"It's a Small World After All!"

District 6970 Inbound Exchange Students joined more than 60 other Rotary inbounds at Disney World on December 4-7, for a weekend of fun, friendship, and international camaraderie. Rotary students from throughout Florida - Districts 6930, 6950, 6960, 6970, 6980, and 6990 - plus contingents from Texas, New York, and the northeast US, came together at the "Happiest Place on Earth" for three days that they will never forget! 

The group totaled 82 students, from 26 different countries. The largest contingent was that from Germany, with 13 students in attendance, followed by Brazil and France with 10 each. There were 7 from Thailand, 5 each from Austria and Japan, 4 from Italy, and 3 from Belgium. Add on 2 each from Chile, Ecuador, India, Poland, Romania, Taiwan, and Turkey, and 1 student each from Argentina, Finland, Hungary, Indonesia, Norway, Peru, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Venezuela, and you've got almost the whole world represented. 

The students spent Friday at Magic Kingdom, where they enjoyed an early admission (7:00 AM!) before the park opened to the public. As part of Disney's Youth Education Series, they learned some of what goes on behind the scenes at the parks, and got to go through Space Mountain with the lights on, to see how everything works. Of course, they then got to ride it normally, in the dark. That was followed by visits to the Buzz Lightyear ride and Thunder Mountain. The consensus was that it was worth getting up early for. Everyone enjoyed the rest of the day exploring Magic Kingdom (including, of course, several trips down Splash Mountain), then headed back to the hotel for a pizza party.  

On Saturday morning, some of our group spent the morning at Animal Kingdom, before joining the rest of the contingent at Epcot Center, discovering the science and future-oriented exhibits, and traveling from country to country in the World Showcase. Highlights included Epcot's newest ride, Mission Space, and the Test Track. The day was capped off by a fabulous fireworks show over the Epcot lake. 

Disney-MGM Studios was the destination Sunday, and the students crammed as much as they could into a few hours before heading for home. The Tower of Terror and the Aerosmith Roller Coaster were popular stops, and the Indiana Jones Stunt Show was very impressive.

Thanks are due to all the host clubs in District 6970, whose funding made this weekend possible for our exchange students. A tip of the hat also to the chaperones, who worked tirelessly all weekend and never had a moment of enjoyment the entire time (yeah, right!): Ken and Sarah Weiss, Lawrene and Bill Bishop, John Brunner, and Al and Sue Kalter.

A special note of appreciation is offered to our friends in District 6990 (Miami-Fort Lauderdale), who organized this trip and invited our students to join them. Thanks to their Chairman, Roy Joseph, and committee members Bob White and Laura L'Heureux, for their efforts in making it all happen and allowing us to be part of it. After you take a look at our pictures, check out their pictures too.

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