Any family's from BC have their highschool aged child do a foreign exchange that could tell me about their experience? My daughter wants to apply
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We volunteered with Interculture Canada (AFS) and hosted six students. They are still our family many years latter. We also worked with Canadians going abroad and I am sure the majority had a wonderful experience.

When I was in grade 10, I went on a 3 month exchange to France with a company called OSEF. You can pm me if you have any questions

My daughter did the same 3 month exchange with OSEF in France and lived her time there

I did a rotary youth exchange when I was 16. It was an amazing experience and the program is exceptionally well run. I highly recommend.

Brette This is what she is looking to apply to, she will be 15 in January and the departure date is August, where did you go?

it was a very long time ago but I went to Japan. There’s a lot of structure around the program and they take really good care of students. I know people who have stayed involved in the program and everyone still says amazing things about it. I later on ended up getting a scholarship through Rotary to do a Masters’ degree, so I’m a big fan of the organisation.

Kayla my family was a Rotary family in the 80s and 90s. I did an exchange to South Africa in 1989/1990 (also EFS to France in the summer of 1987, but that was not as good). After my exchange, I started a Rotex organization in our district which is still going strong. I worked with the inbounds and supported the outbounds as a non-rotarian member of the district exchange committee. There is a lot of support in the program.

Kayla I too was a Rotary Exchange student when I was 17 (a long time ago
). I went to Bolivia and it was the experience of a lifetime. I’ve never regretted it. Highly recommend the Rotary program which is very well run.

When I was a teenager I did a foreign exchange with Rotary International and it was an amazing experience. It is also a non-profit so has a different vibe than a lot of the for profit programs.

Emmett this is what she is looking into, any advice for her for the interview process? Where did you go?

Kayla The Philippines for a year. It was a long time ago and I am sure the process has changed. The most important part is to be independent, flexible and generally open minded.

Also, the Philippines was an incredible experience. All the students had a lot of training before they left and support on the way home. I was 15/16 and think it was more of an adjustment for my folks for me to be away for a year at that age. Also, I was extremely independent when I got home so they adjusted so that I had very few rules my last year of high school (which helped).

Emmett another good point. Kayla, expect that she will be very grown up when she comes back

Kayla my daughter went to Germany for a year with the Rotary Exchange in 2019. It was a wonderful experience!

I went to France for a year when I was 16 with EF (2005). I made friends there with international students from Canada going through Rotary, and their experience seemed the same as mine besides costing much less and having a few requirements such as reporting back to rotary from time to time saying how they were doing.
Happy to chat more if you'd like. That year was so good for me, albeit challenging at times. Definitely recommend doing it!

Cassie Harrison you may be able to give some insight

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i did the Rotary Exchange to Finland in 1981. So much has changed, especially the ability to stay in touch with your family (not sure if that is a pro or a con, to be honest). It was an amazing experience. My only concern is that the younger kids had a tougher time with homesickness, to the point that they went home before Christmas. Most of us were 17/18. I agree with Emmett regarding the attributes - independent, flexible and open-minded.

Lori omg I think about that all the time. Would've been so much easier with email and Facetime!

right? the hours I spent writing letters!

Hi Kayla,
I have two sons who did the Rotary exchange in 2013 and 2016, one to Germany and one to Argentina. I also am a liaison for the inbound and outbound kids and have hosted as well. You are welcome to chat with me for more realistic information!

Karen Have PM'd you

Karen May I also message you?

Nicholas Amanda Rasmussen Absolutely!

Www.d5040youthexchange.ca. If you are in B.C.
D5040YOUTHEXCHANGE.CA
Rotary Youth Exchange – District 5040

I think it is a wonderful experience. Both my daughters did a 2 week exchange to France in high school through French Immersion. Accompanied by their high school teachers during the day, they stayed with a family and attended the French high school. Weekends were free to hang out with their French student. It was fun to host a French student in return. From this experience they both did exchanges through university also. One did a full year and got to travel throughout Europe, the other just one semester.

I did the Rotary one in the mid 90s. For the most part it was a great experience!

This program is running now but is full.

Our son went to France for a month in July through OSEF and returned with his exchange host. He stayed with us for the month of August. Pm me if you have any questions

Best most shaping year of my life! Do not hesitate-jump at the opportunity!

Most incredible thing I did in high school

I did it in high school! Spent the most incredible year of my life with a family in Mexico. It was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had!

Our son did a Spanish exchange through Immaculata High school 3 years ago. Great experience! Next week my husband and I will be in Europe and will finally meet in person our’Spanish family’. These experiences open our kid’s eyes to a whole other culture and world. Highly recommend!

I went to Germany for 6 months in grade 10 in the early 2000s and absolutely loved it. My exchange partner and I have met up in person (in Germany or Canada) five times since and we are in regular contact. My parents flew to Germany to attend her wedding (I was unable to go). Most amazing experience and totally worth it!