Auriane Verdure (2013-2014 Inbound from Belgium)
Hi Rob!
Thank you for contacting me, I would love to help you promote Rotary Youth Exchange, as it truly is an amazing experience, through not only the lingual dimension but also (and mostly) through the obstacles you're facing throughout the year, the people you meet and the environment that will be forever a second home!
I really enjoy talking about my exchange and how it affected me, I sincerely believe that Exchange was the best decision of my life and that it will be significant for my future..
Right now, as I just came back from
Florida a few months ago, I am facing what I like to call "a reverse culture shock" !
Indeed, when I came back from the sunshine state, I felt as if everything had changed in Belgium; my friends and family looked different at me, the weather seemed particularly awful, and the visions and memories I had of a lot of various things here had changed drastically..
I took a few weeks for me to realize that nothing actually changed.. It was me, the vision I had of the world and the sudden maturity and autonomy I gained that changed.. I had become a new person, and I was not used to my home country yet..
I tried to not focus on my past exchange but really entered my new life as a student in Brussels, where I'm studying to become a commercial engineering.. Thanks to my year in America, I was able to apply for a bilingual major, and I even got exempted of my English class! In other terms, I'm pretty confident about perfecting my English through my college experience!
I am even soon auditioning to be part of an ONU simulation happening in New York, where I'll have the role of a speaker in the name of Belgium, and where I will try through meetings and speeches to strengthen international relationships and worldwide friendships. It is only a project for now but I'm excited at the idea itself of having the chance to do it.
During the weekends, I work as a swimming teacher in my hometown, which is known for hosting a lot of people from different countries and speaking various languages. I especially help kids speaking English, German and Spanish when I have the occasion. I love my job, as I finally gained the confidence to take care of little kids and be an example for them.
In a more general type of way, I try to spread the values of "Service above Self", as well as "The Four Way Test" that Rotary taught me, and I fight as much as I can against the gossips about our organisation as being "some reunion of rich old men that just sit there at a restaurant and have fun while meeting other rich old men". I tell people about the Rotary values, its goals (from ending polio to creating a web of exchanges to improve international relationships) and its effects on the world, as well as the effect it has on me.
As you might have heard, not all Rotary Clubs allow women, it is the case of my sponsor Club and with the help of my dad, Rotarian himself, we are trying to make it change once and for all!
I also try to make the concept of happy dollars a part of the meetings in Belgium, because I think it is a great way to learn more about people that might have something to say but keep it inside because they don't have the occasion to open up.
Of course, I'll always believe that everything I achieved and will achieve is in some way a consequence of my exchange in Florida, and the support I had of my wonderful family and host club of Vero Beach Sunrise!
The sunshine state is my second home, my friends come from all around the world in various countries and various cultures, I gained so much in confidence and autonomy,.. And it is all because of you so, thank you from the bottom of my heart, because Florida changed my life forever!
Auriane Verdure
Rotex in Belgium