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Team Quotes and Stories

* Team Quotes and Stories *

"The Rotary GSE affected me in ways I could not have imagined. The warmth and hospitality of theAustralians will be with me the rest of my life. I cannot fully express the gratitude I feel for having been apart of this experience. All I can do now is attempt to give back what I have learned and share my Rotaryexperience." Returned team member Donna Tremblay, District 5080 (Canada/USA) to District 9650(Australia)

 

"The generosity of these people in admitting us into their homes and their lives was overwhelming and theirwillingness to expose us to their general family living and their extended families and work places did itselfprovide a great insight into the culture of the United Kingdom. The GSE exchange is not just for six weeksbut best seen as a lifetime experience." Returned team member, District 9820 (Australia) to District 1060(England)

 

“I could not forget those Danish who did their utmost to introduce their living and culture to us and showedrespect to and interest in other's culture and living. I start missing them already, who told us with flowingtears they would look forward to meeting me again. That host family became my other real family. Theautumn in 1999 gave me most precious experience and memory throughout my life. I will remember itforever. Denmark is not a foreign country far away. Denmark is my other country where my other familylives.” Returned team member Hung Jo Lee, District 3680 (Korea) to District 1480 (Denmark)

 

"It is hard to convey the warmth, generosity, open-heartedness, pride and kindness that we experienced.The trip had the effect of profoundly changing each of us in our attitudes towards the Middle East and Arabpeople in general and to Lebanon and Lebanese people specifically. The scars of war are everywhere.Shattered buildings stand silent witness to years of violence. Yet these amazing people continue to buildtheir country with spirit, hope and passion." Returned team leader Dr. Michael D. Fels, District 5300(California, USA) to District 2450 (Bahrain/Cyprus/Egypt/Jordan/Lebanon/Sudan)

 

"As a police officer, I was able to work with police departments in both Maine and New Brunswick. The overridingfeature was the tremendous warmth and respect with which I was received. I was given the Royaltreatment by every department I was attached to and treated completely as a brother. I saw strange andnew things, and I met many wonderful people--but at the end of the day I gained a greater realisation andunderstanding of both my state and myself. In the meantime, I have launched enthusiastically back into mylife and my career." Returned team member Mike Ashwood, District 9830 (Australia) to District 7810(Canada, Maine, USA)

 

"One of our team members, Dennis Francis, used his vocational days as an opportunity to researchinformation for a thesis on Adult Literacy, which he has since completed, with distinction, for his Mastersdegree. " District 9270 (South Africa) to District 1200 (England)”On the team that I traveled with we had one teacher with two years experience and another with over 25years experience. The professional interaction amongst all 5 team members was never ceasing and invaluableto the rookie as well as the veterans. They were able to exchange ideas without competition or fear ofcensorship. The result was renewed enthusiasm for the experienced teachers and 30 days of training forthe young teacher.” Returned team leader Sandra J. Rimer, District 5340 (California) to District 4250(Belize/Guatemala/Honduras)

 

"We also had the opportunity to take part in activities which you won't find in any tourist brochure--takingtea with the Governor of the Southern Province; watching every last part of a coconut being transformedinto some kind of food or produce; being guided round provincial courts by a local lawyer; becoming extras ina hotel's promotional video; arriving unannounced at an army base as our host demanded that we meet thecommanding officer; driving on the wrong side of the Kandy lakeside road in a motorised rickshaw; watchingour Anuradhapura hosts celebrate Independence Day in style." Returned team member Simon Cavell, District1030 (England) to District 3220 (India)“After my trip, I realize that we have much to learn but also much to teach.” Returned team leader CarlosRodriguez, District 4170 (Mexico) to District 9450 (Australia)

 

“I feel a sincere responsibility toward making it a valuable learning experience for my students. I made aneffort to use email to communicate with my students. When I returned, I was delighted to see my emailsposted on the wall, available for parents to read, as well. The children asked to see my pictures of specificthings I had told them about in the emails. It was wonderful to be welcomed back to a class of kindergartenchildren who were interested in what I had seen and done, and who were already aware of some of theexperiences I had while in Japan." Returned team member Caroline Cagan, District 7510 (New Jersey andPennsylvania, USA) to District 2770 (Japan)

 

"There are doubters in Rotary as to the value of the GSE programme. If I had had any such doubts, theyhave been completely dispelled by this trip. I am fully confident that it has the ability to be the most usefuland informative of all ambassadorial exchanges.” Returned team leader Dr. Stephen Hempling, District 1250(England) to District 3290 (India/Nepal)"It seems that in Oklahoma, we feel that money, material resources, and technology are the key to good carefor people who need assistance. What I have learned is that the most important thing that we have to offerpeople who need our help is care, compassion and dedication." Returned team member Jonathan Roberts,District 5750 (Oklahoma, USA) to District 3120 (India)

 

“Indian streets are a host of wonders. They embrace the very fabric of life and tap out its everydayrhythms. But the warmth for which I was not prepared was the overwhelming human warmth the Indiansshowered upon us. Expressed in words of affection, magnificent meals and thoughtful gifts, I quicklyrealized that despite my extensive travels, I had never before encountered such hospitality. This is theIndia that endures for me. My month in India as a GSE team member was an opportunity to live with Indianfamilies and see the country through their eyes. It was an incredible gift—one that forms and transformsone's everyday movements and thoughts.” Returned team member Deborah Lischwe, District 6420 (Illinois,USA) to District 3010 (India)