The Rotary Exchange Program is something to be taken advantage of according to the presenter at the Rotary Club of Melfort’s most recent meeting on Tuesday, February 13. Kelsey Alexander, who is from Nipawin, shared her experiences with the audience.
Alexander, who went on an exchange to Slovakia in 2016-2017, was impacted deeply by the entire experience.
“It just changes the way you are. I learned so many new skills. I learned how to snowboard but I also learned how to deal with people. Especially I learned how to never say no. It was just yes let’s go do that, whatever. Another thing is I always spoke really quickly so I had to learn how to slow down when I speak too,” Alexander said.
While in Slovakia she came to appreciate the aspects of Canadian culture even more. She also learned about the culture of Eastern Europe and enjoyed things such as trips to France with other exchange students.
“It is just amazing because you learn so many things, you learn about new cultures and you learn to appreciate what you already have, as well. I learned to appreciate my Canadian culture like Kraft Dinner,” she said.
While she was away she was gifted with Kraft Dinner by her Grandmother and had a story about it to share with the crowd. Her two host families also became close to her and shared their lives with her.
“We got to go to Hungary a lot. I went to Poland a lot actually because my host family loved Poland. Those were amazing because I even learned a little bit of Hungarian. I think I still know how to say my name. That was just what the amazing part was,”” she said.
Alexander detailed every month of her time in Europe and the many friends she made. These included special friends, and fellow Rotary Exchange students from Argentina, Columbia, Taiwan, the United States and Japan.
Alexander is from Nipawin but was sponsored by the Weyburn Rotary. She is currently a student at the University of Regina. She spent a year in the equivalent of Grade 13 in Slovakia and described her entire school experience.
“I graduated in 2016. I went the year after I graduated. It is easier to do that,” she said.
“Honestly school would have been easier after that experience. Learning a new language is crazy difficult, especially for me,” she added.