New Report from Georgia Dewart

I had never heard of the Kevieling before this year or even early on during my exchange but I have gotten to know so many wonderful people here which has allowed me to work along with the other "Marketfrauen" and become a part of this tradition. The city is amazingly organized with musicians and costumes. By Kevielings fest, I have pretty much worked at selling our various products - be it bratwurst or a piece of cake. All of that is done in german though and I am plesed to admit that my language skills are doing pretty well. I have never seen so many gowns and lutes at the same time in my life!  I am so happy that I was able to have my exchange year happen at this moment because it makes all my memories of Germany even more special.
 

Apart from my city's historic festival I have been non stop busy here.  I just came home from an amazing europe tour. We traveled throughout France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic.   France was beautiful!  We were only there for one day but Strassburg was so interesting and with Rotary we are able to see so much more since we travel as a group. After 

We were there for one day and while it wasnt much time we managed to see as much as we could in that short frame.

 

Churches, tram rides, french food - lots of  cheese of course haha

After France we headed to Switzerland.While in Switzerland my friends and I went to a Picasso museum that was a collection donated by a former friend of Pablo himself, there were a lot of paintings and sketches of her in the museum as well we go in. We took a look around and see an old woman giving a magazine interview it turns out it she was Angela Rossengrant, Picasso's friend.

We got to talk to her and take a photo with her and then she signed a postcard of a painting of her done by Pablo. As we took the photo a woman ran out and yelled at us and told us to get out of the museum but as soon as she saw Angela apologized!
 

We were only in Switzerland and France for one day but afterwards we drove to Italy and spent the most from our trip there.  The weather was perfect and the history made everything you looked at interesting.  I fell in love with Florence and my day seeing the statue David, climbing to the top of the dome and visiting the Pitti Palace was perfect.  We saw Piza and spent a day exploring Venice. You can get lost in the side streets of the city but never feel frustrated because in doing so you just see more of the city!

Following Italy we headed to Austria and spent one day in Vienna. I love the artist Klimt, so one of my highlights from that day was seeing alot of his work in person. As well the Habsburg palace was astounding!

We headed to Prague the following day and and got to explore the city of artists and Kafka!  I had such an amazing time on that entire trip and it is unbelievable to have that time fly by so quickly! Two weeks went lightening fast away. 

At the same time, things moving at the speed of light seems to be a rotary trend as this last year has happened so fast! I have a little over two months left in Germany and I know that with all that I will be doing it will flash away just as fast. 

I gave my Canada rotary presentation last week to my German club.  I had worked for the last few weeks getting everything ready and apart from a few technical differences it went amazingly well. The language skills I have gained here are to me unbelievable. If someone had told me I would be able to talk about Industry, Geology and the Canadian economy early in my year, I wouldn't have believed them. It felt amazing to tell all the Rotarians about Canada and my family, city, and Rotary back home. 

I hope that everything in Edmonton is treating you well and that all the Rotarians are all top fit and enjoying the spring weather (I hope its spring for you - Im not sure!)  It would be wonderful if you could pass on the news that everything here is amazing and that I am doing well.  The website, that I had thought would allow me better contact, was in reality too difficult for me to function.  At the same time speaking is always more interesting and within a little over 60 days I'll be back in Edmonton and would love to give some sort of presentation for our club.  Do you think it would be good to give some sort of powerpoint presentation or just a small speech at the first meeting I make it to?

Let me know what you think Lorne and how you're doing.

Lots of love from the otherside of the ocean!

Schone Gru ße!

Georgia