They say things change over time, but there are some things that feel like time stands still! Even 44 years later! Back in 1981, Lars Appel Haahr, arrived from Denmark to spend his year as a Rotary Exchange Student in Boerne, Texas.
Fast forward 44 years, while traveling to the Unites States on business, Lars reached out to say he was going to be in the area and wanted to visit with his host families from 1981. Thankfully, 4 out of the 5 families were still living and still in Boerne (what are the odds??) and were thrilled to have the opportunity to see him after all of these years!
The host families and their former exchange student met for lunch, at where else?? A Mexican food restaurant! There was much laugher and reminiscing and smiles all around. To see Lars as a parent himself now, sitting around the table with his former host parents and siblings was a true delight! Stories were flowing as everyone shared their memories and caught up with each other's current lives. Lars was also able to visit the Rotary Club of Boerne, where he was cheerfully welcomed and was also able to meet the Club's current Rotary Exchange Student from Spain, who happened to be celebrating her 17th birthday!
The year that a student spends as an Exchange Student in another country experiencing another culture is an unimaginable gift at the time to a 16 or 17 year old, but the life-long relationships formed are priceless. The visit with Lars was much too short, but several lifelong friends are now planning a visit to Denmark so Lars can play host family to them! Only through Rotary can these connections be so strong and last forever.