Rotarians gather to hear experiences of exchange students

Service Clubs

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Rotarians gathered together in Mildmay, Bruce County on Saturday where they listened to the experiences of two exchange 'teams', one had come from Brazil to Canada and was returning and the other had just returned from that Country.

Chris Goodall of St. Thomas, Lauren Dean of Fenton, Michigan and Rafael Turner of Flint, Michigan had gone to Brazil not knowing what to expect. Goodall is involved in social work, Dean is a teacher and Turner works for a member of Congress.

"I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the local Food Bank, Community Corps and and orphanage," said Goodall. "A big part of the Brazilian culture is family. They have a real sense of community and had us wondering about what we've lost with our huge shopping malls."

Goodall went on to add that he was shocked by a cultural difference. "I've always been a bit of a 'germaphobian'," he said, "bit in Brazil everyone shares beverages and it's prt of the etiquette to share with each other. Meeting, eating and drinking are all about the gathering of people and sharing. One thought is that things are not better or worse, they are just different."

According to Goodall, the health care field is similar in that, "There is always a shortage of money and the facilities to provide basic health care need help."

Lauren Dean, the teacher, visited five schools for students with Special Needs in Santa Cruz. "Santa Cruz is a beautiful city and the home of the tobacco industry. "The profits from the industry all go back into the city," she explained. "Over all, I visited 20 schools and spoke with teachers and administrators. We share the same concerns about literacy and educating the masses. In North American, we should be very grateful for our developed nations. The one thing I've seen is ... there are Rotarians in every city and country working to improve the quality of life for others."

Rafael Turner, said that he truly did not know much about Rotary before the group study exchange but soon learned what a "... wonderful opportunity it offers to travel the world." He went on to explain that, from his perspective, "Brazil Rotary means to much to the local communities, schools, hospitals, social programs, the homeless and to job training."

According to Turner, "A lot of the services we expect here in the United States and Canada are not the same in other countries and people just don't have the same standards of living. My understanding of poverty has changed completely."

"In my opinion," Turner added, "Rotarians should really take a look at projects in-depth because sometimes it's a matter of life and death. Differences can mean clean clothing, books and homeless shelters. Rotary in many districts is making an incredible difference and one thing I found is that the members are the same in Brazil as they are here."

Turner now hopes to meet with American government officials to promote helping others. "I think the best way to find yourself," he said, "is to lose yourself in service to others."

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09/06/2009 10:08 PM

Video Dancing Tractors perform at recent Rotary meeting in Mildmay  

 Student Exchange Group returns from Brazil. (L)Chris Goodall, Lauren Dean & Rafael Turner

Maria Alice models her traditional CTG gaucho dress

 Exchange student from Michigan, Bo Khamhom of Thailand, with George 'Georginna' Fishe a Dancing Tractor driver

 Local Bruce County Rotarians enjoy Dancing Tractors. Port Elgin Rotary President, Erin Zorzi and member, Peter Harrison