Jeed says farewell
Posted by Stephen Rhodes
Hemmawan Talapatjaroenkit, or Jeed as we know her, thanked the club for her year in Youth Exchange and for helping her to make "true friends" among the people she met here.
Jeed talked about her native Thailand, her family, and school life. And she talked about her year in Canada.
Jeed talked about her native Thailand, her family, and school life. And she talked about her year in Canada.
Jeed said Thailand is a tropical climate dominated by monsoons. Temperatures can reach 44 degress Celsius. Ninety-five per cent of the population is Budhist and the capital Bangkok (City of Angels) is the cultural and educational centre of Thailand and home to 10 million people.
Her school has 2,400 students and operates May to October, breaks for a month and resumes November to February. Jeed takes as many as 12 courses per term in classrooms with 45 students.
She comes from a small family with her mother, father and sister.
Jeed said her journey in Exchange started out on an exciting note when she arrived at Toronto International Airport and there was no one to greet her. At the time she spoke no English. A call to her Rotarian Uncle in Thailand, using a phone card he provided, and subsequent calls to Canada unraveled the confusion.
Jeed stayed with three host families - John Lomax, John Digby and Steve Robinson and said all were tremendous in helping her understand the Canadian culture and the language.
School here is quite different with uniforms and only four classes a day, Jeed says. And in the beginning the language barrier made it difficult to meet people.
Winter was a new experience. At first snow was "pretty" but after three months Jeed said she wanted it to go away.
The experience is one Jeed will never forget. She says she has developed wonderful lasting friendships.
As a gift to the club Jeed performed a special Thai dance.
Pictured is Jeed with Past President Norm, President Peter and Steve Robinson.
Her school has 2,400 students and operates May to October, breaks for a month and resumes November to February. Jeed takes as many as 12 courses per term in classrooms with 45 students.
She comes from a small family with her mother, father and sister.
Jeed said her journey in Exchange started out on an exciting note when she arrived at Toronto International Airport and there was no one to greet her. At the time she spoke no English. A call to her Rotarian Uncle in Thailand, using a phone card he provided, and subsequent calls to Canada unraveled the confusion.
Jeed stayed with three host families - John Lomax, John Digby and Steve Robinson and said all were tremendous in helping her understand the Canadian culture and the language.
School here is quite different with uniforms and only four classes a day, Jeed says. And in the beginning the language barrier made it difficult to meet people.
Winter was a new experience. At first snow was "pretty" but after three months Jeed said she wanted it to go away.
The experience is one Jeed will never forget. She says she has developed wonderful lasting friendships.
As a gift to the club Jeed performed a special Thai dance.
Pictured is Jeed with Past President Norm, President Peter and Steve Robinson.