Felipe Rocha Paes, a student at Acton-Boxborough High School, is about to finish his junior year of high school -- in Switzerland. Even before he started high school Felipe knew he wanted to be an exchange student. His father (born in Brazil) was a Rotary exchange student as a teenager and had shared his positive experiences with his family. Felipe felt he was up for the challenge. He applied and was accepted into the District 7910 program and got his first choice country -- the French speaking part of Switzerland.Image: Felipe gives a presentation (in French) to his host Rotary Club in Switzerland. Spring 2024. The yellow arrow points to Felipe -- seated in his navy Rotary blazer.
Felipe has been living with a Swiss family and attending a French speaking high school near Geneva for the 2023-24 academic year. During his year abroad, Felipe has gone from speaking just a little French to being completely conversant in the language. He's made many Swiss friends at school and, of course, he's met Rotary exchange students from all over the world. He's currently on a Euro Tour -- a two week trip around Europe arranged by Rotary for students who spend their exchange in Europe.Image 2: Felipe's host family takes him on a ski trip in the Alps. Feb. 2024.
Have there been challenges? Of course. The biggest was getting up to speed in French. But, by the holidays Felipe said he was feeling like he'd made significant progress, and he's continued to improve each month he's been there. Now he's fluent.
Have there been challenges? Of course. The biggest was getting up to speed in French. But, by the holidays Felipe said he was feeling like he'd made significant progress, and he's continued to improve each month he's been there. Now he's fluent.
Felipe and his parents are very appreciative to Acton-Boxborough Rotary Club and District 7910 for sponsoring him as an Outbound student. He's also grateful to his host club and host family in Switzerland who have made his exchange so worthwhile and positive.
Now it's almost time to return to his family in Acton and start his senior year of high school. Felipe has had so many wonderful experiences as an exchange student and grown in maturity and perspective. No doubt it won't be easy to say good-bye to everyone in Switzerland. But, when he heads back to high school and the teacher asks, "What did you do this summer"? Felipe will have plenty to write about.Image 3: The President of Swiss Rotary Clubs celebrates 100 years of Rotary participation with the Inbound exchange students to Switzerland. Spring 2024.
If you would like to invite Felipe to come and speak to your Rotary club about his experience as a youth exchange student, please contact Jane Schroeder, District YE Chair, at jane.schroeder@comcast.net or Jeanne Reimonn, Outbound Chair, at reimonnj@gmail.com.
If you would like to invite Felipe to come and speak to your Rotary club about his experience as a youth exchange student, please contact Jane Schroeder, District YE Chair, at jane.schroeder@comcast.net or Jeanne Reimonn, Outbound Chair, at reimonnj@gmail.com.
More info on the Youth Exchange Program can be found here: exchangestudent.org. For more specific information on youth exchange in District 7910, contact Jane Schroeder at Jane.schroeder@comcast.net or Jeanne Reimonn at reimonnj@gmail.com. Or check the District 7910 website under "youth programs."