By Kevin Robbins

Staff Writer

Bonny Eagle High School student Paul Roy of Buxton will be studying in Quezon City, Philippines, during the 2008-2009 academic year, thanks to the Rotary Youth Exchange program.

The program gives students the opportunity to study abroad for a year while living with host families and experiencing the host country’s cultural offerings. Each exchange program is operated by local district Rotary clubs. Rotary District 7780 sponsors Roy. District 7780 has clubs throughout Maine, southeastern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts.  

In addition to studying in the country, the student is expected to become active in the local Rotary Club by performing community service projects. District 7780 Youth Exchange Chairman David Wilson said Roy will most likely perform projects such as water verification, high school sanitation and literacy enrichment while in the Philippines.

Students are able to choose their favored place to study from a list of 40 eligible countries that have partnerships with the  program, Wilson said. An organization called Rotary International Eastern States Student Exchange Program (ESSEX) then picks a country from the student’s top three choices. 

“We encourage Asia because it is radically different from American and European culture,” Wilson said.

Roy could choose where he wanted to spend the school year, to an extent. His first choice was England, but he was told the program does not promote participation in countries where the predominant language is English. He then chose Switzerland, but he had to have at least two years experience with the German language, Roy said.

Wilson said his district has been sending students abroad for 20 years. He said the district sent nine students abroad last year. In the past, students from District 7780 have studied in Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan and India. 

Wilson said a year abroad costs each family between $4,000 and $7,000 depending on which country the student goes to. Students pay for plane tickets, visas, health insurance, travel insurance and other incidentals. Students may also have to fly to Washington, D.C. in order to apply for a visa in person, Wilson said.

Roy has been preparing for his trip abroad by attending local Rotary Club meetings and orientations hosted by District 7780. He is also trying to learn Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines, by listening to language tapes.

Roy has communicated with his host family through e-mail. He thinks that his host family speaks at least some English because some of the e-mails were in English. 

“I hope to come away with a new understanding of how a culture works,” Roy said. “I hoper to learn about myself – I am always looking for ways to mature.”

In addition to sending students abroad, District 7780 will also host international students this year. Wilson said an Argentinean student will stay in Bath, a Turkish student will stay in  Brunswick, a German student will stay in Saco, and a Brazilian student will stay in Portsmouth N.H.