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Our final orientation weekend, affectionately known as "Cultural
Boot Camp," brought back together the RYE-Florida
outbound class of 2008-09, June 20-22 at Lake Yale Conference Center in Leesburg, FL.
Working through a series of cultural awareness exercises and activities, and
learning from special guest presenter Dr. Dennis White, the students enjoyed and
benefitted from the weekend, while strengthening the friendships they had first
formed a few months earlier.
Presentations on many different aspects of culture and
cultural adaptation, a number of student speeches on a variety of Rotary
topics, a rain-defying afternoon at the pool, and an Oscar-worthy Rotex
performance were all on the agenda for the weekend. Along the way,
everyone found time to wish Emily a happy birthday, learned how to avoid
rigor mortis while on exchange, and discovered exactly what "Bo Kabee
Kabee Ka" might mean.
At the closing session, students received certificates
from their District Youth Exchange chairpersons and from the Rotary
Governors in attendance, and after superb speeches by "experienced"
outbound parent Jack Murray (who had all the secrets - available for
sale) and Rotex Hannah Klein, the outbounds wished each other "Bon
Voyage" as the start of their adventures draws close.
Rotarians throughout Florida can take pride in this fine
group of young ambassadors, who have given every indication that they
will represent us very well in the year to come.
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