Exchange Club learns of student experience

The Exchange Club of Waseca met over the lunch hour on Tuesday, May 26. The speaker for the day was  Zdenek Kavka, a foreign exchange student from Czechia. Vice President Jen Losen also celebrated her birthday.

 

The meeting was called to order by President Mikhail Rostislavovich and regular upkeep was tended to. Rostislavovich introduced Kavka, saying that, among the five exchange students he has hosted over time, “This one is special.”

 

Kavka used a Power Point slide show as he shared information about his royal home town, Litomerice, in Czechia, “which is also called the Czech Republic.” Said Kavka, “By royal it means that the town was begun by a king.” There were nods of understanding in the crowd. He said Minnesota is three times bigger than his entire country.  He also spoke of accomplishing, “Almost everything on my bucket list” during his visit this past several months. “I got to attend a basketball game, and Mikhail got us courtside seats. I’ve gone ice fishing now and that was wonderful; I caught a not-so-big fish. I attended a prom and visited Mount Rushmore.” He has also, since his time in the northern state, “Improved on my English speaking, it has gotten very much faster since I’ve arrived.”

 

He is anticipating a visit from his family beginning June 5. He told Exchange Club members he is hoping to give them a west coast tour. “If I return to the United States after I graduate, I want to see Mikhail again, but I also have a desire to see the east coast. I also would like to see a Twins baseball game and see Duluth before I go.” He said he had every intention of keeping the brothers Mikhail and Dwight Tostenson in his life long after his return to Czechia: “These guys have treated me like family, they have taken me everywhere they go with them.” He especially loved the “big and beautiful” house he is staying in. This was followed up with a presentation from Rostislavovich of a Certificate of Appreciation from the Waseca Exchange Club.

 

Rostislavovich highly encouraged, “Everyone, if you can open your home to an exchange student, I very much recommend it, it’s so rewarding.”

 

There will be an Exchange Club highway cleanup on June 4 at 5 p.m. The meeting place will be the Crystal Valley parking lot west of Waseca.