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A Report From
Sam...
Having returned from Peru
on June 7, Sam gave the following summary of her year as a Rotary
Exchange Student;
Its hard to summarize the most spectacular year of my
life, but, its worth a try. I went to Peru
in knowing very little Spanish, but now I can say that I
am fluent. I only really need to expand my vocabulary and
work on a little grammar.
I made the most amazing friends right off the bat,
and they stuck by me throughout the entire year. In the
beginning I was enrolled in
high school, which I did
not really enjoy attending. I felt I didn't
get much out of it. But it was good Spanish practice
and I loved all of the
people.
I had 3 months of summer vacation right in the middle
of my year. That was amazing. I spent my
summer at the beach with my friends, family and neighbors. By
then I was fluent, and being at the beach was one of the
highlights of my year. After summer I came back and
enrolled in the university here! That was the best part of my
year by far. I studied architecture with kids my
own age and I got great grades! It was soooooooo amazing
to study something that interests me so
much!
I left behind my family in Scottsdale
who told me that the door is always open to return. While in
Peru I
ate food I never thought I would have, tried so many
new things, and met and formed bonds and friendships with so many
new people. All I can say is....I CAN'T wait to go back
to Peru!
Now
that I am home, I am working and getting ready to head
down to the University of Arizona to study
architecture. Then I hope to transfer, the following
year to a Canadian
University.
Sincerely
Sam
In March, in her
report entitled, "Only Three Months Left", Samantha reported:
Well, my 3 months of summer
vacation just flew by! I spent a
total of 3 weeks at
the beach, during a total of 3 different
trips. The
longest was 2 weeks at a beach called
Camana. The
water was great, the night life was lively and
all
of my closest friends were there with me! I stayed
with a family and one of
my friends.
I also
spent a ton of my time at the sports club here. My host mom got
me a pass so I went with my friend, Emily, about 4 days a
week. We would play soccer and
hang out by the pool.
The college students here went back to school on the
1st
of March. This Fall I get to take classes from the
architecture program as an observer. I couldn't ask for
anything more!
My family life is great. I'm one
of the few exchange students that has never
had a problem and
wanted to change families. The Peruvian people, I love them
all so much. I am sooooooooo homesick for mom's cooking!
Peruvian food just doesn't cut it for me! But other than that
everything here is great!
Editor's note: In Peru,
Summer is just ending and
school will restart for Fall very
soon.
In her November
report, she says: Wow did this month ever fly by.
It
has been an all out whirlwind. We have been working on a play
at my school, and I have just been living day to
day. I still haven't really had homesickness. The only
time I felt a little of it was on Thanksgiving, because we
didn't do anything. But I woke up the next day feeling
fine. I can't believe I only have 6 months left! I
need more time!! hahah I have made some
pretty great Peruvian friends and I love hanging out with
them. The last day of school is December 18th, and then I
am out for summer vacation. My prom is on the 22nd, I
have a date! Then comes Christmas, here they
celebrate mainly on the 24th. My English teacher has invited
me to her house for the 25th. Everyday keeps gets better and
better here. This is my home now. I have fallen in love
with P eru! My
family is the best I could have ever asked for. Tonight
is Sunday, and we are all gathering at my host grandma's
house. It is a weekly tradition here, that we go and eat and
talk. I love Sundays for this. I really feel a
part of this family! Things couldn't be
better.
Sam
November,
2006
My school continues to be great and I have
really bonded with my class. This November is about to get
really exciting at school. I am helping with their
production of Anna and the King and there will also be having a
big party/family night.
I went on an 8 day trip to the most beautiful
cities in Bolivia with
Rotary. It was a once in a lifetime trip. I am actually
writing this from Cuzco. We
also visited Mach Picchu, which is the most spectacular
place I have ever been in my life! Words can not describe
how beautiful it is here. Yesterday we hiked the Inca trail
for 8 hours, going from 2000 meters (about 6500 feet) to 2600 meters
(about 8500 feet) and then back down. It was by far the
hardest thing I have done in my life. We go back
to Arequipa tomorrow.
October,
2006
Its officially spring, as of
the 23rd, here in Peru. We have been having odd weather
plus we have had over 3 earthquakes in the last week with one
reaching over 5.0!! The only problem is, that I can
never feel them. I think I'm immune!
I have
had a couple Rotary meetings with the other exchange students.
At the last one there were a ton of people, and without
warning, each country group had to perform some sort of
talent. The USA ended up singing twinkle, during which a
guy from Indiana and I danced the electric slide. Another
boy from Vermont sang some original songs. We all made
complete fools of ourselves! But we laughed so hard
and had a ton of fun.
We have been on one
Rotary trip, to the Colca Canyon, the deepest canyon in the
world. On Wednesday, a group of exchangers, including
me, helped at a blood drive at a hospital.
I love
my school, it is tiny, and everyone in my class is
awesome. I have made a lot of friends. On October
12th I am headed on an 8 day trip to Bolivia with my
class. I can't wait!! I have one week left
until spring break! Last week we had a big festival, all
the classes performed dances and there was a big parade before
hand. I was voted queen of the school!! Ha
Ha! I had to wear a dress and ride in the parade and
have flowers in my hair! It was so fun!!
About ten exchangers came to the parade to support. I can
really feel us exchangers forming a tight bond! Then,
this weekend I am headed to a rock concert. I guess its
pretty big because its all anyone can talk about! I have
also been taking Spanish lessons, which I can tell feel
are helping me out a ton. The language is coming a lot
easier.
Sam
September
2006
I'd have to say that things here are going
great, other than the local Rotary being unorganized, there are no
problems. My host sister is leaving for F rance tonight and then it
is just myself, my host brother, and my parents living here. School
is better than I expected. I am the only exchange
student there. The school is small, so I know
my classmates well and have made many friends! I might even be
able to go on my grade's prom trip to B olivia . There are over 25
exchange students here in our area, and we just had our first
trip this weekend. 20 of us went to the Colca Canyon. It was
great fun and we all bonded really well. It has been fun
exploring the city with them and finding a routine. I can't
believe it has been one month! Sam
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