At the eve of 2012, time to quickly update you on the goings-on of our youth exchange students. January 12 & 13 we'll be doing our district interviews, where the new outbounds are selected. Lots happening in D7090 Youth Exchange. Please share this with others and encourage them to subscribe: http://rotaryye7090.org/newsletter themselves. This is just a general update on what's happening, hope you enjoy it and all the best for 2013! 

Enjoy how our current outbounds surprised us recently: 

I've been really busy, Tuesday night I went to a basketball game in Charleroi with my family, then all day yesterday I was in Aachen in Germany for a Rotary event, then I just got home from school today and I'm going to the Rotary meeting tonight. Right now is kind of a busy time for all my friends because everyone is studying for exams (I need to take three) so I'm not sure what I'll be doing on the weekends because I usually do something with my friends.

I'm not entirely sure how to define fluent when it comes to French, everyone who I talk to tells me I've made a lot of progress and I'm having conversations without thinking about it before.

I don't think I could have a better host family here and I've spent a good amount of time with my second and third families too, and they're going to be very easy to get along with as well.

The biggest problem I have now is that my stipend of Franks hot sauce is running dangerously low because my host dad really likes it too!! Personally I will say I'm doing very well, I'm very happy with what I've done here and the progress I've made, especially at a point which I know is typically a difficult time for exchange students. If there's anything else I'm very happy to fill you in!!

Liam (currently in France)

On a cold weekend, the inbounds got together for a fun weekend in Buffalo, where they got a tour of the Buffalo Bill's Stadium and a better understanding of American Football.Some of the boys surprised our guide with excellent kicks. 

On the Saturday morning we toured Buffalo City Hall, a magnificent building to see and ended the tour with a discussion in the Council Chambers, where we analyzed the US national anthem.

With skating in the afternoon, and a party on Saturday Evening, the weekend was a whole lot of fun, although some tears flowed when we had to say our goodbyes to the Lourissa, Leigh, Melissa and Catalina. The others had made a lovely video to say a fond farewell!

Some updates from our two girls in Australia...
The photos illustrate the great range of experience – from debutante to jillaroo!
Taylor’s pictures show her getting stuck into an iconic Australian task of sheep sheering.  She did so well she’s now a “real Jillaroo”. She is currently in the Merriwa Rotary Club in NSW,  Australia.  She’s going to be staying with 4 host families with her last being a 27 year old Doctor in the Royal Australian Air Force who was an exchange student herself.

Katie too has done a tonne of camping and trekking, abseiling  and country living, but here she is enjoying the graduation night of her fellow grade 12s.  (Australia is in the southern hemisphere so their school year goes from Jan to December).

From both girls to Rotary here “Happy New Year”!