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Jenna
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Rotary
District 6110 Youth Exchange
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Nickname | Jenna |
| Age | 16 | |
| Foreign Languages | German | |
| Interests | hanging out with friends, skiing, traveling | |
| Host District | Multi-District 1910-1920 | |
| Departure | Aug 10 | |
Note: Most Recent Entries Appear At the Top
| Date | Travelogue Entry |
| 4/11/02 | Hello Everybody More photos. :)The first picture is a picture of the famous D.O.M in Salzburg. The next picture number 18 is a photo of the famous D.O.M in Salzbur and I am with to really good friends Karen and Yuanyuan. Number 19 is before Christmas lunch and this is with my first host family and the grandmother. The next photo is the christmas tree. It is almost always real and there are candles that you light on there and there are chocolates that are wrapped up on there. The last picture are of the girls/woman in front of the tree. My 1st host siter Julie host mom Ingrid and the grandmom. I hope that you enjoys these photos and maybe I will be able to send more later. Take care and keep in touch Jenna |
| 4/10/02 | Hello Everybody, Here are more photos. I hope that you enjoyed the first 4. I told yesterday that the castle was Schönnbrunn well that is wrong it is not schönbrunn I am still looking for the name of it. These photos today start off with a photo with the view of Salzburg and then number 6 is me and a friend yuanyuan she is from China. and then number 7 is a view of salzburg also then number 11 is just a very cold looking photo in Salzburg. And number 15 is at a bus stop in Salzburg with some rotary friends Left to Right there is Karen Mariana me and Annie. I hope that you enjoy these photos and maybe I will be able to send more tomorrow. Things here are going really good and just really fast. I hope that you all are doing well take care and keep in touch Jenna |
| 4/8/02 | Hello Everybody, How are you?? Sorry that I have not sent many photos lately it is because well i have been a little lazy about. Well these four pictures are from my trip to Salzburg with rotary. The castle is a very famous castle called Schönbrunn and the church is just a very pretty church on the outside and a good photo near the city of Salzburg. I have a hundred photos PLUS!!! to send home so I think that you will get some everyday. Well I hope that things are going really well for you all. Things here for me could not be better and I am do not have much time left but that is ok I guess. I have a wonderful Europe Tour with Rotary planned in three weeks and I am really looking forward to it. Well I hope that things are going well please continue to write. Love always Jenna Kessler ps.. I really have enjoyed this time and all and I can not believe that I am left with only about 2 months. I have a lot of photos that I would like to send.take care and keep in touch Jenna |
| 3/31/02 | Hello Everybody, Here is my next email. I think you will enjoy reading all of the things during Easter that I experienced. Well on Psalm Sunday here in Austria it is not really a special Sunday by saying that a lot of people do not go to church special for this. Then there is Grün Donnerstag this is Green Thursday. It is where there is no meat and you have something with spinach. We had a hot spinach cooked in a bread it was really good. Then there is Friday which is Good Friday but still most people do not go to church for this. On Saturday afternoon most people or more than half the people go to the farmer. They choose a farmer and his house for a church and they meet there on Saturday afternoon. All of the people bring their baskets which are filled with the Saturday lunch and the colored eggs. Then it is covered with a nice towel. At the meeting or get together they all put there baskets at the front of the table where the priest stands. Then you all stand and listen to the priest as he talks a little about Easter and all and then he takes a little bowl of water with Buchsbaum which I have not found a word for in English but it is part of a plant or bush like thing :) and the water is said in German as Weihwasser and this is holy water. The priest takes this water and uses the plant to lightly shake water over the basket. What he is doing is blessing the meal. He then does the same with the water and plant but over the people. Then it is over and we go home. That was really interesting for me to see. It was only about 10 minutes. The meal is eating during lunch and it consists of cold meats such as pork, smoked meat, and sometimes a speacial Easter meat. Then there are also the hard boiled eggs and a special Easter bread. This is only given at Easter. It is always round and it is made with a special white dough. Then there is always horshraddish. It was a very good meal. On Saturday evening many people go in the church but my host family did not. On Sunday morning the people wake up and the Easter bunny has come :) For the kids when the weather is nice usually there gifts and chocolates are hiding outside. We did not do that :) Then almost all of the people go to church. There is nothing really special that happens during the church service just that the priest talks about Easter and the events before and also we sing some Easter songs. But for the meal on Easter there is nothing really special about it. Also in the afternoon to the city where this host family lives comes a group playing musical instruments they play austria music. They walk up and down the streets to everybody, the whole day. It was nice to hear them they were good. After Easter there is what they say as Easter Monday and this is also a holiday and nothing is open. For the schools they are out the weekend of Psalm Sunday till the Wednesday after Easter. I had a very nice Easter and the Easter bunny did find me and left me some good chocolates and a nice shirt. I really enjoyed this holiday because it lastet a little longer with everything and it had a lot of new things for me to learn about. I hope that you all had a very nice Easter and I hope the weather this spring is nice for you. Love always Jenna |
| 3/23/02 | Hello Everybody, I am still here. I know that I have not written in a while about what I have been doing but I have been so busy lately and a little lazy about writting :) Feb 12th brought Fasching Dienstag this is some what like Halloween but the kids do not go knocking on doors or anything. A lot of people of all ages dress up and they go to the center of town and they hang out and drink and all and then there is a parade which is called Faschingzug. This year it was not so good they said and there were so many people that it was hard to see anything. People from all around Graz come to Graz because it is a bigger city. It was still nice to see what it was like and all and no I did not dress up. (do you think I am crazy) hehehe just kidding. Well then came another holiday for Jenna and well everybody else. The week of the 17th of Feb started the Semester holiday. A week off of school and that included my birthday. My host family and I went to their house in Kärnten which is on a mountain in the middle of no where. But it was really nice to just chill out and play in the snow and all. I celebrated my birthday with them and it was very nice. Also on my birthday I discovered something :) My host family have these special hairy cows and one decided to have a baby and I went down to take a look at them and I found the little baby. My host parents let me name him but it had to start with d so I named him David. It was really cool. On the last day of vacation I became sick. I thought it was just a little stomach ache but it turned out I was sick for one week. I had some type of virus and it kept me from school the whole week. At this time I was starting to learn not using the crutches so much and on the 28th of Feb I got to give them back to the hospital. It was really nice. My knee is doing much better. Then I headed back to school for the week. School is going ok I guess you could say it is just hard because I am not there much because of the vacations and I was sick and all so I do not really get to know them all very well. I am still trying and it is not for so much longer so we will see how the end ends hehehhee :) After that week of school I headed off for another vacation. Yes I do not go to school much here :) hehehe (shame on me) :) On the 8th of March I left with my host sisters class for a wonderful and beautiful trip to London/Brighton. We stayed for two weeks and we got to see so many things. We were in London 3 times. 1 time to go and see the big things like Big Ben Westminister Westminister Abbey Buckinham Palace National Gallery and much more but it was quick. We saw all that in one and half hours. Yes that is no joke they just pointed and said this is big ben and then said go and we rushed off to the next place. It was nice to see all but I wish that they talked about it more. The second trip to London was to see the musical Fame. That was really good. It was about young kids in a famous dance school and it talked about their lives in the dance school. It was really amazing. The third time we were in London we just went shopping. :) It was really a lot of fun. I went to Harrods the famous and expensive store and I bought a really cute teddy bear and it amazingly was not that expensive :) We took a trip also to Oxford, to see the University of Oxford and you better watch out do not touch the grass :) You are not to touch any of the special grass on campus or you really have to pay a fine. It was nice and we also got to see a little film about the story of Oxford which was nice. We also took a trip to Hastings. There is a famous castle and caves there that you can see. Unfortunatly it was raining pretty hard during this so we made it a nice and quick trip. Staying in Brighton we got to see the sights and things of Brighton which was really fun and amazing but there were some bad things about it. The things in Brighton and all over England is really expensive. A big mac meal at McDonalds would cost you about 7 dollars. I did not eat there very much :) Pizza hut was also very expensive it was about 10 dollars or more for the pizza buffett. Even the things you need to live a life are very expensive. The rain and wind was also something I did not enjoy because it rained cats and dogs everyday. During the week the kids went to school and I just toured around more. Our host families were really nice and they made sure everything was ok for us. I really enjoyed everything so much but I was glad to get home. I learned how much I got used to speaking german when I was with the host family in Brighton because she would ask something and well I would answer her in German. Silly ME :) hehhe We left Brighton at 2 am in the morning and arrived home in Graz about 1:30pm I had no sleep and very tired but I would not be able to sleep till later. The same day we returned home my host family in Graz was leaving to go skiing. I would be living with my third host family for the 10 days. So they put me on the train with my big suitcase from London and I was off. Well it was not so bad I have learned to adjust and all. I am now with my third host family BUT only for the 10days. The kids and everybody have Easter holidays now it will last till the Tuesday after Easter. I am looking forward to having this week off also :) I told you I am not in school much. I have no plans for the Easter Holidays which is ok with me. Well today as I sit here and write this letter it is SNOWING it is amazing they said that it was snowing. But nothing will stay because it is to warm and it is just melting in front of our eyes. Well that is all that I have been up to lately. After this holiday I will still be in Graz but just for 3 more weeks and then I will be traveling Europe hopefully for 3 weeks and then I will move to my third host family. I have made my return date home and you will be surprised but it is really just right around the corner. I am comming home on the 4th of June mark your calendar hehehhe :) I was trying to get it a little later but unfortunatly everything is booked up. It is ok with me because I have been here so long and in the summer there are things that I am looking forward to doing. I hope that you all are doing well and taking care. I hope that you all will continue to write during these last 11 weeks hehehehe :) I hope you all are doing well take care and keep in touch Love always Jenna P.S. sorry it is so long but hope you enjoyed. :) |
| 3/5/02 | Hello Everybody,
How are you all doing? Things here are going well. I wanted to
let you all know that on Friday March 8th or 9th I will be leaving
for England. :) hehehehe I will be away for 2 weeks. The next week I
have off school but I may be going to Germany for a couple of days
to visit a friend who was an exchange student with my family (Anna).
They have invited me for a couple of days and so maybe I will go. I
will try to email here and there but please do no write to many
emails during the first two weeks because I do not think I will be
able to read them. I hope that you all are doing well. My return
home date has been decided and unfortunatly it is a little earlier
than I hoped but it is not so bad. It is June 4th. I hope all is
well take care and keep in touch Jenna |
| Saturday, February 02,
2002 10:48 AM
I have moved |
Hello Everybody, How are you all? I have moved to my second host family as planned and the last 2 days have gone really well. I really enjoyed the good days with my last host family and we had a lot of fun on holidays also. They were very nice to me but we just seemed to not be able to work some things out . I live in Graz now a much bigger city and with a very nice host family. I have my own apartment with a living room a kitchen a bathroom and a bedroom they fixed it up very nicely for me. I will attend the private school where my host sister goes. I will miss my school in Bruck but I hope to be able to return there in May. I have a host sister and a half host brother if that makes since. :) hehehe My host sister is 15 and very very nice. And my host brother is I think 24 and he is studying in Graz I have not seen him much. My host parents are very nice and very helpful and I think it will be a very wonderful 3 months with no problems. My host parents have there own dentist business and they work very hard there. We have also a maid and she is nice and cooks good food. I actually ate fish for the first time( well I think it is my first time) and it was not bad. I am not sure if all of you have heard but I was on a ski trip 2 weeks ago with my class. To a very famous place Kitzbühel and there I ended up in the hospital. I ended up bruising the bone in my right knee and there is now swelling in the bone. I had to go home one day early from the ski trip so I could go to the hospital and they could do a MIR. Because before this they did not know what was wrong. I am learning to bend it and put a little weight on it now I am doing physical therapy at home and have to go with crutches for 6 weeks. I am thankful there was no surgery but it is still hard now because I can not go skiing again and there is a week off of school comming up and i may not be able to do anything with them. But I hope that I will make a quick and fast recovery. Otherwise things in life are really looking up and doing well. I have a lot of plans for the future here I have 8 weeks or so from school for different things. I hope to be able to go with my host sisters class to Brighton for 2 weeks then we have one week off that I will spend away from my host family because they will go somewhere so I will stay with my third host family that week we have the week of the 18th off in Feb I have 3 weeks off traveling europe and yeah school :) hehehe no my german is improving very well I think. I hope that things for you all are going very nicely and you all keep in touch and write once in a while. Jenna
Have fun and live life to the fullest!!!! |
| Thursday, January 24, 2002 3:00
SKI ACCIDENT |
Just a quick note. I have done myself well with skiing. I have ended up with a very bad knee and will have to haed home a day early. I will be going to the hospital so they can put a camera in my knee and see what is totally wrong. I will have to stay a couple of days but I am have a little worry but my german teacher and class mates will come and visit me. I have a lot of pain now but I am hoping that it will be getting better asap. I just wanted to let you know what is going on and everything since I am with Rotary. I hope all is going well take care and keep in touch. |
| Tuesday, January 15, 2002 2:23 PM | I am moving soon. I will have to attend a new school
and it will be a private school. I will have to wear a uniform well
it is just blue pants and blue shirt and blue socks everyday and I
have a little bit of nervousness but I think it will be good. Where
I am living is pretty cool for me. My host family has a 3 story
building and the first and second level is there office they own
their own dentist business and they live on the 3rd floor. On the
first floor is an apartment it has a kitchen a bedroom a living room
and another room and that will be all mine. :) Well ok I hope
things are going well take care JennaK |
| Saturday, January 05, 2002 5:04 PM | Hello Everybody, After the first of February I will be living some where new. This was planned nothing bad happened. :) I will be living in a bigger city now that you can probably find on the map. It is Graz about 30 or 45 min away from where I live now. I am not sure why I am going to a whole new city but I think it will be fun. I am not sure about the school situation but I am hope that I can stay in the same school.
|
| Saturday, January 05, 2002 4:31 PM | Hello Everybody, I hope that you all are doing well and this finds you safe and happy in the New Year. Things for New Years were a lot of fun. It is very common for kids to stay home with their parents at all age for New Years. I stayed with my host parents and some friends of the family came over. They have a daughter my age that is very nice. And a son my host sisters age. They are really nice. First we went to a guest house and had something to drink and talked. We walked up to the guest house which is about 30 min on the way down it was pretty fun because it was very icy and so we always fell and slid most of the way down. We got home not to late and we ate and drank and ate and drank and talked and ate and drank. :) Then about 15 min till 12 we went out to the balcony with the radio and a bottle of wine and some fireworks. The balcony faces Bruck and they have nothing on the tv about New years eve you listen to the radio. So midnight came and we set of fireworks we saw fireworks and we opened the wine. It was good. Then we went inside and we ate and drank and ate and drank and talked and chilled till about 3 am. It was a lot of fun. I could not really eat the next day. :) hehehe This week I was on a ski holiday for 3 days and 2 nights with my host family. We went to my host fathers sister house she is the one that owns the guest house. She makes the best Wienerschnitzel :) hehe. We got to go skiing for 2 days and the other day we went cross country skiing. Skiing was pretty different it was a small place with only 2 or 3 lifts up and not so many people. The snow feels really different too. It was hard to ski but it was a lot of fun. I am at home now for about 2 weeks and then I am off again. I am going skiing again with my class. I am looking forward to it and I hope it goes well. Here is another thing. I am moving on 1st of February. To Graz with another family for 2 or 3 months I will have a new address that I hope to have to you this week. Well I hope that christmas and new years was good and I hope all the best for you all in 2002. I hope that you will keep in touch and write write write. I better get going this is very long. Take care and keep in touch Love always Jenna |
| Tuesday, December 25, 2001 5:09 PM | Hello All, I hope that you all had a very merry Christmas. Christmas here was really good but also really different. The day started off with lunch with my host moms mother an then we went to my host fathers mother who I think will not be alive next Christmas and sang songs to her and things at her nursing home. I think it was really hard for my host family. Then we went to the cemetry almost all the people go to the Cemetry on Christmas. Christmas is on the 24th for us about 6 or 7 pm. Then from the cemetry we went to the train station to light a candle. The candle was carried by train from Bethlem all over the world. It was pretty interesting. Then when we got home there were presents. The Christ Child(Jesus) brings the gifts and the tree. On the tree it is very Austrian. And has candles that are lighted. We sang songs in the dark before opening presents. I got some pretty cool gifts from my host family and from my own family. It was really good. I was a little homesick but it was harder when my family called. It was really great to talk to them. Tommorrow the 26th is another holiday it is the Stefiantag. This is famous man. But that is all I know about him. I hope that you all had a very merry Christmas and the best in the new year. While off school not much planned. I am going skiing I hope for a couple of days with my host family so I think it will be a good break. I have a lot of things to play with :) hehehe Well ok I hope all is well that you will write and keep in touch Love always Jenna |
| Monday, December 17, 2001
1:33 PM
Trip to Salzburg!! |
Hello Everybody, Yesterday I returned back to my city from a wonderful trip to Salzburg for a rotary get together. We only got to 3 things but it was nice just to chill out with my friends. We got to see the Castle, the Zoo, and the D.O.M. I have seen the Castle before so it was not new to me. At the zoo we only at and they did not really allow any time to see the animals and at the D.O.M we attended a service. It was very cold in Salzburg about -25 so it was really hard to walk around outside. But on Saturday I visited the outside Christmas market it was really nice and Friday night me and some friends celebrate another friends birthday. Also on Saturday we had a little Christmas party with all the rotary kids and a goodbye thing for the kids leaving in January. I think this trip was very un organized that the rotary planned but we thought it was ok because we had a lot of free time to play in the snow and stuff. It is pretty funny going outside to play in the snow at 3 am :) Very little sleep. Christmas is comming but I have to say that it does not feel like Christmas at all. I am looking forward to it but unfortunatly for some reason it does not feel like Christmas. There is no tree or decorations really and I think that is part of the reason. Well I hope to hear from you guys. I hope you will write and email. I have school till the 22 so free time for me yet. I hope all is going well and you are safe on holiday trips. Take care and keep in touch Love and Peace Jenna |
| Thursday, December 06,
2001 1:38 AM
GrüssGott von Krampus!! :) |
Hello Everybody, Greetings from Krampus. Yesterday here in Austria I celebrated a pretty interesting holiday. We had school yesterday but in the evening we prepared for something great. Krampus is like the devil he looks like the devil and he wears these big bells on his back and he has chains on him and he has sticks in his hand that he beats you with. Then there is Nikolaus and he is the nice guy. He brings you the gifts(chocolate) Yesterday Krampus came to my house and at first I was really scared but this Krampus was nice and then Nikolaus gave me a bag full of good things. At this time my host sister was hiding in her room she is very scared of Krampus and she would not come out so unfortunatly Nikolaus did not leave her anything. Then Oma(Grandma) came but secretly and left a krampus on are porch the krampus is made out of a bread and it is shaped as the krampus I have pictures. It tasted good. It seems on a lot of occasions Grandma makes special breads for holidays on Nov 1 on the alliheilegen we got a special bread. Then me and my host parents were going in to town in to the middle of town where the bad krampus were and they definetly would beat you there. You have to run away and hide. My sister would not even think about going. So we went and these Krampus were huge!!! The first krampus we ran into he was nice and he let me take a picture with him. They were so many of these devils even some young children and they ran up and down the middle of town and would beat everybody in there path. I only got beat 1 or 2 times and it did not hurt to bad. It was a lot of fun. Then we went home and my host parents went to a party. My host sister and I had to clean are shoes and put them on the table. :) Nikolaus would come in the evening and leave you chocolate and presents in your shoes. This is not Christmas this is just a celebration. This morning I woke up and there was so much chocolate and gifts. I got a Krampus stuffed animal. Ski underwear two pair and LOTS OF CHOCOLATE!! It was great. Everyday also we get a sweet from our advent calendar. It was a great holiday to celebrate and I have some interesting pictures to show you all. We also had snow yesterday but not to much it was melted by the end of the day. Well I hope that all is going well with you. I am having so much fun in the month of December. On Saturday I am going to the Rotary Christmas party and on Sunday my third host family will come over for dinner. So I hope that you all will write and take care. Love and Peace Always Jenna |
| Saturday, December 01, 2001 3:34 PM | Hello Everybody, Today is Dec 1 2001. In Austria this is some what an important day. Today is the first day to start the Advent Calendar. The children have them and each day they open one and they geta chocalate or soemthing. My host mom made ares and so each day we unwrap one and there a surprise. Also today in the evening we went into the church. It is a short service and you bring your advent wreaths and the past he blesses them. And lights the first candle. There are four candles.Then we went home and there we sit in the dark pretty much and at the table we sit and eat little christmas cakes and drink tea. But first you sing christmas songs. And all most all of the families here do this. It is interesting for me because the first of December is really not recognized in america besides another day and one day closer to Christmas. Then is another tradition I have learned about with many other things. Things here are going really well and keeping busy and schools is going better. Well I hope that all is going well keep in touch and please write Love always Jenna |
| 9/26/01 | Hello All, Here are some photos from a friend. They are from Language camp and some from Hallstat I hope you get them. Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| My trip to the Czech
Republic!!
Monday, November 26, 2001 1:14 PM |
Hello Everybody, How are you all doing? I am doing really good. Yesterday late evening I returned from a wonderful trip to Prague. I got to see family that truthfully I do not remember till I saw them again. I got to go to the International school of Prague. Which was very interesting. My Uncle works there as the elementary principal my aunt is a 6th grade teacher and my cousins go to school there. It was really interesting. People from all over the world go there. Then I got to see the downtown part of Prague called Old Town Square. They also took me to an International Womans Bazar which was pretty interesting. People from all over were selling things from their country. I also got to see the Famous Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral which is located in the castle grounds. I had thanksgiving dinner too. It was mmm good. I got to help make it too. We did not do a lot of sight seeing which was ok with me because I really liked talking and spending time at home with them. I will be back to Prague at least one time hopefully 2 times. It was a really great trip Now I am back to school for about 20 or so days. Till Christmas break. I hope that you all are doing well take care and keeeepp ttttooouucchh Love Jenna |
| Friday, November 23, 2001
8:36 AM
An Amazing Story :) ok not so amazing but interesting |
How was Thanksgiving? Things here are going really
well and to my surprise I will be having a Thanksgiving too. This I
think is a story that you all would enjoy and it really is true. :)
About 2 weeks ago after returning from a trip to Salzburg with my
host family. My mom emailed and thought we had distant relatives in
Germany. But it turns out that they live in the Czech Republic. I
met them once before at a family reunion in Washington. But that was
8 or 9 years ago. We started emailing each other and to my amazment
I was invited to the Czech. Well now I am in Prague. I arrived
yesterday evening and it was so good to meet them. They are really
nice. Today I went to school where They both work and both the boys
go to school. It is the international school of Prague. It is really
great to see them but be able to be here in Prague it is really
pretty even though I have not seen much of it yet. On Saturday we
will have a thanksgiving feast. I will write more about the days
sightseeing in Prague. Well ok enjoy and I definetly will
enjoy this wonderful trip. I really wish my family was here also to
experience this wonderful journey. You all take care and write back
:) OK thats all for now take care and keep in touch Jenna |
| Saturday, November 17, 2001 1:22 PM | Hello Everybody, I hope that you get these pictures, please let me know. How are you all? I am doing really good. I did not know this but I have a 2nd cousin in Czech Republic and his family and I will be spending Thanksgiving with them. I think it will be so awesome. I hope that you all are all doing well and please keep in touch and take care. Love and Peace always Jenna Happiness is what makes your heart Happy |
| Thursday, November 15,
2001 11:21 AM
hey all check out what I am up too |
Hello Everybody, How is everything going. Everything here is really good. Not much going on just chillin out and going to school. there is a website that I would like you all to check out go here www.factory2010.com this is the group that I go to with two girls from my school. It is a lot of fun and I hope to really get involved with the group. Well ok I hope that you all will keep in touch and stay in touch. Take care and keep in touch especially by email bye Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| Friday, November 09, 2001
1:40 PM
ITS UNBELIEVABLE!!!! |
Today November 9th 2001 in Bruck an der Mur there was SNOW!!!! IT IS WONDERFUL!!! hehehe OK I just writting to say that there was snow and I think I was the happiest person here. :) The ground is not so cold so it melted but I sure did dance in the street and I really did. HMM it will come again maybe tomorrow. I hope all is well and to hear from you all. Take care Love and Peace always Jenna |
| Wednesday, November 07, 2001 1:42 PM | Hello Everybody, How are you all? Things here are getting better for a day or two they were a little rough. I have a new address please send the mail there until I move in February. I have not moved but my host family is now a little worried to
recieve mail from America so this goes to my counserlor and I pick
it up there. It is all good. Well ok please keep writting emails and
please once in a blue moon please write snail. I promise to return a
letter. Well ok take care and keep in touch Love and Peace Jenna |
| Monday, November 05, 2001
5:09 AM
Hello here are my Weekend Holiday Story |
Hello Everybody, How are you all doing? I am doing pretty good. I had a wonderful week off of school. This weekend I went to Salzburg with my host family. On the first day we drove there stopped at my host fathers sister house and went to a museum for old vehicles. It was pretty neat. In the evening we went to the villages center about a 10 min walk and had this wonderful desert Salzburger Nockerl it is hard to explain it but it was delicious. Then on Saturday they had a surprise for me we were off to Munchen Germany. Just for the day. We went to a Universal Studios place. We went to a movie that was interactive you felt like you were moving. Then we took a tour through some movie sets. It was a lot of fun. Then on Saturday we went to Salzburg and saw the most famous castle and the famous street all the shops are a little expensive. Well just most of them. Then we headed home. It was a really good weekend. I have sent all my pictures home to my mom. In their christmas package so if you would like to see them I think you will have to speak to my mom. I do not think she would have any problem bringing them to church for you to see. There are some really interesting ones. :) Well ok all is well and I hope all is well with you. Take care and keep in touch through snail mail too please :) Love and Peace Jenna |
| Wednesday, October 31, 2001 1:16 PM | Today was a little sad because it is Halloween and I went out with the little boys next door but they were the only two kids out. I miss all the partying but things are going well tomorrow I am going to Salzburg I think until Sunday. Thank you for replying. Take care keep in touch |
| Wednesday, October 31, 2001 2:24 PM | Hello All, Things here are going ok. Halloween has come and gone. Only two little boys were out in the area. It is not common at all here. I am writting about 2 holidays that the Austrian people think are very important. One is Allerheiligen or All Saints day it is always on the first of November. It is a day to remember that saints. There is no work and everybody goes to their loved ones grave and cleans it up and puts new flowers and new candles there. I think almost everybody in Austria does this. The 2nd of November is Allerseelen and this is All souls day. They work on this day but it goes along with the first of november. We put new flowers on Ingrids family grave today because tomorrow I am off to Salzburg till Sunday. I will stay with my host family till Saturday and then they will drive back and I will stay with some friends and then take the train back. I am looking forward to the trip very much. All is going well here. How was Halloween for all of you? Well I hope all is well with you all. I better get going take care and keep in touch Love and Peace Jenna |
| Sunday, October 28, 2001 2:28 PM | Hello Everybody, I just returned home from a long weekend in Wien. It was so much fun. I left Bruck an der Mur on Thursday with a friend. He lives in my city and we were going to meet one other guy in Wien one day early before are Rotary get together to do shopping and early sight seeing. We got there and met a girl from Colombia she was really cool. Thursday we did shopping and walked around the Center of Wien. And in the evening we went to a famous church and there happened to be a concert going on and we got in for free it was really good music. It was a lot of fun. We stayed in a youth hostile. Then on Friday it was a National Holiday here ( The last foriegn soldier left Austria he was Russian in 1945 and now is marked as a holiday) everything was closed so we walked around we went to a park where there were statues of famous musician. We went to where a famous musician was born we went to a Library and that was about all. At 5 my friend from Colombia was leaving and all the exchange students were to meet. It was really cool to see everybody again. In the evening we got are shots for Menigitis and then had a free evening to do what ever. We went to the city and walked around. And went to bed really late. On Saturday we were going to be seeing some famous sites in Wien. We saw where a famous castle Shönbrunn St Stephen Cathedral Where Maria Terisia and Francis Joseph lived. And the famous spanish riding school. In the evening we went to the musical Jeckyl and Hyde. It was fabolous. The actor was wonderful. And the stage set was really cool. It was the best. In the evening we went out again. On Friday night I met these people from America who were spreading the word of god here and they started a church in Wien and in English and I was really excited and wanted to go. On Sunday since we had nothing planned I decided to go. It was really awesome and the people were so friendly. They meet at an old YMCA building. And it was a packed room. I will be using some of my rotary allowance to go to Wien to go again. Maybe just once a month. It was really good. I miss my church in America. Well ok. Then also on Sunday I traveled home. The Wien weekend was well planned and a lot of fun. I hope all is well with you all and you write and keep in touch I have no school this week but I think I may go to Salzburg at the end of the week with my host family not sure. Well ok write keep in touch and take care Love and Peace Always Jenna |
| Sunday, October 21, 2001
11:46 AM
Hello Everybody where are you? |
Hello All, I have been trying to send home pictures this week but it has not been working. I am not sure what the problem is but I will try one more time tomorrow when I am at school Well all is well here I hope that you all will write and email and snail mail. Some I have heard nothing from where are you. I know that life is really busy but pppplleeaasse keep in touch. Things here could not be better I really like my host family and glad I will be here for 6 months my next host family will be in Graz that is good and bad. I think I will have to change schools which is ok but means starting all over making friends and getting to know everybody. Well that is in February. Ok well I hope that you will email and keep in touch and I will try tomorrow to send pictures home. Take care Love and Peace From Austria Jenna |
| Tuesday, September 25,
2001 12:37 PM
Tauplitz Weekend with Rotary |
Hello Everybody, This weekend I had a get together at Tauplitz with Rotary. I live about 2 hours from there and took the train. I did not get lost and got there to my destination. At Tauplitz we would be with the Rebounds and Inbounds from January also. On Saturday we went on a really long hike from 930 to 4pm. It was really pretty though and nice. It was hard though too. That night we got together with everybody at a guest house and had dancing and music. It was nice. On Sunday we just talked about things that were going on and the good and bad things and then went home. It was short and sweet. I made a lot of new friends. School is going okay I still have not gotten books and I am not sure when it will happen. But otherwise it is ok a little boring now that I still do not understand everything but I think it will get better. My german keeps on getting better and I am learning something new every day. Well I hope all is well in Oklahoma and every where else. And I hope you guys will keep in touch always. Oh yeah my hotmail address is not working write so if you could please write to me on this address it would be wonderful. Take care and keep in touch Peace and Love Jenna P.S. Sorry so long to write!! |
| Sunday, September 16, 2001 1:21 PM | Hello All,How's it going? Well I think that things
could always be better. Things here are good. I have attended 4 days
of school and love it very much. I have made a lot of friends. I had
school on saturday but we get out before 12 so it is ok. Then
Saturday night we attended a concert. An open air concert in Bruck.
There were 2 ochastras, a pop group, and some other people. It was 3
and half hours in the really cold weather but I was glad I went.
Then on Sunday we got up about 9 and had a small breakfast at the
house. Then we walked to a farm house about 20 min away and met
everybody from are city. Then we walked about one and half hours to
another farm house and had small sandwhiches and drinks there. Then we walked about 30 or so to another place it was an Alm, and we had cakes and drinks there. Then we walked back down to the farm house that we started at and had meat and snacks and drinks. Then we went home. It was a really long day we did not get home till about 630 and now we are just resting. I am looking forward to school tomorrow and my german I think is getting better everyday. I try very hard to learn and in school they say I do not have to do anything but I really want to do something. I have not recieved any books yet because they have to work things out. I will get them soon hopefully. It is getting cold here and they think that there will be a lot more snow here. I am learning to hike and walk because we do it all the time. I hope to have pictures sent tomorrow. I hope!! I have just been having a good time but I worry for are country and for you all my friends. Well ok please take care and keep in touch. A quote I heard today, An eye for an eye makes the whole world
blind!! |
| Thursday, September 13, 2001 1:42 PM | Yeah it is not really red yet so that is why I am going to re-dye it. All is well here still a little homesick but not that bad. I had my second day of school today which went well. Thank you for writting I like keeping in touch with people in America and hearing the news well sorry so short but have many to write. Take care and keep in touch |
| Wednesday, September 12, 2001 3:05 PM | Hello All, What news!!! I have seen everything unfold in America and it is sad to hear but I pray that all will be well. Here I have gotten so much outpoor of concern. Minutes after it came on the news here right after it happened in America. The phone rang like crazy. People called to see if the american girl and here family were ok. They were friends and family of my host family. When I went to school today my class was all sorry and would remeber those that were lost. It was pretty amazing. I have not written for a couple of days because not much has happened. On Sunday not much happens here most all of the shops are closed and the only things that you really do are ride bikes go for walk be at home be with your friends go to the Inns. We took a walk to this Inn that Ingrids mother was born. Ingrid is my host mom. But it was closed so we just went to another Inn. We walked about 30 mins there and 30 mins back and it was a nice walk. On Monday I was preparing for the first day of school.Um not much happened we went to town (to Bruck) and did some shopping and rode the bus home. I dyed my hair on it is red now but not so noticible and I hope to dye it again. It is not permanent and my host mom has done it so. I think it will look better when I do it again a different red. On Tuesday the United States of America was attacked and I was at home to see it all unfold on tv. I was at home and nothing happened on Tuesday. Just a quiet day. Today is Wednesday and was the first day of school. We only had one class and it was 50 mins long then we were supposed to go to church but we got word that we would not be attending church I do not know exactly why. Only some smaller kids attended church. It was very nice and the people were very nice. It is a small class it has 8 grades and there are 700 pupils. I will attend classes on saturday but we only have them in the morning till 1130 every weekday we have class till 130 or so just depends on the day. I am very excited about tomorrows day at school we have only two classes and so it will be another short day. Everything is going well here I am just preparing for a hard work out with school. It is a little funny because we have to go to the Post office to recieve are school books. Or that is what I have been told. Um I have not sent home pictures because things are not working right here hopefully I will be able to send them home asap. I hope all is getting well back in America that war does not begin on our nation. Take care and Peace and Love to all Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| Saturday, September 08, 2001 3:58 PM | Hello All, More interesting things to report today. Yesterday I was sitting at the computer readind my mail. I open a letter from my parents and I am reading through it and through the middle of it, it says we have sold the house. I was like WOW wait a minute. I have all these thoughts in my head what the new house will look like. I am sad that I will be leaving the house with so many memories but I will also not be there to help pack. But things in Austria are going very well I think that my german is improving nicely and I am enjoying the days to come. Today we got up early to go to the town square where all the farmers brought their goods to sell them. My host mom bought some things and then we came home and we did some chores. We meaning Julia and I. They have 5 apple trees and we had to climb in one of them and shake very hard to get all the apples off and then we had to go through and pick up all the apples of the ground. It was a long task but fun. Then we had to water all the flowers. There are a lot of flowers here and then there were apples in the gutter of the little shack which is right next to one of the apple trees so we had to clean that out. But that was all we had to do. We have to pick the apples off the ground so my host father can mow the yard. My new german sentance is Ich habe eine feder gefunden and Du hast rasen mahen. The first sentance means I have found a feather and the second one means you must mow the lawn. Well ok all that is all the exciting news here. I will be starting school in um 3 days but it will not be anything like american schools as I said in an early letter. Ok Tchüs Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| Friday, September 07, 2001 3:45 PM | Hello All, Not to much to really report about in the last two days. Yesterday we just sat around and did not do to much. We took a bike round in the afternoon after my host mom got home from work. We went to this really big furniture store. It also had other things it was really neat. The bike ride home was very hard but I made it. :) Today we really did nothing again. But we took a walk through the mountains and then this evening we went to city hall where they were presenting a book about Bruck an der Mur. The city I live in and they showed slides and I got to speak with the mayor a little bit. He is a really nice guy. It was really good because I got to see some really neat picture. I do not know what this weekend has in store for me but I think it will be good soon I will start school. That happens on Wednesday but I only have one class and it is 50 min long and then I think a church service. Then on thursday I have two classes. And I attend classes on saturday but for a short time. Well ok that is all to report. I will write again later and I hope you all will keep in touch and let me know how you all are doing. Miss you all and write again later Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| Wednesday, September 05, 2001 1:58 PM | Hey All, Not much happening now in Austria. It has been a slow two days where I have had some just very small home sickness but things are much better. Julia had 7 of her friends over to stay the night and eat dinner. Julia Elly and I cooked everything except the meat. It was a pretty nice meal. That was the only exciting thing that happened yesterday they were up late last night so we slept in and then just rested today. But I went with Ingrid my host mom to by some of my school supplies they need a lot of things for school. I bought the cheapest stuff and spent almost 500 shillings. Which is like 35 - 40 dollars. I had to buy a calculator so that was some of my problem but I have still have to get somethings that the teacher asks us to get. And in the evening nothing is going on just wathcing a soccer came. Austria is playing against another team. This week not much will happen that will be exciting. So I will not write everyday unless you write a personall email then I wil answer it but I think it is just boring to write about nothing :) hehehe OK well that is all for now I hope all is well and everybody had a good memorial day weekend. Take care and keep in touch Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| Sunday, September 02, 2001 12:52 PM | Hello Everybody, This is the email that will be pretty long it consits of friday saturday and sunday. On friday night I got a little sick so I was not out long. I will go no further. ehhehehe I went and had pizza and ice cream and then got to blah so I came home and went to bed. Then on saturday we had only 3 hours of class we got to sleep till 8 and breakfast was at 830 and class started at 9 I was so glad to sleep in. Then we took a boat to a church and we took the boat to another two churches. We could not really look in them cause there were weddings at all three churches. And then we had freetime till 7 oclock. That was dinner time. After dinner we had a dance at school with music and food. It was really nice. We were up till oh about 4am and then breakfast was at 8 the next morning. Then on sunday everybody was leaving and my host parents came and picked me up and then we went to fritzs sisters for lunch and then came home and relaxed and then took a walk in the fields. It was a lot of fun. It has been three weeks since I have been here and it has been really nice I have a long time left and looking forward too it. I miss you all but I have to say I am enjoying it here. Please keep in touch and take care. Please write and I love you all peace out for now Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| Friday, August 31, 2001 9:04 AM | Hello All There is not much to write about and not much time. So on sunday you will be recieving a very long email from me about my last days at language camp. It will be very interesting LOL :) Ok take care and keep writting Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| Monday, August 27, 2001 8:30 AM | Hello Everybody, This is for the last couple of days. I believe my last email was on Thursday. So I will write about Friday through monday. On friday I did not do much just had class and then hung out and went to a concert in the small village there was austrian music and dancing and then went home. On saturday we had class for half the day cause we were doing so good. And are curfew was extended till 12 I took a nap and hung out and went on a bike ride and went swimming. Then we all got ready and dressed up nice and went to dinner and to a dance club it was a lot of fun and me and a friend got home right before the doors were locked at 12. Then on sunday we got to sleep in a little bit and then we walked 40 minutes to the train station took an hour train to hallstat to a boat acrosst the lake and then walked some more then we took a cable car up the mountain and then walked some more till we got to the salt mine. The salt mine was pretty cool. It was different than the first one I went to. That was a good thing. you rode a small little train in and then slid down and then walked around slid down another slide and then walked around there was a lake in there and then walked around some more and took the train back out and walked back down. Then we had 2 hours till the boat left and we could do whatever so me and some friends went and had pizza for lunch and then went shopping and then we got back on the boat and did the whole process again. we got home about 615 and dinner was at 630 and then we just hung out we were really tired. It was a really good weekend. Today I went to class and then will just chill out today I am going to have my first hamburger here tonight that is what we are having for dinner. Well ok I do not think I will be able to write again till Wednesday but we will see how it goes take care and keep in touch this weekend made two weeks that I am here. So ok that is all for now Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| Wednesday, August 22, 2001 8:46 AM | Hey all, I am at language camp today is the fourth day and it is pretty fun. We have classes from 8 to 3 but 10 min breaks every hour. It is not that bad and I am learning a lot. We had a special rotary meeting in the city and it was pretty fun it was at a yacht house. That is like the only special thing we have done so much we have an outing planned for sunday which I think it will be fun. Ok anyways I will be here for two weeks and I have to go to town for an internet cafe and it cost money so if I write it will be short but they will be longer when I get back. Well ok all is fine here and I sure do not miss the hot weather. All take care and keep in touch. And all you youngsters have fun at school. hehhee :) Tchüs Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| Saturday, August 18, 2001 4:33 PM | Hello Everybody, Another day of not a lot going on. Well this morning we got up around 8 am to go clamping the german word for rock climbing in the nature. It was harder than I thought. In rock climbing they rate the mountains you can hike 1 is the easiest and 5 is the hardest. We did a 3 but Julia and I could only get a little further than half way up. Julia me and my host parents went. We climbed about 3 times a piece it was a lot of fun. Then I came home and we had lunch and then Julia and I watched tv I fell asleep. I slept a lot today I think because I was not feeling very well. I am not sure why but I am lots better now. I took a shower and that helped. Well ok I will be out for 2 weeks at language camp but please keep writing because I think I will be able to write at camp. Take care and keep in touch Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| Friday, August 17, 2001 3:49 PM | Hello All, It has been almost a week away from home and there will be many more days away from my culture and home and family and friends. I am doing very well here. Today was a laid back day. Kristen and I and my host mom went to town in Bruck and did some shopping and did somethings for Kristen to get some things for her trip to canada for one year and then we went home and just chilled out and Kristin got ready for her party. She invited her 3 best friends and us and we had a nice dinner outside and talked and then My host parents and Julia and I went up the mountain by car to a restraunt where my host moms dad used to live and now it is a restraunt pub like place and we drank and had cake and talked and then came home. It was very nice not to go all day. I have had a lot of good times here and have gotten along with everybody well. I can not say that I do not think about my home and my family and my friends but I know that I will be home again and I will see you all again. I hope you all will keep in touch and share with everybody cause I do not have everybody´s email address and please write snail mail love to read them and I will write back I promise. Thank you for all your support and love. I will write again tomorrow Tchüs Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| Thursday, August 16, 2001 4:57 PM | Hello All, This is my 4th and 5th letter. I think :) Well anyways I am writting for two days because I went on vacation overnight with my host family. We went to Badaosse where Julia and Kristen's aunt lives. She owns a hotel and runs a restraunt. On are way there we stopped off at a park and we were going to go on a walk and well it turn out to be a 2 hour hike up the mountain it was very hard but worth it there was a lake at the top but we did not go swimming there and we ate lunch at the top. Then we headed down the mountain and it took an hour and a half. Then we went to a lake near the Aunts house and went swimming it is very cold in their lakes but it was a lot of fun. Then we drove to their aunts place and had dinner and then went to the place where we were going to sleep. It is more of a guest house not a hotel like we have in America. It was a lot of fun. And at dinner Fritz my host father made a joke about milking some cows early in the morning and it sounded like fun so we said that we would go Julia and I. We had to get up at 545am and go milk the cows so we got up but we did not know where to go cause Fritz did not get up and show us. So we went back to sleep and got up 3 hours later and got ready and went and had breakfast at the aunts restraunt. Then we were going to a salt mine about 10mins away it was very cool and then we went to another lake and um went swimming but we were tired so we laid on the ground and slept. The lakes are very cold but before we went to sleep we heard the firebergade or the firetrucks comming and a helicotper landed and an ambulance came right next to us and we did not know what was going on and so we went and looked and on the lake and canoe like boat tipped over and 2 or 3 people drowned and a little child. We do not know all the details. Thats ok with me. The lakes are very cold I mean cold. :) Then we drove home because we had are first rotary meeting to go to. Kristen and I but Fritz and Ingrid went with us. It was very fun and we met my maybe 2nd host family. They have a son 15 a daughter 17 and a daugther12 they are very nice. I think it would be cool to live with them. I think I will only have two host families. The last two days have been a lot of fun and tonight Kristen and I are going to stay up very late and talk and watch tv and play on the computer we are all getting along well and I hope all of you are doing well. Please keep in touch and write as often and you can. It would be could to get letters through snail mail from all of you. Well ok take care and I will write again tomorrow Tchüs Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| Tuesday, August 14, 2001 3:27 PM | Hallo, I have arrived safely in Austria and have been here for 4 days. Everything is going so well. I am enjoying the food and all the things we are doing. We have been to festival and to Vienna and have done other things. I have met a lot of my classmates already and I am excited about school. My host family is very nice and are helping me with my german a lot. Today my sisters and I and are neighbor Ellie she is friends with my sister Julia went to Vienna by train. It took two hours. We went shopping and I bought some austrian clothes the clothes that are in here. And we went to a cathedral and climbed um 343 stairs :) and well we went to Mcdonalds and there were so many people there. But it was good and about the same price as we pay in America. Tomorrow I will go with my family to my sisters aunts house she lives about 30 mins by car. We will stay overnight and go to the lake. I think it will be a lot of fun. It has been a lot of fun so far and I think it will stay good till I return. Ok that is all for now. I will write again. Take care Tchüs Jenna |
| Monday, August 13, 2001 2:34 PM | Hello All, All is still well and today we went to the city and went shopping with my sisters. Stamps are very expensive here. :) Well anyways it has been very nice so far. My german is getting a little better but not fluent yet. Tchüs P.S. The purpose of life is a life of purpose. Peace and Love always, Jenna |
| Saturday, August 11, 2001 4:35 PM | Hello All, I have arrived in Austria today. So far so well my family is really nice and open. We went to the festival in the city tonight and it was a lot of fun but there was a lot of people there. I almost missed my plane in Amerstdam but the police officer stopped the plane for me. Thank goodness for that. I am not sure what I am doing tomorrow but I think we will go to the city with my host sisters' friend. Well ok I hope to hear from you all over the year even if it is just once take care Peace and Love always, Jenna |
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Donald Playing Violin at Language Camp |
Ian & Elje at Language Camp |
The Group at Language Camp |
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Julie & Jenna |
Jenna Rock Climbin |
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