I left out a crucial part of my trip in yesterday's post, mostly because it happened on the first day we arrived.
We had gone to the colloseum that day, and when we came back from the bus, a bunch of our groups' carry-ons had been stolen, including one of the leaders' with all of the passports in it and my own!!
I was lucky though, my mom had given me a small bag that I used for the day, and I had most of my money (except for my pounds for England) and my camera and ipod with me, which was good. I only lost my batteries for my camera, some notebooks and books, my medicine, and a few other small things. But I know that some people lost their money, cameras, ipods, gameboys...everything. And we did have to go to the Italian Embassy to have the passports replaced, which took a while.
But I was able to buy a new backpack in Italy and another P2P delegation that was at the end of their trip gave us some money to replace medicine and toiletries that people lost.
And while it wasn't the best experience, I definitely learned that it CAN happen to me, and I (and you!) should never think for a second that it won't.
The rest of the trip has been fabulous though, so don't think I'm not having fun because of it!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Bonjour, folks!
Hello from France! Right now I am on my homestay, and it is pretty interesting. I am staying with a family of three (though we haven't met their daughter yet) and with two other people from my delegation, one of whom speaks French and is therefore helping with the language barrier.
It feels very strange to be in someone else's home here, but I'm sure it will turn out to be a great experience. Of course, they will never replace my real family, but at least they are nice and have computers!
I have experienced a ton of stuff so far and couldn't possibly tell you everything in one post, but I will try to hit some of the highlights.
One of my favorite places so far was the Vatican in Italy. It was so beautiful! I can't even imagine creating that kind of amazing art. We were also able to visit the Sistine Chapel about fifteen minutes after Obama left, which was equally mind-blowing. Unfortunately, we couldn't take pictures there.
Another experience that I truly loved was our Full-On day, when we propelled down the castle wall. It was scary at first, but after the initial nervousness it was so much fun and the view was amazing up there! Afterwards we broke some boards with our hands (or feet, but I used my hand) and learned some things about keeping positive and how to get the most out of life.
Both Italy and France are very different from the US. For one thing, everything seems smaller. I haven't seen any automatic toilets and very few automatic sinks too, and sometimes you even have to pay to use the bathroom, especially here in France! There seem to be less road rules as well...European drivers are crazy! There are a lot more mopeds and bikes here too, and the driving age is only fourteen I think. I really want a moped, they are so adorable!
The keyboard is also different as I am discovering now. The a, z, q, w, and m are in different places and you have to shift to use numbers and some punctuation like periods.
It is also EXTREMELY hot here, as I think everyone in our delegation has noticed. I can't believe that the European people are still wearing pants!
Anyways, I suppose I should be going now. I think we are going to go shopping and to the beach. Hopefully I will be able to update this later on. I'm still very excited for Paris but I am really missing home too. See you guys later, au revoir!
It feels very strange to be in someone else's home here, but I'm sure it will turn out to be a great experience. Of course, they will never replace my real family, but at least they are nice and have computers!
I have experienced a ton of stuff so far and couldn't possibly tell you everything in one post, but I will try to hit some of the highlights.
One of my favorite places so far was the Vatican in Italy. It was so beautiful! I can't even imagine creating that kind of amazing art. We were also able to visit the Sistine Chapel about fifteen minutes after Obama left, which was equally mind-blowing. Unfortunately, we couldn't take pictures there.
Another experience that I truly loved was our Full-On day, when we propelled down the castle wall. It was scary at first, but after the initial nervousness it was so much fun and the view was amazing up there! Afterwards we broke some boards with our hands (or feet, but I used my hand) and learned some things about keeping positive and how to get the most out of life.
Both Italy and France are very different from the US. For one thing, everything seems smaller. I haven't seen any automatic toilets and very few automatic sinks too, and sometimes you even have to pay to use the bathroom, especially here in France! There seem to be less road rules as well...European drivers are crazy! There are a lot more mopeds and bikes here too, and the driving age is only fourteen I think. I really want a moped, they are so adorable!
The keyboard is also different as I am discovering now. The a, z, q, w, and m are in different places and you have to shift to use numbers and some punctuation like periods.
It is also EXTREMELY hot here, as I think everyone in our delegation has noticed. I can't believe that the European people are still wearing pants!
Anyways, I suppose I should be going now. I think we are going to go shopping and to the beach. Hopefully I will be able to update this later on. I'm still very excited for Paris but I am really missing home too. See you guys later, au revoir!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
My Awesome Itinerary
Here's a Sampling of where I'll be over the next 18 days and what I'll be up to. I can't wait!
July 8 (That's tomorrow!) Drop off at Crossgates Mall, Say Bye to Mom and Dad, Take bus to JFK and Flight to Rome, IT.
July 9 - First day in Italy. After probably no sleep, will tour Rome and see the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and other fascinating sights of "Roma".
July 10 - More Rome, including the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Vatican City, Michelangelo's Pieta and the Sistine Chapel!
July 11- On to picturesque Assisi, visit a monastery and tour the town.
July 12 - A day with Full-On, scaling a castle and rappelling down its wall!
July 13 thru 15 - More beautiful sights of Italy, including Florence, Pisa, La Spezia and boating along the Cinque Terre.
July 16&17 - On to France and the Cote d'Azur (Blue Coast) along the Mediterranean. A visit to Cannes, Monaco, the Grand Prix racetrack, and a parfum factory. Finish up in Nice, along the coast.
July 18-20 - We meet our home families in France and get to spend the weekend with them. I better brush up on my French!
July 20 - It's au revoire to our French families, and bonjour to Lyon and the art of silkscreening.
July 21 - Today I am Sixteen (Learning to Drive when I get Home!!) and I get to spend the day in Paris!! What more can I say?
July 22-23 - More of Paris, including the Musee de Louvre to catch a glimpse of the Mona Lisa, and a guided tour. C'est tres magnifique! Then it's on to Caen and the Tour Eiffel.
July 24 - A spectacular visit to Omaha Beach and the Normandy American Cemetery, where brave men lost their lives fighting for our freedom. Then it's on to Portsmouth, England on an overnight ferry across the English Channel. Hoping for calm seas.
July 25 - Our last day, spent touring London, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London (home of the Crown Jewels), a ride on the London Eye, and an educational briefing at Parliament.
July 26 - Returning to the USA. Anxious to see home, but sad to say goodbye to Europe and my friends on the trip. I have plenty of photos and memories!
July 9 - First day in Italy. After probably no sleep, will tour Rome and see the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and other fascinating sights of "Roma".
July 10 - More Rome, including the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Vatican City, Michelangelo's Pieta and the Sistine Chapel!
July 11- On to picturesque Assisi, visit a monastery and tour the town.
July 12 - A day with Full-On, scaling a castle and rappelling down its wall!
July 13 thru 15 - More beautiful sights of Italy, including Florence, Pisa, La Spezia and boating along the Cinque Terre.
July 16&17 - On to France and the Cote d'Azur (Blue Coast) along the Mediterranean. A visit to Cannes, Monaco, the Grand Prix racetrack, and a parfum factory. Finish up in Nice, along the coast.
July 18-20 - We meet our home families in France and get to spend the weekend with them. I better brush up on my French!
July 20 - It's au revoire to our French families, and bonjour to Lyon and the art of silkscreening.
July 21 - Today I am Sixteen (Learning to Drive when I get Home!!) and I get to spend the day in Paris!! What more can I say?
July 22-23 - More of Paris, including the Musee de Louvre to catch a glimpse of the Mona Lisa, and a guided tour. C'est tres magnifique! Then it's on to Caen and the Tour Eiffel.
July 24 - A spectacular visit to Omaha Beach and the Normandy American Cemetery, where brave men lost their lives fighting for our freedom. Then it's on to Portsmouth, England on an overnight ferry across the English Channel. Hoping for calm seas.
July 25 - Our last day, spent touring London, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London (home of the Crown Jewels), a ride on the London Eye, and an educational briefing at Parliament.
July 26 - Returning to the USA. Anxious to see home, but sad to say goodbye to Europe and my friends on the trip. I have plenty of photos and memories!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Starting Off
First post! Alright!
Now, some of you may know a little bit about my trip already and some of you may know nothing at all. So here I'd like to tell you all about it.
This journey will take me through Italy, France, and England from July 8th through July 26th. (I'll even be there for my 16th birthday, which is on July 21st!) The trip is organized by the People to People Organization, which you probably know nothing about.
The People to People Organization was founded by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, and its purpose is to allow students of all ages to travel to knew countries, learn about new cultures, and interact with new people in the hopes of building national friendships and establishing a sense of peace in the world. But you might be thinking, "Why not just travel to those places on your own?" People to People enables ambassadors to do many things such as meet members of Parliament and try out home stays that regular tourists don't have access to.
But what does this all mean for me? Why am I even doing this?
Even before I knew about People to People, I've always loved traveling and have hoped to go abroad in the future after college and before I settle down anywhere.
I never thought I would have this kind of opportunity at fifteen years old.
On this trip, we do so many things that any kid my age would love to do. But it's a very character-building experience as well. We are able to try so many new things and meet many new people, and it requires a lot of preparation, strength, and dedication to do something like this.
Now that you know all about my trip, I'm going to take you even deeper. You'll go behind the scenes and see just where I'm going and what kinds of crazy things I'm doing as I do them. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!
Now, some of you may know a little bit about my trip already and some of you may know nothing at all. So here I'd like to tell you all about it.
This journey will take me through Italy, France, and England from July 8th through July 26th. (I'll even be there for my 16th birthday, which is on July 21st!) The trip is organized by the People to People Organization, which you probably know nothing about.
The People to People Organization was founded by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, and its purpose is to allow students of all ages to travel to knew countries, learn about new cultures, and interact with new people in the hopes of building national friendships and establishing a sense of peace in the world. But you might be thinking, "Why not just travel to those places on your own?" People to People enables ambassadors to do many things such as meet members of Parliament and try out home stays that regular tourists don't have access to.
But what does this all mean for me? Why am I even doing this?
Even before I knew about People to People, I've always loved traveling and have hoped to go abroad in the future after college and before I settle down anywhere.
I never thought I would have this kind of opportunity at fifteen years old.
On this trip, we do so many things that any kid my age would love to do. But it's a very character-building experience as well. We are able to try so many new things and meet many new people, and it requires a lot of preparation, strength, and dedication to do something like this.
Now that you know all about my trip, I'm going to take you even deeper. You'll go behind the scenes and see just where I'm going and what kinds of crazy things I'm doing as I do them. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!
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