End of January

College basketball game

Skiing at Willamette Pass

Slovak food for my hostfamily-rezeň

Orientation Meeting Eugene

Konečne sa konal Rotary víkend v Eugene, v mojom meste, a tak som nemusela nikam cestovať. Toto stretnutie bolo spoločné aj s budúcimi outboundami, američanmi ktorí sa chystajú na výmenu budúci školský rok. Práve počas tohto víkendu sa všetci dozvedeli, kam pôjdu. Všetci si naraz otvorili obálku s krajinou, kde strávia svoju výmenu. Pozorovať reakcie študentov ako sa dozvedeli kam pôjdu bolo naozaj výnimočné.

Finally, our Rotary weekend was in Eugene, my hometown, so I didn’t have to travel anywhere. This meeting was also for outbounds, americans going on exchange next year. During this weekend they were assigned countries. Everybody got an envelope with their country and they all opened it at the same timer. Their excitement was palpable. They all seemed happy eventhough not everyone got their first choice. 

LA and Hawaii trip 

Hawaii
Spolu s mojou hostrodinou, starými rodičmi a strýkom sme strávili týždeň na Havaji. Bolo to naozaj úžasné. Zo studeného a zasneženého Oregonu sme sa presunuli do perfektého počasia. Po prvý krát som vyskúšala surfovanie a šnorchlovanie. Poviem Vám surfovanie je oveľa ťažšie ako sa zdá. Aj napriek tomu to bola sranda, dokonca sa mi podarilo postaviť sa a udržať sa na vlne zopár sekúnd. Každý deň sme jedli v skvelej reštaurácii, vždy sme išli na miesto s najlepšími recenziami. Bolo to naozaj super!

Kona airport

Kona sunset

Hawaiian tree

One of the best beaches

Lunch with the whole family

Together with my hostfamily, grandparents and uncle we spent a week in Hawaii. I can't say anything other than that it was amazing. The weather was great every day. For the first time I tried surfing and snorkelling. Surfing was so demanding, it is harder than it seems. Although it was hard I had a lot of fun and I succeeded in standing on the board. Every day we went to eat at a great restaurant, that I really enjoyed.

Los Angeles
Predtým ako sme išli na Havaj sme sa zastavili u starých rodičov v Los Angeles. Bývajú v štvrti Santa Monica, mne sa tam veľmi páčilo, keďže všade naokolo bývajú boháči. Každý dom bol obrovský, na ulici samé značkové autá, hneď by som sa tam presťahovala. Počas pobytu v LA som spoznala ďalších členov mojej hostrodiny. Dokonca sme spolu oslavovali židovský sviatok-Chanuka.
Prešli sme sa po slávnom móle-Pier, popri pláži a išli sme na nákupy. Aj napriek tomu, že sme v LA strávili iba tri dni veľmi sa mi tam páčilo. Je to veľmi pekné mesto a skoro celý rok je tam slnečno.

Los Angeles

LA Pier with my hostsiblings

LA street

Los Angeles sunset

Before flying to Hawaii we stayed in Los Angeles at our grandparents. They live in Santa Monica, I really like it there. Lots of rich people live there, therefore all the houses are very nice and big, on the streets you can see a lot of expensive cars. During our stay in LA I got to know more members of my hostfamily. We also celebrated Hanukkah, a jewish celebration. We went to the famous Pier, walked along the coast and shopped. Eventhough we stayed only three days I really enjoyed it. LA is a very nice city and the weather is also wonderfull.

Christmas time

Christmas
Akonáhle sa skončil Halloween ľudia začali s vianočnou výzdobou. Hádam každý druhý dom bol ovešaný vianočnými svetielkami. Moja hostrodina však nie je veľkým fanúšikom a tak by ste v našom dome žiadnu sviatočnú atmosféru nenašli. Jedlo na štedrovečernom stole bolo úplne odlišné ako u nás doma na Slovensku: jahňa, rebierka, losos, plnené zemiaky, sladké zemiaky, šalát, zelená fazuľa, ružičkový kel a ovocný šalát. Ako dezert sa podávali typické americké koláče (jablkový, čerešňový a pekanový) so zmrzlinou. Moja obľubená kombinácia je pekanový koláč so zmrzlinou. Tiež som napiekla zopár slovenských koláčov: kokosky, vanilkové rožky a perníky. Najväčším hitom boli kokosky.

Right after Halloween lots of people started to put up their Christmas decorations. People in the US are really into it. (Some people were crazy with their decorations, they had so many lights...) In the evening when the houses were lit up it was beautiful. However my hostfamily doesn't celebrate Christmas much, therefore our house didn't have any decorations. We had Christmas dinner together with friends. The food was totally different than in Slovakia: lamb, ribs, salmon, twice baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, salad, green beans, Brussels sprout, fruit salad and for dessert apple, cherry and pecan pie with ice cream. I also baked some slovak cookies.

Crazy weather 14.12.2016

V stredu začínala škola o 2 hodiny neskôr kvôli námraze na cestách. Nie že by som nebola rada, že si môžem dlhšie pospať, ale predsalen posunúť školu kvôli námraze je nezmysel. No všetko sa to začalo až večer, keď sa strhla búrka. Namiesto sneženia, či dažďu sme mali mrznúci dážď. Také niečo som ešte nezažila, všade bol ľad. Ulice vyzerali naozaj ako z rozprávky, všetko bolo zamrznuté a zo všadiaľ viseli cencúle. Stromy sa lámali pod ťarchou ľadu a takisto potrhali elektrické vedenia. Ráno nás čakali dobré správy, škola je zatvorená. Nebolo sa čomu čudovať, keďže všade boli polámané konáre a takisto vypadla elektrina skoro v celom meste. Život bez prúdu nie je nič pre mňa. Okrem svetla, sme nemali ani len kúrenie, či teplú vodu. Bez prúdu sme boli viacero dní. Našťastie ostala škola zavretá v štvrtok aj v piatok, a tak sa nám predĺžili prázdniny. (Áno, tu v Amerike začínajú vianočné prázdniny už 19.12.) Mňa veľmi potešilo, že učitelia nám nestihli dať domáce úlohy na prázdniny.

On Wednesday the school was on a 2 hour delay due to icy roads. It is unbelievable that people in Eugene are scared to drive because of freezing temperature. The worst of it began in the evening when the storm started. Instead of snowing there was freezing rain, I haven't seen anything like that before. The whole town looked beautiful. There were icicles everywhere, even the threes were frozen. In the morninig we got lucky news, the school was closed. It was no wonder that school was closed, there were fallen branches everywhere and the power went out in most of the town. Living without electricity even  for a few days was a disaster, besides light we didn't even have heating and warm water. It was not for me. Since the power outages were widespread school remained closed until Friday. I was very happy,  because the teachers was no table to give out homework during holidays. (In the US winter break starts earlier (19.12.), but also ends earlier.)

Building gingerbread houses with family and friends

Grants Pass, Roseburg & 1st trimester ends

Orientation Grants Pass 

Po dvoch mesiacoch konečne nastal čas ďalšieho Rotary víkendu.  

V piatok sme sa ubytovali do hostrodín, tento víkend som strávila v hostrodine spolu s Frong z Thajska a Trinou z Dánska. V sobotu sa uskutočnil World fair, prezentovali sme naše krajiny budúcim výmenným študentom. Medzi američanmi sú veľmi populárne španielsky hovoriace krajiny a Európa. Napriek to mu o Slovensko nikto nemal záujem, no dúfam, že moja prezentácia zaujala a niekto si vyberie moju krajinu. Poobede sme išli do Bears Hotel. Je to vianočné zábavné centrum pre deti s rôznymi aktivitami. Na chvíľu sme sa vrátili do detských časov a súťažili o cukríky. Ďaľšou zastávkou bolo centrum mestečka Grants Pass, tam sme mali hodinový rozchod. Centrum bolo veľmi malé, no zato malo nádherné vianočné dekorácie. Večer sme mali vianočnú párty u riaditeľa študentských výmen našeho distriktu. Počúvali sme hudbu, tancovali, vyvrcholením večera však bolo rozdávanie darčekov. Každý doniesol darček, dostali sme čísla a podľa poradia sme hrali "hru". Mohli sme si otvoriť nový darček alebo ukradnúť darček niekoho iného. Mne sa táto hra nepáčila, keďže som celý čas tŕpla, že mi niekto ukradne môj darček. Nakoniec som však veľmi dobre obišla s poukážkou do kaviarne. V nedeľu ráno sme sa všetci stretli a rozlúčili. Ešte pred tým nás však naša hostrodina pozvala na raňajky do mesta. Bolo to od nich veľmi milé. Ako je už v Amerike zvykom, všetky jedlá boli obrovské. Výber jedál mi pripomínal skôr obed alebo večeru, kto by predsa jedol grilované mäso na raňajky... 

Finally after two months the next orientation meeting came and we met with the exchange students again. On Friday everybody arrived at Grants Pass. Just like the last time we were divided into hostfamilies. This time I was with Frong from Thailand and Trine from Denmark. It was very nice to get to know them better, because I hadn't really gotten a chance to get to know them before. On Saturday there was a World fair, we as students currently on exchange presented our homecountries to future exchange students. I would say that favorite countries for americans are spanish speaking countries and countries in Europe. Hopefully my presentation was interesting enough to make at least one person go there. In the afternoon we went to Bears Hotel. It is a christmas entertainment centre. For a moment I felt like a child again and played games to win candies. Our next stop was downtown Grants Pass. Although it is very small it was very nice. In the evening there was a christmas party at Dan’s house (the chair of rotary youth exchange in our district). We listened to the music, danced, but the highlight of the evening was gift exchange. We exchanged the gifts by playing a game. Everyone brought one present. We got numbers and went in order. You could either open a new present or steal somebody else’s present. I didn’t really like the game, because the whole time I was scared that somebody would steal my present. Luckily I ended with a Dutch Bros gift card. On Sunday morning our hostfamily took us out for breakfast. As always in America the portions were huge. On the menu there were a lot of meals with meat and potatoes, that didn’t seem like breatkfast to me at all. After that we met everybody to say goodbye... 

Weekend in Roseburg

Cez víkend sme s Linou navštívili výmenných študentov bývajúcich v Roseburgu. Pozerali sme filmy, hrali bowling a tiež sme boli na oslave Oliverových narodenín. Oliver je výmenný študent z Dánska. 

V nedeľu, už späť v Eugene, sme išli s Linou a Mayou do trampolínového centra. Ani som nevedela, že je niečo takéto v mojom meste. Skákanie na trampolínach bol super zážitok.

During the weekend Lina and I visited Lucia, another exchange student from Slovakia (by coincidence we are the only two slovaks in our district and have the same name). We have also met another exchange students who are staying in Roseburg, we went bowling and then to Oliver’s birthday party. Oliver is an exchange student form Denmark. It was very nice to get together with other students.

On Sunday, back to Eugene, Lina, Maya and I went to the trampoline center. I didn’t know that there was a such place in my town before. I really enjoyed it. 

School-1st trimester ends

Ako sa blížil koniec trimestra učitelia nás strašili blížiacimi sa testami. Testovanie bolo rozdelené na dva dni. V prvý deň sme mali testy z prvej, tretej a piatej vyučovacej hodiny. Pre mňa to bola španielčina, rock climbing a matematika. Najviac som sa obávala rock climbingu, keďže okrem lezeckých zručností sme mali aj náročný teoretický test. Museli sme vedieť mnoho o lezeckom náradí, či jednotlivých typoch pohybu (edging, smearing... ani preložiť sa to nedá). Z čoho som bola prekvapená, bol priebeh testu z matematiky. Mali sme k dispozíci dva papiere so vzorcami, okrem toho sme mali povolené napísať si "ťahák" a akoby nestačilo mohli sme sa ísť poradiť k učiteľke. Druhý deň sme mali testy z druhej a štvrtej vyučovacej hodiny. Ja som mala iba test z chémie, keďže z cateringu test nebol. Aj na chémii sme mali povolený "ťahák". Zaujímalo by ma, či všetci dostali Áčka...

Ja som na vysvedčení dostala samé Áčka, musím priznať, že som na seba hrdá. Predsa len všetky predmety boli v cudzom jazyku.  

Keďže bol koniec trimestra dostali sme zo školy dva dni voľna.

As the first trimester was coming to the end teachers decided to threaten us with upcomings tests. The test were split over two days. On the first day we had test from first, third and fifth period. I had spanish, rock climbing and math. The hardest test for me was the one in rock climbing. Besides climbing and tying knots we also had a written test. There was a lot about climbing equipment and techniques such as smearing, edging etc. What really suprised me was the test in math, because we were allowed to use two papers filled with formulas moreover we were allowed to write a note card.

On the second test day there were tests in second and fourth period. For me it was just chemistry, because there was no test in catering. For the chemistry test we were also allowed to use a note card and a formula sheet. I think everybody should have gotten an A.

My final grades for the first trimester were straight A’s. I can say that I am pround of myself, because all the classes were in foreign language after all.

As the trimester ended we got two days off.

Thanksgiving,Global Fusion and School Musical

Thanksgiving
Na vďakyvzdanie som spoznala ďaľších členov mojej hostrodiny, hostbrata študujúceho na univerzite v Bostone, starých rodičov, strýka...
Taktiež som ochutnala tradičné jedlá, samozrejme moriak, plnka z moriaka, zemiakové pyré, sladké zemiaky s marshmallows...

At thanksgiving I met other members of my host family, my hostbrother going to college in Boston, grandparents, uncle and cousins.

I have also tried traditional thanksgiving dishes, turkey of course, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows...

Global Fusion

Dnes sa uskutočnila akcia Global fusion. Je to vlastne večera, kde môžu ľudia vyskúšať jedlá z rôznych krajín. Podávajú sa mini porcie, aby mohlo každý všetko vyskúšať. Všetci študenti cateringu sa museli povinne zúčastniť. Pripravovali sme sa celý týždeň, hľadali recepty, písali zoznam potravín a ku koncu týždňa sme začali s prípravami jedál. V piatok sme celý deň varili, boli sme dokonca ospravedlnení z vyučovania. Boli sme rozdelený asi do 10 skupín, každá skupina pripravila 4 typické jedlá pre nejakú krajinu. Moja skupinka varila Mexické jedlá. Podávali sme mini tacos, tortilla chips, ovocný šalát-tajin a ako dezert empanadas-pečené pirohy s jablkovou plnkou.

Today an event called Global fusion took place at my school. It is a dinner where people can try food from different countries. We served tiny portions, so everybody could try everything. All the students who are taking catering class had to participate. We had been preparing all week, looking for recipes, making grociery list and towards the end of the week we started to prepare the food. On Friday we cooked all day long, we were even excused from our other classes. We were split into approximately ten groups. Every group made four meals typical of a particular country. My group cooked mexican food. We prepared mini tacos, tortilla chips, tajin-fruit salad and for dessert, empanadas, which are apple filled turnovers.

Musical
Úžasný muzikál na našej škole. Účinkovali naozaj vynikajúci herci a speváci, človek by neveril akú dobrú úroveň má školské divadlo.

Great musical at our school. I would not have imagined, how great the students singers and actors could be. 

Biliard, hike, catering, ducks game, ice skating, concert

Speaking slovak after a while
Maťo z môjho slovenského Rotary klubu prišiel do Eugene, a tak sme sa dohodli, že sa stretneme. Keďže pršalo zahrali sme si biliard v zábavnom centre. Rozprávať po slovensky po dlhom čase bol celkom zvláštny pocit. 

Maťo from my slovak Rotary club came to Eugene, so we arranged a meeting. Since it was raining, we went to play pool at an entertainment centre. It felt very wierd to speak slovak after such a long time.

Hike to Spencer view 

Spolu s Heather a jej psom sme sa vybrali na turistiku-Spencer view. Je to krátka turistika priamo v Eugene. V lese bolo mnoho ľudí, aj psov. Ako som si všimla domáce zvieratá sú tu veľmi populárne. Z kopca bol pekný výhľad na Eugene a okolité vrchy. 

My friend Heather took me on a hike to Spencer view. It is a small hike directly in Eugene. It was quite crowded, a lot of people brought their dogs on a hike. From the top there was a nice view of our town.

Catering
Keďže potrebujem nazbierať dobrovoľnícke hodiny na hodinu cateringu, dnes som ostala po škole pomáhať. Varili sme večeru pre rozlúčkovú oslavu školského volejbalového tímu. (na áčko je potrebných 10 dobrovoľníckych hodín za trimester, mne chýba ešte 5 a to sa trimester už blíži ku koncu)

Today I stayed after school to help in the catering class. We cooked dinner for the school volleyball team. They were celebrating the end of the season.

Another Ducks game

Rotarián Ritch nás s Harukou (výmennou študentkou z Japonska) zobral na futbal. Bola to posledná hra sezóny, ktorá sa konala v našom meste. Náš tím Oregon Ducks nemal veľmi úspešnú sezónu, a tak nikoho neprekvapilo, že opäť prehral.

Ritch took me and Haruka (an exchange student from Japan) to a football game. It was the last game of this season, that took place in Eugene. For the Oregon Ducks the season was very unsuccessful, therefore no one was suprised that they lost.

Ice skating

The Beach Boys concert in Eugene