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May 22, 2014 – Meeting Roundup – Mora Garay

This week we will have the pleasure of listening to our exchange student from Argentina, Mora Garay, while enjoying our desserts at the Purple Iris. Mora will be telling us about her past year as an exchange student with our club.

Mora is from Corrientes, Argentina, which is in the northeast corner of Argentina. As part of the subtropical area of Mesopotamia, the province has heavy rains and high temperatures with little daily and seasonal variation. It must have been quite a shock for Mora to experience this past winter, which, to say the least, was cold and snowy.

This past year she first stayed with Rich and Judy McCune the first half; and with Bob and Kathleen Trumble the second half. A special thanks goes to both families, although I’m sure they would all tell you it was one of the most rewarding experiences they have had.

Has she enjoyed her stay in our community? What is her impression of American schools? We know she participated in cross country running. What other activities did she enjoy? Was it fun going to a school that won its fourth straight football championship? Did she enjoy American style football as opposed to the game played with the funny looking round ball?

Did she make it to any of the great tourist sites the east coast has to offer? Did she go to New York City as many of our other exchange students have in the past? Other sites that come to mind are Washington and Disney World. Did Mora get a chance to try winter sports such as snowboarding, skiing, and tubing? What did she think about what may have been her first exposure to snow? Argentina gets snow, but much farther south than where she lives.

Being a Rotary exchange student is the opportunity of a lifetime. Costs vary from country to country. Local Rotary clubs generously host students and provide room and board with a host family and a small monthly stipend. Participants are generally responsible for: round-trip airfare, insurance, travel documents (such as passports and visas), and spending money, additional travel, and tour fees. The rest is provided by Rotary and the host club.
Exchanges are for people ages 15–19 who: have demonstrated leadership in their school and community, are flexible and willing to try new things, are open to cultural differences, and can serve as an ambassador for their own country.

Our club was the first in District 735 (that was our district’s designation at the time) to start an exchange program under the guidance of the late N. Blaine Groves in the 1960s. Since that time we have always hosted at least one, and sometimes two, exchange students. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences our club has had. Show up at the Purple Iris and find out why.

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