Chair of the Day: Terry Ferguson

Invocator: Bailey Feekin

11:15 Greeter: David Jacobs

11:45 Greeter: Rebecca Vinton

 

Thank you and congratulations!

 

My name is Madi Zimmerman, I am rotary exchange student in Hamamatsu, Japan (2015-16). I have been on exchange for a little over five months, five amazing months.  So much can happen in five months, so much can change. I have grown as a person, and I am proud of my accomplishments.  

Many people told me prior to my trip, “Going on exchange isn’t just a year of your life, it is a life in itself”, and they couldn’t have been more right. You could probably name off any emotion known to man, and an exchange student could say they’ve felt that during exchange at least at one point. Whether it is excitement, anger, confusion, anxiety, hungry, depression, or just pure joy. As an exchange student your body is a punching bag to emotions. And I mean raw emotions-the kind where it trembles through your whole body- were it becomes not just mentally but physically as well.

As an Exchange student you have the chance to experience an entirely different culture. When I first came to Japan, all I could really see was the big picture and I thought that in a lot of ways Japan and America were extremely similar. Of course it had its obvious differences, but it didn’t feel much different. A couple months pass, and you are able to fully appreciate everything. It’s all the small differences that really start to stand out. Like, when you go to the store you put the money in a small tray instead of on the counter, or in their hand, when you’re sick- you wear a face mask- at all times, people still in high school don’t have jobs, and as a foreigner you really, really stand out. - no matter what you do, or how well you feel you got a handle on things- if you look foreign, you’ll be treated as such. (which isn’t always a bad thing)

Rotary h.

You are left alone with your thoughts, and it’s up to you to sort them. You meet so many different people during our exchange. The good and the bad. Youth exchange gives students the opportunity to touch the hearts of people from all around the world, it heals wounds, and gives us hope for world peace, one adolescent at a time.

I have eaten raw fish, seen countless, beautiful temples, hiked trails, made speeches, made new friends- including my school librarian, volunteered at different hospitals, gone to different major cities, been a part of families, ridden on public transportation- didn’t ever do that before, fallen asleep in math class, and climbed Mt. Fuji. I have had many experiences in the past five months that have touched my heart in more than one way. A memory that will forever stick out to me was when I was able to have a conversation with someone who survived the Atomic Bomb dropping in Hiroshima in her Native tongue about the tragic event. She told me before meeting me she didn’t hate us for what we had done, she was just afraid, terrified actually and now she isn’t, because we had the opportunity to talk (And cry...a lot).  When she hugged me, I didn’t want to let go.

The year away from home as an exchange student is not only life changing, self-defying, and memories- but it’s a life of its own. Thanks to rotary, and the support it gives. I can’t wait to see what the rest of my exchange has in store for me

 

 

Mark your calendar for our next After Hours sponsored by Ranny Perez/Comper Care.

 

 

 

mmanuel Conception Center Bowlatorium
2701 South 25th St. - See more at: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/5409/Event/869bbbdf-ff7d-48ce-9efd-f303d67f0a30#sthash.WmDOaRBF.dpuf

The February Book is "Gray Mountain" by John Grisham and the March Book is "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls.

We have decided to now have the Book Club on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at The Bookworm at 90th & Center. 

 

 

 

 

(Sponsorships for the 15/16 Rotary Year are available. Please contact Jennifer.)