Our Top Ten Countdown: Part IV

Today, our Group Study Exchange officially ends. Before we go off on our next adventures to Melaka and Kota Kinabalu, here's a recap of the Top Ten Things We Appreciate About Our GSE Experience in Malaysia:

10. The Tropical Beauty
9. The Wildlife

8. The Thunderstorms
7. Navigating the Roads
6. The Family-Oriented Culture
5. Multiculturalism
4. The Food!
3. Learning it's a Small World
2. The Generosity of Rotarians

And the number one thing we appreciate about our Malaysian GSE Experience is...

"Lah!"
We love this little word that peppers the conversations in Malaysia. It can be used to drive a point home, or to maintain the levity in a discussion. You can also think of it as the equivalent of the way we use "you know?" at the end of American sentences. We prefer "lah," though, and may even have to bring it with us to the United States!

We felt that the durian deserves an honorable mention here. After much build-up, we all sank our teeth into a big squishy fruit (or tasted the equally pungent ice cream version) and survived. Long live the King of Fruits!

Our Top Ten Countdown: Part III

"What we appreciate about our Malaysian GSE Experience #4: The Food!"

Malaysians have a burning question for our GSE team, and the answer to that question is: "Ya, says suka makanan pedal!" (Yes, I like spicy food!) Whether our utensils are forks, spoons, chopsticks, or our own fingers, we marvel at being in a country where people can have nasi lemak for breakfast, curry mee for lunch, and tandoori for dinner...or second dinner...or third dinner! Rotarians have introduced us to many of the Malaysian delicacies, such as bak kuh teh, durian (king of fruits), laksa, steamboat, and of course, the unofficial national dish....

"What we appreciate about our Malaysian GSE Experience #3: Learning it's a Small World"

Despite being thousands of kilometers away from home, Oregon has managed to find us all the way here in Malaysia. During a layover in Hong Kong, we struck up a conversation with a Malaysian-born, American-adopted student who attends Oregon State University, while at the Batu Caves, we spotted European tourists sporting an Oregon t-shirt.

During one vocational visit, our GSE coordinator arranged to have us visit the Damai Center for people with physical disabilities. The organization was founded by an activist with a disability who had traveled to Oregon about 20 years ago to participate in an exchange program through Mobility International USA, my employer! It truly is a small world.

"What we appreciate about our Malaysian GSE Experience #2: The Generosity of Rotarians"

From Penang to Taiping, from Ipoh to Klang to Temerloh, from Seremban to KL, Rotarians have opened their hearts and homes to the GSE team. The host clubs and host families went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and we appreciate all of the time, money, coordination, and care that our hosts expended to ensure that our stay would be enriching and enjoyable. They went to great lengths to arrange meaningful vocational visits so that we may further our professional development and they showed us sites that have cultural and historical significance to give our trip context. Some of our hosts even saw parts of their own city for the first time! They challenged us to try new flavors, dance moves, and points of view. They also succeeded in proving that Rotarians in Malaysia know how to have fun!

Up until this point, we've covered the top nine things we appreciate most about our GSE experience in Malaysia. That only leaves number one, lah! Any guesses as to what it could be? You'll have to wait until tomorrow, lah!

Our Top 10 Countdown: Part II

"What we appreciate about our Malaysian GSE Experience #7: Navigating the Roads"

Honestly, the traffic here scares us a bit. Nonetheless, we can appreciate how skillful one must be to stop within a few centimeters of one another's bumpers after speeding along while motorbikes weave through the labrynth of vehicles. We appreciate a trick that our friend "Moots" taught us when attempting to cross a busy street (a task that strikes fear into the hearts of American jaywalkers from pedestrian-friendly cities): Signal to oncoming cars and motorbikes that you don't wish to be flattened by making a "talk to the hand" gesture. This is the Power of the Palm.

Above all, we appreciate that we're not the ones driving!

"What we appreciate about our Malaysian GSE Experience #6: The Family-Oriented Culture"

Thanks to the homestay aspect of the GSE program, we have learned so much about the different family structures here, and how family-oriented Malaysians tend to be. While a 20-something in the U.S. who still lives with her parents might be considered a deadbeat, young adults in Malaysia may live with their parents and other relatives well beyond high school graduation. Families in Malaysia can be big or small, and they pray, play, and stay together. In some households, as many as four generations may live under the same roof!

"What we appreciate about our Malaysian GSE Experience #5: Multiculturalism"

Only in Malaysia will you be invited to a Tamil wedding at a Halal Chinese restaurant! Only here will you spot both headscarves and saris billowing behind women on motorbikes as they whiz by the mosques, temples, and churches which line the roads.

Here, Malaysians switch fluidly between Tamil, Malay, or a Chinese dialect if they don't want their American visitors to follow the conversation...and most of the time, we don't! Here, everyone knows at least three languages, but the universal phrase is almost always Yaaaaaaam SANG!" (Cheers!!!)

Greetings from the Rotary International District 3300 Conference in Seremban!

Following a weekend of fellowship with Rotarians coming from all over District 3300, dressing as cowgirls for Western Night, and dining among Malaysian royalty, the GSE team presented a summary of its reflections on its Malaysian GSE experience thus far to an audience of over one hundred faces, some familiar, some new. We used a David Letterman-style "Top 10 Countdown" format to organize those aspects of our trip that have had the greatest impact on our understanding of Malaysia and on Rotary. Those Rotarians who made it to our presentation (i.e. didn't party as hard as the others still in their hotel rooms!) really enjoyed learning what their American visitors found most compelling about their country.

"What we appreciate about our Malaysian GSE Experience #10: The Tropical Beauty"

 

We admire the tropical climate, tropical fruit, and the tropical colors of Malaysia. When Dorothy visits the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz, she dons a pair of green-tinted glasses that transform the world around her to various shades of green. Dorothy might have wandered into verdant Oregon, where even the trunks of trees are covered in kelly green moss. Malaysia, on the other hand, is a kaleidoscope of color, from juicy sun-colored papaya and mango to a shimmering palette of punjabi suits in Little India, to the splashes of color on Buddhist and Hindu temples, to fiery hibiscus and the threatening neon of toxic butterflies Even coffee comes in an unexpected color - white!

"What we appreciate about our Malaysian GSE Experience #9: The Wildlife"

The tropical landscape and diversity of vegetation formed a basis for the wildlife in Malaysia. Some of us enjoyed riding the elephants at the elephant sanctuary, while others of us enjoyed being chased around by herds of monkeys, who conspired to steal our purses and glasses. Pam especially appreciated spotting a pair of hornbills through her binoculars during one of her birding outings.

"What we appreciate about our Malaysian GSE Experience #8: The Thunderstorms"

In Oregon, some of us live in areas with consistent light showers, and few of us knew what to expect when we were told we'd be traveling during monsoon season, which turned out to be characterised by clear skies punctuated by fleeting moments of torrential downpours. We tried to play it cool as lightning and thunder set a dramatic stage for our GSE presentation at the Rotary Club of Klang, but even the Rotarians had to laugh when the booming thunder shook our projector!

Check back tomorrow for more Malaysian phenomena that we have come to appreciate!

Tamil Wedding!

Greetings from Temerloh!

We've moved away from the more developed western side of peninsular Malaysia. Here, the roads are dark corridors at night. Temerloh is the town of the Patin fish, an icon that decorates the town infrastructure. We ate Patin fish upon arrival, steamed and doused in a light, sweet sauce. It was very good.

We presented at the Rotary Club of Temerloh meeting on the first evening here, and it almost turned out to be the "obligatory" GSE-presentation-without-PowerPoint. Then at the last minute, success. The computer connected, and we shared our slides about Oregon and ourselves.

Somehow like the calm that Malaysian drivers seem to possess on the busy streets where motorbikes race by and cars turn into traffic, I felt unconcerned about doing a presentation without a projector. After all, our Temerloh hosts said, "You give us your best tonight at our Rotary meetings, and we give you the best of Temerloh on your itinerary." We have yet to see our hosts flustered either behind the driver's wheel or guiding us through planned and unplanned events on our schedule. I hope I am absorbing some of the Malaysian calm demeanor.

Yesterday we had a boat ride on the Pahang River and visited Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary, where we got to feed and ride elephants. We were all heartbroken about the conflicts and severe habitat loss facing Malaysian elephants, but also glad to see conservation efforts. Riding an elephant bareback was fun and prickly!

Today I go to visit a mountain cave. Temerloh is a very short paragraph in Lonely Planet, and this particular cave area isn't even mentioned. All the more reason to appreciate our GSE experiences here, which we would never have discovered without our hosts and home-stays.

Greetings from Klang!

Since Klang is not so far from Kuala Lumpur (KL), we arrived by train from Ipoh to KL and were met at the station by Rotarian Aaron Samuel, our coordinator while in Klang. He described Klang as a cowboy town of 1 million. In spite of its population it retains many frontier and port city aspects. On the way to my homestay we encountered cattle grazing and crossing the street amidst housing developments and businesses.

We experienced a terrific downpour and thunderstorm while we presented to the Rotary Club of Klang yesterday evening. Every time there was thunder our projector screen shook just a little.

Our cultural visit (and for me, vocational visit) earlier yesterday was an outing to Batu Caves and Dark Cave. We had been warned about the aggressive macaques, and everything we had been told was true. They snatched any plastic bag or drink that they could from the hands of tourists, and generally made a mess. But of course there was some appeal to seeing them up close, including the babies. We snapped lots of photos.


The cave itself was filled with shrines and lit with impossibly high skylights. Though a tourist attraction, many devout Hindus were there to perform religious functions, including old men and women carrying babies up the 272 stairs to the cave. The huge Murugan Statue was surrounded by scaffolding as it was being cleaned.

Dark Cave, adjacent to Batu Caves, was an entirely different experience. Not lit except for skylights and the flashlights we carried, we had a 45-minute tour with an emphasis on ecology and conservation. Our guide carried a notebook with photo prints of cave life, including flatworms, trapdoor spiders, and millipedes. Overhead the fruit bats chirped and chattered, and far above we could see them coming and going from a misty skylight. The cave was rich with guano and cockroaches, and home to a timid dog. A massively tall flowstone formation featured films of cascading water, the best visual depiction I've ever seen of how flowstone forms.

Globalisation has certainly reduced degrees of separation. Not only all this time have we not been far from American pop radio stations, but often at food areas there is at least one "Western" hawker stall that offers food like french fries and pizza. Over and over we meet Malaysians who speak sophisticated, British English as fluently as the languages spoken in their homes. At Batu Cave I encountered a tourist wearing an Oregon t-shirt. And then last night after the Rotary meeting, Ashley learned that her host has a cousin who is an alumni of MIUSA, the organization where she works. She will meet him in the next few days.

Planned for the duration of our stay in Klang: vocational visits, a cultural tour of Klang, and a Tamil wedding dinner!

Greetings from Ipoh!

Greetings from the Guilin of Malaysia! You might not catch this geographic reference unless you are from China (note that nearly 25% of Malaysians trace their ancestry to China). We are very impressed by the "karst towers" surrounding Ipoh: sheer cliffs of stained limestone pocked with literally hundreds of caves. Over 70 of them are used as temples.

When we arrived to Ipoh we each experienced something different our first evening with our host families. After an afternoon nap to offset the previous late night packing, I went with my host parents to Ipoh's Little India and later, the Ipoh City & Country Club where we had a karaoke room that fit about a dozen people. A favorite band among Malaysians appears to be Air Supply from Australia. I was not familiar with those songs but able to sing along to John Denver, Abba, and Old MacDonald (for the kids with us).



Ashley belts out a pop tune with host family and friends at KBox karaoke.


The next day we traveled west toward Lumut to visit the campus of Outward Bound, an international not-for-profit organization that offers leadership courses based in outdoor experiences for youth and companies who send their staff for professional development. Their longest course lasts 25 days, which includes trekking, boating, and solo camping.

In the afternoon we shopped among souvenir stalls and succumbed to a craving for ice cream. We were also hosted for part of the afternoon at the home of Past President Saw Eng Thai, who used some kind of long-handled machete to saw off several fresh coconuts so we could enjoy some cooling coconut water to stave off the afternoon heat and humidity. Such hospitality!

We spent the evening dining under a shelter from the rain, a restaurant where we were served course after course of seafood, including a variety of clam (I think), crab prepared two ways (we are not as efficient as our Malaysian hosts at shelling it), fish cooked and served whole (we are used to this now), and fish stomach soup (not used to this yet). There is a lot of finger food, but a sink to wash your hands is commonly found in the eating area, not just in the restaurant bathroom.

This morning I had my first taste of Old Town White Coffee from the original location. This has become a franchise now, but the franchise locations are reputedly not as good as the original.



The GSE team enjoys a nice cold White Coffee with our friend Louis Foo.

We had a walking heritage tour of Old Town Ipoh, which was influenced largely by the British. After lunch at the best noodle restaurant in town, we traveled to a nearby pomelo farm where we sampled the fruit and engaged the farm owner in a discussion about meditation.



GSE host and RC Kinta member Stewart Hoo beats the heat in the shade of a pomelo tree.


Lastly, we visited Kek Look Tong, a Chinese temple in a cave. On their own the cliffs containing the cave were impressive, and you could watch single beads of water drip and fall down, down, down. Painted on the cave ceiling near the entrance: 547, as in 547 feet, the ceiling height. Whoa! Inside, natural features like rimstone and stalactites set the stage for statues of Buddha and Chinese deities.

Almost every day there are a few heavy rain showers with thunder; lightning on the horizon is normal most nights, really, nothing to talk about when you notice it from an open-air restaurant.

Thanks to Immediate Past President and former GSE Team Member Kelvin Chow, who arranged our Ipoh itinerary, which has included such outstanding food and a nice arrangement of visits that surveyed history, agriculture, and natural features of the area.

This evening we presented at the Rotary Club Intercity Meeting. Tomorrow (actually, later today) we go separately to our vocational visits.

இரவு வணக்கம்
晚安
早抖
Selamat malam!
Good night!

Greetings from Taiping!

We have had a great experience in the City of Everlasting Peace. On the day of arrival three of our group participated in a Hash Run, which took us through residential neighborhoods where Malay children smiled and waved, then along a single-track paved motorbike path, and finally up a steep slope through dense jungle, where we grabbed skinny vines and trunks to pull ourselves up as we found our footing in slippery clay mud. Did I mention there was a creek crossing? The three of us soaked our shoes and between us found about six leeches around our ankles and lower legs. Not a big deal though - they are relatively painless - and afterward we enjoyed Indian curries and danced to karaoke songs.

The next day we visited Maxwell Hill, which was much cooler and misty compared to the very humid air at the War Memorial. To get there we were split into two groups to ride in a jeep up a very steep and winding, but paved, road. At the Hill we had very little view because of the mist, but we enjoyed the atmosphere, reminiscent of of a foggy day on the Oregon Coast. The facilities we found at Maxwell Hill were built by the British for a residence/retreat from the hotter conditions in the valley below.

On Thanksgiving Day we each separately attended our vocational visits.

Yesterday we visited a mostly-Chinese fishing village. The fresh fish served at lunch was incredible, and we enjoyed views and cooling breezes on a deck overlooking the river, as fishing boats pulled in and out of the dock. In the evening we presented at the Intercity meeting.

It has not escaped our notice the local use of the punctuation "lah" for emphasis at the end of sentences and phrases, sprinkled into conversation similar to the Argentine "che" or the Canadian "eh." Possibly the American equivalent is "you know?"

So we've realized that our time in Taiping went by quickly, lah! Thanks to our hosts Past President Vijay and his wife Suzanne, Past President Varpal and his wife Zabedah, President Sugitha, Past President Shobhana, and Rotarian Fahmy for an excellent itinerary and their generosity and hospitality making us feel at home here.

This morning we depart for Ipoh.

Greetings from Penang!

Did you know that the "Pearl of the Orient" is also the "Silicon Valley of the East"? Penang is a place where high-rise residential condominiums and an industrial park co-exist with pristine beaches and ancient rain forest. Within a half hour drive you can quit the city for the high-pitched whine of cicadas in Penang National Park.

Assistant Governor Lee Li Fong arranged an excellent itinerary for us. Our first evening we were greeted by our host families at the bus station and treated to what seemed to us like a feast of Indian food. Various curries, tandoori chicken, fried fish, and naan were passed around the table.

The next morning I was particularly excited about our plan to visit Penang National Park. Though the park ranger was not on duty because it was the weekend, we had a knowledgeable Malay guide who introduced us to the rain forest flora: a fern that curls its leaves when touched, tree resins used for book bindings, and pitcher plants! At the end, we visited a meromictic lake, which contains saltwater and freshwater in separate layers.

The hike, about two hours long, was hot but worth it!

Yesterday evening our GSE team gave its first presentation, this one at the Intercity Meeting held in a hotel and attended by approx. 70 Rotarians.

This morning we toured the Adventist Hospital.

This afternoon our hosts escorted us separately on different tours of Penang, depending on our interests. Rotarian Michel Von Crombrugge took me to the Tropical Fruit Farm, where I learned about different fruit trees, their maturity times, and when the fruits are ripe. After the tour, we got to sample a variety of fruits, buffet style. There were at least a dozen! Did you know that pineapple grows on a low plant, not a tree? Did you know that dragonfruit, so popular here, is from Mexico? Have you ever seen a passionfruit flower, and how beautiful it is?

Greetings from Malaysia!

If "the first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it,” then my impression of our home for the next 5-6 weeks is firstly one of warmth (with some lemongrass and clove cigarettes mixed in).

Approximately 24 hours since being sent off in style by our sponsors and friends of Rotary District 5110, "Team Sungai" arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday evening and were warmly received by our gracious hosts of Rotary District 3300, including Dr. Joy Varughese, the District GSE Chair; Mrs. Sylvia Jayanthimalar, President of the Danau Desa Rotary club; and Mr. Christie Daniels, Director and Club Admin of Danau Desa. "Warmly received" is an understatement - our hosts made us feel like rock stars!

To supplement this view from our room's balcony, imagine the hum of an air conditioner, sounds of construction in the distance, motorbikes whizzing, and "polite" honking.

We finally had a restful night's sleep in our hotel (generously provided by a Rotarian) after not one but two delicious meals with our hosts. Last night we surrounded a lazy Susan piled with Tom Yum (yes, we like it face-perspiringly spicy!), lemongrass Mee (a kind of noodle), chicken satay with a dark peanut sauce, and an array of garnishes. Although this particular meal was inspired by Thai specialties, Christie and Dr. Joy were quick to point out that a "typical" Malaysian dinner is often a fusion of flavors that may allude to Chinese, Indian, and other fare. For instance, the crispy fried rice (nasi) served with the meal, peppered with anchovies, is in a league of its own.

In the Eugene airport, Chandra had told my boyfriend Evan, "she's going to come back so spoiled," a prophecy that didn't take long to fulfill. As if being fed two huge meals and being put up in a comfy hotel weren't enough, Christie offered to take our team for a night drive through downtown KL. The city transforms and shimmers at night, and I have a feeling that our cameras won't really do justice to the sights we experience here.

Like this photo, the first 24 hours of our Malaysian experience have been a blur.

In future posts, we hope to transport our readers here with more photos and video when our Internet connection speed allows.

Following a quick debriefing with Dr. Joy later this morning, our team will jump aboard a coach bus to our next destination, Penang. Our first full day in Malaysia is about to begin, so jumpa lagi (see you) for now!

Final Orientation

We met on Saturday, October 29, at the home of DGE Dell Gray, former team leader to the Philippines. We spent most of the time editing our team presentation, trying to get our time down to thirty minutes. The introductory five minutes is about our district, it's history, geography, and present day industry. The rest of the presentation, each person on the team shares about their profession, family, town of residence, recreation, and the Rotary Club that sponsored them. 

We went to lunch at Shanti's Indian restaurant in Roseburg and concluded the afternoon by dividing up the club banners we had already received, discussing packing issues, homestays, and itinerary. Thankyou to Tommi Drake, alternate team leader, who has been with us the entire time and for her good advice, information, and helpful insights during our preparation.


We will meet again on November 15 at 4:30 at the Eugene Airport to check in and have a farewell dinner.

Thank you to all clubs who responded to our ask for banners.

Your efforts are much appreciated.

Pamela Reber Joins Team

    I was born on May 2, 1973 in Mishawaka, Indiana. My family roots are German, Irish and English, with the Rebers being traced back to Langenselbold, Germany in the 1700s. I graduated from Cranbrook Kingswood High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in 1991. When I settled in Eugene, I completed my Bachelor’s of Science at the University of Oregon after first receiving an Associate’s degree from the Energy Management Program at Lane Community College. Later I received a certificate in river restoration design from Portland State University.

    South Lane County has been my home for the past decade where I work in water resource management as Executive Director of a local nonprofit with a staff of four. We focus on implementing habitat projects for native fish and wildlife, policy issues related to water quality, and involving the community in these issues.

    My travel experience includes 5 weeks in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2005 in a family and community-center oriented experience and living in London for a month with a friend’s family when I was young. I enjoy many outdoor activities including multi-day rafting and camping trips, cultural events, as well as local foods and wine with friends and family.

Team Member Ashley Bryant

Since I moved to Oregon at a young age, I’ve experienced most of my life as a Eugenean, where I remain close with my friends, family and community. It’s easy to cultivate new interests and passions here, and I’ve made many wonderful friends while taking African dance, learning Spanish, and volunteering at local organizations. I’ve also nurtured a desire to explore the wider world, and my journeys to Europe and Senegal are just the beginning of what I hope will be a lifelong commitment to international education and travel.

As a University of Oregon student, I took courses in international development and spent a term as a student intern in Dakar. There, I researched and translated health education resources for a Senegalese NGO serving youth. On top of the work experience, I gained new knowledge by living with culturally disparate families, mentoring ambitious youth, and sharing in the excitement of a presidential election. Back home, I resumed my studies while working at the Office of International Programs and later for Disability Services as a classroom transcriber for hard of hearing students. After completing my Honors thesis, I received my degree in International Studies and Economics.

 My collective experiences steered me to Mobility International USA, a national non-profit organization that works to include people with disabilities in international development and exchange. One of my roles is to provide resources for making international exchange accessible to participants with disabilities while drawing on the insights of those who successfully studied, worked or volunteered in other countries. Working for an organization that promotes international exchange has certainly accelerated my sense of wanderlust, and I look forward to the many surprises Malaysia is sure to have in store for our team.

 

Team Member Kristi Coleman

                                           

Born in Landstuhl, Germany as the last of five children, my family moved to New Mexico  when I was 5 years old.  This is where I stayed until moving to Ohio for medical school, then coming to Oregon for a residency in Family Practice.  My professional interests include rural/underserved full spectrum care, wilderness medicine, and tropical medicine. In college I had the privilege to travel to South Africa and collect water samples from deep gold mines.  This experience showed me how different their life was from my own;  like living in a miner’s shanty town to daily racial segregation.  The unique health issues of the miner’s population (50% were HIV positive) and of the country (soft drinks contained quinine to fight malaria) stuck with me more than the microbiology I was there to study.  That trip was the beginning of my journey to medicine and my interest in people.

 When I am not working, I can be found hiking, backpacking, or reading science fiction novels.  I also collect rare, old books and crochet an afghan from time to time.  My twin sister and I plan to hike the Pacific Crest Trail together in the next 5 years.  Maybe I’ll get to hike Mount Tahan or Kinabalu while in Malaysia.

Team Member Elizabeth Hale

Elizabeth Hale is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist with the National Park Service at Oregon Caves National Monument. She is responsible for GIS data management and analysis as well as resource management programs, cave conservation projects, and volunteer coordination. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Science and GIS certificate from Western Kentucky University (2004), where she studied geography and English and was a copy editor at the campus newspaper.

Besides working at Oregon Caves for the last six years, Elizabeth has also worked at Mammoth Cave National Park (2004), where she guided cave tours, and Yosemite National Park (2002, 2003), where she cleaned guest cabins and fell in love with wilderness, mountains, and living in the West.

A Kentucky native, Elizabeth moved to rural southwestern Oregon after graduating from college. She is a member of Takilma Bible Church. Her personal interests include creative writing, food preservation, and outdoor recreation. Involved in community service since high school, when she was secretary of Beta Club, Elizabeth is currently a volunteer adviser to college-bound students at the local high school.

 

Team Selected

Four team members were selected in an interview process held in Cottage Grove on June 4 by the District 5110 GSE committee. The team includes: James Boyle, Ashley Bryant, Kristi Coleman, and Elizabeth Hale. In addition, two alternates were chosen: 1st alternate, Olivia Pierce, and 2nd alternate, Kristie Hernandez. The alternate team leader is Rotarian Tommi Drake. The first planning and orientation meeting will be held at the Phoenix School in Roseburg on July 9th.

Great applicants

Some great candidates have applied for SSE Team to Malaysia. It will be difficult to reduce the number down to four. Saturday is deliberation time.

GSE Malaysia team selection

On April 28, I was chosen at the Rotary team leader for the GSE team to Malaysia in November and December 2011. The team interviews will be held on June 4th in Cottage Grove. With the team selected, then the fun begins, a process of planning and orientation.