This past weekend was the "Ottawa Weekend" with all inbound and outbound Rotary Students in D7010. We spent from Saturday to Tuesday with everyone and we all had an amazing time. We drove up to Ottawa, stopping in Orillia, Bracebridge, Huntsville, and North Bay picking up everyone. Saturday night was the first major event that happened this weekend, and a very important one too. That night all of the outbound students recieved their Rotary Blazers for the year. For people who don't know what the blazers are, they are what the exchange students wear when they are out representing Rotary. For example I would have to wear the blazer if I was going to a Rotary meeting, or a formal event with Rotary. The even better thing about the blazer is that Exchange students you meet will want to trade pins with you, or hand out their pins from their home country. When I get back expect to see loads of pins on that blazer!
I stayed in the dorms of Carleton University with Collin (outbound to Thailand), Top (inbound from Thailand) and Cornelius (inbound from Germany). The four of us had such a great time. We did tons of things during free time, hacky sack, jammed with my guitar, and waved at girls on the other side of the building that we could see out our window. These guys, and all of the inbounds were great and we really bonded. All of the inbounds are now closer then we have ever been, and of course this was our last weekend together untill we return as rebounds :(
The first day was a full day of tons of tours. We visited the Mesuem of Civilization and the Canadian War Mesuem. Both were very interesting, and I was impressed by both! It was important to do all the tours possible for not only the inbounds to learn about our capital city, but for the outbounds to brush up about the knowledge about Canada. I really enjoyed the Mesuem of Civilization, with the life size models of buildings, it really was going through a huge time machine, to see what Canada was like. It was quite amazing.
The next day we visited Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court of Canada. These were tours that I have already been on but it was still fun to experience it again. When all the tours were over and done for the day, we had dinner, and went back and played some of the best games known to man. Mafia, was the hit of the weekend, having played it many times, over and over again in the common room, on the bus, and even at the dinner table! Black Magic was also a great one, because it tricked tons of people (including me). The games were great becasue we got to spend time with everyone and get to know them better. I don't know if anyone actually reads this, but I just want to take the time to thank the Rotex for not only introducing us to the amazing games, but also for the talks and the guidance you have given us inbounds when getting ready for our exchange. We all really appriciate it so much you don't even know. Ottawa wouldn't be the same with out you, so Brittany, Jamie, Mat, and Emma thank you so much!
Before we knew it, it was Tuesday and the bus was ready to take us home. On the way home we stopped at the Deifenbunker which was unlike anything I have ever seen before. It is an underground bunker used during the Cold War to protect important people in Canada from the threat of Nucular War. Now it is used for tours. If you are passing through you should go i for a tour, its unlike anything you have ever seen. Really neat.
It was an amazing weekend with amazing friends I will never forget. I have made friend through this exchange that I will keep in contact with forever, and I will never forget. Its amazing that we have these bonds and we haven't even left for our country yet. All of us outbounds, are so amazing and strong. Everyone of us will do the most amazing things when we are away and I am proud of everyone! Thanks to all the Rotarians that made this weekend possible for all of us. We really appriciate you busting your humps for us to make this weekend happen.
If anyone who doesn't have me on facebook, (first off, add me) and if you would like to look at some of the photo albums of the weekend, here are the links.
Day One: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37349&l=12682&id=506871289
Day Two: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37352&l=90a2d&id=506871289
Day Three: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37413&l=a4abb&id=506871289
Day Four: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37415&l=30f44&id=506871289
My guarntee form has still yet to come in, and I will update when I get more information about everything.
Cheers,
Dillon
dillonrahkola@hotmail.com
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