Hello, my name is Alannah from Vacaville, California and I am currently in the wonderful town of Nitra, Slovakia, district 2240. My hosting district is a wonderful. From the beginning they made me feel comfortable and welcome. My counselor right away introduced herself and made it understood that if I had any problems, she would be there to help me. My hosting school is Gymnazium Parovska. The students and faculty are much the same as in my home school, however, the system in which the school is run is completely different. Instead of just each student following his/her own schedule, it is a whole class that moves, the teachers too. Children here also learn more than one language. They start at a young age and once they are in High School years, they are required to learn yet another language. I love my host father Tibor. At first I was skeptical, him being a single parent, but once I came here and lived with him long enough I came to love it. Already, I have been to five other countries. I have seen the great city of Prague and the beautiful nature in Austria. I have also seen the forests of Slovakia, and the many ruins and castles still standing. It is absolutely wonderful.

The only thing that was really surprising to me when I first arrived was the architecture of the homes and buildings, as well as the different landscape. This is my first time out of the United States, so it took me a couple months to get used to not seeing the California hills or the wooden homes. My perception of Slovakia has already changed. After about three months I became completely comfortable with my surroundings. I’m pretty sure that by February I will be even more at home here. Before I leave, my first goal is to have an even greater understanding of the language here. I also want to leave an impression on my hosting families. I want them to feel that the US is just like here. Though the governments may be different, I want them to understand that the people are not.

When I go home I want to persue becoming a pharmacist. Rotary has actually helped to cement that idea as well as add something new. It is because of Rotary that I am determined to learn another language. I now want to learn Russian which I feel will help my career choice. Rotary has already helped to establish national understanding. With all the students Rotary has sent over the years, there are already hundreds of people who know and understand another culture. Rotary has also helped me realize that no matter where you go people are all the same. Nobody is completely different. Cultural systems or ideas may be different, but people are the same. I hope that when I leave, at least someone here will change their view of other nations like mine has. I think that if learning a second language was pushed more in schools and learning was started at an earlier age, new generations would have a better understanding of different nations.