Shivani Kondaskar is our 2005

Shivani Kondaskar is our 2005-2006 inbound exchange student from Maharashtra, India

Many thanks to Rotarians who made Shivani a part of Christmas through invites

to suppers, events, trips, smiles, kind words and gifts.

First Christmas As seen by Shivani

Christmas to me was: Santa Claus getting gifts for kids and Christmas trees decorated with lights. This is what I had seen in India, but this Christmas (2005) totally changed my perspective about it! It was my First Christmas!!! I attended a lot of Christmas parties at various Rotarians’ house and did loads of shopping…..

Think about shopping, it was outlandish!!!!!!!!!!The malls were buzzing with people going ga-ga over all sales. Nonetheless I fell prey to it, I just couldn,t resist the temptation. I went berserk buying a lot of stuff for good deals. Well there is a lot more to Christmas besides going crazy over shopping, it really means a lot more to me now than ever before!

I was mesmerized by the beautiful decorations & lights on houses. So much of hard work and efforts must have gone into it…….Well I got to taste it as well, I helped my host mother put up the tree in our house and had also been to Rotarian Pat Killoran’s house to help them decorate their tree. It was a wonderful experience.

I enjoyed all the Christmas carols as well .Stockings, gifts, baking, parties, tons of food ,hearty laughs and a very “Christmassy” atmosphere was all new to me. I loved every bit of it!

I was amazed to see a heap of gifts for me. This only shows the love and affection showered upon me by all you Rotarians! I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for making my 1^st Christmas sooooooooooo special and memorable. I will cherish it forever…

-SHIVANI.KONDASKAR