Youth - Youth Exchange
Clients Think About Us?
Rotary Youth Exchange inspires young leaders to serve as catalysts for peace and social justice in their local communities and throughout the world, long after their exchanges end. This program is possible because of the dedication, leadership, and passion of the tens of thousands of volunteers — Rotary members and nonmembers alike — who make this unique program so successful.
My foreign exchange was not something I had planned on doing, but after going to RYLA in my junior year of high school, I started thinking about doing a study abroad. First it was just a short term exchange on my mind. With time, and talking to Rotarians and my parents, I decided a long term exchange would be the best for me. I was selected to live in Uppsala, Sweden for my senior year of high school. It ended up being the best senior year EVER! I got to meet so many amazing, life long friends and even extend my family. I was able to learn a new language and a new culture and learn to love strangers. Sweden has a huge place in my heart as well as the people there. If you are thinking about going on a foreign exchange, do it! It will change your life for the better!”
“The Utah Rotary exchange program is affordable, safe, and worth every dollar I invested. It costs about half of what other exchanges programs run because Rotary volunteers run the program. In addition, my host Rotary club paid me a stipend of $100 a month for living expenses. Unbelievable!”
“I was told many times that this was going to be the best year of my life. It didn’t exactly sink in until I got to Italy. I LOVE everyday of this experience. I love learning Italian, I love the people, I love the food (of course)..I know this will be something that shapes the way I am in positive way for the rest of my life. I love that I have the opportunity to gain a real appreciation of a culture and language. An exchange is HARD work. It take quite a durable person to be able to forget themselves to serve a greater purpose (whether it be service or just going out and observing life in another country) and then in the end find a new and highly improved version of themselves. I feel that this is one of the most important things you can do in your life and I look forward to seeing where it takes me after my exchange.”
“I have been having a wonderful 3 months in Belgium and I never want it to end!! I’ve made new friends, tried new foods, learned a new culture, and gotten very far out of my comfort zone!! So far I’ve visited Île de France, Paris, and London, as well as Brussels, Antwerp, Namur, and Brugge in Belgium. I am planning to go to Germany this next week. I have gotten so many wonderful chances to travel and I am loving every minute of this experience!!!
“To sum up my exchange into a paragraph seems impossible! The lessons I’ve learned from my exchange are never-ending; never-ending because it’s influence is opening doors for me that I wouldn’t have even considered before going through such an amazing and trying experience. I went to Curitiba, Brazil my senior year and not a day goes by, a year and a half later that I don’t remember a little story or come across a little keepsake or something that I brought home with me from my exchange. There is a reason that when I think of all those memories and all those people that have had such an influence on my life and perspectives, that I just want to cry because this is the real homesickness, the coming home. There’s never an end to the memories–Olga, when we tried to dye your hair and it came out the exact same color, when we had a Spaghetti Thanksgiving and we all said a prayer in our own language, sweating during Christmas time and hoping for if not a white Christmas like home at least an overcast one, the kiss greeting that once felt so foreign and uncomfortable that now seems like the only official way to really say hi, heartaches, struggling friends, endless laughter at school, embarrassing language mistakes, friends forever, tearful goodbyes. I love my exchange. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s a part of my identity now. Nothing will get my attention quicker than the words “Brazil”,”exchange student”, or “Portuguese”. No compliment can be greater than to be told that I look Brazilian. To quote Gertrude Stein, “America is my country and Paris is my hometown”. I’ll always feel that way about my exchange: Curitiba is my city!!!
“Word! My exchange definitely gave me a travel bug – I spent a fantastic year in Japan and met some great people from around the world, not just Japan. Some of us are still in touch, and are planning to meet up now that I’m studying in Italy for a semester. Opening up your life to the world changes it.”
“Deciding to become an exchange student was the best choice I’ve ever made in my life.Lots of people think that going on an exchange only gives us the chance to learn a new language but that’s not it: You discover a new country, new landscapes, a new way of life and new religions and beliefs. You become more open-minded and selfless because the first thing you will learn from the ROTARY is that no matter what country you come from, we all deserve to be treated equally and with respect. A Rotarian told me once that if everyone chose to go on an exchange there would be no more war on earth. She was right, trust me. However, it is not always easy. Sometimes, you will feel sad to be away from home or frustrated because you don’t understand everything people say… Don’t worry and don’t give up. You won’t be alone. If there is any problem, your counselor will be there and will do everything he can to solve your problem. I am about done now. One last thing: GO FOR IT, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!”
“How come I didn’t know about this page!?? it brought me back SO many memories of the best year of my life!! I miss everyone there so much! I’ll always be grateful for what you (Rotarians) did for me, and for teaching me how to love the world and its different countries and how to love people beyond their nationalities. ROTARY’s exchange program is far the best thing any teenager can do during that stage of their life! District 5420 will always be in my heart! Utah rocks !!!!! We ARE the best!! PS: sorry if it’s kind of long but i got really excited! My greetings to all my Rotarians friends!!”
“I went on a Rotary Youth Exchange to Madrid, Spain two years ago. My exchange has change my life. Not one day goes by that I don’t use a skill that I learned on my exchange, whether it be speaking in Spanish, relating to people from around the world, or adapting to difficult situations, my exchange has been the pinnacle. More than anything else, I recommend going on an exchange. So start today! The hardest part to going on an exchange is deciding to apply. Once you set your mind to do it, things come together, and before you know it… you are flying to a foreign country to live there for a year!”
“Rotary Youth Exchange Program, what an awesome choice! This will be the best choice of your LIFE, for reals. For me, it is hard to describe a year so great as my exchange year. You are in a different country; you travel a lot, see new places and meet new people who you will never forget. But WAIT there is more. On this exchange you have the security and comfort of the Rotary Exchange Program. You think I’m through, no my friend there is even more! You get a freakin’ allowance every month on your Rotary Exchange year paid for by the Rotarians you are living with. What a perfect program!”
“On my exchange I had to adapt to different traditions, rituals and associations which I think made me more flexible. There were many things I had to accomplish and figure out on my own like for example making new friends, learning how the school system works or how you should behave in certain situations or surroundings. I lost all restraints of going and just talk to people, generally got more open-minded, learned that it is ok to make mistakes if you learn from them, how to take responsibility and gained self-confidence and maturity. To sum it up I’d say that this whole year helped me in the search of who I really am at this time, at this point of life.”
“A Rotary exchange prepares you for life. Outside of my family and my mission for my church, nothing has taught me more than this life-altering experience. I would highly recommend a Rotary exchange to anyone who has the maturity and curiosity to explore the world they live in.”