(Imaged above: Chiara Cammarota, Italy (right), and Charlotte Burslem, Wells H.S.)
(Imaged Below: Left – Amelie Koppelin, Germany (right), and Grace Esayian, Grant H.S; Middle ; Right – Sunny Wang, Taiwan)
The final Portland Pearl Rotary Club meeting of ’25-26–an evening session June 23 at Ecotrust–had a focus on youth exchange. Specifically, the club offered two welcomes…and one farewell.
Club Officer Steve Long introduced two short-term students who have arrived from Germany and Italy for a month in Oregon. They were accompanied to the PPRC by their host “sisters” (plus one American host parent). The short-term program links families internationally; later this summer the Portland counterparts will spend a month in the homes of the women they’re now hosting.
Amelie Koppelin arrived in Portland in mid-June from her home in Bremen, Germany (near the North Sea). With her at the meeting was Grace Esayian, soon to be a junior at Grant High School. Grace’s father, Christophe, joined the duo for their second-in-a-row PPRC meeting
When Italy’s Chiara Cammarota came to PPRC, she had been in Portland just over a day. Her home city is Melfi in southern Italy near Naples. Her American “sister” is Charlotte Burslem, who just completed her sophomore year at Ida B. Wells H.S. (Hillsdale neighborhood in Portland). Host mother Amy Burslem also joined the y.e. group at the head tab.
Amelie and Chiara shared pictures of their families, schools, city highlights, etc. and answered Rotarians’ questions.
The podium as then occupied by an international saying good-bye. Sunny Wang returns to Taiwan in early July after almost 11 months in Portland. Her hosts were Lori Beight, Ravi Rose and Peter McKay and their families.
Rotarians have become accustomed to Sunny’s charisma, exuberance, charm and infectious smile. She shared memorable experiences (like trips with other exchangers)…her first turkey dinner (highlighted by pumpkin pie)…high school events like homecoming and prom…and her energetic willingness to try wrestling and lacrosse. She tried snowboarding (“it was so hard”)…and perfected her English…and two weeks ago celebrated her 18th birthday in America.
“I learned from saying ‘Yes’ to everything,” she reflected.
“…Thank you for everything you did for me.”
Club members responded with a standing ovation. Steve, her club officer, addressed Sunny one more time, noting that she was his first inbound in his new youth leadership role. “You’ve been a great student. You’ve made it so easy for me.”
Sunny was honored by the y.e. committee and a potluck/pickleball picnic Sunday afternoon at Columbia Park in North Portland.
