So thanksgiving, first one that I was not at in my life happened yesterday. I would say I'm thankful for many things, but some are more apparent now than others. Firstly though I promised my mom that I would do some things I'm thankful for here in Slovakia, fair enough I am here and not there. #1 I'm thankful for my first host family, I may not always get along with the host mom but I couldn't ask for a better host brother and host dad, and I'm coming to realize that my host mom is like every other Slovak mom so she is not bad either. #2 having a few great friends from around the world, Taiwan, Slovakia , Brazil, just to name a few they are why I am here, I have some of the most amazing friends ever. #3 I am extremely happy for the opportunity to be here, it wasn't easy nor fun to get to where I am at now but I am glad that I am here. Now for the things that are most important to me and what I am truly thankful for. MIA FAMIGLIA, I've always been thankful for them but I never knew how much I truly loved and cared for them until I went on exchange. Even my non blood family means the world to me and I now realize that I don't make friends, I make a family. What you would call my friends, I would call brothers, they are what I have and what I care about. Now mom don't get upset here but I am going to mention dad and acknowledged him, sorry. I am extremely thankful for my parents, especially my dad because now I see how he has shaped and molded me with the advice he gives unbiased and showing both sides, yet still allowing me to make the deduction for my self and grow from that, right or wrong, he lets me choose for myself and has faith that I will do the right thing. Thank you Dad.  Mom I can't forget you though, I love you a bunch, so all I have to say to you is, MORE! So that's what I am thankful for and can't wait to get back for next years thanksgiving!

"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life."

Richard Bach

Creatures of habit and consistency tend to play thing safe for obvious reasons. Change is necessary but those who like patterns in life don't necessarily take this change in the best ways. Being a creature of habit and consistency and being an  exchange student is more than a fish out of water situation. It's more like a platypus in the desert kind of situation. I knew I was a creature of habit and tended to not like change. Not until I went on exchange did I fully know the extent of that though. I feel I could survive here but not really thrive here and that is for a few reasons. First of there's really no consistency in life here, it's a crapshoot of what is next. Unlike my life in America where I had a pretty regular schedule between work practice and family life, here that is not such. The friends are not capable of being a friend like those I have at home, my friends at home have developed over years and took almost a year before I would actually hang out with one of them, so for me to say I have friends here after three months is hard for me to do. Also I can not use sarcasm here because they do not understand it and think Im serious, nor can I be mean to anyone because you just can't here, you have to tread very lightly and I don't do that all to well at times. Sometimes I just like to be the famous picture of Johnny Cash with that finger flying and the word formed on his lips. "Sometimes I am two people. Johnny is the nice one. Cash causes all the trouble. They fight."-Johnny Cash 
Am I happy I am here, yes, I would say this is the most adventurous, a test of will power, and strenuous thing I have ever done. And when asked why did I do this before I left, I truly didn't have an answer to why I dos this, now I have the answer. The answer to why I became an exchange student. To prove to my self that I could do something so challenging and difficult, and FINNISH IT. Some of you know me very well and would know that I tend to not finish projects quite often. And I suppose in a way I had to show my self that I was capable of setting out on something and achieving it. Now I probably could have chose something simpler. But this was something extraordinary and a wonderful opportunity to get out and explore, while still proving something to myself. So Mike Rich. When you asked me a while back in the early summer why I wanted to be an exchange student and I said I don't know but I'm happy I'm here. Well I figured out the answer so there you are.

I have come to the realization that as Americans, we tend to become independent at a very early age. In my case I started to become independent around 15 when I started my first job. At 15.5 even more independent with a drivers license. By the age of 18 I feel like I was very independent for my age, buy my own clothes, gas, food at times, and held a steady job. But being an exchange student at least from the USA, I feel like I have become 12 again even though I am 18. I cant go anywhere without help from someone, whether that is a ride somewhere, or explanation of how to get there or so on. Nor can I call my friends and say hey meet me in the bowling alley in 30, or my house in 40 for a bonfire. You cant do it here, first off students don't work here, and if by some miracle they do, its only for like one or two days a week, and their pay is virtually 0. Second they cant drive until they are 18, so they rely on busses and parents. For me being dependent is unnatural and physically discomforting. Also you have to watch your back with whatever you do because rotary over here has so many minuet rules, that one misunderstanding can screw the pooch on a lot of things. I feel like I am dependent and have wiped away half of my life and started over again at 12 even though I really haven't. It truly sucks in a way.

Ok so just a quick update of my day and some things that have recently transpired. Today on my 15km hike, yes I am so done with hiking but at least I'm not siting at home. All of the falling leaves made me think of the thought of the day, so here it is. Falling leaves are like peoples thoughts, you cant catch every single one but if you can catch one or two good ones, who knows what they might bring. The ones that are never caught will just fertilize the tree, growing more leaves to fall later. so with that being said I caught a good leaf I think and I'm going to follow my though through. I am going to be writing a tell all book about my experience here, good bad, the drama (clearly there is drama all my friends here are girls except my host brother, well he can be a girl at times so yes only girls.), all the things you really should know and shouldn't know about an exchange. Not going to sugar coat anything to the best of my ability. I have no clue how this is going to turn out but I can say this, it will be an interesting read when finished. oh and just an fyi I've lost roughly 15 pounds while here. give or take.

Reflecting on the Week

There are days in life when you know you made the wrong decision or maybe the right decision. How we as individuals deal with that though is what defines us. Some live in the past and reminisce about what they would do differently or what they messed up and would want to change. Some live only in the good part of the past and forget the bad, those who don't learn from their mistakes are bound to repeat their mistakes. Yet on the contrary those who live only in their regrets never move on and are stuck in an infinite loop of what ifs and what could have been. Neither of these options are a suitable life for a person. You must live in the present and future, make things happen for your self, if you mess up ok get back up dust off and move on, I'm not saying completely forget your mess up therefore you will have to repeat it, but do not wallow in the sorrow of messing up, take the lesson that you learned the hard way and RUN. Those who learn and grow through trial and error are bound for greatness in their own lives, maybe not the worlds definition of greatness, but their own definition of greatness and happiness. If you don't let regret and fear lead you, as Han once said "Life is simple, you make choices and don't look back." I know I'm not perfect, I'm no where near perfect but I try to live my life close to this saying I make a choice, I live with it, for better or for worse, I live with the decision I made. I realized today that I missed a pitch perfect opportunity, but I made a choice and I'm living with it and just have to hope that opportunity presents its self at a later time. "Life's simple make choices and don't look back".

Dance The Night Away

Ok so Wednesday night my school had what they call Imatrikulacion or what it should be called is first year students hazing and dance. Very strange, first hour was the seniors hazing the freshman, in front of teacher, ya not really gonna happen in America but ok different country different culture. Then the night turned to dancing, I hate these formal dances where you dress formally and dance like buffoons, I think its totally redundant to dress nice and then act like an idiot hopping all over. So I've never had fun at any school dance and this one was the same way for about the first hour. Didn't like dancing, neither did a class mate named Ana who moved here from Russia in February. I wen up to the balcony and just watched, until my classmates saw me and were waving me down to dance, I knew if I didn't go they would come up to get me, so I turned around and started to walk down, then I noticed Ana reading a book in the corner. Uuhh no if I'm going your coming with. She did and slowly as the night progressed we both started to dance more and more and act like fools and it was an overall good night, I actually had fun at a school dance for the first time ever. At the end of the night I told Ana thank you because I've never danced like that before or had fun at one of these things. The best part is she said. "No thank you because normally I sit in the corner at these things and just watch, I only dance like that in my room MAYBE." It was a very neat moment, two foreigners not knowing this place, and both slightly reserved, throwing caution to the wind and having a fun evening together due to a common interest of not liking to dance and ending up dancing, in the infamous words of David Lee Roth and Van Halen "Danced the night away." So thank you Ana for making a high school dance fun for once.

On a foot note, some of you may say he's not reserved, yes and no is my answer. I have no problem making fun of my self to break the ice in any situation, but I am reserved about the way I look at public functions, aka dancing, public speaking, playing my musical instrument, so on and so on. The end of this blog post was technically before this foot note, so you can just ignore it if you want. Oh wait you didn't know that until just now so HA.

Alright those of you who know me, know that I tend to give people multiple chances, just the way I am. Once you've ran out of chances though I could care less. Definitely two out of the nine foreign exchange students have reached that point and a third is desperately close to the edge of being there as well. I'm sorry but living in a foreign country you have to be aware of your surroundings at all times, your self, people, buildings, cars, just be aware. Because you are on your OWN, you don't have mommy or daddy to take care of you if you fuck up its on you and you alone. Now in America I feel like I was a little more independent than I am here just for the fact that I could drive, but I would buy my own clothes, just some simple stuff like that. I knew how to get places and not get lost 95% of the time. But here you have to be even more in control because you don't know this land as well as your home. Therefore you cant treat it like you are home and not pay attention. I you have to repeatedly ask what a word is when we are in Slovak class maybe you should get your head out of that damn smartphone and pay attention instead of asking what a kniha (Book) is every five minuets for three weeks worth of lessons! Or maybe if I tell you simple directions to get three blocks from where you are you could just simply remember it instead of wait I'm at the intersection which way do I turn again. "RIGHT". Oh ya I remember now, no you clearly don't if you have to continually ask it. Or if your going to an event and you get 3/4 of the way there and realize you forgot your tickets. How do you forget the ticket to the singular thing you are doing that NIGHT, HOW! I'm tired of taking care of and looking out for these individuals. So good luck, hope you become more independent and aware of your surroundings, like the way I was brought up.

Alright so I am going to unlock the depths of my mind here and allow the general public in for a secret and elusive viewing of what goes on in there. Today at my Rotary meeting something occurred to me. First off, Thanks Mom and Dad this ones about you. Rotary meetings here are absolutely boring, we don't understand anything and are almost never talked to, so we just sit there for two hours every Monday. Today as I sat there bored as hell I noticed something, One exchange student missing, and the other two buried in their phones. Now I may not know what's going on or what's being said, but I do understand one thing. Some one talks you pay attention even if you don't care what they are saying, if you disagree with what they are saying, or you don't even understand the language. You give them respect. It occurred to me that my parents raised me right and I am so thankful words cant even express. I pay attention, I open doors for people, I give them the front seat in a car even if I was already there, I get out and move to the back, it is respect, you respect your elders no matter what and you are polite, no questions asked. in a foreign country a few things will get you very far, being polite and showing some respect. What shocked me more was that even the Rotarians themselves were on their phones for most of the meeting, not paying attention to what was being said. I was one of four people in a room of over 15 that did not have their phone out, even the president checked his phone a few times! It was just the way I was brought up, just like how you stop for a funeral. Its respect, give respect and you will receive it as well. So Mom, Dad, Thank you, And I love ya'll. I'm not going to end there, I'm going to end on this quote.
“Parents rarely let go of their children, so children let go of them.
They move on. They move away.
The moments that used to define them are covered by
moments of their own accomplishments.

It is not until much later, that
children understand;
their stories and all their accomplishments, sit atop the stories
of their mothers and fathers, stones upon stones,
beneath the water of their lives.”
― Paulo Coelho
LOVE  
Aaron
            

High Tetras

Ok so I know I haven't posted here in a long time. Sorry but host family was ill for a few weeks and we went no where. But this past Sunday we went to the high tetras. And it was amazing and fun and very beautiful. That day while there I get this from my dad. "As I am driving the Scout home from Brian's, I have the thought of the day "You only have one pass at life, use it wisely!"" I replied with this photo and saying "like this?" 

Yes this is a live fox. Yes I took this picture. No there is no zoom. And no there is not any filters on it. This is how close I was to the fox about 2-3 feet away, and it was a very neat experience. So my advice to you readers from my dad is this. "You only have one pass at life, use it wisely!"

Well that was mildly disappointing. While sitting in the hall because I don't have a class this period I notice sour skittles in the vending machine. I thought to myself hey I haven't had those in years. I think I'll get some and it'll be like to good days with the skittles coated In the sour goodness that could melt your face off. So I bought them and opened it and sadly they looked like normal skittles, not coated in anything and the sourness was now on the inside and no where near as potent as they used to be. Just a little disappointing.

So last Friday was a full month at school and they told us that now we needed to wear different shoes once in school to keep it cleaner. I couldn't help but laugh my ass of at this because where I come from it was normal to see mud, cow shit and even some dip on the floor at my school. So for them to tell us to wear different shoes to keep the school cleaner, which by the way doesn't have a spec of dirt or mud on the floor just seemed utterly hilarious to me.

Ok Its one month here in Slovakia and today was an eventful day mentally not physically I didn't do anything today. Today I figured out why my host mom pisses me off every time she speaks to me. First of her facial expressions towards me are rude and demeaning, like I'm a ten year old. Secondly she uses the word must in every sentence, you must pay the check, you must know math, you must ask if you have question in class, you must know Slovak, you must have the email, you must have plan after school no?, you must you must you MUST! If you truly know me well enough most of you know I have problem with excessive command placed upon oneself. No I don't have to know math, no I don't have to have a plan, no I don't have to be hungry. I DONT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING I DONT WANT TO IM GONNA LIVE MY LIFE LIKE I WANT TO. Might there be consequences for somethings I don't do or things I will do, yes but I know that there are consequences and am fully prepared to accept them for what they may be. I know what I truly must do and I know what's truly an option. "It's my life it's now or never I ain't gonna live forever I just want to live while I'm alive it's my life my hearts like an open highway like Frankie said "I did it my way""--- Bon Jovi. Also today is a memorable day because the Cubs are three wins away from clinching a wild card spot! And in worse new, Yogi Berra dies today at the age of 90. "It's not over, until its over"--Yogi Berra. Well Yogi, sadly it is over.

Ok I can't believe I just found the record of my dreams in mint condition at what I consider a reasonable price. For those of you that don't know the importance of this let me inform you a little bit. This was guns n roses first album and first cover, most of you in the United States though know the other cover where it's the four members skull characters on a cross, this is because when this cover first came out, women's rights activists said it portrayed rape and humility torwards women, and had it banned in the United States, there fore only a couple hundred got out into the public in America because gnr was that big yet, they were just starting. I've always wanted an original because in my opinion it is a cool price of history and of cours great music. So there is you education lesson on gnr for to day. Oh and there's an interesting story behind the song rocket queen of any one wants to look it up, because well it's a little inappropriate to post here.

Nice way to end the day by launching a Chinese lantern with some hopes and dreams floating away hopefully to be achieved some day. Mine was the last one to be extinguished and you can barley see it in the first photo in the center, it's faint, the. The next twoine is on the far left of both pictures, in a way it was peaceful and relaxing to watch this float away

Ok I just got bitched at for holding a fork in the wrong hand because it's considerd rude to hold it with your right hand!!! Like WTF! I'm right handed why in the world would I hold it in my left hand if I'm right handed! Ik the fork is set on the left of the plate but that should t mean it is illegal to hold it with your right hand, I can't tell you that is not going to change and I'm sorry f that pisses them off but it is unatural for me in the left hand, it's staying in my right hand.

Drag week

Ok HotRod magazine is hosting drag week this week and of course I'm following it, the fastest street legal cars are all in one spot, who wouldn't follow. This car though has to be one of my favorites for this event. It's a 1973 AMC Javelin, all steel body, drove by Bryant Goldstone. It put up the first six second quarter mile pass this week at drag week and is one bad car, not to be messed with.

Started making a guitar here in slovakia yesterday. Should be interesting

The problem with having multiple slovak lessons from multiple teachers is that you star over multiple times.

Ok I Just got back from Strecno for the inbound orientation meeting. I had fun but it was a lot of presentations in a short amount of time. I met a ton of awesome people and loved the scenery. We went to Hrad Strecno which is Slovak for Strecno Castle, but weren't allowed in the castle only the court yard because our group was over the 50 person limit, what a bummer. Oh ya language, ha that brings up a good point. I completely BOMBED that Slovak test at the meeting. I'm trying to learn but I don't memorize stuff well nor do I take tests very well, but the language tests determine who goes to ski week and euro tour, so hopefully I will be all good for the next two, fingers crossed. Over all I am enjoying my start to exchange, hard to believe it has already been three weeks. today was probably the hardest for me so far, some things were said that brought emotion to my life today. But as the great band once stated. "If you wanna live life on your own terms, you gotta be willing to crash and burn" -- Motley Crue -- Well I definitely crashed today and it burned, but that sure isn't going to stop me from living my own life, time to get back up shake off the dust and move on.
For now, Peace, Love
Aaron

I am posting this now because I will not have time tomorrow to do so. Yesterday my host mom asked if I was sad because I looked like I was sad, I said no, which at the time I wasn't. Looking back at yesterday and today I realized I was a little sad and had a lot on my mind. Because it occurred to me that tomorrow at 8:45 am or 2:45pm my time that it will mark the 14th anniversary of 9/11. It makes me sad because it was a tragic day in our history and our lives would never be the same, but what really makes me sad it that My age group (18) is the last ones that actually remember that day. I first noticed this last year at Heritage when they held the moment of silence for 9/11, the freshmen and sophomores continued chatting like nothing was going on. They didn't remember that day so it wasn't important to them even though some of them knew what happened. the Junior class knew what went on and some were silent and some chatted. but it was only the senior class that I noticed was completely silent except for a select few. We remembered that day and what it was like. That is when I knew we were the last youngest ones that truly feel the pain from that day. It then occurred to me here that, do they know what tomorrow is or is it just another day for them. so I asked some of my class mates and they had "learned ABOUT it" but they had no emotional attachment to the day whatsoever unlike we do. Rotary's motto is peace through understanding, but I don't think I will ever understand why, nor will the scar left ever fully heal. I would just like to say that I truly admire and applaud all the men and women that helped in any way they could even if by sacrificing their own life's to save another's, on that dreadful day. And to leave two quotes here I think these are fitting one from Cynthia Ozick. "What we remember from childhood we remember forever — permanent ghosts, stamped, inked, imprinted, eternally seen." And here is the other one, “Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children. ”
– President George W. Bush, November 11, 2001
9/11

Class mates!

School wasn't too good. didn't understand a thing, don't know what classes I'm taking and there is a teacher that has crazy eyes, I thought that was just a joke from how I met your mother but no its real. Students were nice though. Got invited to coffee afterwards everyone was really nice although you can tell when they talk about you in slovak it's especially odd when the only English part of their conversation about you is "parents wouldn't like" um excuse me lol had fun though. And am looking forward to tomorrow. And a quote here that reflects how I look at my life right now. "Some men see things as they are, and say why, I dream of things that never were, and say why not." Bobby Kennedy

  Found these today in the historic distric with shop where things are hand made. Not cheap in my book lol. But They will make good gifts. Except the light pole on that's mine sorry people

Oh oh oh oh look a lifted DODGE HALELUJIA A REAL TRUCK!!!!!! Wish I could have met the owner to say thanks lol

Felt a little homesick today but I'm telling you what today I found the same shampoo I use at home and deodorant that was close enough and man do I feel like I'm at home now that I smell the way I want. No more home sickness.  As I'm writing this it occurs to that this sounds really strange. But oh well what's new everything is strange except my shampoo and deoderant lol.

First day of school was only an hour... Ok I'm fine with that. Headmaster talked to everyone for a few minuets and we were done. The. I found a Porsche! Now only if I could find some one to take me on the autobahn.... Oh well. Now I'm exploring down down.

All I have to say is no a million times. No way I would be up on that tower with only a rope no way ever!

Alright mustang! Finally some iffy american muscle to bad it's a v6

Did some one say white wedding???? I spotted a young billy idol, look he's even got the groupies!!

Ok the first week came to an end yesterday and it is official all of us here (Gabriel, Diego, Mannah, and I) agree that the tourist effect has worn off and we now have the realization that we are here for a year! school starts Wednesday and we all will make some more friends and life will be better, but it still an odd feeling knowing this is where I am for a year. The people are extremely kind and try to make you feel as comfortable as possible. Unless you try to block them from getting the puck or hit them. That is really frowned upon over here in hockey, oh well not too many friends on the opposing team now! On Saturday I met with Mannah and her host brother Stephan (I think), we went to what was called Hip-Hop party.... ya no it was Slovak rap, and more like a club than party, but it was fun and different, and I have no words for how the people dress here, First off are you 32 or 22 I cant tell, Secondly everyone dressed like they're 20 no matter how old they actually are. Things are a little different but I am having fun and to leave you with a quote. here is a good one for anybody no matter what you are going through.

“Any game becomes important when you know and love the players.”
― W.P. Kinsella

things are different

Man Slovak Hockey is ridiculous! they find every hole you leave open its amazing and frustrating at the same time. it also would have helped if I dint feel crammed into my pads. they were meant for someone half my diameter lol. thankfully I will play as a player Sunday not a goalie. also there are no stops in play its an hour straight no refs, they score a goal you dig it out of the net and pass it to a player and the game goes on. no faceoff nothing! ok now the locker room is strange. Really no privacy, door to rink wide open and everyone walking around in towels or less ill let you figure out the rest of that image, but ok whatever its fine just different. oh and a pair of genuine leather boots from Germany for 35 American Dollars, SERIOUSLY!?!? Yes I will take them! although the Records are really expensive. An album I would buy in the states for 2 American Dollars it around 12 usd! but the rare Europe covers are reasonable around 15-20 here when I would pay 40-50 in the states, something is wrong here lol. And to whom it may concern Blogger is not letting me upload photos from computer so all gopro photos and videos will end up on Facebook from now on. only photos from phone will be on blogger. Sorry for the inconvenience.

First game here as a goalie and I look at my skates to make sure they are still dull I finally got them the way I like them and come to find out host dad sharpened them with out asking me >:( I just got them where I liked them!

Tower at city centre. climbed that tower. Will post pics later of the climb, ridiculously small space.

Me at town centre

Warning dad I found a record store. No records bought today. But look at those covers you can not find these in America take it from me if you aren't a record collector. Impossible to find.

Two of the nicest cars I've seen here a humer! And a Bentley! Seriously a Bentley?!?

A view from a watchtower on top of a mountain overlooking Kosice 

Nuke!

First nuke sign I've seen here on my stay, puts me in the mind set of what it was like here in the past? Must have been a time of worry and danger.

The plane ride from yesterday. The thing was so small a gust of wind could have flipped the thing almost.

Anyone want some hockey it's the Kosice hockey club in blue.

Long first day in Kosice but was fun. First police station to become legal then lunch with my host dad and his friend, then coffee in his hockey shop. Then a mall to look for a SIM card for here. Exchanged american dollars to euros, exchange rate not good but oh well. Back to police station to see if our number was getting close, which it was thankfully! Met with Mannah Mace and Gabriel Khater at police station oh and found out Gabriel is going to the same school as I am. Then went for a plane ride after police station. Finally home. Oh Ya did I mention I saw an Indian motorcycle! 

Landed in Vienna Austria. Beautiful entry through clouds upon landing

They're singing go Cubs go go Cubs go hey chicago what do you say the Cubs are gonna win today. Great to see one of my favorite places ever one last time before I leave for slovakia even if it was only from the plane. P.Gunderson 👼

Planes here!

Off I go. Wheels up in 1:06hr

Guillotine anyone?

Only Alice Cooper can pull off being a 20ft Frankenstein!

Tim for Alice Cooper. No more mister nice guy here. Sorry

I'm speechless. Thanks 5th 3rd!

 Had a great one last weekend over in Troy Ohio for the IH scout and light truck nationals. Here are some pictures I took while there. Enjoy.