Julia Igel I can only second all that has been said about the Rotary Youth Exchange Program!
Having been an exchange student in Westerville in 2007 and also having hosted a girl, Amber, from Twin Falls, Idaho, this has proven to be a life changing and experience which I wouldn't want to miss!
Not only did it improve my language skil...ls by an absolute mile (thanks especially to the Schultheises who had to deal with most of my butchering of the English language :)) but it got me in touch with 4 new parents, 5 new siblings and countless new friends who I now all consider my extended family - a family spread out all over the world! And if it hadn't been for the Rotary Youth Exchange Program and the wonderful, wonderful families hosting me who all so warmly welcomed me, kept me save and always made sure I was making the most of my year abroad, I don't think my year could've been nearly as great as it was!
I will forever cherish the time I got to spend with my new families, friends who we got to meet from all over the world (thanks to the monthly get-togethers, organized by the Rotary Club, where all of the exchange students had a chance to hang out, talk about all the new experiences we've had and mostly, laugh), the American friends who I got to meet both in Westerville and later even in Germany when Amber came to live with us and the incredible friendliness I experienced to be part of the American culture. I am still positive to have made the best decision possible by doing an exchange, broaden my horizon and learning so many things about me and life in general!  And this is all due to the wonderful people at the Rotary Club and the great host families who welcomed me to not only be their house guest for a few months but to be part of their family! So I can only encourage anyone even slightly interested in hosting a foreign exchange student to really consider all the good that will come out of it! You've got nothing to lose and so much to gain - getting to know a new culture, helping somebody getting to know your great culture and extending your family by a few special people who you wouldn't want to miss afterwards!

Lucas Chacana HOW CAN YOU MISS BEING A PART OF THE ROTARY EXCHANGE PROGRAM! Either by being an exchange student or by being a host family, you'll be amazed by how great learning about languages and cultures can be! As part of a  host family in 2007 for an exchange student from PA (who went to my hometown, Catamarca, Argentina) and as... an exchange student in Westerville, OH, in 2008, I can asure you that it is a mind-blowing experience!!!!! When I was living up there in Westerville, I enhanced my language skills (my 3 amazing host families really enjoyed helping me and I could teach them some Spanish, toooooo lol that was hilarious) I also learned that what I have in my country and my life are like gold to me and that we shouldn't be complaining too much about everythinggggg that happens around us (especially if it has to do with our city or
country). It was also great to be able to hang out with my little host ...siblings and be able to babysit them sometimes! Now I can't wait for my host families to come visit me in Argentina! We'll do so many things and we'll have so much fun! Take care y'alllllllllllll.    I could have gone on forever with the 100,000 things that I wanted to add but I don't wanna stay here typing until dawn breaks! So I just had to summarize it a little lol.

Salome Lang