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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 2014)
14 june5 2014 Kwaheri the different questions, they are always there to you soon.” help even though the questions might be silly and At the end, I have come to discover annoying. The day has finally come, the one you that an exch ange student’s life is like a ride on a have all waited for since the time you I come from a country where the started rolle r coa ster. First, you are determined to ride school. From a young kindergarten kid weather is always the same throughout to a the year. it and fasc inat ed by the idea, then it goes fast. graduating student, I am proud of all the The number of day or night time hours 2014 is always You must enter and overcom e the first uneasy seniors. Congratulation for making it the same, unlike in Oregon. I also saw this far. I snow for feelings. Then there are high s and lows, but then know it is a tough journey but be glad the first time in my life which is probably that you one of it goes very quickly in the end . One is a bit sad are one of the finishers, you made it to this point the coolest experiences I have had myself. that it is over, a little proud that you surv because of the support from your pare ived it, I will not say life as an exchange student nts and pleased again to have solid ground und from the support of your teachers. is easy, it is sometimes stressful. You do er your not get feet and you really would love to sit and or enjoy the same freedom you have in As for me the coolest thing is that ride it your own again but you always have to give among the graduating class of 2014 is a cha cou nce ntry to , like your mom wants to know where a group somebody else. of nineteen exchange students from diffe you are every minute of the day. rent We might not be blood brothers in countries and different continents who Having pride in your own country got to any way but we are always related in someway be part of this small awesome commun reminds you that you are you’re an amb ity of assador exce pt that we were born in different geographic Vernonia. This is just because of the gen and you need to do your level best to erosity make a locations. You can always visit us som of the people of Vernonia who decided eday in good impression about your country. to have our countries for we are your daughte a kid you have never seen in your life rs, sons, Goi ng to a totally new place, strange and don’t brothers and sisters. know their behaviors, but they decided cou ntry , meeting strange people, strange culture, to make I have some life philosophies; they are a difference by hosting them and of cou stra nge foods, different school, different sports as rse follo ws: Vernonia High School decided to give and the mos t awe some of all is meeting your them a • Don’t cry because it is over, smile beca place in the school. new family, your new schoolmates, peo use it ple you happened. neve Words are not enough to describe r thought or imagined. I say strange food s • There are no foreign lands, it is the trav my happiness that I made it to the end beca eler use of my first time in McDonald’s, I was of my only who is foreign. exchange year. I have learned more than so hun gry and I just got off the plane, my mom I • It is the journey that brings us to hap expected to from my lovely family and aske piness, not d me if I wou ld like to have something to the best the dest inat ion. friends I made here and from my teachers eat. I told her I like fish and she orde and red the • Home is where the heart is and as for coaches and I hope for the same to the McD me, I onald’s fish sandwich. I expected to get rest a have two homes. of the exchange students. I might not say real fish with bones, tail and the head as I am that • For the exchange students, they build I enjoyed every bit of my exchange year used a life for to, but this time it came with a bread and but I 16 years and leave it for 10 months; they believe that is how life is. some stuffs wrapped within the bread. build I thought a life for 10 months full of integrity and leave it that was the appetizer and still waited One thing every exchange student for the real forever. always thinks of is the comparison betw een their fish which never came. • In a place you don’t know, you will find home country and where they are hosted. the Thank you to the whole Vernonia They true self. all dream of having a lovely family and com mun ity and our host families. They changed good • If you are brave enough to say “goodb friends on their exchange year. There our lives and you should be proud of ye” life might be that. will reward you with a new “hello.” a lot of differences; from the organiza Thanks to our teachers, our coaches tion of And now to conclude, I would like to the host family, the way of interaction and to all those who organized the trips we have among say som ethi ng in my language, Swahili: people in the surrounding community had this year. and the “asa nten i sana nyote mbarikiwe,” “Thank you friends they make. But they strive real My heart is going to be in Vernonia ly hard all and be blessed.” to get used to the new environment with forever because I love you all. lots of culture shocks, different language and My exchange year is soon over and I most likely Paul Lemaron different accents but the funniest one is will leave my family and best friends to retu how rn to Exchange student people call different stuff. I am thankful my family and best friends. We might to all be leaving from Kenya those who never get angry when we try the states soon but keep in mind that for som asking e of us, it is not going to be a “goodbye,” it is a “see ts n ie ip c e R ip h s r la o h c S 2014 Vernonia tion Vernonia Education Associa Memorial Five-Star Trades Jessica Gardner Bridger Steward $1,000 $1,000 Gene Weller Memorial Laura Rice Hope Norton-Pavao Nikita McCord Tim Jennings $250 $250 $500 $500 nt Hancock Forest Manageme $500 Bridger Steward $500 Tim Jennings Hands-On Art Jessica Gardner Holce Logging Stephanie Castro Tori Dalebroux Tim Jennings Laura Rice Jessica Gardner Kaiser Permanente Stephanie Castro $300 $1,500 $1,500 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $2,000 Micky Bruers Jared Whitton OSEA Chapter 67 Mariah Cook $500 Mariah Cook $800 $250 VHS Alumni Tim Jennings $1,000 Pacif ic Lumber & Shipping $1,000 Laura Rice Vernonia Lions Club $500 Sarah Wagner $500 Jarred Whitton $1,000 Tim Jennings $1,000 Stephanie Castro P.E.O. Stephanie Castro Laura Rice $500 $500 Sisters Memorial Jonna Trabosh $500 Vernonia Boosters Hope Norton-Pavao Bridger Steward Laura Rice Jared Whitton Nikita McCord WOEC, Sam Hearing $1,000 Laura Rice $250 $250 $500 $500 $500 Zack Rumbolz Memorial $3,000 Bridger Steward Vernonia Community PTA $100 Jessica Gardner $400 Bridger Steward Wauna Federal Credit Union $750 Tim Jennings Chance to Become Jerrid Whitton $5,000
