Kelly Clow prepares for a year in Germany

After several months preparation and training, Kelly Clow is getting ready to leave on Aug. 23. She'll be spending her junior high school year in Germany.

Sponsored by the Nevada Rotary Club, Kelly experienced several training sessions, including a week in June at John Brown University in Siloam Spring, Ark. At these events, former exchange students or adults who specialized in exchange opportunities, presented information on what to expect while being an exchange student.

They were told that they would be "ambassadors" representing the United States. They were also told to keep in mind that everyone is unique and as such, they should leave their own "stamp" wherever they go while on the exchange program.

The most recent training session, called "outbound Camp" in Little Rock, Ark., included a visit with the International Rotary President, Ray Klinginsmith, a retired attorney and a professor at Truman State University from Kirksville, Mo.

Kelly knows she will be starting her stay with a family that has three children; a 16-, 17-, 18-year-old. The 18-year old will be doing a youth exchange in the state of Pennsylvania while Kelly is staying with his family. They live in Solingen, Germany. Kelly does not know if she will be with the same family the whole time.

When Kelly arrives, the family's youngsters will be on a six-week summer break (they have three six-week breaks in the school year.) She will have two weeks with the family before school resumes.

Other things she knows about the family is that they have no horses, but do have a dachsound dog. She's also discovered that she will not be able drive anything while in Germany -- not even a lawn mower.

Since February, Kelly has participated in a German language immersion which included having a tutor in Joplin, studying with audio CDs, books, and visiting with other German students over the internet.

Other than spending the past week at the Missouri State Fair, where Kelly showed her horses, she has been getting ready for the trip. She can take one suitcase and one or two carry-ons, so she will have limited clothing.

She has been gathering gifts to take to her host family and host Rotarian Clubs. She indicated she will miss her family, especially her dad Ron Clow and mother Nancy Seeley, but is very much looking forward to the experience of spending her junior year in Germany. She credits Jim Adams and the Nevada Rotary Club in helping her make this unique opportunity a reality. She noted that he has spearheaded the effort to arrange for the German student to come to Nevada for the coming year for the return exchange.