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Let's travel to Norway
That hasn't been the case so far with regard to Rotary International District 7330's Group Study Exchange trip to Norway.
Perhaps the offer seems too good to be true, but it's legitimate. Spend a month learning firsthand about another culture, an opportunity the GSE program has been providing to young professionals for more than four decades.
Starting to get interested? Here are some specifics:
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• You must be employed, with at least two years of experience.
• You must live or work in District 7330, which takes in Washington, Greene, Fayette, Westmoreland, Somerset, Indiana and Cambria counties.
• You must be available to travel from April 28 to May 26, 2012.
OK, the last stipulation is the one that usually causes a few issues. For many folks, it's difficult to schedule a whole month off work.
But if you think you can swing it, why not give the GSE trip a shot? You have until Sept. 15 to apply.
If you're really interested at this point, visit www.rotary.org and enter "Group Study Exchange" in the search field. You'll find plenty of additional information, plus the application.
Then contact any of these Rotarians, who will be happy to assist you:
• Joseph Mangarella, joemangarella@yahoo.com
• William Price (Rotary Club of Washington), wdprice55@gmail.com
• Mike Reese, reesem@stifel.com
• George Wood, george@woodsjewelers.com
• Ray Vandzura, rayv@pmsc.org
Or you can let me know. I'm a GSE veteran, having led a team to the Czech and Slovak republics in 2003. And, I definitely can say, that was the experience of a lifetime.
Unlike trips that are oriented more toward tourists, the GSE program allows participants to participate in the everyday lives of their hosts. You stay with families, visit workplaces to see examples of your profession in other countries, and - this definitely is one of the better parts - dine on cuisine that you just won't find in the United States.
If your trip is anything like ours, you'll learn a bit of Norwegian in advance, but you'll find plenty of English speakers with whom to communicate effectively.
For the record, next year's exchange is with Rotary International District 2260, in the southeastern portion of Norway. Some of the larger towns are called Fredrikstad, Oppegard and Skedsmo.
You won't find place names like that in the United States, either.
Online editor Harry Funk can be reached at hfunk@observer-reporter.com.
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