On their way
 

by Jo Rafferty
August 9, 2006


While most high school juniors and seniors are busy socializing with friends this summer, two of Carson Valley's students are headed to new countries, at least new to them.

Ashton Leutner, 16, who was a sophomore at Douglas High School, will spend her junior year in Austria. She leaves today.

Hillary Winans, 17, graduated early from Douglas last year. She is going to Spain in September.

The two were picked by the Minden Rotary Club for the Rotary Youth Exchange program.

"They picked Hillary first," said Ashton. "Reno isn't sending anyone this year, so they called me and told me they can take me too. It was mind boggling."

While the two girls didn't know each other very well when they were at Douglas High School, they now have a common bond.

"It's pretty neat because we can both go at the same time," said Ashton.

Once they were chosen, they had to go through interviews before they could become foreign exchange students. They were able to request specific countries, but ultimately it was the Rotary panel's choice.

"It's a really big process," said Hillary. "You have to fill out an application and go through interviews. Once accepted you have a 20-page document of medical forms. You go through a series of orientations. Then they make sure you're right. Then you go before a panel that decides where is best for you to go."

"Hillary had to go interview with the Spanish consulate in San Francisco this week," said Ashton in an interview one week ago.

Both agreed the hardest part was getting their visas.

"It's good life experience, I guess," said Hillary. "Even just getting ready for it. It teaches you how to do things like fill out applications."

"You kind of jump through flaming hoops," said Ashton.

"Into like fiery lakes," said Hillary, finishing Ashton's sentence.

Both students thanked their parents for helping them get through the red tape and for preparing for and helping to finance their trips.

"They want us to be happy and have this life experience," said Hillary.

Hillary looks forward to speaking Spanish and the "running of the bulls" which takes place next July in a week-long festival right before she comes home.

"I want to run with the bulls," said Hillary. "I'm looking forward to the siestas and I'll hopefully learn how to salsa."

"You're going to eat at 9:30 (at night)," said Ashton to Hillary, teasingly.

Both girls will spend about three months with each host family before moving on to another one. Hillary's host family has two daughters, but one is also a foreign exchange student who is going to stay with a host family in New Jersey at the same time.

"It actually works out good because then we (she and the daughter who stays) can hang out and stuff," said Hillary.

Ashton, who has taken one year of German, will go to language camp for two weeks before moving into her host family's home.

"I know the basics," she said. "My host family is very good about helping me out."

The girls have been in contact with members of their host families on the phone and in e-mails. Ashton's host family is sending a 14-year-old son to British Columbia as a foreign exchange student at the same time that Ashton will be there. But she will be far from alone since they have a 12-year-old daughter and two sons who are ages 10 and 7. Ashton admitted she is a little apprehensive since she is going from being the youngest to the oldest and will have two little brothers which she's never experienced before.

A foreign exchange student from Austria is coming to stay with Hillary's family while she is away.

Ashton's mother will be moving to Dallas while Ashton is in Austria, which makes the junior worry about what is going to happen when she returns on June 15. She plans to finish up her high school senior year being home schooled.

Ashton said she wanted to go to Austria because her father is German, because she likes the artistic culture and because of the Austrian Alps.

"I really want to ride the Alps," said Ashton. "I'm an avid snowboarder. I actually want to go pro some day."

Both girls agreed that they are nervous about the food.

"They tell us, 'OK girls, you're going to gain 25 pounds, so bring stretchy pants,'" said Ashton.

While in other countries, the program adamantly states they have to follow the "four Ds" - no dating, driving, drinking or drugs.

Hillary heard about the program through attending the Rotary Youth Leadership Camp. Ashton learned about it through her German teacher.

Two Rotary past presidents have handled the youth exchange student program for more than 15 years. Bill Henderson takes care of incoming students and John Hamer works with outgoing students.

They begin interviewing students 15-18 years old in September.

Hamer said, "We look for well-balanced kids who have a desire to travel and visit different parts of the world. They're really ambassadors who represent the U.S."

Students go for a 10-month stay with three different families, according to Hamer. Past foreign exchange students from Douglas County have been to Thailand, Japan, South America and Europe.

"Basically all over the world," said Hamer.

While in the foreign country, students attend school and are expected to participate in host family and local Rotary club activities. The families are assigned a Rotary counselor to help them through any problems that come up.

Rotary International has had this program for more than 50 years.

"It's an extremely successful program," said Hamer.

The world experience makes them more desirable when they apply for college, he said.

"We send these kids as youngsters and then they come back as adults," said Hamer. "It's just amazing."

"It has been the most phenomenal experience," said Henderson. "Kids come here and it changes their lives forever, as well as the families they stay with, for myself and my wife. It's such an incredibly positive experience for us. Families in this community make lifelong friends across the world."

Henderson said what makes it work so well is how organized the program is.

"Every little thing has been thought out," he said.

High school students and parents interested in the Rotary Youth Exchange program for the 2007 year may contact John Hamer at 783-6216. They will start interviewing next month and by the end of the year selections are made.

Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary clubs are nonpolitical, non-religious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. The Rotary motto is "Service Above Self."

Minden Rotary was formed in 1926 and meets every Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at Carson Valley Inn. For more information, call Chris Apple at 684-5805.