YouthNews

Reach For the Stars - Rotary Diamond Creek (continued)

While preparing Tamara asked Pam loads of questions about why Australia is still a Commonwealth, as she has never experienced living in a monarchy. Pam felt she was absolutely no help to try and help Tamara understand and that Australia still had a long way forward in many ways. Tamara explained about her pain as she has learned and experienced in Alice Springs with other exchange students how our First Nation Peoples are still treated today.

Tamara, being Swiss, explained that only one person won any game. And Pam, being her, values collaboration and fun. In her mind, if there are going to be prizes, have heaps of guest “winners” throughout the party. Three initial prizes developed into a basket full of prizes.

Tamara ensured everything was planned. She wrote a list of everything required, what was already in the house, so the list was complete, nothing forgotten. They focus shopped, (a new experience for Pam), and items were crossed off as they were into the trolley. Tamara found it very odd that our supermarkets did not have “marzipan carrots” on the shelf, as this is a staple for every Swiss supermarket.

Tamara helped with everything. She scheduled and baked her own traditional birthday cake – Swiss carrot cake. She left the kitchen cleaner than when she started.

The party was a tremendous success. All the girls were polite and thankful for everything, every small little thing. There were girls from Tamara’s school, a rebound exchange student who went to France and two exchange students from other clubs. The girls seamlessly blended together the entire night. The Rotarians present really could not tell which girls were which and it was an amazing night.

A few major surprises for Pam…

• 15 young ladies crammed into one room for nibbles (as the skies had opened and dumped rain on the outside table) and the house rang with laughter

• Many of the girls asked if they could help in any way

• Tamara was serenaded with “Happy Birthday" in five languages: English, German, Italian, French and Indonesian. Happy Birthday video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xueeph4sOyRIAair OewzILG6fM 34brj/view

• It was delightful to experience the multiculturalism that included Tamara’s school friends’ knowledge of different languages

• Flavoured mineral water, lemon mineral water, orange juice and water were preferred over soft drinks. Not one sip of traditional coke or “oversweet soft drinks were consumed. Some girls even asked if they could have a squeeze of lemon in their water!!!

• A big bowl of cut up fresh veggies that was provided “just in case” was gobbled up and corn chips were left over

• The girls were delighted and excited to play the games, encouraged each other in all of them and genuinely excited when someone did well

• The girls were happy to sit around and chat between the activities and eating activities and did not need to be entertained

Began on Sunday, 29 January after a three-year hibernation!

Congratulations!