Week 12: Camping IN THE COLDNESS!

Week 12:

The schoolweek was ordinary as always but the weekend was exciting again. There was an event happening called "Fathers and Kids Weekend", organized by an ex-rotarian. It's a weekend where him and all his relatives (no women) meet and spend some time together. They rent a Mennonite Scout Camp and spent their weekend there. We stayed in little bungalows and there was also a main house where we cooked and played games.

On Saturday we went for a 5 hour hike in the North. It was so beautiful, we first walked through the woods and then saw a beach not made of sand but of white stones. The water of Georgian Bay was so clear and blue, I would have loved to just jump in it!
There were also many rocks along the beach and we climed under and over them. It was a neat experience and I got the oppurtunity to see a very beautiful part of Canada.

                                     

Week 11: CN Tower (Toronto) and FOOTBALL

Week 11:

The past weekend, I went to Toronto to see the big city again and just do some shopping as always :)
It was very cold, and cold for an Austrian means usually VERY COLD. The wind was so strong that me and my friend Ayse couldn't even walk properly!

First we went to the CN-Tower, maybe the most important spot to go if you visit Toronto. It was a cool experience, but very expensive so I n my oppinion you should only do it once. For me and my friend it was over 60$ and we couldn't even go to the very top of the CN-tower. We had a great view though because the elevator was made of glass and I could see wonderful Toronto from 500 metres above. On the top half of the floor was made of glass, it was CRAZY! The outside-viewing point was closed though because the wind was so strong.

I was where the red circle is
The green one is the top

Glass floor

me on the glass floor

Crazy view from the Tower

 

After that we also went shopping in the Eaton Center, a very big shopping center, which is well known in Toronto. It was already decorated for Christmas! There were so many people in the shoppingcenter but I enjoyed the enourmus variety of different shops, cheap and expensive. 

It was so good to be in the city again and I can't wait to visit Toronto with my family back in Austria!

Eaton Center, Toronto

Ayse and me :)

I also saw my first football game! The Marauders is the football team from my school, A.N. Myer and I watchedthe seniors (Grade 11&12) play against Saint Mike's highschool. It was very cold and it even started to snow. But I loved it, because I felt like in an american movie! The cheerleaders were cheering during the game, everyone was dressed in the school-colours (Purple and White) and students painted their faces in purple. Unfortunately, our team lost nd some football players even cried. They were very upset because it was the championship (last game) and they lost. Even though i didn't get what was going on in the game, it was fun to watch. 

Myer Marauders and Saint Mike's football team

That's it really :) In 2 weeks I will visit Montréal, it will be GREAT!

Till next week!

Week 10: My first trick or treating!

Week 10:

It was the week of Halloween and my highschool A.N. Myer planned a "Halloween-theme week". On one day, the myer students were asked to wear orange and black for Halloween, there was a cake-selling in the cafeteria and a party.

On Thursday, I celebrated my first Halloween. I carved a pumpkin and dressed up for school. My costume was a doctor like at the Rotary weekend. Unlike Austria, nearly all north American students dress up for halloween in the craziest costumes I have ever seen. There was even a school-contest for the best costume at Myer!
In the evening I went trick or treating with my best canadian friend. I am sure we were the oldest kids asking for sweets. The kids we saw wher enot over 8 years old. :)
I counted my candy, I got over 160 chocolate bars, chips bags and candy! All the canadians were so friendly and even let their doors open to hear the kids shouting "Trick or Treat!" . I heard that the "Trick or Treaters" only go to houses which are decorated for Halloween, beccause that means that they will have some candy. It was fun and many people had their houses decorated! In my street, most of the kids come because of the huge houses. Many rich people live in my streets, so the kids already know that they get fancy sweets like apples covered with candy and chocolate or other self-made sweets! My hostmum counted over a hundred kids!
The whole night it was pouring like in movies, but my friend and I stayed strong and came soaking wet and tired home. We had so much fun!!

My Red-John pumpkin :)

Trick or treating with Ayse

My candy

A Halloween-cupcake !!!

My costume

Self made hospital ID

Week 9: Rotary Weekend #2

 Week 9:

Its been more than 2 moths since I arrived here and I can proudly say that I can't imagine going back to Austria and leaving this life behind. Things got so much better in the past 3 weeks and I am sure that the hard times are over now.

This weekend was very exciting, because it was at the Niagara Falls District Conference with all the other exchange students from district 7090. We stayed in the Marriott Gateway hotel, a four star hotel with an incredible view at the falls from half of the hotel rooms. Unfortunately, my room faced the other side but for me its easy to visit them, so that's okay. :)

The whole weekend mainly consisted of listening to rotarians talking about Rotary, what they do, how they help people around the world, and some experiences from past exchange students.
On saturday we first had a very fancy dinner with all the rotarians. There were at least a hundret people at the dinner! All the girls wore dresses and the boys wore suits. After that, we had a halloween party and everyone dressed up. It was very much fun! I dressed up as a doctor !

During the week I went Halloween-shopping with a friend from school. We went to a second hand shop and tried an enourmus amount of clothes! :)

Halloween shopping!

I am a picke! :)

Spiderman!

Me and my friend at the second-hand shop

In the pool of the hotel at the conference

Halloween!

The exchange students and me

Japan, Austria and Germany

Rio and me :)

Week 8: Hello Fall

Week 8:

The past week it got much rainier and cold. Surprisingly, it felt like summer until the beginning of october! I enjoyed that, but I know that the winter in Canada will be very cold :(

On saturday, my hostmum had her graduation in Brock University. She has a Masters in Education now! That was the first time I saw a graduation and it was just as I imagined it to be! The graduates wore typical graduation clothes and some even hats! It was a good experience.
I also met the other exchange students and we went to Clifton Hill and watched the Falls at night. It was so beautiful. In the nighttime the Falls are lighted in many different colours and in summer there are even fireworks! We also had fun in Niagara-on-the-lake and went to the lake to see Toronto and the U.S.

Next week is Halloween in North America and I am very excited to be part in that event! I will do trick or treat with the Key Club from my highschool. We raise money for UNICEF to prevent babies from Tetanus.

The Graduation

Sweden, Brazil and Austria in Niagara Falls

Taking a walk

Niagara River

Ice cream shop

Vegetarian feelings

Week 7: Happy Thanksgiving!

Week 7:

My 7th week was a shorter school-week than normal because I had a free day on Friday. Guess why..? Because it was Thanksgiving! This was obviously a very exciting weekend, because it has been the first Thanksgiving I've ever celebrated!

School was very good, I am starting to feel very happy in A.N. Myer and my friends are just the best! What I love about Canada is the multiculturalism. I have friends who are descended from Africa, Cuba, Italy, Germany and other countries. On Thursday, we had Myer Spirit day. I guess it's just a day to honor the school, so everyone wore the Myer-colours, which are purple and white.
I noticed that Canada is very patriotic, compared to Austria. In the morning we stand up and listen to the canadian anthem! I've never done something like that in Austria.

On Friday, my host- mum, brother, sister and I went to Kingston to their cottage. I always enjoy staying there, because we can drive with the boat, go waterskiing (in summer) or just enjoy the awesome view from the living room. The colours of the leaves started to change and I almost felt like I was back in Austria. On Saturday, we had a big family dinner for Thanksgiving and it was a bit overwhelming for me. I was surprised that so many people would show up at the cottage! But I had a good time, all the relatives are very nice and the food was super-good. Even if I didn't have any turkey because I am vegetarian, I enjoyed the meal. The next days I had some homework to do and studied for school. Sometimes it is very hard for me to understand, but I try my best to be good in school.

On Monday, we went back to Niagara Falls and I had to say goodbye to my hostsiblings, which is always a bit sad for me. They are just so nice and funny, it's always a blast hanging out with them!

My first Thanksgiving had been an awesome experience and I enjoyed taking part a canadian tradition.

My hostbro and me

Loughborough Lake

Week 6: Crêpes and Canadians

In my 6th week, school was just as always, except of having a week off from crosscountry. My legs appreciated that! I slowly started to realize, that school isn't that bad anymore and that some canadians  start to really care about me.

On Tuesday a Rotarian took Rayane and me sailing in Lake Ontario! Actually, this was the first time I went to America! Well... americain water. :) It was a great experience and I had a good day. 

Sailing with the Frenchie

In the evening, I sat in the oldest car i've ever seen. The Rotarian told me that the car was over 40 years old and made of wood. We took a fun drive through Niagara-on-the-lake.

me in an old-timer

In the weekend I had some self-made Crêpes with the french exchange student and we went to the movies. On Sunday I finally hung out with a canadian girl (and her twin) ! It was fun, we went to Cliffton hill and I made a wax-hand! Just like tourists.

Crêpes

Wax-hand shop

Special thanks to my buddy Stephen Davis for being so fresh and going with the flow.