Rotaract Tours Argentine Guests

This April and May, our district received an enriching treat--a visit from a GSE.  A GSE (Group Study Exchange) is a Rotary program in which about half a dozen Rotarians and non-Rotarians from one district travel to a district in another country, usually for specific vocational training.  These trips generally last for 4-6 weeks and involve a fair bit of moving around, shadowing or interning at various places.

The group that came to our district was from Argentina, and full of Rotaractors!  They also had various professions, including a farmer, and engineer, and a couple teachers.  The group wished to do two particular things while they were here: meet up with Rotaractors, and see an American football game.  Fortunately, both were achieved.  On April 29th, the Rotaract clubs of UO, OSU, and Lane County met up in Eugene and volunteered at the UO "spring game."  For those not familiar with the inner workings of UO sports, the spring game is ducks vs. ducks, and basically a chance for fans to see a game before the season starts.  As a bonus, the entrance fee is not money, but food--donated to Food for Lane County.  So after breakfast, we all went to the spring game and helped FFLC collect the food into big boxes and pack them away.  We also got to watch some of the game before getting lunch at the food carts in west Eugene.

After lunch, the group headed north to Corvallis for a Willamette Valley hike and a campus tour.  We did a short hike called Fitton Green with a great view of the valley, and all got a little sunburned.

To cool off again, we stopped by Yogurt Extreme for some froyo, a bonus cultural experience.

Finally, we had a tour of the OSU campus, courtesy of the OSU Rotaractors.

OSU Rotaract President Liz Wells is also an OSU Ambassador!

The group at the turnaround point of the hike. Fitton Green starts near the Benton County Fairgrounds in Corvallis.

A few weeks later, at District Conference in Albany, we were able to see our Argentine friends again.

We hope their trip was useful and enjoyable, and that future visits and cooperation come out of it.

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The Fitton Green Hike.

Rotaractors enjoying their frozen yogurt post-hike.

The flag of Argentina in OSU's Memorial Union.