Grattulerer med daggen!

Happy birthday! From all angles here in Norway :) I turned 18 on September 14th, and my host dad's brother was 50 on September 11th. The birthday t

radition is quite different over here in Norway for some things, but I am learning all about the customs and culture. As for my birthday, it couldn't have been better. I was told 'Grattulerer med daggen' or 'happy birthday' by SO many of my classmates, and I had tons of posts in tons of languages from all my friends online through emails and facebook. It was really nice to see you haven't all forgotten me, and I was expecting that no one here would have known it was my birthday--they did NOT forget! People I never even talk to said happy birthday to me from my class, so overall, it was really nice. My host family took me out to an Indian restaurant because they know i love spicy food--Norway is not a particularily spicy country as we eat mainly meat, potatoes, brocolli and cauliflaur for dinner. They then surprised me with a nifty technological gift that I have yet to discover, and my parents and family friends surprised me by sending me packages filled with gifts and goodies! Overall, it was a great birthday over here in Norge.

As for my host dad's brother, he had a party up in Averøy for

his birthday--about a ten hour drive from Nærsnes! My host dad and I did the trip together and stayed with his other brother while we ate the BEST fish soup, cake, and visited with relatives. I met many new family members and heard a TON of Norwegian for five days. Other than one American I met there, it was all Norwegian all the time, which I am used to, except for the fact that it was a different dialect! This made it exceedingly difficult to understand, but it was a great exercize for me. It really helped me with my Norwegian! Now at school bokmål doesn't seem so hard! (Bokmål is the common dialect spoken here in the Oslo area.) We also went on many hikes and saw the most BEAUTIFUL scenery as Averøy is an island in the country--most definitely. It was some of the best scenery I think I have seen in my whole life. On the drive back we went through the mountains and saw some AMAZING famous fjords. Here's a taste of Norway for ya:

Norwegian is coming, slowly but surely, and with enou

gh conviction I hope to have it pretty down by Christmas so I can understand all of the Norwegian jokes and cartoons they have arou

nd the holidays. I have eaten many interesting things since I came here--my first taste of caviar, pickled herring, moose, sheep, liver paste, and NORWEGIAN CHOCOLATE. Can you tell that that one was my favorite? Norwegian chocolate is SO good. I have to say America REALLY needs to work on their chocolate skills. Just saying. I don't know if they do, but if some of the things I say sound a bit funny, it is probably because I am doing a little bit of Norwenglish translating in my head, which is actually great! That means I'm learning--I hope!

We have our language camp in Kinsarvik next week with the other Rotary exchange students in Norway--I really can't wait for that, it is going to be a blast! We have yet to all meet together--just over the internet! The week after that is fall break and my host sister and I are going up to NuNorge to Norvik to visit Joakim, the oldest host brother and his girlfriend. I definitely understand what all exchange students kept telling me--life of an exchange student is just...busy! With all sorts of things!

I have arrived!

Hei Rotarians!

Hope you are all ready to see how awesome Norway is because I arrived this Sunday and have been having SUCH a blast! My host family took me to their summerhouse and we swam in the Norwegian sea, rode in their boat, played board games, hung out, and SPOKE NORWEGIAN which was definitely good for me. We are back home now and I start school this Friday--send good vibes my way! I will attend my first Rotary meeting this Monday at 6:30 pm--a time which is here called the afternoon because the sun does not set until like 10 or so....pretty cool stuff! Anyway, I'm not sure what else to say, so I'll just put some pictures! I'm having an amazing time! These are pictures of a Viking ship being built to replicate an old one to be put in a museum, and the other is of the cake I baked (bakke cakke) with my host sister!

Nearly Goodbye!

I am leaving August 6th! It is decided! And my flight from Texas to Amsterdam is a 13-hour flight...by the way! I couldn't be more excited and nervous! How do you pack for a year with two weeks worth of clothes? Well I'm not really sure but I'm about to find out, I guess. My host family has really been accommodating to me coming soon! They are helping find a music program for me to attend after school and many people to help me out with my Norwegian. If the Rotary in Norway is ANYTHING like our Rotary, I am CONFIDENT that my exchange is going to be amazing. However, no matter what happens, I know I am the definer of my exchange, and can't wait to make it an amazing experience. Anyway, I will be at the next few Rotary meetings, and then I'm off! So see you all soon!

Anna Poirot

Kelly Ernst - Back To The Boat

Hello World Wide Web,

Im posting from Rose (Pronounced Rose-aye) Switzerland for, what I am lead to believe, will be the very. last. time.

*Gasp*

I am packing my bags as I speak (or rather, taking a break from the relentless mental stress that packing up your life into two sets of 20 kg  takes). The one suitcase, one backpack, and one clarinet I have left with, has officially grown into 2 suit cases, a fully stuffed duffle bag, a backpack, my new freitag (please see * below,) one clarinet and one ukulele.

I am planning on leaving from die Zurich Flughafen  (or, for all those who are not fluent in German, that would be translated as the Zurich airport.)

at 11:55.
to land in DIA- 11:34, exactly 24 hours after. *Another Gasp*

If I could express how surreal  everything has become within these past 5 days and the next 5 days to come, I would. All I want to do is tell you everything and how incredible this country is, and how beautiful the people are, but how could I possible do such an immense job with merely words on a blog.

This year has meant so much to me, and the people I have met, the things I have had the opportunities to see and do, merely jotting down my adventures would be doing them injustice. Merely writing out my gratitude and appreciation for all the people who have helped me make this year as incredible as it was, Rotarians and Swiss friends and families alike, would never be able to accurately express how truly thankful I am.

All I can say is that I am planning on going out with a bang these last 5 days.  Between trying to fit in the next couple days of touristing (Tomorrow I am planning on seeing some of the biggest underground lakes in Europe, and the day after, a high ropes course in Bern) and seeing every incredible person I have met this year to say goodbye, I shall return to Steamboat, hibernate for a few days, and explain to everyone my adventures as they should be explained when I get back to the boat.

So, my friends, can you count to 5? I sure hope so, because I will reluctantly need some help.

So, Ciao for Now,
Kelly


* Freitag bags:  Freitags are ALL the rage here in this country of Switzerland. Created by the Zurich native Freitag brothers,  these bags are made out of all recycled material, are waterproof, heavy duty, and every single one is unique. These bags are made from the tarps used to cover the trucks transporting goods to and from Switzerland, therefore giving these bags a beat-up vintage look with no repeats of color patterns. The straps are made from car seat belts, and the seams are sewn with the rubber from the truck tires!
Anyone who's ANYONE in Switzerland has a Freitag-
Here is the Website-

http://www.freitag.ch/shop/FREITAG/page/frontpage/detail.jsf

This is a picture of me and my four friends with our Freitag bags. Mine is the second from the right.

Really exciting news! (Anna Poirot)

Hei Rotarians!

So I have some pretty exciting news! I have received notice from my host family, and I will be living in Naersnes, Norway, for my year abroad! It is roughly 25 miles from Oslo, the capital, which is pretty exciting! I was about 90% sure I would end up somewhere in the Arctic Circle, so this will be a little warmer!

My first host family lives RIGHT by the water, and by water I mean ocean! I'm by the Oslo Fjord, too! Doesn't that just sound like the most scenic thing you have ever heard of? I'm really excited. The bus stop to take me to Oslo is 2 minutes away. Not only all of this, but my host family sounds AMAZING. They all sound unbelievably friendly, and they have three kids, one of which is a daughter age 16, so hopefully that will make assimilating into school smooth!

We also had our orientation for exchange two weeks or so ago. It was great to see all the outbounds and inbounds again! The closer I get, the more real this all seems, and the more excited I get! The one thing I definitely gathered from orientation is that we are only probably going to be allowed one suitcase, so I'll be packing maybe 3 weeks worth of stuff and heading to an entire new country! In all honesty, this makes it a lot easier to think about what to bring: ESSENTIALS. I'll get back to you on what those actually are, though :)

I have to thank hugely, among ALL the Rotarians, supporters, and friends I have gained and met in this experience so far, Berry and Cornelia, because they are amazingly helpful whenever I have questions, and just generally awesome people, so thanks you guys!

Well that's about all I have for you all for now, but please let me know if you have any questions! I'll hopefully be popping up in some more Rotary meetings soon!

Anne Poirot!

Budapest! (Kelly Ernst)

Hello Rotary! Its Kelly here, just giving a little update from the other side of the pond!

Switzerland is really great. Its beginning to look a lot like summer and I could not be happier! Even though the average weather is supposed to be rainy, snowy, and/or gross, global climate change has really been kind to me for my exchange year to Switzerland! 

Although, I am not really in a position to right about the Swiss weather at the moment because, in fact, I am not even in Switzerland at the moment. 

I have been spending my time recently in Budapest, Hungry!

Yup. 

Believe your eyes dear folk, You read it right. Budapest, Hungary. 

The easter break has come and, thanks to the fact that the majority of Europe was was under some type of Catholic regime, in some way shape or form, at one point or another,  there are two whole weeks of break for Easter. Taking advantage of that, I packed my bags and headed to Budapest. 

This situation came to be because, in fact, (long story short,) my first host family had a family friends daughter stay with us over the Christmas break. The girl is my age (Vikki her name is) and is really great! We got along really well, and now, I am at her house, bumming around Budapest! The picture on the right is her and  behind the Buda Castle.

The city is really very beautiful. Last night, I ate dinner at the Buda Castle, and we walked around the city. I saw the Citadella of Gellert Hill and the Hungarian parliament building. The night before, I spent the night at another hungarian friends house in a small village called Tordasch.  There we spent the night around the fire and dipping our feet in the pond. It was really very nice. 

The really cool thing about my trip is that now, after living in Switzerland for 8 months, I am able to see this new city and new country through completely different eyes. Not only do I have the United States to compare differences with but I have Switzerland too. The different ways of life, the people on the streets the government systems, how life is run;

I have another pair of eyes to experience the Hungarian lifestyle with. 

Hello Again! (Zane Elston)

Hello Again!

The past month has been absolutely wonderful. I was able to spend three weeks in Bangkok with my host family, and had a great time. We spent time visiting the Wat Pho and Wat Arun temples, and they were simply gorgeous. My family took me on a luxurious dinner cruise on Chao Phraya River. We did a tour of the Vimanmek Mansion that was built for King Rama V in 1868. It is The largest building in the world made of Gold Teak. We also visited the Jim Thompson house; Jim Thompson was an ex-CIA spy who popularized Thai Silk. Bangkok is an amazing city soaked in rich culture and history.

Throughout my time in Thailand, i have learned a great deal about myself, and my perspective on just about everything has changed. It has broadened my views on everything from spicy food to world politics. It has been a humbling experience that has made me open myself up to other ways of life and I am extremely grateful to the Steamboat Springs Rotary Clubs, Cowboy Country Rotary District, and Rotary International.

Zane Elston