Thursday 4 March 2010

9 comments:

  1. What is Group Study Exchange
    The Group Study Exchange (GSE) programme is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

    In a typical four-week tour, applicants participate in five full days of vocational visits, 15 to 20 club presentations, 10 to 15 formal visits and social events, two to three days at the district conference, three to four hours per day of cultural and site tours,and three to four hours per day of free time with host families.

    For each team member, the Foundation provides the most economical round-trip airline ticket between the home and host countries. Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging,and group travel within their district.

    Our visit commences Sunday 7th March to Sri Lanka and this blog is to be a record of our visit as we represent District 1280 and visit District 3220.

    The team consists of myself as Team Leader; Dan, Gill, John and Michelle from throughout the Northwest and the Isle of Man.
    We will be home hosted by Rotarians in Sri Lanka and visit many of the projects over there as well as giving presentations to some of the Rotary Clubs. Each exchange has a theme and the theme for this visit is "Regeneration. New Horizons". We will follow the regeneration that has occured as the country recovered from The Tsunami in December 2004 and also show what regeneration has occured in the Northwest following the decline of traditional industries such as the cotton mills, railways and the canals. We therefore look towards salford Quays, Wigan, Bolton and other parts of the District.

    We hope that our supporters and friends in the UK will enjoy following our progress which is truthfully a life changing experience.

    This is my first ever blog!! Just one of the challenges of the trip a true journey of discovery.

    Time to pack then!

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  2. well done Jim ,am off to pack for the 10th time see you sunday x Gill

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  3. Best of luck to all of you.
    See you soon Chelle x

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  4. oi mr!! The idea of all the technology is to use it! hope ur ok big hugs xxx laurax

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  5. It all looks fabulous, have a great time, take care of each other.
    Hope you talk goes well Chelle xx

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  6. You are in our thoughts and prayers
    kathlonsdale Greenmount URC

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  7. Had time to read your progress so far this morning - sounds very interesting and a great experience - hope you are all managing some sleep in between !
    Kath Lonsdale

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  8. Keep the pictures coming Jim - you're linked from the district website now. Hope you're all enjoying it as much as the pictures suggest. Roger
    D1280

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