Week 44: US TRIP STARTS

Week 44:

Day 1&2: Washington DC

So July first, the USA Trip finally started. I was so happy to see all my friends from my district again. And I also met 75 other students from different districts in the USA.
We started driving at 5am in Rochester and were in Washington DC by 4pm. It was soooo hot! Much hotter than anywhere else I've been in the states. First we stopped at the Washington Capitol Building. It was so beautiful! I was so glad to finally see old, ancient buildings again, like there are in Austria.

Some of my best friends this year ♥

On the second day, we went to the Washington Cemetery. It was so impressive. There are graves of over 400.000 soldiers from different countries, who served the USA in wars. We even saw a funeral, where the coffin was on a horse carriage and soldiers in their uniform where standing around the grave.
We also saw the famous Guard Change on top of the hill. We learned that it is very hard to get a job like this and there is a long training time for the soldiers. Every step, every movement in that guard change has a special meaning to american history and is in honor of the fallen soldiers.

In the afternoon, we went to many museums.Luckily, they are all fro free!! Its so nice because you can see so many different museums on one day and can enter and exit without paying anything! Also the museums in Washington are huge and have lots of interesting exhibitions!

Not to forget, we went to the White House that same day. Its a very beautiful house with a huge lawn. We took lots of pictures there and I even got some grass from Obama's backyard ;)

At night we went to see all the important monuments of Washington, DC. We saw the  Lincoln Memorial, Korean War memorial, Vietnam war memorial, Washington Monument and a few more I can't remember.

Lincoln Memorial

 

washington memorial

Day 3: Myrtle Beach

On the third day we had to get up at 5am and drove for 6 hours to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We were planning to have a beach day there, but unfortunately it was raining and not very warm there. So we went to Broadway on the Beach for the night, which was so much fun! Its like a shopping "street" or "quarter" at the water with tons of little stores and souvenir shops. It was so much fun! At night we went to a typical american diner, which looked like it was from the 70's. 

us infront of the diner

Day 4: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

On July 4th (Independence Day), there was a big celebration party in Pigeon Forge. There were many stands with food, fake USA tattoos and USA bracelets. I got a little tattoo for my cheek and had some lunch there. Later, a band started playing american country music while we were sitting in the grass listening or dancing and singing to the music. It was one of my favourite nights.

us at the festival

Day 5: Dollywood Themepark, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

That day was one of the most fun experiences. We went to Dolly Parton's Theme park. Its not like a normal theme park, everything looks old and countryside- like and the whole park looks like a little town in the South United States. They have lots of really fun rollercoasters, souvenir shops, shows and many other things. We rode all rollercoasters (of course) and also saw one of the many shows there. We went to the Bubble Show, where and artist made tricks with bubbles. It was awesome!! 

Day 6: Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee 

We got up early in the morning again, had breakfast and went straight to Memphis, Tennessee. When we came to Memphis we went to Graceland, where Elvis Presley used to live. We saw his beautiful and crazy house, his yard, all his (approx. 30) cars, planes, outfits, awards and alot more. They also had like 10 giftshops there, because America is not America with a gift shop at every street corner. 

At night we went out for dinner. In Memphis, Americans have a really strange accent. It was so hard for me to understand that I had to ask the waitress to repeat herself. It was soo funny! When we ordered dessert, I think I said something wrong and she put my dessert in a box. I love all these southern United States accents!

Elvis's records

Elina and I ♥

Day 7: New Orleans, Louisiana

Unfortunately we didn't get to see the city of Memphis, because we started driving to Louisiana in the morning. But Louisiana was awesome! We stopped after a few hours to go on a Rotary Picnic. The Rotarians were all really nice and welcoming and there was lots of good food. They also took all of us on a boat ride in a river and told us that there were alligators in the river! unfortunately I didn't get to see any. But they had an alligator on land with its mouth taped shut for us to hold and pet. It was actually very small and pretty cute! 

us on the boat

the little alligator

The first week was awesome and so exciting! I met and got to know so many new people. I really enjoyed it! I'll post the second week very soon.

Week 43: School ends and Canada's Wonderland

Week 43:

I feel myself  running out of time. I never realized that I only have 10 days left in Canada (excluding my trip to the US) and I don't know how to feel about it. On the one side it feels so depressing to leave this year, this new life behind, but on the other hand I can't wait to see my family and friends in Austria again. I mainly think that being uncertain about when I will come back or when I will see all these amazing people I have met ever again makes me feel like I am loosing something.

I had my last days of school this week and I didn't get to say goodbye to many people that are very important to me. It breaks my heart to think about never seeing some of these people ever again. But if any #myernation kids are reading this:
Thank you for everything. Thank you for being so open minded towards me, for embracing me and making me feel at home. Many of you have supported my throughout this year, made me stronger and made me feel like somebody was always there for me.
This year in this highschool has been like a dream for me. As I always say, it felt like in one of those american movies, it felt so unreal. And I had the time of my life. Of course there were times when I felt alone, but my dearest friends -who I have only met a few months ago- have always supported me.
I hope that one day, I will get to see you again.

My last day at school

My last weekend before the USA trip, I went to Canada's Wonderland with my great hostfamily, a thing that had been on my list for the whole year. It was just amazing! This amusement park is so much bigger than the one in Vienna and the rides are just so much fun! I am so glad I went before my year ends. 

These weird drinks they had at Canada's Wonderland

Week 42: Beach Day and my final presentation

Week 42:

I spent my weekend with two of my very best friends -Rio from Japan and Allison from Taiwan- in Port Dalhousie, St Catharines. Port Dalhousie is right at Lake Ontario, surrounded by the lake and nice beaches.
My friend only lives 5 minutes away from the beach and we could just walk there.

Rio, Allison and I

It was really nice weather, but the lake was so cold, it even hurt to put a toe in the water!! The area around the beach is really pretty. There is a very old carousel, some ice cream shops and nice places to eat. Many people also like to sail in that area.
Its very pretty and also easy to get around, because St.Catharines actually has buses, other than Niagara-on-the-Lake *sigh*.

Beach day

My last Rotary presentation:

At the end of an exchange year, every Rotary exchange student has to do a final presentation to talk about their life in the home country, their exchange year and what they have learnt or how they changed through their exchange. Well, I did one too. And I was soooo nervous. The presentation had to be 20 mins long and everyone who knows me well, knows that I am terrified of public speaking. But it was quite good after all. I talked about Austria, about my life in Canada and how it changed me, made me more open minded and made me grow mature and independent. 

I really want to thank Rotary. My club has been so supportive and caring for this past year and has helped me though my hard times when I felt lonely. The Rotary Youth Exchange Organisation isn't just about the exchange student, it's more about being a community, meeting people around the world and exchanging stories. My Rotary Club has made me feel like a part of something, a part of a community. There was always somebody who cared about me, and if it wasn't anybody else at hard times, it was the Rotary Club.

And we have also shared so many great memories together! Thank you for showing me this whole new world, I would have never known existed. You all have a special spot in my heart.

My favourite supporters 

Week 41: Last Rotary Weekend and USA trip destinations ♥

Week 41:

Early in the week, I finally found out where the USA bus trip in July will lead us! It is just so exciting!! We will see 24 of the 50 states and will go to so many famous cities and places! I can't wait for this awesome last adventure!

The bus trip route

On Saturday the last Rotary Weekend started. I went to the meeting early because I helped set everything up and was the Greeter *yay*. I stood in front of the Community Center (where the weekend took place) and greeted everyone coming in. 

On Saturday we had a soccer tournament. It was so much fun! I actually love playing soccer, even though I haven't played in Austria yet. I really hope I can do that in the future, because soccer is so much fun! I even scored once which made me happy because all the guys were so good at playing soccer. 

Inbounds played against Outbounds, we were 4 soccer teams. My team won!! 

It was so so so much fun!

Later that day, we went to downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake to see the stores, the park and the lake, where we had some free time. We had ice ream and walked around the old town, which is beautiful! Unfortunately I can't walk there because everything is just so so far away from my house :(

On Sunday was the last day of the Weekend and we had to say our goodbyes. It was just so sad. I didn't have to say goodbye to lots of people because almost all of my friends are on the US trip with me in July, but some of them will go home earlier... 

I love you, Anabel, Allison and Alejandra! 

On the last, day I brought a Canada flag for everyone to sign. We also had to say good bye to the Outbounds, so a few of them signed my flag too. That flag-thing is kind of a tradition and it's just so emotional. When I hang this up on my wall in my room in Austria, I will always remember this wonderful year that changed me so much to a better person. I never want to forget.

My flag that my friends signed

I also had to say goodbye to some of my very favorite Rotarians, who chaperoned us on all our trips. Greg, Mike, John, Lisa thank you for making our exchanges so wonderful. You have become so important to me in this year and I hope I will see you again in the future. Thank you for everything. 

Its not a goodbye, just a see you soon ♥

Week 40: School-a-Palooza and Burglary

Week 40:

That week wasn't one of my luckiest weeks unfortunately.
On Thursday my host grandma took my host sister and me shopping in Toronto. We went to Sherway Gardens about an hour away from my house.

When we went there, I picked up some money to buy stuff I needed and we went to the first store; Abercombie & Fitch. I tried on some stuff and looked around in the store, until I noticed that my purse was gone.
I freaked out and searched for my purse i the whole store and ended up finding it hidden under a stack of clothes. When I found it, my purse was open and everything was in there: my passport, my ipod, my headphones... But not my wallet. In my wallet I had 200$ in cash, all my debut and credit cards, student id's and giftcards worth money. I was so upset because I had lost everything that was important and wasn't able to pay anything for myself anymore. So we went to the store security and the mall security... but nothing. I didn't get anything back. I bet you I will never go in an Abercrombie & Fitch anymore, sketchy place...

Right now I'm waiting for my credit cards to be replaced and I got some money from Rotary to help me out for the next few weeks.

On Friday night, I went to Niagara Falls with some of my friends to go to School-a-Palooza.

It is an event for all schools in the Niagara Region (Stamford, Westlane, St Paul, St Mike's, and my school AN Myer). It was kind of a competition between the schools. We did many different games where all the schools played against eachother and there were little booths (??) every where on Queen's street because there was "Springolicious" going on in that street for the weekend. We could buy food and drink at the stands and just talk to friends.
    
My friends and me

Week 39: Anime North

Week 39:

My friend Katie and I bought tickets for this event in Toronto called Anime North. It is a convention where anime lovers (some type of comic) dress up in the craziest costumes and meet to talk about their fandom and take pictures. At the convention there also were lots of stands with things to buy like tshirts, little souvenirs, drawings, toy animals etc...
I've never really loved anime but my friend does so I decided to go and I had a great time!! We dressed up too and I even made my own costume! I decided to g as a character from the TV show "Adventure Time".
It was so crazy, some people are such huge fans of Anime that they made very professional costumes with crazy accessories and weapons! There were lots of asian people because Anime is originally from Japan or other parts of Asia.

My friend Katie and I

My favorite character Spider man

Week 38: Build-a-bear and Austrians

Week 38:

In the weekend I went to Clifton Hill with my friend and saw this store. Its called build-a-bear and its a store where you can build your own bear (i know very mature). I just wanted to do it, so I did!!!
Its so awesome! I could pick what bear I wanted, what color, what he wears, I could name him and put a scent inside him (i picked cotton candy hehe).

Well, so that's my bear.

On Sunday, my family and I had dinner with two Austrian Friends of my host grandma. I loved it! Their English wasn't fluent so they spoke German to each other, in the Viennese accent, that I missed so much! It felt so good hearing and speaking German again, even though I feel weird speaking German and sometimes can't find the right words. English almost feels like my mother tongue now. And I love it!

I had an awesome weekend!