Great Weather equals Great Weekend

My weekend turned out better than I expected especially with the great weather. My eventful weekend started on Saturday, October 8, with my two friends wedding (Brett Voskuil and Elaina Dixon) in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Things kicked off at Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin. This was my first wedding I attended when I knew both the groom and bride. The ceremony was beautiful and went smoothly, then follow the reception and dinner at the Range Line Inn in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. After dinner we began to start to have fun once the music and dancing started. The Dj service offered a photo booth which allowed people to take pictures with various props as a memory book for the bride and groom. Everyone was having a blast taking pictures, laughing, dancing, and enjoying the wonderful evening. Nights like these I wish would last forever, but that is why we have to live each moment to the fullest.
The next day on Sunday, October 9, I attended a scholarship dinner at the Heidel House in Green Lake, Wisconsin, hosted by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association. Wisconsin Restaurant Association is an organization which helps to ensure the future success of the food service industry through education, scholarship and community involvement. The evening started with a cocktail reception and silent auction followed by an elegant dinner and ceremony. Throughout the night I was able to meet and network with various people who owned businesses and restaurants from all throughout the state and country. I also met students from other schools who are pursuing similar goals as I. Special guest Carlton Curtis, chairman of the Board of Trustees for the NRA Educational Foundation and Vice President of industry Affairs for the Food service and Hospitality Division of Coca-Cola North America spoke in front of us for night. He kept us entertained with his southern accent and gave us updates of the Brewers game, along with his experiences in the industry. After we finished our dinner the award ceremony started, each person came up to introduce themselves and told what their future goals were. Haley Gammon and I were the two people who won a scholarship from Moraine Park Technical College. Haley was awarded the Chef Bill Dougherty Scholarship, and I was awarded the Aderis DeRosa scholarship. I was fortunate to meet the people who awarded me and the person who sponsored me for my scholarship. They are great people with beyond potentials. Overall this was a successful night which made a great ending for the weekend. Like always catch you soon!

Hasta luego,
Lee IV

Back to Reality

It’s been two days since the German students left and I miss them a lot. Now they are in the great city of New York for four days, and I’m still in good ol Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. I hope one day I’ll visit New York City; I heard it is a great place to visit. Anyway life is back to normal for me now with the same routine go to school, work, and try to have free time to have fun. At least the weather is beautiful especially since the temperatures are supposed to be near 80 degrees.

This week on Wednesday, September 5, Comedian Chad Daniels came to Moraine Park Technical College during lunch time. Free lunches were offer to students, and the menu was the choice of pasta with marinara or alfredo sauce along with bread sticks, water, and a cookie of different types. The alfredo pasta was really good I reckon. During this time Comedian Chad Daniels was telling his jokes which cover all types of genre from his personal experience to ordinary life in America. I enjoyed his humor, I just wish it could’ve gone longer, but it was enough time before my next class started.

I have another fun weekend ahead filled with a wedding on Saturday. My two good friends are getting married in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. I hope the weather is pleasant to make an even better wedding, but if not I’m sure it will still be a fantastic day. Then on Sunday I’m attending a Scholarship dinner in Green Lake, Wisconsin at the Heidel House. This event is sponsor by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association. I will be able to meet the people who donated money for my tuition, and thank them for the scholarship I won. I’ll be sure to provide some pictures on my next blog and the typical life of a student at Moraine Park Technical College. Catch you soon!

Danke,
Lee IV

The Weekend Wrap Up

This was the last weekend for the German students being in Fond du Lac, WI. It’s been a lot of fun hanging out with them. I became closer with them and learned more things than the first time I met them in May 2011. We all became family because we all experience the typical life in both countries. The weather was not so good, but that did not prevent us enjoying every moment with them. I came to realize how twelve days can go so fast. At first I thought the German students would be here for a long time, but actually it flew past like a blur.

On September 30, the German students came to Moraine Park Technical College for one last time to finish off their presentation and take group pictures. Afterwards they went to their host house and waited for the weekend activities. For dinner some hosts made some home cooked meal, as for me I went with some people to an Italian restaurant in Fond du Lac, WI named La Sicilia. This restaurant had good foods which are freshly made every day, and was less crowded than Ala Roma. The German student’s enjoyed their pizza and pasta. Afterwards of course we went to Target to get more food and a little shopping. Then we all went to a friend’s house to hangout playing games and watch television. Since we had to wake up early the next morning we did not stay too long. So we had a good night of rest to get ready for our cave tour.
On Saturday October 1, we got up around 7:30 a.m. to get ready for our Cave tour at Ledge View Nature Center in Chilton, WI. The tour was held by an Aussie lady who had an awesome accent and was an excellent tour guide. As we entered the cave some people didn’t last, so they headed back to wait until the tour was done. The brave ones challenged themselves to continue to go through the cave. Some parts of the cave were difficult because of tight angles crawling through. This adventure tour is an amazing sight to see in person, it is amazing the things you see underground. The cave tour took about two hours due to the size of our group. We did not get as dirty as I expected since the cave was dry from the lack of rain throughout the summer. Afterwards we went home to shower to get cleaned up before going to the mall in Appleton, WI. I stayed back to work on my homework and do my guests and my laundry. Once the German students and host came back from Appleton they all came to my house to hangout, play cards, and play pool. We played for a long time, and didn’t get to sleep until late but it wasn’t a problem since we were able to sleep in the next day.

Sunday October 2, was the last day of events for the German students. As I woke up I was shocked to notice the weather outside was finally nice. Although I wish the weather was nicer all week, but I was not complaining. For lunch we went to Qdoba which was delicious, you can never go wrong with freshly made food. Then we drove to Green Lake, WI for our boat tour of Green Lake at the Heidel House. We couldn’t ask for a perfect day for a tour, the breeze was pleasant. We saw some unique houses on the lake, and to see the colors of the trees were remarkable. Afterwards we headed to Instructor James’ house for our Farewell dinner. Since it was so nice out we decided to play some American football in the yard along with some yard games. It was nice seeing everybody having a good time talking to one another and enjoying being outside. Shortly afterwards it was time to eat which was prepared by Instructors James and Bill. They did an excellent job making tenderloins on the grill served with mashed potatoes, roasted corn, and peppers. Then a bonfire was started, we all sat around the fire and started to sing, playing guitars and remembering the priceless moments we had these past twelve days. Towards the end before people started to leave, gifts were passed to the Germans students and instructors for taking part of the exchange program. It was a bitter sweet moment because we were all having a good time, but sad since they were leaving the next morning.

We already talked about our plans when we go to visit them again in May 2012. There is already a countdown starting because we miss them so much. I like to say “never goodbye but instead say I’ll see you later”. Now the next step for the German student is that they would be in Madison Wisconsin then fly off to New York City for four days before flying back to Germany. I’ll make sure to keep their status in my blogs for the upcoming days.Well that’s all for now but more to come!

Merci,
Lee IV