The Rotary Club of Bermuda has welcomed to the Island eight foreign exchange students to see what life here is like.

The programme, which is in its tenth year, also offers Bermudian students the chance to study in countries all over the world.

Five Bermudians -- Larondi Harrolld, Neitra Dill, Alexandra Mosher, Devika Gibbons, and Latitia Francis -- are studying for a year in Brazil, Ecuador, Belgium Germany, and Ecuador, respectively.

Ramadhin Smith, director of Sandys Rotary's vocational services, said some Bermudian students go away unable to speak the language of their host, but return to the Island speaking in foreign tongues.

"The same is true for students who come here,'' he said. "Some can't speak English when they get here, but speak it well by the time they leave.'' Recently, Mr. Smith took the students to the Pearman Watlington construction site off Pitt's Bay Road, Pembroke where office buildings are currently being built.

Mr. Smith said he wanted to show the students how buildings were constructed in Bermuda and whether it was any different from the way it was done in their countries.

The eight students, three of whom will attend school on the Island for the next year, have been sightseeing and getting to know the people of Bermuda.

Three students who will be here for the year are Jeroen Hakkers, 17, of the Netherlands, Ariane Oliveira, 15, of Brazil, and Anna Kalamies, 17, of Finland.

Jeroen and Anna -- who are sponsored by Sandys Rotary -- are attending Bermuda College while Ariane -- sponsored by Hamilton Rotary -- is taking classes at CedarBridge Academy.

The other five students, David Ven, 17, of South America, Nicola Beissner, 17, of Germany, Stephanie Robion, 18, of France, Emre Bertan, 17 of Turkey, and Tereza Tuckova, 16, of the Czech Republic, left the Island earlier this month.

Stephanie Robion said she enjoyed the beauty of the Island, particularly the beaches.

"The people here are all so friendly,'' the French teen said. "They have really been very nice.'' Anna Kalamies said she had already fallen in love with the natural beauty of the Island she will call home for the next year.

"I'm really looking forward to my stay and meeting different people here'', she added.

The Rotary Club has four branches on the Island, located in St. George's, Pembroke, Hamilton, and Sandys Parish.

CONSTRUCTIVE VISIT - Sandys Rotary vociational services director Ramadhin Smith, at far left, is pictured with international exchange students Joroen (Jerry) Hakkers, Ariane Oliveira, Anna Kalamies, David Ven, Nicola Beissner, Stephanie Robion, Emre Bertain, and Tereza Tuckova at the Pearman Watlington construction site off Pitt's Bay Road, Pembroke.

CLUB CLB