Exchange Student Viktor being thanked by Alison with Ebbs Maple Syrup (YUM)

Thursday morning as ten of our club members prepare for the Annual District Conference we had the privilege of meeting and hearing from our sister clubs exchange student. Viktor Ozec is a student from Croatia in fact the very first Rotary Exchange student from his country. Viktor's command of the English language is truly exceptional which will make his stay in Huntsville even more memorable for him and for his host families. Viktor told us about his country and his education system which is quite different from ours, at home he would be studying 16 different subjects where as here he will only study 4 each semester. School in his homeland begins at 8 in the morning and finishes at 2 with all extra curricular activities such as sports or music etc are carried on after school is excused for the day. Viktor is a master saxophonist and is already part of four different bands in the school, the one difference he articulated between the two countries was that at home his music is mostly theory with little practicum  and here he gets to play a great deal in class and out. Viktor is also an accomplished athlete in Handball and Volleyball so he has become a welcome addition to Huntsville Highs Volleyball roster. I am sure with Viktors fine manners and out going personality that he will add much to the local scene and take many fond memories home to Croatia.

Viktor was accompanied on his visit to our club by Rob Saunders member of the Huntsville Rotary Club and at present Host Family to Viktor. Rob took a few minutes to make are club aware of the benefits of hosting an exchange student as well as some of the draw backs, some of the great joys a host family can experience as well as the obligations they undertake in bringing a stranger into their home. He talked about the life time friendships that have developed over the years with students who have come to Huntsville and how they have returned with their parents and siblings honoured to introduce them to their extended families. I can tell you from my own experience of sending a child to a foreign country and taking one in from somewhere else that the experience is well worth the effort and perhaps our club in the near future will participate in this adventure.