Comments for ECUADOR ! - my FIRST travel abroad http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog ME, Jenni Gill in Ecuador on a Rotary International Student Exchange Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:37:22 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Comment on Monkeys, alligators, birds and anacondas! by Susan Gill http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?p=489#comment-63 Susan Gill Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:37:22 +0000 http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?p=489#comment-63 Hi Honey - just re-read your marvelous adventure - Wow!!!! Sounds fantastic!! Your Dad tells me you are getting ready for your next "episode" - the one on which I would truly love to accompany you. Take lots of photos and send us another exciting blog. I can't believe how many things you have seen and done - and how much you have learned. What a wonderful year you are having!!!!!! Enjoy your trip to the Galapagos - to the full - Make lots of great memories!!!!!! Take care - stay well - and BE HAPPY!!!!!!!!! Love you lots - Grandma Gill. Hi Honey – just re-read your marvelous adventure – Wow!!!! Sounds fantastic!! Your Dad tells me you are getting ready for your next “episode” – the one on which I would truly love to accompany you. Take lots of photos and send us another exciting blog. I can’t believe how many things you have seen and done – and how much you have learned. What a wonderful year you are having!!!!!!

Enjoy your trip to the Galapagos – to the full – Make lots of great memories!!!!!!

Take care – stay well – and BE HAPPY!!!!!!!!!

Love you lots – Grandma Gill.

]]> Comment on Contact me HERE by Susan Gill http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?page_id=264#comment-52 Susan Gill Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:04:53 +0000 http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?page_id=264#comment-52 Hi Honey!!! Just finished going through your Amazon pictures for the 5th or 6th time - they are just awesome!!! The fish, birds, bugs, etc. are really something else! Look forward to viewing them again with you as "narrator", on your return. Understand you are quite comfortable and content in your new environment. Enjoy it to the full!!!!! Love you lots - Grandma Gill. Hi Honey!!! Just finished going through your Amazon pictures for the 5th or 6th time – they are just awesome!!! The fish, birds, bugs, etc. are really something else! Look forward to viewing them again with you as “narrator”, on your return. Understand you are quite comfortable and content in your new environment. Enjoy it to the full!!!!!

Love you lots – Grandma Gill.

]]> Comment on A crazy time by Susan Gill http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?p=475#comment-50 Susan Gill Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:41:46 +0000 http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?p=475#comment-50 Oh man, I'm exhausted just reading about your exploits - Way to go girl!!!! Glad you are discovering the "Heart" of South America - the Geography and Language of a land are only the trapings, easily absorbed. You still have much to learn about your host country - and your experiences, especially during this Christmas and New Year holiday, are life changing - in a good and positive way. I look forward to hearing about your next adventure. Best wishes on your move to your new family. I'm sure you will find them as welcoming as the nice folks you are leaving. Stay strong and healthy - and, of course, very HAPPY!! Lots of Love - Grandma Gill Oh man, I’m exhausted just reading about your exploits – Way to go girl!!!! Glad you are discovering the “Heart” of South America – the Geography and Language of a land are only the trapings, easily absorbed. You still have much to learn about your host country – and your experiences, especially during this Christmas and New Year holiday, are life changing – in a good and positive way. I look forward to hearing about your next adventure. Best wishes on your move to your new family. I’m sure you will find them as welcoming as the nice folks you are leaving.

Stay strong and healthy – and, of course, very HAPPY!!

Lots of Love – Grandma Gill

]]> Comment on Contact me HERE by Karen Cox http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?page_id=264#comment-47 Karen Cox Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:07:39 +0000 http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?page_id=264#comment-47 Happy New Year Jenni! Remember in the Wizard of Oz - Dorothy learns there is "No Place Like Home" I guess you are a bit like her as you get through the Holiday Season...way to go and it sounds there were some lovely things to do albeit different even so! Some changes with the new year and a fabulous trip! I would love to visit the Amazon. It has been a very different Christmas season here as we only got snow after boxing day. It is VERY cold and the snow is around for now though expected warm temps in the next few days may melt it away! I have been dealing with my mom who is 88 and now needs to go into a nursing home as she no longer can care for herself...but she has done amazing till just recently- a fall caused this rather suddenly! My new grandson was a charmer at Christmas. Such a happy 4 1/2 month old. I am glad you have got to interact with the less fortunate of Ecuador and realize how warm and appreciative they are- we have so much here in Canada by comparison so it is a real learning experience! Hopefully you are overcoming the "down in the dumps" phase...I believe Christmas Season to be the toughest on exchange students! Look forward to all the new year has to offer and I wish you well - we continue to be so proud of you! Caitlin Meikle from New Zealand arrives on January 21st so I know that you will be interested in how she is doing. I am off to Anguilla to take a defibrillator to this Caribbean Island for our Rotary Club on January 3rd so will enjoy the escape! Well bye for now and enjoy the Holidays! Hugs Karen Happy New Year Jenni!
Remember in the Wizard of Oz – Dorothy learns there is “No Place Like Home” I guess you are a bit like her as you get through the Holiday Season…way to go and it sounds there were some lovely things to do albeit different even so! Some changes with the new year and a fabulous trip! I would love to visit the Amazon.
It has been a very different Christmas season here as we only got snow after boxing day. It is VERY cold and the snow is around for now though expected warm temps in the next few days may melt it away!
I have been dealing with my mom who is 88 and now needs to go into a nursing home as she no longer can care for herself…but she has done amazing till just recently- a fall caused this rather suddenly!
My new grandson was a charmer at Christmas. Such a happy 4 1/2 month old.
I am glad you have got to interact with the less fortunate of Ecuador and realize how warm and appreciative they are- we have so much here in Canada by comparison so it is a real learning experience!
Hopefully you are overcoming the “down in the dumps” phase…I believe Christmas Season to be the toughest on exchange students! Look forward to all the new year has to offer and I wish you well – we continue to be so proud of you!
Caitlin Meikle from New Zealand arrives on January 21st so I know that you will be interested in how she is doing.
I am off to Anguilla to take a defibrillator to this Caribbean Island for our Rotary Club on January 3rd so will enjoy the escape!
Well bye for now and enjoy the Holidays! Hugs Karen

]]> Comment on pics by Aunt Kathy http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?p=461#comment-45 Aunt Kathy Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:32:18 +0000 http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?p=461#comment-45 Yay Pictures!!!!!!!! Thanks for the link Jenni!!! Steven and I loved looking through them, and will check back to see if you add more! Yay Pictures!!!!!!!! Thanks for the link Jenni!!! Steven and I loved looking through them, and will check back to see if you add more!

]]> Comment on Extraño mis papis by Aunt Kathy http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?p=457#comment-43 Aunt Kathy Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:09:38 +0000 http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?p=457#comment-43 Big BIG Hugs Jenni!! This is such an amazingly brave adventure you are on!! Know that no one misses you more than your family, and no one wants more to see you succeed and thrive in this than your family, too. You are getting to experience a totally new kind of Christmas this year - some people never break out of their traditions and molds. You can bring back some new things for us all to include in the future!!! You can share with all these people that have never experienced snow what it's like to enjoy a Canadian Christmas at the same time. The flavours and textures, the songs and stories. In the grand scheme of time, this is only a tiny portion of your time on this earth. Enjoy it for what it is - right here, right now. Savour it forever. We are all waiting for you to come back to us this summer, and want only for you to have the most wonderful, enjoyable time while you are there! Feliz Navidad!! Joyeux Noel!! Merry Christmas!! We love you! Big BIG Hugs Jenni!! This is such an amazingly brave adventure you are on!! Know that no one misses you more than your family, and no one wants more to see you succeed and thrive in this than your family, too. You are getting to experience a totally new kind of Christmas this year – some people never break out of their traditions and molds. You can bring back some new things for us all to include in the future!!! You can share with all these people that have never experienced snow what it’s like to enjoy a Canadian Christmas at the same time. The flavours and textures, the songs and stories. In the grand scheme of time, this is only a tiny portion of your time on this earth. Enjoy it for what it is – right here, right now. Savour it forever. We are all waiting for you to come back to us this summer, and want only for you to have the most wonderful, enjoyable time while you are there! Feliz Navidad!! Joyeux Noel!! Merry Christmas!! We love you!

]]> Comment on Newspaper clippings of interest by Susan Gill http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?page_id=357#comment-37 Susan Gill Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:13:03 +0000 http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?page_id=357#comment-37 Just read your blog - Sounds like you are having a real blast!!! Way to go!!!! Can't wait to see all your new dance moves - you'll have to give us lessons - I can still Polka so should be able to take on a new South American beat. Keep that blog going - its almost as good as being there with you. Take Care - Love you lots - Grandma Gill. Just read your blog – Sounds like you are having a real blast!!! Way to go!!!! Can’t wait to see all your new dance moves – you’ll have to give us lessons – I can still Polka so should be able to take on a new South American beat.
Keep that blog going – its almost as good as being there with you.

Take Care – Love you lots – Grandma Gill.

]]> Comment on Relaxed, in a busy kind of way by Aunt Kathy http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?p=370#comment-35 Aunt Kathy Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:29:57 +0000 http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?p=370#comment-35 Hey Jenni! I so look forward to your blog posts I check daily, but that's just because I can, lol. You sound so worldly and self-sufficient - this has sure been a summer of changes for you! I have a couple of comments/questions. First, now that I see bits of Spanish vocabulary and speaking structure creeping into your writing, I know that you are settling into the language and becoming more comfortable with it all. I think that's awesome!! I also love how open you are to new things (foods, people, challenges). So wonderful to watch from the sidelines as you explore this amazing world. Thank you for sharing it with me, with all of us. What would I like to hear more about? As your dad mentioned, what is 'regular' like for you there? Classes, routines. Also, you mentioned eating only bread someplace, but that of course brings up the question of 'why'?? Pictures would be awesome! I'd like to see where you're living, the family that is loving you while we are all so far away, some of the interesting things you see there, and some of the ordinary things there that are not ordinary for us Canucks. :) Oh, and of course some of your friends! As for what's happening around here.... Linnea is on her way home for the first time since July 1, coming in tomorrow by train/bus and staying for the Thanksgiving weekend. I'm looking forward to catching up! She's got a beau now - check FB for pix. Grandma is travelling with Aunt Linda and Uncle David through Pennsylvania for a few days - they are staying for Thanksgiving, I am making a bird and all the trimmings. I have to remember to make lots of cranberry sauce, because I think Linnea likes that better than turkey. Kevin is still at his dad's. I believe that they are moving house, someplace in Courtice again. I will keep you posted on that score as I learn more. Steven is busy at school - he made Class President this year (grade 8) and has been on the baseball team (3rd place) and runs cross country on Wed. He quit cadets, it wasn't his thing. But he's busy with friends, and he and I get along famously here together. You should be proud of me, I closed the pool myself this year! Yay!! That's an engineering feat for me, trust me. I started a new job about a month ago - still have a hand in the old one at the same time, and picked up a 3rd on an occasional basis as well. I am also working the election tomorrow as a Deputy Returning Officer, lol. Yep, no moss on me! The leaves here are changing - I think it's mostly over up north, but we are only at about 50% changed here in Niagara. I love the fall. This weekend it's supposed to be Indian Summer, so that will truly be nice. Love and miss you hon. Enjoy every minute of this, and we'll catch up when you are home again - even if its only for a visit, lol. Aunt Kathy xoxo Hey Jenni!

I so look forward to your blog posts I check daily, but that’s just because I can, lol.
You sound so worldly and self-sufficient – this has sure been a summer of changes for you!
I have a couple of comments/questions. First, now that I see bits of Spanish vocabulary and speaking structure creeping into your writing, I know that you are settling into the language and becoming more comfortable with it all. I think that’s awesome!! I also love how open you are to new things (foods, people, challenges). So wonderful to watch from the sidelines as you explore this amazing world. Thank you for sharing it with me, with all of us.
What would I like to hear more about? As your dad mentioned, what is ‘regular’ like for you there? Classes, routines. Also, you mentioned eating only bread someplace, but that of course brings up the question of ‘why’??
Pictures would be awesome! I’d like to see where you’re living, the family that is loving you while we are all so far away, some of the interesting things you see there, and some of the ordinary things there that are not ordinary for us Canucks. :) Oh, and of course some of your friends!

As for what’s happening around here…. Linnea is on her way home for the first time since July 1, coming in tomorrow by train/bus and staying for the Thanksgiving weekend. I’m looking forward to catching up! She’s got a beau now – check FB for pix.
Grandma is travelling with Aunt Linda and Uncle David through Pennsylvania for a few days – they are staying for Thanksgiving, I am making a bird and all the trimmings. I have to remember to make lots of cranberry sauce, because I think Linnea likes that better than turkey.
Kevin is still at his dad’s. I believe that they are moving house, someplace in Courtice again. I will keep you posted on that score as I learn more.
Steven is busy at school – he made Class President this year (grade 8) and has been on the baseball team (3rd place) and runs cross country on Wed. He quit cadets, it wasn’t his thing. But he’s busy with friends, and he and I get along famously here together.
You should be proud of me, I closed the pool myself this year! Yay!! That’s an engineering feat for me, trust me.
I started a new job about a month ago – still have a hand in the old one at the same time, and picked up a 3rd on an occasional basis as well. I am also working the election tomorrow as a Deputy Returning Officer, lol. Yep, no moss on me!
The leaves here are changing – I think it’s mostly over up north, but we are only at about 50% changed here in Niagara. I love the fall. This weekend it’s supposed to be Indian Summer, so that will truly be nice.
Love and miss you hon. Enjoy every minute of this, and we’ll catch up when you are home again – even if its only for a visit, lol.

Aunt Kathy
xoxo

]]> Comment on Relaxed, in a busy kind of way by Dad http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?p=370#comment-33 Dad Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:09:46 +0000 http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?p=370#comment-33 Great update Jenni, THANKS! I'm interested to hear what you do during your 'regular' classes. Are you able to follow along? Do you try to expand your vocabulary? Do you catch up on your sleep? Are you able to learn more than just vocabulary in the subject classes? Here, we spent the weekend outside - Mom and dad canoeing & Andrew at his orienteering competition (we all had fun). Sunday was spent rescuing Dave's boat that had sunk...I volunteered to get in the water to secure the ropes. I slipped on the frost that had formed on the dock...brrrrrr. Great update Jenni, THANKS!
I’m interested to hear what you do during your ‘regular’ classes. Are you able to follow along? Do you try to expand your vocabulary? Do you catch up on your sleep? Are you able to learn more than just vocabulary in the subject classes?
Here, we spent the weekend outside – Mom and dad canoeing & Andrew at his orienteering competition (we all had fun). Sunday was spent rescuing Dave’s boat that had sunk…I volunteered to get in the water to secure the ropes. I slipped on the frost that had formed on the dock…brrrrrr.

]]> Comment on Contact me HERE by Susan Gill http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?page_id=264#comment-31 Susan Gill Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:02:56 +0000 http://rongill.ca/exchangeblog/?page_id=264#comment-31 Hi darling - so nice to hear from you. Sounds as though you are having a blast!! Look forward to reading "part 2" of your adventures. What a wonderful experience - soak it all up and enjoy every minute! Take care, and stay well and happy!!! Much Love - Grandma Gill. Hi darling – so nice to hear from you. Sounds as though you are having a blast!! Look forward to reading “part 2″ of your adventures. What a wonderful experience – soak it all up and enjoy every minute!

Take care, and stay well and happy!!!

Much Love – Grandma Gill.

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