Port Jervis Rotary hosts exchange students for fall weekend!

By Sharon E. Siegel

PORT JERVIS, NY – Port Jervis Rotarians hosted two Rotary International students this fall for a club-sponsored weekend in the Port Jervis area.

Greta Schmitt of Germany (host family Pine Bush, NY) and Caroline Husum of Denmark (host family Millbrook, NY), are both 15-years-old.  The two are spending just shy of a year in the United States, as Rotary International exchange students.

During the beautiful fall weekend of October 15-16, they spent time with local Rotary Club members, touring Port Jervis and the surrounding region. Some of the weekend included participating in a benefit Alzheimer’s Walk, visiting and carving pumpkins at Pierson’s Farm, walking through the local Halloween Farnum Haunt, visiting Tri-State Monument, and enjoying the monthly breakfast at St. Mary’s.

Port Jervis Rotary Club members Linda Hannigan and Carol Kuperman visited the monument and shared breakfast with the girls on Sunday morning, October 16. They noted that there is a need for more host families and sponsors for visiting students such as Schmitt and Husum, either for six-months or a year.

Both girls encourage the same. They said their own families are host families back in their country, and it is an experience they recommend for any student and family wishing to participate.

“It gives students a new experience, and the chance to enjoy other cultures.  And I’ve also never heard a host family say they didn’t enjoy it, too,” Husum said.

The two said they have seen a lot in the United States, which Schmitt said seems very big compared to Europe.

“There are extra-sized cars, food, and other everyday things.  It’s very cool to see other countries, and see the best things in these countries,” Schmitt said.  “I have seen a lot already, like the United States, and the Amazon.”

 To inquire about becoming a host family, contact Hannigan, Kuperman, or any other local Rotarian. 

Greta Schmitt (Germany), Caroline Husum (Denmark), and Port Jervis Rotary Club members Carol Kuperman and Linda Hannigan visited Tri-State Monument together after sharing breakfast at St. Mary's. This was the last of a weekend tour of the area and fun times shared with the 15-year-old foreign exchange students. The two girls are visiting the U.S. for a year, and spent an end-of-October weekend enjoying the Port Jervis area with the Port Jervis Rotarians.