Our RYE student, Sky (Yi-Chieh CHEN) is doing well and is very happy with her experience in northeast Ohio.  She has a good relationship with all family members, and has been enjoying especially having older sisters in the Laber family of Stow.  Sky acknowledges that she needs to work more at school and cannot miss without an excuse.  She acquired several absences to date because of Florida trip in December and Rotary meetings she has attended.   Sky will attend Rotary the last week of March during her spring vacation.  
 
Marcia Holcomb completed the 2nd month report for the host family, a procedure required by the U.S. Department of State to insure that all Rotary exchange students are in good hands.  Marcia’s report was positive, although the family would like more notice in meetings and gatherings sponsored by Akron or the district.    
Because Sky arrived in the middle of September and missed orientation at Rotary Camp, Sky participated in her 1st Akron Rotary Camp Overnight with district RYE students Feb. 18-19 (pictured).  She had a fantastic time with interactive games, cultural exercises and just hanging out with other exchange students.  One of her favorite activities. 
Sky met her 3rd host family, the Carrolls, Jennifer and Richard, children David (17) and Audrey (15). They are a lovely professional family: Jen is an ob-gyn physician and Richard is a retired professor of pharmaceuticals.  We expect to see Sky move around the 10th of April.
What an opportunity.  Sky’s was able to participate in the Rotary sponsored Eastern Trip March 10-March 19.   She and about 80 RYE students from all over the U. S. traveled by bus to Washington, D. C., New York and Boston during the 2017 March blizzard!!  Sky maintained that she had FUN, but was extremely cold.  She was very proud of her photos of the capital and Times Square.  We owe a great deal to Host Mom, Laurel Laber, for arranging Sky’s transportation to the Eastern Trip meeting place in Columbus and return to Stow.  While it appeared a logistical nightmare, our committee decided that Laurel Laber may have a future career as a travel agent.
 
Save the date:  April 9.  Sky’s American Elite (cheerleading) team performance is that evening.  Sky has adopted a totally American phenomenon and she loves it, both the interaction with her teammates and the physical challenges.   Sky will also present information about her country of Taiwan to the Rotary Club of Akron in April or May.
 
 
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