2010 Chaperone Journal
The following is an excerpt from a Journal that was kept on last year's trip by the Chaperones.
July 14, 2010
Well everyone,
The time has come to say goodbye and I certainly hope that you have enjoyed the past fifteen days as much as I have. I know that we have had our ups & downs, but for the most part, I think that things have gone fairly well. I have really enjoyed getting to know each of you and would hope that we will all take some great memories away with us that we can look back on and treasure always.
For those of you who are just finishing your year, I hope that you have not only grown in wisdom and maturity, but that you will take home with you a greater respect for our world and its people. I also hope that your year in Canada has given you many great memories that will last a lifetime.
For those of you who are now just at the halfway point in your year, I hope that you too will grow and mature. I also hope that your minds will be opened and that through your year on exchange, you too will learn a greater respect for our world and its people.
You are great young people and it really has been a pleasure getting to know you.
I wish you all every success in the years that lie ahead & I feel good in the knowledge that through you you really are making the world a better place.
Gary
PS: Don’t forget your name tags!
July 14, 2010
Hello everyone,
I sincerely hope that you had a good time on this tour. We only covered a small portion of our country, but hope that you all were able to get a real sense of what Canada and its people are all about. Who knows, perhaps you will come back some day and visit some of these places again.
I wish you good luck and hope that the friendships formed on this tour will last for a lifetime.
Good luck to you all and KEEP SIMILING & BE HAPPY!
Christine
Hey everybody,
A few hours ago, I thought that I knew exactly what I wanted to write. When it comes down to it though, it’s really difficult to find the right words to describe how I feel about everything that’s happened over the past couple of weeks.
It’s definitely been a bit of a roller coaster – lots of ups and downs… But most importantly, it’s been a lot of fun. You’re all incredible people, and you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t. Don’t forget that. I mean, you are all more than a bit crazy, but let’s face it: that’s the best part! I think we can all agree that regardless of the long bus rides and sleepless nights, every moment of this trip has been completely worth it. I hope that everything you’ve learnt, as well as the friends and memories that you’ve made here will stay with you forever. I’m sure that they will, and I’m just glad that I could be a part of it.
Take care and keep in touch!
Big hugs,
Zoe
Hi Everyone,
We have traveled together for two weeks, covering more than 7,000 km! We have seen and experienced the East coast of Canada in its glory, in sunshine and in rain. We have been to places that many Canadians themselves have NOT visited. Most importantly, we made the world a smaller place by getting to know one another!
For many of us, it will soon be time to return home. It may not seem like it, but this too can be a very exciting time! Think of it as the start of the rest of our lives. A year on Rotary Youth Exchange is a life-transforming. To that extent, our exchange-experiences never end. Think of it as a bank account that will always continue to grow. It has been 12 years since I returned from my time away, and I still feel the same way. I know it may seem hard to see it just now, but trust me on this one J
I hope each of you enjoyed your tour and your time in Canada. Each of you brought to us, the best of your home countries. I hope you will take back some of Canada’s best as well.
Thank you for sharing your company, laughter, and most importantly, your friendship. In doing so, you keep making the world a better place.
Love always,
Rajeev