Annemarie Boker

Ann Helen Marguerite Duncan

From Annemarie Boker, Class of 2019-20 ...

When I came to Georgia, I was very nervous. Many questions and thoughts went through my head: How would it be to live in the U.S.? Would I find friends? Are my English skills good enough to express myself and to meet the college requirements? How will my host family be?

However, I believe we all felt like this, and all these concerns were unnecessary.

The conclave, where we all met for the first time, felt like meeting old friends. Everyone was new, but no one felt left out. It was like a big family reunion with a small but significant difference - we did not know each other before. But we got to know one another, helped, and supported each other, and became a big group of friends from all over the world.

I think it is incredible what GRSP for us. We all grew as a person, developed new personality traits and skills, and experienced things which we would not have experienced without this excellent opportunity to be part of the GRSP family.

In particular, a big thank you should go to our host families. Chris and Kathleen, I am so happy that I got to know you and that I was allowed to be part of your family. I could not have asked for a better place to stay. You are amazing people with a big heart, and if I would not miss my own family in Germany so much, I would not mind staying forever! I will never forget the fantastic trip to Arizona and the breathtaking views that we saw on our hikes. Thank you for your support, your hospitality, the great trips, and that I always had a place that I could call home.

Also, a big thank you to Henry and Chris, my two new brothers. It was a refreshing experience to have brothers for a year that do not for example wrangle about little things like favorite T-shirts, as it sometimes happens when you grow up in a family with sisters only. I had so much fun with y'all and never laughed as much in my life as when we were together.

I cannot forget the dogs in this article: Puzzle, Scout and Biscuit, you three were amazing cuddle buddies. You are the sweetest little dogs that I know, and I will miss you so much.

Steve, Anna, and Agnes: I always had a great time when we met. You were like my second host family! You invited me to many activities such as the concert of Phillip Phillips and the soccer game of Atlanta United. I still laugh at the fact that I saw my first soccer game in America together with you. Also, Agnes, I found a really good friend in you. We did so many things together, like our New York trip, our shopping tours, concerts and the coming trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles, which I look forward to. You are like my Danish sister, and I am so sad that we will not live together anymore. I will miss the Taco Tuesdays in the cafeteria and the gym days where we motivated each other.

Last but not least, I want to thank the Rotary Club of Atlanta for choosing me as your scholar. You are the reason that I got to know all these amazing people, went to these fantastic places, and experienced the American college lifestyle. It was so cool to be a cheerleader!

If someone would ask me if I would do it again, I definitely say yes! I am sad to leave, but I will take all these memories with me and hope that I will see everyone again. This year taught me the importance of international understanding, and that Rotary is a great organization to bring people together. In Germany, we have the saying: "Man sieht sich immer zweimal im Leben" (You always get to see each other twice in a lifetime) and I hope that that will happen.

From Ann Helen Marguerite Duncan, Class of 2018-19 …

My year as a GRSP student has been the best year of my life. I had friends in high school whose siblings had been on the program in previous years, and after hearing how amazing it was for them, it was something that immediately took my interest.

The experience has taught me so much. I have grown so much as a person, learning where my talents are and what I am passionate about, and it has pushed me far out of my comfort zone allowing me to gain independence. I have also met so many wonderful people, and explored the vast variety of different American cultures.

I couldn't have asked for better host parents than Stephanie and Jordan. They have grown to be my family, and I am so grateful for the support and care they have given me throughout this year. I felt immediately at home with them the first night I got here, most of which was spent in bed with serious jet lag. I have never hesitated to come to them for help with anything and everything that comes to mind. They have helped me realize what I truly value in life and have taught me so much about how to survive in college, as well as general life. Jordan has definitely done a great job of filling in for my dad, with his "witty" humor and wonderful dad jokes, which are usually aimed at messing with me. I have so much love for you both and thank you so much for taking me into your home for this year, and I can't wait for you to come and visit me in Scotland!

I would like to thank my trustee Ken Townsend so much for taking the time to help me with various things throughout this busy year. You have done a wonderful job of making me feel like I have the support I need, as well as going to extra efforts to get to know me and my family. I would like to thank you and Janice for your wonderful generosity and the outings you have taken me on this year. I would also like to thank the Rotarians at my rotary club for their generosity and their hospitality, as well as the various Rotarians who took the time to get to know me and go on outings with them, I really appreciate it.

I have met so many lifelong friends on the program from all over the world, and we have grown to be extremely close. We have travelled all over Georgia, as well as other parts of the USA together, and I have so many wonderful and treasured memories. I remember Music Midtown at the beginning of the year, which was so much fun and was when we first really got to know each other. Since then, we have been to New York, Miami, and various parts of Georgia together, which have all been awesome. I have also met so many amazing friends at my college in Columbus, Georgia, who have supported me throughout this year, and who I know I will keep in touch with forever. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be back to visit them in the USA far into the future. Thank you to Rotary for this once in a lifetime experience, I will treasure it forever. I could not be more grateful to have been chosen as a GRSP student for 2018/19.