Report

Here is my second official Rotary Report, it might be a bit repetitive, but could potentially be of some interest. Make sure to see the blog about Turkey below.



Rotary Report # 2
KELSEY A. LIEBENSON-MORSE
January 2008

1. How was the holiday season? How did it differ from what you are
used to back home? How is the weather?

My Holiday season in Croatia was perfectly lovely. I had three weeks off from school. I could not have asked for a better Christmas experience away from my own family. One realizes that the concept of the holidays boils down to being with people that you love and care about. This may not be your "blood family," but this is irrelevant. I missed my family, but no more then I always do.
Croatians are 98% Catholic, so Christmas is taken seriously. Since my first Host Mother is British, I had a stocking and fruit cake, making me feel right at home. Croatians have traditional meals they eat on Christmas Eve (fish) and Christmas Day. (turkey) Probably the only downside of all of this festivity is that I ate an astronomical amount of Christmas cookies. (Croatian Christmas cookies=unbelievable) We had a "Bijelo Božić," meaning a White Christmas. I was able to travel to Turkey the last week of my break, yet another culture and country to experience. I have switched host families, and am beginning to build relationships with a new family.


2. How is the language coming along? Do you think or dream in it
yet? Have you made new friends (natives or other exchange students)?
We suggest you concentrate more on the natives for the best exchange
experience.

Croatian continues to be a challenge. But, fear not, progress it being made. I can read signs, and understand the general gist of most conversations, especially among young people. I "read" the newspaper every day. I can say things such as, "I need," "I will," etc, along with form short, simple sentences. I am still at the rudimentary stages of learning a language, which is o.k. with me. The group of Croatians who I spend the most time with don't speak English too well, which is wonderful. They address me in Croatian, and if I don't understand, someone will translate for me. I can buy things at the store. For all intensive purposes, my Croatian is good enough to live, though not nearly good enough to have conversations about the state of the nation. These days, people do not immediately switch to English. Victory! I will continue to work on Croatian, building my vocabulary and practicing my pronunciation. Perhaps I will have a dream in Croatian sometime before June.



3. How often do you meet with your counselor? Have you presented
your program at Rotary yet? Have you done a program for other groups?
Are you receiving your allowance? Is it adequate for day to day
expenses?

I go to Rotary Meeting once a month. My counselor travels more often then not, so I don't see her on a regular basis. I have not presented to my Rotary yet. I receive 400 kuna a month, which works out to about 80 dollars a month-more then enough.



4. How is school going? What subjects are you studying? The same
ones you started with or have you changed subjects or levels in
subjects? Are you involved in activities outside of the classroom?

School. I have to be honest here and say that the tedium and boredom continues. I am not sure why I bring a bag to school. I am not sure I have written anything down. I am in the process of trying to switch to some sort of dance school, so maybe I can feel as though I am not wasting my time sitting in a classroom (reading-if you need some great books recommended, let me know) all day long. My teachers take no interest in me, in fact, I would be surprised if they knew my name. To be fair, part of my struggle is with the Croatian school system itself, it is rigid beyond belief. One comes into class, sits down, and listens to the teacher talk for 45 minutes. If you are lucky, you might get an oral exam. I must admit, I am disappointed with the way my school situation has worked out, but there is still time for adjustments to be made. My school does not offer any extra-curricular activities, but I continue to take ballet class four times a week. Hopefully by the end of January I will begin to do some English tutoring.



5. Would you say you are happy? How are you healthwise? If you have
had to use it, has your insurance worked?

Certainly, I am happy. Life in Zagreb is my life now. I know that the second half of exchange will melt away before I know it. I am trying my best to enjoy the luxurious life of being an exchange student. Never again in my life will I be able to travel with the ease and freedom that I have experienced this year. Health wise, no complaints. I still marvel at the fact that I haven't been hit by any crazy Croatian tram drivers, they seem to dislike the concept of stopping for pedestrians.



6. Do you think you were well prepared for your exchange year? What
should we have concentrated on in your orientations last year?

Above all, I think it is important for students to have no preconceived notions of how their exchange year is going to unfold. If you expect it to be a certain way, then you are setting yourself up for disaster. The reality is that your exchange year is beyond what you can imagine for yourself. Flexibility is key to survival.



FREE SPACE: (Comments, suggestions, joys, sorrows…..)

Joys: Walking across the River Sava at sunset. Becoming part of another family. Letters from home. Being teased, but more often, kissed, by my Croatian non-English speaking Grandfather. I could go on for pages...