Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Hope Nelson - Barbezieux, France


Dear members of the community,
                My name is Hope Nelson and I will be spending my junior year abroad in the little town of Barbezieux, France. Barbezieux is a classic french town with rolling hills, little farms, and even has a small castle. It is near Bordeaux and Angouleme.  I'm excited to be in a place where there are so many old french customs that I can bring back and share with you. I am most looking forward to  learning how to cook classic french cuisine and immersing myself in the language. I not only intend to embrace a new culture in France but I also would like to be an ambassador between Steamboat and Barbezieux and share customs between the two.
                I am finding as much information on exchanges so I can better acclimate myself in the new environment when I arrive . I also am reading exchange books that depict other experiences from past students point of view, these also can give me general ideas of how I can expect myself to react  emotionally, and how to maintain an open mind and perspective during my exchange. An example of some of these are; the cycle of being homesick, the change in every day activities that I wouldn't otherwise consider,and how core values between cultures may be the same but how they are interpreted or expressed may be different.
                The Rotary district orientation also really helped prepare me for what types of challenges, and triumphs I would be facing in France. They also reminded me that my exchange is a part of a bigger picture. During the months after being accepted into the exchange program, it was all about me; will I do this, will I do that, and those questions are still there, but now I better understand that the goal of this program is to build international goodwill and understanding. That is the best part of this program, because I 'm not just going overto another country to enjoy myself, I am going over to learn and to share my own knowledge so that we, the youth of the world, can have a more peaceful and understanding planet. We make the future. When life is difficult next year I know I have a bigger purpose than my own personal needs or wants, and that gives me the tools to have a wonderful, rewarding exchange.
                Thank you to Rotary for this exceptional opportunity and thank you ,the members of the community, for letting me represent you and share with the world how wonderful Steamboat is.

Hope Nelson

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