This is a blog about my experiences as a 2011-2012 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. I will be living in Glasgow, Scotland and studying at the University of Strathclyde
This city is something one can hardly describe! Though I have really enjoyed living in Glasgow, the beauty of Edinburgh is breathtaking. I traveled there last weekend, for a two day trip, with a group of international students.
We toured around the Royal Mile on Saturday afternoon and finished the day with a hike up Arthur's Seat. The view from the top was incredible! Well worth the hike up. Sunday was another hike to Carlton Hill where you can see the other side of the city and especially Edinburgh castle. A walking tour was the closing of the trip where we learned a lot about the great and harsh past of Edinburgh.
Streets of Edinburgh
Stephanie and Rebekah at the Queen's Palace Gardens
A chilly, rainy day in Glasgow. What better setting for meeting my first Rotary contact for coffee? Last week, I was able to meet John Aitken, Rotary District 1230 Ambassadorial Scholar Committee Chairman, after many emails and a few phone calls.
Rebekah and John Aitken
We discussed the upcoming District Conference (happening this weekend, September 30th-October 2nd) and my first Rotary presentation to take place at the conference. He also shared some stories of other Ambassadorial Scholars, who came to Glasgow, and interpreted some Scottish words and customs for me. Like other Rotarians I know, Mr. Aitken set me at ease about my upcoming presentation and future Scottish events.
This past Monday, I was also able to meet my host counselors, Ian and Louise Dickson. I am so thankful to have such enthusiastic host counselors, who have great ideas for the next year and exciting possibilities. During dinner, we discussed how the presentations for Rotary clubs worked and what to expect at the conference. Ian promised to wear his kilt for conference on Saturday evening! I hope to have some great photos to post.
They all proved once again, that no matter where you go in the world there is a friendly Rotarian there to help you along the way. The caring spirit of Rotary is such a great thing. No matter if you have grown up in an area or if you have been somewhere for less than a month, Rotarians want to help you succeed. Is there a better way to travel the world and study at the university level?
Arrived in Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday! I have heard many people say if you have seen one big city, you have seen them all. I would have to disagree, when it comes to Glasgow at least. When you can see Victorian architecture next to modern designs there is something to take notice of.
Walking around the City Centre.
These first few days have been full of getting settled, registering for school, finding grocery stores, and meeting new friends! Finding my accommodation was fairly easy, just had to work my two large suitcases in and out of the bus a few times and walk down a few flights of stairs. Luckily, I had help from a fellow student and once we got to my building there as a lift (elevator) so we did not have to haul the luggage up six flights of stairs. Everyone around campus was very nice and helpful with figuring out where to go.
I am sharing a flat with three other postgraduate students here at Strathclyde and we are about a ten to fifteen minute walk from campus. Being able to walk everywhere has been so nice and there is so much to see it feels more like a tour. Though the weather changes in a blink of an eye, so you must be equipped with an umbrella for the day (thanks for the tip Allen)! I was actually walking out of my building where it was raining and went about 10 feet and it stopped instantly.
The street in front of Andrew Ure Hall.
Yesterday, I was able to register with the school and get my id card. While in line I met two other female, international students in my program and so we were able to chat about the up coming orientation, hopes and concerns for the year, and how we were adjusting to the city. It will be great to see two familiar faces at orientation on Friday. The rest of the day was filled with grocery shopping (I'm so excited to have a store right down the block from my building) and getting to know other students.
I spent most of today walking through part of the city and buying things for the semester. Since my dad had brought me to visit Glasgow in March, I have been able to make my way back to the areas we saw and feel like I have a head start. Hopefully that is a good sign for the start of a new school year and living in a new country.
It is hard to believe that this journey is about to start. More than a year of preparing, applying for the scholarship, going through interviews, being selected, and going through training for a trip of a lifetime. When I first started thinking of applying for a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship I wasn’t even sure it would be possible.
To understand my involvement with Rotary International, I really should start back to January 2010 lounging in the Honors Program Building at Lamar University. I was waiting for a meeting to start and enjoying not having any homework yet in the semester. Dr. Kevin Dodson, the Honors Program Director, walked through the room to pour a fresh cup of coffee, turned to me and said, “Do you want to go to Belize?” Of course my answer was yes, as I had never been out of the country, and he responded by saying, “Okay, we need to get you into Rotaract.” My younger sister, Elisabeth, was also in the room and we both started asking about this student organization.
Rotaract is a service club for men and women ages 18-30. Clubs are either community or university based and sponsored by a local Rotary club. Rotarians and Rotaractors work together as “partners in service” to promote peace and goodwill throughout the world. Rotaract clubs support community service projects and work toward international projects across the world. At Lamar University, my sister and I quickly fell in love with the small but strong hearted club that stood for the international motto of “Service Above Self.”
When I became an official member of Rotaract, in March, I decided to get involved as much as possible. I worked with a variety of service projects including the END POLIO NOW campaign and the Southeast Texas Soap Box Derby sponsored by the Spindletop Rotary Club, and fundraisers to support Camp Believe in Belize.
In May 2010, Elisabeth and I were able to travel to Chunox Village, Belize for the international service project Camp Believe. The Rotaract president that year, Jennifer Mikel, graciously gave up her place on the trip so that Elisabeth and I could go together. With our advisor, Teresa Simpson, set out for Belize. Camp Believe started as a soccer camp for students in the Chunox Village. After helping with the camp a Rotaract student was so inspired, he came back to Texas and raised enough funds to provide 10 scholarships to students so they could complete high school. This year Teresa gave me the opportunity to plan and coordinate all of the activities we did with the students. We taught career exploration activities and team building to 6th grade students of the Primary School in Chunox. We also worked with the scholarship recipients of St. Viator High School in team building and leadership activities.
That trip was where it all began for me and the journey to becoming a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. Toward the end of the trip in Belize, Teresa told me about the scholarship and suggested I seriously consider applying during the summer. After seeing how much of an impact Rotary has had across the world, even through smaller clubs such as Rotaract, I started researching the scholarship and application process.
After completing the seventeen page application, three essays, four interviews, and three levels of the selection process, I was selected as a 2011-2012 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to Glasgow, Scotland!
