Update from Morganne Gammel

Ahoj Sunrise Rotary club!

I have now been in the Czech Republic for three months.  Time is going so fast, I cannot believe that Christmas is only a month away or that in a month I will be switching host families.  It still feels like yesterday that I got the phone call from Carolynn informing me that I was chosen for this wonderful program.  It's crazy how fast time goes.

 This last month has been rather quiet for me.  At the end of October we had three days of holidays known as fall holidays.  My host family took me camping to Sumava national park.  there we went on a 20km hike and then the next day a 45km bike ride.  From Smava we travelled to a city called Cesky Krumlov, which is UNESCO world heritage site.  The city is so beautiful; it takes you back in time bevause it has been preserved so well.  All in all, the entire trip was a lot of fun.

From the 11-13 of November I had an inbound meeting in the Czech town of Trebic.  it was only the Czech inbounds at the meeting so there were a total of fifteen of us.  It was a great weekend of bonding.  We went sightseeing, had a badminton tournament (which me and my friend placed secon), met the outbounds for next year, and had to put on a show for them and their parents.  My group sang a cappella to Justin Beiber's Baby.  It was horrible but super funny.

Onthe 19th I went with my host family and their friends to a private biewing of the documentary "the Art of Flight".  This movie is about extreme snowboarding.  It was pretty intense.  It was intirely in English so I was the only one who understood what they were saying.  that night I went to another prom.  this prom was "black and white".  The night was full of dancing and laughs.  I had a really good time and I am glad that my friends always invite me to these nights.  The following Monday I went to the "the Twilight Saga:  Breaking Dawn Part One".  the movie was in English with Czech subtitles and it was actually a pretty good movie, which was surprising to me.

This month my school switched buildings beause the old one needed to be renovated.  So now we are in an old hospital in the centre of Hradec Kralove.  the building is okay but it definitely feels like a hospital.  Everything is painted white and it's a little creepy.  

My language is slowly improving and I am starting to feel more at home in the Czech.  I am excited for the month ahead.  I have another inbound meeting, a Czech Christmas, New Years' and hopefully a trip with my friends to the mountains for skiing.  There is still no snow here and the temperature has only got as low as -2C.  It is strange to me that there is no snow and it is still so warm, for once I actually want snow!!!!  I just want to thank everyone again for providing me the opportunity to come to the Czech Republic and experience life here.  

xoxo

Morganne

p.s.  I will finally be legally allowed to stay in the Czech for a year this Wednesday!!!  In case you didn't guess, my visa is finally approved and ready  = )