Pearl-backed youth exchange program sends, welcome students
August on the Rotary International youth exchange calendar marks both the end and the beginning for student participants. That’s true for Pearl Rotary, too.
Samantha, Lauren return
When Samantha Webber (to Peru) and Lauren Hall (to Finland) spoke to Pearl Rotarians Aug. 16, they shared pictures of their families, Rotary Clubs, schools, trips with other exchangers…and even coping with loneliness.
But their final summaries were the most memorable.
“We want to thank you guys,” said Samantha, about her year in Peru. “It was a life-changing and once-in-a-lifetime. It changes your life in every way. Everything is a positive, even those really tough days.”
Added Lauren: “Day to day, you don’t realize you’re doing this on your own–the language, host families.” Her first month was “traumatizing.” She asked herself: “What am I doing in Finland? But I got through that. It all worked out.”
Both Samantha’s and Lauren’s parents attended…and the students brought banners from their host clubs and presented them to club officer Dave Bangsund and President Lou Radja. And now the two students, who began the Rotary y.e. journey during their sophomore years, have started their senior years at Lincoln High School.
Pearl Rotary also sponsored high school students on the short-term program: Chris Meabe, Wilson high school, spent part of the summer in Austria. Catherine Wu, now a senior at Lincoln (and president of the Interact Club), recently returned from two months in Argentina.
Natalie, Dani depart
As the y.e. experience for Samantha and Lauren was ending, the adventures for two Pearl-backed students was just beginning.
In August, Natalie Kaiser (Lincoln high school) and Dani Jewett (Grant) flew from PDX to Europe. They are now with new families and sponsoring clubs in Finland and France, respectively. They are spending their junior years on Rotary’s long-term program before returning to Oregon for their senior years. Pearl Rotarians joined their families in farewells at PDX, after both had visited Rotary meetings here. Their selection occurred in late 2010 and they completed eight months of preparation through District 5100 before starting their actual exchange.
Elisabeth Gruner arrives
Sixteen-year-old Elisabeth Gruner, from Eisenach, TH, Germany, has had a busy two weeks since arriving in Portland as
Pearl Rotary’s inbound student. Hosted by the family of outbound Dani Jewett in Northeast Portland, Elisabeth has registered at Grant high school, joined the cross country team, been hosted at a swimming party at Rotarian Mike (and Judy) Rompa’s home, and visited Seattle with her host family. She was introduced to Pearl Rotarians by Dave Bangsund on Aug. 30.
In Central Germany, her parents are both professional musicians. She has a younger brother and sister.
In Portland, Elisabeth will have three host families. Her counselor is Sarah Kaiser, the mother of long-term participant Natalie.
(Pearl Rotary had expected to host two students in 2011-12, but the process for a student at Lincoln H.S. from Argentina was not completed.)
’12-13 Y.E. participants sought
Club officer Dave Bangsund has announced that the process for selecting Pearl Rotary’s outbound student for 2012-13 is underway. Applicants must be sophomores now, in good academic standing, and be available for orientations throughout this school year.
Attached is a preliminary application to complete and return to Bangsund.