Student Exchange: Memories of Thailand

Posted on April 8, 2015 by admin

Sadly, my time in Thailand has come to an end, after six amazing weeks of being among newly made friends and in an exotic new country. I am writing this on the airplane heading back to Montreal, and as much as I want out (because of boredom), half of me wants to turn the plane around and head back to Thailand. I already miss a lot of the food, fruit, and customs of the country and of my exchange school, Regents International School Pattaya. Of course, life must go on, and I have to come back to Canada and readjust to the time zone and the ways here.

Two weeks ago, my roommate, Osman, left to help look after his grandmother. I can tell you, I was really sad to see him leave, even though I would see him in school the next day. He was the funniest guy I have ever met, and I was never bored with him. But, as I said, he left, and I roomed with another one of my friends, Jeenchai. Though not as funny, he was special and entertaining in his own way.

For two weekends, I was hosted by Osman because he had been staying with his grandmother. In the first week, his parents were visiting from Russia, so we went to see a couple of tourist places. On Friday, we saw a Chinese museum and the Pattaya Buddha Mountain. I also got to eat a coconut and lots of passion fruit. The next day, we went swimming in their pool and just relaxed. On Sunday, we went shopping and then I had to go back to school. The next weekend was a more relaxed weekend. We stayed inside a lot because it was one of the only times it rained while I was there. On Sunday, we went shopping for souvenirs because it was my last week there.

On my last day, and for the first time, I wore my LCC suit to school – all the other days I only needed to wear a shirt, pants, and shoes, because of the heat – and yes, I was sweating most of the day. I had to wear the uniform because I’d made a promise to someone that I’d wear it on the last day. At the end of the school day, after getting our grades for the term, everyone said goodbye to me. They were all upset that I was leaving, and they also said that I should’ve been there for the school Songkran (the Thai New Year) party the next day. I was told it was really fun, but sadly, I wasn’t going to be there. It was a very sad day. I got back to the boarding house and immediately started to pack, because I had to leave in seven hours and I’d barely packed. I took a break for dinner, and I’m glad I went, because it was the school Songkran dinner. It was a feast, and I can easily say that that was my favorite meal there. There were two appetizers, four main courses, an amazing dessert, and then lots of different fruit. I was challenged to eat a whole chili pepper, and I did. The next five minutes of my life was spent eating tons of fruit and breathing out sharply to get rid of the spice. It was a fun last experience in Thailand.

More quickly than I’d expected, my time to leave the school had come, and sadly, I walked down the same corridors I had walked down 100 times before to get around the school, but this time would be the last. As I got on the bus, I took one last look at the school that had become my home for the last six weeks of my life. I would miss it. I said goodbye to all the boarders and the staff who had welcomed me when I’d arrived, and then I left for the airport. After a total of twenty hours in the air, and three hours sitting in the airport, I am back in Montreal, welcomed by the thing that most of the people in Thailand have never seen, and the thing I haven’t seen in six weeks: snow. – Eli Samuel ’17, Exchange Student at Regents International School Pattaya

Ma quatrième semaine à Paris

Posted on April 8, 2015 by admin

Déjà ma 4ième semaine à Paris terminée! Je me sens finalement comme chez moi ici. Les activités que nous avons faites cette semaine étaient sublimes. Premièrement, mardi soir le 26 mars, ma famille d’accueil a décidé de me faire une petite surprise. En fait, pour moi c’était l’une des plus grandes surprises de ma vie, un évènement qui constituera ma meilleure expérience à Paris.

Ce soir-là, alors que je lisais mon livre d’anglais tranquillement, je reçois un appel de Marc Jablonski, le père. Avec une voix pressée et excitée, il me dit «Ryan! Habille-toi, on va visiter un musée!», sachant que je ne serais pas trop enthousiasmé par une sortie au musée. Marc préparait ainsi la surprise pour que ma réaction soit inoubliable. Et il a eu raison. Lorsque Marc m’a donné mon billet bleu, je suis resté bouche bée devant Le Stade de France remplie d’une foule incroyablement bruyante. J’allais vivre l’expérience d’un match de soccer, France contre Brésil avec 80 000 autres Parisiens. J’étais en manque de mots, ébahi et ne pouvant pas parler pendant 2 minutes. Même si on (je parle de la France bien entendu) a perdu 3-1, cette expérience a été fantastique et le jeu était excitant. J’ai tellement apprécié cette opportunité qui m’a été offerte, une expérience que je ne vais jamais oublier.

La deuxième activité qu’on a faite cette semaine était la visite d’une gallerie d’art au Grand Palais. Comme je l’ai mentionné avant, personnellement, je n’aime pas trop les musées ou les galleries. Mais d’abord, on parle du magnifique Grand Palais sur les Champs-Élysées, construit pour l’expo universelle de Paris en 1900. Ensuite, ce que j’ai vu dans cette gallerie a changé ma perception de l’art et éveillé mon intérêt. C’était une œuvre d’art, créée par Manuel Merida, un vénézuélien, qui s’appelle Cercle Bleu Outremer. Cette œuvre consistait en un grand cercle rempli de poudre de vitre, qui tourne très lentement, de sorte que ces fragments tombent lentement lorsque le cercle tourne graduellement. J’ai immédiatement téléphoné à ma mère pour lui raconter ma découverte et la convaincre d’acheter l’œuvre!

En conclusion, ma quatrième semaine était évidemment un grand succès. Encore une fois, c’est incroyable de penser qu’il me reste seulement 2 semaines. Je suis devenu attaché à la ville de Paris et les gens qui habitent ici et je vais avoir de la difficulté à leur dire aurevoir. – Ryan Garber ’17, Exchange Student at École alsacienne

Ma troisième semaine à Paris: Je suis déjà habitué au style de vie parisien

Posted on March 27, 2015 by admin

À la troisième semaine, je suis déjà habitué au style de vie parisien. Tous les jours je prend le métro pour aller et pour retourner de l’école (on est accompagné en auto de temps en temps). Pour le déjeuner (lunch), je mange au restaurant avec mon groupe d’amis, et lorsque j’ai de plus longues pauses, je rentre à la maison pour quelques heures, et j’en profite pour faire mon travail, ou même la sieste! Pour finir la journée moi et mes amis on s’improvise un match de soccer au Jardin du Luxembourg sans aucun horaire a respecter. Bien sur le diner je mange plus tard. Ce style de vie ici est bien diffèrent et bien plaisant, j’avoue.

Pour le weekend, moi et la famille de mon correspondant Tangui, sommes allés en Bretagne. Même si les gens à Paris pensent que la Bretagne est moche et déprimente, ils ont complètement tord. Le paysage est extraordinaire et l’ambiance est relax. Mon expérience préférée en Bretagne a été de mangé des crêpes bretonnes, reconnue mondialement, sous la pluie typique de la Bretagne.

En conclusion, cette troisième semaine ici à Paris ne pouvait pas être plus agréable. Je crois personnellement qu’il n’y a pas d’autre ville qui a un mode de vie aussi extraordinaire que Paris. Je ne peux pas croire que j’entame déjà ma quatrième semaine ici :(. – Ryan Garber ’17, Exchange Student at École alsacienne

Ma deuxième semaine à Paris: La ville est plein d’histoire et de culture

Posted on March 27, 2015 by admin

La deuxième semaine d’école vient avec beaucoup plus de facilité et d’aise. Tout le monde est extrêmement sympathique, et je me suis déjà fait plein d’amis. L’école Alsacienne spécialisent en l’indépendance des étudiants. Au lunch, nous sommes libres de faire ce que l’on veut pendant deux, trois heures; c’est à dire rentrer à la maison, manger à un restaurant ou même se promener dans Paris. En plus, les cours de sport ne se passe pas à l’école mais dans les Jardins du Luxembourg, rien de moins! C’est tellement spécial d’avoir l’opportunité de vivre l’expérience de Paris, même quand je suis en cours!

Cette deuxième semaine a été marquée par une fin de semaine passée en Normandie. La Normandie se compare un peu à Tremblant. C’est l’endroit où les gens achètent des maisons de campagne pour être capable de passer le weekend avec leurs familles. La seule différence c’est qu’il s’agit d’une version complètement amélioré. C’est sur le bord de la mer, tout tranquille. Il y a plein d’activités comme le vélo, karting, bowling, tennis, plage, etc… Mais au surplus, la Normandie est remplie d’histoire. C’est le lieu du débarquement des troupes alliées en juin 1944, qui marque le début de la reconquête de l’Europe aux mains des Allemands.

Pour conclure, j’ai beaucoup apprécié ma deuxième semaine ici à Paris. J’adore les gens et la famille qui m’accueille, et rendu là où j’en suis, j’ai réalisé que Paris c’est une destination ou la ville est l’activité principale. La ville est plein d’histoire et de culture qui ne fini jamais, on a définitivement pas eu de problème à choisir des activités dans cette ville extraordinaire. – Ryan Garber ’17, Exchange Student at École alsacienne

Travel: The Greatest Teacher

Posted on March 26, 2015 by admin

“Travel,” wrote Mark Twain, “is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness”. Even ancient thinkers realized the value of travel as the best way to build respect for others and identify the inherent value of cultural difference. Theologian and philosopher St. Augustine stated in the 4^th century that: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

Indeed, travel Is about experience. It doesn’t just help one to imagine a place – it is about feeling a place, it’s culture and rhythms. Inherently, this challenges norms and routines and broadens perspectives and one’s limited understanding of the world.

Travel allows people to visit places of heritage, historical significance, places with unique cultures vastly different from one’s own. The impact of experiences lived abroad can be very lasting.

At the time of a journey, one is caught up in the immediacy of doing – it’s only afterward that one has a chance to interpret it, put it into a greater context, and fully appreciate it.

So many of our students were fortunate to travel over the recent March Break. In the process, every student who went away had a unique opportunity to learn and grow. The school organized three memorable trips.

Fifty-five (55) members of the LCC Senior Band journeyed to Cuba. They were able to perform in a unique setting and gained a better appreciation of Cuban culture, the country’s communist political system, and the deeply alluring Latin rhythms engrained in Cuban life. Our music teachers are very well travelled and they rank this trip among the very best they have ever participated in with a group of music students. They were proud of our students!

Our Senior Hockey team went on its bi-annual trip to Europe – this year to Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. Coach LLano has long said that each and every one of these journeys is more of an opportunity to expose students to old-world cultures than about simply competing to win on the rink. Yes, the hockey was fun and went well, but the boys gained important exposure to new cultures and communities and they each have many lasting memories.

This year’s Duke of Edinburgh Gold Trip took more than twenty students to beautiful Morocco in West Africa. The group gained insights into Arab culture, visited the mysterious “Souks” of Fez and Marrakesh, and trekked the beautiful snow-covered Atlas mountains. Faculty leaders Mr. Salkeld, Ms. Owen and Monsieur Maurice were very proud to travel with our students – many of whom had to physically push themselves hard while on the multi-day hike in the mountains. So much was learned while away.

At Tuesday’s assembly I asked each of our students who was fortunate to go away on the break to be sure to think and reflect on what was seen and experienced. The many memorable experiences will take awhile to sink in.

Regarding the importance of travel, Mark Twain also said:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by what you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

I agree with Twain. Travel is the greatest teacher – a wise and savvy teacher. We want our students to open their eyes, hearts and perspectives though meaningful experiences. These are critical to their personal growth and development. – Chris Shannon, Headmaster