I'm Ryan, I'm from British Columbia, Canada and I have made this blog to keep everyone I know and love up to date with what I am doing next year when I leave for my year long Rotary Youth Exchange to Switzerland.
So it all began about 5 months ago when I was on the internet looking into exchanges, and the my Rotary Distric (5020) was one of the first hits. After I told them of my interest I sent them my preliminary application and a few weeks later I had my first interview, I was the last person to be interviewed. After the interview they told me right then and there that they would like to send me on the exchange! I was extremly excited but I took a few days to really make up my mind and I said Yes! In December all of the Outbound Students met in Victoria for a second set of interviews. These interviews were to decide a.) if we were going and b.) where we were going. Us outbounds did not really talk to each other a lot because we were all a little apprehensive about our interviews (and there was a few sentiments of competition) but that went away when we met up in March.
My Rotary District is on the west coast of British Columbia and Washington. There are 30 of us "Outbound" students who are going to every corner of the world! We all leave sometime in August. This exchange is to provide us with the opportunity to immerse ourselves in a completely different culture and language. We will also be ambassadors for our Country our Rotary District and our Families. I am very very excited about going to Switzerland as it was my number 1 country of choice!! Out of 25 countries! I am the only student in my District going to Switzerland but there are many other students going to neighbouring countries, i.e. France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Italy etc. Throughout the year I will be staying with 2-3 host families (who I do not know yet) to really immerse myself in the Swiss culture.
I really looking forward to seeing the famous Swiss mountains(and skiing on them!!!!) and the beautiful cities like Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich! Also experiencing Swiss traditions like the Swiss national holiday, cheese racing down mountains, yodelling and much more! I will definitly be experiencing the languages there because they have 4! Four official languages (even though only 3 are really used). There speak French, German, Italian and a Latin based language called Romansh. I already speak French (thank goodness!) and my hosting Rotary District is trying to find a city for me that is between the French and German regional boarder! Last but not least of what I am looking forward to is..........Fondue! Bread dipped in hot cheese! Who wouldn't be excited for that! And the chocolate fondue mmmmmmmm.
Ryan
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