This week I got to see the Eiffel Tower!!! 

It was gorgeous and even more at night the lights made it so romantic.  I was also invited to try frogs legs and snails, although the snail was not so much to my taste the frog was amazing it's just like chicken except better. 

The following days we travelled to Berlin and along the way we stopped at Anne franks home where she hid from the Germans in an attic. We also stopped by the Mercier Champagne House where we took an underground train to travel the winery and saw where and how wine is made. 

In the house is  also the the giant barrel made for the world fair exibition it came in second as most popular attraction, behind the eiffel tower.

This week I went on an epic adventure to PARIS!!!! I met my mother at the airport and have spent so far 3 days in France. 

Everyone here has been super helpful and friendly (we have needed to ask for directions A LOT). We have climbed 420 steps to reach the top of the Notre Dame, had to stop and catch my breath more than a few times :P. 

The view from the top was amazing with ancient gargoyles for company. We also stopped by the wax museum were I met the president Jackie Chan and Elvis!! 

and or course we saw the piece du resistance the Eiffel Tower!!!! 

We dont climb it till Monday so wish me luck and hopefully it wont break.    

Dominique:)

This week I got to explore the home grounds of Fryderyk Chopin. My host family took me to see the musicians museum. 

We walked through the gardens and even his house. 

It was a first for me to listen to a machine guide as we walked through the park (mine stopped working halfway through).

 I also got to meet some of my host family's friends, and I talked about home and the differences between Poland and New Zealand. 

Dominique:)

This weekend a group of volunteers got together on an adventure trip to Gdansk to catch up with friends.

The 5 hour bus trip was an experience I'm only to glad to say I slept all the way through :P. On the first day we visited a castle and hit the shopping centre..... that had a giant water wheel :D

It was awesome. we later saw a bridge full of locks with names inscribed on them, I heard that this was done between couples who sign there names on the locks then throw the keys into the water, so we decided to all sign our names on a lock and do the same thing. 

The next day was sooo amazing because there was sunshine!!! We decided to head to Sopot and visit the beach and walk along the wharf.  

Dominique

Hello,

So this week my host family and I did some spring cleaning in the garden. My host brother built a small vegetable garden in the back yard and today He put in the first seeds for tomato plants. We also created a sand castle (the best sandcastle in the history of sand castles!). 

Later on we found rope and we tried and failed to make a swing..... note to self swinging into trees hurts :(....... and I enjoyed watching my host brother tennis championship game. 

On Saturday the other volunteers and I met up in Old Town and explored the market and scenery, 

The weather was amazing:D and later in the evening we meet ex volunteers and they showed us some good restaurants and clubs.   

Dominique:)

Hello,

The other volunteers and I decided to take a cultural trip around Krakow last weekend. We got to see some amazing sites such as a castles the Jewish quarter and Auschwitz. The sights were breath taking and I'll never forget the beautiful scenery. We spent four days in the centre of Krakow, most of it we were lost and couldn't find our way around, but that led to the discovery of several amazing restaurants because walking in no direction makes a person pretty hungry. We also meet some people from our home countries. We shared stories of our travels and differences of home and Poland. Plus I think we saw our first snow falling ever :D

Dominique

Hello :)

well so far for my first week in poland the biggest change for me would be the cold 'shivers', though apparently this is warm weather???

I've come in a group of 30. 8 from New Zealand 20 from Australia and 2 from Canada. To celebrate the beginning of the trip, the volunteers and I got together and made a family meal. (we are not the best cooks!!)

Walking through the centrum we got lost sooo many times and occasionally crossing the road while looking the wrong way, but now we've settled into our homestays and things are becoming more and more familiar so hopefully by the end of the week I will no longer find myself in the wrong village or town :P

Dominique.