#yaep2017

[tealightsy-blog]

[lillygolich]

Interviewing Saša about expectations for Phoenix (in which I ask a lot of questions but the real thing everyone's wondering is : whats moving more? her hands, or her mouth)

[ashlynbradshaw-blog]

What You Should Know

One thing you need to know about Grenoble is that it will steal your heart and blow your mind. Grenoble is the best of both worlds for someone like me. A city vibe with the city center and lots of people and things to do - AND the tallest and greenest mountains you could imagine! How could a place possibly get more perfect? People should know that Grenoble is nothing like Paris. For any future Youth Ambassadors (or anyone traveling to Grenoble), if you are expecting to go to France and all you imagine is Paris, do your research and get informed! We did not go to Paris during our time abroad, however, I have been fortunate enough to go a few years ago with my family. My 100%, honest opinion - Grenoble is better in every single way, shape, and form. If you enjoy doing touristy things then Paris is fine, but while in Grenoble, expect to be one of the locals. You will (hopefully) go to school, cafés, friend gatherings, experience the nightlife, etc. and get a true French teenager experience. If you are lucky enough to travel to the most incredible city I’ve ever been, here is my advice to you. Keep your heart and your mind OPEN. Things are different here than in America. Instead of getting frustrated - ask WHY. Take time to LEARN about the culture and customs here. Take time to UNDERSTAND the people and get to know them. Make efforts to speak French, as they are making just as much efforts to speak English to you. I’m not suggesting you to need to be fluent, but learn the common phrases that will get you by as they appreciate it so much. Don’t take your time here for granted. Everything you left at home will still be there when you get back. For however long you travel to Grenoble, just know it is such a short amount of time in the grand scheme of things, so ENJOY it. Enjoy every morning, every evening, every tram ride to the city center, every pastry and every spoon full of gelato you have because soon it will all be gone. Take pictures and videos. Memories DO fade. Don’t forget to capture your favorite moments to look back on and don’t forget to live in the moment. I hope it is obvious by this point just how important Grenoble is to me, and the lasting impact it will have on the way I view the world, life, cultures, travel, and people-to-people relationships.

[simplicityofsummer-blog]

Antes ... después. Never would I expect one of us to get a haircut while abroad!! This just shows how close we've become to the point of convincing him to get a new haircut😂

[reynaacruz]

My time in Catania, has been absolutely the best I could have ever asked for or experienced. It wasn't only the city itself in general that made this experience memorable and amazing, but also my counterpart, host family, and all the friendships I created. When I arrived I was afraid that I wasn't gong to be able to fit in but in a matter of days I felt as if I belonged to this city. So when it was time to finally go back home, I wasn't ready. Although I wanted to stay much longer I knew that all my newfound friends would be arriving with us at our homes in a matter of days. And the guys and I would then be able to, hopefully, give them an unforgettable summer as they did to us. When I asked Martina if she was ready to come live with me, she responded that although she is nervous she can't wait to meet my family and friends. After that, I asked Martina about what she wanted to do when she arrived in Phoenix and all that she would say is to let herself be immersed into my life and what the city had to offer. I thought that this answer was the best becuase I would be able to make a list of all the things we could do and from then be able to plan accordingly. So far as a cohort, we've agreed to take a trip to the Grand Canyon and possibly other places, but what seems to be interesting Martina, Matteo, and Edoardo the most seems to be the food! For example, when Eric, Beck, and I were talking about some of our favorite foods- like mac & cheese or chicken and waffles- they stared at us as if we were making these dishes up. Martina and I were able to make a list of all the food places I wish to show and take her to, and we're both looking forward to that.

[hayleyramirez1]

My host mom Maureen eased me into the Irish food the first week of my stay, but as of today, I am eating traditional Irish meals! The first thing I've come to normalize is milk in tea. In the U.S. we take milk in our coffee, but milk in tea isn't too bad! Eating beans for breakfast has been a wonderful change in my life as I know want to eat beans and toast every day. I tried the best fish and chips I have ever had in the western most part of Ireland, today we also went and had a traditional Irish stew and had some Irish dancing that went perfectly with it! The stew was not much different from beef stew in America, but the apple pie was definitely different. Instead of apple slices it was more of an applesauce which took some getting used too. They soon brought bread out and every Halloween they put a ring in the bread and whoever finds it will be married by December. I am happy to announce I'll be getting married to someone (probably a dog) by December ;), so surprise to my parents! Alice is excited to try a different style bacon and indulge in the many sushi places Phoenix has to offer. She is also excited to compare East Coast vs West Coast burgers and try the highly talked about chipotle! I can't wait to show her around!

[tealightsy-blog]

Chengdu is the perfect blend between industriality and nature, new and old. This city has something to offer to everyone wether you enjoy shopping, hiking, or sightseeing. The blend of these aspects make Chengdu an amazing city; because of this, I would recommend that people visit sometime.

[tealightsy-blog]

When we first tried fencing last week, I found it to be very frustrating. I couldn’t seem to get the gestures right, and it was exhausting. However, today I improved, and we even got to participate in a couple matches. At first it feels strange because your thrusting a metal stick violently towards your friends, but once you get past that it’s very enjoyable. I think I would definitely enjoy trying fencing again sometime!