13 local Rotarians were joined by guests Ryo Matsumoto (our ROTEX from Kanazawa, Japan), Brenda Waugh (ADG of District 1020 Scotland), Sheila Welham (RC of Burlington Central and a member of the District Youth Exchange Committee) and Dean Rutty who is the Chair of District Youth Exchange.
Speaker: Ryo spoke to the Club about her home in Japan and her time in Tillsonburg. She returns home on May 8.
Japan is a smaller country compared to Canada but has 126 million people. Ryo showed us her various school uniforms as well as her cheer leading uniform. She showed us the Kimono, the formal dress for women in Japan. It is a traditional costume mainly used now for special events such as graduation or when people come of adult age at age 20.
Ryo's first Host Family was the Mann family. With them, she visited Niagara Falls and Toronto in the Winter. She saw the Eaton Centre and dined atop the CN Tower. Ryo also enjoyed the Mississauga orientation session for Youth exchange Students and their Christmas Party. She attended the Winter meeting at Camp Wanakita with the Outbound Students and they slept in Quinsys, did Cross Country Skiing and snow shoeing. Ryo described a Dog Sledding weekend in Haliburton with students from District 7070.
Her second Host Family was the Layman family and she visited Niagara Falls with them.
Ryo mentioned that she enjoyed attending our weekly Rotary meetings.
President John, Bob Marsden, Sheila Welham and Dean Rutty all thanked Ryo for her time with us and we will miss her. She has been a great ROTEX!
Brenda Waugh also spoke to the Club about her experience in Tillsonburg 40 years ago. She worked for Dr. Mary Wiltshire as a Nanny and also helped in the Veterinary Clinic. Brenda joined Rotary in 2001 and has served as the District Communications Chair and is currently the ADG for District 1020. When her term as ADG is completed, she will become the District Youth Chair. In her vocation, she manages an Advisory Agency. Brenda lives in Annan about 6 miles north of the border with England on the west coast of Scotland.