At the weekly Wednesday morning meeting
of the Rotary Club of GB Sunrise on Wednesday, 9 July 2014, Exchange Students
from Slovakia and Germany talked to the club about their wonderful experience
living in Freeport, Grand Bahama, during this past year. Katarina Sopakova
(Slovakia) and Katrin Wohltmann (Germany) each spoke of how much they had
learned about the Bahamian culture while on the island, and that they are sad
to see their year’s stay coming to an end as they return to their home
countries.
Returning Rotary Exchange Student and
local resident, Alexis DeGregory, spoke to the club about her year in France, where
she was able to join a Euro tour and visit landmarks all over the European
continent. She has returned home now fluent in French as well!
Outbound Exchange Student, Fuliece
Collie, is leaving sometime in August and will be studying and living in
Finland with her host family. The Rotary Club of GB Sunrise is her sponsor for
this trip. She reported being very excited to start her new adventure, and expressed
her thanks and gratitude to the club for choosing and sponsoring her for this coming
year.
If you’ve been wondering about how the
Rotary Student Exchange program works, here’s a quick introduction:
YOUTH EXCHANGES
Are you interested in
learning a new language or meeting new people? Rotary Youth Exchange is the
opportunity of a lifetime for the more than 8,000 students who participate each
year. By sharing your own culture and embracing a new one, you help foster
global understanding—and learn a great deal about yourself and your home
country in the process.
WHAT IS A ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE?
Youth Exchange is a
study-abroad opportunity for young people who spend anywhere from a few weeks
to a full year as an international student hosted by local Rotary Clubs.
IS AN EXCHANGE RIGHT FOR ME?
Exchanges are for people
ages 15–19 who:
· Have demonstrated leadership in their school and community
· Are flexible and willing to try new things
· Are open to cultural differences
· Can serve as an ambassador for their own country
The Rotary Club of GB Sunrise meets each
Wednesday morning at 7:00 am at Geneva’s Restaurant, East Mall Drive (Across
from Wendy’s). Visitors are welcome to drop in without reservations.
For information, visit facebook.com/gbsunriserotary
Photo Caption: (left to right) Rotary Club of GB Sunrise President, James SarIes;
Inbound Exchange Student from Slovakia, Katarina Supakova (Rotary Club of GB
Sunrise); Outbound Exchange Student, Fuliece Collie (Rotary Club of GB
Sunrise); Rebound from France Exchange Student, Alexis DeGregory (Rotary
Club of GB Sunrise); Inbound Exchange Student from Germany Katrin Wohltmann
(Freeport Rotary Club); Grand Bahama Host Parent, Richard Bates
(Freeport Rotary Club).
