Last summer the District 5520 Ambassadorial Scholarship Selection Committee chose Andres Martinez sponsored by the Rotary Club of West El Paso as our 2009-2010 scholarship recipient.
Recently Andres sent a letter and some photographs that I would like to share with the District.
Bonjour from Neuchâtel, Switzerland!
It's been two months since I arrived, and I can already tell that this is going to be the most memorable year of my life. When I arrived the Rotarians graciously picked me up at the train station and took me to my dorm. After a day of sleeping, and overcoming jetlag, I started a week and a half long orientation program at the university; I've been busy ever since.
Neuchâtel is a charming city of about 30,000 people on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel. On a clear day, I can see the snow capped Alps in the distance. Every day I take the bus to the train station to catch an underground tram that drops me off just under campus. Campus sits on the beach of the lake. In September, when it was still about 75 degrees, my friends and I would sit on the beach after class. I'm taking classes in French, English, and Spanish, and am really enjoying them. Every Tuesday, the Rotary Club of Neuchâtel invites me to the Hôtel du Peyrou, the beautiful building where they meet, to have a three course lunch complete with wine and coffee. I really couldn't ask for more. My hosts are gracious and the food is amazing
I've had the opportunity to travel all over Switzerland. I've been to Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, Schaffhausen, Lucerne, and Zürich. I hope that some of you can come visit! The Rotarians here would be more than glad to have y'all!
Thanks again,
Andres
It's been two months since I arrived, and I can already tell that this is going to be the most memorable year of my life. When I arrived the Rotarians graciously picked me up at the train station and took me to my dorm. After a day of sleeping, and overcoming jetlag, I started a week and a half long orientation program at the university; I've been busy ever since.
Neuchâtel is a charming city of about 30,000 people on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel. On a clear day, I can see the snow capped Alps in the distance. Every day I take the bus to the train station to catch an underground tram that drops me off just under campus. Campus sits on the beach of the lake. In September, when it was still about 75 degrees, my friends and I would sit on the beach after class. I'm taking classes in French, English, and Spanish, and am really enjoying them. Every Tuesday, the Rotary Club of Neuchâtel invites me to the Hôtel du Peyrou, the beautiful building where they meet, to have a three course lunch complete with wine and coffee. I really couldn't ask for more. My hosts are gracious and the food is amazing
I've had the opportunity to travel all over Switzerland. I've been to Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, Schaffhausen, Lucerne, and Zürich. I hope that some of you can come visit! The Rotarians here would be more than glad to have y'all!
Thanks again,
Andres
The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas. While abroad, scholars serve as goodwill ambassadors to the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to a greater understanding of their host country.
To learn more about Rotary District 5520’s Ambassadorial program visit http://rotary5520.org/scholarships/index.html Dates for 2010 will be posted very soon.
