ROTARY EXCHANGE

Harri finds Italy…

When Harri Silvester found out that his exchange location would be in the mountains in the north of Italy he naturally hoped that he would have the opportunity to ski there. He already knew that he would be sharing daily life with his host family(s) and improving on his basic Italian language skills, but it turns out that there was much more in store for him. This is Harri’s report at the end of the first quarter of his Rotary Youth Exchange year.

The first three months of my exchange have flown by. I am living in Mantova in the north of Italy. My host family live about 10 minutes out of the city in a suburb called Porto Mantovano. I live with my host parents and host sister, who is the same age as me. My host family’s grandparents live on the same property but in a different house and often cook for us. I also have a host brother who returns occasionally from university.

I have learnt a lot of Italian in my three months but still have a lot to learn. I started taking Italian lessons at school, but I have found I learn the most by speaking with others. I am attending a Liceo Scientifico school, which is a science and math focused school. I have found school a bit difficult, but my classmates are all really nice and helpful.

During my Exchange I have gone to Roma with my host family, gone skiing in the Dolomites a few times, gone to Venice for

MOTORING TIPS Preparing For Winter

• Check your battery. Cold weather is hard on all batteries. Make sure yours is in good nick.

• Replace your wiper blades and keep your washer bottle full. Trying to rid your windscreen of ice with your wipers will only damage the blades.

• Check the condition of your tyres – or even consider getting winter tyres- more grip in slippery conditions.

• Make sure your tire pressure is exactly what it should be.

• Check your wheel chains and ensure that you know how to fit them correctly. Too many problems are caused by people not knowing how to fit chains correctly!

• Check the amount of coolant/anti-freeze in your radiator. Our Service Centres have a Glycometer which will measure how cold your radiator fluid can get before freezing.

• Carry a few emergency supplies, like a blanket, warm gloves, ice scraper, shovel – in case you get stuck out on the road.

A Motoring Tip brought to you by Rick at Mount Beauty Service Centre 35 Bogong High Plains road, Mount Beauty Ph: 03 5754 4261 a day, visited Padova with my class, and gone on a scout’s trip to the Dolomites. I have also travelled with Rotary: I spent a day at Lake Garda with the other exchange students in this district and went to Sicily for four days. While in Sicily we stayed at a nice hotel on the ocean and went to places like Noto, Ragusa, Siracusa, Modica and Taormina.

This coming weekend I am going to my host family’s apartment in the mountains and the following weekend I have a Scouts weekend somewhere in Italy (we find out on the day). Next month I am going to Brescia for a Rotary Inbound/Outbound orientation weekend and in the summer holidays I am going hiking in Spain and spending a few days on the beach in Portugal. I am also going on a six-day hike with the scouts. Then in August I am going back to Sicily with both of my host families.

I could not be more grateful to everyone that has made this exchange possible for me, I have learnt so many new things, been to so many new places and learnt so much about the Italian culture, language and their food. I would like to thank the Rotary Club of Mount Beauty, Rotary E-Club Victorinus Feltrensis, Kellie, Kristy, Meredith and my host family for making this exchange possible it truly is a lifetime in a year. • Harri

Silvester

Your opportunity to bring international experience to your family.

The Rotary Club is now inviting applications from families that would like to host an international student. Here is a chance for your family to take part in this enriching and educational program without even applying for a passport. At this stage we cannot be certain about the details of the student coming to Mt Beauty in July this year (age, gender, nationality), but we have decided to put the word out early to give families a little time to consider this great opportunity. Hosting may be for various periods of time, but around 3 months is preferred. During this time the visiting student takes part in family life and attends Mount Beauty Secondary School. All expenses are covered by the Rotary Club of Mount Beauty, and these include school uniforms, excursions and fees as well as monthly pocket money for the student. An allowance for food is also available on request.

If you would like to know more please ring Bob Flower on 0417 246 303 or Ewen Silvester on 0403 396 036. • to

CORONATION NIGHT

KARAOKE from 8pm in the Brewers Lounge