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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-07-27, Page 14Crossroads 14 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 Exeter Times Advocate Local teen packing for a year inThailand By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF HIBBERT — South Huron District High School student Kyle Case is about to encounter an entirely different culture. The 16 -year-old Hibbert resident leaves Aug. 2 to spend a year in Thailand as part of the Grand Bend Rotary Club's youth exchange program. He'll be staying in the northeast of the country, in Khon Kaen, and will attend the Demonstration School Khon Kaen University, which is similar to high school in Canada. Kyle will live with a minimum of three dif- ferent families during his year in Thailand and has already been getting to know his first host family through e-mails. Speaking to the Times - Advocate last week, Kyle said he's getting excited about the jour- ney. He said he hasn't experienced any nerves yet, but admits he probably will as soon as he steps off the plane in Thailand. Kyle became interest- ed in the Rotary Club exchange program when a friend took part and suggested it to him. After looking into it, Kyle filled out an application form over the Internet and, after undergoing interviews with the Rotary Club in Grand Bend and London, the club agreed to sponsor him. Kyle also had to undergo medical and dental exams and South Huron principal J e f f Reaburn wrote a let- ter of rec- ommendation for him. Kyle ranked which countries he most wanted to visit. His top five were South Africa, Australia, Spain, Thailand and Malaysia. In January, he learned he was going to Thailand. As part of the exchange, a student from Thailand will stay with a Rotary family in Grand Bend this year. The year in Thailand fulfills Kyle's desire to experience different cultures. "I really like to travel "What th kids is unbelieva them a lo credit?' and thought this would be a good way to see the world," he says, adding that in the past he's visited Mexico, the Dominican Republic and St. Lucia. Kyle's first host fami- ly sent over some information on Thailand and he has begun learning the language and researching. Kyle will notice a big difference in the reli- gion and culture in Thailand compared to Canada. In Thailand, 95 per cent of the popula- tion is Buddhist, four per cent is Muslim and one per cent is Christian. Also, Christmas isn't cele- brated in Thailand and there are cultural dif- ferences Kyle will have to get used to — peo- ple in Thailand have to sit cross-legged because pointing their feet at anyone is frowned upon, as is touching another per- son's head. Kyle will also have to get used to a monsoon season and tempera- tures hotter than even the sweltering heat southwestern Ontario has experienced this summer. To prepare for the trip, Kyle attended three conferences, including one in Grand Rapids, Mich., July 8- 10, attended by over 1 , 4 0 0 youths. The conference included those about to go on their trips, those just returning and par- ents. Sessions dealt with information on Thailand and how to deal with homesick- ness and culture shock. Kyle was able to meet with another boy just returning from Thailand, and Kyle's parents, Pete and Wendy, also attended sessions and spoke to other parents. They both describe the con- ferences as "very informative." In addition to attend- ing school in Thailand, Kyle will go on three trips throughout the country. And as Wendy "I really li travel and this woul good way the world points out, the area he'll be living in isn't necessarily a tourist spot, so he'll experi- ence genuine Thai cul- ture. Pete says the trip will be a great experience for Kyle, but he admits it'll be tough to see him go. He says when he initially heard about Kyle's desire to go on the exchange program, he was at first against the idea because of the distance and the time Kyle would be gone. But Kyle talked him into it. Wendy says she encouraged Kyle to take part in the program and "he assures us he'll be fine," she says. "Now it's finally hap- pening." This is the Case fami- ly's first involvement with the Rotary Club and they have nothing but praise for it. "What they do for kids is unbelievable," Wendy says, pointing out that Grand Bend Rotarian Brad Oke has helped Kyle through the process. "I give them a lot of credit." Pete adds that the Rotary Club's work is even more impressive given the fact the members are volun- teers. Wendy points out the positives of having youths experience other cultures by explaining that if every teen went on an exchange to another part of the world, "we'd live in a more peaceful world" because people would grow up knowing more about other cultures and languages. Once Kyle is in Thailand, his primary method of communica- tion with his family back home, including 18 -year-old brother Adam, will be through e-mail. Wendy says the Rotary Club recom- mends parents and their travelling chil- dren keep phone calls to a minimum because frequent calls can increase homesick- ness. When Kyle returns to Canada next July, he'll attend another confer- ence in Grand Rapids and pass his knowl- ke to thought d be a to see - KYL SPENDIN ey do for ble. I give t of - W SPEAKING R ENDY CASE, ABOUT THE OTARY CLUB E CASE, ON G A YEAR IN THAILAND South Huron District High School student Kyle Case of Hibbert, shown above with his dog Sam, is busy packing for Thailand, where he'll live for a year as part of a Rotary Club youth exchange program. Kyle leaves next week and has been researching his new country and learning the language. (photo/Scott Nixon) edge onto those teens preparing to leave for trips. While technically he'll be entering Grade 12 at South Huron when he returns, he will have to take some Grade 11 courses not offered at his school in Thailand. And Exeter's Canadian Tire has promised to keep his job open for him.