The autumn is so lovely although it’s really dry here and we haven’t had rain for maybe over a month. I changed to my last host family a few weeks ago and they are so lovely, I have two host siblings my age and we have 3 dogs. We live in the country side so I’m seeing a lot of cows lately (smelling them too). I have met all the new exchange students and it’s so strange being an oldie, I’m the only oldie and the only one speaking much German so sometimes it’s like I’m the mother of 17 teenage children. I go back to school for another year when I come home, I really want to finish NCEA. I have attached some photos below from me with the new exchange students.

I’ve been in New Zealand for just over two months now, and I’ll just tell you about the coolest stuff I’ve done so far.

 

Vanessa took me down to Rotorua, Whakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao, (yes, really) one of the first weekend with her. I witnessed a beautiful Maori dance and singing concert, which I didn’t photograph cause I was too blown away in the moment to acknowledge my phone sitting in my pocket. They also had mini live kiwi birds, which you could see in the dark. The geysers were very impressive, and as the sun was setting the smoke turned a very pretty yellow/orange colour.

 

Dear Tauranga Te Papa Members,

I’m currently on exchange in Moscow, Idaho of the United States. Over these past nine months I have been to many places on my exchange I thought I would share some with you all, so you could all see what it is that I have been up to, so here goes….

So far, my entire exchange has been jammed packed with traveling, changes and excitement. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work continues at Edgecume and our Community workers are at it again caught this time by the Whakatane Beacon who had the following comment: "Support for recovery has extended well beyond the Eastern Bay. Volunteers from Rotary Tauranga-Te Papa visit regularly to assist those who need help to get gardens back in shape. From left: Lyn Voyde, Jill Kitchen, Peter Shepherd (property owner), Neil Percival and Rob Thompson.

 

Neil's Volunteer Army knows no bounds and unfortunately there's still plenty to be done.

News From our exchange student in USA Kalista Ellis

Hi Everyone, I’m on exchange in Moscow, in the state of Idaho USA, I haven’t long past my first 2 months and yet so far, I have had so many epic experiences and made amazing memories. Within these first few months I have started school at Moscow High School, I have noticed so much difference between my school back home and the one here, it’s only ONE building! I take so many different classes that I really didn’t think would be offered, like walk fit for example four classes a week I get to go on walks around the town with the class, at the start it was a real great way to make friends and see more of the town.

In these first two months through my travelling I have gone through the temperatures from snow boots in Canada to bikinis in the island of Kauai (one of Hawaii’s four islands). I’m writing this report laying by the fire with several layers of clothes on after just arriving back from my first spring break holiday in Kauai. Whilst in Kauai with my host family we had loads of adventures, I completed a 16km hike of the Napali Coast line, we had several days with blazing hot sun where I just swam and snorkelled, we went to a traditional Laue.  For three days of our trip though we experienced countless flash flood warnings, however somehow, I still managed to leave looking fried. Through my rotary district 5080 I have gone on two Rotary trips, the first being to a town called Rossland in British Columbia, Canada, this trip was great fun where I got to meet all the other RYE students in my district. The second trip was a ski weekend to 49 degrees north, in the State of Washington, this was so amazing and such an active weekend that I enjoyed thoroughly.

Along with taking me to Kauai, my host family has taken me snow shoeing, cross country skiing, these are things I had never experienced before, they were so fun but required so much energy and co-ordination which I’m kind of still trying to get a hang of, so I ended up in the snow more times than I can count. We often go on drives to new places, so I can see more or to go hiking which is enjoyable.  My host father has also taken me out to spot moose which are reported to on the outskirts of Moscow, but we haven’t managed to find them yet.

To think that it’s been such little time since I left yet I have done so many things and have meet so many amazing people, and I am so grateful and excited for what has come and is yet to come.

Below I have inserted some images, the first being of me and my host sister Terra at tunnels beach in Kauai, the second was taken during snow shoeing, and the third being my neighbourhood.

 

So far, I have visited Paris for the weekend, which was great even if I was sick while I was there. We saw the Eiffel tower and many other famous attractions. I had my language camp last week in Lindenberg which was good. Next week I go on my Germany tour.

A photo from Paris, I am in the middle ^^ with exchange student Bruna from Brazil (left) And exchange student Camila from Ecuador (right)

 

Here in Germany, my first host family is so great, there is always someone around the house to talk to and play games with. Being in this family is really nice because I don't have siblings in NZ and here I have 5 siblings. In the first two months I have been on a weekend trip to Paris with the Rotex from Freiburg, this trip was great, and I got to see many things, such as the Eiffel tower and the Arc de Triomphe. I started school in the 9th class and have made so many friends. School is hard because my German is not the best, but it is getting easier as my German improves. All my classmates help me with the language and so does my family. I also went to a weeklong language camp in Lindenberg, which is close to Austria. This week was the best and it was so rewarding to see how my German had improved, after seeing my effort and my results from the language camp, the rotary district has decided to sponsor me and a few others from my district for the Budapest and Vienna tour - which is amazing! I do not know many details yet, but I will update when I know. Next week I go on my Germany tour and I am really excited for that. In the Germany tour we will visit places like Hamburg and Frankfurt and many more. Thanks for giving me the chance to come to Germany, I am really enjoying it.