I have created a Powerpoint of my experiences on Eurotour. [See Download section on the right hand side]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the past 28 years of membership in Surfers Sunrise, I have seen it happening time and time again: that undisputed "I can handle anything now" confidence of a Youth Exchange Student returning.  Isabelle is no exception. Not that she didn't already possess more than her fair share a year ago, but still, the difference is pronounced.

 

A bit over a year ago, she embarked to the Isle of Oléron, just off the Atlantic coast off Rochefort, roughly 100 Km north of the city of Bordeaux which lends its name to the famous French wine region.  There she was hosted by the Marennes-Oléron Rotary Club. And where did she go to school? At Institution La Salle Saint-Louis à Pont l’Abbé d’Arnoult.  OK, a bit of a mouth full.  But the remarkable thing is that her trip to school was some 50 Km each way....  Her subjects were Philosophy, Economics, English (she excelled in that :-)!), Maths and of course French.  And she sampled the local delicacies: From her February Report: "I’ve been able to try a lot of new foods; macaroons, foie-gras, different cheeses, croziflette and tartiflette..." [Mum, I want to go too! Ed.]

 

Of course, while they form the major ingredients, Youth Exchanges are not just about School, Host Families and learning the local language.  They are very much about making friends, both locally as well as with students from other nations, and going on trips.  Lots of them!  Going skiiing with the host family, visiting Bordeaux, then Paris for the International Rotary Day.  And this just in the first quarter!

 

Isabelle's second host was the local Mayor (yes, he would have connections!), her third runs a famous hotel / restaurant.  And during the Summer Holidays, the traditional big trip: Visiting Venice, Geneva, Vienna, Prague just to name a few.

 

Finally, in October, the move to her fourth Host F

amily.  The picture below is of her room:  As she wrote in her October report: "I have to say, I wouldn't mind keeping this room forever..."  I'd say, 99.99% of the world population would agree with you!

It is always an invigorating experience to meet with a returning Youth Exchange Student and Isabelle was no exception. 

 

A final word from her, frantically relayed in an email to me last Thursday: "I ran out of time for something very important. I wanted to say a huge thank you to all of the members , without the Surfers Sunrise Rotary Club I might never have had the chance to have such an exceptional experience and I am truly grateful for all of your support while I was away."   Well, you are welcome, Isabelle. You have done us proud as our Ambassador to the Bordeaux Region of France.  

   
 

Epicurus, one of the great philosophers of the Hellenistic Period, is - incorrectly - credited with claiming that worldly pleasures and in particular luxurious lifestyle equals happiness.  The term 'epicurian' is incorrectly applied to a luxurious lifestyle such as a villa in the South of France,  a Lamborghini, diamond studded Rolex etc. Actually, he stated that the primary 'natural and necessary' items for happiness were

 

2. Freedom and

3. Thought (about main sources of anxiety such as death, illness, poverty, superstition, and the basic needs of food, shelter etc and what to do about it (or deliberately decide not to do anything about it.).

 

Almost 2,300 years later, in 1943, Abraham Maslow published his famous Hierarchy of Needs: Physiological, Safety, Love & Belonging, Esteem and Self Actualization.

 

Well, in our society, he basic physiological needs of Food, Shelter etc are almost a given. Safety is largely taken care of by our governments.  The top three are catered for by Rotary.  Simple as that:

 

Epicurus' Number 1, "Having Friends" essentially matches Maslow's "Love & Belonging".  You got it: Rotary provides this in abundance. And Rotary certainly provides for Maslow's top two, Esteem and Self Actualization.  By being active in Rotary, by living up to Rotary's principle of 'Service Above Self', you will achieve Esteem, both in other people's view as well as when you look into the mirror in the morning.  To achieve Self Actualization, simply take live up to your commitment in Rotary.  Take on an office such as Club President, any of the District officer positions or even go for District Governor.  If you don't feel you are qualified to that, or you decided to "retire", you still can put your entire weight behind it and support those in your club who do.

 

So, whom are you going to invite to join Rotary?

 

This week's meeting is specifically set aside to introduce people to our Rotary Club.  Simon Brook has a special Guest Speaker engagement lined up:  The Ride for RYLA guys, (Julian Buttgieg & Glen Gorton).  They rode a Rickshaw around India, just to promote the Rotary!

 

So, start working on your list on the people you are going to invite!

In view of 

a) the Sergeant having been busy discussing whatever at his table and

b) time constraints to ensure Des and Daryl had plenty of time to give their presentation,

 

our Sergeant decided to simply fine anyone who wouldn't come up with a joke...   Early in the morning..?? when all the blood is working hard in your stomach region rather than in your brain??

 

Fortunately, none of the jokes told were printable in a family publication, so your Editor thankfully didn't have to write any of them down!

Duty Roster - note: subject to change - please check every week

 

 

“There are two ‘i’s’ in Fundraising – they should stand for inspiration and innovation, not imitation and irritation.”