Antwerp Local High School sophomore Kathryn Oberlin was recently selected as a Rotary exchange student by the Rotarians of District 6600. Beginning in August she will be taking part in a unique, life-changing journey. Miss Oberlin will be headed to Germany for the 2019-20 school year.
The process of becoming an exchange student began last fall. On October 21st there was a meeting in Tiffin, Oh for interested students and their families. There are long, and short term programs depending on the individual student’s interests. Roughly 10 – 12 students from the Rotary District came to the informational meeting.
Their cost of the Rotary exchange program is quite affordable compared to other similar organizations. This is primarily due to the many volunteers who make the the program possible. Any serious student interested in foreign exchange is encouraged to apply. Students applying to the Rotary program are not guaranteed placement but may choose whether they would like to study in Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Czechia, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand or Turkey.
The application process is quite involved and requires a significant amount of effort from the student. All applicants must write an essay, submit academic and immunization records, a physical, and letters of recommendation from educators and community members, as well as proof of the ability to obtain a passport. This had to be done by November 30th.
Many people have the misconception that youth exchange is just a vacation for students. While students have many opportunities to visit places often frequented by tourists, exchange is not the equivalent of a trip to Disneyland. Students attend school and complete school work in a foreign language, that many do not speak at all prior to entering the program. There may be some contact between the student and their new family, but they will be attending a new school where they start with no friends. Years of successful exchanges have shown that the the process, while difficult, is extremely rewarding.
The Rotary District held an orientation meeting on February 9th for students and family members at the Lorain County Community College. Outbound American students had the opportunity to meet and interact with students from their destination country. Parents met with Rotary officials to prepare for living without their child for a year. Additional orientation meetings are planned for the coming months.
Families interested in the Rotary foreign exchange program should their inquiries to far6car@frontier.com for more information.
