Columns
Youth exchange, a great program
Several years ago when I first had an exchange student come and stay with us I would never have foreseen just how things would work out. Ricardo DaSilva was a Rotary Youth Exchange student from Brazil. He had been in the states for some time and Rotary (I was not a member at this time) needed host families. Toby Gilliam asked me if I would be interested. I was. I asked my family and we all felt it would be fun and educational. We never realized just how much fun and how educational it would be.
Honestly, Ricardo spoiled us for any other exchange students we had, and there were four more. He was intelligent and very friendly. His father had sent Ricardo’s older brother on a Rotary Youth Exchange and he was sent to New England. Then Ricardo came and ended up in Rushville. Ticiana, Ricardo’s sister, then went to the Chicago area and finally, Gustavo ended up in Wisconsin (I believe). Ricardo was so well accepted at RCHS that he was the Homecoming King the year he was here. My children really learned a lot from him and, I am sure, taught him a lot — not all probably what we would have liked.
Ricardo was a hard worker and enjoyed life more than anyone I have ever known. When he was here we all felt he was destined to be an outstanding individual and be good at whatever he decided to do. Ticiana and Gustavo in turn came to visit and they were as wonderful as was Ricardo. The only thing with those two was they did not stay for a long enough time. We enjoyed them as much as we did Ricardo.
Because of Ricardo I ended up becoming a member of the local Rotary Club. And because of him I was the Youth Exchange officer for the club for several years. During that time I helped send out three from Rush County to other countries and all of them seemed to like the time spent abroad. During this time RCHS had five to six exchange students each year. I was surprised to hear this, but also pleased. Now I know of no exchange student from any program that attends our schools.
When Ricardo left he left a good friend here in the U.S. Kenny Richards of Milroy even went to Brazil to visit Ricardo after Kenny graduated from high school. Kenny moved away and Ricardo went home and we lost contact for several years. My wife and I often wondered about Ricardo and how he was and how he was getting along. My children and I often think and talk about Ricardo as we do things about the house and yard. We all miss him.
Last week my hopes came true, we found Ricardo. Eric, my oldest son, found him on Facebook and we got back in touch. I also found his sister Taciana and e-mailed her as well. She e-mailed me back and told me she was in import/export. Ricardo is a vascular surgeon and Gustavo an attorney. All of them are doing well. Now that we are back in touch I sincerely hope that we keep it that way. It has been too long being out of touch. I guess as I age I tend to look back and reflect more than I used to, but that is a part of my life I am especially proud of. I feel I helped my children’s education and growth, and I learned a lot about other people and their countries history and future.
We had four other exchange students and none were as great as Ricardo. We had a German, Mexican, Ecuadorian, and another Brazilian, but Ricardo was the top of the list even though there were those others that we enjoyed as well. This time was something that our entire family learned and enjoyed something we all really liked. And I believe that my children learned a lot from Ricardo and those who followed him.
The Rotary program is one of great control and safety. The students stay with Rotarians in the host country or those vetted by the local Rotary Club. They are watched over by Rotarians all the time they are in country. Rotary International keeps an eye on them and getting them to their host country and home again. It is not a free program. But it is, in my opinion, the best program available for youth exchange. The child’s family has to have return trip tickets for the student before they can leave the U.S. They have to do several interviews before they leave to be sure they really want to go. There are over 30,000 clubs in the world and each one is interested in any student that is sent to their area for a year.
I feel it is a wonderful program for youth and one our high school juniors and seniors should look into. If you or someone you know is interested in this program I suggest you contact Jason Clemmons, the present Rotary President, and check out the program and its availability. I know if the child has the correct attitude they will learn and be the better for their adventure.
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