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When Jaime Gastelle decided to travel to Italy to teach English abroad, she knew she would need some support funding her program. We talked with Jaime about her successful fundraising campaign on Kickstarter, why she chose to teach in Italy and advice she has for fellow travelers trying to fundraise for their own travels abroad.

What inspired you to travel to Italy and participate on this program?

What isn’t inspiring about Italy? I love to travel, but Italy really is something in its own league. I love Art History, Architecture, and the Cultural Life that exists here. I wanted to come here to experience everything for myself, to truly be in the presence of some of the greatest artifacts known to man, and of course, to eat Italian food!

How did you get motivated to fundraise and have you had experience in the past with similar efforts?

I used the crowd funding platform called Kickstarter to help fund my trip to Italy. As soon as I knew I was coming I created a project there because I have had success in the past with a similar project, called “Art Adventure.” Basically, I am an Artist who loves to travel. This way of fundraising has allowed me to gather support for my art projects ahead of time so that the funds are available for supplies and travel expenses. Throughout the project I create Art that is then given to my supporters. It is convenient for me because it’s almost like having people who are interested in the idea give me a commission of what they would really like. My past project was about plein air painting on a bicycle journey through the Rocky Mountains. For my project in Italy, I called it “Streets of Italy,” and will be taking pictures in the cities and painting here in my host family’s home.

Why did you choose this particular way to fundraise?

This particular way to fundraise is beneficial in many different ways. I think that it is very convenient for me as the creator and for the client. The platform allows for easy setup, and anyone can support you financially from their smart phone, tablet or computer. It is also open to the entire public. Anyone can be a part of your project, not just people who you know. Also, there is no limit to how much you can make! The only downside is that there is a time limit. Also, whatever goal you set must be reachable because if you don’t make your goal, you forfeit all of the pledged support. You have to find a nice project goal that you know you can reach, but that still motivates people to want to join in to help you get there (that’s the “Kicker” in Kickstarter).

Do you have any tips for fellow travelers to get started and stick with their fundraising efforts?

A tip I have for people trying to fundraise for a project is to make sure they are giving something in return. I make paintings. I think that if you are asking for money from people you should also give something back, like an event, a volunteer day, information about how much their dollars helped, etc. Also, if you do Kickstarter, I suggest getting very creative during the fundraising time to get the word out there about your project. I made a sign that I put up at my work and at one of my art shows. I also used social media. I also was featured in the local paper because I emailed them suggesting they do a story. You have to really work hard firstly, letting people know about the project, and secondly, reminding them that there is a time limit.

What lessons have you learned from this experience so far? (both fundraising and traveling)

The greatest thing I have learned about traveling is that you should have a good sense of humor about everything, from discovering your first Turkish Toilet, to not understanding a foreign language in many different circumstances.

What has been the most rewarding experience so far in Italy?

The most rewarding experience in Italy has been meeting the people. My host family and the students at the schools I work at have exceeded all of my expectations. They are so kind and genuine. My host family cooks amazing food, provides me with extra clothes to keep warm, and is taking me to Florence to see some of the most famous art at the end of February. The children at school are also amazing. I was placed at two different middle schools. They love to speak English with me, and they say hi, or Ciao, everywhere I go.

Do you have a favorite quote or image that keeps you inspired through the challenges?

I gather inspiration from the beautiful sites around me. I take pictures so I can paint them! The city of Torino is beautiful, and here in Settimo Torinese, the city is teeming with character and Italian culture, it’s awesome!

This is my second attempt at providing some insights from my travel venture, and note the guidance advice suggested talking about a typical day or the first day of arrival. Now nearly on my sixth week, having tried to find time to sit down and create this edition about two weeks ago, the early things about anxiety of flying out and arrival seem kind of irrelevant. They also seem a long time ago in a distant haze of a swirling myriad of stimuli.

Much of these stimuli that seemed almost overwhelming back then, now seem really quite ordinary now in just a few weeks. Take crossing the road for example, which I now do without a second thought, but originally wondered if I would ever cross even just once! This sounds really basic, but if you are put in the situation it will at first not seem as obvious as it does to anyone not as yet having had to cross the road this way. The equivalent of  two sides of a 4-5 lane motorway with endless ‘Moto- bike’ (scooter, Honda C90 style, moped and fared two wheelers), mixed with the odd large trucks and  few more smaller truck, the not uncommon bus, and a range of other vehicle expressions difficult to encapsulate in a single paragraph. All of which come towards you at what ever place on the road you decide to cross. It is a good idea to have some strategy and position ones self not to near junctions but maybe right on them, or some where in between. This still means the traffic won’t be in the accelerating phase quite so much.

The ‘rules’ are always standing back and give way to Trucks and serious Lorries – they will not stop and you will get hurt or worse. Buses sort of like wise but about 10% chance of some grace, smaller van/ lorries about the same, cars 50 /50, and then look  the ‘Moto- bike’ rider in the eye and make it clear which side of their projected trajectory your travel is aimed. Now walk slowly and steadily no sudden movements and they will swerve this way or that and avoid you. They may come close and at slow speeds, and have seen the odd brushing of parties, but at higher speeds there seems to be good chance you will miss.

Maybe the traffic and road crossing is a really good insight into the under pinning culture and social constructs that operate in Vietnam. Most of the traffic even including the bigger pieces of metal seems to actually be traveling relatively slowly most of the time. (Probably in part because of the sheer quantity, creates a pooling effect across the city.) This speed restraint and manor of looking to avoid people rather than assuming a ‘right of way’ (including occasionally which side of the road to travel) means that the Vietnamese are in continual ‘dialogue’ with each other and also in a way which looks out for the other in a mutual and reciprocated manor. Yes there is a bit of tussle here and there and the odd jousting but it is generally a fair exchange, and not always the most mighty that takes from the less mighty. Horns sound continually and are phased on the buses for 10’s of seconds and seem to go on for a long time, but no one is put out by them as they are in the west. They are some what more muted in tone and sound and maybe used in a more random way, so maybe it feels less of a personalized attack?

The attitude is ‘I hear you – you are there – OK I will move here where no one can get hurt’. Contrast this with UK and today it seems one never knows if a horn beeping will lead to a road rage murder. But maybe that is the clue that the horn here is not an insult or an assertion of the others worthlessness and undeserving place, but a shared acknowledgment of presence in a shared space.

The culture is in general of one of kindness towards fellow citizens, in ways which we could learn a lot from in the west. One thing I had wondered before setting off was how would they view an English person and would they confuse me with the Americans, especially with Greenheart being a US organization and consequently would there be any form of hostility towards me? No not at all, not anywhere with Greenheart directly or indirectly.  It points to the underpinning humanity of the people how accepting and completely without hostility towards westerners they are. Indeed the response is very receptive and they take great pleasure in the company of English speaking ‘westerners’ (as the Vietnamese say). Many have American or British logos, flags, and motives on clothing, helmets, bags etc worn with Kudos. Sometimes these have curious associations; only yesterday I saw a Union jack flag T shirt with a famous Italian leaning building in Pisa! But mostly they know the UK for things like Manchester United Football Club and their star players, consequently will want to talk to you about them. An English student did ask if I had seen the Queen, and had to tell them, “only like you on TV”.

Traveling on the bus is revealing of the culture and out look with some interesting etiquette rules such as seats are given up for foreigners. This can be almost embarrassing as those giving up their seats may be in more need of one than you. I have found it’s a judgment call and sometimes taking the seat is kinder than not. However it‘s not hard to decline, as seats are given up for senior citizens, the unwell, and anyone who looks like they need a seat. No one gets to politically correct in Vietnam with offering your seat, if they don’t want one it’s just a decline and no big deal or offense taken.

Maybe I am now no longer quite such a novelty on the bus. The conductors and inspectors (that is another multifaceted topic) recognize me and treat you more like a local after a while. The trip to work for me is quite a long one and always takes over an hour door to door. On a bad day it is an hour and a half, this is when the bus has got stuck in log jammed traffic.

Generally there is standing on the bus with others all clinging onto the handles hanging from the ceiling. I find this is often preferable to sitting down anyway as the A.C. works better and at times the bus can be so packed, feelings of slight hyper ventilation can occur. However I have got used to the bus trip and the one at night (work finishes and arrival at the bus stop is about around 21:15 – 21:30 hrs) is often a better one and not more than an hour as the rush hour traffic is all over. Where as because I don’t start work until the afternoon have to leave over an extra hour early so that the traffic doesn’t balk the journey time, it starts to get busy at 15:00 hours.

After midnight the sounds of horns and engines fades, but by 05.00 hrs they start thudding and bubbling away again and by 07:30 hrs it’s all go again. The bustle of the city is only one aspect of Vietnam but it has a rhythm and energy to it that is quite relate-able maybe because it is mostly at a ‘human’ level  brought about from the 3 & ½ million ‘Moto-bikes’ (as the Vietnamese call them) zooming around Hanoi.

The noise does act as a bit of an alarm setting, but the day is built around getting up early and having an after lunch power nap. Though my lesson planning and preparation still seems to leave little time for a nap most days, but it is a quieter time again, after which is my journey to work all over again, and further contemplation on the ‘journey of life’.

by Rachel Lynn, Greenheart Travel English Teacher in South Korea

As I sit in Mr. Breeze’s coffee cafe, listening to Busca Busca, and sipping on a smoothie that taste like a mix between citric acid and bleach, it has dawned on me… today marks a significant day for me in Korea.  It is August 3, the last day of my two week summer camp, and the beginning of my two week summer vacation.  My first semester as “Rachel Teachaaaa” at Yeon Ji Elementary has come to a close. “Incredible,” I think to myself as I sit here reflecting back on the past six months.  Six months? Really… six months?

I have taught an entire semester and in two weeks, I’ll have lived in Korea for six months. Time really does fly by.  It’s almost unbelievable that I’m halfway through and as I sit here, a mixture of emotions leaves me unsure of whether I feel happy, robbed, nervous, anxious, or disheartened. I feel happy to be closer to seeing my family and friends at home, robbed of a my time, nervous about being home in six months, anxious to be home in six months, anxious to see what the next six months will bring, and disheartened that six amazing months have come and gone so fast… here’s to hoping the next six will linger.

When I first got to Korea, I felt like time was going by so fast, and then suddenly, when I began to miss my family, it seemed to be passing slowly.  Now, I just feel like it’s moving in intervals… some weeks go by fast and others drag.   Looking back on my past six months, I have made so many good memories in the short time that I have been here. I have met some really incredible people, made good friends, gotten to know people completely different from myself, lived in a city,  ran into an ocean fully clothed, developed a new scar,  tried incredibly strange foods, climbed to the top of the highest mountains, learned a decent amount of a new language, and formed good relationships in my school with both my coworkers and my students.

I feel as though the past six months have been a real success for me.  Coming to Korea was a journey of self-discovery for me… a way to stand on my own. I have surely learned how to be on my own, how to be myself, how to be patient, how to take risks, and live a bit more spontaneously.  Every day is an adventure for me, and whether the day is good or bad, I seem to learn something regardless.  I appreciate the differences across humanity more now, and almost crave more interactions with people completely different from myself.  I have come to realize how the people of the world are so different yet so alike in many ways.  We all give and receive love the same way.  Our cores are built from the same thing, as we all have the same basic needs, but we flourish differently due to our surroundings.  It really is a beautiful thing when I think about it.

Read more about Rachel’s 6 month mile marker on her blog…

by Lily McFeeters, CCI Greenheart Travel High School Exchange Student in Japan

Grampa Greg is still a young blood at 77. Nana Rosemary just celebrated her 80^th birthday in May, and Poppop Stan celebrated his 90^th last December. I am so fortunate to have such a loving relationship with all three of them. I would like to devote this next post to Obaa-san, my host grandmother.

At 72 years old, Nobuyo Shono is quite an extraordinary person. Back in March when I first arrived at her home, it was so dark I could barely make out anything in the yard. The next morning, I found myself in Obaa-san’s garden full of many beautiful and exotic flowers. Across the front picture window there are so many hanging flowerpots that you can barely see outside.

Besides folk dancing, Obaa-san, like most everyone in Japan, loves karaoke. She even goes to karaoke lessons. Everyone is in such a good mood after a good karaoke session, as evidenced by my host-sister, Momo-chan and Obaa-san!

Early one Sunday morning, Obaa-san told me that she and I would be going to the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History in Himeji, a city about 30 minutes to the south of Kakogawa, the city I’m living in. She explained that this was a special day for me because I would be dressed in a seven-layer replica of a junihitoe, a 12-layer kimono from the ninth century Heian Period, a rare opportunity for anyone. This sounded very exciting to me!

Kimono translates simply as a “thing to wear.” Kimonos have been fashionable in Japan since the 8^th century for both men and women, and many kimonos are considered great works of art. When we arrived at the museum, we watched another girl being fitted.

Obaa-san commented that the fabric looked heavy and I agreed. Being dressed in the kimono required two women who took turns wrapping a sash around the girl’s waist. The women then added another layer of fabric. The sash, which had held the layer of fabric beneath it in place, was then removed, and so on, until all the layers had been added.

Now it was my turn. I tied my hair up and tried to keep my arms in just the right place so that they stayed out of the way. As each layer was added, Obaa-san used my camera to document this once in a lifetime experience. The whole process only took about 10 minutes.

The kimono actually felt heavier than I expected, a total of 13 kg (28+ lbs). The fabric was exquisite and probably very expensive. This kimono most certainly would take someone with real poise to gracefully maneuver from point A to point B.

Even so, once I was fully dressed, I felt quite regal to be wearing such an ornate garment. I realized how lucky I was to be able to experience this and grateful to Obaa-san for making the arrangements.

Next, a docent gave us a tour of the museum. Although my Japanese was not very fluent, I still enjoyed seeing the beautiful works of art on display.

The city of Himeji is famous for its castle, Himeji Jō. We thought about going inside, but there was a two-hour wait and the top was under construction. So we walked around the park, which is known for its cherry blossoms.

Obaa-san spotted a man dressed as a ninja but he appeared to be leaving the park. I chuckled to myself as I watched Obaa-san run after him calling in Japanese, “Ninja-san! Ninja-san! Can she take a picture with you?” Ninja-san graciously agreed to take a picture with me. He was really into his character!

As if we hadn’t had enough adventure for one day, we then went to a Shinto shrine! Almost everyone in Japan observes some form of Shintoism, the ancient, indigenous religion of Japan. This was something I had really been looking forward to since before I came here.

It was even more special to me because there was a wedding taking place. Suddenly the bride and her mother came out of the shrine. Just as they looked over at me, they smiled and I managed to snap their picture. I love this photo because it captures just how happy they were on this very festive occasion.

I was completely exhausted by the end of this action-packed day. I don’t know how Obaa-san does it. Her cooking is always delicious. She makes all of our meals, including the bentō (home-packed lunches) Momo-chan and I take to school. She took me to the doctor 4 times when I was sick. (I’m better now!) She drives me to the store whenever I need anything. Above all, Obaa-san takes very good care of me, makes me feel very much at home, and I really enjoy talking with her in Japanese.

She is taking me shopping this weekend to look for a yukata, a lighter, more casual, cotton kimono. These are much more affordable then traditional kimonos and are often worn during outdoor summer festivities. I will be wearing my yukata with my tea ceremony club in the school bunkasai (cultural festival), which takes place in mid-June.

In Japan, the bathroom is a room with only a bathtub and shower head. When you bathe, you shower first, and once you’re clean, you take a bath. Because everyone is clean when they take a bath, family members use the same bathwater for that day. Obaa-san had Momo-chan and me take a bath together the first night I arrived. I thought it was because she wanted Momo-chan to show me how to use the bath fixtures properly. Later, Obaa-san explained to me that there is special meaning in bathing together since “you can’t hide anything.”

Now I know I’m part of the family.

by Courtney Bettin, CCI Greenheart Travel Exchange student in Italy

It’s finally summer in Naples. The sun is shining brightly, not a cloud in the sky, not a worry on my mind. I’ve been spending a lot of time outside sitting in the coffee bars, eating gelato, or walking around window shopping. Most of my time is spent with Alessandra. I cannot even express how grateful I am for her total acceptance of me. We are like two halves of a whole, except one half is English and one half is Italian. She knows what I’m thinking without me even having to say anything. She is so thoughtful and compassionate and I haven’t been this close with someone in such a short amount of time. As I only have 7 weeks left in my program I am at a loss at how on earth I’m ever going to live without her. She is the one person I can turn to no matter. I’m really going to miss her and I can only hope that we will stay in touch and I can continue to come back to Naples and visit her whenever possible. We have already made plans so she can return to Canada with me this summer.

On Sunday we visited Rome for the first time! Pino, Elisa, Matilde and I, along with the other exchange student Avery all piled in the car early in the morning and drove the two and a half hours to Rome. The first thing we visited was the Vatican. It is incredible, truly. Saint Peter’s Basilica is one of the most outstanding pieces of artwork in the world. We all walked around the square, taking pictures and literally just gawking at the church. The details all come together so perfectly as one and give it a real presence. The line to get inside is longer than the ones at Disneyland, something I didn’t think possible, but it went fairly quickly and before we knew it we were standing in one of the most holy places on the face of the earth. Avery, Matilde and I bought tickets and took the elevator to the top of the church. Once walking up spiral staircases and making your way through the crooked walls of the dome you are able to overlook the entire city and let me tell you, it’s indescribable. What a sight.

We then walked through the streets of Rome looking for the Trevi Fountain. Rome is the most complicated and confusing cities ever built. I was lost in an instant. We ended up coming across more than one tourist attraction including the Piazza Navona where two architects are at war with each other and the Pantheon where Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino’s tomb is. My host mother makes an excellent tour guide. Being both an architect and an art history teacher, she knows every detail about anything you can set your eyes on. She gave us a good background on everything we saw.

Finally we found the Trevi and it is without a doubt one of the highlights of my trip. It gives off an essence of pure magic and making a wish in it fills you with such triumph. I felt like a piece of history myself, making a wish as hundreds of thousands of people had done before me hoping the fountain would be true to it’s word. The tradition of the Trevi is to throw a coin over your shoulder into the fountain and if it hits the very bottom without touching any other coins your wish will come true. Here’s hoping mine made it to the bottom!

Continuing onward we finished the day at the Colosseum. It’s just as beautiful and grand as I had always imagined it would be. We didn’t go inside it but I was just content to sit and stare and it. There’s a certain unexplainable feeling about seeing all the spectacles you’ve read about your whole life, dreaming about someday being able to see for yourself. It fills you with a sense of self accomplishment and happiness that bubbles out of every pore. There’s nothing like it.

by Lindsey Coulter, Greenheart Travel Teacher in South Korea

Of all places to experience a significant cultural rite of passage, I wasn’t expecting an Outback Steakhouse happy hour. Those familiar with Korean culture may not be impressed, but amongst co-workers, chicken wings and foamy pitchers of Hite, I was finally invited to refer to the male teachers as my oppas, my big brothers.  For me, this seemingly minor exchange was anything but.  It was a subtle reassurance that I have a place in Korea and in this community.

Since arriving in Incheon, a city pressed up against the western edge of Seoul and spilling out into the sea, names, titles and language in general, have taken on an entirely new significance.  The Korean system of hierarchical, honorific language and gestures is both an interesting cultural facet and an anxiety-inducing formality.  There is a grace and ceremony in Korean interaction that’s not always found in the West, where a handshake and a polite “sir” or “ma’am” are about all one needs to get by.  Here, conversation requires thinking and acting in a way that respects status and life experience.  It also requires patience and a little dedication.

During the 16 hour flight from O’Hare to Incheon International, I thumbed through a guide to Korean culture and discovered hierarchical terms such as oppa, unni, nuna, hyung and dongsaeng; words too specific to have a tidy, one-word English translation.  The book’s brief introduction to the non-verbal honorific world of bowing and mental age/rank tabulation proved that nunchi must be intrinsic to Koreans for this reason alone.  A few words about formal and non-formal language were tossed about and then, suddenly, it was time to put my hasty studies into action.  It was mildly intimidating to say the least.

Realistically, it would take years to become fluent in the intricacies and delicate nuances of Korean honorifics. There are five different forms of formal speech alone (break that down to three high, two low).  However, even newbies can pick up on the more important non-verbal clues.  Over time you learn to accompany greetings with bows, use an open palm for motioning gestures, avoid prolonged eye contact, accept money and pour drinks with two hands and realize laughter is an accepted cover for any number of emotions.  At first it feels as though you’re doing everything wrong and grossly offending everyone at every turn.  Then you realize it’s kind of lovely and the ceremony becomes second nature.  Over time you learn to say the right things, do the right things and the stress slips away.

Maybe now my moment of pride in the Outback is understandable.  Working to integrate respectful language and gestures and build genuine relationships paid off.  Although I could have easily thrown out an oppa in casual conversation with a male teacher, the invitation was deeply gratifying.  It meant I was part of something, that my efforts were recognized and appreciated and that I could find a home even thousands of miles from the only one I knew.

Sitting around the table, surrounded by my Korean community, I enjoyed the increasingly familiar cadence of the conversation, pleased to pluck out snips and phrases.  Obligingly, I accepted another brimming mug from my doting onni teacher with both hands, a trace of a bow and a sincere kamsahabnida.

by Paul Hoffman, Greenheart Travel Teach Abroad Participant in Thailand

Do you remember the six important questions in journalism?  I think they are:  Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. For the last few days, I’ve been considering those six questions as they relate to teaching here in Thailand.  Moreover, I’ve been thinking about those six questions as they relate to the general way of thinking here in the country that used to be known as Siam.

The first question to be asked and answered here is “Where.” Where are you going?  Where have you been?  Where are you going this weekend? Where did you go last weekend?  Where seems to be used as a general greeting here!  For example, in the U.S. we normally greet a person with: How are you?  Here is Thailand the normal greeting is: Where are you going?  It took me a while to get used to it – at first I thought it was a bit funny, but now (as with most things) I’m used to it.  If I meet a student of mine or a Thai friend on the street after school, they always ask: Where are you going?  At first, my internal response was: “Why are you asking me that?” or: “It’s none of your business!”  But now I realize it’s just part of the culture here so I answer them just as I would in the U.S. if someone asked: How are you?

It seems in the U.S. we are interested in a persons’ health, but in Thailand they are interested in a persons’ past or present or future movement.

The second question to be asked here is “Who”.  Who are going to eat with?  Who are you going to the shopping mall with?  Who are going to travel with this weekend?  Who did you travel with last weekend?  (Of course, I do all my traveling alone and my Thai colleagues and friends CAN NOT believe that I travel alone!)

The next two questions asked here are “When and What”.  At some point in the conversation you might be asked when did you do this or when will you go, and then the question of what might come up.  Like, what did you do there?  What did you see?  What did you eat?  (Food is a big topic of discussion here, especially with foreigners; maybe I’ll have to cover that in a later Chalk Dust episode.)

That sums it up.  Those are the four questions.  We’ll see ya next week.  Have a good one… WAIT!  There are two more, right?!  “How and Why”.  Yes, there are two more, and this is what I find interesting here in Thailand – when I try to bring these two questions into a classroom discussion, the flow of class usually comes to a screeching halt.  I realize I’m teaching English and not Science or Biology or Physics, but when I ask the question “Why” I’m met with blank stares.

I can remember growing up asking my parents or teachers why this and why that – all the time!  Plus, I asked how all the time – how does this work, how does this move, how does this fit together with that, etc, etc…. Have you ever gotten into a discussion with a child where they just continue to ask ‘why’ over and over?  It’s sometimes very funny!  But, the why question over and over is usually valid – until some point the parent or teacher or adult will just say: Because I say so!  Ha!

A fellow Thai teacher and I were talking the other day and she said that Thai students are not normally asked the question of ‘why’ and when they are, most have trouble coming up with a response. I find this fascinating!  In a recent class I asked the students what their favorite animal is and then I asked why?  They knew their favorite animal, but they didn’t have an answer as to why.  After some coaching and helping, they came up with some simple reasons, but the why question was a foreign concept for them.

The nuts and bolts of school, any school, are important.  You know, the famous R’s: Reading, Writing, Arithmetic – they are important.  Thai schools do a fantastic job at the three R’s – they probably do better than most schools in the U.S.  But the idea of being taught to think about their personal explanations is not pushed here like it is in the U.S.  Maybe that’s a good thing or maybe it’s not.  A person could make valid points on both side of the discussion.  It’s certainly not for me to decide, but I marvel at the differences that I see….

Time for more “Pinch Me, I’m In Thailand” moments:

*What is the deal with the Michelin Man on all the trucks here??!!   It looks like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man had a thousand small children and they all ended up tied to rear view mirrors on the trucks here.  These little one foot high plastic figures are sometimes dressed up or lit up (with a light bulb in their bum) or painted – they are kept clean and in good condition – better than the actual truck!  Maybe they are automatically tied to the truck mirrors when a set of tires are purchased – I don’t know….

*I’m in class, the windows are open, the ceiling fans are on, a wasp flies in, I see it, the students see it, I continue teaching, the students continue to do whatever they are doing, the wasp flies around, the wasp flies out the window.

*Don’t go to the Market when you’re hungry.  You’ll end up salivating at every food stand or food cart and you’ll end up buying more than you can carry home.  Plus, you may end up with things that looked appealing at the moment of purchase, but are appalling when you arrive back at your apartment.

*A steaming bowl of noodles…..  does it get any better?  Yum……..

by Paige Diller, Greenheart Travel high school abroad participant in New Zealand

Well, I’ve been in school here in New Zealand for a few days now. I’ve gotten all my stationary and have gotten pretty settled into my classes. I’ve met some really nice girls who I’ve been having lunch with and “tea time” (our mid morning break time). My teachers for the most part are very nice and the work load isn’t too bad. Overall, I’ve been having a great time. I’m still adjusting to the climate. At the moment my fingers are a little cold… Today has probably been the coldest since I’ve been here, but not intolerable.

Since I’ve arrived, I’ve gotten some new shoes and a new scarf, as my other shoes hurt to walk in, and my neck was getting a little cold…

Every morning Yuna and I walk 10 minutes to school. We’ll usually go to the international room before class. I’ve made friends with some of the German exchange students. They are very sweet. I am taking photography, history, classical studies, outdoor education, and English. Going into my classes for the first time was definitely an experience as I was asked question after question ranging from “Where do you live?” and “You’re American!?” to “Have you ever been to Las Vegas?” And “Do you know what Rugby is?” Though, I must admit, I did enjoy all the questions. Many of them were year 9 or 10 boys who thought they could confuse me and ask me a bunch of questions really fast. I think I surprised them when I had an answer to everything and wasn’t intimidated by them.

I’ve very much enjoyed spending time with the German students. They are in the same boat as me, being new and such, so it’s nice to talk to them and get to know them. One girl I’ve met, Asja, is very sweet, and tomorrow we are planning to go into town with Yuna and shop. Since Asja and I don’t know where we are going, Yuna will be our guide for the day.

Other than school, not much has happened. I feel like I have meshed into normal family life and school life pretty easily. I feel at home here, though I do dearly miss my family and friends in Salisbury. I’m looking forward to the weekend, as I could really use some rest. This Saturday evening is also a big rugby game. I’m sure that will be exciting. (Though honestly, I’m looking forward to a break from school more than anything. I’m not sure my body has adjusted to the time difference quiet yet….this past night I got 11 hours of sleep and still overslept… Mum had to wake me up).