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Tijn tackles Tongariro

Thursday 13th February we went to the beautiful Tongariro National park. The journey started at the BP station of Papakura, where I went straight after school. The van that was supposed to pick us up was a bit later than expected, but this didn't keep us down. After about 1.5 hours there they were. Some of the students were from district 9920 and also all the kids from district 9910. It was lovely meeting these kids; for me, this was the first time seeing them in person. It was an excellent experience to meet other rotary exchange students. We also met the chaperones for the weekend. It was a very long drive. We stopped to get some dinner at dominos. Luckily the ride went smoothly and was good talking with everybody arrived around 10 pm in Turangi holiday park all tired and ready for bed.

Rotary Youth Exchange Information Evenings

Rotary operates one of a select few real exchange programmes - for each student we welcome to our Club/city/country, Rotary sends a student out to another place around the world.

The most powerful force in the promotion of international understanding and peace is exposure to different cultures. The world becomes a smaller, friendlier place when we learn that all people regardless of nationality desire the same basic things: a safe, comfortable environment that allows for a rich and satisfying life for our children and ourselves. Youth Exchange provides thousands of young people with the opportunity to meet people from other lands and to experience their cultures. This plants the seeds for a lifetime of international understanding.

If you know a 'stand-out' young person who is ready to seize this opportunity, please speak with Tracey and let them know about the upcoming information evenings!

Shefali Mehta QSM, BEM & JP and Interplast

Last week we were privileged to have Shefali update us on Interplast in Asia Pacific; she is an absolutely amazing woman with a huge heart and a work rate to match and as I said in my introduction she is a Rotarian Pocket Rocket! After migrating to New Zealand in 1997, Shefali joined Auckland Harbourside the following year and the Club hasn’t been the same since. She has served on many committees and when President in 2012-13, the Club raising $107,000.00 for Starship and Auckland Medical Research. She is hugely active in the wider community and was awarded a Queens Service Medal in 2016 for services to the Indian Community along with everyday activities as a JP and Deputy Chair for Global India New Zealand.

Rotary Foundation Newsletter

Hola from Cass

This month has come with changes, new perspectives, positives and negatives, pros and cons, decisions and growth. I feel as if I continue to grow month to month and even week to week.

I changed families this month and am now in my third and final family. This has bought all sorts of emotions. I’ve moved in with the family of one of my really good friends from school, Josefina, into her apartment. I now live two blocks from school so can have a decent sleep before school. I also know I’m very adjusted to living here, because if I don’t feel like putting on shoes I’ll just walk to school in my crocs and socks! In the family there are the two parents and an older sister who’s 24. Straight away I felt very comfortable in the house and in this family and I have things I didn’t even know I was missing. They say “I love you” to each other all the time, and the energy and love in the house is so warm and it is refreshing to be a part of. With my host sister Jose, it’s working really well as we have different groups of friends and also friends in common, which means we don’t spend TOO much time with each other. We’ve written a list of things we want to do together in Cordoba, and the family are taking me to the mountains next weekend.