I am a Junior right now, but on May 26, 2010 I will be saying good-bye to all my best friends that are graduating next year.
The reason why I will be saying good-bye to my friends is that I am going to Ecuador for my Senior Year with Rotary Youth Exchange, then coming back and graduating with 2012 (my heart is always with 2011 though).
Ever since January of this year I have been accepted to be a international exchange student (just not knowing where). So when I found out where I was going in March I had to tell everyone I knew, so when I did more and more people kept asking how they can get involved with Rotary.
One thing you can do is join Coronado’s International Club (which are holding meetings every other Fridays in Dr. Pasek room). The International Club talks about international events, presentations on different cultures and have speakers come in to talk about things that you can join or participate in things or organizations that are global.
Another is joining Coronado’s Interact Club. Their motto is Service Above Self, and so with a motto like that you are expecting a community service club just like Key Cub and that is what they do. With more and more popping up in high schools around the valley, there will be more and more events like RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) which is a weekend camp for all youth Rotary members.
Even another is going to Ms. Tallarico (in the Higher Ed. office), and talk to her about Rotary Youth Exchange and talk to your foreign language teacher. She has the knowledge of who to connect with from Max Rumbaugh or other high officials in Rotary.
There is one other thing you can do that is a little easier and a good way to learn about a different culture without leaving Arizona if traveling is not your thing is hosting a Exchange Student. There is always a need of a family in the Coronado district to host, so if that’s something that sounds interesting talk to your family and contact Max Rumbaugh.
Or if that isn’t helpful at all go to http://scottsdalerotary.org/YouthExchange.html to Learn about things that you can do for the community and the world. If you have any questions come up and ask me or go to: scottsdalerotary.org
Next year I will be writing about my experiences and how I am handling myself. I will be making two different sites:
One on www.coronadoexplorer.com in the Campus Happenings section will be uploading a discussion piece titled Living on the Equator, telling you what I did and how I getting used to a culture that is truly foreign to me.
The second www.facebook.com group: Sarah’s Ecuador Adventure I will be putting pictures, videos, discussion boards and going a little more personal to how I am getting along with my host-family and my new friends.
If you have any questions for me just email me on www.facebook.com.