Drum roll please.... CARNAVAL 2012 :)

“No hay que llorar, que la vida es un carnaval, es más bello vivir cantando. No hay que llorar, que la vida es un carnaval y las penas se van cantando.” Song by Celia Cruz
“There’s no reason to cry, life is a carnival, and it’s more beautiful to live while singing. There’s no reason to cry, life is a carnival, and worries leave with singing.”

                I’m sure many have heard of the infamous “Carnaval” in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. According to our good friend Wikipedia, “The Brazilian Carnival is one of the best-known celebrations today, but many cities and regions worldwide celebrate with large, popular, and days-long events. The Carnival of Rio de Janeiro is the biggest Carnival in the world, and the biggest popular party on the planet, according to the Guinness Book of World Records 2010. The Rio de Janeiro Carnival is also considered the world's most famous.” However, Carnaval celebrations are international.

            Every year, Carnival celebrations happen all over the world in places like South America, Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean. The festivities typically include lively parades, rich foods, and different forms of entertainment ranging from circus stunts to musical performances.

            Many different theories surround the origins of Carnival. One suggests that it is derived from the Latin words caro meaning meat and vale meaning farewell, possibly describing the necessity of using all perishables before the 40 days of fasting during Lent. Some also believe that the celebrations were a way to scare away evil spirits, thereby saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring. Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life. Carnival is a festival traditionally held in Catholic and, to a lesser extent, Eastern Orthodox societies. Protestant areas usually do not have Carnival celebrations or have modified traditions, such as the Danish Carnival or other Shrove Tuesday events

            My Carnaval experience began Saturday, February 18^th, with the evening parade accompanied by some local and exchange friends. Parades are pretty much the same everywhere, right? Not exactly. In Mexico, the Carnaval parades are more interactive than the typical sit-and-applaud parades we are used to in the US. Spectators would just join the parade whenever they felt like it, dancing along to the Salsa, jumping around, taking pictures. The floats were enormous and numerous, filled with dance routines, the Queen of Carnaval, and local businesses advertising their wares. The best way to explain Carnaval is to have you all picture a big, crazy party with the whole town, and tons of people who came just for the party. There are people in their nineties, little kids, and everyone in between. It’s loud and obnoxious, the traffic is unbearable, but it is filled with so much excitement and energy. Although I was warned by locals for months to stay far away from Carnaval, and told over and over again how horrible it was, full of drunks and mayhem, I couldn’t come to Veracruz and miss out on Carnaval. Veracruz’s Carnaval is called “The happiest in the world” and I would have to agree on that. As far as the “mayhem and drunkenness”, it was pretty controlled due to our awesome naval police. In Veracruz, we no longer have regular city police due to Operation Veracruz Seguro – we have state police, and the naval police. The naval police are really respected, and if people don’t behave, they kindly escort them out of the parade for the rest of the day. Saturday night after the parade, we decided to go out with the exchange students to La Casona, a club in Veracruz. I had never been before, but everyone said it was the busiest they had ever seen. So many people come from out of town during Carnaval that every single place on the boulevard was completely full. This NEVER happens- it was crazy! One group even made their own party outside an Oxxo- a convenience store.

            Sunday morning I went to Carnaval again, this time with my host parents and another exchange student. The previous night we were in the middle of the bleachers, but on Sunday we were at the bottom, prime location to join the party! Instead of sitting back and watching the dancing groups and floats pass by, we became part of the parade! Dancing in the street along with the floats and taking pictures with everyone. It was so much fun. We had a little picnic while we watched, and just had a good time.
            Throughout the festivities, there were free concerts every night. On Wednesday night, I went to see Enrique Iglesias! We just showed up, planning to be standing along with everyone else, literally a sea of people. However, my host mom managed to get the two of us into the bleachers (supposedly a bracelet only zone...) so she and I were quite comfortable the whole time. It was a really cool experience, the crowd singing in Spanish and English, so much energy!  We found several Brazilian exchange students, one of which is from my clubJ, and we went to Burger King with them before taking them home. The whole night was a blast! It marked the official closure of Carnaval of 2012. We’re now stuck with the leftovers of Carnaval- the tourists who still haven’t quite found their way back home, the bleachers blocking a lane of traffic on the boulevard, and a whole city completely worn out from the nonstop party. Many are glad to see Carnaval stowed away once again, but there are just as many who are counting the days down till the next year. As much as I enjoyed the festivities, I’m also pretty happy to have my city back. Until next time!

My sources:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival

http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/Carnival-celebrations-world.html?id=284688

4 Months and 13 Days to go...

Hi! It's been a while since I last posted, so here's a quick update, along with part of an essay I wrote about Rotary Youth Exchange. I apologize for the lack of organization and general writing skills, but I used it all up on the essay I had to write (that was due today). 

-Went to Acapulco, about 11 hours away with my host family and two other exchange students from my club

For pictures, go to:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150541257194779.374565.540949778&type=3&l=d646b04e09

- Changed schools. I am now at la Universidad Villa Rica/ Universidad del Valle de Mexico. 

- Felt an earth tremor! Magnitude 4.6 ish

And hereee is some delightful reflection on Rotary and exchange...

My senior year of high school I stumbled upon the chance of a lifetime with Rotary International Youth Exchange. As soon as I realized I could go abroad for an entire year and experience true immersion I was hooked. I filled out the eighteen-page application, made my six photocopies, was interviewed, and waited patiently until I received the news that I would be going to Mexico. I would not trade my time in Veracruz, Mexico for anything in the world. It is one of the hardest things I have ever done; leaving my family, friends, and anything familiar for an entire year, learning a different language, having everything I have ever known challenged every day. It is also the most rewarding experience I have ever had. In the past six months I have managed to integrate into another culture, to understand why people think a certain way, to turn being out of my comfort zone into a new comfort. I have learned what it means to truly appreciate my family and all that I have at home. Rotarians often say, “It’s not wrong, it’s just different”, a phrase that perfectly defines living in another country. Instead of convincing me of the superiority or failings of my own country, I have been given the chance to decide what I agree with and what I would change, in the United States and the world. More confident, more accepting, and overall happier. My year as a Rotary Youth Exchange student will always be a turning point for me. It is the year I realized anything worth doing is not going to be easy and I can be anything I aspire to be.

And that's all folks!

For your reading pleasure: Ramblings that have Nothing to do with Anything

I have a few important updates!
The first one is that I got accepted to the University of Wisconsin- Madison! I found out on the first night I was with my family in Cancun. Last year I was pretty set on the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, but I changed my mind (I was warned this may happen, Mom don't say 'I told you so' either). Anyways, I am really excited and it will be awesome to be just an hour away from my family.

Second, as I already mentioned, I spent a week with my host sister and my family in Cancun! It was amazing. There's nothing like being away from your family for a long time to make you realize how wonderful they are.

Third, I have changed families. It wasn't that big of a deal becuase I have already met all of my host families and see them all frequently.

Alright, I've been trying to write two scholarship application essays, 350 and 500 words, and the only things I come up with are better suited for a blog. I used to be really good about procrastinating and then being able to write an on-topic essay with no problem. Unfortunately, I have apparntly lost that skill and now I'm just blabbering on about stuff that has nothing to do with the task at hand. I know, I know- if I'm having troubles writing about the topic, I probably shouldn't just use it as a blog post and put off my to-do list, but that's what's going to happen.

Some important stuff that I'm trying to make fit in an essay, just because I want to talk about it/ can't think of anything else to talk about:

First attempt:

"Going to Spain during my sixteenth summer does not make me different from the forty-five million tourists who go there every year. Neither does spending two weeks in rural Guatemala. Being one of nine thousand who annually choose to be Rotary Youth Exchange students is nothing to brag about. Uniqueness comes from what a person learns from their experiences, changing their outlook on life."

"I have done a lot of things so far in my life, but one by one they are not near as important as all together."

Second attempt:

"Like many others, I have the hope that someday I will make a difference. There are hundreds of thousands of ambitious souls who feel that they can truly make an impact on the world. Unfortunately, life takes over and those dreams are left forgotten in an old cardboard box. Fulfilling those dreams is not about making time to do something great, it’s about creating your life to make a difference every single day. "

"Making a difference is not always a grand gesture. We can all make a difference in our everyday lives."

Third attempt:

"Many times we set out to change the world, and only end up changing ourselves. Although it looks like we have done nothing, changing ourselves is a direct path to changing the world. If we can influence just one person, be that ourselves or others, to truly consider their life, their goals, and how they can do good, we change the world. "


Well that's what I've got so far! None of it really has all that much to do with what I am supposed to be writing about, but at least it sounds good...

My friend Elaine recently got peer pressured into updating her blog, which was all fine and dandy, until the peer pressure turned my way. I do have several semi- interesting updates, so I'm about to succumb to peer pressure and write that blog.

1. My Rotary club had a food/ clothing donation in a town called 'El Conejo' (the rabbit).

This was one of the coolest experiences I've had so far in Mexico. It was one of those times when you just know that what you're doing really matters. Basically, we collected food and clothes for a week or so, then drove 3 hours to donate everything to several poor families. When we gave stuffed animals to the two little girls in "our" family, their smiles showed how thankful they were for just a small gift. It's always good to take a step back and think about how much STUFF we have that we do not need. In the end, the love of family and friends matters so much more. Seeing the faces of those little girls reminded me of what Rotary stands for, but more importantly how much I love giving, and helping others.

2. I changed families!

On Monday, it was decided the four exchange students in my club would change families on Tuesday. So, Tuesday was spent packing and cleaning. I realized I have a LOT of stuff, which really scares me for when I have to pack everything up for good in the summer. Tuesday night, around 7, we made the big change. It's not really that big of a deal because I have already met my other two families, and we see them quite often. The biggest thing was the shock of having to change families overnight. Now, I don't have a little sister, but a dog instead. It's just my host parents and me, but it's no big deal. So far, so good! I have my own room, my own bathroom, a couch and whatnot. I really love my room. Point: Changing families is kind of scary but it's not actually a big deal. You move, and that's all.

I know this has been a lousy post, but it was demanded.
Thank you for reading :)

Ending of an age... 2011 to 2012

This exchange has been full of new things, one of which is celebrating the holidays without my family. I’ve already passed my first Thanksgiving in a country where Thanksgiving is not celebrated, and I knew the Christmas season was coming up. In Mexico, they do celebrate Christmas, but as expected, it’s a bit different than what I’m used to.

I wasn’t going to write about my pre Christmas breakdown, but I guess it is a really important point of going on exchange. I guess I just didn’t realize it was the Christmas season- I rarely heard the typical Christmas songs that bombard the radio in Watertown, I didn’t spend hours with ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas, we hadn’t made dozens upon dozens of cookies, brownies, and treats, no cards were sent to everyone we know wishing “happy holidays!”, there wasn’t really the same holiday cheer. When I did realize, all of a sudden, that it was the week before Christmas, I felt so homesick. I ended up calling my mom (luckily my host family has 100 free minutes to the U.S.) and feeling sorry for myself about everything. My mom pretty much knew I would be feeling this way this time of year, because of the all knowing “Exchange Student Survival Guide”. Basically, the holidays form a huge hump to overcome for exchange students. Although it’s really cool to experience a new culture, eat yummy food, and be in another country, it kind of sucks to be away from your family. I’m not going to lie, my brothers and sister can be a pain, but I love them and I have learned to appreciate their annoying habits and all that goes with them. My mom ended up telling me my Christmas present early so that I would be able to get over my homesickness. [My Christmas present: my whole family is going to Cancun, and so am I! I will see my parents, siblings, their Croatian exchange student my best friend croatian sistah, my aunt and uncle, their 3 daughters, another aunt and uncle and their daughter, and my Grandma. I’m really lucky to be able to see my family in the middle of the year, and to go to Cancun! My host sister and I will be flying to meet them in 12 days!]

Anyways, let’s talk about Christmas in Mexico. In Wisconsin, “Christmas” is the 25^th, Christmas Day. We open presents, get together, eat food, watch football, spend time with family.  In Mexico, “Christmas” is the 24^th, Christmas Eve. There is a lot in common as far as getting together, eating food, spending time with family. What really struck me by surprise was the formality and schedule of our Christmas Eve events. We ended up going to a cousin’s house around 9 at night. By that time on Christmas Eve I am almost always getting ready for bed with visions of sugarplums dancing in my head waiting to see what Santa would bring on Christmas morning. We got all dressed up, went to mass around 7, gathered up the ham, applesauce (sent from Wisconsin, made by my parents), chiles, vodka, etc., and went to the dinner. I’m sure most of you think this is a joke, but we ate our Christmas dinner around 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. There was ham, turkey, chiles, applesauce, apple salad, spaghetti, desserts, pretty much anything you could think of. It’s tradition to make enough food for the 24^th and the 25^th, so they don’t have to cook on Christmas day. After dinner, we listened to music, watched TV, talked, and just hung out; my parents and I did not leave their house until around 7 a.m. They had not slept at all (I did, of course) and we went home to rest before Christmas Day.

I somehow managed to wake up at 10 a.m. to Skype with my family. It was so weird to me not waking up early on Christmas to open presents and have a fire and eat omelets made by my dad. My family had already been awake 3 to 4 hours, but no one in my house in Mexico was awake.  So, I talked to my family and my Uncle Dan, then to my Aunt Kaye, Uncle Jeff, cousins and granddaddy. We went to my aunt’s house to open presents around 2 p.m. My host family has a Secret Santa gift exchange every year, so naturally they just added me to the exchange, which was really nice of them. After the gifts, we went back to my cousin’s house for “recalentado”, or Christmas leftovers. I ended up watching my first Packer’s game of the season, and we headed home.

My Christmas was really different than any I’ve had before. The thing is it’s only one Christmas out of the dozens I will have in my life. I am glad I had the opportunity to celebrate it differently, but I’m also happy that I will still have my family Christmas I am used to next year. As Rotary would say, “It’s not wrong, it’s just different.” In the end, our celebrations are really not that different- family, food, love.

OKAY! Now on to New Year’s Eve! First, let’s go over my typical family party back home. In Wisconsin, my family and I go to my Aunt Kathy’s house, watch football, play Wii, and eat food. Our party is usually well over by midnight, although I do try to stay up for the ball drop. This is not typical New Year’s Eve for everyone in Wisconsin or the US, but it is what I am used to. It may not sound that fun, but it is my tradition. My Mexican New Year’s Eve was a bit different. We went to my aunt’s house around 9:30 at night (my family in Wisconsin were already heading home from their party). Until midnight, we talked, ate snacks, just hung out. When the clock struck midnight, we toasted to the New Year, ate 12 grapes each, hugged everyone, and started to eat our New Year’s Eve dinner. The 12 grapes are supposedly so that 12 desires come true. Let me just tell you, we managed to buy some monster grapes, and it was pretty hard to eat all twelve. Anyways, we ate spaghetti, ham, apple salad, and potato soufflé. It was actually a fairly calm New Year’s Eve, which was fine with me. Being the party animal that I am, I fell asleep around 2 or 3 in the morning and slept through the night.

So, in conclusion, I had a pretty good Christmas and New Year’s. It wasn’t what I was used to, but it wasn’t that different. We were with family, we had a good time, we ate some tasty food.  I made it through the holidays and on Thursday I celebrate FIVE months in Mexico! The year is going pretty quickly, before I know it, I’ll be on a plane back home. It’s been an incredible experience so far, and I’m sure the best is yet to come. Here’s another quick Rotary rant- Rotary Youth Exchange is amazing! There are ups and downs, but this is an opportunity unlike any other and I recommend it to anyone. If you have the chance to participate in RYE, please truly consider it (and do it). If Rotary is not for you, find other ways to explore the world. You will learn so much about other people and yourself, and you will be changed forever.

Welcome to 2012! Have a great year!

Happy New Year's Eve!

Holiday post, coming soon!

Happy New Year!!

Rotary Trip: RUTA MAYA

Hello everyone! This is the long awaited blog post about my giant rotary trip! I really don't know what to say about the trip- it was probably the fastest 2 weeks of my life, filled with silly exchange student antics, incredible sights, and lots of time on a bus. So, get excited for cool pictures of interesting things!

Monte Alban! WOO RUINS

Barro Negro- passed down through generations! Literal translation: Black Mud

WOW DREAM BIG!

Giant Tree

Because I am on exchange in Mexico, we visited a Mezcal factory with Rotarians.

                                                            (Mezcal, basically tequila)

Sumidero Canyon

Cascadas de Aguas Azules (Blue Water Waterfalls) in Chiapas

My German friend Jula and I! Thanks Grandma for the flag :)

Palenque: Ruins

Tulum

After Tulum, we went to Xel- Ha, one of the many parks around Cancun. You can snorkel, swim with dolphins, and eat. It's really big so it's hard to do everything if you don't really know what there is, so it's a good idea to check out the park map beforehand! Since we are exchange students, we took pictures with the lifeguards! There are a lot more embarrassing pictures, but we'll just leave you with this..

Photo credit goes to Cleo Rogers from Nebraska!
Me, Cleo, Our Lifeguard Miguel, Jula, and Kira

We also went to Xplor, which was awesome! It was all zip-lining and tunnels and cool stuff. If you go to Cancun, go there! There are no pictures though :( We also went to X- Caret, but no one really had that much enthusiasm so there aren't really cool pictures.. sorry!

Next: Coco Bongo! Coco Bongo is one of the biggest/ best/ most famous clubs in all of Latin America. There is a show, a bar meant for dancing, and an open bar. If you like that sort of thing, it's definitely worth going. It is, however, made for tourists, and expensive. 

Photo Credit to Cleo Rogers! 

Last day in Playa del Carmen:

One of the 7 wonders of the world! Chichen- Itza!! WOO!

The last part of my trip was a quick stop (as in a hour) in Villahermosa. My friend from Watertown, Elaine Anderson, lives there! When you're in your hometown, it's not really that big of a deal to run into someone you know. But when you're in another country and you get the chance to chat with someone from YOUR town, going through the same things, it's really cool. Anyways, here we are eating Dairy Queen outside of my bus! P.S. Her blog is awesome- elenavaamexico.blogspot.com

That's all! I know it was sort of brief and not real detailed, but I hope you all enjoyed it! If you have any questions, please ask! Hasta Luego!