Posted by Jason Pole Co-Chair, District 7070 Rotary Youth Exchange Committee

Smile in My Language

Recently, a seventeen-year-old young woman reminded me that we all smile in the same language. A simple statement that many would not challenge or even give much thought too. For this young person, it is of paramount importance. She has recently started school in Canada and although her spoken English is good, her native language is Portuguese. There are often times in Canada when she needs to use her smile to communicate. She needs to smile to acknowledge that she does not fully understand all the words spoken to her, or that you may need to speak a little bit more slowly so she can follow the conversation, or simply the smile may indicate a sincere thank-you for taking the time to listen.....

Although communication can often be slower when we are not very fluent in the same language, communication still needs to happen. Communication, simply put, is what binds all of humanity. It underpins the very essence of who are. It helps us build connections and bridges to other people in far-off lands.

The smile I was referring to was that from Eloisa. Eloisa is a seventeen-year-old Rotary International Youth Exchange Student from Brazil being hosted by the Rotary Club of Brighton. Eloisa reminded me that we all have ways to communicate even if, at the start, we do not have a common spoken language.

My hope as the Co-Chair of the Youth Exchange Program in District 7070, along with Co- Chair Deb Murray is that in November every Rotarian in District 7070 will seek out a youth exchange student who is being hosted by your club or a neighboring club and simply smile. Start the conversation. Connect with these young people. We Rotarians have so much to learn.

In only a few short months ten international students in District 7070 have built friendships that will last a lifetime, not through a common spoken language but through a sense of belonging and smiles. The video below gives us a glimpse into the power of smiles – I thank Eloisa for creating it and sharing it with the world.