January 2011 ending

I had the great opportunity to travel to the Rotary Club of Leytonstone, near my host club. Not only were the Rotarians very friendly, but treated myself and the other two Rotarian scholars like kings and queens!

We each spoke about why we are here and where we will be, giving the Rotarians an opportunity to ask questions about us.

Although I haven't had much luck getting other London Rotaries interested in letting me come speak...I may contact some Rotarians in Oxford for a visit and presentation. :)

I've also finally chosen a dissertation topic!

Brazil vs. China: the Future Non-Western order? Very interesting.

I also got a few things from the Leytonstone Rotary-

A flag to take back to my Host club in Canton Rotary!




And my very first London Rotary pin

Neglect...and New Years.

I am ashamed I have neglected my blogging duties this past month.  It seems that school was much more demanding that I had imagined (a mistake on my part), and I didn't plan my time correctly in order to make sure that I got things accomplished.

So...with the new year, will come new resolutions. Focused, less stressed, more productive...and making time to do nothing. This is just as important.

As for Rotary, I hope I can finally dedicate some time to Rotaract. But more importantly, get some responses to the Rotary clubs in London! I've sent out quite alot of e-mails and gotten nothing in return. I've have one speech planned in January, but hopefully I will be able to get more upon the New Year.

I spoke to my host club in Canton, Ga. the first week I returned home. It was a short and sweet report, and I got alot of questions at the end. Most Rotarians were more interested in seeing the picture of my host club in London than they were in hearing everything I've done since I've been there.

One gentleman came to me and said that he'd been to London before. "The Muslims get a pension from the government just for being Muslim." I wasn't really aware of this type of occurrence in London, but I'm definitely going to check into it. I tried to overlook the error of associating the word Muslim with the word Middle East, since Muslim is merely a religion, not an ethnicity.

I also found out that my host club in the U.S. has received three exchange students from Wales, UK. Very excited to see my club interacting with RI. They are very involved with student exchange, Boys and Girls Clubs, Habitat for Humanity, and remain very involved as well.

For now, I'm in the process of finishing my last paper of the first semester, getting my RI report off to the north and packing to come home. I look forward to the new year in London, and with Rotary.

Sorry I don't have pictures this time, but next time I promise much more!

Feliz ano novo, Happy New Year