HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-08-10, Page 1212
Exeter Times–Advocate
Wednesday,August 10, 2005
Essay takes student to United Nations
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — An essay
written by a local South
Huron District High
school student earned
her a trip to the United
Nations in July.
Alexandra Macgregor,
17, of Exeter was a
winner of the
Independent Order of
Oddfellows and
Rebekahs United
Nations Pilgrimage for
Youth contest.
She wrote an essay
on the UN efforts in
East Timor and spent
three weeks touring
Toronto, Ottawa, Salem
Mass., Philadelphia,
Washington and
Niagara
Falls with
278 fellow
winners
from around
the world.
"The trip was
amazing. I met a
lot of interesting
people from all over
the world. It was inter-
esting getting to know
them. I knew other cul-
tures were different but
just finding out some-
thing as simple as what
school is like in another
country like
Switzerland is really
cool."
During her time at the
UN, Macgregor had the
chance to attend sever-
al sessions on topics
such as child soldiers,
peacekeeping and ter-
rorism where the stu-
dents were able to ask
questions of the partici-
pants.
Another topic was a
session on the UN and
its future in which the
UN members asked the
winners how they felt
the UN could better
advertise itself and
what it does to the
world.
One of the top issues
facing the UN, which
MacGregor said it is
well aware of, is the
inefficiency of the orga-
nization, which will be
discussed at an upcom-
ing summit.
When not at the UN,
MacGregor and her fel-
low travellers had the
chance to explore New
York, visiting the
Empire State Building,
Time Square, Ellis
Island and Wall
Street.
She also saw
the Liberty Bell in
Philadelphia, vis-
ited where the
Declaration of
Independence
was signed
and toured
Gettysburg.
Macgregor
also enjoyed having the
chance to discuss and
hear the opinions of
people from around the
world.
"After we found out
about the inefficeny of
the UN, which a lot of
us didn't know about
going into the trip,
they had a lot of ideas
about how to change
it."
A topic Macgregor
wants to investigate
further is child sol-
diers.
"I had heard about it
before the trip, and it's
an issue I feel really
strongly about. It's one
of those problems in
the world no one seems
to know how to fix
because it's so huge
and a lot of people
don't know about it.
And even those who do
know, don't know that
much.
"I really liked New
York City and I'd like to
live there someday.
Once you leave New
York, you realize how
much quieter every-
where else in the world
is. But you don't really
notice it while you're
there."
Macgregor said the
students with her had
various impressions of
North America.
"They had a lot to say
about how we eat. They
said we eat a lot and
that we waste food."
Another difference
she found is that
schools in Switzerland
have no extra curricu-
lar activities.
"They just go to
school and study all
day and then go home.
A lot of them don't
even have part time
jobs. A lot of those kids
were actually pretty
jealous we have sports
at our schools.
"It was a fantastic
trip. The problem with
this trip is a lot of peo-
ple don't know about it.
So I've been telling
anyone who is younger
than me to apply for
it."
Burning on a rooftop for Easter Seals
Exeter resident Alexandra Macgregor was a local winner of the Independent
Order of Oddfellows and Rebekahs United Nations Pilgrimage forYouth contest
and spent three weeks in July touring cities in North America with several hun-
dred other winners from around the world. (Above) Macgregor with Ashlee Finch
from Michigan and Laura Wilson -Ewing from Quebec in the ballroom of the
Affinia Manhattan Hotel in NewYork City on the way to Broadway. (Below)
Macgregor with Finch on their first day at the United Nations. (photos/submitted)
Kelly Maidens, chair of the Huron County chapter of the Easter Seal Society, spent
24 hours on the roof of McDonald's in Exeter last weekend. It's the third year
Maidens has perched on the roof for the charity. Almost $3,000 was raised,
down from last year's total of $4,000. (photo/Stephanie Mandziuk)
POLICE BRIEF
Airt�ort Line vandalism
SOUTH HURON — Huron OPP are investigating
three reports of vandalism to a business on
Airport Line in South Huron. Officers were con-
tacted by employees of Exi-Plast Custom Moldings
on August 1, July 30 and July 29 when someone
entered the property and began throwing wooden
skids, pallets, metal/plastic tubing and sheets of
metal on the loading platform and around the
yard of the business. At least 10-12 wooden
skids have been stolen from the yard.
CHILDREN'S
BOOKS
FOR SALE
TIMES ADVOCATE
424 Main St. Exeter
DOMINION DRIVER TRAINING
Beginner Driver Education Course in Exeter
Classes held at the SOUTH HURON TOWN HALL
4 -DAY COURSE:
Mon. Aug. 22 - Thurs. Aug. 25
9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily
or 8 -WEEK COURSE
starting Sept. 21 - 4 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
INSTRUCTOR: Jean Graul
SENIORS AND DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSES AVAILABLE
CaII 273-1221 or 1-800-665-3027 to register
website: www.dominiondrivertraining.on.ca
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