The Wahl family welcomes 13th student as part of Rotary Youth Exchange program
By Ben Cox
Photos/Ben Cox
Stanley Wahl and Cathy Jo Littleton-Wahl say they didn’t know quite what to expect when they first started hosting exchange students. They knew they wanted to continue learning, even as both of them have been retired.
The Wahls said they wanted to host a student from Asia this time because they had hosted students from South America and Europe in previous exchanges. Stanley says it’s all about making that connection, “The concept [of] youth exchange is simply making the world smaller. And so, it’s such a big vision that part of what we do is make the world smaller by connecting one person at a time.” The Wahls were proud to host Swanand Deo from Nagpur, India.
Nagpur is the winter capital and third-largest city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It’s also called the “heart of India” because of its centralized location. It’s the 13th largest city in India by population with over 3.1 million people. Nagpur is projected to be the fifth fastest growing city in the world according to Oxford’s Economics report. Swanand says that his city has seven rotary clubs with multiple students involved in the exchange program. When he arrived in the United States this past fall, he immediately began working with the Jacksonville Rotary Club on their various community projects and events including Oktoberfest and the “purple pinkies” initiative to raise money for the eradication of polio worldwide.
Swanand says he experienced snow for the first time this past winter and has grown accustomed to the slow down of rural American life, “I’ve been to Rotary meetings. I’ve only skipped three times, I think. I’ve helped at the Women’s Crisis Center. Then, I was at ‘Squeal at the Wheel’ in October and that was really fun. In April, we went to The Salvation Army to pack snacks for elementary schools and I helped a little bit with the Rotary Tree Project.” Swanand says he hopes to make a return visit as an adult someday.
Stanley says he and Cathy Jo learned a lot about Swanand’s culture early on, including the nation’s polytheistic beliefs and foods. Swanand is a vegetarian, which made for some food adjustments but he’s been happily accommodated. Stanley says that Swanand also gave him insight into the recent conflict between Pakistan and India, “I guess the conflict has been resolved. I probably would not have paid much attention to that. I mean, maybe I should have, but a lot of people wouldn’t have. I mean, simply it’s on the other side of the world. Through Swanand, you start to realize there’s something bigger out there than just in our country or North America.”
Swanand says he’s also made connections with families in Jacksonville who have Indian heritage or who have immigrated here from India in recent years.
“I have a friend from school, Jasmine, and she actually invited me to her house a few weeks ago. I got to meet her parents and sister and just talk about things, talk about my family and things. Just what we do. And her mom made traditional food for me, which was really good.”
The Wahls say that he has been a good “big brother” to their granddaughter and has been very open to learning about American culture and Christianity. Swanand says he’s been working on a cartwheel with the Wahls’ granddaughter. Cathy Jo says it has been a fun learning experience.
She says it’s also just the second male exchange student that they have hosted. Swanand is set to return to India in early July. “Some days I’m like, oh, I wish I could go,” Swanand says talking about the end of his exchange, “But sometimes I’m like, I really don’t want to go. It’s both [feelings] at the same time a lot of days.” Cathy Jo says that he’s slightly upset at the fact he will have to get a haircut when he returns home.
Rotary Youth Exchange inspires young leaders ages 15-19 to serve as catalysts for peace and social justice in their local communities and throughout the world, long after their exchanges end. This program is possible because of the dedication, leadership, and passion of the tens of thousands of volunteers — Rotary members and nonmembers alike — who make this unique program so successful.
The Wahls say they still receive communication from some of their exchange students to stay in touch, sharing their current life experiences. Stanley says it makes the world feel smaller and connected.
To learn more about being a host family or an exchange student, email youthexchange@jacksonvillerotary.org or call 217-408-0055.
