Rotary YE students arrive; still looking for host families

 
The inbound Rotary Youth Exchange students have arrived in Edina for the 2015–2016 school year! The Rotary Club of Edina and the Edina Morningside Rotary Club are looking for host families for the two students, Tina Sletten and Jein Im. A family that agrees to host a student from another country through the Rotary Youth Exchange student must live in Edina and be willing to host a student in their home for three months. Each student lives with three different host families during their stay. Support is provided by the Youth Service committees for both clubs. Please contact Host Family Coordinator Sonja Tengdin if you are interested. She can be reached at sonja@scoopypoo.net or 612 849-2727.
 
Two 17-year-old girls have arrived from other countries to study in Edina as part of the Rotary International Youth Exchange program. They are sponsored by the Rotary Club of Edina and the Edina Morningside Rotary Club. The girls have begun school as juniors at Edina High School. 
 
Tina Sletten was born in California and holds dual citizenship in the United States and Norway, where her parents reside in Notteroy. She is interested in singing, drama and dancing. She also plays the piano. Tina is currently staying with the family of Mike Seeger, a member of the Edina Morningside Rotary Club.
 
Jein Im is a native of Daegu, South Korea. She previously studied in the Philippines. She is interested in art and music, and is able to play both the flute and piano. Jein (pronounced “Jane”) is currently staying with Peter Kelley and Ruth Weber Kelley. Peter is a member of the Edina Morningside Rotary Club.
 
The two inbound 2015–2016 Rotary Youth Exchange students pose with Rotarian Joe Arends at North American Banking Co. in Edina in August. Tina Sletten (middle) and Jein Im (right) arrived in early August to get settled with their first host families before starting at Edina High School the last week of August. 
 
 
We are still looking for host families for Tina and Jein.
 
Did you know that Rotary Youth Exchange requires that each student have a total of three families!? No commitment is longer than 3.5 months! From the minute the student arrives they are supported by the larger Edina Rotary family—from the Youth Exchange officer to the student counselor, and additional support from the clubs and at the District level.   
 
We are looking for Rotary families or other Edina families that are intrigued by the thought of hosting a student from another country. It is a great experience and very exciting for your children to have a Norwegian sister or South Korean sister to share life experiences! 
 
If you are even slightly interested in hosting, please contact us. Or if you know another family (does not need to be a member of Rotary) that would be interested, please connect us with them and we will take it from there. Looking for host families and supporting our inbound and outbound students is a continuing effort with no start date and no expiration date.
 
If you are really interested in hosting, please pick up the phone or log in to your computer and contact Sonja Tengdin, YE host family coordinator, at 612 849-2727 or sonja@scoopypoo.net, and she will give you all the fun facts about hosting a student and get you signed up.
 
A family that agrees to host a student from another country through the Rotary Youth Exchange student must live in Edina and be willing to host a student in their home for three months. Each student lives with three different host families during their stay. Support is provided by the Youth Service committees for both clubs. Please contact Host Family Coordinator Sonja Tengdin if you are interested. She can be reached at sonja@scoopypoo.net or 612 849-2727.
—Sonja Tengdin
 
Rotary Club of Edina, along with the Edina Morningside Rotary Club, has sponsored two outbound exchange students this year. These students are attending schools and learning the culture in Denmark and Brazil. 
 
The Club has also sponsored two inbound Youth Exchange students—Patrik Pisecky and Miyuki Sanko. Both attend Edina High School and will be hosted by Edina families from August 2014 until June 2015. 
 
Rotary Club of Edina Youth Exchange news and notes:
Rotary Club of Edina has sponsored two outbound Youth Exchange students this school year, in cooperation with the Edina Morningside Rotary Club. The two clubs also sponsor two inbound Youth Exchange students who stay right here in Edina and attend Edina High School. See below for the latest on these students and their adventures abroad and in our community.
 
As the school year came to a close in Edina, our two inbound Youth Exchange students prepare to take a trip to the East Coast with other YE students visiting the United States, and then head back to their home countries. 
 
YE student Patrik PIsecky graduated from Edina High School in May, and one of his host families threw a graduation party for him. Tom Gump and his family hosted a party to celebrate Patrik, and several Rotarians attended, as well as YE student Miyuki Sanko. Congratulations, Patrik! And best of luck to both our YE students as they head home after a school year spent in Minnesota!
 
 
This week we get an update on one of our former Youth Exchange students who visited Edina four years ago:
 
Felix Spirlet—Youth Exchange student from Belgium, 2010-11

Felix shares: I have been doing well, I graduated last June and I've been hired in the company where I did my internship, which is really nice. It is a digital agency that creates websites and provides e-marketing solutions. 
 
I really want to come back to Minnesota. I can't believe it has been four years since my exchange. Time is running fast. Now that I'm earning money, I can plan at trip to Edina, maybe next year (I just need vacation days).
 
I remember when I was going to lunch at the Edina Rotary Club. I miss that, but I'm still involved in the Rotary, as my father is the president of our club this year. And I'm in Rotex (shown in photo below), which gives me the opportunity to still take part in the Youth Exchange Program, although it's getting harder to participate with work. In January, my sister and I drove our last YE student to the airport. It was the twelth YE student my family has hosted. Every time it reminds me of my year in the United States.

—Heather Hansen, Youth Service Director
 
 
 
This week we check in with two of our outbound Youth Exchange students and see what they have been up to:
 
Sarah Aydinalp
Youth Exchange student in Brazil
Sarah shares: I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go on the northeast trip this January. This trip was three weeks long and we traveled up the coast of Brazil, visiting beautiful beaches and many historic sites. I honestly had the time of my life and won't ever forget all the people or all the things I was able to see. My favorite city was Salvador because of the laid back, hippie vibe and all the life, color, and culture that was so present there. Another obvious highlight was visiting the Christ because it's definitely a sight that takes your breath away (see second photo below). Thank you Rotary for making this possible!
—Jean Morrison, Youth Exchange outbound student counselor
 
 
 
Kat Fink
Youth Exchange student in Denmark
Kat tells us: All is well here, my new host family is so sweet and very considerate. I live on a mink farm, and even though it doesn't smell all that great from time to time, there are lots of animals to see (see photos below). Give Edina Rotary all my best!
—Heather Hansen, Youth Service Director
 
 
Below, Youth Exchange student Patrik Pisecky (right) goes skiing at Hyland Park in Bloomington in January with Edina Rotarian Mike Kallas, also chair of the Youth Exchange Committee for our Club.
 
 
This week we check in with another of our Rotary Youth Exchange outbound students:
 
Sarah Aydinalp
Youth Exchange student in Brazil
Sarah (at left, with friends in Brazil) shares: I'm having an absolutely amazing exchange in Brazil so far; a large majority of the reason being my loving host family and friends. My school year just finished up and I was definitely sad to say goodbye to all my goofy classmates, but I have another school year to look forward to. It's been a big adjustment to go from a huge urban city to a town that neighboring cities define as "the farm," but I'm getting to see both sides of the spectrum. Not only that, but I'm learning how much back home I have to be thankful for. One of the highlights of this year has been traveling to Pantanal and Bonito during the month of November. There, I had experiences with nature like I've never had before. I snorkeled for the first time and got to see animals up close and personal in easily the most tranquil and beautiful places I've ever been in my life. Thank you all so much for making this opportunity possible!
 
Previously we heard from Youth Exchange outbound students:
 
Kat Fink
Youth Exchange student in Denmark
Kat is studying in Denmark this school year, and visited Copenhagen a couple of weekends ago with her counselor
and took some beautiful pictures (below) to share with us. She is loving her time in Denmark. Kat reports “the average tap water here tastes like gold” and “everything is so laid back here, and the public transportation is a breeze!”
 

 
Amy Hobday
Youth Exchange student in Italy
Amy, who is an Edina High School student, is studying in Italy this school year, and recently returned from a weekend trip. Amy says, “Hello! I just returned from my first Rotary weekend in Rome and Florence! It was absolutely unbelievable. The most fun I have had since being here. I was blown away by everything. We saw so many things in just three days! I loved it. Here are some pictures (below)!”