Please be generous with the Polio Jar donations to meet budget and support the effort
Liz Marino: Youth Exchange
Actively seeking host families during this time and meeting with a possible host family soon (stay tuned)
Heather reminded folks that the Exchange Student is not just the responsibility of the host family, they are the club’s responsibility and everyone should be involved in one way or another (sports games, dinner, events, etc)
Rebecca: Project Graduation (June 10th)
Rebecca needed about 5 volunteers to help with this event on Saturday, June 10th (email was sent from Rebecca)
Flag Day: June 14th
Friendly reminder to put up the flags before/ after June 14th (It may be raining so please check the weather before picking them up)
Spence - Gala Dinner
Thank you to everyone who attended - it was a great event and nice to see all the CACO recipients. A few thank you cards were passed around from CACO recipients
Fines and Happy Dollars:
Fines:
Rebecca -late
Liz Smith - No name tag
Happy Dollars:
Liz M was proud to be in the parade; it was a fun event!
Max was happy to be up early and at the meeting
Eric was happy about the Memorial Day Parade and took a moment to talk about D-Day
Spence thanked everyone for the Gala Dinner and recognized Ron Hadley (Veteran) during D-Day. Additionally, Spence thanked Liz Smith for making breakfast
Jack Brown recognized the Middlebury Boys Tennis team who made it all the way to the Semi Finals and then lost :(
Helmut was happy they didn't run out of candy at the parade
John Barstow thanked Liz M and Liz S for their contributions to Rotary (Liz - M Exchange Coordinator and Liz S- Breakfast)
Guests : Middlebury Exchange Students (Diana, Fiamma, and Makina)
Diana Herasim - Ukraine
Diana arrived here 2 years ago and has really appreciated the opportunity to be with Rotary and thanked everyone for their support to help her go to the 2 week Syracuse Summer Program to learn more about American Government. During her time here, Diana talked about taking part in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program that was very intense and appreciated being academically challenged. She also recently hiked Camel’s Hump
Fiamma Battistini - Italy
Fiamma arrived here in September 2022 and spent a few days down in NYC and then came to VT. She has an amazing host family, and had the chance to play sports (Volleyball and Track & Field). Fiamma loves to study and to challenge herself academically. She will be going home on June 29th
Makina Elckifeicoua - Tajikistan (Central Asia)
Makina is a Junior here, but was a senior back home and could have gone to college back in Tajikistan, but wanted to do the exchange program. She is happy she came here and also got to participate in sports (Cross Country, Ultimate Frisbee and Dance). It was challenging for Makina to get her VISA, but is hopeful she will get into Alfred University and will get another VISA soon.
Questions:
What did you get and/or not get -but expected through this program?
All 3 students talked about the rigor of the high school academic program. Back in their countries, their curriculums are a lot more condensed/intense (up to 20 subjects) and structured with not much time for extracurricular activities like sports and clubs. They felt that they could choose how difficult their curriculum was here (except the IB Program). They did appreciate the chance to play sports though in addition to studying - it felt very balanced.
What were your expectations for VT?
The students did not come with many expectations and all were flexible in their placement locations. They were just excited about the experience! They all mentioned how friendly everyone was and has been to them - it is a very nice community.
What were some differences and was it hard to make friends?
Culturally it was difficult. Makina talked about how “friendship” here is different than back home. Makina explained that here (USA), everyone is friends, but those friends can talk some days and not talk other days. However, back home (Tajikistan) when you are “friends” with someone, you talk to them everyday and hug them...they are your very close friends and you know everything about them!
Most of the exchange students are friends with each other and can support each other throughout the process, but being in sports made it easier to make other friends outside of the exchange students. Fiamma talked about how everyone here has been friends since Pre-K or Kindergarten and it is hard to be part of existing friend groups
Host Family Experience
Jeff - Host Family to Diana was present and talked about his experience as a host family. Jeff and his wife have had a great time and a glimpse of what it is like to have a highschooler. They have a daughter in 4th grade and they have gotten along very well. At first they were nervous about what it would be like for their daughter to bring in someone and the dynamics. It has been a great experience and Jeff & his wife are in the process of being Diana’s co-legal guardians until Diana is 18 years old.
.png)
