Our Projects

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Community Projects    

• Heart Safe Community Project - Annually donating Defribrillators to the community.  
• Visalia Emergency Aid Bicycle Assembly
• Camp Royal - High School Leadership Program
• Reading and Book Programs
• Four-Way Test Program
• Scholarships - Area High Schools
• Jim Matthews Scholarship - College of the Sequoias
• Visalia Rotary Community Foundation
• Ronald McDonald House

International Projects

• Group Study Exchange
• International Student Exchange Program

Carli H. is one of our exchange students currently in Argentina. Here is what she had to share in her most recent communication back to us.

hola yankees! (the nickname for americans here, and its not just people who like the team)
        This second month has been a stabilizer. There was not many interesting things that happened, but it has helped me settle in a little more. I've really started to fit in here. Estoy acostumbrado (I am accostumed/adjusted). One thing I've really learned about myself is how I connect with people; humor. Its my way to feel comfortable with someone, to feel close. I've definitely got it with all my friends; everyone has a great sense of humor especially when it comes to making fun of me (thank god I grew up with 3 brothers to teach my how to laugh at myself). And my family, could use some lessons, but my "mom" and I are finally started to tease each other a little more and when my "dad" is here (which isn't very often) we get along too. My little brother Gonzalo, was gone for about a week in Bariloche (the south of Argentina) and it was kind of a nice break. I was getting pretty agitated but now that he has returned things are going smoother. And with my older sister, Mica, we get along well, just not very often. However, we did have a nice chat/ping pong game the other night.
            My parents have asked me a lot during my stay, do you think you're improving on the language? I always respond I don't know its hard to tell. But now, I definitely think I'm a lot better. Even when I speak English to family/friends from the U.S. I find myself wanting to use words in Castallano (the type of Spanish here) more than English. Even when I'm typing this update right now, there are things that I thought about first in Castallano, and then tried to find the English equal. Another thing I've started to notice is that in the beginning when I learned a word, I would define it in my mind in English. But now, there are some words that I just know and define in Castallano. Even though one of my best friends, Lucia, still constantly teases me about my accent and how I speak, I've had many people tell me how much I've improved and how well I speak for such little time. (I even got Lucia to admit it once) When I first came, if I wanted to understand I couldn't be doing anything else at all. But now, well actually today, I realized that I was understanding what the teacher was telling me even though I was doodling and not paying full attention (okay I realized that makes me sound really bad).
            Friends. Ever since an incident with someone in 7th grade, I've had a big insecurity with friends. I'm constantly questioning if someone actually likes me, or if they are just bored and think I'm annoying. But, I think, SLOWLY, I'm starting to overcome that here. I felt the first change after this past weekend. I was at my "grandparents' house" which is without internet all weekend (I usually use internet to communicate with my friends here and to see what they are up to). And, that weekend I wasn't invited to go anywhere or do anything, I was actually ditched one of the nights (but not so meanly, its more of a culture thing). And at first I was frustrated and sad, but then I woke up Monday and I just didn't care about it. I went to school, and they still liked me, I still had the same friends, nothing had changed. I finally just let go, stopped over-analyzing conversations and actions. I think this argentine vibe is taking over me: and i like it! I have to say, I really like my friends here and feel rooted now. In the sense that I have made my friends, made a stable base.
            I've gotten a little less intimidated by my Rotary counselor here. I spent a lot of time this weekend with him and with rotary. Don't know if I've mentioned this, but I am part of a group that in July will go to a town called Boqueron to volunteer. It is dirt poor, the homes don't even have bathrooms there. But during the time before, we get together every friday to talk and plan fundraising events. It is apart from Rotary, but Marengo (my counselor), leads it. So friday, we had that meeting. Saturday, we had the Gran Cena de Tradición. Which was a dinner in celebration of a day called "the day of tradition". So we ate a traditional meal and then we watched some people do traditional dancing (this ended at about 1:30am). Then sunday, we went to a town called Maradriaga for a rotary meeting of our zone. There were some other exchange students and a lot of adult rotarians. We had asado, which is the meat argentina is known for. It was DELICIOUS!
            I talked with Marengo and we decided that the next family I go to, I'll get to choose. Long story short, the house I was supposed to go to has a lot of cats (I'm allergic) and I would have been alone.

CULTURE! CULTURE! CULTURE!:
1. it seems that the people here are extremely welcoming. There aren't so much of cliques here and everyone is just so nice, but then again nice here is a little different. people call each other fat to their face, bring up the ugly parts of people, and more which seems rude and mean, but it is not. It doesn't have the same significance. People don't care, it is in good-spirit, and it really seems that people are a lot more confident and secure with their appearance.
2. people seem to be more generous
3. it is normal to just show up at someone's house announced
4. the time that is considered "late" here, is much later than in the U.S. Dinner isn't served until 9 or later. And it is early to return home at 3 in the morning.
5. It is okay to invite yourself to plans
6. people are extremely honest. They really aren't afraid to bring anything up in conversation. no-one really tells white lies to lighten the ugly truth and people definitely don't beat around the bush.
7.  foul language is used by everyone all the time
8. plans, if someone actually ever makes them, rarely end up happening as "planned"
9. people are pretty easy-going, well most of the time
10. oh and the most important, LICE IS REALLY COMMON. which i found out the hard way

ciao,
besos!

Carli H.

• Polio Plus
• International Wheelchair Foundation
• Shelter Box