Bettina Vargas was our club’s Rotary Exchange Student, from Merida, Mexico, during the 2000/01 Rotary year. She was home hosted by our members Shail & Anita Mahanti, Mary & Sandy Watson, Leigh & Filomena Higinbotham and a non Rotary family Richard & Yolanda Baer, whose daughter was an outbound exchange student. Bettina is visiting Vancouver, Whistler and Victoria with her husband Gerardo (Gerry) Solis and three daughters aged 7, 5 and 2 - basing their travels from Leigh & Fil’s home. They both have master’s degrees. Bettina is an architect and Gerry is responsible for food safety with the government in Mexico.
Bettina and Gerry also stayed with Leigh & Fil in 2009. They became engaged during that trip on the balcony of the Empress Hotel overlooking the lights of Victoria’s Inner Harbour. This week they are returning to the Empress Hotel to relive and renew memories. Bettina and Gerry have a strong affection for Canada.
