The trip back home through Australia

My Media Debut

As seen in The Daily Post Weekender, November 19th 2010:

Front Page:



Page 3:

Video from Aotearoa!

Aotearoa!

I'm home! It's weird alright. Nice. But strange. Wales already seems like a dream, but I am surely missing the country and the people. I have my first Rotary presentation on Monday to the Te Puke club, and another on Wednesday to the Maketu club. I'm looking forward to it but it does mean a bit of homework this weekend! Not much luck on the job front as of yet, but I'm enjoying spending time with my friends and family, and I've even had found some time for a bit of sewing, cooking, and frozen-yoghurt-making! Rhubarb crumble is tomorrow's task.... I'm sure I'll have some more exciting news soon!

GOODBYE SWANSEA

.... what can I say, I will really miss you. 'Til we meet again! xx

Final Report!

Here is the documents I submitted as my final Rotary report - all very factual! Hope you find it somewhat interesting and yes, I'm still planning on getting a last video up before I fly to the Southern Hemisphere!

Claire-Elizabeth Ramson

2009/2010 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar from District 9930, New Zealand to District 1150, Wales.

I have now been in the United Kingdom for almost 13 months, and I still find myself loving every minute. As my time here comes to an end, I reflect on just how quickly it seems to have passed, and how much I have truly gained.

Academic Achievements

As of last week, I have submitted a 35,600 word thesis towards a Masters of Philosophy at Swansea University, majoring in Materials Engineering. I will spend next week preparing for a viva, when two examiners will inform me of all the grammatical errors I’ve made and all the structural changes they want, then I will frantically make the alterations and publish my confirmed document. This experience has been invaluable to my career: I now not only have a research degree that will help me get better jobs, but also an indepth knowledge of the chemistry behind weathering and degradation of biopolymers, and experience with a range of laboratory techniques and analytic programmes. The skills I have learnt have also increased my professional confidence, which has held me back in the past.

Outlook

The whole experience has changed how I think about both New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Having to present my culture to others has meant I have had to define it to myself, and this was not something that happened instantly. My pride of being a Kiwi intensified as I thought about what NZ means to me, and I became even more convinced that NZ is “the best country in the world” as I learnt about other cultures and places. The world is huge, and NZ is just a speck – but a developed speck with technology, facilities, talent, and people that can definitely hold their own globally. Obviously we’re not perfect, but we’ve managed to deal with a lot of things much better than some other countries, such as racism and corruption. It may be our small size or perhaps our youth; either way I am glad New Zealand is where I call home.

Unfortunately, I have now seen how little our country values science, technology, and engineering – areas where our small nation has previously been leading the world, but currently does not pay much attention to. Wales is focussing on economic growth with Government schemes, funding, and opportunities for small businesses and innovations, and this has amplified my feelings of lack of support from NZ. Before I left NZ I contacted a number of businesses and many branches of the Government for support, financial or otherwise, to no avail. I will be spending a large portion of my career abroad until I gain skills that are appreciated in New Zealand, such as management.

Prior to my year here, my view of the UK was limited to a large country housing the Spice Girls, the Rolling Stones, and the Queen. Now I see it is four distinct countries, each with beautiful scenery, cultures, and people. Northern Ireland made an impression with its comedians, rural-ness, and troubled history; Scotland for its brutal stories, serene countryside, and enthusiastic youth; it was difficult to follow the goings on with politics and royalists in England, but the history of such is found all around in castles and cities to explore; and Wales, my second home. I did not realize that I would become emotionally attached and somewhat patriotic of Wales, especially as our rugby teams clash so.

I am now much more understanding of other cultures, and much more likely to encourage others to travel so that they may learn like I have. I have realised that my previous lack of interest to travel to Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America was really fear, brought about by a lack of knowledge of the differences I would find in those places. As I’ve learnt more about the Middle East and other places I have added Mongolia, Kenya, Rwanda, Croatia, Russia, Japan, Palestine and several more to my “must visit” list. I can never hope to understand or see everything in the world, but my mind has been opened up to a whole lot more, and hopefully with this attitude I will not only get more out of life but will give more to the people around me.

Goodwill Ambassador

I’m not sure of specific examples of when I’ve been an ambassador of goodwill, as I believe my attitude should reflect this at all times. I have spent a lot of time with Arabic people, and have consequently learnt about the political, religious, historical and cultural issues various countries in that part of the world face, as well as hearing traditional legends and customs. I have then shared this with my Welsh and English friends, and encouraged them to take an interest in it.

During my presentations, I have tried to give an accurate overall view of what New Zealand culture is like, and what is important to me as a Kiwi. I hoped that people would see my passion, see the similarities between my culture and the Welsh culture, and consequently be inspired to look into their own history and identity. I would hope I had a positive effect on someone’s life here, but of course I do not know.

I wouldn’t say it changed my life, but I do remember one moment where I realised my life was changing. At the Scholar’s conference in Leicester in late 2009, I was invited by my billet family to dress in traditional costume to attend an Indian dance festival. After being convinced to learn a dance and perform with the crowds on the dance floor, we stood looking over the dancers. As I looked down and saw my costume, it hit me that I was on the other side of the world, having barely thought twice about doing something I would never have considered doing a few weeks before. I haven’t looked back!

Rotary

I have taken the opportunity to explain Rotary to many people this year, and have shortened it to “a worldwide service organisation that has community and national projects... like curing polio globally, or fundraising for a special needs school... they meet once a week and often have interesting speakers... and they sponsored me to study overseas”. I can then elaborate on the different types of clubs, projects, people involved, ways to get involved, and why someone would get involved. The Ambassadorial Scholarship is not about taking someone from poverty and saving their life – in that respect, I see it more as an investment for Rotary, supporting people that will come on board with Rotary in the future. It is about putting people in a position where they can learn about the world, and making connections so the knowledge is transferred throughout a great network. I would hope there are a lot more people in Wales that know about the New Zealand culture now than there was 13 months ago!

Resources

To be honest, I actually think the Ambassadorial Scholarship scheme could be run more effectively. The information provided by the sponsor district and Foundation is too lengthy, and sometimes inaccurate. There is a huge amount of inconsistency throughout the world on how the scholarship programme progresses and the information from Foundation (both online and hard copy) just complicate the situation. Please see the attached document with details of how I think the scheme could be improved – noting this is just my experiences.

Advice for Future Scholars

Be humble: Of both Rotary and of the new experiences. Keep an open mind and realise you are insignificant, observe all you can without letting your judgments and prejudices get in the way. Have no expectations: You won’t know what it is like at all – prepare to be surprised at every turn, and you’ll find that you don’t notice when there’s no hot water, or when the way of saying goodbye would be rude in your country, or when the food is not what you are used to. Lean on your Rotary Club: Rotary is an amazing organisation, let them be your family in your new country. Not all people involved with you will know what the scheme is about, or what they should be doing to help you, but there will be someone you click with. Don’t be afraid to ask – ask if there is someone who can explain a Rotary meeting to you, who can explain how you will get your presentations done, tell them if you are feeling homesick, if you are worrying about University, and so on. Get involved: Remember why you are there. Rotary chose you – they could have chosen someone else, someone with higher grades, more community service hours, a better degree area, or a hundred other reasons, but they chose to believe in you. Don’t prove them wrong. Rotary is about service above self, and you should be making Rotary, and your club, a priority in your life. It is not a huge commitment – you go one evening/lunch/breakfast a week, get a free meal, and turn up to help out at a couple of events every few weeks.

Future Involvement

For the next few months I will be giving presentations in New Zealand, hopefully to a few Rotaract and Interact clubs as well as Rotary clubs. After that I will probably move back to the UK, where I will become a member of Swansea Bay Rotary Club (my host club) or start/join Rotaract if I am in another area. Either way, I want to work on raising the profile of Interact and Rotaract, as well as continuing service as a member. I’m very passionate about this untapped promotional force of Ambassadorial Scholars – all young and able to effectively sell Rotary to the younger generations, and yet not actively encouraged to do so. As well as this, I would really like to work with Foundation on making sensible changes to the Scholarship schemes – I realise changes have been made in the last few years, but I think there is still a way to go before both Rotary and Scholars are getting the best from the arrangement.

ATTACHED DOCUMENT:

Claire-Elizabeth Ramson

2009/2010 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar from District 9930, New Zealand to District 1150, Wales.

PROPOSED OUTLINE OF AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Selection

· Consistency throughout districts, worldwide.

· Scholars not sent if not up to par, even if the district has the money – it reflects badly on Rotary to send an inadequate scholar out, and the money can be better used elsewhere

· Candidates not chosen solely on volunteer work, degree, grades, or “community project” proposal. Instead chosen as who would best represent Rotary, considering maturity (to travel, to present culture, to study), and attitude – MUST realise that Rotary is entrusting them as an ambassador, not just giving them the money.

· Candidates briefed on what their responsibilities would be if they were successful, and what the point of the scholarship is – furthering international understanding and goodwill.

· Sponsor counsellor chosen, responsibilities clearly outlined to them, and also to the candidate so they know what they can and cannot expect from the counsellor

· Changed details about having to have a “sponsor” club on the application form – candidates don’t know what that means or how that works and it may put them off

Preparation to Travel

· The appendix of the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship handbook is about all that is relevant. It shows the forms needed before, during, and after the scholarship period.

· Scholar should be required to meet with sponsor club and discuss their expectations for the year

· If a scholar conference is available, then scholars should be encouraged to attend. The following information should be discussed either there or at another time (possibly by the sponsor counsellor)

o You’re going away for about a year. You’ll have a host club and a host counsellor in your city.

o You should be invited to join your club for a meal once a week, you can go or not, we suggest that you do because it keeps you involved with your club.

o You basically serve as a member of that club for the year, helping out with fundraising, service projects, etc. You can also develop your own projects if you see an opportunity to do so.

o You will be giving 20-40minute presentations about your country to other Rotary clubs and organisations – you need to do about 10-15 of these and they should aim to further international understanding. We suggest you introduce yourself and your career, and then talk about your culture. Statistics like population and land area are good to slip in to give perspective, but the main point is conveying what your country is about.

o There will also be other events like conferences, official dinners, and interclub competitions that you are encouraged to attend

o Rotaract is Rotary for 18-30year olds, Interact for 12-18 year olds. You are encouraged to try and get involved with these groups as well.

§ I think Scholars should actually be required to learn about these clubs and then do at least one presentation to people of those age groups as a publicity/membership event

o When you return to your country, you will need to give presentations on your year and the foreign culture. Remember the purpose of the scholarship and observe accordingly throughout your year so you are prepared to present.

· Basically, if the scholar has been chosen correctly then they will be passionate about getting involved in Rotary and helping out where they can

· The sponsor club needs to give the Scholar a few banners, and also suggest that he/she make business cards

· If the objectives are stated clearly, the Scholar will be much more able to prepare themselves for their year abroad.

During the Year

· Scholar made to feel welcome at host club

· Open contact with sponsor district throughout the year

· Host counsellor there to answer any Rotary questions, and also any cultural questions. Also to check progress of presentations etc.

After the Scholarship

· Sponsor counsellor takes over responsibility to ensure presentations are done

· If the scholar was chosen properly, and the year has gone to plan, you should then have a lifelong member of Rotary.

Miscellaneous

“It is an honour when you receive the Ambassadorial Scholarship. Rotary has chosen you to represent them for a whole year, and all you have to do is be yourself.” Rotary needs to choose people that feel this way, because they are the ones that will get the most from the scheme, and Rotary will also gain maximum benefit. I know the scheme has changed my life, and I believe I have been an excellent investment for Rotary, and will continue to be.

No vlog? A blog post will have to suffice...

Hi everyone!

If you are wondering about my distinct absence from the video-blogging and just blogging in general, I hope you will understand just how busy I am with my thesis deadline not only imminently looming, but actually being moved forward by a week! And so, this is just a quick update to say I'm still alive and kicking.

• Moved into the B&B, everything is fine, it's a nice homely terraced house where I have a room upstairs at the back opening out onto the roof of the ground floor :D
• Thesis is getting there, it's full steam ahead to be done by this Friday (24th Sept)
• Have organised a couple of speeches for when I'm back in NZ, but would like to get more planned out so I can fit everyone in this (NZ) Summer
• Swansea Bay Rotary is going strong, had quite a successful (and fun!) bucket collection at the recent Proms in the Park concert, for the Lord Mayor's Charities. I really enjoyed it, and promised that if I'm anywhere in the UK next year I will come to Swansea to help out again! We also helped out as marshalls for the Alzheimers Society "Walk to Remember" yesterday in Singleton Park - it was great to see people supporting their friends and family
• Off to the RC of Narberth and Whitland this Wednesday night for a club visit, will be lovely to see the members again as I did enjoy presenting to them earlier in the year, and will also be nice to be able to have a bit more time to talk with them
• Photos of my holiday have not made it up yet, unfortunately - sorry!
  

And that's it folks! Once the thesis is in, I will start on my end-of-scholarship report, and hopefully try and get a last video up from this side of the world (don't worry, there will be more videos when I'm back in New Zealand).

Hope you are all well! Talk to you soon, I promise!

I haven't forgotten about you...

Okay, I have, but just a little bit! It is now past mid-August and I haven't vlogged OR blogged in far too long. Things have been, well, hectic.

I had my trip to Scotland with my best friend Stella, had a fantastic time and it was a much needed break from University. I haven't uploaded the photos yet, but they will be up soooommmmmeetime... I have 6 weeks until my thesis is due - I knew this was coming, but somehow I was not the least bit prepared for the craziness and stress I am feeling right now. I move house in 3 weeks, from the halls of residence to a cosy B&B 20 minutes walk down the road. It will be good to be forced to start packing for the big move back to New Zealand, but the accommodations are a little less than luxurious - no kitchen, no laundry, shared bathroom, no breakfast. Basically just a roof over my head, a bed, and a kettle. Looks like dinner will be alternating between cup-o-soup and 2-minute noodles for my last 3-4 weeks in Wales! She'll be right, I mean, what more do you need? There is a launderette just down the road, and I'll be spending most of my time at University anyway.

Rotary is a bit quiet at the moment, we've had a few events where I thought I was going to be needed but things fell through last minute. I have a presentation to give to the RC of Porthcawl this coming Monday, so I'm looking forward to meeting their club and sharing ideas. Next week out meeting is focusing on Youth projects, so I'm excited to learn and discuss that area! I'm booked in for my leaving speech on the 13th October, something I am not looking forward to. Amongst all this University/moving house/travel-photo-processing/viva dates stress, I am really starting to realize I leave this amazing country in 2 months, with no return ticket (I actually still don't have flights out of this country, so I may just be stuck here, solving everything!). I knew I loved Wales, but I really thought I'd grown up enough that this "see you later" wasn't going to be too much of a big deal. WRONG. Well, I'm just going to have to suck it up, so much work to be done!

Hopefully you will hear from me soon :)

June Time Photos and News!

Time Flying

Hiya!

So the hot water was off for a total of 6 and a half days... I am glad I've done a lot of camping over the years, as I coped with the cold showers a lot better than some of my flatmates! I know I keep promising, but I do have a video in the works, including:

• My last hike with the University Hiking Club, to Neath Valley
• A few days in Haverfordwest
• Presentation to the RC of Haverfordwest
• Presentation to the RC of Neath
• Other photos

But for now, I would just like to express my agitation at the fact that humans have not yet discovered a device that can travel through time and space. My previous homesickness has been swept under the rug as I realize that I will be out of Wales in less than a mere four months. I know I will be back here, and still involved with Rotary, but it is difficult to say goodbye to my scholarship year. My good friend Laura Edwards left a few weeks ago, and luckily she understood that I didn't want to get into the farewell frame of mind, and I managed to play the whole thing down. Sooner or later I'm going to send her the goodbye card she deserves, and I think it will start to hit home for me then. The relationships I have made this year have been amazing. Flatmates from all over Europe, local and English colleagues, Middle Eastern office mates, not to mention the wonderful array of people I've met through Rotary. I've been surprised... I knew learning about other cultures would be interesting, but I must admit I never thought I would fit in with a group of entirely another culture. I was clearly wrong, as I currently (and quite happily) spend the majority of my time with a group of friends from Syria, Kuwait, Palestine, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia - they are trying to teach me Arabic but I am utterly useless at it!

Aside from that, it is going to be tough saying goodbye to the RC of Swansea Bay, and each of the distinctive characters I have grown to love over the past 9 months. I hope I will be back here, as a prospective member early next year, but it really does depend where I get a job. Never the less, they have instilled in me a passion for Rotary, and I know I can always call on them for guidance, advice, or just plain friendship.

Enough of the sad talk! Four months! My plan to finish my Masters is thus: my best friend arrives on the 20th July for a 3 week holiday with me in London, Swansea, Macclesfield, and Scotland. I hope to have my literature review and materials & methods chapters finished before she arrives, no mean feat, but a good goal to aim for. This leaves most of August for experiments and data analysis, and September for writing the results/discussion part of my thesis. I'm heading for a 30th September hand in, and trying to book the viva in the week 11th-15th October. So far so good, although I know it's only going to get crazier! 30th September is my official end of course date, so the appropriate amount of time for an MPhil. However, most people overrun, so I will do well to get it in on time. From the 30th September to my viva date I'm hoping to make my first visit to France - just a few days in rural Limousin, bit of a taster really. Depending on the timeline, I might hang out with family friends in Haverfordwest waiting for my viva. After the viva I'm sure there will be corrections to make, so I will spend a few days in Swansea doing that before binding my final thesis and jetting back to New Zealand.

It's do-able!

My Homesickness Cured with Laughter!

Mid-Week Message

Just a quick stop to say I'm looking forward to a night of sewing this week - sewing club banners onto fabric to be hung up in our meetings at Swansea Bay. Why have I shared this with you? In the hopes that you, too, will be inspired to get sewing and display all those club flags and banners you've been presented with over the years! (And if I've given you one, put it in prime position!)

In other news, I was enjoying the beautiful sunshine Swansea was turning on for me, until this last week - what happened South Wales?? Please come back, I swear we can work it out! Not that I mind the gray days terribly, or even a bit of rain, but these last 5 days the University decided to switch into back-up water heating for my hall of residence, without checking it first... only to discover (too late on Friday before a bank holiday weekend) that the both immersion heaters have burnt out! Maintenance, UK! So I've been gritting my teeth and trying to shower at the hottest part of the day so I don't freeze to death. For those of you who've met me and seen the length of my hair - I had to wash my hair on Sunday and I can tell you I was glad I had a warm hair dryer to use afterwards! Oh it's all an adventure. Hopefully the water will be back on tonight.

A video should be on its way in the next week or so.

Update on Presentations and Rotary Activities

April Hikes and May Boules Competition

It's May already??

Hello Kiwi Rotarians, Welsh Rotarians, and anyone else having a gander on this page! Have a video planned soonish for photos etc, but in the meantime thought I would just have a regular old blog post for you.

I checked the date today, and was shocked to see it was May already - I have now been living in Wales for just under 8 months, and the odd homesickness pang aside, I truly feel as though I have experienced but a taster of what the UK has to offer. Last week I was saying to my parents that I couldn't afford (in time or money) to do any more traveling aside from the 2 week trip I have planned to Scotland in July, and they came back with "that's fine, we're surprised at how much you've seen already!"... How much I've seen?!! Nothing! I haven't even seen everything in Swansea let alone in the UK! Sure signs I must return... I have set myself some University goals with a reward of 4-5 days spent in the middle of France at the end of my stay here, so I'm working hard to be able to go to the land of Baguettes, Croissants, and Jacques Cousteau. I'm beginning to feel the familiar pinch in the base of my stomach as I become more and more aware of exactly how much University work I have to get done, and how little time to do it in - a very unpleasant sensation but one that seems to bring out high levels of productivity in me! I am proud to say I have really been working hard in the lab and trying (operative word "trying") to write decent sections of my literature review. I'm worried! But if you ask my folks they would definitely say I'm overreacting, and everything will be fine - take your pick on who is right!

Anyway, being here for the last 8 months has been totally surreal - it has gone so fast, too fast! I have fully immersed myself into not only the Welsh culture, but Rotary. I remember back in mid 2008 when Dale Jack of Hamilton East told me I had got the Scholarship, and even amongst the shock I still remember thinking "this Scholarship was made for me. This is my Scholarship". And it really has been - instead of being just a way to study in another country, or a way to experience the culture of another country, it has also been my discovery of Rotary - an organisation that I hope to be involved with for the rest of my life. Rotary gives me the opportunities to bring out the best in my personality, and this has played a huge part in my personal development, which in turn has allowed me to really make the most of my experiences here in the UK. I couldn't have asked for a better scholarship, or a better host club to share my year abroad with!

On that note, I'm going to head back to doing some work, the Undergraduates are coming to the end of their year and soon I will say goodbye to Laura, my fellow Rotary Scholar in Swansea. This makes me really aware of the short 5 months I have remaining! Gotta make the most of it!

PS: Came across this article today about the trip the Swansea Bay club took to Brussels a few months ago. Nice to see!

Video 12 - What a productive Weekend I've had!

Video 11 Woop woop Haverfordwest

aaaaaaand 10 - The March Trip to Ireland!

Video 9! I'm on a roll!

also - video 8 is the district assembly one I posted BEFORE video 7 - sorry!

I should have known...

that it would take more than 2 videos to fit all the stuff I've been doing!

just to tempt you into staying the avid blog reader I know you are!

So... seeing as the next 2 videos have been delayed, here's a sneaky list of what they're going to cover:

VIDEO 1:

- Tintern Abbey
- My holiday in Bristol
- London
- Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf
- St Patrick's day in Dublin
- Derry, Giants Causeway, Belfast
- Haverfordwest
and possibly:
- Easter in Aberystwyth
BUUUUT knowing me that won't all fit so I will have to make it into 2 videos!

VIDEO 2:

- Differences between NZ and UK including cars, business, education, food, etc!

I bet you can't wait!

Video Played at District 9930 Assembly in New Zealand

On my way to World Fame...

Just got sent this link to the South Wales Guardian Newspaper...

A shame they missed the "Sunrise" off my Rotorua Club!

Thank You Weather Gods!

I know I promised a video and I haven't lied! There are not one, not two, but three in the pipeline, so please bear with me whilst I get it together! Just wanted to blog today to let you all know that the weather in Swansea is very much improving. This whole week has been beautiful sunshine, and the wind hasn't been too bad. Everyday I have relished the opportunity to sit on my windowsill in the sun, and the longer light hours have been great too. Yesterday I went to Bristol with a few of my friends to an adventure golf place called "Jungle Rumble", where the courses are all island-jungle like :-) Very cool! Today I have been a-walking - into the city for spring-time icecream with Laura, to the library to get some more novels, and back along the beach. It was so neat to watch the people with kites, search for shells, and feel the sand between my toes - although it was still a little colder than I would have liked! I'm off for a roast dinner at my friends house now - my first real "Sunday" Roast! Let's hope the weather holds out from now until October :-)

Happy Saint David's Day!

Sut Mae!

A video is sure to follow, but in the mean time I just wanted to say that I hope everyone had a Happy Saint David's day on March 1st - or Wales day as I like to call it. St David is the patron saint of Wales, and he died on this date in the year 589 (don't get history like that in NZ!). There has been some talk (since 2000) of having the day as a bank holiday for Wales, but this is yet to be confirmed by the people in charge of such things :( ... So I went in to work. I actually spent most of the day doing Rotary things so that was fairly enjoyable! So, in the UK, each of the 4 countries (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales) each have a patron saint, and a day to celebrate: England have St George, Scotland St Andrew, and Northern Ireland have... St Patrick! Speaking of which, I am lucky enough to be going to Dublin this St Paddy's day with a few friends, including Laura. On that note, I also hope everyone had a good Waitangi day on 6th February (or New Zealand day as I like to call that one!).

Part 3 of 3 - Christmas Holiday, Swansea, St Fagans

Part 2 of 3 - Cardiff

Finally! I'm back! Part 1 of 3