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Discover the heartbeat of Juneau's cultural and community landscape with 'Capital Chat.' This series explores the vibrant world of the community, arts, and dynamic cultural and social events happening in Alaska's Capital City. Tune in to 'Capital Chat' for your essential guide to the pulse of our community, where every story is an adventure and every voice matters.
Hello and good morning. Welcome to Capital Chat. I'm your host this morning, Angel Montgomery. And in the studio, Juno Rotary Youth Exchange recruitment is happening. We are super excited to have Steve Alwyn and Robin Lonis, the Juno Rotarians with the Youth Exchange.
Speaker 1:You guys are the Youth Exchange officers, actually. And we also have some Youth Exchange students in the studio with us. Can everyone say hi?
Speaker 2:Hello. Hello.
Speaker 3:Good morning.
Speaker 1:Good morning. I wanna start with the Rotary Youth Exchange, just the program itself. What does it offer young people and, who want to experience life in another country? What does it offer them?
Speaker 4:So gives gives the kids a chance to see other cultures, broaden their horizons. You know, we're looking for students right now that live in Juneau who wanna go experience the rest of the world. You're gonna take a year. I believe it begins first week of August, ends the last week of July. So a whole calendar year, you get to go immerse yourself in other people's cultures and languages and come back with a much broader expectation of yourself, I believe.
Speaker 1:I have talked to a lot of people that have done something like this or done this exact program, and everything that they experience is is truly a phenomenal and honestly a unique experience to each person. Can you guys tell me what the recruitment process looks like? How long is it? And when should people start even thinking about it?
Speaker 4:Now. Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah. I think our our process is live now and we have to have applicants in to our district for Alaska by the end of October. So we have about a month right now to get the process in. And then there is a few interviews. Once you're selected, it goes back through you'll find out your country probably like January, mid January.
Speaker 3:And then you just start prepping. That August time frame will come before you know it, you'll be off and then you'll be back before you know it with lifelong, experiences and friendships.
Speaker 1:What are you looking for in students that might want to apply?
Speaker 4:You know, I think it just depends on the interview and the application. You know, what I expect I thought I would see out of certain kids that I first met a couple years ago and what I see when they get back, totally different people. Mhmm. You know, I'm the typical very shy wallflower person when I'm not at work.
Speaker 5:Mhmm.
Speaker 4:And when you see some of these kids, you go, well, would work that would it work for them? Would it help? They come back a different person. The confidence you see met a met a young gentleman two years ago at a RILA event, which is kind of a sister part of this ROTARY Youth Exchange stuff down at Ketchikan. And I saw this kid and I saw a lot of young me and him where it's like very quiet, very shy, didn't want to really do engage, but he's at this leadership program and he was going off to, exchange.
Speaker 4:We just saw him when we met these guys. He had just what they call a rebound, just got back into the country, and the noticeable difference, the confidence. He just did opened up. Now was he the most was he doing jumping jacks and doing cartwheels all over the place? No.
Speaker 4:He's still him, but he was him with a lot more confidence. So, you know, even if you think, oh, it just wouldn't be me or wouldn't be my child Mhmm. It could be.
Speaker 1:Yeah. I love that. So we're obviously wanting to get the word out about the opportunity for students, but this whole exchange program wouldn't be possible if there weren't host families too. Correct?
Speaker 4:Yeah. That's a big part of this. And if you have interest in being a host family, you can be part of this too. You do not now this is a ROTARY thing, but you do not have to be in ROTARY to be a host family. You just have to be a good person who wants to help out kids.
Speaker 3:Yes. The I think that is the intricate part of youth exchange for the kids that are here in Alaska is that we have to house them for a year, and it is a great experience. You don't have to have kids in your home. You just have to be willing to put a roof over their head.
Speaker 4:And we're gonna and each kids, we have two of them with us, Teresa and Nicholas, both from Germany, and they're gonna spend time with three parents each. So that's six six total here in Juneau. So you get three months with this person, you get three months, you get, you know, you gotta work your way through. So you get different experiences. And we want them to be part of the family.
Speaker 4:If you make them do dishes, make them do dishes. Just they've gotta be one of the kids in the family.
Speaker 1:So can I ask what would be, in your guys' words, the responsibilities of a host family? And what kind of support does ROTARY provide through that exchange?
Speaker 3:I think that they the largest support system that they have to have is a roof, a safe space to to house them, a room to stay in, a bed to stay in. And then other than that, they're just incorporated into your family. They might provide the bus system gets them to school. They might provide some rides here or there. They're really just an extension of their own family.
Speaker 4:And you also get support from the ROTARY CLUB. Me and Robin are both youth exchange officers. Oh, almost mumbled that one. And what that means is we're here for the kids. We wanna make sure that if the parents can't do something, I'm dragging her to cheerleading practice or actually to the game in a couple days, trying to help out there.
Speaker 4:But also if she's got an issue, I'm the support. And then we also have a counselor at our club. If she doesn't feel like she can talk to me, she's got a female counselor who's gonna help her as well. So there's a huge support group built around these kids coming here.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. So if somebody is interested in either the, actual exchange part of it or being a host, how does one start that process and contact?
Speaker 4:Well, you can contact me here at the radio station. You can talk to contact Robin at your State Farm agency. Nice shameless plug for you. Thank you. Or you can go online to rye5010.org/outboundslash.
Speaker 4:That's as slow and as boring as I can say that.
Speaker 1:Okay. Wonderful. I wanna talk, a little bit with Teresa and Nicholas. You guys are both from Germany. Teresa, let's start with you.
Speaker 1:What made you wanna be a part of something like this, and what do think of Juno so far?
Speaker 5:I just wanted to really experience a new culture, a new country, and meet a lot of new people. I just wanted to step out of my comfort zone and experience a new home, a new family. And right now, I'm very happy here right now. I love all the people. I love my host family, and the city is very beautiful.
Speaker 5:So I'm very happy right now.
Speaker 1:And what about you, Nicholas? What what kinda made you get into the this exchange program, and what are your thoughts on Juno so far?
Speaker 2:I think it was nearly the same reason. I wanted to expire a new culture, live in another country for a year, step out of Germany for a year, expire house, experience have to experience house life in another country. And, yeah, when I found out I'm going to Juneau, I first was, oh, what is Alaska? But then I was so happy, and it's so beautiful here. The people are so kind, and I'm really happy to be here.
Speaker 1:And, Teresa, can I ask you too? That was actually gonna be my next question is when you found out that it was Alaska, do you know specifically that you were gonna be traveling to? What was the first thought that goes into your head? Was it similar? What's Alaska, or did you know already?
Speaker 5:I was not seeing that coming. I was a little bit shocked and confused because I was like, isn't there, like, snow the whole year?
Speaker 1:And We living at Igloos and
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 5:All of this kind of stuff. Yeah. But I think it's a very good fit for me because I don't handle heat very well. So I probably would have died in Nevada or Utah or something like that.
Speaker 1:When it comes to school, I know that Steve had mentioned that you're doing, like, cheerleading and stuff. Is that something that you participated in in Germany, or is this something that you're trying out new here and kind of throwing yourself into the American experience?
Speaker 5:I'm trying it out completely new. I've never done it before. In my first few weeks here, it was also very hard. I learned just the basics. What's a low v?
Speaker 5:What's a high v? And learned all of the 50 cheers that I have to do. Yes. It's a lot, but it is very, very fun. My my team is so fun, and they are also kind.
Speaker 5:And I'm really glad that I can be part of the team.
Speaker 1:I love that. And I'm really excited for you. I think that that's a really fun experience. Nicholas, is there anything that you're looking forward to? Are you wanting to do any sports or any extra curriculatives while you're here during the time?
Speaker 2:Well, I'm already in the cross country team.
Speaker 1:Oh, fine.
Speaker 2:I could travel with the team to Haines and to Ketchikan for races, and I'm also doing running in Germany and sports in general. So I was so happy that the team was so kind to me and just let me come in and participate. And they are also so friendly, want to help me out. Now in school, when I when I need something, I know who I could ask. Just the people from the team.
Speaker 2:And, yeah, I just wanna try out most stuff I can do here and just try different things I never did
Speaker 1:in Germany. And yeah. Exciting. So you guys have how long have you been here so far?
Speaker 2:We arrived in Alaska on August 1. We had the same flight from Germany.
Speaker 4:Oh,
Speaker 2:wow. And then we arrived on August 9 in Juneau.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Okay. So August. So it's only been about a month for you guys, a little over a month. Is there big goals that either of you guys have during the year?
Speaker 1:Obviously, you know, you wanted to get out there, but is there anything that stands out to you? They're like, I can't I there's this one thing I wanna do in America or in Juneau before I go home to Germany. Is there anything that pops out to you? It could be something small like a kind of food that you haven't had before or maybe visiting, you know, something like going up to Eagle Crest. I don't know if you guys ski or snowboard or if that's on the agenda this this winter, but there's a lot of things that I feel like some people look forward to coming to Juneau or Alaska to do that they might not be able to do ever anywhere else.
Speaker 2:I'm not really sure because
Speaker 1:My husband's been It's only been a month, so try to put you on the spot there.
Speaker 4:So if I may interject, we had a nice weekend orientation up in Willow. We get to have them expect what they're gonna do, what you can do, how you should integrate in. Yeah. And you guys both made wonderful lists about what your goals were by the end
Speaker 2:of the year.
Speaker 4:So what happened to the list?
Speaker 2:Yeah. I definitely wanna go skiing here because I ski in in in Europe, in Austria, but it's way different than here. And, yeah, I wanna improve my English, obviously, and just see as much as possible from the nature and everything here. But it it it will happen probably. I'm here a year and Yeah.
Speaker 2:I have a lot of time.
Speaker 1:What about you, Theresa?
Speaker 5:Yeah. First, also the same. I just want to see, like, from Juneau and from Alaska as much as possible. And then another thing which was also on my bucket list, which I made during the orientation was flying in a float plane. So I'm already working on that with some help from my club.
Speaker 5:But, yeah, I'm really excited to experience that.
Speaker 1:That's so fun. Robin and Steve, again, we're talking about the ROTARY Youth Exchange program and how the recruitment process for actual students is happening right now. Again, can you tell me how people can get in touch with you? And something we haven't covered, is there a cost in this? And what could families experience if they do have students wanting to be a part of the actual youth exchange program?
Speaker 4:Alright. I'll let Robin do the money one here in a second. But if you've got a student, kid in, we're looking for people who are going to be so they should be sophomores and juniors now for the age group. Okay. If you do wanna go off, your your child does need to be 18 when they leave next year.
Speaker 4:And that's kind of the rules. They can be 18 once they're over in their place, but they must be 17 when they leave here. If you want to go to rye5010.org/outbounds. That's how you can sign up and do an application. You can just also request more information, and me or Robin will reach out to you as well.
Speaker 3:Yeah. And, Angel, there is a cost associated with it, and I don't wanna put anybody into sticker shock, but it's about $9,000, which sounds a little daunting when you look at a number or
Speaker 1:I've doing wedding venue stuff, so that number is very small, actually.
Speaker 3:I'm like If you actually look to youth exchange programs, it is a scholarship program. ROTARY ANS are paying part of that way. We pay fees as ROTARY ANS as well to participate in youth exchange. And actually, if you're a parent, I may have three kids. If you break it up monthly, it's really not that much.
Speaker 3:Where that includes their housing, their food, like their all expense ride basically, their plane, their airfare to get over. And I just have to say thanks to these students. When they apply for youth exchange, they learn that they're coming to The United States.
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 3:The United States is very large. So Little Juneau, Alaska, they're both doing great. And I think they've both been on and got a crab already this season of getting here. So I love the opportunity and the experience, the lifelong friendships that they build. I we get invited as youth exchange officers to weddings.
Speaker 3:So we're they're an extension of our family now. And it's really, really a passion to see these youth and what they go through for the year.
Speaker 1:And that kind of brings me to one of my last questions is really, for you two, Robin and Steve, not to put you on the spot. But I know that you guys are both the the, exchange officers. Why is this important to you? Like, where is this passion from you guys stemming from, that you wanna be a part of this and and help more kids be a part of it as well?
Speaker 3:I think for myself, I'm just passionate about youth. I have a little slogan in my office that just says, if I can make the difference in the life of a child, then I've been successful. And that's just always been kind of in my sights. So it's very rewarding to be a part of ROTARY, to be a part of this program and to get to actually, you know, help see these kids.
Speaker 4:So my first job out of high school was coaching high school football. So I immediately was into youth services in that degree, thought that's what my life path was going to be, ended up in sales, and, you know, would still like to get back to the football coaching someday. But so when the opportunity arose in my Rotary Club and they went, you know, would you like to do this? I took a day or two and gave it some very serious consideration. It's a lot of work.
Speaker 4:And apparently, at some point, I have to deal with the state department, which is something I never thought I would say in my life. But that's where my passions have always been is helping kids out. So that's why.
Speaker 1:I love it. Again, if you're just now listening in, we have Robin and Steve with the Gino Rotary Youth Exchange, and we're talking about recruitment. We also have Teresa and Nicholas, part of that youth exchange program happening right now that are both from Germany. If you are interested, make sure you reach out to either Robin or Steve to get more information. Is there anything we missed?
Speaker 1:Anything else that you guys wanna highlight before I let you guys go?
Speaker 4:Just sign up right now because it is it's a short window that we have to recruit these kids.
Speaker 1:When is the the deadline?
Speaker 4:End of October. So we've got a month and a half now. And like I said, these kids, if you've got somebody who you think would be this would be good for, they come back a change person. A good quick example is acting attorney general and city manager both are former ROTARY EXCHANGE students. So, you know, you wanna see a quick change in somebody.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. We have more of everything happening in the capital coming up more on KINY.