Exchange Student - Helen

Mar 11 - Helen is our club sponsored exchange student  who went to Brazil last year. She told us of her experiences there.  She was living in Votuparanga, a small city in the the north west in the state of San Paulo. Helen told us that the mainstay of the economy there is agriculture - mainly sugar cane, latex, and cattle. She said that all the towns were very "church-centric". Helen stayed with 3 different host families and enjoyed them all, although the last one was the most fun. She found that the Brazilians were a very open, happy, people who have no respect for time. Helen had to adjust to their eating habits as they seem to have a steady diet of rice, beans, salads, and meat (which they mix all together on their plates). She told us that their Rotary Clubs are much more formal than ours.  She had time to travel to interesting places, including Paraguay and Argentina, as well as take an 11 day trip along the Amazon river. She also had fun meeting other exchange students in her Club District. She found the experience very rewarding and plans to return to Brazil sometime in the future.