Yoonho Kim of South Korea is a UGA freshman with a game plan! Yoonho said he is used to large crowds at home but was not prepared for opening day and the tailgating scene in Athens this fall. “It was amazing,” he said. “In my home country, we just watch pro games, not college. I’m learning about the game.” Yoonho is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Griffin. In high school, he was the vice president in the Teach North Korean Refugees Global High School Union, which is a community service club. Next year, Yoonho will return to South Korea for a year of mandatory military service. He plans to return to UGA after service and graduate with a degree in sports management. He likes to run and cycle, having participated in triathlons and many races. He also likes gaming and is highly competitive in League of Legends. Yoonho is learning his away about the South one meal at a time. He’s discovered the Chick-fil-A on campus, stating, “It is very good but always has a long line outside of the Tate Center. I really like the waffle fries!” He is fairly independent and text his family weekly, mainly to check on his cat, Nabi, who is 24 pounds!

Geisha Haddad from Colombia says her friends describe her as a relentless dream seeker. She describes herself as an extrovert who likes traveling and meeting people around the world. She sees life as an adventure. Geisha attends Columbus State University and is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Columbus. She said that her host family, Margaret and Charles McCall, along with her peers at CSU have graciously shared their customs with her as she tries to embrace and treasure the memories she is making in her year in Georgia. Her parents expressed their gratitude for her opportunity in a video she shared this week with her Rotary Club.

Before coming to GRSP, Geisha served as the president of her Interact Club which included about 150 high school students. In the initial stage of the pandemic, the club had to adopt an online format and adapt to a new process. She also served as the Carnival Queen when she was 17 and an active member of the dance team and the softball team. An honor student who credits her school as setting the foundation for her leadership, Geisha is dedicated to serving others. Geisha is majoring in marketing and communications. She quickly got involved with a Women’s Empowerment movement at CSU. Geisha will join the Rotary Club of Columbus on a service project to Guatemala on her spring break.

Sagar Badve of Australia starts his day at 4 a.m. about half the week, as he travels to the Atlanta Rowing Club in Roswell in preparation for competition. Sagar is a student and member of the Rowing Club at Georgia State University (GSU), sponsored by the Rotary Club of Atlanta. Hailing from a notoriously hot country, Sagar has favored the weather that Georgia has brought on. However, he is not opposed to new climates, having spent a semester abroad in Europe on a university exchange. An avid traveller, Sagar has come to gain a truly international perspective.

As Sagar approaches the three-month mark of his time in Atlanta, he is learning to embrace the uniqueness of the South. “Having previously visited Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, I thought I had a decent understanding of all things America,” Sagar said. “It wasn’t until I arrived in Atlanta that I realized that each city is truly unique. Atlanta and its people have treated me very well. I extend a huge thank you to Rotary members, from all clubs, and Georgians who have afforded me many opportunities and experiences, thus far.” Experiences that include attending: a Black Crowes concert, Atlanta United soccer game, Atlanta Braves baseball game as well as an “American Football” game for the University of Georgia. “I didn’t realize tailgating started at 10 a.m. for a 7 p.m. game,” Sagar exclaimed recalling his first trip to Athens. The short time he has spent in Atlanta has been nothing short of electric and next year, Sagar plans to return to Australia to finish his law degree with aim of returning to work in the United States, and particularly Atlanta, Georgia.

Hanna Larsen of Norway misses the taste of moose, among other delicacies in her home country. Raised on a farm tending sheep, she understands multitasking more than many young adults. Her focus has shifted as she adapts to life in the United States via GRSP. Hanna is sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Lake Spivey/Clayton County and Henry County with Mike and Doris Griffin serving as her host family. She attends the University of West Georgia where she is taking courses in world studies, world religion and world literature. She is considering a career in international relations. In 2019, Hanna spent a week in Wisconsin as part of Rotary’s World Affairs Seminar.

In Norway, Hanna played handball and enjoyed ice skating, skiing and hiking. She spent time traveling through Europe before coming to Georgia for a year. Some of her objectives are to learn more about Rotary, improve her English and visit other states. In October, she and a handful of GRSP students visited Chicago. “I feel like my English is better already in just four months,” Hanna said. “I am surprised how far apart the other states are from Georgia. “I’m learning more about Rotary and spending time with my host family. I’ve been to Georgia Tech football games and enjoyed a glider ride. I am so thankful for this opportunity.”