Submitted by: Aymane Id hsainHave you ever heard of a Rotary exchange student from the district 9010? Or from Morocco? Maybe not because I am the first Rotary exchange student from there and very glad to be the first one, the first ambassador to at least the Grand rapids high school in Minnesota who, some of them did never hear of where is Morocco and they love hearing about new culture, and I am also very glad to live and discover the American culture. Did you ever think about what a year abroad will change in your life? Let’s see what I have done over 7 months.
I am Aymane Id hsain, I was born and live in Casablanca Morocco, an exchange student with Rotary youth exchange, hosted by Rotary club of Grand Rapids.
Exchange is going from thinking you know who you are to being a new person, totally different from the day you left home. You grow up more and know who you really are. You become a very independent person, which helps you make your life different.
Exchange is going from thinking you know who you are to being a new person, totally different from the day you left home. You grow up more and know who you really are. You become a very independent person, which helps you make your life different.
First of all, You have to be an open minded person to even think about going in exchange, but I really started thinking about things from different prospective right now, I did know myself better, and I did finally found what I want finish my life doing, went from wanting to become a dentist to want to study international business or financial studies, and I developed my English a lot better, also I developed my life skills.
More than that, I am discovering a new culture, and seeing how America is, at the real life not the movies, and I did recognize how different people are across the states. Going in exchange will make you discovering a new culture and get people to know about your culture, religion and life mode, I remember when I just got here, the first month of school, I got hundreds of questions from student who love different cultures, who did never know where is Morocco, lot of them did think it’s in Europe which was very surprising for me.
In addition, I went from not being able to start a conversation with a person that I don’t know, to totally feeling free to talk and start conversations with new people, no matter who or how old are they, and with that, I did make new friends not just in the high school, but also in the community college and all over where I go, I have lot of American friends right now, but I also made 16 international friend from all over the world, 16 countries, the most amazing people, some of them become my best friend even if I see them 4 times in the whole year, all together we did become the family with who it takes us an hour to say our goodbyes every time we meet each other.
Over making new friend and having a new life, I did see another school system that believes in the students skills, try to include their acknowledgement and use lot of projects, give them a little bit of freedom of choosing what to study, and it doesn’t treat student as grades which is very different from my country, being educated with this way, is way more likely to make everyone successful.
Furthermore, Being here gave me a chance of watching American football and hockey which I can never watch in other places than here in the United States, and trying lot of sport, such as kayaking which is so much fun, I did lot of biking, that I didn’t do it’s been four years, I tried curling which is a very fun sport. I got a very new interests, such as skiing, I joined the ski team even if I did never ski before but It was a very fun and exciting experience, I did attend several races, Honestly I loved that ambiance and how fun was my team. Right now, I am having a great experience with track even if I did never like running, it’s about friends and people who are in my team, and they just make it great. I did also try ice fishing for the first time, which is a very deep culture in Minnesota.
I am also very interested right now in speaking in front of public, I want to express my ideas in front of people, tell the teenagers how going in exchange will change their life and how volunteering will help them build themselves and help in their community, it’s something that I did live with my Rotary host club that have an amazing people. I started volunteering 4 years ago in IDMAJ association, in my neighborhood but with the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids High School Interact, I did try new ways of helping such as selling tickets or cookies as a fundraiser, the shoes drive and lot of other activities that will be very helpful for me when I go back.
Going in exchange will change you, your life, maybe your carrier, help you see the world from another eye and give you the chance of having a second home where your heart will be forever, even more if you are hosted by a very nice, amazing, open minded host family like mine. Think about it, spread it to your class student, and let them see life from another perspective. My future plans are getting some projects in place between Sidi Moumen Culturel Center (NEIGHBERHOODS ASSOCIATION IDMAJ) and Rotaract / Interact from here. What’s your future plans to help your community?
Going in exchange will change you, your life, maybe your carrier, help you see the world from another eye and give you the chance of having a second home where your heart will be forever, even more if you are hosted by a very nice, amazing, open minded host family like mine. Think about it, spread it to your class student, and let them see life from another perspective. My future plans are getting some projects in place between Sidi Moumen Culturel Center (NEIGHBERHOODS ASSOCIATION IDMAJ) and Rotaract / Interact from here. What’s your future plans to help your community?