Student Exchange

In order to get the World's countries to be closer and have better ties, which will eventually lead to agreements to bolster education or economy or healthcare, all countries in the world (At least most of them), have Embassies and Consulates. The people in charge of this areas strive for a better understanding of the World's problems through cooperation between the countries. But sometimes, we need to truly experience what living in a country is. It's very different being an ambassador, living in your consulate, with all the politician friends, or being a university student where there are already many other foreigners.

Then, there are Student Exchange programs. These programs are usually for students in highschool, with ages ranging from 15 to 19 years old. Rotary International is very well known in this Student Exchange area, as they have been doing this since 1929, when the Rotary Club of Copenhague (Denmark again!) started the first exchange.

I was a Rotary Exchange student myself, and we Exchange Students are almost always referred to as "Ambassadors of Goodwill". The theory says that, the younger we open our mind to new places and cultures and ways of life, the better.

Being an Exchange Student, you get to meet people from all over the world. Taiwan, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Finland, Bolivia, Chili, Argentina, Canada, USA, Austria, Sweden, Russia.... And of course, you meet the people of your host country, where you live. A whole year is the usual, though semester programs also exist. But imagine a whole year of living the life of any other French or Japanese or Turkish highschool student!

This truly enables you to get to know a country, its culture, its way of life, and also, you get to know a bit about other countries. You ask and get asked so many questions about your country, you fight against the stereotypes, and even against racism. But in the end, it's all worth it, for the friends and the knowledge you acquire.

Somedays, it will be our turn to be the leaders of the world. But with these kinds of exchanges, the world will be even more connected and more friendly towards each other than ever before.