Aug 3, 2025 | Journals 2025-2026
I’m leaving for Switzerland in less than two days but it feels like I was just at the RYE interviews. I’m still in shock that I’ve been able to come this far and have been granted this opportunity. For me personally knowing I was going to be gone for...
Sep 17, 2024 | Journals 2024-2025
It’s hard to believe this time a year ago I didn’t even know I was going to apply for the RYE exchange program let alone actually be an exchange student. Now a short while away from my departure everything feels so surreal. Throughout my whole process I have faced...
Sep 5, 2024 | Journals 2024-2025
To my first blog I have written in my life: First, hello, my name is Elinor Kaplan. I live in Jacksonville, Florida, and I recently turned 17. I graduated early from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts to participate in Rotary’s 2024-25 exchange program. My exchange...
Sep 5, 2024 | Journals 2024-2025
Hello, my name is Stella Azam. I am 17 years old and currently in Taiwan for the RYE study abroad program. I arrived at the Kaohsiung airport at 11:00 PM on the 24th of August to be greeted by a herd of Rotarians and who I assume to be all of their relatives. My 1st...
Sep 5, 2024 | Journals 2024-2025
My exchange so far has been an awesome experience. I cried a few times in the airport when I was leaving but was so glad to arrive. I met my host mom, Marit and my host sister, Felicia, and our neighbors. I got to tour my school before classes started and it’s like a...
May 30, 2024 | Journals 2023-2024
Time for my last journal! Technically I’ve got a few months left of exchange, but it’s been so long since my previous entry that I just gotta close out at this point. So, I’ve been really busy just living my life. Very recently I had a strange feeling come over me....
