My name is Mena, i’m 17 now and i am from Switzerland. I’m hosted by the Dunsmuir Rotary Club. My hosting club is just great. They are all very nice and help me when and with whatever they can. I feel very welcome and supported here. My Councellor Bob Chiara is just amazing!!! He took me to Crescent city the first week I was here, and I know that I can always go to him with anything that’s bottering me (there’s nothing so far..).

I go to Dunsmuir High. It is a very small school with a little less than 100 students. I have 4 periods a day. The kids at the school are very nice. But except for that it’s alright.

My new hostfamily is absolutely amazing! I just love them! They showed me a lot of the things around Siskyou County and more. They took me hiking, kayaking but also when we’re not doing something special we have a good time with each other!

Two of my first impressions were that 1) everything is huge here. That might be because I come from a very small country. It was very interesting to go to the supermarket and see the size of the things people buy here, like milk-gallons and ice cream boxes or also the size of the refrigerator.

My second ipression was that american people are a lot more open to “strangers”, they come up to you and give you a hug and everybody is just nice and easy going. In Switzerland everyone is a little distanced and closed.

My aims for this year are first off all to improve my english. That worked very well so far since I forget a lot of german words and grammar ;). I also want to make a lot of new friends, learn new things, a new culture, experience the world (or at least a little part of it) on myown and also get to know myself a better, learn become more independente, openminded and selfconsciouse..

My plans after this exchange are to finish the school I was at and then go to university. I think want to become a kindergarden or elementary school teacher. I want to help young people growing up and I want to help them by teaching them how to read and count so they can understand the world they live in on their own some day. I would also like to become a rotarian, so I can make it possible for other young people to do an exchange year abroad, to experience what I can this year . That way I can give people what other people gave to me before and help building international friendships that help making peace.