Picture Post!!

My deepest apologies for the time span between my last post and this one but i have pictures!!! Hopefully that will help make up for it... Kinda a lot has happened since last time. First we had a long weekend a couple weeks ago during which I visited Budapeast, Hungary with my amazing host family. It was so gorgeous and I absolutely loved it there we spent most of our time there seeing the city and walking around. Though i did have some amazing Hungarian food. I am starting to see how all that exchange weight piles on. Then we went to the coast which was gorgeous, though the only town I can spell is Porec. We visited both  rock, think Greece, and sand, Costa Rica, beaches the towns were gorgeous as well. Also all the exchange students went on a rotary trip to Slavonija, a region of Croatia. It was beautiful there, though driving on the motorway really reminded me of eastern Washington with all the fields and random groups of trees. But it was a blast we saw 3 different towns, 2 horse pastures, the biggest indoor riding area in Croatia, had dinner at a traditional Slavonijan yard, and met some amazing kids all in 3 days. This weekend was Halloween and All Saints Day, meaning no school friday!! Of course the exchangers had to get together for a Halloween party which was so fun definitely one of the best nights yet. For All Saints Day everyone goes to the cemetery and lights candles for the dead, it was one of the most amazing sights ive ever seen. This is the largest cemetery in Zagreb it has thousands, maybe more, graves in it dating way back and its beautiful in the daylight. But with thousands of people in it all lighting candles and remembering the deceased, its incredible. Nothing can describe the feeling you get in that cemetery, you have to experience it yourself which I highly recommend. The feeling of unity is so strong at the soldiers memorial its amazing. But other than that my days have been filled with school, Croatian lessons, and making amazing memories with some of the most amazing people in the world. This definitely feels like home.

Still no internet so still no pictures. But this past week nothing exciting has happened im further adjusting to being here and am in the stage where home doesnt seem like home, yet Zagreb doesnt feel quite like home yet.  On Friday was Una's, a girl from Taiwan, birthday so all the exchange students got together and had a surprise party put on by her host mother. It was so fun!! She cried and it made her feel better about being here I think, though she doesnt speak English. It ended up being a great night. This past Saturday some of the exchange students had a movie night which was fun, its nice to be doing more things because it keeps your mind occupied and that helps days go better. On Sunday Lauren, Tarissa, and I went to our first movie here in an actual theater. We all admitted that we forgot we were in Croatia for those 2 hours. It felt like I was sitting at Regal with friends cracking up and having a great time. Though nothing big has happened this is the first week that I have not been preoccupied with home. I am starting to feel more like a local and not a tourist!!! Nothing big is going on for a while, but the year is looking to be great!

Trips

This past week has been pretty busy and emotional. First my internet is not currently working so I can not upload any pictures anywhere. But the week has been good overall. Ive had afternoon shift at school which is when you go from some time around 2 till 7 or 8 at night, which is not my favorite schedule. At least I get to sleep in. My Croatian classes have also been continuing and I am realizing how hard it will be to speak the language but it is a goal to be able to communicate well. Though this weekend has been the best. First on Friday was orientation which provided a little more information on what is expected of us here, we also were able to meet the two girls who are on the coast. they also stayed in my flat this weekend which was so nice to have other girls here. Later, Rotary took all the exchange students in Croatia, theres about 18, on two day trips. The first was on Saturday to Plivićka Jerzera national park. Which is full of beautiful lakes that are clearer than any water in Washington. The day was filled with a two hour bus ride there, a 8.8 kilometer hike once we were there, a very interesting lunch, and a two hour drive back. On Sunday we visited Krapina, the neanderthal museum, a castle about 2 hours away then headed to Varaždin before going back to Zagreb. Sunday was a lot..... of everything a lot of driving which led to car-sickness, a lot of laughing which led to crying, a lot of tiredness which led to a little sass, and a lot of hunger which led to many bowls of cereal. But all in all the weekend was great. All the exchange students are great, even if two can be a little sassy (out of love for each other), and everyone gets along well. We are already looking forward to December when we are going to Salsburg, Austria together. No pictures because my internet does not work, but ill try to share some as soon as I can.

School Days

These last few days have been pretty nice. Though I haven't done much and have had to sit in a classroom for 6 hours understanding maybe 1 hour of it it's been good. The first day of school was overwhelming but I found out another exchange student, Heather, is in my class which is good and also that all my classmates (you keep the same group of people for every class here) are very welcoming and want to befriend us. The actual classes are pointless because they are all taught in Croatian except for English, math, and physics. Which will be my 3 to focus on getting transferred back home. I have one girl in my class, Dora, who is extremely nice to me and we are becoming friends. Though school is very different here and the kids have more liberties than I had every imagined its nice to finally be around people my own age. Also, Croatian classes have started which I take with the other Rotary students and are very fun because we are all together, though I believe our teacher, Sylvia, is strict enough to keep us in line. This weekend I think we are going to the seaside, or coast, to either and island or small city. Either way I'm looking forward to it.

First Week

So it has officially been a week since I have arrived in Croatia and the last couple of days have been hectic!! The rotary meeting on Wendsday was really nice because instead of being formal it was more of a gathering for all the Zagreb exchange students to meet. They all seemed really nice and I learned two of them, Alfonso and Heather, will be attending my school. All the students are from America except for 2 boys from Mexico, a girl from Germany, and a girl from Finland. There are 19 in total. The next day we went to Vrazdan for a street fair that was very exciting. So much was happening like food, street performers, games and dancing by the castle, and concerts in the main square. It was one of the best nights. Then we headed off to Slovenia to Gigi's house, my grandfather. There I hung out with my aunts, Sanja and Eda, who are young enough to be my sisters and their friends. I enjoyed being around people closer to my age, it is one of my top two nights so far. Markof, Eda's boyfriend, even gave me a Croatian name, Marna. Later that night we headed out to my host parents small house in the country. The next day we went to a small river and then headed back to Zagreb. Tomorrow is my first day of school which I am excited for. I hope to meet many people my own age and start to develop relationships.

Waiting

These last couple days I have spent most of my time in the police station due to my need to check in. Though after standing in line for over 2 hours my host mother, Kristina, and I were told my host father, Drazen, needed to be there. So we returned home and went for a bike ride in the beautiful park not 5 mins away from my skyscraper. The park is beautiful and contains 5 small lakes which we biked to all of. Today we returned to the police station and waited another hour and a half for me to receive permission to live in Croatia for the first 3 months after which I will be receiving my student visa. Later today I will be walking around town with Petra, Marta's friend, and another girl who will go to my school. Also tonight is my first rotary meeting which I am very excited for because it means more information.

First Days

       So I have arrived in Croatia safe and unharmed. The flights were relatively long and boring, not much sleep was had and many tears were shed. After I was picked up by my wonderful host mother, father, and brothers Filip 12 and Jakoff 4, I was brought to my new flat on the 15th floor of a skyscraper located 5 minutes away from the center of Zagreb. After unpacking and eating we went to the center with a 17 year old girl named Petra who lives in our building. The city is beautiful it has a sort of Italian flair to it, though it is still war torn and is painted with graffiti it is still wonderful to look at and very beautiful. My time spent here has been overwhelming so far but learning the language, which Filip is helping me do, and beginning school should help to regulate my life here. The next day we visited the zoo which is the largest and nicest in this part of Europe. Many people travel here from out of the country, though we would consider it a medium or smaller zoo. It is located inside a park one three islands in a very small lake. The more I do the better my days go.