Riley Burch on her year in Croatia

Among the challenges faced by Riley was the language, as she learned at the airport when her surrogate parents met her with a Croatian greeting that she did not understand. She prevailed though, as her hosts spoke English well.  She also forged a friendship with two classmates who spoke some English.

 

One of 18 exchange students in Croatia, Riley was treated as an adult by her host family. Thus she was given a very liberal curfew but was expected to make her own arrangements for transportation.

 

Riley described the food served by her host family, as well as the cuisine in various countries on the European trip taken by some 90 Rotary exchange students.  A definite highlight of the year abroad, the students spent three weeks visiting 8 countries, including Austria, France, Spain, Monaco and Italy.  Something that Riley will never forget was the last destination on her trip:  Auschwitz.  Riley found the trip to the second camp in Poland particularly moving in view of the vast number of facilities whose remnants remain.

 

In the Q & A that followed her talk Riley identified the low point in her trip as her meeting with the Rotary Club in Croatia whose all-male members made known their disappointment that "Riley" was a girl.  She identified the biggest plus from the trip as learning that she could manage quite well on her own.  Her long-term goals include law school and running for public office, and Riley left a roomful of Rotarians ready to support her! (Click on picture for a larger view.)