! It was a lots of fun! So many different animals and all kinds of activities to do! We walked around the entire Zoo which took very long and was tiering becasue it was very hot! 





After the Zoo we hit the road to go back to Los Angeles for our final destination.
So sad that this amazing trip is gonna be over soon! 

Day 11 - Sea World in San Diego

Hi guys!

We spent the entire day at SeaWorld in San Diego! We went on a lot of rides and watched a lot of shows! It was a lot of fun and pretty much everybody got soaked! They also offered to swim with dolphins! it would have cost 215$, and some crazy Danish actually paid that amound of money to made her dream come true! It was such a fun day and everybody enjoyed it!


For tomorrow it says San Diego Zoo and road back to Los Angeles on the program!
Unitl then, goodbye!



Montag, 13. Juli 2015

Day 10 - Road to San Diego and Talentshow

A Road-Day-Hello everyone!

We left Arizona as ealry as possible, because we were heading to San Diego. Besides stoping at a wallmart we didn't do much. The only fun part was in the evening when we had our talentshow. Everyone did an amazing job but especially the spice girls, Carlos with his bird sounds, the Danish quiz, yoga class, Nam singing, topless germans, Japanese dancing, piano playing and much more. But what tops all was probably when Anna stopped us while dancing to an inappropriate song, and the dance performance by Karlo, Gui, Amiel and Mateo. It was a very fun evening but long evening!

See you tomorrow!