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Outbound's Cultural Boot Camp, June 26-28, 2009

The second and final statewide outbound orientation weekend was held in late June, as our soon-to-depart young ambassadors worked their way through the adventure known as "Cultural Boot Camp."

With a focus on discovering the various aspects of culture and culture shock, the time was filled with a series of activities, presentations, and simulations. The group benefitted from the participation and leadership of Dr. Dennis White, Rotarian and clinical psychologist from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, who is a leading expert on cultural adaptation and the issues that surround it.

On Sunday afternoon, students and parents celebrated with a Commencement Ceremony, at which the new outbounds were congratulated and recognized, as they look ahead to their overseas adventures starting very soon.

Outbound Orientation, January 9-11, 2009

The energy level was certainly high for the first gathering of RYE-Florida's Outbound Class of 2009-10, as 76 teenagers descended on Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center for their initial orientation weekend.

A team of Rotarians from throughout Florida, along with a group of Rotex (former outbounds), led the new outbound candidates through the basics of Rotary Youth Exchange, discussing such topics as host families, cultural adaptation, financial concerns, language acquisition, and much more.

In addition to having their heads filled with all of this information, these students also enjoyed making new friends with those who will be sharing their adventures in two dozen countries around the world.

Over the next six months or so, our 2009-10 outbounds will continue their preparation by studying the language of their host countries, doing research into their destinations, and working with Rotarians, Rotex, and current inbounds and outbounds to become the best prepared Rotary exchange students in the world.

Their next gathering as a group will be at the final orientation weekend in late June. Shortly after that, it's bon voyage to all corners of the globe!

For the benefit of outbound students and parents, we provide here links to some of the materials from the first Outbound Orientation: