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Rm. excha_nge “I didn't think I would be very hard to find at all." said Lynne. "My father still didn't recognize me though. He thought I was somebody else returning from Australia and if my host parents hadn't spot- ted me, who‘knows. I could still be waiting there. " Students' experience new cultures, lifestyles By Terry James On July 19, Lynne Jewitt of Waterloo. landed at Tor- onto Intemational Airport. With a stuffed koala bear strapped on her back. an Australian hat on her head and an aboriginee musical instrument in her hands. she stood amidst a pile of luggage and waited for her parents to pick her up. Lynne was returning to Waterloo after spending a year in Taree, Australia as a Waterloo Rotary IT- change student. She left Waterloo on August M, 1975. The Rotary student ex- change program is an an- nual project. Students are chosen according to their academic standing and their ability to communi- cate with others. They can apply through their schools or other community organ- izations. Lynne did not apply through her school and she had never considered an eg- change trip. "The Rotary Club asked the agricultural office for a list of names and later on the Jhtaterloo Rotary Club" informed me of the trip and when the inter- views were being held." said Lynne. Cathy Windsor of 220 Maylield Street in Waterloo. is leaving on August 30 for Kingston, Jamaica. Cathy is taking part in the Waterloo Rotary Club's student exchange program and she will return to Waterloo July IO. 1977. Cathy holds the Rotary Club's banner which she will present to other Rotary clubs in Jamaica. Two months before she was scheduled to leave. Lynne was informed of where she was going. "I'd never thought of it before," said Lynne. “I knew of one student who When she arrived in Tame a town of 13.000. Lynne’s first host family were the Nelsons. Me Nelson owned a hardware store in the town andheandhiswifehadtwo and their daughter were Lynne’s second host fam- ily. The Conellans and their two children were her third ters to them as her brotherandsister. qeeatttoMerieottutrnever thought I'd do the same two children were her fourth and last host family. The Young’s daughter is planning to come to the United States or Canada " an exchange student and Lynne hopes to visit her when she arrives. Lynne graduated from grade 12 at Waterloo Col- legiate Institute before she left, Canada. As a re- sult she was not compel- ,led to attend school‘on a regular basis while she was in Australia. However, Lynne wanted to get a taste of everything. To familiar- ize herself with the school system, she enrolled at the Taree High School. "l hadtostandupandface all 900 students on my first day of school and my last." she said. "What an experi- ence!" Lynne said the Australian schools are not run on the credit system. The students change classes during the day and in every subject there are three or four dif- ferent levels: One major difference she found in Australian schools is the lack of school spirit. “Students are not as in- volved in school sports." said Lynne. “They don't Everywhere Lynne spoke she tried to teach the "group a Canadian song She found that the song. Give cheerleaders; The curriculum is much the same but there are no examinations after every term. Everyone writes exams at the end of the get out for football games like we do and there are no wired to wear uniforms. “I liked the idea of wear- ing a uniform." said Lynne. “It puts everyone at the same level -and oi, an even 'Wm afraid school took a back seat quite often," she said. In January. Lynne visited Tasmania. the island state of Australia. with 40 other members of a rural youth group. She explained that the group was similar to our 4-H clubs. The trip lasted two weeks and it involved camping out every night. “It was lots of fun. It's a great way to see the coun- try and meet people," said Lynne. In May Lynne took a three week t." which started at the Barrier Reef and extended into Central Aus- tralia. She was accompanied by 70 other exchange stir. dents. Ten countries were represented and Lynne felt the trip helped her to ‘under- stand other countries much better. . As well as taking part in tours. Lynne attended her share of conferences and briefing sessions and spoke at clubs and schools. The people asked a number of questions about Canada and one of the most popu- lar ones was about our Cana- dian winters. “The only part of Austra- lia which gets any snow at all is the gouth-eastern part." said Lynne. "People often asked how I could stand to live in a country where the climate changes so drastically." Whenever Lynne had the chance to travel she took it. During the tour the stu- dents climbed the Ayers rock which is the largest monolith in the world and is known for changing its color. Lynne's parents. Mr. and Mrs, Howard Jewitt of R.R. 3, Waterloo visited her in January and the family spent 10 days together in New Zealand. There are no barns in Australia and many peo- pie questioned her as to how long they were used in Can- ada. Lynne recalls that one little boy asked her if the cows objected to being in the barn all winter. Us A Place To Stand. was one of the favorites In August. Australia ex- periences its winter and at night the temperatures dip to around five or 10 de, grees celrius There is no central heating in the homes only space heaters and radi- “I kept thinking that a year is such a long time and what would I do if I couldn't make friends." Now she realizes that all her apprehensions were for nothing and that a year really wasn't that long, Lynne was active in Rotor- act and the Methodist Youth Group and she gained many new friends in these organ- izations. She keeps in touch with her host families. Her first host family was visit- ing with her parents when she arrived home. Lynne remembers that when she first boarded the plane a year ago she was a little apprehensive. Lynne said a few people had artificial Christmas trees but on the whole there were very few decorations and she saw colored lights only once or twice. "We went carolling in the back of a truck on Christ- mas Eve and it rained in- stead of snowed. I' she said. "We spent Christmas day at the beach and we open- ed our gifts there. It just didn't seem like Christmas at all," she said. For other students who may be embarking on the same project. Lynne has a few words of advice "They should remember to make the most of their time because it goes so fast." she said. "Never say no to an opportunity be- cause you may never get the chance to go again. .. The summer months are in December and January' and Lynne found it hard to celebrate Christmas in 90 degree temperatures. This was the only time she was homesick. ators and Lynne experienced some cold nights. Lynne Jewitt of R.R. 3 Waterloo. shows off Rota, her stuffed koala bear. A group of friends in Australia presented the bear to her when she lived there as a Waterloo Rotary Club exchange student. Lynne returned to Waterloo on July " after spending a year in Australia. _ Cathy Windsor. a grade 12 student at Bluevale Cot- legiate in Waterloo doesn't need this advice. She is al- ready prepared to make the most of her year's stay in Jamaica. Cathy is the Wa- terloo Rotary C1ub's ex- change student for 1976-77. As far as Cathy knows. she is the only Rotary stu- dent being sent to Jamaica. Many students have come to Canada from there but none have been sent down in re- turn, . Cathy heard about the pro- gram from her father Bill Windsor, who as a member of the club and one day she heard it being announced at school. _ . Cathy has been corres- ponding with her first host family, the Walkers. for some time now but she has received no word on any of the others She has enrolled in Priory School where she will be in the fifth form. the equivelant of our grade l2. “I decided to apply with- out my father knowing about it." said Cathy. "I thought I'd surprise him." Cathy's first interview was at her home in the pres- ence'of her parents. Later she was interviewed on her own at the chairman's home. A final interview by the District Rotary Club took place in January. "I was the first student to find out this early where I was going." she said. "Jamaica was the last place I thought I'd be go- “I think it is a great op- portunity." she said. "Some of my friends think I'm silly for staying a year when you can travel anytime on your own. But travelling and staying in a hotel will never teach you as much as ac- tually living with the lam- ities and taking part in their daily activities. ing'." she said. "Most of the students from this area have been sent to Australia." Cathy is starting to get a bit nervous as she packs her clothes for her August 30th departure. She only has one strong desire and that is to live with a native Jamai- can family. Cathy will finish school on July 8 and she hopes to return home next July lOor ll. THE TREASURE TROVE Cross-stitch stamped QUILT BLOCKS Hams 10-5:30 Tues. - Sat. " Haida St. E Womb. "sarra'