Rotary Exchange 20 years later
Alex Vriesema grew up in Wisconsin near the Michigan border. In 2004 they were sponsored by the Marinette WI/Menominee MI Rotary Club for a Rotary Youth Exchange to Warsaw Poland.Alex first stayed with a single mom who owned a small medical supply company and was also on the Warsaw city council. The host mom's sister had fled to Sweden during the Societ rule of Poland. Alex had the opportunity to travel to Sweden with the host aunt. Portions of the city of Warsaw still were the stark architecture of the Soviet era. Other areas were bright and colorful. Warsaw has excellent public transportation and it was easy to travel around the city.
Many high schools specialize and Alex was enrolled at Copernicus High School, which specializes in science.They got to participate in many memorable social events. At a Polish wedding everyone stands in a circle, drinks a toast, and then throws their shot glass behind themselves to break the glasses. Easter eggs are died brown using onions. The Easter basket is taken to the priest for a blesssing. All Saints Day is a day to decorate family graves.
At the Rotary meetings the exchange students got a different meal than the Rotarians. The Rotary Clubs in Poland sponsored a tour around Europe for the exchange students.
Alex was in Poland when Pope John Paul died. He was a beloved Polish Pope (the first one) and the streets lined with mourners. The streets were also lined with thousands of candles to commemorate the Pope.