My Rotary Speech

How to start.

Well I found out I had to do my rotary speech only a week before because my host family had received and invitation in the mail, other wise I would never had known. But all was not a total lost because I had my speech already written out. Thanks to all the presentations l have been asked to give in my year in Belgium. All I had to do was go over it and make some minor adjustments. So three days leading up to our speech (me and the 2 other Americans) we worked on what exactly we were going to say, who was going to say what and in what order we were going to go in. We also made chocolate chip cookies, because that's the only dish we could decide on that was truly American.

The Big day: June 8, 00

We all come over to my house after school to make any last minute problems. Also because I only live 10 min away from the restaurant where we have our rotary meetings so wanted to get there earlier to decorate the place, with our poster, maps and other things. Well we arrived early and set everything up but we find that there was no slide projector. A crisis! So I quickly called my 2nd host family who was coming to see if they could bring theirs, so that we may use it in our presentation. In the mean time we went out to the garden to greet all the Rotarians, families and teachers that were arriving. So finally after the regular meeting was held and everybody had had his or her drinks we all moved inside for the presentation.

And here it all starts going wrong

It was planed that we would sing the natnal anthem and then Tim would go

first, then me, then to finish it all Mary Kate. But it seems that Oh Tim forgot the flag, so had to make do with the picture of our flag on a cover of a book. Then somehow it turns out that Mary Kate go's 1st, but it was all ok not a major disaster, only that she quickly had to wing her speech as the introduction not the grand ending but it all went well. Then Tim go's and al went well even though he forgot half the things he was going to say. But all the while, as I was sitting on the side it hits me al of a sudden that we were in reality saying our Thank-you's and our Good-byes in a formal way! So a couple of tears come out but I try to be discreet, also all of a sudden I got very nervous.

So finally it's my turn, after we quietly tell Tim to stop, because he was starting to repeat himself. And I stand up to start my speech I really couldn't seem to stop the waterfalls.

But then I excuse myself and tell everybody why I was crying Because it has finally hit me that we were finished with our year. And it was time to say good-bye and a big thank you to every one that has so kindly

accepted and hosted us, into their country, into their homes and lives with kindness, friendship and love.

Then start my speech but I get so chocked up that I can't seem to go on.

As I looked at the papers in front of me I couldn't seem to focus and

remember what I was supposed to say, it was just all one big blur. I did say some thing on Fl and the US but I can't really remember to tell the truth. So I told them a joke at my own expense, because it was my 1st time meeting my rotary club at a BBQ and how I had gotten locked into the bathroom for 15min cos the door had gotten stuck and how their wives were so nice and my embarrassment because of that and because they had to break the door down to get me out! But I don't think they ever found out. But I told them because it was one of my experiences in a foreign country as an exchange student and to get everyone laughing.

Then I started the slides on Fl (I had picked 10 out the 35 that I had brought, because they were the one I thought really showed fl to its fullest) to give me some time to compose myself. Then I finish the slide show and decided to rap up my speech because I really couldn't go on, and I really didn't have to because Mary Kate and Tim with their words ad me with my emotions had really said it all.

Then the President of the club thanked us, and we exchanged our flags.

Then we three passed our plate of cookies around so everyone to try.

As I was passing the plate around I was feeling so embarrassed so crying in front of everyone but for also blowing my speech and because my 3rd host dad had it all on video!

But then Mary Kate told me it wasn't a bad speech because if you thought

about it everyone in a couple of months would for get her speech but mine

would always be remembered. That was really not the thing to say, I felt

even more awful, but then I started to laugh because it was funny.

AFTER everything was over I felt fine a little stupid, but well?

So in all that was my rotary speech. I hope that all who read this has learned what not do to at your own speeches. And I wish all the best of luck to the other exchange student who still have

their speeches to do.

Until my next report

Yours Truly,

Sherrie Catalina Foglia



	*My Rotary Speech* *How to start.* Well I found out I had to do my rotary speech only a week before because my host family had received and invitation in the mail, other wise I would never had known. But all was not a total lost because I had my speech already written out. Thanks to all the presentations l have been asked to give in my year in Belgium. All I had to do was go over it and make some minor adjustments. So three days leading up to our speech (me and the 2 other Americans) we worked on what exactly we were going to say, who was going to say what and in what order we were going to go in. We also made chocolate chip cookies, because that's the only dish we could decide on that was truly American. *The Big day: June 8, 00* We all come over to my house after school to make any last minute problems. Also because I only live 10 min away from the restaurant where we have our rotary meetings so wanted to get there earlier to decorate the place, with our poster, maps and other things. Well we arrived early and set everything up but we find that there was no slide projector. A crisis! So I quickly called my 2nd host family who was coming to see if they could bring theirs, so that we may use it in our presentation. In the mean time we went out to the garden to greet all the Rotarians, families and teachers that were arriving. So finally after the regular meeting was held and everybody had had his or her drinks we all moved inside for the presentation. *And here it all starts going wrong* *It was planed that we would sing the natnal anthem and then Tim would go* first, then me, then to finish it all Mary Kate. But it seems that Oh Tim forgot the flag, so had to make do with the picture of our flag on a cover of a book. Then somehow it turns out that Mary Kate go's 1st, but it was all ok not a major disaster, only that she quickly had to wing her speech as the introduction not the grand ending but it all went well. Then Tim go's and al went well even though he forgot half the things he was going to say. But all the while, as I was sitting on the side it hits me al of a sudden that we were in reality saying our Thank-you's and our Good-byes in a formal way! So a couple of tears come out but I try to be discreet, also all of a sudden I got very nervous. *So finally it's my turn, after we quietly tell Tim to stop, because he was starting to repeat himself. And I stand up to start my speech I really couldn't seem to stop the waterfalls.* But then I excuse myself and tell everybody why I was crying Because it has finally hit me that we were finished with our year. And it was time to say good-bye and a big thank you to every one that has so kindly *accepted and hosted us, into their country, into their homes and lives with kindness, friendship and love.* *Then start my speech but I get so chocked up that I can't seem to go on.* *As I looked at the papers in front of me I couldn't seem to focus and* remember what I was supposed to say, it was just all one big blur. I did say some thing on Fl and the US but I can't really remember to tell the truth. So I told them a joke at my own expense, because it was my 1st time meeting my rotary club at a BBQ and how I had gotten locked into the bathroom for 15min cos the door had gotten stuck and how their wives were so nice and my embarrassment because of that and because they had to break the door down to get me out! But I don't think they ever found out. But I told them because it was one of my experiences in a foreign country as an exchange student and to get everyone laughing. Then I started the slides on Fl (I had picked 10 out the 35 that I had brought, because they were the one I thought really showed fl to its fullest) to give me some time to compose myself. Then I finish the slide show and decided to rap up my speech because I really couldn't go on, and I really didn't have to because Mary Kate and Tim with their words ad me with my emotions had really said it all. *Then the President of the club thanked us, and we exchanged our flags.* *Then we three passed our plate of cookies around so everyone to try.* *As I was passing the plate around I was feeling so embarrassed so crying in front of everyone but for also blowing my speech and because my 3rd host dad had it all on video!* *But then Mary Kate told me it wasn't a bad speech because if you thought* *about it everyone in a couple of months would for get her speech but mine* *would always be remembered. That was really not the thing to say, I felt* *even more awful, but then I started to laugh because it was funny.* *AFTER everything was over I felt fine a little stupid, but well?* *So in all that was my rotary speech. I hope that all who read this has learned what not do to at your own speeches. And I wish all the best of luck to the other exchange student who still have* *their speeches to do.* *Until my next report* *Yours Truly,* *Sherrie Catalina Foglia*