PAHIYAS FESTIVAL

I had the chance to experience one of the traditional Festivals in the Philippines. The Pahiyas Festival is in Lucban and many houses are decorated with native products. All the Rotex had three colourful days there.

Already in eight days I will leave the Philippines and I can’t imagine that’s time to say goodbye. I’m so thankful for everybody I met here and for everything I was able to experience. It will be hard to go back, but I’m looking forward to see my family and friends again. I will miss the Philippines so much! I’m glad I could spend so an amazing year on the other side of the world. :D

Have a colourful day! (:

Andrea

Let's start!

decoration!

International Love!

Rotex in Lucban

traditional costume

20 awesome days with my parents!

For twenty days I have been travelling with my parents around the Philippines and it was definitely amazing. Meeting them at the airport in Manila after nine months was really overwhelming. During the first week we travelled around North Luzon.

sinking Bell Tower

First stop: Banaue with the breathtaking Riceterraces

Banaue

Second stop: Sagada, an adorable mountain village

a waterfall in Sagada

Third stop: Vigan, a village, colonized by the Spain

on the way to Viga

Empenadas

Fourth stop: Bagiuo, the cold city (only around 26 degrees)

Bildunterschrift hinzufügen

Fifth stop: Hundred Island, a must-seen

Sixth stop: Pinatubo Volcano, one of the most impressive landscape, I have ever seen

Pinatubo!

Seventh stop: back in Manila, the busy city with a lot of traffic

Intramuros in Manila

The tour included many hours in the car, but we enjoyed to see the different sceneries along the way.

After that we spent a week near Dumaguete, which is located in the Visayas (Southern Islands). We enjoyed the beach, sun, heat, doing nothing, reading, swimming, snorkelling and for sure the food. We also made different trips, but I didn’t take the camera with me.

paradise!

One day before my birthday we went back to Manila. We visited my three host families and in the evening we had a Welcome-Party for my parents, which was organised by my host club.

My birthday was a big thing – so big that I will make another post about it later. Unfortunately I haven’t got the pictures yet. I definitely enjoyed my 18^th birthday and I will never forget this day! Thanks to all the birthday wishes from all over the world and thanks to everybody who made my Debut so memorable.

The next day we made the Taal-Trekking with the other Rotex. This volcano is now a days the most dangerous volcano in the Philippines.

finally on the top

Taal Lake

Then it was already time to say goodbye. It was great to show my parents my second home and to see even more places in the Philippines. Thanks for everything, Dad and Mom. And to my beloved sister I missed you and it was strange to be an only child. Since another chapter is finished, the last chapter started and I can’t believe I only have two weeks left.

See you soon, Andrea

I wanna dance and love and dance again!

On April 7 we had our Send-Off Party from Rotary, because one of the Exchange Students will leave tomorrow. We got our certificates and a surprise from Governor Dennis.

surprise from Gov. Dennis

Send- Off Party

After that all Rotex headed to Lipa and practiced there the whole week for our dance at the District Conference. Every day we practiced around three hours. It was a lot of fun, but also really tiring! On Friday we went to the Discon and performed our Dance number on the first evening. We were glad that we made it. Around 400 Rotarians were watching us.  I really enjoyed the time with the Rotex, because we realized how fast our time is running out.

Entrance

With MacKenzie :)

before the Dance Performance

my Rotex family

We did it! :D

Dinner at T.G.I.F. :)

Enjoying our life!

In four days my parents will arrive! YEAH – I’m sooo excited, but it’s also strange, because it has been nine months I haven’t seen them.

See you soon, Andrea

One more :)

For Holy Week I went with my host family to Siquijor. This island is known for the witches, who apparently lived there in the past. I spent amazing days there. Most of the time, we enjoyed to swim, to explore the island or just to do nothing. My host aunt’s family and my host grandparents joined us. It’s amazing to be a part of their family. Thank you very much for everything! When we talked to the owner of the hotel I thought she is German or Swiss. It finally turned out that the owners are a Swiss couple. I really enjoyed having normal bread for breakfast – it has been eight months I haven’t had that. Anyways, I saw another island of the 7107 and really enjoyed it!

Happy belated Easter to everyone!

Andrea

first sunset in the hotel

the resort

one of our villa

100 year old tree

second sunset

my little sister - cutie :)

the port