September 11thth, 2007
Hello,
I'm Johanna Ward, and I'm a 7th-grade
student at Somers Middle School. I was interviewed and was
accepted to represent our nation and our community as a People to People Student
Ambassador to Italy, France
and Spain this summer. The objective of the program is to promote
international understanding while building leadership skills among America’s
youth. The 20-day experience includes meetings with government officials, interaction with other students my
age, educational activities, and a home stay with a host family. People
to People Student Ambassadors
are carefully interviewed and evaluated before their acceptance. I feel honored to have been selected and to
participate in such an important program.
I have done research and made a presentation on the Government
of France for my presentation project in preperation of our experience. French Government Enjoy!
We had a Lot of fundraisers to raise enough money to help pay for our tuitions. We had
rifle raffle, a Battle of the Bands, and an Ambassador Dinner. We sold candy bars, magazines and tree
seeds, and even had a booth at the local swap meet. Now, thanks to all my wonderful community,
friends and family, I've had the experience of my lifetime!
Things got off to a shaky start. Our travel itenerary had a time warp, so we had to leave a
day earlier and take a bus from Missoula, to Billings to catch an earlier flight. Well, the
bus was a little late, then after we boarded and said good bye to our families, the bus over-heated.
So we went back to the station and caught another one! The bus ride was long and although we
had dvd players to watch, not one of us thought to bring a dvd! We made it to Billings and had just a
few hours of sleep. Well, sort of, we had to get up at 3:00AM to get ready to catch our flight!
Tuesday, July 10th, 2007 Rome, Italy
We made it to Italy and went from the airport directly to see the Roman Forum & coloseum!
The Coliseum was constructed in 80 AD and could seat 50,000 spectators!
Cool! We got to see all these cool ancient buildings and Julius Ceaser's Tomb!
We learned about the games and gladiators! We had
lots of fun and when we checked into our rooms that night, we were T.I.R.E.D.!
Tuesday, July 11th, 2007 Rome & Vatican
We learned about the Vatican and visited the Sistine Chapel! The Vatican is the
world's smallest country! We saw St. Peter's cathedral, the Pieta, the Panthion,
the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain! The art was VERY NICE! Rafael died
in his 30s. My favorite part was seeing the pictures on the ceilings! The
statues were cool too, but some were a little disturbing!
Tuesday, July 12th, 2007 Assisi, Italy
We went towards Perugia and visited a chocolate factory! We enjoyed the samples!
Then we went to Asisi where Brotherr Sun, Sister Moon was filmed. We went to a
church and monastery of Saint Francis, the animal saint in the 12th century and
talked to a person who worked there. There was a guy who should have been a lot
nicer though. I thought it was a very interesting day!
Tuesday, July 13th, 2007 Assisi, Italy
We went repelling of a castle wall! We met some Austrailian and New Zealand People
and had a lot of fun! At first, when I was leaning backwards, I was very scared!
After that I was just fine. Some people cried, but I think everyone tried it!
It was awesome! Then we had galatto and it was YUMMY!
Tuesday, July 14th, 2007 Montecatini, Italy
We went to the leaning tower of Pisa! Then we picked up garbage in a park and
got to see the Medditrranean Sea! In all, it was so much fun and I absolutly
loved it! The tower was begun in 1173 and finished in 1350! The tower started
to tilt in 1274 before they even got the third level finnished!
Tuesday, July 15th, 2007 Montecatini, Italy
We learned about Florence and went to art galleries. We saw sculptures made by Michelangelo
and the origenal David statue! We went shopping and then made pizza with a famous chef!
I gave him a copy of one of my cookbooks, and he gave me his cheff's hat! Cool! We saw
Duomo the famous symbol of Florence and the tallest building in the city and the 4th
largest cathedral in Europe! We saw the "Gate of Paradise" and I bought a leather wallet
for my grampa!
Tuesday, July 16th, 2007 LaSpezia, Italy
We went on a boat cruise along the coast and it was a lot of fun! Then we went
to the beach and it was awesome! Then we went on an easy hike back to the bus.
It was very tiring, but very fun, all at the same time!
Italy 2007 Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 17th, 2007 Cannes, France
We went to Monaco and to a parfum factory! We bought some parfum cheaper than
you could buy it in the stores! I bought 3 kinds! One for my mom, one for my sisters
to share, and one for me for a special memory.
Tuesday, July 18th, 2007 Cannes & Nice France
We toured Cannes & Nice, a famous resort on the French Riviera! We got to see
Elton John's house! Wow! It was awesome! Then we went to the beach and swam
in the Mediterranean! Then we went bowling! It was a lot of fun!
Tuesday, July 19th - 21st, 2007 Home Stay, France
We went to Dragiugnan and visited the Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial.
It is the last resting place of 861 soldiers who were killed in 1944.
We saw the 2000 year-old Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct. Then we met and went
home with our homestay families! We started ours at their pool and Kayla,
Micayla, Sophie, Sara and I got to go together to a Great family! They let
us stay in the whole top floor of their huge house! I went to take a shower
and it had so many sprays and gadgets, I was in there for a lot longer then the
5-10 minutes I thought it would take. It was So Cool!
Our home-stay was very fun! They had a daughter, my sister's age and it made me
think of my sisters. She showed us her dance and I cought it on my video on my
camera to show my family! Their nephew was there too. He was our age, but both
kids seemed small for their ages, but they were cool. They had a bird named Kicco
that let me hold it, but tried to bite Sophie. They took us for a night picnic on
the beach and it was so Awesome! Then we went to a fun fare! They also took
us to a music store, so I could
try to find some music to take to my mom, and the store let you listen to the
music before you buy, but I just couldn't decide. While we were there, a video was
playing that I watched with my practice host family before I left the US so we
discussed the movie! I loved my home-stay so much! It was so Fun! I would love
to do it all over again!
Tuesday, July 22, 2007 Carcassonne, France
We met back up with our delegation and toured the medieval walled city of
Carcassonne, where the 1991 film, Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, was filmed.
We explored the narrow winding streets and towers and sadly said good-bye to
our home-stay family and got on a bus for Barcelona, Spain.
France 2007 Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 23rd, Barcelona, Spain
We went to Tautavel and saw a skeleton of a man who lived 450,000 years ago! So
Cool! We had more fun and even celebrated Adrian's birthday!
Tuesday, July 24th, 2007 Barcelona, Spain
We got to cook Paella with some chefs! Before I left the US, I helped my
mom cook a Paella dish but this one was vegitarian! We had a tour of Barcelona
and my favorite part of that was the church! It was by Antonio Gaudi, Spain's
most famous architect! It was begun in 1882 and is still under construction!
It is a very decorative structure! Amazing! Then we went to dinner at a
resteraunt for dinner and some people were doing the Flemanco dance! Then one
of the guys pulled me onto the dance floor and taught me some moves! He was
surprised at how well I kept up! It was Micayla's birthday, so we all sang
Happy Birthday to her and got up and danced in our own ways to some different music.
It was such a fun day!
Tuesday, July 25th, 2007 Zaragoza, Spain
We stayed the night in Zaragoza, Spain and had a tour of Basilica de Nuestra
Senora del Pilar, a cathedralthat takes its name from a pillar on which the
Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to St. James in 40 AD. Then we drove
the rest of the way to Madrid.
Tuesday, July 26th, 2007 Madrid, Spain
We toured on the bus all morning and saw the Royal Palace. Pretty cool. Then
we got together with the Rocena Youth League and played Soccer! I was sure
ready for playing with kids! I had so much fun playing soccer and I didn't
think I even liked soccer before I left the US! It was so Awesome! I had a lot
of fun!
Tuesday, July 27th, 2007 Madrid, Spain
We toured Toledo and had an awesome time! It had winding cobbled streets and a
cathedral, but I was even more impressed going into a sword factory! I bought
a real sword and a dagger to send home! My parents are going to mount the sward
as a keep-sake, but the dagger, that couldn't be sharpened before custums, will
be used as a decorative letter opener. That was fun, but then we went to a bull
farm! We learned about Matadors and bull fighting and horses, but my favorite
part were the pigs! Then the day got even better when we went to the Hard Rock Cafe
for dinner! That was my favorite part of the day! I loved it!
Spain 2007 Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 28th, 2007 Headed Home to USA!
We had some phone card issues while in Europe so communication was minimal to our families. We are
back as of 7/30/07. We had some airline connection issues and stayed a night in New York City before
comming home! My mom is going to try to read my notes and upload some photos this week and I'm headed to
Alaska to see my Grandma & Grandpa & cousins. I'll help Mom sort and revise when I get back.
We will write more and add photos as we can to keep you all posted.
People to People Ambassador Programs
RE Johanna Ward Delegate ID 812851
Dwight D eisenhower Building
110 South Ferrall Street
Spokane, WA 99202-4800
You may learn more about this program at www.studentambassadors.org and
feel free to contact me if you have any other questions 844-2580. Your generous
contributions helped enable me to share in this wonderful opportunity. Thank You!
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Johanna Ward
Student Ambassador
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