Group Study Exchange
Tony Maccarini, in 1979, and I, in 1999 were privileged to have been participants in GSE. Tony went to South East Asia and I went to South India. We both agree that it was an incredible experience and one that has left us with lasting and fond memories.
For me, the very best part was staying with families. I had the opportunity to stay with nine different families in one month. The Rotarians made me feel like a part of their families. We sat and laughed at the similarities in our cultures which surprised us. For example, one evening we were preparing to go to a Rotary meeting. The husband, Joe, was yelling (in a loving way, just as we do here) at his wife, Sajini, in Malaylam--claimed to be the fastest spoken language in the world. I turned to her and said, "He is telling you to 'hurry up! Get moving! We are going to be late!!!.' " She replied, "Oh, you speak Malayam?" I said, "No, I am a married woman..."
- And we were amused that our husbands were both named "Joe." We uncovered many similarities, something I was not expecting. But the differences were just as fascinating. Among the many interesting moments:
- Extracting red garnet from sand (red sand) to blast the paint off of ships!
- Watching people carry baskets of sand across the salt flats to stomp into place to then flood with sea-water, to make salt! (Something about the way the molecules bond, and blah, blah, blah...but cool!)
- Women standing in bare feet on flimsy cardboard separating out "dirty" glass--bottle necks, colored glass, etc. as it passed along by conveyor belt up to the fiery furnaces...using bare hands.
- Rotarians offering coconuts with a straw to give us a treat---only so did the five other Rotary groups that same day, and each subsequent day--and we never told any of them---you know, to be polite! Please do not offer Amy any coconut milk for at least another 5 years! (Well, maybe laced with rum would be okay).
- Magnificent palm trees and blue waters. Joe saw my pictures and wondered where I was! It took a lot of convincing that those mansions I was staying in were indeed in India!
- Taj Mahal, Shajahan built it for his most beloved wife who died at age 39....
- Colorful sarees against a background of despair...
- Beautiful children's faces, innocent big curious eyes, universal laughter...
The most profound moment for me, was looking at the intensity of a child who was learning to walk on prosthetic limbs but seemingly more grateful for the balloons and stickers we gave him...he is my hero...
And what an honor it is for me, now, to be part of a club that is part of an organization, that casts a network over the needs of that child and the clubs that provided: The prosthetic limbs, the rehabilitative equipment, the buildings, the volunteers, the smiles on their faces. Magic.
If this touches you in any small measure, take out your checkbooks and write one out to "The Rotary Foundation" who makes all things possible...
So, we were also escorted by Krish and Chandrika Krishnaswamy who have since become my very dear friends. I am headed back to India in just 3 weeks to attend their son's wedding.
Since I have been a Rotarian, the Carmel Rotary Club has hosted teams from India, Thailand, Brazil, El Salvador, Israel, Mexico, England, and New Zealand and soon to be arriving is the team from Honduras, Friday May 16th to Tuesday May 20th. Every year, club members who interface with the teams are touched by the exchange. We make fleeting, and lasting relationships. We represent our country by extending our hospitality. We spread the message of Rotary through friendship and fellowship.
Please contact Ed Hengel if you would like to host, dine, visit, drive any of the members. The most memorable aspect of this program has always been the host family situations and interactions between team members and Rotarians.
For more info, contact your local Rotary club and check out www.rotary.org click tab at the top for "Service and fellowship" then tab for "Fellowship"