One of the important signature activities of our club was the hosting of Rotary exchange students. Many members will remember hosting and the students.
Currently we are travelling in Europe and had the opportunity to spend time and be hosted by two of our more recent students.
Arriving in Austria we were met by the club's very last student, Matilda and spent five great days in Vienna. Matilda is in the very last stage of high school and the teacher in me made sure she didn't use us as an excuse not to study. Never-the- less we spent some lovely time with her and her parents in a beautiful city.
Matilda and I outside the meeting venue of the club that sponsored her.
Then it was on to Augsburg in Germany where we were met by Caroline, her husband Christian and children Magdalena and Freddy. Time has flown since Caroline was with us and she is now a qualified doctor and Major in the German army. More fantastic days exploring another great city while Caroline and Christian worked, followed by family excursions in the weekend.
Both young women remember their time in New Zealand and the families that hosted them fondly and wanted their thanks to be passed on to members. Coming half way across the world is a daunting prospect for a young person but positively life changing.
