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Wings of Rotary
PAST GROUP 2007 Inbound Info || 2008 Information || About Wings of Rotary
PAST Wings of Rotary 2007
For the past 30 years, Rotary International District 5750 in Oklahoma and District 2520 in Japan have had a close friendship and bond. Each spring, Japan sends up to 15 high school students to Oklahoma for two weeks to experience “life in America.” Likewise, District 5750 reciprocates and sends a team of students to northern Japan to stay with host families and experience life in Japan.
Rotarians Heather and Evan Walter, members of the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City (Club 29) and the West Oklahoma City Rotary Club respectively, served as co-team leaders for the summer 2007 Wings of Rotary program. On July 10, 15 students from throughout the district departed Oklahoma City for Tokyo. Once in Tokyo, Rotarians acted as our guides until July 24 when the team headed back to Oklahoma City. The students represented a variety of schools, including Harding Charter, Oklahoma School of Science & Mathematics, Edmond, Ponca City, Enid, Harrah, Choctaw, Cleveland, Tulsa Union, Midwest City, Westmoore, and Carl Albert. Rotarians graciously hosted the students in the following Japanese cities: Narita, Tagajo, Sendai, and Ishinomaki.
Students experienced firsthand an amazing variety of Japanese activities, including the following:
Attending Rotary Clubs and giving speeches at the Clubs Visiting a Shinto Shrine, Buddhist Shrine, and many museums Participating in a traditional Japanese dance and tea ceremony Eating a wide variety of foods, particularly fish and other creatures from the Pacific Ocean Visiting an all-girls Catholic high school Surfing in the Pacific Joining Japanese Rotarians to clean a section of the beach along the Pacific coastline Painting traditional Japanese dolls Shopping! Hiking, visiting mountain and hot springs, and traditional Japanese baths
The Japanese hospitality and generosity exceeded everyone’s expectations. Two weeks flew by and the Oklahoma team members found themselves remarkably sad to leave the beauty and adventure of Japan. For all, Wings of Rotary was a life-changing experience and an excellent vehicle by which to understand the meaning of Rotary International.
By Heather Walter, W OKC Club
WINGS OF ROTARY GROUP PHOTO
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