Bérénice Rioux - Christmas, christmas, CHRISTMAS !

Hi friends!

I know, I should have written something on this blog a long time ago. But an exchange student life is just the busiest thing EVER!
After going back to France for two and a half weeks, time has gone by more than fast. Great news: i'm in the dance showcase at school! And don't forget, our performances are January, 27th, 28th, and 29th! That really is an exciting project, and i would be so happy if you could come!

Then, we had this amazing week end in Cheyenne! I'm not going to talk a lot about that, since Cornelia already did. But I just want to let you know, i convinced TWO kids to go to France!
Thanks to Kevin Kaminski, we had those great opportunities to go to an Avalanches game and then to a Nuggets game!
The hockey game was awesome! We got a tour of the Pepsi Center before the game. It was so much fun!

Pun, Cornelia and I in the Pepsi center!

Last week end, it was the Nuggets game! I'm not going to lie, i like basket better than hockey! So, it was for me a great experience. We had the opportunity to play on the court few minutes before the game. It was just AWESOME! Thank you so much to Kevin !

And of course, Christmas! American Christmas is not that different from French Christmas. A lot of food and a lot of presents. But i still like it! I totally got spoiled and I had so much fun with my new host family the Beaupré's. Even if i was sad leaving the Holloway's!
What have i been up to over beak? I've basically been skiing most of the time.

To conclude, I'm having a great time! I haven't been homesick, and the only thing i missed for Christmas was the food! So, i think i can get over it.
Bérénice.

Cornelia Pade - Almost 4 months!

Hello to who ever might be reading this.

I can't believe it has almost been 4 months, since i got here.

i have had a wonderful time here, and experienced so much.

Last weekend Berenice and I had the chance of going to the Rotary interviews in Cheyenne.

We helped interview all the students, that are being send out from the district.

We also helped by telling about our countries, to help them decide where to go for their exchange.

people were very interested in hearing about Denmark, and thought it would be a great place to go. They did have some concerns about the dark winters, with out much sun.

(My parents told me the sun now goes down at 3.30 in the afternoon, and starts coming up at 9 in the morning). But despite the lack of sun, a lot of them put Denmark on their list.

On guy even told me he really wanted to go to Denmark, cause it sounded so cool!

But his parents would not let him because of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam? that's not in Denmark, thats in Holland! oh well he didn't get to go to Denmark because of Amsterdam, but hopefully he got another good country : )

We also got to spend time with all the other inbound students, that we have not seen since the camp in september. All the girls had a sleep-over friday night, which of course was lot of fun.

It is a great thing to look around a room, and think of that every single person in that room, is from and different country, and still we are all friends.

The snow have been here for a while now (but I'm guessing that you all know that)

and never have i seen this much snow. I have gotten to go skiing, and I will continue to ski all winter.

So thank you to Rotary for providing me with ski equipment, I will use it a lot!

- Cornelia

In Switzerland - Kelly Ernst

Hello Rotary and fellow Viewers of this blog-

Whats crackin?!

I have officially been in Switzerland for……. whoa- 3 months…. and I am just realizing that as I am typing it-
Its very strange- three months is a long time, and it has gone by so quickly!
The school year is now well in gear and my family and I have gotten into the daily routine of… school.
Its funny- As incredibly different everything is here in Switzerland, the attitudes toward school, from my new friends and host sibling are still. exactly. the same. = DEvery hour of sleep is precious and clocks seem to mysteriously stop working during that all so interesting class of geography (And its funny, becuase they told me that they make clocks the best here in Switzerland…)

But luckily- the system gives us a two (yes TWO!) week long break at the end of october to flee the country and locate some sun and sea.
And that is exactly what my host family and I did.

While all my new friends here in Switzerland were freezing their tails in the snow (yes, snow in october)
I was tanning aboard the Red Sea in Dahab Egypt (Google It! it's INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL!)

My family and I left Switzerland at 9 O'clock Saturday night and took the 12:00 Am plane to Sharmel Shak Egypt- we got in about 4:30 int he morning, slept in a little, and a full week of wind-surfing, snorkeling and enjoying the most incredible fruit cocktails in the whole entire world (non-alcholic, don't worry Rotary :D ) started first thing in the morning.

The fish and the coral were something that I have only ever seen in books, and oh was it incredible! My host mom is practically a mermaid because she knows the different types of fishes SO WELL!
We saw Firefish, and Picasso fish,  and so much more which names she told me but- it was all in German, so alas, I am not able to recall.

Next weekend, the other 2 American exchange students and myself are planning on cooking a grand ol' thanksgiving dinner for our three familys. American Style
It has proven very difficult to find a date that works for all twelve people but, i think it is set for the Saturday before Turkey Day!

Other than that, Swiss life is going incredibly well-
Im eating lots of bread and cheese, and coffee maybe 3 times a day-!

Alright, Ill keep you posted,

Ciao For Now,
KELLY

Here is a quick photo of me at Lac Noir. It is a little different climate than Egypt. Lac Noir is a small ski station (perhaps a bit larger that Howelson)  about a 30 minute drive from my house. I would like you to take note as well, this photo is probably a bit blurry, and my face is slighlty contorted- That was because of my violent shaking due to the cold-
But it was beautiful none the less.

And P.S. ALLI: My Mountains are Coooolllerrr than your Kangaroooss! = p

Alli Major - 4 months now O.O

It is CRAZY! i have been in Australia for almost 4 months now. The time has flown by soooooo fast. Too fast really.

I am certainly enjoying my stay tho. I have switched houses and am loving me new host family just as much as my first one.

I have travelled a fair bit, i went to shopping in Albury with my host sister and her friend.
I went hiking at Hall's Gap which was SOOO beautiful and it was really nice to get out of flat lands and into mountains just like home :D
I also went to Bendigo and saw a lot of Kangaroos (: Hope you enjoy the pictures (:

Halloween was yesterday and did i miss steamboat then
I hope it was great. walking down Lincoln and getting bucket loads of candy.
yummmmie!!

But i am certainly willing to give up my Halloween to stay here :)

As you are all starting to get snow, it's spring here and it will be getting hotter and hotter, Although it has been rainy lately it's said to get up to 38 degrees next week, not Fahrenheit tho, i'm talking celsius. OVER 100 DEGREES IN SPRING!!!

now i know all you Steamboat-ers will certainly feel my pain when thinking of how hot that is compared to Steamboat weather. haha

I can asure you tho, i will be at the pool everyday. :D

I will catch up with the exchange students this month i reckon and it'll be nice to see them again.

Anyways! Best be going!
Catchya Later Mate!!
Alli




A joey and mama :)






A whole lotta roos (:





a joey sleeping upside down in patch (:

Bérénice Rioux - Almost two months.

The only thing to say is: the time goes by too fast.

I have been here for two months so far and I don't want to leave this town.
I have been to Lake Powell, Boulder, Denver, etc..
I have made so many friends, and have discovered so many wonderful things. Some people think I'm becoming a real American girl. But I'm loving it. This is probably the only opportunity i will have in my life to do that. So, yes I am a cheerleader, my date for homecoming was a football player, i went on a cattle drive and i am eating all the time. But I am really living in a dream.

But I haven't only made friends in Steamboat.
After the students week end in Wyoming, I think I have friends all over the district. I'm not gonna lie, this week end was perfect. Those two days spent all together created real friendships. Rope course, hiking and different games permitted us to know each other well. And now, we can't wait to meet up again!

And then, the homecoming week end! For some kids, it was just another homecoming. For me, it was the first one and the last one. This week end was awesome. Parade, football game, dance, etc.. Everything was perfect. And I'm sure I will remember this for a while !

Cornelia, me and Claire Parsons for the homecoming.

Life in Steamboat is filled with certain unforgettable events. The beginning of october was Homecoming. Now, everybody is looking for his or her Halloween costume ! It's really exciting, and never boring! I'm not really sure yet of what I want to be for Halloween, but I will figure out, and will surely tell you everything in my next post!

Anything to add? Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you to the Rotary Club of Steamboat, thank you to Deb, John and Coleman Holloway, thank you to all the Rotarians who give me opportunities to discover wonderful new things, and thank you to everybody I have met, and I will meet and who contribute to the success of my exchange!

Bérénice.

Ane Cornelia Pade - I'm the exchange student from Denmark

Hey, I'm Cornelia the exchange student from Denmark.
I come from the third largest city in Denmark, but since Denmark is a small country with only 6 million people, my city's population is only 150.000.
I live with my parents and my two younger sisters, my sisters names are Marie Louise (15) and Eva Helene (13). I play the piano and sing in a couple of rock bands, music is my big passion.
I also love fashion, and help my sister run her quite successful fashion blog.
I have wanted to become an exchange student in America since i was a little girl.
My father was a counselor in Rotary for many years, so I have had exchange students around the house for as long as i can remember. That inspired me to become an exchange student, and America has always been the place I want'ed to go.

I am thrilled to be here in Steamboat, i have experienced so much already, and can't wait to see what the rest of my exchange year will bring.

Thank you Steamboat Springs Rotary for giving me this opportunity, and thank you too all the lovely people i have meet so fare.

I hope, that many of you will come to here my presentation about Denmark in november.

- Cornelia.

Alli Major - Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi Oi Oi!

Hellooo Boaters!!!
I have recently switched homes!
I now live with the Curry's and have two Host Siblings!!
The family is relly nice (:
I have acquired a new nickname since being here,,,, the American. Now everyone knows who i am. haha ;)
I'm starting to play basketball here in the little town of Charlton
I'm very excited to start a sport finally (:
I recently travelled to Mildura and Melbourne!
It was great to see the city of melbourne and get Starbucks!!!!! :9
The grand final for aussie rules football just ended. I baracked for the Saints but sadly they lost to Collingwood. :(
Hopefully soon i'll meet up with the other exchange students in Victoria. There's about 16 in my district I reckon.
I Hope All Is Well!!!!!
----Alli-----