JULIANA

**France** My Trip

You are never going to believe this! I am in France right now! It all started out with tickets to a local professional soccer game. The half time entertainment was a contest to win a free all expense paid trip to Europe. The staff selected three people to attempt a shot on goal from the half line. I was of those lucky people. I was chosen with a girl my age and another teenager. The girl my age shot and didn't even make it to the net. was, but luckily it hit the cross bar. I went up to shoot and kicked the ball as hard as I could. When I looked up all I saw was a bunch of people screaming. My family was jumping and it seemed like I made the goal, but in my mind there was no way! However after the referee gave me a gigantic check I knew it was true. The trip was exactly one week from that day so as soon as I got home I ran to pack. Fortunately my passport was still valid and I didn't need a visa.

Day 1- Paris, France

A week later I find myself in a car on my way to Detroit. From there we flew to Paris, France! Finally we took a shuttle to Euro Disney Resort. In Paris the weather is different. It was 62 degrees when I got there and it gradually got colder. However for the rest of the warm weather I relaxed at the pool and was eating way too many pastries or [|Choux à la crème] (cream puffs)The language is very hard to get used to. I hear so many different things, it it very confusing! However to me that doesn't matter, maybe later in the trip I can try to pick up a few sentences, but for now I am really enjoying myself here! It is so beautiful and there is something for everyone to do. I also love the food! I can't imagine having to go back home to none of these delicious pastries! I might have to write the recipe down, but I'm sure I would never be able to make them as good as the cooks here! Down below I pasted some pictures of Euro Disney and the delicious food. That is the first day on a long, fun, and exiting trip!  media type="youtube" key="4bFzw5YJLmo" height="145" width="230"

Day 2- Euro Disney

Today was very exciting I went to the Disney theme parks! I have only 1 day in Paris and I've already signed up at the website www.cia-france.com! I learned that French is regarded the most romantic language. I also found out that French is the worlds second most common language. At the parks I walked around and rode many rides! That made me really dizzy and I decided to go take a break for lunch. I went to a nearby shop and had french bread with cheese and crackers. I drank grape juice and it was the best! I'm starting to get used to everything here. That's good and maybe after this trip I will have to come back and visit all he people I've meet. After lunch I was on my way to the shuttle station and I met Mini mouse and Mickey mouse! I got my picture with them and then went back to my hotel. At the hotel I laid down for about an hour and then went to the dinner buffet across the resort. There I ate a big plate of pasta with sides of [|Pommes duchesse] (duchess potatoes)and bread sticks! After the meal I was so stuffed! The food was so good that I ate every bite! That was a good lesson for me on food in France!!! One thing about the culture in France that I noticed here is that when you go to a resturant in America they automaticly give you ice with your drink. You have to ask the waiter or waitress not to give it to you if you don't want ice. In France you have to ask for ice and even when you do they only give you a few cubes. I thought it was weird and it took me a while to get used to asking for ice! ;) Anyways I am so tired right now so Good Night!!!!!!!

Day 3- Last Day

Today I woke up REALLY sore from all the walking yesterday! I am so tired because I couldn't sleep I was too excited for today! This is my last day in France so I am going to try to spend my time seeing the main tourist attractions. Such as the Eiffel Tower. So I went to a restaurant near the Eiffel Tower and ate breakfast! I had a good view and wished I could go up there, but there were to many people crowding around the tower so I decided to just go back and pack up in my hotel. I packed and then went for a swim in the pool! It was very refreshing! Next I got a personal tour of the museum[| Musée Adzak]. I learned so much about French art and was so excited to look at all the beautiful paintings. After that I went back to my hotel and ate dinner, another buffet! This time I ate [|Cassoulet] (duck with different sausages served with white beans) it was great and I was craving it the next day!

__**Switzerland**__

Day 1- Train ride

Today I woke up at 5:00, I packed yesterday so I just got dressed in warm clothes because the weather was 40 degrees! That day was the coldest day I've had so far. I learned that Switzerland is about the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. I did research and found out that Switzerland is a democratic country and has had an economic upswing. It depends on exports for economic growth. I am excited to go and learn more. I'm boarding a train that will take me right to Zurich, Switzerland. On the train I will get served lunch. At the time i didn't know what was on <span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">032.more of Switzerland. <span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">

<span style="color: #ff00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Day 2- Museum of Art

<span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Today I woke up and enjoyed a nice breakfast while I watched the railways and air traffic. I didn't realize how many planes fly around Zurich. After breakfast since I had nothing planned I went on the computer and searched for things to do in Switzerland. One thing popped out to me. That was the Museum of Art. I thought about where I went in France and thought it would be cool to compare the two different types of art. When I got there I didn't just see paintings, but I also saw sculptures. They were beautiful! It turned out that i came to see paintings but instead I liked the sculptures more! I liked the paintings in France better, but I liked the sculptures in Switzerland better. Well see you tomorrow, and GOOD NIGHT!!!!

<span style="color: #ff00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Day 3- Hike/ Last Day

<span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">



<span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">

<span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Today I woke up after a great nights sleep. I was planning hiking for the whole day. I looked up online about the trail I would be hiking and found out that Switzerland has some world-famous scenery and is a great way to spend you time. While I was hiking I noticed many people climbing cliffs and I realized that climbing was a popular type of exercise in Switzerland. For lunch I sat under a shady tree and ate the sandwich that I packed earlier. I also had juice and chips. As soon as I finished lunch I started at the trails again. I walked and walked. I know to some people that probably seems really boring, but to me I enjoyed looking at the beautiful scenery and watching all the animal above and below me. For dinner I had another sandwich, but this time it was different because I was starving! However after I filled myself up I walked back to the hotel and went strait to bed because I was exhausted!

<span style="color: #59ff00; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">**__Czech Republic__** <span style="color: #ff00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Day 1 -Czech Republic

<span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">This was my first day at the Czech Republic, it was great! It took me a long time to check in to my hotel because there were so many people there. I guess it is a popular hotel! Anyways, after I took a nap I went to see an astronomical clock. It was in Prague and I had a great time learning about it. I learned that it has been ticking since 1490 and every hour wooden saints emerge from trap doors. I spend the day there learning more and more. I had a small lunch and then went back to my hotel for a big feast. It was o good and different then anything that I've ever tasted before. After learning about the food here in Prague I went straight to bed for an exciting day tomorrow.

<span style="color: #ff00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Day 2- Family time!

<span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Today I woke up and ate breakfast at a near by restaurant and headed to relatives of mine. Their last name is Adamkovia and they are branches from my great-great grandparents who immigrated to America from Prague in the early nineteen hundreds. I spent about 4 hours talking and getting to know everyone. We ate lunch together and then I headed off to my next destination. I went to a 1,000 year old castle called Prague Castle. It was a fun trip and I learned a lot about the Czechs culture and old lifestyle. Finally I went back to my hotel and fell right asleep. The next day would be my last. :( <span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #ff00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Day 3- Last Day

<span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Today I woke up really late. I got out of bed and realized that it was already lunch time. So I quickly packed my belongings and left for my final activity in the Czech republic. I went bungee jumping! When I arrived at the Kzikovske'bridge I got strapped into a big rope and was told to jump. when I did I was so scared I screamed so loud. I bet my family back in the USA heard me! I did have a great time and it was probably something that I would never be able to do again. After bungee jumping I relaxed at the hotel for the rest of the day. Preparing for another long day!

<span style="color: #59ff00; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">**Ukraine** <span style="color: #ff00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Day 1- First Day

<span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Today was my first day ever being in the Ukraine, I mean it's not like I've been to any of the other countries that I have visited on this trip, but I thought it was way different here than any other country. I did have a great time and let me tell you more about what I did. The first thing I did after I got off the plane after flying to the Ukraine was eat! I had a snack called Ukraine Salo. It can be found in other parts of Europe, but the Ukraine is famous for it! I is either smoked or salted, but is always nice snack. After that I went to Vorontsov palace I spent the whole day looking at it's interior and learn more and more about the Ukraine. Did you know that the Voronstov palace has about 150 rooms, I sure didn't! After the tour I went to a small hotel and spend the night there waiting for an exciting day tomorow! :D <span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">

<span style="color: #ffff00; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">[|UkraineSalo.jpg]

<span style="color: #ff00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Day 2- Fun!

<span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Today I woke up and ate breakfast while I enjoyed the wonderful scenery! I saw many mountains and watched a lot of birds fly over the hills. After breakfast I decided to stay at my hotel until after lunch. After lunch I visited the Great Patriotic War Museum. I saw things like old planes and even old uniforms and tanks! I spent the rest of my day there and had dinner at a nearby soup place. I heard that Ukraine is also a big producer in great soup! I was delicious. After that I went to bed and was so excited for the next day!!!!!!!!

<span style="color: #ff00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Day 3- Last day

<span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Today is the last full day of not just this country, but my whole trip. :( It is sad to have to go home, but I will always remember all the fun I had on this trip. Today I woke up late and had to pack up my bags for the long plane ride home. Today I did one of the most terrifing things in my whole life. I went bungee jumping in the Czech Republic, but I went skydiving out of and airplane today! I was thinking about what to do to finish my trip and I decided to do something crazy. The owners of the plane took me up high in the sky. They gave me all the instructions and I jumped. It was so fun, but after that I was glad to go back to the hotel and rest. After I took a nap I went to a big dinner buffet at my hotel. There they had things like salad, bread, cabbage rolls, and pork. I saw all of the most famous and well- liked food and decided to try everything. I had a great taste of culture in the Ukraine! That was a great day to finish off my trip. I went to bed early to prepare for the ride home!

<span style="color: #ff00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Final Morning

<span style="color: #00ffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">This morning I got up really early and boarded my plane to go home. I had a great trip and had lots of pictures to prove it! I am hoping to do something like this again next time! <span style="color: #ff00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Bibliography

France

[|http://goo.gl/83YEz]**<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Swiss;">All Rights Reserved **The Wharton Group and Ian C. Mills

[]

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. A part of [|The New York Times Company].

[]

© 2012 Sprachcaffe Sprachreisen

Switzerland

[] ©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. A part of [|The New York Times Company]. [] *Source: Federal Statistical Office, 2007 Swiss Statistics

Czech Republic

[] ©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. A part of [|The New York Times Company].

[] ©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. A part of [|The New York Times Company].

Ukraine

[] Copyright © 2007-2011. All rights reserved. Ukraine-Travel-Advisor.com [] ©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. A part of [|The New York Times Company].

Other

[] [] [|www.mignews.com.ua] [|www.miamineraid.com] [|www.swissinfo.ch] <span class="wiki_link_ext">[] [|www.timeanddate.com]