My life in Venezuela

2007-12-04T20:43:00.001-08:00

im back in my home land...

2007-08-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

am I really??.. I mean.. IM still not back in canadia... oh well soon enoufh.. so I got back.. said hi to a couple ppl .. and then got sick.. got a 102 fever.. and was grounded to my bed the last two days... ouch.

but now im feeling better.. I do miss my lil monkey tho.
back how things havent changed that much.. I dont know if im gonna get credit for this year yet.. I have an apointment with guidence on the 24th... lets see what happends.. im looking for a job , studying for my perment... everyone I know works and drives.. I feel like a year behind at some point...

12 days left..

2007-07-18T14:16:00.001-07:00

smile and frown.. ups and downs... as we all know an unbrella upsidedown doesnt serve much.. but it froms a smile...

meaning.. that from the error that one makes , one learns , and as my mother would probebly say , one laughts , smiles... where we find again our umbrella upside down. .... did any one follow this ¿? hope so.

soo I have 12 days left... filled with graduation , misal , and graduations parties , not to forget all the good byes .... the last moments in venezuela I shall share this year.... tear tear... but theres.. always a bright side.. I get to see my fam and friends.. that I havent seen in months.. soon, that I really dearly miss... maybe they wont reconized me ... ahhaha what am I inventing.. I look the same right ? ... well maybe ive changed.

exsited are we ¿ who still reads me ¿ well im comming back on the 30th for tose interested .... SMILE !!
breath! the world still turning.
live love life

sOoo

2007-07-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

Im on my way back homw soon.. im leaving venezuela on the 30th of this month.. so thats what.. like in 19 days ?? i dont know saying it like that sound so much... closer of further then what I imagine it ?? I a bit confuse at the moment... I dont actually know if any body still reads this page.. but for those who do... ive had wonderfull experiences in venezuela.. and it was worth it coming here ! everymoment it!! I just wanna say thank you to all that have made this possible for me...

and those I miss... ill see you soon.. but then im leaving behind a few that ill miess a LOT dare I say that Ive met some ppl along the way that I will never forget. true freinds are hard to come by... ppl that a value , ill trully miss. I adore you. one should know who they are.

almost ten

2007-06-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

in ten days I will have been in venezuela ten months... how do I feel you might ask ?? well im done with my junior year , off to being a senior if all my credits go over smooothly , Im excited and proud of myself for all thative done this year, for every place ive visisted , for every apt, house I can call my own , anytime I fell like coming back in Venezuela. THe freindships ive formed, the connections Ive made with the nation, my monito. Smile for me tost a glass of champagn im comming home soon.
this however is the down part of alsmost having been here 10 months... now im leaving in proximently one month.. the things ill miss, smells , faces , places , but im not to worried like cry all night over a pillow type of thing... none of that. I belive that if something is of true importance in your life , you keep in contact with it .. or it keeps in contact with you . I know the few that matter to me. the ones that ill spend crazy phone bills on. Smile dolls ill never forget you.
AN other down part ... my dearest spanish teacher pasted away two weeks ago. ths has cause tragity over my high school back home... she helped so many people and had such a positive attitute toward her work, one would feel that she was truly happy going in to work every morning.. helping us with every lil detail we asked her.. she was our senior adviser , the leader of a few clubs and organization that either relayed to spanish or mexico, expaniding world knowlegde. She was truely loved. and will be dearly missed. anf on that note , we clue the music

somthing that was nice a few weeks ago ( on a positive note ) was that my dearest my lovely moms came to visit me in VENEZUELA:! I brought here everywhere id been in the last 9months. hehe, in one week it was exshuagthing ,,, but I loved every min of it .! thanks !" moms !

check out the photo bucket ppl

love and harmonie , peace and hugs .
SMILE . THANK YOU to everyone that made this year posible for me .

La Gran SABANA .

2007-05-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

hey people of the world that read my blog , just came back from an amazing trip in La gran SAbaNA with my rotary,

here are some pictures so you can imagine the rest , because honestly its impossible to capture the beauty of it all in a picture , I tryed : I want to write all that it was , every where I went all that it was all that I felt , but all thats going thorought my mind is how much i wasnt in a hurry to come back into society ...(our cellphones didnt have signal out there.. jsut to maker that point ) I got agrivate onces we went into a civilized city type of town... if that makes anysense... Come to ealize im happy with the few people in my life , i love meeting people learing and conversating with them , but I can stand any of the gossip ,supercifial , glossy pin up world , I wasnt in miss of it ... and now im back in it ... BOOM shock its not that bad.. im still in a buffer the real one hasnt gotten to me yet... such as I havent returns to school havent walked in the streets , I came in at 1 am last night into PLC and went strait to bed, drag the time until I woke up this morning so I wouldnt have to talk to my nieghtboors , explain my trip and all , im selfish I want to keep it al to my self. and if I show my pictures.. explain it all I want to chare it with someone that understands.. not someone who make remark.. oh look how much wieght she lost gain shes not smilling.. now she is.. or u should of taken that picture that way.(unless your a profesional photographer.. or have experience in the field). I want to share the world the land I walk with ones who understand my way of thinking, who see the beauty in a tree, who could spend hours underneath a waterfall thinking , wondering , realizing , enjoying and most of all simply breathing ... This trip was a wonder which was wonderful , I fully enjlyed it with the people I was with my bunnies ! lol ( johanna (from germany) , allison(from san jose california) ,claire ( france ) ,daniel (our driver) ) and of course there was more people we were eleven of us exchange students plus the representes of Rotary and the divers , few other tourist , and ofcousre I cant leave out all the natives.. the villagies they let us visit , there homes , schools , churchs , rivers !! thanks you to all of you, it means a lot more to me then how much I say it , but thank you for all the experiences , for the knowlegde you all give me every oen I know .. each and everyday, I learn something new becasue of you. ! thank you.

a peek at flamingo

2007-05-02T19:01:00.000-07:00

im taking flamingo classes in venenzuela.. this is one of the dances we do... im unfortunatly not in it .. cuz this time im fliming... but next time..

video done by simon oreilly !

caracas , morrocoy .. the week with rotaru..

2007-04-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

a week in Caracas with my district of exchange students , loks, pero demasiado divertido... y si nosotros paresamos borachas....bueno es porque estamos...jjajaja mientiras vale ajajaj igualmente burdaaaaaaaaaaaa divertido rubiando en las dicotecas de caracas hasta las playas del parque nacional de Morrocoy. y todovia no estamos lista!!!! mirra y dime que piensas!! te kiero mucho a toditos!!

still now over and theres alot missing but this is a sneak peak.. lol comment

recap since I last bloged

2007-04-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

so i dont know how many people actually understood that last blog... but it was talking on how I was a little stressed and such due to my mid-terms I was taking in ten classes for the last week and a half..... but thas over now... my average this term with my ten classes is 16 out of 20 ..so 80 % I dont think thasts ba for my 2n term all in spanish in VENEzuela! .. so there a term left , and with the grades I have now.. I already have the grades to pass tye year and graduate in july.. hahah soo im graduating this year in july and ten going back to the states and finishing my senior year there.. and graduat ing next year too.. isnt that cute ! but its all wonderful im loving it . ! right now its SEMANA SANTA here... you know the religious side of easter ppl ??? when jesus is crusified and re lives or might be teer known as SPRING BREAK.. depending what ur in to ... the venezuelans love to party I know that.. and since my town is touristicish. and theres beaches and all.. theres a whole bunch of ppl here this week... driing is impossible.. and us locals stay in to give our space to the tourist .. or we go off to on trips, vacacion >!"! I dont know wwhat im doing yet this week... but I kniwI have a rotary trip on the 20th till the 29 this month..and next months around the same time we re going to the GRAN SAVANA...

well leave comments ppl.. I love you all.. o and friday i officially have been here 7 months!!!!!!!

examen de lapso..

2007-03-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

bueno , ahora en venezuela es un tiempo muy stresado , pero , no te preocupa , yo me cuida , tengo que estudiar bastante , y casi todo los otros dias yo tengo un projecto , un trabajo , un modelo a hacer . Pero todo vale la pena, Sabes que yo soy la sola intercambia de las cuatro en mi "cuidad" que se va a graduar . fino No!?? ESO es..Lorriana! chimbo para lo demas.. pero el intercambio es mas que escuela....

Mi vida esta bien , estoy occupada , pero todo bien , yo deje de comer Azucar haces como dos semana. =) mi cuerpo se sientes mucho meyor gracias a mi mamacita y sus consejo tan bueno de E.E.U.U.

te quiero mucho todos mi "Fans" MWAH.. besos y abrazos benedicion

unrelated.

2007-02-24T18:22:00.001-08:00

so this isnt technecly related to being an exchange student.. but in a way your could connect it perfectly..

anyone whos ever seen the movie Crash , or anymovie that talks about diffrences ,between racism , cultural differences , the defferences between living on dffente sides of towns.. in different states ,., or differences between wearing a different style of clothing.. or having a different way of speaking ... any and all the differences in the world.. why doesnt just one adapt to them , open there minds to them.. embrass them instead of judging , discriminating , compairing , exclaming that one is better then another ..while in reality we arent at all soo different from one an other...
one thing that I defently learn from being an exchange student as well as a person whos moved around a few times in there life , is that society isnt at all that diferent from one place to an other.. I mean sure theres different languages ,but are heart all beats for the same reason ,, were all made of bloood and flesh arent we ¿¿ soo why the discrimination , why do we assume .
example . why does one assume the light skin girl must speak english ? personally at times I take that offencively , because I didnot always speak english , and im not about to forget my roots . why does one categories mexicans, ppl from spain , from , venezuela , argentina , peru , panama ,the magority of south america as Latinos. why becasue they all speak a from of spanish ? well then should they be considers spanish`people? why latinos ? because spanish evoled from latin ? well so did , fench , english and ever other romance language out there..
I understand that our cultures is part of our identity , but should that mean that we shouldnt be open to learing new things ¿' hear new ideas ?
I personaly have a real problem with patriotism , of any country for that matter , the US for example has the image of being cocky about our patriotism , and the fact that our country was .. is ¿? a world leader . one sohuld help one an other .. instead of exclaiming that there better , help the others giet to there level so to speak instead of looking down on them...

open your mind , and not hold gruges.. I guess is the point im trying to make.. imbracess abcept instead of judginng , and disrespecting. love over hate. equality.

hey world.

2007-02-21T18:42:00.000-08:00

soo Im sorry im slow on updating .. im jsut overloaded with exams this term.. and I have a millions pictures im way back up on.. so im sorry about that wait also.. ill update soon I swear...

butfor the record over all im good!" im stilll loving ever moment everyday im here... of course theres up and downs smiles and frowns.... like when I reralized im out of here in less then six months.. but smiles when I get to graduate in VENEZUELA :: first then graduating from my classs back home 2008 ! hihih.. smiles..

but im off to study.. I shouldnt even be on right now.. i have my first real presentacion about something that now me .. my past .. my countries.. ALL IN SPANISH first period tomorow.. wish me luck ! I have to study my presentation...!

lov you all keep reading !

5 months in venenzuela

2007-02-06T13:54:00.000-08:00

I fell like a weight.

Welcome back to my blog , people four my four dirrection.
I know I havent officially written anything in a long perioud of time , but that was becasue
I didnt feel upbright when I got on line... or I chose to write ny thoughts on paper instaed of connecting to the internet and doing so.
but now that im here let me catch you up.

new years ever was simple. Tradiction is to eat twelve grapes and drink a cup of champagn when the clock strucks midnight. The grapes represent the twele months of the year.. Its supose to give you luck in the proxima months to come .
some people cryed some people huged , every one shouck hands as we came into the new year. MY littlesister ( marry anny ) broke her champagn coupe as it struck 12 .. it was classic. The new year then sarted with greetings from neightboors
and other loves ones. ( needless to say international lines where on overload. ) plus with the time difference new years over there came an hours later... The time differences didnt really kick in any other year form me .. I always kinda felt as the whole world was anticipating the same ball to drop from time square as I was...
I started of at the moon , sending my thoughts to my loved ones when it struck 12 over in there galaxy.

ummm afther new years I still have 8 days till I got back to school.. so me and my family all when to Herragoti (sp) and I got a wicked algerie from a cream I used... soo I was stuck in the summer house, of the family friend while there was beaches at a ten min drive. and a jacouzzi out side at not enven 4 feet... no to mention the pool... but staying inside wasnt all that bad when you come down to it.. since it was incredably hot.. and the air condicionning was sweet !
back to class lessons came in slowly.. but onces they started the whole .. class examen class examen concept didnt fail.. soo Im studying harder this semester since I want to inprove my grades from the last term ( theres 3 terms in VEnezuela ( lapsos )
my host parent spilt up.. so that change the mood around the host.. and at times were all still adjusting . Now its just me and my host mom
I satrted flaminco again , putting more energy into it , and its showing in my shoes, being worned out ..hehehe Im going to start next tuesday and thurstday at giving english classes at one of the sons of one of the proffesors at my school.. ( I already stated teaching a little a few other gente around me , a friend here and there )
im exsited about that... OH and I need to put my self in a diet .. ASAP .. all month of december was spend eating...
that pretty much wrapes it up.. for what ive been up too... today I officially have 5 months in venenzuela .This would be my halfway point but.. i already know that im leaving in agust because school her doesnt finish till mid july.. and then there my graduation ! heheh Im graduating twice ! IM pretty fluent in spanish, now I work more on writing and such... more reading in spanish, to work my mind.

well leave comments.. I love ya all ! thank you ROTary from making this experience posible . I love every day of it ! and thanks to my moms .. etc.... you knwo who you are. I love ya all dearly

hey .. Im still alive.

2007-01-30T16:38:00.001-08:00

soo I know I havent writtin in a long time ....

life good.,. im healty.. im going to repaint my room because I forgot that orange makes you hungry.. and now I eat all the time.. haha no .. but.. I want to... soo I haveto paint it .. like green... i dont know.. but .this is just a blog to tell you everything okay.. ill write sometihngf personal and interesting later.. im off to study !"

Holidays...

2006-12-31T16:04:00.000-08:00

the holidays.. were odd with out my dearest snow.. and in a different country....not to mention wiht out my genetical family..... but.. over all it was all good.. after all im gettting older , I hate to admit it.. but mayber x mas loosing some of its magic... Im still spontaniously generous around this time of the year tho, I gave a homeless man here a PAn de Jambon which is a bread with ham in it.. like a ham roll.. tranditional x mas food from venezuela.. along with the hallacas.

I never got around to showing youll pictures.. but I have a whole how to make hallacas pictures... they just got lost in transelation , when I saved all my pictures onto cds.. and im too lazy to look throught them now.. unless one of you make a special recest for them.. touff .
same goes for the holidays pictures... but hey I went to SANTA FE ; VENZUELA the other day..its gorgeous beyond words. those pictures are up for you to see at the phto bucket under venezuela/santa fee it was amazing.. gorgeous I went kinda suba diving. and ate the fish I caught, fried it.. and such, etc.. oh ya and I got a cold...

today is new years eve... HAPPY NEW YEARS:: ill tell you how it goes.

catchin' up

2006-12-17T19:19:00.000-08:00

haha I dont even know if the tittle iis english.. but its all good.. soo lets see.. what has Lorriana been up too.. well .. well... life afther the election changed alot of the society. things got quieter.. people stayed in theire housas more.. but more or less everything the same.. chavez is still off giving away the money of the people to different personal friends of his..

as for me... right now im on x-mas vacation `till january 8th I belive.. I got my grades for the first term. here there are :

Castellano y Literatura 15/20 Spanish literature
Geografia de Venezuela 15/20 geo of venezuela
Deporte 14/20 gym ( which you have to write papers in)
Ciencia de la Tierra 16/20 earth science
Mathematica 14/20 math
Biologia 15/20 indepth bio
Ingles 19/20 english
Fisica 16/20 physic
Quimica 17/20 chemestry
Pre militar 15/20 pre military

times the number by 5 to get the percentage the grading system her just different

Im not really happy with them... but people around me here are congradulating me.. since.. it my first term in a different culture , different system , different language..and the fact that a I did better then a bucnh of my classmates. ill do better next term. defenetly.!

what esle.. oh I went to caracas again.. things were a lot better this time.. stayed in a hotel.. went to a zoo, and a really cool hidden german base village were they grow straberries.. haha ( pics to come) umm ya.. all the rest is pretty much just going out.. and having a good time.. getting to know more of the culture and christmas traditions.. like today I made hallacas ( pictures to come sorry about that.. ppl .im upgradoing my pictures and burning them to cds.. soo everything on hold.. considering pics! )

well im off for now.. Love you all !"! HAPPY HOLIDAYS ! !! send me SNOW !! I feel like im in july !!! help !" haha SNOW !!

Emotions

2006-12-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

A 19 year old boy cryed in my arms last night.
Because he feard the future of his country.
Becasue he felt that his vote went strait throught the system and made no difference.
Imagine that... the youth, ones that actually care,
who took the time to dress in pride ( azul azulito) to go out and vote for the very first time. exsited as can be. Whom voted for a change. Voted for a better future for his society. His little sister in mind, he voted to change the fact that theirs eighty percent poverty in Venezuela. he voted in order to give her , the opportunity of a better life. This he said to me, shaking , his eyes watering.
Reaching for me to tell him that it wasnt true. that he , and his family, his nation are not to have eight more years with a president who gives aways there natural ressourse. Who kepts all the wealth of the country as his own personaly sending money. A president who in a time of cris for his people, bought himslef a plane , fully loaded , furnish in the best. taking trips to fifteen different countries for pure enjoyment while his people are starving in the streets , stealing for survive.
"Tell me this isnt right" -said the boy
he wins with 5.936.141 votes while the blue party lacks in numbers... Manuel Rosales 3.868.847

"that this isnt the world that Im living in, that I have to grow up in , built a life here<'?" shaking his head in shame he feels that his vote made no difference. he seeks confort in me ( becasue for some how I represent hope. opportuniy , a chance , a way out. ) he tells me that he has a passport if things come to worse, but that he couldnt leave his family here to endure the pain while hed be off somewhere having "fun" .

Tragic. I wish him the best. and did all that I could , holding him tihght wipping the falling tears off his palish face . a face which only hours before was full of life , exsictement and hope. but now is left rob of its happyness ,devestaded.... what more could he have done ?

CHAVEZ...

2006-12-03T20:28:00.000-08:00

Chávez gana reelección por gran margen
Por FABIOLA SANCHEZ - CARACAS - Diciembre 04, 2006

El presidente Hugo Chávez ganó el domingo un nuevo mandato de seis años con una amplia ventaja, según resultados divulgados por el Consejo Nacional Electoral.

Con 78,31% de las actas de votación escrutadas, Chávez contaba con 61,35% o 5,9 millones de votos, y su adversario, el gobernador del estado petrolero del Zulia, Manuel Rosales, con 38,39% o 3,7 millones de votos, indicó el Consejo en su primer boletín oficial. La participación fue del 62%, por lo que la ventaja de Chávez es irreversible.

Antes del anuncio oficial, los simpatizantes de Chávez ya habían lanzado en el centro de la ciudad una lluvia de fuegos artificiales desde la sede del Ministerio del Interior, mientras decenas de partidarios recorrían las principales calles en motos y portando banderas rojas.

Los datos preliminares conceden a Chávez la cuarta victoria electoral desde 1998, cuando ganó la presidencia por primera vez.

No hubo un pronunciamiento inmediato de Rosales.

Los resultados coinciden con la mayoría de las encuestas que en los últimos meses otorgaron una amplia victoria a Chávez en su intento de conseguir un nuevo mandato de seis años.

Sin embargo, parece difícil que el presidente alcance su meta de ganar con 10 millones de votos, lo que fue el centro de su campaña electoral.

"Viva la revolución socialista, el destino estaba escrito", dijo Chávez desde un balcón en el palacio de gobierno y tras cantar el himno nacional rodeado de algunos de sus ministros, mientras abajo en la calle miles de simpatizantes gritaban "uh ah, Chávez no se va".

"Digo como Cristo: todo está consumado", agregó el mandatario con los brazos en alto y vestido de rojo.

Bajo una fuerte lluvia, Chávez dijo que a pesar de las "campañas satanizadoras" había ganado el pueblo y que se trataba ahora era de profundizar la revolución socialista.

"Que nadie le tenga miedo al socialismo...el socialismo es humano, el socialismo es amor", gritó el mandatario cuando multitudes abajo agitaban banderas tricolores.

Hoy "comienza pues esa nueva era...Venezuela, lo hemos demostrado, es roja, rojita", dijo el presidente, cuyo mandato en los últimos años ha estado rodeado de tropiezos, agitaciones y la sobrevivencia política de un hombre de innegable carisma, pero que además maneja las ingentes riquezas petroleras del quinto exportador de crudo más grande del mundo.

Chávez dedicó su triunfo al pueblo cubano y a su mandatario Fidel Castro.

Al otro extremo de la ciudad, se esperaba que Rosales hablara.

Chávez es el primer presidente de la democracia venezolana en ganar cuatro elecciones continuas.

Rosales, de 53 años, sufragó en Maracaibo, la capital de su estado petrolero del Zulia. "Aspiramos a que esto (la elección) termine bien... que el cielo se ilumine de alegría y nos abracemos como hermanos", expresó.

El próximo gobierno deberá encarar un país dividido políticamente y con una tasa de desempleo de alrededor de 9%, aunque analistas económicos destacan que la mitad de la fuerza laboral de casi 11 millones de personas está en el sector informal.

Igualmente existe un déficit habitacional de más de un millón de viviendas, mientras la criminalidad dejó en 2005 unos 9.000 homicidios, ligeramente por debajo del año anterior.

Chávez fue elegido en una primera elección en diciembre de 1998. Tras alzarse con la victoria, Chávez convocó a una asamblea constituyente que reformó la carta magna y entre otros cambios introdujo la posibilidad de la reelección inmediata y extendió de cinco a seis años el período de gobierno.

Para ajustarse a esa nueva norma, se realizaron nuevos comicios en el año 2000, ganados por Chávez, y más tarde la oposición impulsó un referéndum revocatorio del mandato del gobernante, en 2004, pero que Chávez logró derrotar.ç

Alll right I know .. thats in spanish.. I just couldnt find it right quite in english.. but its everywhere in the new.. fresh out the ziploc. its 12 30 am .. today was the day the people voted.. for there new president... well in hope of... but I guess thats not what they got.. chavez was " re elected" the people around me disapointed...not known what to expect next to go wrong...4 to eight more years of destruction of the nation to await for, said one of my neighboors... (( I KNOW as an exchange studetn im not suppose to get involved with politics ,,but its hard not too its all around me . its affecting mmy dayle life. the topic of every other conversation. soo of scourse I builded up an oppinion of my own. but ill keep it quiet.

ill keep the world up dated. IM safe nothing to worrie about. my passport canadian anyways...

Election crazyness...

2006-11-29T19:14:00.000-08:00

So... I got school of tjis thursday and friday.. due to the PRESIDENTIAL election on MOnday... I dont know if youve heard.. , but CHAVEZ , the present president is going agaisnt.. MANUEL ROSALES... everything has been on TV in the news papers , banners in the streets.. everywhere.. it kinda makes it imposible to not know whats going on if your living in venezuela... Im not going to get into polictics.. becasue its a dangerous matter, especially as a representavie of USA in venezuela. ( as the presidents of both country dont really like each other) and an ambassator of world peace"!!

what esle is new... life is good. im happy... I cut me hair... painted my room orange.. it smells like insanse.. thats been burning in it latetly..I feel zen.. Theres a beach party tomorow that im going to.. I think.. not sure....umm School is good. done with the first lapso( there like semester.. exsept theres tree in a year insead of 2 semester.. ) flaminco is awesome. brightens up my week all the time. hihih..

the hipodrome of CARACAS

2006-11-24T18:42:00.000-08:00

sooo the following day , my trip got better , I stoped being sick , every symtom was gone, and we were on our way home , when we passed by the hipodrome , my host father here loves following the races and betting and such... so we stoped. the place was very old , or so ive been told , and deffenetly could use the renevation , but it was beautiful as it was as well. we stayed a while.. betted on a couple races , I took pictures. for more pictures( check out the photo bucket under venezuela-caracas-hipodrome )

for thanks giving here.. since they dont really celebrate it .. like in america here... My adoribly nice host family cooked me .. a whole turkey mash patatoes , prapagranza to make me feel like I was celebrating it in EE UU .. haha it was nice. and we had alot of my neightboors over , fun fun.. when the next was over we well all full and marched on on to bed !!! .. ( pictures in the photobucket under fiesta- my thanksgiving )

what else is new .. in my life .. now a days... lets see.. flaminco is going great, I had an evaluation wensday.. I think it went ok... this weekend im all about helping one of my freinds fill out her rotary application. She wants to go to ENgland next year !! good LUCK PARTRICIA I hope you get it ... !!!! oh ..and Im going to paint my room here ORANGE.. haha.. come on now.. when else am I gonna get the chance to paint my room ORANGE !! people here are calling me crazy(loca) because of it ... but oh well ! Im just creative ""

my trip to CARACAS

2006-11-18T16:01:00.000-08:00

Sorry to everyone that read attentivly.. I forget to write at times... but I ove ya ALL ! DECRIPSTION OF A DAY N MY LIFE.. IS COOMING OUT SOON.. BE ONE THE LOOK OUT.

My trip to Caracas .

So I was told that it was a possibility that we ( my host parents and I ) were to go in Caracas to buy glasses for my host dad job ( he’s and eye doctor at a rotary clinic.) ON thrusday night I question them about its .. and everything is set to go. Were to leave at 5ish am the next morning. Meaning that I get to miss a day of school…. ( I don’t like missing school in general. Because its always just more work when I come back. To make up all that I missed. But anyways. Im exsited to see the capital, I heard the city is hurge and filled of history , places to shop , gangsters soo on and soo forth.. and also that theres a Subway ( which I would get to ride , Ive read about it before I came to Venezuela.. and the CARACAS subways were know to be clean and other good things. sO we leave on Friday morning .. im a little tiered ive had problems sleeping latetly idk why .. but anyways.. OH and I have just gotten my period like the night befoe ( this might be too much information,… but it comes to play in the story ) … soo im napping on the 5 hour trp to caracas listening to my ipod , who I thought was broken until I found out that the socket I was plugging it in to charge had blown up….. Excitingly listening to my ipod.. to the song I had believed were lost. My host parents failed to tell me where we were to sleep that night ( because this was to be a two day trip.. go into caracas buy the good sleep idk where and head back the next morning ) SO I questioned them. Turns out that were sleeping at my uncles host in Miranda ( an other state) which is like 3 hours to drive too with traffic.,
We get to caracas, my cameras battery dies.. soo I buy new ones just for the trip..I want to take pictures of course. Theres crazy traffic in caracas and anywhere around it… I would say theres about half a million to many ppl living in this city. Its really hot. Im sweating like always.. Im getting cramps from hell due to my period. And im out into an unknown lane. When we finally fine a parking gargare.. we get out… walk around a little , look for the store where we can buy the glasses. My host mom has the idea of buying a purse in her head.. soo we have to wait for her like every time theres purses in sale in sight. Personally the concept of shopping doesn’t appeal to me. So being in a mini mall that’s just dedicated to accessories for females.. doesn’t exactly stricke me as fun… but anyways the experience is good. We continue walking around. I don’t feel soo good , due to the fact that im loosing blood. And the scorching hot sun is upon me. But I shack it of… its now about to change anytime soon. We go to pretty places. To the original house of Simon Bolivar ( I don’t know much about him besides the fact that hes the liberator of Venezuela. Form the Spanish .. and that his face is plastered just about everywhere in my town here.. in Venezuela as well actually. I ask my host parents from some history back round on the paintings im looking at .. at the rooms I vistits , they don’t seem to know much .. for example I asked them about the different battles that were painting. . what was the reason they were fighting there.. why is it important… why was this genereal memorable enough to be painted..and they answer things statements like.. oh he was a general that fought with .. Simon Bolivar. Or.. that’s one of the battle Simon Bolivar fought in. SO…. From this I conclude that I better get on buying an history book of Venezuela if I wanna learn anything.. more specific. They walk rapidly throught the historical house. I want to notice details , as in why is there 7 lock drawers in a round talbe that sits four ?.. what was placed in those drawers,,, im nosy I guess.. I get no answer to my unasked question. And processed on to follow my host parents to an other location in the city. The city is gorgeous at laces and looks like a dump at others.. ive come to the conclusion that Venezuelans aren’t ever thuaght not to throw there gargabe on the grown , in the streets , beaches so on and so forth.. because if and area is civilized here… its filled with garbage randomly abouts.
I mention this phenomenon to one of my friends here.. and he answers me smarlty that if he didn’t trash the city. That he´d be taken away some one job.. some one meal. (( umm that’s statement sounds familiar.. don’t it ?? ) but anyways back to caracas.. the difference between rich and poor is enormous. And due to the numerous garbage all around and the pollution from all the cars.. its makes it hard to breath, contently. Quickly.. we get back in the cars in theres and instead rush. I fall asleep again , i don’t feel good my craps are back . We drive to this chicken place. ( my host parents are suppose to be watching the amount of grease and fat they take in. both of them recently found out they have hight cholesterol ( umm wonder why… the most famous foods here a fried and cooked with grease. ) but anyways… this chicken turns out to be greasy. I feel sick. My cramps are acting up. I need iron. I feel pale.
We then continue or journey to her brothers house. Im sleeping they get lost. And theres horrible traffic.. like we weren’t moving for at least a half hours every 70 miles… or so. We get to her brothers appt. he lives on the 22 floor . by morning come to find out that I don’t go good at that height of altitude. Im feeling dizy , about to faint type of thing… soo I tell my host parents.. and they take my blood pressure so one and so forth.. make my drink sugary water. At this point I just want to throw up. I need iron. I get like iron vitamin.. and were on hour way back to CARACAS. Reason why, no clue. Theres a mis communication.. and im to busy feeling sick in the back seat that I just don’t care… anyways.. I was told that I was going to get to ride the metro.. soo I figure that’s what were going t do….. we find a parking garage.. get on the metro. I feel sick. Get of the metro. I cant breath due to all the pollution .and my present condition. Find the closes bathroom ..and trwo upp all that I ate for breakfast. I don’t like most of the cheese here. And cant stand the margarine.. idont think they have butter.. ive yet to seen it anywhere….. after.. my beign sick.. we head back to buy some last minute frames for the shop.. and then were back on the subway. Oh and throught out all the day the keep trying to feed me things.. but my body wont take it… …. We get back in the car. I think were going back home… but no… we end up at her brothers house again.. where thereall sickness started.. isn’t that fun.. and this is where im writing this from.

WARNING: I always get told no to write when im emotional, or fustraded.. because then it will seemm like im not having a good time here.. this s not the case fellow reader. IM loving my time in VENEZUELA. How ever today was a bad day.. and since no one s`peakes English around me.. and I cant exactly complaint to anyone.. im complaining on here. Don’t take it personally anyone.. if your read this far .. your oviously interested about my bad day… well let me ease your mind.its wasn’t soo bad. IM feeling a little better. Ill be fine ! nothing to worry about . oh any by the way I also lost a necklace today. To add toeverything. A unreplacebel necklace.. .im hopping its in the ccar somewhere.. since I notice that the chain had broken up when I got here. Ummm idk.. till next time fellow readers—I love you all. Lors.

havent written in a while...

2006-11-10T19:25:00.000-08:00

hello there.. anyone who reads this... how are thee ¿¿ aqui.. la vida es bueno.. Study my butt off , having fun while im at it , discovering all that I can around where a live, Im loving my flamigo classes , hard at first to dances in high heels but im gettign the hang of it ... haha.. , my skirt and official practice clothes should be ready soon.. I can wait to practice with them.. my perfomance dress is one of my goal while im in venezuela.. I want to get that dress. and bring it back home.. the re sooo gorgeouse !! any one whos ever seen one understnads where im comming from..

I got my midterm grades this week... im doing like average.. and ofcourse for me that isnt good enought.. I dont like my notes at all.. but everyone telling me not to worry since.. afther all im in a different country .. studying in a different language... grr.. its borthers me that I can rmember things in spanish yet.. so no matter how long I study some text.. I wont be able to memorize it unles i remember it in english .. and retranselate it all afther...

besides that... I havent gone to the beach in a while.. I should be goign this sunday... fun fun.. working on my tan haha.. soo my legs are still white.. and my stomack... big shockers for the ones who know me ??? I think not...

well im off to live.. and get off the computer... I love you all t`ill next time.. !!

Social life.

2006-11-03T12:06:00.000-08:00

Ive got more of a social life now.. its harder to divide my time and have time to write and such--- but I still love you all... im going out with school freinds.. making new ones.. basicly everyother day... representing america.. and canada.. im not forgetting my past !!! im still myslef... life goes by day by day ... time goes by fast... on the 6 Ill have been here 2 months all ready..... wow... my spanish is decent.. however im still working on writing it... but I personally think im douing fine due to the amount of time ive been here... ( its still summer temperature her ) still going to the beach.. today im going to the pool and hopefuly working on my skin color.. getting it a little darker.. im sooo white... they use to call me... blankita como leche ( white as milk ) ... haha.. but I stand out..And I like it.. ppeople that im with can find me more easily. hahah... well im off.. I just wanna say im fine... and oh ya !! lets not forget the program im working on its called Cultrual Exchange ( make a friend in venezuela ) im hooking up students in higher classes at my hightscool in the states.. with student in my class here soo they can exchange emails and get to know the differences or life here and there.. and .. also all the similarities... !! so much of everything,,,, haha so much to learn.. well im off!! LOVE YOU ALL!!

yay!

2006-10-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

everything working..!! school is exgigent... my money getting throught Smile, Im starting a Cultural Exchange program by email , hope is gets off its feet soon, first step is done thought I got my pricipal and a couple teachers invalded in my school , as well a few students from my class. IM exsited how awesome whould this be if it work and kepted on going for years to come ? well im off to go work on it more... and a whole bunch of studying.

ups and downs, smiles and frowns..

2006-10-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

this week, I found out that my credit card doesnt work here... after I tryed it in 8 different banks and like 5 atm...a bit agrivaded .. because atm keep saying that my card was block, or temporary unusable.. and bank personals wouldnt work with me, arguing that I needed the exact paper I had in front of them, fax to the in spanish form america... but anyways...in working on it, got rotary thinking of solution, , hopefully this will work out... Im not in need of money.. itsjust nice to have a way to get it ya KNOW ...on and upper note , everyone really suportive of me back home.. and that makes me happy. I dont know who exactly reads my blog , so ill keep this vague. Thanks to all that take the time to answer my email, who keep on writing them.Who take time to read my blog. To every one that made this posible for me. ( I love sounding like a PBS this show was posible by veiwer like you at the end of each show.. ) but its true if it wasnt for you guys I would of gotten here. I love ya!!!!

Im off to finish my first ever full paper in spanish!!! ( oh im doing pretty good for the first month of school in my point of veiw BTW )

Mochima

2006-10-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the official orientation weekend of my rotary district!!! all of the exchange stundents this year are girls, aperently its the first time its happend in all of the district history... hahah.. anyways , we met on thursday just to get to know one an other and figure out the scedual of the rest of the week end.... Mochima!!!!! was the place we were going. Mochima is a national park region , it means lands of alot of water, its composed of beautiful isleand and see throught beaches. I day was so much fun , we all took a boat to ride to the different locations , to see a rocks nicknamed the cat and mouse try to see if you can tell why ?.... to a place called pisina where we all umped out of the boat and went swimming in the clearest water ive ever seen.. everything seem like a post card.. it was sureal, all around us.. haha and the ice cream man in the water selling it just like he would walking in the streets..... hoped back on the boat to a different beach

were we ate lunch and just relaxed... ( all the exchange students speak or atleast understand english.. so comunication between us wasnt a problem and the few of us that understood pretty much everything in spanish transelated to the rest when it was needed.... We then moved on to a different beach where kylin , chantee and I managed to get a free ride on the banana boat ( which is basicly a boat which pulleds a blown up banana looking thing which we ride on and then the driver makes tip over... and we all end up in the water and start all over again.. its really fuN"!!! and not having to pay for it makes it even better.. hahah ) we hung out there for a while.. talk to the exchange students from the past year who had come with us for the trip ... and got tan.. or in my case badly sun burn
aftherwards it was time to go home.. so we got back on the boat and rode around.. to come home for a little while before going to the discotec we had been vip invited to by the owner of the country club`s son.... FUN night... is all I have to say !!!! haha--- until next time I love you all !!!

In School.

2006-10-10T14:28:00.000-07:00

So I had my first english class in a Spanish school last friday.. and let me just say... I know exactly how the new kid form a spanish country felt in my spanish classes back in The states... Its Hilarious., no but that mean to say.. I feel the pain for them thought, and the pain for any language teacher thats teaching them. I admire you all !! your amazing and your job is so much more important then what most of the student body values it to be. Your opening windows, doors, hatchways, to a whole new world . Honestly. Theres so much benifits that comes with knowing a different language. I think every one should atleast make an effort to understand one more then they already know. theres so much beauty in discovering what the world has to offer, we should never let launguage be the berriers. NO excuses. ( oh and for the record any teacher I sent an email to about this blog.. I did notice that I mispelled my own town... sorry about that... but I did send a new email out.. .haha. )

ON an other note. School here is beyond different yet so similar, the students are the same, just in a different building , country and in a different language. but gossip remainds gossip. Whats different is the organization. My school has no clubs no after school programs ( sports , if you wish to do them have to be with teams formed by associations outside of school ) . The school its self is shape way differently, the AIR CONDITIONING WORKS in every class room!! theres a million little differences , but one that shocked me today is the comunication system... theres no intercoms or phones from classroom to class room... that was odd for me....

Some random things :
*Rotary official Orientation weekend is this week end ... im exsited!!!!
*Flamigo classes might be starting tomorow
* My first official test alll in spanish is tomorow
*I have to go study !!!

until next time !! I love and miss ya all !!!!! Lors !

First day in Venezuela School !!!

2006-10-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

the differences are deffenetly there. Heres how my day went. Had yo be in school by 7 am so I got up before that and got ready, put on my uniform hahahah I have a uniform... and caught a ride with my little sister to school since we go to the same school. Once I got there its was interesting I was imagining that I was just goin to sit there all day and not understand a thing... but turns out I know more than I thaugh I did.. and all my teachers that ive met so far have been nice to me.. they ve agreed to help me when I dont understand something... and stay after class with me! im exsited .. it looks like everyone I know is will ing to help me if I have any little problem.... the people at school pretty much look like any other teenager ive ever meet... Here we stay iin one room all day and the teachers rotate... and while the cat not looking the mouse will play.. in this country as well as anywhere else in the world... school goes from 7 to 12 45 and on some day you have classes in the afternoon which means you can go home for like a few hours and then go back to the same room for a couple more hours... its fun.. its different.. it reminds me of canada´s school system. Ive been told numerous tims that school its hard here and that people take pride in studying... Im a bit nervous about that part.. after the first day I already have a test scedual for next wendsday... ON readdy for this... premilatery.. hahah its like freaking bootcamp in three section first you have to learn the history of the governement which is what im doing now.. then.. I dont know what comes next but ive been tol that I have to march.. and learn how to liike do basic training.. ha I think that hilarious and extreamly sad at the same time.. like why do kids have to learn to be a soldier... ive been told that on chavez order as well.... anyway.. im off to study. ALL IN SPANISH!!! love and miss you all you know who you are !!! thank you for everyone that made this possible for me .. god I sound like a promo from pbs `this program has been made possible by veiwers like you ,Thank you.` .. but I am really greatfull.. until next time ! Lors

First day of school...

2006-10-02T18:58:00.000-07:00

So... my first day of school keeps gettign oushed back since the re remodeling my class room.... im exsided... and all the suspence is making me nervouse... but I cant wait...

I'll continue this entery when I get home from my first day....

OH.. and today was my freinds 16th birthday.. fun fun.. haha I have pictures but their still on my camera.. and its being recharged right now.. soo ya ll will have to wait... AHH im soo exsited !!!! Smile for me !!

if the worlds at large ...by modestMouth

2006-09-30T21:25:00.000-07:00

I realize that I might be sharing alot of information on here... but I jsut want to state that none of it is ever ment to harm anybody in anyway. I just decribe wha im going throught here and what I feel. If something some one might consider bad happends and I happend to re state it on here one must not feel ashamed about it , I personaly dont think any experience should be classified as bad.. they are only different form day to day , place to place , moment to moment. Everyone has problems good or bad.. some complicated and some as simple as find your keys in the morning ( althought at times that can become a complicated one haha) this page is my online diary , im not every good at keeping a personal diary since ive always had this thing about obcessing that someone was going to read it ... but this is defferent its ment for all to read. im opening my self up to new things as part of being an exchange student and living a year in a different setting that I had gotten use to the last seven year.! I love everything about this experience, even the complication in it. !!!! thank you for everyone that made this possible for me. And especially to the people that are close to me in my life now , since it is you guys that are helping me learn spanish and learn the culture here !!! just and other addition to the long equation of my life which in the end no one knows whats it will be equal to . I guess one could say me. hehe!
until next time all my dearest readers thanks for taking time out of your lives to read what going on in mine by Lors!

H20 in 3rd world countires....

2006-09-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

soo heres the deal , I live in an appartement building, and every building in that ive seen here as this water tank on the roof to hold the water that has been pumped to the specific building in question. My appartenment has one as welll ..... and your wondering why im telling you all of this as your reading this... well let me tell you.... as I woke up this morning I found a puddle of water in my bed room near the top right corner, soo I took a towel and absorbed it up , becasue I figured it was caused by the air conditioner right above it.... But then as I was sweeping my room later on I ending up sweeping a whole bunch of water from under my bed.... So I moved mybed to figure out what was going on.... come to find out ... THeres an other PUDDLE in my room , --- I tell my host mom about this and she tries to figure out where its all coming from, since it hasnt rain , we figure that it was from the water tank on the top of the building that overflowed due to people from the building not shutting off the water .... ---- anyways.. all its cleaned up now.. and well hopefully all with go well from now on....

on a brighter note....

On monday night I went to the first official Rotary Wellcoming dinner, where I finally got to meet the tree other girls that are in my area code, as well as all the rotarians and parents of past exchange students... it was all very exsiting. The pictures will be coming soon... im uploading them and that always takes forever. My next rotary meetting is the weekend of the 14 where the 14 of us in the state will meet. cant wait. ill write about it when it comes around.....

oh and yet on and other note, my first day of school is tuesday!! wish me luck . I bought my uniform and everything.. hihih...and I have a few of the girl thats are in my grade but in and other school , that have agreed to tutor me if I need any help with anything.. and in exchange I help them in english... Smile.. im excited. well till next ime... I love you all !!

Rotary

2006-09-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

the last few days have been quiet, I got my first cold in venezuela , I took care of it.. by drinking tea and a whole lot of liquids , soups and the whole mess . all should be glad to know that im better now.. I think that it was caused by the fact that here I sleep with an air conditioner on ..... Next in the last few days I had the pleasure to meet one of the four exchange student that live near me here, shes and exchange student form germany ...all together theres 14 of us in the district ( which I get to me all on monday ) .. I met her at the italian club here, which is basicly a recreation center with swimming and all sorts of lessons... this was all on thursday. On saterday ( today ) we had plans along with others from rotary , so that I can meet the other two girls in my region. This took place at the country club where I just came back from. Unfortunetly the two other echange students must of got confused by the dates because they couldnt make it.. So it was just me, Imme the girl from Germany, the president of Rotary here welcoming us, Imme`s YEO Jose , his son whos know as Jr. and a few other memebers of Rotary ... oh and of course our host parents and my dearest little sister here that seems to go everywhere with me.. hihih.. ! the day was full of fun times , spend most of the day swimming and meeting new people , talking about the past exchange student and the year Jr. had spend in New Hamphire ( spelling ?) . Fun Fun..!!

my 17th birthday!!!

2006-09-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

woke up on my birthday and the house was silent, my host mom at work and the cleaining lady was just begging to clean the house ( she comes about once a month or soo im told) SO I opened the gift my moms had packed into m y lugage before I left. THis made me smile, my moms adorible and greatest I could ask for, smalls things that made me smile ( I decorated my room with the hearts placed the other things around it THANK You !!! )Couple hours later my lil sister was at the door with a drawing she made me for my birthday !!! hihih.. and she hung out with me till people got home , I went on my email and saw all the wonderful cards people sent me ( thank you all of you )
THen my sister and I called a few people over to for a little fiesta later on that day. It was soo much fun small and family oriented with a few freinds that ive made here but everyone was smiling, I even got a few gifts hihih ( earings and such ) The youngins danced while the adults talked , then as the night went on I got to call my darling which made me smile even more!! hihi by the time I was off the phone Everyone got together and sang me happy brithday on top of an other song I forgot the name of, its part of the culture here.. anyways it was small and sweet and I went to bed pleased !!! oh and I even got a call from my YEO from rotary and the president of my district as well! I cant wait to meet the other 4 exchange student in my district.

oh and pn an other note MY COLD WATER BACK IN FUCTION !!!! ( oh ya iforgot if I mention it before... but in my house here theres no hot water soo cold showers it is everyother day !!! it was a shock at first but now I got use to it and I actually like it ... Anyways yep the water pump was fix during the night of my birthday so when I woke up this moring there was water !!)

the water problem.

2006-09-17T18:20:00.000-07:00

okay.. soo where do I start... a couples days ago we lost power and the water stop working as well becasue the water here needs to be pumped up and filtered in order to be used.. and fliter again like a zillon times before you can consume it ( so to alll my freinds who warn me not to drink the water.. I know I know and im not drinking it..) where was i.. ah well the water problem started again this moring when I got up to take a shower the water barly came out of the showerhead soo I got out and ask what was up.. turns out that all of the water in the building wasnt working and that the water`pump was broken... AHHAHHHAHAHAHAHAH NO WATER.. NO WATER.. as was very irrataded for the minute because I had been looking forward to this shower all of yesterday since I came home from the fiesta, I was soo diirty and sweatty and tiered yesterday that afther talking to a neightbor that teaches at the university about how much I need to learn this year and how far behind I was, ( im not that far behind but learning spanish on top of a new subject the thought frightens me oh soo dearly.. ) I just wanted to go to sleep soo I prospond my shower til the morning... BUT:. as I just mention the water didnt work the following morning aka today and I had to bath my self literraly in the shower stall and the hose for other appartement building.. thankfully it connected.!!!

so thats my story for today thank you all for reading and goodnight !! love you all !! till a later time.. hey by the way its my birthday tomorow people I want emails!!

soo it seems that I have fans huh ?

2006-09-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

I dont have time to write for like four days and people start craving my blog.. well heres what ive been up too the last few days...

the official one week here was last wensday and I didnt have time to write because between going to the movies with my little sister and the sweet fiesta.. it was hard to find a time to write.. not to forget to mention that my litte sister on the computor everytime I turn around to look at it... what can I say shes 13 and its all so new to her ... hihi..

AS you all know in America we celebrate sweet 16 as a grand celebration at times... well here it custom to celebrate sweet 15 instead. the day before yesterday one of my freinds here (who now consider me her cousin for some reason... guess in good like that hahaha )brought me to a friend of hers sweet 15 brithday party... The party lasted all night.. every familly oriented and there was typical dancers from venezuela in gorgueous dresses, there was to much food to consume , and mexican singers to add in the mix .. I was taught how to dance salsa and a little bit of marange ( sorry if I spèlled it wrong ). I dances all night long till 5 in the moring when I was just about to drop... come to find out techno is popular here.. I love that fact... anyways I had soo much fun and slept a total of 5 hours in the last to days before last night... ( oh and if your wondering why theres not picture.. well someone who shall rememain nameless didnt know how to use my camera because they didnt speak english and they happend to have deleted alll of my pictures... thankfully I had my families picture already on the computer.. soo I didnt lose that.. bu I lost my last week heres picture... tear tear..)

but im saving last night for a different blog .. now its my host moms sister birthday party at the beach and I must attend. till tonight..

girls while be girls..

2006-09-12T12:56:00.000-07:00

Come to find out at no suprise that
girls will be girls no matter where they are in the world...
gossip, shoping, doing nohing but talking, getting ready for hours for boys but most of all to look better and be better than the chick theire going to hang out with and to inpress them and ofcourse lets not forget the boys ,boys and more boys
but when the^re around everything changes suddendly they forgot how to talk
now their shy and blush or laught at everything boys say...
I know this is only a bug everygirl gets bit by.. but I think it missed me because shopping only makes me ill and spending hours looking trying to look pretty ,not to forget all the last minute check ups a girl has to do every 5 mins with a mirror no matter where they are... i dont know maybe im broken or something.. but none of that is appeling to me... maybe just slightly but......
no matter where you are boy+girl language is universal..!

Where I live..

2006-09-10T17:00:00.000-07:00

I live in a place
where a gallon of water cost more than a gallon of gas
where the poorest people live in the mountains
where practicly every building has bars on their windows
where their winter is hotter and our summer
where music is a must, & dancing is the culture
where fatness isnt of importance,
even tho everything is displayed in the media as sexy,sexy
where food is king , as of highest importance
where the sun shines bright
where opportunity is glittering everywhere I look

so im off to it -----t^ill later.. I love you all..

day 2

2006-09-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

today is a special holoday in Venezuela, its a day of celebration of the virgin Marry. And since everyone is pretty much catholic here its a very important day. My neightbor and her mom brought me down to the beach to see the Virgin Mary, which infact was a big sculture of her. I,ve yet to understand why in the catholic religion everyone worships a caucasian (white) lady even if their of a different race... and if mary and Jesus lived in Jeruselem ( mind my spelling ) they wouldnt in fact be white... so why is the representation of white ??
My neighbor is one of the many people that came to get me at the airport. Her name is Marry-Ann and she 13 years old. she is to be cosider my host sister eventhough in reality she not related to my host mom.. but everyone around me seems to be a big family. You know the saying it takes a village to raise a child. Well in the setting it seem very accurate. everyone helps each other, while they also have their personal life. Its fun to see and brings warmth to my heart.
SO far here I`ve be driven throught down town and saw where my future school was. Its A tiny school which I think is pretty much family oriented, My host moms sister is the principal. I've been to the beach and got sunburn, because compaired to people here im as white as paper.. so now im red as a tomato, well maybe not but pretty close too. Lets see how dark I get.
When I first got here the fact that all the windows have like cages (resembeling jail) around them scared me.. but now that Ive been out of the apartement building I live in ..

I see that its normal and that every apartement building has it , even the houses and stores. Everything is very colorful here, every other building is a different pastel like color .

theirs plame (spelling) trees everywhere some with paint on them on them for decoration others bare. Theirs flower surrounding just about eery building , which bring more beauty to them. I personally like to put them in my hair. ^-^ it.

I feel as though im learing spanish by the moment because it now surrounds me. and knowing french helps ho so very much. I have A tutor set up as an exchage in the near future. Trading spanish for english.

well im off to learn t`ill next time.

*** I love you all.***

*I adore you dominick*

just got here..

2006-09-07T08:03:00.000-07:00

OK.. I got here.. the plane ride was long but thanks to friendly passager next to me I got by and to all my transfer on time... In Caracas I got picked up by my host moms cousin and she waited with me untiol I have to get to my next flight and then finaly home. When I arrived at the airport there was lots of people from Rotary and my host Family. It was a lot to take in , which gave me watery eyes but I held back the tears I didnt want to seem sad since I wasnt... I was just over joyed.
I got to my new home and`half of the apartement building came and said hi to me... I was tired beyond words.. soo I satyed wake enought to be polite and then went to my room to sleep.
It came to me as no suprise that I couldnt sleep... so I got up and unpack all of my stuff and placed it around my new room.
Theirs so many people around me now, that privacy isn`t really an option , this is something I`ll have to get use too.. like every thing else...

until later. I lovers you alll

2 Days Before D-Day

2006-09-04T14:28:00.000-07:00

Monday September 4

First blog, lets see how this goes,
In just a couple days I'll be leaving on the greatest yet adventure of my life. I'm going away for ten months/ an academic school year in Venezuela, as an Exchange student through Rotary. I'm so excited, This year is an opportunity to learn numerous new things. Such as a new language, Spanish, a new way of life, different cultures, different foods, how to live with a different family, how a different school system works. I’m curious enough to want to see and live all of this at the age of seventeen (well not exactly my birthday is twelve days after I arrive there).

I leave on the 6th at 6 in the am , which means I have to be at the airport by 3:30ish or so I've been told. This is my first plane ride, Which honestly I think is the thing I'm the most nervous about at the present moment. Imagine being lost in an unknown city (to you at least) where you have to figure out how to check your baggage and get to the right gate to catch your plane and on top of it all it's all in Spanish; Which well I'm not exactly fluent in at the moment. But that I'm not to worried about I'll catch on to it soon enough, I did so with English year back.

As of now I'm all packed to go with everything I can think of bringing and all of my paper work. Saying all of my goodbyes and now I'm just waiting , ready as I'm going to be , for what’s to come next. Wish me luck.