Introduction - Part II

At the time, I never imagined how difficult the process of actually getting a club to sponsor you would be. This is how I did it.

I tried to apply for an interview that year, but I had just missed the window of opportunity, and last year’s outbounds (what we call students leaving their home country to go on Exchange) had already been selected and I had to wait until next fall.
Once fall (October) had rolled around again I went to a Rotary meeting held in my city, signed up for an interview and brought home a lengthy application to be filled out before my interview. My Parents and my Grandmother were there to confirm that this was in fact a reasonable and beneficial thing to be involved in; and all four of us were reassured again and again as rebounds (Students who left Canada on an Exchange and that have returned) shared their countless adventures and amazing experiences of being an Exchange Student.

The day of my interview I was understandably nervous. I would have two interviews; both would be in a separate room with about eight interviewers each. They would all take turns questioning me about myself and my motives and they would all grade each answer on a scale of 1-5. I didn’t know what they were looking for in the slightest, but I knew that being yourself is a universal solution. So that’s what I did for the next hour or so I was being interviewed.

I don’t know how many students applied but I’ve been told that Burlington always has the most applicants of my district (7080 is my district number and a district includes many cities within an area). This year they were only taking three students.

When I was finished, I was told to wait a week and a Rotarian would call to inform me if they decided to give me a third interview. I waited.
I waited some more.

Finally I got my answer. The first group of interviewers really liked me. The second group didn’t. I would not be getting a third interview.

Completely crushed, I felt the weight of my broken dreams crash down on me like a ton of Brazilian coconuts (and yes they are heavy). Just as I was about to abandon my dreams all together, I remembered something one of the rebounds said at the first meeting I attended. “If you are not able to be sponsored by the Burlington Club, go to another city and see if their club will sponsor you; because Burlington is very competitive and often other clubs ask Burlington Rotarians for the phone numbers of any student they have turned away. That is how I was able to go on exchange.”

So I got to work. With the help of my mom, I think I e-mailed every head Rotarian that I managed to find an e-mail address for in my District, some twice. I checked my inbox religiously and every day I sent new e-mails to people who “might know more about the situation”, replied promptly to everyone and even tried to ask Rotary Clubs that are not exchange clubs if they might consider sponsoring an exchange student. A few weeks passed and though there were a few hopeful prospects once, I could clearly see that the reality of getting sponsored this way was almost none existent. So I sent my last e-mail, attaching with it any hope I still had for my dream, to a Lady named Phyllis.

She replied, if I could make it to Mississauga the next day (Wednesday), her club, Mississauga City Centre, would like to interview me. You better believe that I made it into Mississauga a half hour early with an application all ready filled out that following day.

I had one interview (unlike last time), with four Rotarians. They interview me for a half an hour and then my Mom for a half hour. Expecting the unexpected, I prayed for good news when they said they would call me in two days. I waited.

I remember that call, it was a snowy Friday in December and I was pacing around in circles in my friends kitchen. Phyllis was on the other end. “Jessica” she began. “My club would be thrilled to sponsor you.”After I thanked her profusely, and my friend and I finished parading around his kitchen, I called my family and friends. Everyone was so incredibly happy for me. My dream was coming true.