Goodbye Antonio! :(
Youth Exchange Student Antonio Leite has returned home to his family in Brazil!
President Nick Norman presents a Club banner to 2013-14 Youth Exchange Student Antonio Leite at his final Moline Rotary meeting on June 9, 2014.
MOLINE - Our 2013-2014 Youth Exchange Student, Antonio Vitor Abreu Leite has completed his youth exchange year and has returned home to his family in Para de Minas, Brazil.
On June 25th Antonio returned to Moline from his Rotary Youth Exchange West Coast Trip where he joined over 100 other students on a whirlwind bus tour of the West Coast. Antonio had three days to recover, close out his exchange year and pack his bags.
On Saturday June 28th Youth Exchange Committee Chairperson, and quasi-host mom Gretta Knight hosted a farewell party for Antonio. Several fellow youth exchange and Moline friends attended along with Rotarians who have worked closely with him, and Rotary District 6420 Governor Ruth Lee. Much fun was had reminiscing about Antonio's experiences, followed by many tearful goodbyes.
On Sunday June 29th Gary Francque drove Antonio to Chicago O'Hare International Airport where he departed at 6:15pm for his flight back home to Brazil, via Miami. He arrived home on Monday morning. On the ride to Chicago Antonio expressed his sincere appreciation to all Rotarians, host families and friends who have loved and supported him. He said that it was the best year of his life, and was sad to leave us all behind, but he was also very excited with anticipation of his reunion with his loving family and his two pet dogs, and moving on with his education.
Rotarians, take a tour of Antonio's entire Youth Exchange year on our Clubrunner web page under Photo Albums / Antonio's Youth Exchange Adventure.
How very blessed we have been to have had the opportunity to meet, befriend, love, and share our cultures with this wonderful young man! Our very best wishes to you Antonio! We will miss you every day!!!