Bellingen High student, Reyna Sommerville, is at present living in the north-east of France about 45 minutes drive from Switzerland and Geneva, which she visits regularly on weekends. Reyna is on exchange to France, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bellingen, where she is learning a new language and absorbing a new culture.
While in Europe Reyna has spent time in Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Austria as well as France. Recently Reyna spend two weeks in a chateau and a further two weeks in Switzerland then went on her ‘Euro Tour’ The ‘Euro Tour’ has given Reyna, and the other exchange students from around the world, the opportunity to travel around France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Monaco.
Reyna reported that she particularly liked Venice because there were no cars or industrial noise, she had the opportunity to ride in a gondola and saw Marco Polo’s house. Reyna also liked Munich with its clock tower, the quaint old cottage style German hotels and the town of Verona, Italy, where she stood outside ‘Juliet’s’ window. In Monaco Reyna swam in the Mediterranean Sea which she reports was incredibly blue, it was the first time that she had swum in the ocean since leaving Bellingen in January. It is winter in her French home town which means snow and skiing, a very new and cold experience for Reyna.
Reyna’s comprehension and mastery of the French language has improved dramatically since she arrived in France nearly six months ago. She was very proud to pass a test on the French language and its literature as part of her school commitments.
The Rotary Club of Bellingen is a supporter of the Rotary Exchange Program (YEP) and would like to encourage any interested student to contact the club. Applications for short term matched exchanges to New Zealand are now being accepted for 2010. Please contact 66 550217.