Rotary looks for outward bound exchange students for ‘08
NORWICH – The Rotary Club has been involved in the Youth Exchange Program for over 70 years, giving students all over the world the chance to broaden their horizons and experience life in another culture. The Norwich Rotary, chapter 7170 will soon begin soliciting students interested in traveling abroad for the 2008 school year.
“The Rotary operates in over 200 countries world-wide,” said YMCA Executive Director and Rotarian Jamey Mullen. “It’s one of the strongest youth exchange programs in the world.”
Recent Norwich graduate Chelsea Butcher has participated in the exchange program. In order to travel abroad, Chelsea had to complete her junior and senior year of high school in one year, but the experience, she says, was definitely worth it.
“I’ve traveled since I was little, and I’d always dreamed of going to another country and learning about other cultures,” Chelsea explained. “It was everything I thought it would be.”
Although Chelsea did not know a word of Spanish, she spent a year in Peru, attending school, trying new foods and enjoying the rich new culture in which she found herself.
“The education system was so different than ours,” Chelsea said, “but the first few days they welcomed me. I was surprised how much alike we were.” Chelsea said it helped that she had already completed high school, so she didn’t need to depend on the grades she received in the Peruvian school. “When I had assignments, I worked on trying to figure out the words. I didn’t get a lot of work done, but I learned a lot of language,” she said.
Since the Peruvian school year runs from April to December, Chelsea spent only a few months in high school, but during that time, she was able to attend the promenade and was given an honorary certificate of graduation at the end of the term.
In April, she got the chance to take some university level classes in Peru. “I knew a lot more by then and it was exciting because I got to choose the classes.”
During her time in Peru, Chelsea stayed with three different host families in different cities throughout the country and developed close relationships with them. “ I learned so much more about family there. I cherish my family now,” she explained.
Chelsea said she took the opportunities to try new things and experience the Peruvian life style. After a few months, her Spanish improved dramatically. She even began to dream in Spanish. She also enjoyed trying new things, even when they seemed a little strange. “The weirdest food I ate would have to be guinea pig,” she said. Chelsea explained that although the guinea pig was fur-free, you could still see its head and paws. “It was actually really good. It was like a cross between chicken and turkey,” she said. Her favorite food was a Peruvian fish dish made with lemon juice and a lot of hot spices. “It was so hot it would burn your mouth raw, but I was surprised how much I liked it when I left,” Chelsea said.
Although she enjoyed her trip, Chelsea admits there were some hard times. At Christmas and on her little brother’s birthday, she says she missed home, but she said the good times were far more than the bad.
“It definitely changed my outlook on life,” Chelsea said, explaining when she left for Peru, she planned to be a business major. Now Chelsea is attending SUNY Cortland where she is majoring in Spanish. “I want to go into as many different countries and learn as many languages as possible,” she said. If given the chance, Chelsea said she would go back in a moment. She and her father have discussed plans for a future trip to Peru, and Chelsea says she is excited about the possibility of seeing her friends again.
“I would go anywhere now. It was worth every cent, and every sad moment – there weren’t that many. You get so much more out of it than you thing you would,” Chelsea said.
Mullen said the Rotary will soon be looking for students interested in the exchange program for the 2008 year. Eligible students are between the ages of 15 and 19 and should possess qualities like flexibility and willingness to try new things.
The students interested in the Outward Rotary Exchange Program are selected after filing an application and undergoing a series of interviews on the local and district level, Mullen explained. Students are responsible for a portion of the costs and are required to abide by all Rotary rules. Anyone interested in learning more about the Rotary Exchange Program should contact their local Rotary. In the Norwich area, individuals can contact Jamey Mullen at the YMCA by calling 336-9622.
“The Rotary operates in over 200 countries world-wide,” said YMCA Executive Director and Rotarian Jamey Mullen. “It’s one of the strongest youth exchange programs in the world.”
Recent Norwich graduate Chelsea Butcher has participated in the exchange program. In order to travel abroad, Chelsea had to complete her junior and senior year of high school in one year, but the experience, she says, was definitely worth it.
“I’ve traveled since I was little, and I’d always dreamed of going to another country and learning about other cultures,” Chelsea explained. “It was everything I thought it would be.”
Although Chelsea did not know a word of Spanish, she spent a year in Peru, attending school, trying new foods and enjoying the rich new culture in which she found herself.
“The education system was so different than ours,” Chelsea said, “but the first few days they welcomed me. I was surprised how much alike we were.” Chelsea said it helped that she had already completed high school, so she didn’t need to depend on the grades she received in the Peruvian school. “When I had assignments, I worked on trying to figure out the words. I didn’t get a lot of work done, but I learned a lot of language,” she said.
Since the Peruvian school year runs from April to December, Chelsea spent only a few months in high school, but during that time, she was able to attend the promenade and was given an honorary certificate of graduation at the end of the term.
In April, she got the chance to take some university level classes in Peru. “I knew a lot more by then and it was exciting because I got to choose the classes.”
During her time in Peru, Chelsea stayed with three different host families in different cities throughout the country and developed close relationships with them. “ I learned so much more about family there. I cherish my family now,” she explained.
Chelsea said she took the opportunities to try new things and experience the Peruvian life style. After a few months, her Spanish improved dramatically. She even began to dream in Spanish. She also enjoyed trying new things, even when they seemed a little strange. “The weirdest food I ate would have to be guinea pig,” she said. Chelsea explained that although the guinea pig was fur-free, you could still see its head and paws. “It was actually really good. It was like a cross between chicken and turkey,” she said. Her favorite food was a Peruvian fish dish made with lemon juice and a lot of hot spices. “It was so hot it would burn your mouth raw, but I was surprised how much I liked it when I left,” Chelsea said.
Although she enjoyed her trip, Chelsea admits there were some hard times. At Christmas and on her little brother’s birthday, she says she missed home, but she said the good times were far more than the bad.
“It definitely changed my outlook on life,” Chelsea said, explaining when she left for Peru, she planned to be a business major. Now Chelsea is attending SUNY Cortland where she is majoring in Spanish. “I want to go into as many different countries and learn as many languages as possible,” she said. If given the chance, Chelsea said she would go back in a moment. She and her father have discussed plans for a future trip to Peru, and Chelsea says she is excited about the possibility of seeing her friends again.
“I would go anywhere now. It was worth every cent, and every sad moment – there weren’t that many. You get so much more out of it than you thing you would,” Chelsea said.
Mullen said the Rotary will soon be looking for students interested in the exchange program for the 2008 year. Eligible students are between the ages of 15 and 19 and should possess qualities like flexibility and willingness to try new things.
The students interested in the Outward Rotary Exchange Program are selected after filing an application and undergoing a series of interviews on the local and district level, Mullen explained. Students are responsible for a portion of the costs and are required to abide by all Rotary rules. Anyone interested in learning more about the Rotary Exchange Program should contact their local Rotary. In the Norwich area, individuals can contact Jamey Mullen at the YMCA by calling 336-9622.
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