Houlton Rotary welcomed the 2013 Youth Exchange students Autumn London and Rachel Harmon to learn about their cultural exchanges last summer.
London is a junior at Houlton High School and spent her exchange in Lodeve, France, a community in the southern region.
“My exchange student, Farrah, and her family were wonderful. We explored many areas of France and spent a good amount of time in Paris” London said. “The food, especially the pastries, was unforgettable.”
London visited the famous Louvre Museum, loving the art, history and historic exhibits and spent hours under the Eiffel Tower. Her exchange student’s family is Muslim, so she learned about their beliefs and customs. Farrah loved Houlton’s 4th of July celebration and Maine; especially the coast.
London is the daughter of George ‘Mac’ and Jane Moody.
Rachel Harmon is a junior at Hodgdon High School and experienced her exchange in Palermo, Sicily, Italy.
“I just loved Maria, my exchange student, and her family. Although I did not leave the island of Sicily, there was so much to see and do,” Harmon said. “The rich history and culture was so interesting, as well as the architecture being unbelievable, dating back to the year 1,100. I saw amazing churches with painted ceilings as well as very ornate columned buildings.”
Harmon reported that the ice cream in Sicily was like no other she has ever had.
“They serve it in a hamburger type bun. I had one each and every day,” she added.
Maria enjoyed Maine’s cold water lobster, went crazy over poutine fries and loved tubing on the lake.
Harmon is the daughter of Dennis and Jennifer Harmon.
For more than 75 years, students and host families have broadened their horizons through Rotary Youth Exchange. More than 80 countries and more than 8,000 students each year participate in the program, which is administered at the regional level by Rotary districts and at the local level by Rotary clubs.
This program was established in the Houlton Rotary Club in 2003. It is the objective of this program to advance the knowledge and world understanding of these students, as well as to foster world peace and good will at a personal level.
Dana Delano, Houlton Rotary’s Youth Exchange officer, said, “Autumn and Rachel have been wonderful ambassadors of the Rotary Club and our community. We hope this experience has broadened their knowledge and interest in different cultures. They have each certainly made a new lifelong friend.”
