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Rotary District 6110 Youth Exchange |
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Ember
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Nickname | Ember |
| Age | 18 | |
| Foreign Languages | Spanish | |
| Interests | Opera Singing, debate, cheerleading | |
| Host District | 2080 | |
| Departure | 9/11/02 | |
| Birthday | March 28 | |
Students: To add a message to your travelogue, email the entry to vicki; she will put all entries online.
Note: Most Recent Entries Appear At the Top
| Date | Travelogue Entry |
| Monday, April 07, 2003 3:34 AM | Hey everyone! I hope all is well!
I have just had the best 2 weeks ever! Last Friday was my 18th
birthday! I had to participate in a 3 day Rotary meeting! There were
all the exchange students In Italy and Sardegna and also all the
outbound students! Although I wasn't that excited to be with Rotary on
my birthday, I still had a nice time with the students. We really
didn't do much but look like tourists!! Alice and I showed them around
the little town and even went to some of most beautiful museums in the
world! |
| Thursday,
February 20, 2003 2:03 AM Italy in February |
Hello All!! I changed families in February, and things are great. I have a sister, named Martina who is barely older than me. We live in a residential area of Rome, and so it's a little more difficult to get to Central Rome, with a bus. Infact, I never use the bus anymore, Martina drives a little scooter, and it is MIGHTY COLD!! I can't wait till it warms up just a little, I think the scooter will be a little more comfy! My host dad, Piero, is an actor. And performs little comedies like every other weekend. It's fun. And my host mom, Patrizia, works in an office. It's really exciting, because they believe that it's not really place to spend lots of time, because then patrizia always ends up cleaning, so we go out a lot more! Almost every night before dinner, Martina and I go with our friends to a little bar to drink some cappuccino or something, and study. (haha) Last saturday there was a "manifestation" for Peace. It was an international rally day. It just so happens that the biggest rally was in Rome! It was full of people. And had a lot of mixed feelings because their flags and everything were really contradictory to what they were rallying for. I left feeling really sad and thinking that nothing would be solved, but just a few days have passed and I think things will get better, as I hear that the chances of war is growing smaller everyday! Well, I need to go now! I hope you all are doing well, and hope you had a good Valentines Day! - Ember |
| Wednesday, January 15,
2003 3:07 AM ITALY |
This is way overdue...and in fact a few weeks ago I
tried to send an e-mail, but it wouldn't work! Let's see, where to
begin! I know I will be leaving out the whole month of december, but
nothing really happened! I was very happy then, but we didn't really
celebrate Christmas much, so it was nice, and I didn't feel homesick
at all! For New Years, we all went to Piazza del Popolo to celebrate!
There were lots of fireworks, and they were playing classical music
because it's a classical city! There were so many people there, that
it seemed the whole population of rome and more were there! It was
incredible! After it hit 12 though, the people were really drunk, and
it wasn't very safe anymore, so we wen tto a nice little bar and had
the best cake ever made! yummy! We had a really nice time that night!
Last weekend I went to Sardinia with 3 other exchange students that live in rome for a huge Rotary meeting! As soon as we all arrived we had a huge lunch with the lady that Alice and I stayed with last time we went to Sardinia. We had rice with mushrooms and lots of other good italian stuff! =) After lunch we went to our hotel. We flew into Cagliari, but we stayed in some other little city, and I'm sorry, but I never learned the name! oops! =) So we just got to the hotel and waited for all the others to arrive from north italy and all over sardinia. We had a nice dinner, in a famous pizzaria! yummy! The next day we went to a museum for a Leonardo da Vinci presentation, that was really interesting! After the long day in the museum, we then got ready for a huge dinner with the rotary club. It was all sea food! It was rather scary, but it all turned out to be ok! After the dinner, there was a surprise dance party for all of us! We all had a wonderful time, and I learned to do the tango, and danced the twist with my YEO officer! HA! It was a blast! When the dance started to die down, we went outside and met a group of local teens that wanted to meet all of us. WE all stayed out in the freezing cold, and didn't go to be till 4 in the morning! The next day we spent outside, looking at historical sites such as old castles, and tombs. And we also went on a ski lift to look at the landscaping and all that fun stuff1 IT was beautiful, and i got some cool pics of the sunset! I will be sre to send pics! After that, we all went home. We had a really nice time but I'm glad to be back home! I will be changing families again. I'm excited to see what happens! I hope all is well, and I'm sorry I have fallen so far behind on keeping you all updated! Ciao ciao! Ember |
| Sunday, November 17, 2002 5:35 PM | Hello everyone! I hope all is well! Lately, I've
become more brave and have begun exploring the beautiful city of Rome
alone! Terry the other American moved today. After what, a month of
waiting? During that month we became good friends, and explored a lot
together. A couple weeks ago, we went to Sardinia again with anyother
exchange student, Alice, from North Carolina. The three of us went by
ferry. It was a nice 15 hour ride, but we had a good time. We spent 3
days in Sardinia. We even got a chance to play in the water again! The
weather was not warm at all when we went, but we still played! On the
way back we met 2 men that are mechanics for Ferrari. They were very
nice in their late 20's. We all sat in our cabin talking about random
things, and ate a nice dinner. Things have been rather rough around the house, but I'm doing my best to not let it bring me SO down, and enjoy Rome. I am able to get around great ease, it's very nice. Day by day my italian improves, but especially now that Terry is gone, neither of us will be able to speak english anymore, so that will help us both out a lot! It was nice while it lasted and I hope that Alice, Terry and I will sometimes still be able to meet at the train station and spend the day out on the town! haha! I started voice lessons a couple weeks ago. I really like my voice teacher. She's very patient and has already taught me so much. I don't know if I told you this but I will type it again. The first time I went to Sardinia (4 weeks ago), I sang at one of the lunches for the group. Afterwards, I met a very nice old man, Dr. Marcialis. He was very interested in my voice studies and asked if I knew of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory of music, here in Rome. I shouted, " Are you kidding me? Of course I know of it! I came here with hopes to study there, but my host family said it was too difficult and too expensive to enter." He said, "Listen very carefully. My very dear friend Lionello is the director of this conservatory, He is also a Rotarian. If you would like to send me a letter with all your information (age, etc.) I will gladly write him a letter and pass on this information. Hopefully to help your chances for an audition and what not." 2 weeks passed and I received a letter from him. It was a copy of his letter to Lionello and a letter for me. It is a very long letter, I don't want to translate it now. I haven't heard anything from Mr. Lionello, but next week I am just going to go there and set up an appointment with him. Isn't that so exciting!? I think so! Alright, well, things are a little intense, but I have hopes for things to be better real soon. I hope you all are doing well! Please keep me posted! I think of you always! Ciao! |
| Wednesday, October 30,
2002 4:36 PM
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Hello everyone! Last weekend I went to Sardegna (Sardinia) for a Rotary meeting! It was wonderful! There were 25 exchange students in the club 2080. 5 people live in Rome, and 20 live in Sardegna. Ok, I'll start from Saturday 26th.<i think that's the date. My family and I woke up at 5:30 am. We all freshened up and finished our last minute packing and then went outside and waited for Massimo (my host dad) to bring the car. He pulled up and the front right tire was FLAT! It was terrible, we were already running somewhat late, because we had to meet another girl, Rebecca, because would can't fit 6 people in a car. So Massimo was really mad about this flat tire and then had a very difficult time getting the lug-nuts loose to change the tire. So they made Terry and I walk to the place where we had to meet the other girl. WE drove off very quickly and still missed our flight. But oddly enough, my host family still made it on time! So we had to wait for another flight that took off an hour after that. I met some cool people while I was waiting. But we arrived in Cagliari, Sardegna and Luciano Di Martino (my country YEO) picked us up and drove VERY fast to Santa Maria Navaresse. That's the place where we stayed the night, it was a 3 hour drive, and if anyone of you has been to Sardegna you will know that the roads are not pleasant! They are very narrow and VERY curvey. I swear every single one of those curves were at a 90 degree angle! Terrible! So we finally got to Santa Maria Navaresse, and met the other people at the boat. We went on an all day trip in the Med. We went really far out and found this private bay area, they stopped the boat and let us all go out and swim, play in the water, just to do anything. It was great! The water was so beautiful. A girl Alice, from North Carolina, and I broke off from the other group to be little explorers, and we found this cave, it was fantastic, cause the water would roll is and barely touch our feet, and then we just looked up and saw a hole, so we climbed up in it and climbed somemore rocks, and we came out ontop of this bluff! It was beautiful. The water was so clear we could see dolphins and other things swimming around. After sitting there for awhile it was time to go. We all got back onto the boat and went back to change and get ready for dinner. The dinner was great, we had olives and bread for the appetizer. We then had a big bowl of pasta, and then we had pig, I think (some kind of good meat). It was delicious. After everyone finished eating and chatting. We cleared off the tables and some old man who had is accordian began playing traditional italian music. The older ladies, grabbed some student and they taught us their traditional dance! We had a blast! They were all so nice, and taught me a lot in just one night! The next day after breakfast, we took a bus up into the mountains, we ate the biggest lunch I've ever had in my life! It was all a traditional/ typical sardinian dishes. appetizers, pasta, meat, fruit, cheese and bread, and dessert. yummy! Everything is yummy in ITALY! After the lunch we all went for a hike and "explored" the area for a while. Then we all had to get back in the bus and head back to the airport. I think that was the most fun I've had so far. I mean I have fun everyday in everything I do. But I'm so glad that Rotary let us go out of here and do something new. I think the Rotary club is planning to have another meeting for all the 60 exchange students in Italy the last weekend of March <(March 28th-29th.) On my 18th birthday! WOOHOO! Well, I had an audition yesterday for voice lessons. Right next to Piazza di Spagna. The teacher was really nice, she seemed to be impressed with my voice and my level of songs. It was sort of difficult for us though, I mean when she spoke italian slowly I could understand everything she said. She said almost the same things as Janice used to! Where's the breathe, etc. After my audition, Claudia (my friend from school, that went with me), and I walked down Via Del Corso, the most famous street in Rome because of all of the shops and things like that on it. We looked around and then found the best Gelateria (ice cream shop) in Rome. Yummy! You haven't had good ice cream till you've been to this place. So after we ate the gelato, we we out of the ally, and I looked up and WOW, there's the Pantheon! We went in there and walked around for a while and then went home. Rome is so beautiful you guys! I love rotary! Well, I know I always say my italian is improving, but it really is. Everyday either in school or at home after lunch I study italian grammer and vocab. for at least 30 min. It really helps a lot.This e-mail is getting to be pretty lengthy. I hope all is well! Please write me sometime! Ciao ciao Ragazzi! Baci! ~ Ember |
| Monday, October 28, 2002
3:54 PM
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Ciao!! Tutto bene! Everything here is good. I just got back from Sardegna for a YE meeting! It was beautiful! We went on an all day boat trip in the Med. we got to see dolphins, and then we saw a beautiful bay area, with no one there, so we stopped for awhile, and went swimming, just had a great time! Then we met with the other Rotarians for dinner that night! It was great! After dinner though, we cleared the tables, and moved the tables out of the way, and a man brought his Accordian, and began playing traditional Italian music, the older ladies just grabbed people and taught us the traditional dance! It was wonderful! I had such a great time! There were about 25 exchange students there, 5 from Rome and the rest all live close to Cagliari. I met a lot of great people, and they definatly did a good job on showing us the island and things like that. I must go for now! Talk to you later. And although things are sorta rough around the house, I always find something to think about to make me laugh! Thanks for asking. |
| Monday, October 14, 2002
2:19 PM
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The Trevi fountain was beautiful! It was amazing how huge it was! it took the whole front side of one building and then a HUGE pool at the bottom! There are some good songs going around here, but I'm not sure if you all would like it, but there is this girl group called "Las Ketchup" they are actually spanish but the italians love them, because in their video they have a dance, so when that song is playing no matter where we are everyone stops and dances to it! I think the name of the song is "Asereje". |
| Saturday, October 12, 2002 4:43 PM | I have been here for a month, and time has just flown
right by! I can't believe it! Everything is so wonderful, my italian
is improving, I have made many friends, I'm starting to understand
what's going on in school at lot better, and Terry is moving out this
week!! Really I haven't been up to much, just going to school, and on Saturdays, my friends take me out to do new things. Today (10-12-02) I went to my friend Claudia's house for lunch, she helped me with italian, and then we met up with her friend Francesca to go to the Disco tech! It was so new, and great! I loved it! We are planning on going back next saturday! If you haven't heard, all the teachers in Italy are planning to go on strike! But that's all I understand so far, I don't know why or when! I think it's to get back at the students from last year, the students went on strike for 2 weeks and wouldn't let any teachers inside the building! Isn't that insane? I sure think so. On the 26 of October I am flying to Caglari, Sardegna for my first Rotary meeting. I've heard that's a beautiful city! This week in my English class, I gave a speech about the difference between American schools and Italian schools. I think everyone said, "WE WANT TO GO BACK WITH YOU! Why did you want to come to school here? We just don't understand?!" Tomorrow, my family is going to take Terry and I to Central Rome to show us the Trevi Fountain! That's all I have to write about right now! Please feel free to write me sometime! Ciao! |
| Saturday,
October 05, 2002 5:03 PM
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Buona Cera! Come stai? I'm sorry that I haven't
written in a while, I've been really busy! Ever since school started
and I made friends, they all want to take me out and show me new
things! I've gone to Saint Angelos Castle (Castel San Angelo), Vatican
City. They good me to the best Gelateria in all of Rome! I've gone to
the Spanish Steps. And all over that area, then tonight I went out
with my friends Irina, Alessia, Claudia, Francesca, and some boy I
just met, Federico. We all had a nice time, we went to some pub by
Trastivere and listened some live music, some kids that go to our
school were playing. They played very well. Everything with my host family is great. I still haven't gone to any Rotary meetings, but Oct. 26 and 27 all the exchange students in Italy are all flying to Sardinia to meet Luciano Di Martino (country YEO). Terry the other american i should be moving out soon. The other day I went out to eat with my second host family! They all seem very nice! I'm excited to move in with them. But it will be difficult because I'll move in with them Dec. 15 or something, so I'll be celebrating x-mas with people I don't really know, but that's ok! It's getting late! I promise I'll do a better job of keeping you all up to date! Ciao ciao! Baci! |
| Wednesday, September 18, 2002 4:19 PM | Everything is great here, I had my first day of
school! My whole class just sat in a circle around me asking me
questions all day long! =) It was fun, but then the teachers were rude
to me because i didn't speak italian fast like them, so they got
impatient! oh well! they'll get over it! Talk to you later! |
| Friday, September 13, 2002 4:16 PM | I arrived yesterday morning..so i'll say ive been here for 2 days, I really have to concetrate..the good thing is that my host family do know some english so when i really dont understand they say it in english for me! Its really strange to walk down the streets cause no one looks each other in the eye..and thats an old habit of mine that i will have to break! |
| Thursday, September 12, 2002 10:23 AM | Hello Everyone! I am finally in Italy! Its so
beautiful here!! Their keyboards are a little different so im sorry
for typoes! I met some really great people on the flight over here!
Even a famous piano player..and he gave me a cd and gave me some names
to call for voice lessons! So my host family is really nice..they are
hosting another american right now, and really dont have room for 6
people in this flat..so one of us is gonna have to move...but
hopefully the guy will cause they agreed to host me! But we will see!
I hope none of you will worry! Im so exhausted from that looooong
flight but its ok. I havent met my host mom...but the rest of the clan took me for a drive around rome! It was sooo beautiful! AHHH! I was looking to my right at some shopping centers and then My host dad said my name and i looked to my left and there was the colloseum! Beautiful as can be! We didnąt have very much time acuse hwas expecting company..but he said sometime this week when we have time he wants to take me inside and then show me where the gladiators practiced and stuff!! Its sooo beautiful here! My school is like 10 min walk from here..its not where we thought it was! =( OH well..and another thing thats different is that everything has GRAFITTI EVERYWHERE!!! Its so strange that they would do that to such a beautiful city! Traffic is insane! A couple of times..i caught my self Stomping on the floor for the break cause he was driving soo fast when all the other cars were coming to halt! WOw! I better go!! Talk to you all later!! Love ya!! |
Alice and I in the Romam Forum, in the
middle of the Colloseo and the Vittoriano (Piazza Venezia). |
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 me in the sweater and in the water. That was taken in Sardinia. (my second visit). |
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Christmas day when my host family and I
went to Ladispoli. (a city outside of Rome.) |
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