Rotary Youth ExchangeUS Rotary district 6420 and Mexico Rotary District 4930
Requirements for youth exchange
A Rotary youth exchange student must be between 15 and 18 years of age, in the top half of his or her class academically, willing to try and learn new things and work towards learning a new language and understanding a new culture and their traditions.s
Application Process
I'm not going to lie, the application process can be long and stressful, but it will be completely worth it in the long run. First, a local Rotary club will ask for applications and host interviews in August and September. After the interview the local club will decide to sponsor your exchange year. Once you are accepted by a local club, the long application process will begin. It includes trips to the dentist and doctor, school and medical records, essays and pictures. Three copies of each paper is need, they are to be dated day, month, year and signed in blue ink. Then the application is turned into the disctrict Rotary club and district interviews are given. Once you are accepted by the districts you are required to attend around three orientations before leaving on your exchange year.
Homesickness
Everyone gets homesick at least once during their exchange. It's a natural process of adapting to new situations. Homesickness happens the most upon arrival, holidays, and times when you feel bored or alone. The best way to get over homesickness is to go out and do something. If you're homesick over Christmas, make Christmas cookies with your host family, or show them something you really enjoy doing.
Host Families
One of the best ways to learn a language and a culture is to live with people who know all about them! It's easier to learn a language when you have no other way of communicating. It's a great experience to live with a family and learn to adapt to them, because they also need to adapt to you!
Friends
Friends are easy to make! People are very interested in people who are different from them. You can make a lot of friends at school. It's also a great way to learn the language and it's fun to see how teenagers grow up in a different part of the world. In addition you will get to meet other exchange students in your district and they make life-long friends as well. To see pictures of my friends and favorite people in Mexico, click here
School
Although you may be going through an extra year of school as an exchange student, it's well worth it. Going to school enables you to meet kids your age and engage in their environment. You'll see the differences between your American school and your host school. To see some pictures from school, click here.
Trips
As an exchange student, you will have several opportunities to travel. Your host district will several trips so you can get a better feel for the rest of your host country and see a different perspective. To see pictures of my trips, click here.
Contacts
For more information about Rotary International and Rotary Youth Exchange visit www.rotary.org
You may e-mail me at jnewtonmexico@gmail.com