Home Again

Back home - the trip was awesome and time seemed to fly.  Thank you to everyone for your support and your help in making this trip possible.  It was an amazing experience and a memory I will treasure for life.  Thank you!!!

2 weeks left

I cannot believe it - down to 14 days and 15 hours!  Starting to get a little nervous now but very excited.  Think that I have everything I need except the electric converter.  My homestay is going to be in France and I will be repairing and doing maintenance at a public park in Italy for my community service.  Met with a family friend over the past week who reviewed some of her Italian with me.  Cannot wait to hear it in Italy! 

41 days left

Well the countdown is here.  It seems like I am counting off a lot of things right now, 9 days of school left, 15 days until my Biology Final, and 41 days until I leave for Europe.  I have taken my last class for People 2 People and am in the final stages of preparing to leave.  Still need to exchange the money, pack the suitcase, and pick up last minute essentials but that is what I love about my mom, she is all over that. 
 

Spaghetti Dinner - Thank you

Thank you to everyone who came out on Saturday night - as well as those who did take out or ordered delivery.  It was so much fun - the Brewsters were awesome and such a delight to listen to.  We were able to raise $900 and we owe so many people thanks.  Thank you to Father Tom of the Immaculate Conception Church for allowing us to use the church hall, thanks to the Brewsters for providing such great music (as well as being such great friends), thanks to Anns Salon for helping us promote the event as well as use the Sam's membership to purchase all of the food.  Thanks to Linda O'Dell for her tireless help in the kitchen, with clean up, etc.  She is truly a great friend and we would be lost without her.  Thank you Mariea Rousseau for baking desserts and being so supportive.  Thank you McAuliffe's Landscaping for their generous donation as well as Margaret Merwin for hers.  Thanks to Artistic Hair, Hoosick True Value, Fararra's Restaurant, Ann's Salon, Upsy Daisy for the raffle items.  Thanks to my family (Bill, Dallas, Chris, Courtney, Bob, Aiden, etc.) for their continued love and support as well as for busting their butts to pull this off.  I cannot thank anyone enough!  Lori and Anthony.

Thank You

I wanted to thank TROJAN ENERGY SYSTEMS and ANN'S SALON for their generous support and sponsorship.  I cannot thank you enough for the help you have provided Anthony and I in preparing for his trip - both financially and emotionally.  Also, thank you to:  Suttonscapes, Staring's Pest Control, Pizza Bella, Denim and Deeds Real Estate, Farrara's Restaurant, Artistic Hair, Hoosick True Value for their donations.

Thank you does not seem to cover it but your donations/support are truly appreciated!
Lori Chapones

65 Days To Go

Down to 65 days until I leave.  Things are begining to speed up - the assignments are wrapping up and I am preparing my term project with my teammates.  We are also wrapping up the fundraising as the final pymt. is due 6/1.  Please join us for the Spaghetti Dinner on 5/14 from 5:30-7:30 at the Immaculate Conception Church Hall - entertainment is being provided from 6:30-8:00 by the Brewster Band.  Should be A Ton of fun.  Hope to see you there!

Approaching Fast

Down to 72 days to go - I cannot believe how fast it is going.  Of course it is also great that there are only like 32 actual school days left.  I spent the weekend completing my hotel behavior worksheets.  Three pages of what if scenarios.  Some of the scenarios seem a little far fetched like if I see someone climbing off of their balcony what will I do but others are reasonable questions like what to do if I cannot hear the instructions from my leader or if I feel unsafe while doing my homestay.  I have just discovered my homestay was going to be in France.  I was kind of hoping for Italy as that is the country I am most interested in but France will be exciting too.  A little nervous about staying w/complete strangers but also excited to be doing something so out of the norm for me.  I still do not know what the community service is we will be performing, hopefully that will be told to us at our next meeting (5/21).