Rotary International every year facilitates a massive worldwide, one year scholarship program. Every year the Rotary Clubs in Thialand send many young Thai people to USA, Europe and other countries for one year studies. In return young people from around the world come to Thailand in this Rotary Youth Exchange project.
Any young person who would like to join this project and have this extraordinary educational experience should contact the Rotary Club of Pattaya on email: president@rotary-pattaya.com
To see CURRENT EXCHANGE STUDENTS click here
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Here is a report from Exchange Student Jonathan Bosworth on a meditation course he went on.
From the 28th to the 31st of August, I participated in a meditation course at a centre just outside the City of Khon Kaen, North East Thailand. I attended the course along with a fellow South African Rotary Exchange Student, Jade, and about 900 students in M1 and M2 (grade 7 and 8) from her school.
The course was a lot more difficult than I expected. For the four days, we wore simple white cotton clothes and did away with any form of shoes or cosmetics, we only were alowed to “chew” food between 7am and noon, could only sleep four hours a night, chanted for 3 hours a day in Thai and Bali and sat on the floor (in polite meditation and temple positions – which for an untrained foreigner like myself is something like yoga) for at least 15 hours a day!
The course was really intense and about 30 of the attending students pulled out due to them passing out or illness; it was, however, extremely rewarding.
We learnt how to do basic walking and sitting meditaions (sorry no levitations yet!), a whole lot about ourselves and gained plenty of knowledge on Buddhasm as well as enjoyed interacting with the monks, teachers and students. I highly recommend a similar course to anyone!
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Youth Exchange student Jade Mampong saying a few words at our meeting on 04 September 2006.
Jade is from South Africa and is currently being hosted by the Rotary Club of Khon Kaen. She returns to South Africa in November (just prior to our own Youth exchange student Jonathan).
Jade was able to speak in Thai language and described how she had enjoyed her time in Thailand.
Existing exchange student (with the Rotary Club of Pattaya) Jonathon Bosworth from South Africa welcomes new exchange student Jeff Greenfiled from Sacramento, USA to the Rotary Club of Pattaya on 07 August 2006.
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YOUTH EXCHANGE COMMITTEE
An orientation meeting took place on sunday 13 August 2006 for in-bound exchange students to Pattaya.
The meeting took place at Susiree Vegetarian Restaurant and Blind Massage on Pattaya Third Road.
The aim of the meeting was to inform the inbound exchange students about how they can make the most of their stay in Thailand with District 3340.
Whilst here in Thailand the students also attend local schools with other Thai students.
The group photo here shows Rotarians, host families and exchange students.
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PHU KRADUNG NATIONAL PARK ADVENTURE TOUR
On 26-30 November 2006 District 3340 Youth Exchange Committee is arranging an adventure tour to the Phu Kradung National Park, in northeast Thailand for current exchange students.
The itinery for the tour includes some strenuous trekking around this beautifull, mountainous National Park. As well as climbing to the plateau at the top of Phu Kradung mountain which is 5430 meters, students will also have to be awake early. The itinery shows that they will be starting as early as 04.00 to see the sun rising!
Among the things that students will see are beautifull waterfalls, cliffs, wild flowers and pine forests.
Click here to see more of this wonderful place of natural beauty
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COMING UP................
CHIANG MAI & NORTHERN THAILAND CULTURALSTUDYING TOUR 26 - 30 November 2006
PHUKET ISLAND & SOUTHERN THAILAND SUMMER TOUR 21 - 30 April 2007
