General News
1 April, 2025
Student shares exchange experience
At Nhill Rotary Club's recent Wednesday night meeting members were delighted to have on board as guest speaker an exchange student from Horsham Rotary Club, Edie Mason, who had spent the past 12 months in Brazil and loved it.
Edie left Australia on January 20 2024 and returned on January 11 this year after just shy of 12 months abroad.
Edie’s father Tony and step-mother Heidi Mason, are very proud parents.
They travelled from Horsham with her to the meeting at Nhill.
Edie now speaks fluent Brazilian Portuguese and is planning a return trip to Brazil to visit her host families and friends.
Edie said she was thankful for the opportunity Rotary afforded her and she encouraged other young people to apply for the exchange program.
Tony and Heidi said they were inspired by Edie’s bravery in moving to the other side of the world for a year – a huge venture for such a young Aussie country-town girl.
While in Brazil Edie showed great resilience, especially when she lost her maternal grandmother, to whom she had been very close.
Edie was diagnosed with dengue fever while overseas.
During these very difficult times, she received amazing support from her host families.
Her parents and family said they were also proud of how she embraced the cultural differences and language barriers, learned Portuguese and traditional dances, and never shied away from trying local cuisine.
As a result of her year in Brazil, Edie has close friends from all around the globe with whom she is in regular contact.
It is a wonderful experience for young people to do what Edie has done and look outside the square, receiving the education of a lifetime.