Northgraves returns from 11-month Rotary Youth Exchange in Venezuela
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It was amazing.
“Unreal,” said Hannah Northgraves, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Tillsonburg, describing her 11-month Rotary Youth Exchange in Venezuela.
“Best decision I’ve ever made. I’d like to thank the Rotary for the experience of my life. I have no regrets. And anybody who’s interested, I highly encourage it.”
Northgraves was able to take one month to tour Venezuela and she was amazed by the country’s natural beauty.
“It’s the most naturally beautiful country I’ve ever seen. Angel Falls, the tallest falls in the world, that was the last thing we saw. It was so amazing and breathtaking. When I was walking back in the jungle, it felt like I got to see everything I needed to see – I felt completely satisfied.”
As good as it was, it was a culture shock for Northgraves, who left Tillsonburg in August 2012 and returned July 8, 2013.
“To meet people from all over the world, and to become adjusted to a culture that you had no idea about before… you’re just kind of thrown in there and you need to ‘hold on’ to survive. When I first got there it was kind of overwhelming. But you don’t really have time to think about it – you just have to go into it.”
Venezuela’s annual murder rate supposedly rivals the USA and Europe… combined. There’s corruption, crime, poverty.
“Just to see the whole divide with poverty,” she said, noting cultural differences. “I would look out the window and be amazed by the poverty in the country.
“And the country’s not very politically stable. I went through two presidential elections while I was there, and the family and people I was surrounded by, they didn’t agree with the politics. It was kind of an emotional time during those stages.
“It was a big, big year for the country, so I don’t know if it was a good year to go, or a bad year.
“I’m here,” she laughed.
Internet was hit and miss. In some areas of Venezuela, she said, power and water were hit and miss, too.
“Another big culture shock – there was a lot of food and necessity shortages. There was a huge shortage of toilet paper. And milk. And oil and butter…”
And soap, and tooth paste, mouth wash, wheat flour, corn flour, sugar, rice, canned tuna, margarine, chicken…
“You would never find that here.”
She stayed in a suburb of Caracas, the capital city. But it was like no ‘burb in this part of Ontario.
“It’s a really insecure country, security-wise. So I wouldn’t be able to go out walking on the streets alone. It’s something you learn to adjust.”
Language-wise, she didn’t go into the exchange with an extensive grasp of Spanish. But she was quick to pick it up.
“I can communicate very well now. I wouldn’t say fluently, but basically I can speak Spanish. I understand everything and I can have conversations really easy. There’s still some words I’m not too sure about.
“It was difficult, but once you’re thrown into the culture it’s easier. You basically have to learn it because you need to… eat, to get along, to make friends.”
Northgraves attended a small Catholic school, taught by nuns. She won’t get academic credit here, but she did enjoy the educational experience.
“At the beginning I didn’t really understand any of it. But some of the material, the numbers and the math, I caught on the first week. Then it was so fast. During the first week I would focus on Spanish, the reading. Near the end I was understanding.
“They have a lot of small schools and most of them are private. The thing about that school, they had been together since like preschool. And you stay in the same class the whole day. And the schedule was different every day, which was kind of weird. Sometimes it would start at 7 a.m., sometimes 8:30, and it would go to 12 or 1:30 p.m. The schedule was always different.”
Sixteen when she was assigned to Venezuela, she returned as a 17-year-old. Her friends gathered in her driveway for an emotional return on the 8th.
“Some people say it’s more of a culture shock to come back. It’s different. And my perspective on everything has changed a lot too. It’s the freedom. Just being able to walk out of your house and go walking on the street. At any hour or any time. It’s definitely weird.”
She remembers biking with her friends and thinking how different it is now.
“I felt so free.”
In the future, Northgraves said she would like to continue with Rotary programs, possible getting into Rotoract (Rotary for 18-30 year olds).
“All the things they offer,” she nodded.
“I see the world as so much smaller now – I have friends all over the world.”