Paris, France. Well I didn't get the chance to see as much as I would have liked to see because I got really sick. I saw the Eifle Tower, Notre Dame, and I also had to give my speech in German about the Arch de Triomphe. It was so neat to see it in person after doing all of the research and knowing about it. We continued on to see the rest of the city on the first day. Afterwards we split up and went out to eat in groups again. Paris was very pretty and I really enjoyed the view and all of the buildings and people selling things on the streets. The second day in Paris we went to Versailles. There we walked throught the entire building and aslo met other exchange students with Rotary from Poland. On the last day in Paris we got back on the bus and headed to Luxemburg. There we did once again another city tour except this time there wasn't much to see. One momument and then some other old buildings. Afterwards we all went out to a club and it closed at 1am and all of the exchange students started singing a song in German about not wanting to go and wanting more dancing. It was really neat. The next day we were off to Belgium. The whole day we walked around the city and went to a mini Europe city with all of the most famous monuments from Europe. Afterwards we just walked around the city. I bought so much chocolate. It was so good. I also sent some of it home to the U.S. At night I met up with 3 other exchange students. One is from Iowa in Belgium on exchange this year, the other two were in Iowa last year on exchange in my district. It was so good to see them and to speak normal English again. We talked about what we had gone through so far and all of our experiences. I cried in the middle of the dance when they had to go home. The next morning we had to have everything packed up to go home to back to Germany.
The 3 weeks of Euro tour went by so fast and were some of the best times of my entire life. It was a chance of a lifetime to travel through Europe with a great group of kids and get to make my dreams come true. I would do it over a million times if I could. I am so greatful that Rotary has given me so many chances in one year. I could never say thank you enough.
With love, Allysa Spear
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Ostsee(Baltic Sea)
Hey guys,
This past week I met with all of the other exchange students for our last little meeting before everyone starts going home. It was the most amazing week of my exchange year. I really felt like we were all family hanging out everynight and always being together. During the week we did group activities like going to the beach for 2 days, a bike tour, boat rides, a midevil festival, and a last little party on the beach together. At the end of the week we had to say goodbye to the ones who will be going home before the District Conference this weekend. It was one of the hardest things I have had to do. I have gotten so close to all of the others here in Germany. I will truly miss all of them so much but it is great to know that I have so many families around the world now. I can't wait to travel and see everyone in a few years. I have made friends for life.
During the last day we all looked back on the time we have spent together. We all remember the first meeting when we were all soooooo different. We have all grown so much in this year abroad.
I will miss all of them so much when I return to Iowa.
This week I am going with my host parents to an amusement park and then District Conference.
Until next time,
Allysa Spear
This past week I met with all of the other exchange students for our last little meeting before everyone starts going home. It was the most amazing week of my exchange year. I really felt like we were all family hanging out everynight and always being together. During the week we did group activities like going to the beach for 2 days, a bike tour, boat rides, a midevil festival, and a last little party on the beach together. At the end of the week we had to say goodbye to the ones who will be going home before the District Conference this weekend. It was one of the hardest things I have had to do. I have gotten so close to all of the others here in Germany. I will truly miss all of them so much but it is great to know that I have so many families around the world now. I can't wait to travel and see everyone in a few years. I have made friends for life.
During the last day we all looked back on the time we have spent together. We all remember the first meeting when we were all soooooo different. We have all grown so much in this year abroad.
I will miss all of them so much when I return to Iowa.
This week I am going with my host parents to an amusement park and then District Conference.
Until next time,
Allysa Spear
Friday, June 10, 2011
9 Months down
Hello reader,
I am going to take a break from Euro Tour and write about things happening in my last few months in Germany. Today I have been in Germany for 9 months and I can't really believe it. The time here has gone so much faster than I thought it would. It feels like just yesterday I was learning German and getting on my first train ride to go to our first exchange meeting in Weisswasser. I have learned so much this year and I will never forget all of the wonderful people I have had the chance to meet. I am so thankful for everyone but mostly my families, all of them. The ones here that hosted me and let me have a place to call home for a while and who also took me to see as much of Germany as possible but also my family in USA. They have had to go the whole year without me wether they admit is was harder than they thought or if they missed me or not is a different story. I love them anyways. I think I have overall learned the most about myself and found out that I don't really need everything that I thought was essential before. I have also learned how to see anothers point of view and to listen to what others have to say before judging anything. I will miss Germany so much, a lot more than I thought I was going to.
Last week I got a new class in the school and all of them are so nice and invite me to do so many things. I will miss them dearly.
This week I am going to the Baltic Sea with all of the other exchange students as our last little get-together before we all fly home. After the Baltic Sea I am going with my host family to an amusement park for a few days and then to visit an aunt from my host mom. After that I am going to my district conference in Dresden. It will be so much fun but sad at the same time because I will have to say goodbye to all of the other exchange students. It makes me sad to just think about it.
I will blog when I am done with my 2 weeks vacation.
Until next time, Allysa Spear
I am going to take a break from Euro Tour and write about things happening in my last few months in Germany. Today I have been in Germany for 9 months and I can't really believe it. The time here has gone so much faster than I thought it would. It feels like just yesterday I was learning German and getting on my first train ride to go to our first exchange meeting in Weisswasser. I have learned so much this year and I will never forget all of the wonderful people I have had the chance to meet. I am so thankful for everyone but mostly my families, all of them. The ones here that hosted me and let me have a place to call home for a while and who also took me to see as much of Germany as possible but also my family in USA. They have had to go the whole year without me wether they admit is was harder than they thought or if they missed me or not is a different story. I love them anyways. I think I have overall learned the most about myself and found out that I don't really need everything that I thought was essential before. I have also learned how to see anothers point of view and to listen to what others have to say before judging anything. I will miss Germany so much, a lot more than I thought I was going to.
Last week I got a new class in the school and all of them are so nice and invite me to do so many things. I will miss them dearly.
This week I am going to the Baltic Sea with all of the other exchange students as our last little get-together before we all fly home. After the Baltic Sea I am going with my host family to an amusement park for a few days and then to visit an aunt from my host mom. After that I am going to my district conference in Dresden. It will be so much fun but sad at the same time because I will have to say goodbye to all of the other exchange students. It makes me sad to just think about it.
I will blog when I am done with my 2 weeks vacation.
Until next time, Allysa Spear
Euro Tour Part 5
Roma, So pretty and filled with as much history as you can get into one city. I went another part of the city tour and got to see the Collesum. This was so surreal to see. Just like in all of the movies and I was there taking my picture with it. Around it were men dressed up as gladiatiors waiting for you to take your picture with them to get some money. It was way beyond words to be there. After the Collesum we had free time for lunch. A group of girls and I went to eat spaghetti and afterwards we went and got ice cream. It was the most amazing ice cream I have ever had in my entire life. We also got free cream to go on the top. After the free time and walking around Rome the whole group met back up. We then seperated up into our sandwhich bar groups and eat supper together. It was so nice to sit with everyone and talk about what we had done and what all we got to see. Later that night we walked back to where we were staying at and met up with the West Tour. It was so nice to see Jaque again. I actually cried when I saw her. We all partied at the disco in the little village place we were all staying at until 3 in the morning. The next day we had to get up really early so that we could see the Pope give a speech. In the morning after going through security to get to our seats we had reserved for the Pope's speech. The speech was given in 6 different languages and at the end of each speech they announced groups that were there that spoke each language. After the German one all of the exchange students got announced and we all stood up and screamed waving all of our different flags. It was so neat to see all of the different cultures represented together. After seeing the Pope the East tour was off to Florence, Italy and the West stayed in Rome one more day.
In Florence we did a city tour and got to see all of the statues like David, Hercules, and many others. After walking around looking at various monuments we had free time once again to buy gifts for family and to eat lunch. That night at the hostel we had a talent show. Everyone was to think of something to do for the others. The funniest act was the Brazilians dressed in opposites. So the boys were girls and the girls were boys. They did a little skit. The next day we left early to get to stop at Pisa and then to Nizza. In Pisa we saw the tour and took tons of pictures with the leaning tower and then we all got back on the bus and drove to Nizza, France. There we went to supper and then to the beach at night to sit around and play music. it was kind of cold but it was so much fun. The next day in Nizza we got up early to drive to Monaco to do a city tour. In Monaco we got to see soldiers switch positions infront of a government building which was very neat to see. We then had to walk to the complete other side of the city which was up a huge hill to see the casino. After that we split into groups, one went swimming and the other went to look around the city more. I went swimming the water was absolutly freezing! I jumped in and then swam back out to warm up. It was not a real beach either just a place with stairs and then you jump in the deep water. Once again we drove back to our hostel in Nizza and went to the beach to hang out some more all together. The next day in Nizza we did a quick city tour. We walked up a hill and got to see the whole beach that we had spent the last 2 nights at. It was so pretty so see the beach and all of the ocean. After seeing the city we were back on the bus and off to Avignon, France there is where we had supper that day. I ate escargo for the first and last time. It was ok but I am not a big fan, but for dessert we had a chocolate cake that was amazing. That night the exchange students stayed in the hostel and played cards together. Next stop Paris, France.
Until next time
Allysa Spear.
In Florence we did a city tour and got to see all of the statues like David, Hercules, and many others. After walking around looking at various monuments we had free time once again to buy gifts for family and to eat lunch. That night at the hostel we had a talent show. Everyone was to think of something to do for the others. The funniest act was the Brazilians dressed in opposites. So the boys were girls and the girls were boys. They did a little skit. The next day we left early to get to stop at Pisa and then to Nizza. In Pisa we saw the tour and took tons of pictures with the leaning tower and then we all got back on the bus and drove to Nizza, France. There we went to supper and then to the beach at night to sit around and play music. it was kind of cold but it was so much fun. The next day in Nizza we got up early to drive to Monaco to do a city tour. In Monaco we got to see soldiers switch positions infront of a government building which was very neat to see. We then had to walk to the complete other side of the city which was up a huge hill to see the casino. After that we split into groups, one went swimming and the other went to look around the city more. I went swimming the water was absolutly freezing! I jumped in and then swam back out to warm up. It was not a real beach either just a place with stairs and then you jump in the deep water. Once again we drove back to our hostel in Nizza and went to the beach to hang out some more all together. The next day in Nizza we did a quick city tour. We walked up a hill and got to see the whole beach that we had spent the last 2 nights at. It was so pretty so see the beach and all of the ocean. After seeing the city we were back on the bus and off to Avignon, France there is where we had supper that day. I ate escargo for the first and last time. It was ok but I am not a big fan, but for dessert we had a chocolate cake that was amazing. That night the exchange students stayed in the hostel and played cards together. Next stop Paris, France.
Until next time
Allysa Spear.
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