Madyke de Groot's rotary Exchange Experience
On October 10th, we had the delightful opportunity to welcome Madyke de Groot, our Rotary Youth Exchange student from the Netherlands. Madyke is currently enhancing her cultural and educational experiences at Arlington High School and has shown a keen interest in tennis and Rotary Interact.
Madyke shared fascinating insights about her homeland, describing the Netherlands as a country with a landscape much flatter than ours, situated below sea level, and notable for having more bicycles than people. She highlighted some cultural icons such as tulips, windmills, and wooden shoes, and shared interesting facts about the Dutch being the tallest people in the world on average.
Currently hosted by Jenie Jones, Madyke expressed her excitement and positive impressions of her time in the U.S. so far. She spoke about her hometown of Nunspeet, located next to the largest nature reserve in the Netherlands, and her passions which include ballet, volleyball, and engaging creatively.
Madyke also shared her ambitious bucket list for her exchange year, which includes visiting Canada and Vancouver, experiencing American sports games, attending a car cinema, ziplining through nature, whale watching, exploring Olympic National Park, going camping, and skiing.
Our meeting with Madyke was not only an opportunity to learn about her culture and aspirations but also a moment to reflect on the enriching experience that the Rotary Youth Exchange offers to students from around the world. Let’s continue to support Madyke in achieving her goals and making the most of her time here in the U.S., fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for her adventurous spirit.
