November 30, 2014

Final Words and Thoughts

Months have passed since the 2014 GSE Team from District 6980 bought some very special shoes in Zlín. Today, the team - and their footwear - are back in Central Florida. While this year's Group Study Exchange Trip is over, the memories of that incredible journey live on.

Given that the final days of the trip were the most whirliest of whirlwinds, the team was unable to write about the rest of their experience.  Upon their return to the USA, the team presented their GSE experience to a number of Rotary Clubs throughout Central Florida. Yet, the task to put it in writing was harder to manage.

At last - and after only a few from me - Team Leader "Mamma Geri” has penned the final stages of the 2014 GSE Team’s journey in Czech Republic and Slovakia. Read on to take in her poignant reflections on this remarkable experience.

ZLIN (continued)

Each host family and Rotarian seemed to focus on offering us something special every minute of our five-day stay in Zlín.  We sampled delicious food and delightful beverages.  We watch local artists and craftsmen at work.   We toured museums, a tire manufacturing and a semiconductor plant, and the Tomáš Baťa Foundation and University.  We attended the grand opening of the 54th International Film Festival for Children and Youth and rode in multi-million dollar antique cars.  And just when we thought we had seen it all, we enjoyed a breathtaking display of art and religious artifacts in the gorgeous basilica at the Velehrad Monastery.




OSTRAVA

Our senses filled, we poured ourselves and an ever-growing number of suitcases into two European cars and headed to Ostrava, an industrial city in the northeast part of the Czech Republic, about 15 miles from the Polish border.  En route, we stopped at the small city of Příbor to tour the birthplace of Sigmund Freud and to rest on his famous couch.  

Our time in Ostrava was a little harder for us as we knew this stop would be our last and therefore, the GSE experience would come to an end.  We made the most of our final four days, however, exploring the city from many different angles and heights.  We traveled to the depth of the once-active Alexander coal mine and to the height of the once mighty Vítkovice Mining complex.  High above the city at the top of the new Town Hall Tower, we looked for miles in all directions, spying Poland in the far distance.  

Very late on our last day in Ostrava – after touring the Radegast Brewery, hiking up Mount Radhošť to see the Albin Polasek statue of Radegast (old god of Slavic mythology, pictured below), speaking to a Rotary Club, and touring an antique car museum, we packed and repacked our suitcases, bid our hosts a teary farewell, and boarded a train for Prague, arriving at 4 a.m.  



We had no idea how we would get the five of us and 18 pieces of luggage from the train station across town to the airport.  But once again - Rotarians to the rescue.  District 2240’s GSE coordinator, George, and host mom Jana met us as the train pulled in,  helped us drag our luggage off of the train quickly, and carted us to the airport, waiting with us until it was time to board our plane.  Former District Governor, Martin Timr, had driven the 100 miles from his home in České Budějovice (our first stop) to say good-bye as well.  We were truly touched.




REFLECTIONS ON OUR GSE EXPERIENCE

I have had a very difficult time finishing our blog, in part I believe, because I do not want to bring closure to 28 of the most incredulous days of my life.  I have hundreds of thoughts and impressions as the team leader, as a Rotarian, and as an American, and a summary seems so shallow and practically impossible. However, I would like to offer three reflections that will stay with us always:

The generosity of all those who welcomed, hosted, chauffeured, arranged for, and totally embraced five “unknowns” from Central Florida overwhelmed us.  We were treated with the utmost of graciousness, kindness, cheerfulness, and selflessness, greater than any we had ever witnessed.  For that we are eternally grateful and humble.

The appreciation of freedom that began in 1989 after the Velvet Revolution, which ended 41 years of Soviet rule, opened our eyes and hearts. We listened to tragic stories of oppression, fear, and suppression.  Joyfully (and tearfully) we heard amazing descriptions of what it was like for the Czechs and Slovaks to travel across neighboring borders without fear of death or imprisonment, to listen to a free media without looking over one’s shoulder, and to speak opening and honestly about retribution.  It was good for us to be reminded about freedom and life-long liberties that seem so common to us.

Our experience truly confirmed the very basic fact that most people around the world seek basically the same thing:  good health, the love of family, decent shelter, enough to eat, the opportunity to learn and earn, a chance to laugh, friendships – and peace.  This fact is at the heart of GSE and of Rotary.  International understanding and friendship will only strengthen the human spirit and resolve and hopefully impact  - for the better – the future of this world.

On behalf of one of the best GSE teams ever, I want to thank District 6980 for believing in us and for supporting us.  From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank District 2240 for embracing us.  

We are grateful – and changed forever.

Geri Evans, APR, Fellow PRSA
Team Leader
Rotarian – The Rotary Club of Orange County East Winter Park