Rotary Club of Windsor (1918)
International Youth Exchange Committee Page
Our Club is Located in Windsor Ontario Canada
Welcome to the "International Youth Exchange Committee Page.
The information below describes the mandate and activities of this
committee.
Rotary 1918 Youth Exchange Committee Mandate
The Committee shall plan and execute any project which would assist
foreign youth arriving in this community for the Rotary 1918 student exchange program.
International Youth Projects Committee Activities
Host Families are needed for the new year.
Rotary (1918) Student Services
What is Rotary Youth Exchange?
- Rotary is a global organization of businesses and professional
leaders dedicated to humanitarian service and world peace through programs like Youth Exchange for high school students.
- With more than 28,000 Rotary clubs in towns and cities throughout
the world, Rotary has an extensive network of volunteers, right in the
community, ready to provide necessary support for exchange students.
Rotary clubs operate one of the world's largest youth exchange programs and
almost entirely with volunteers.
- Rotary has more than 30 years experience in sponsoring successful
international exchanges among young people.
- Rotary has the personal commitment and dedication of more than one
million individual Rotarians who want to give you the opportunity to make
your Youth Exchange experience the best year of your life!
- This year, over 7,000 high school students will see the world the best
way - from the inside out - through Rotary's Youth Exchange program.
Check it out!
- The best age is 16-17 years at the date of departure (usually in July/August)
- How to apply
Reference Sites:
Windsor (1918) - Inbounders
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Our current District 6400 Inbound Exchange Students
Windsor (1918) - outbounders
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Our current District 6400 Outbound Exchange Students
A December, 2007 letter from outbounder Kendra Thompson to our club
Kay Curtis has asked that this letter be circulated. It is from one of our outbound exchange students, Kendra.
From: Kendra Thompson [mailto:kendra_189@hotmail.com]
Sent: December 2, 2007 1:21 AM
To: Bev Cyr; sue RYE; Kaysandra Curtis-RYE
Subject: My Rotary Update
Well this is my first official letter for Rotary and I am excited to share with you my first month in Brazil has been like.
I am happy to say that, I am finally in the beautiful city of Guarapari Espirito Santo, Brasil. My host family, The Perdigão–Mendes, lives in a Condo on the beach which is even more stunning.
I exchanged with their daughter Ana Julia who is in Indiana right now, so I have her room. My host parents’ names are Marcio and Aldenice. They are good people. I spend a lot of time with my host mother. We go for walks on the beach at night and talk. I also have a host brother named Paulo Marcio. He’s 20 and he attends a school in Victoria so he doesn’t live with us, but he comes home on the weekends. He has also been an exchange student he went to the US.
School is different here. I attend a private school called Darwin. I do wear a uniform, which isn’t as bad as I thought it would be because I don’t have to take time to decide what I want to wear, at 5:30 in the morning because school starts at 7. I was put into the first year of high school to replace Ana Julia, because I’ve graduated already. So all of her friends know me and have been helping me learn Portuguese. And in addition to that members of my second and third host families are in the same class. So I guess it works out. It was a little weird because I am one of the oldest people at the school in the first year. So most of the people I know are from school. School ended for, me November 14 and then Darwin had a week of exams I was exempted from but I don’t know Portuguese fluently, (YET!)
My host Rotary club, Club of Guarapari is a lot smaller then our club. Well honesty, it’s hard to sit in their meetings not only because it is all in Portuguese, but now that I’m starting to understand Portuguese I’m finding out that it is very repetitive. But the people are friendly and enjoy having me as their exchange student and like to see me when I come, so I go every week. An interesting thing is I met some Canadian Rotarians from Ottawa, that were here for a month on vacation.
My counselor’s name is Maída, she is a English teacher and my tutor for Portuguese. I have been attending English classes with her as a guest and her students ask me questions and for the younger grades we sing English songs. Basically they practice their English on me but this helps me learning because most of her students are basic learners, so while they are learning I’m learning too.
Right now the most difficult thing for me is the language. Even though I did study and learn some of the basics before I left. When I got here none of it made sense. So my host family started by re-teaching me the basis with their Brazilian dialect which was a lot easier. At this point I understand most of what is said to me in Portuguese, but I don’t know how to respond in Portuguese. My host family speaks to me in Portuguese only, a way of forcing me to answer in Portuguese. Sometimes its gets frustrating….. but it’s working.
In conclusion I would like to say, I think Brazil is a lovely country and I’m glad I’m here. I would like to thank God, my Family for their support and The Rotary Cub of Windsor 1918 in District 6400 for giving me this experience that I will treasure forever.
A new Brazilian,
Kendra
Rotary Letter #4 (March, 2008)
Wow I've just started my 5th month in Brazil as an exchange student. I can't believe I'm half way there. I can't believe I stayed this long. I'm in Brasil!!!!!! OMG.
I never ever imagined myself doing this at 19. This is an incredible experience. I know it's not an easy race, and I haven't reached the finish line YET, but I'm glad to be in the running.
This month has been interesting full of activity. I have changed families which I think was a good change for me. My last host family was great but having siblings I can talk to is even better.
School started back up, it was nice to see everyone again.
I got sick I think it was from eating fish head. I was trying new things, but don’t worry, I won’t try that fish head again. I had a doctor visit and the medical test came back as normal, the doctor didn’t say anything and I’m feeling better so I will be fine.
I made reservations for a trip to Iguaçu Falls with the other exchange students this is at the end of March. I can’t wait!
One of the best things here is the beach. I absolutely love it. The view we have is a breathtaking. I could watch the water all day. I wouldn’t giving that up for anything.
I’ve missed my family more then before. People told me that if I wanted to learn Portuguese faster I need to stop talking to my friends and family back home. So I did. I wanted learn Portuguese and I was willing to do anything, even try this. I just talked to them on the computer once every 2 or 3 weeks. Unfortunately, not talking to my family much and not having any family here was breaking me down. I need their support to get through exchange. So I’ll do whatever else it takes but that is not an option.
I’ve been through a lot this month that has made me stronger. I wouldn’t give up these experiences for anything, because it has made me stronger.
There is always one thing that will remain the same. How thankful I am for this experience!
I thank God everyday because I still can’t believe I’m here.
Please give my regards to everyone,
Kendra
April 4, 2008 6:37 AM
Good Morning
I an having a great time right now. I`m in the south and Greg reminded me about my letter. To give you a quick update. This trip has be great so far. The Iguaçu falls is by far one of the most beautiful things I have every seen in my entire life!!! Being with other exchange students has been awesome.
My new family is a better change for me. I like having siblings, it makes the exchange little easier to handle.
School is good. I`m learning new things and enjoying myself a lot.
I in my 6 month....... wow.
As always I thank God, my family and Rotary for this experience. I will truly it cherish forever.
Hope things are great on that end.
with love
Kendra
From: Kendra Thompson [mailto:kendra_189@hotmail.com]
Sent: May 6, 2008 6:33 PM
To: Bev Cyr; sue RYE; Kaysandra Curtis-RYE
Subject: Rotary letter# 6
Rotary Letter #6
Good Evening:
It's been an interesting time here in Brazil. I've just started my 7th month here in Brazil. I'm about to switch families again tonight. Exciting but kind weird because I feel like I just got here and was getting comfortable then it's time to leave....but on the other hand I get to meet another great family!
My next family will be different. I have met my host mother once when I first came to Brazil. My host sisters and I attend the same school and my host father I haven't met.
School is good, it's not as hard to sit through all the classes and my friends understand and help to pass the time. My Portuguese is getting better with the tutoring.
The south trip was absolutely amazing. The sites were fantastic my favourite place was Iguaçu Falls.... Just gorgeous! Meeting the other exchanges students was so cool because the only thing that united us together, was that we were Rotary exchange students in Brazil.
I'm looking forward to conference at the end of this month with the other exchange students in ES, and my city is the Hosts. I've met some of the Outbounds already but that was before they new their countries. So that should be fun.
My sister's finally missing me. She wrote me that she finally realized that I was gone and now is starting to miss me. Just thought I'd share that funny one with you. LOL.
I hope that all is well there and that you having as much fun as I am.
As always I'm thankful for this experience and having God my family and Rotary behind me as my support.
with love,
Kendra
From: Kendra Thompson [mailto:kendra_189@hotmail.com]
Sent: July 31, 2008 10:50 PM
Subject: Rotary letter #8
Rotary Letter #8
I first need to apologize. I didn’t forget to send a letter .. My mother told me that you were happy with the reports that I was sending, when I told her I didn’t send one this month and she told me to make sure I do. I didn’t send one because I thought that since the last email sent back to me said to ‘let us know when your back ...’ That meant that my next letter should be just then. Anyway I will let you know when I’m back too, but here’s my update.
I have 16 days left in my exchange!! It’s been I an awesome experience. I think it will be even more interesting when I get home ... I’m excited and nervous; I miss my family so much and my friends too (and of course you too J). I think that being here has made me value home so much more...
My host family is awesome, they’re good people. So far the only argument we’ve had has been, ‘who ate the chocolate?’... but we won’t get into that ...lol
All the other Inbounders in my district have returned home, and the Outbounders are heading out for their exchange year. It’s exciting watching them start out. I remember how I was. We spent a weekend together at the beginning of the month to say our ‘good byes’ and for some ‘see you later’.
My Rotary club is good. We had a special meeting with the new Govern and his wife, since I was the first exchange student they had met (in their term) they took lots of pictures. It was funny, cause all I had to do was keep smiling. lol
School is out for 2 weeks, kind of like our March Break. My family and I did a little instate traveling. That went well. One night when we were camping I stared into the sky look out at the stars. They were so bright I could see them, oh sooo clear it was calming. I’ve never see the stars so clear and so many at once. Wow!
It will be weird to leave things here and go back and unfreeze my life there ... But it’s all part of the exchange experience right? I thank God, my Family, and Rotary of this opportunity of a lifetime.
With love,
Kendra
Windsor (1918) - Some Past Exchange Students
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Images from a Visit to
The 2004 Rotary International Conference in Japan
Saturday, February 25, 2006 12:40 PM
Subject: Yuhi and Livia in Brazil
Hello everyone in Canada!
How are you doing?
This is Yuhi Nishi from Japan and Livia Lopes from Brazil typing. We hope that everyone remembers us because we would like to say thank you for everything that you all have done for us. Yuhi arrived in Brazil last Wednesday (feb 22nd) to spend Carnaval with me(Livia) and all my family and some friends. We met each other in Rio de Janeiro and we spent a couple of days there visiting some of the famous places, like: Ipanema and Copocabana beaches; Corcovado where the big Christ stands; Samba show, etc. Now, we are in Livia’s home city named Formiga. It is a very small town close to Belo Horizonte. We will spend Carnaval with all her family and friends at her lake house 20 min away. After that, we will go to Belo Horizonte where Livia goes to school. Then, Yuhi will travel to some other cities in Brazil where she has some friends. After 2 and a half years not seeing each other, we are here now enjoying each other like we did in Canada. Rotary is responsible for this amazing friendship that will last forever. It is all because of you guys that gave us this wonderful chance to meet beautiful people and you guys made our world smaller!! Please, keep up this important job and expand it to the rest of the world. We want to say a special thanks to our host families: Marinne and Doug Backham, Maria Blass, Pat and Morris Whatmore, Rose and Ed Boycott; all the Rotarians : Janet Kelly, Karen, Maureen Lucas, Brenda Cohen (for the hugs!!!), Terry Finn, Bev, Peter Hrastovec, Mr. Wheeler for all the rides and the kindness, and every one who talked to us during the meetings and the parties. We will never forget what you have done for us.
Big Hugs and Kisses:
Click on the images to enlarge them
Hello Windsor Rotary Club,
This is Carolina Butolo from Brazil!
How are you my friends?
I hope you still remember me
Yesterday night I was looking at the pictures I took in Canada and I decided to email you. I miss the great time I spent in Canada, and all the people I met there! My life completely changed after this trip and I'm so thankful to Rotary.
When I got back to Brazil I applied to some universities, got accepted at most of them, and choose the one called FAAP, which is located in Sao Paulo city, which is one of the biggest cities in the world (about 15 million people). My parents bought an apartment here where I live by myself since 2000. I'm starting 3rd year of University. I'm taking Public Relations-Communication and had the opportunity to work for one year and a half at a great franchising consulting company that represents great corporations as McDonald's, Coke, Kibon, etc.
Now I got a job at my university's Public Relations Department. For those who doesn't know what a PR
professional does I'll try to explain it. We defend the image of the corporation, working to establish communication to the inside and outside public, etc. In Brazil, when you become a university student you have to stat working to get experience! It's a really hard job because there's a lotta study and working to do at the same time. I got the chance to make great friends and meet cool people in Sao Paulo. Because of my job I'm always invited to great parties, TV shows, concerts, etc. I love what I do! After finishing university I'm thinking about going back to Canada and study MBA, or maybe take another graduation over there. But before it, I think next July, I'll be able to visit you guys! I'm planing on start saving money and spend next summer with you!
PS: Janet, you used to say I talked to much, now I'm becoming a Public Relations thanks to that! HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
PS: Terry Finn, how are you, Mrs. Finn and your daughter? Do you know something about Patrick? I need his email address...Could you please give it to me?
PS: Hello Mrs. And Mr. Boycott! How are you? News from Eduado?
Well, I keep telling people how wonderful the Rotary exchange student program is, and how I'm so thankful to it!
I better get back to work now!
Love always, Carol
RYLA Students, Chantale Myron, Kara Kennedy and Lara Snyder were introduced to the audience
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive training program for community youth leaders. Young people chosen for their leadership potential attend an all-expenses-paid seminar, camp, or workshop to discuss leadership skills and to learn those skills through practice.
Last Revised: January 31, 2010
International Students' Page