David Nguyen's Rotary Experience

Paris, France ... The city of lights ... of new and old friends

2008-01-12T03:38:00.000-08:00

Paris is a beautiful and amazing city! It's definitely on my list of favorite cities in the world! My buddy Dom and I found good deals on train tickets from Holland to Paris, so we decided to check out the "City of Lights."

While in Paris, we ventured to see the main tourist sites. We saw the Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, and the list continues. We definitely were not able to hit everything, and even my Parisian friends say that they haven't seen everything. So that means another trip to Paris is coming up in the future.

While in Paris, I was able to visit the Rotary Club of Paris. The Rotarians were very hospitable and I enjoyed my lunch at Le Pavilion Dauphine. I happened to sit next to a Rotarian who spent time in the States for his university, graduate school, and first working years. I was even able to practice some of my French as well.

My trip to Paris was also a highlight because I was able to meet up with old friends. Xavier and his wife, Magali, lived in Indianapolis from 2004-06, and Xavier was studying for his LL.M. while I was in my 2nd year of law school. We spent much time together in Indianapolis, and it was nice to see each other again to remember the old times.

Besides meeting up with old friends, Dom and I also met up with one of our friends from school in Holland. Madeleine also goes to university with us at Leiden, but is Parisian. We were able to meet up with her and her French friends where I further practiced my "broken" French. It's my goal to work on my French so that I am at least semi-fluent by the end of the year.

Paris ... definitely a city to visit ... and could definitely be a livable city.

New Years in Prague

2008-01-05T13:36:00.000-08:00

After Christmas, my friends from the States, David and Andy, visited me in Holland. After a few days in Holland, we went to Prague for New Years. As true as everyone claims, it is the jewel of eastern Europe. Untouched by war or natural disaster, the city is lined beautifully with ancient architecture and cobblestone streets. Although still on the Czech Crown, it isn't as cheap as it used to be. A very touristy city, especially during New Years, many people are enjoying the views and sites that Prague has to offer.

The New Years celebration was something I have never seen before. The Czech government has not yet regulated the use of fireworks, so citizens were shooting off fireworks from the streets. These were the same fireworks that are shot off from high skyscrapers in other cities. Although dangerous, it was definitely a site to see.

After seeing the city, I went out to Terezin, the location of a Jewish Ghetto and detention camp during World War II. There just aren't any words to describe what I saw and what I was feeling. However, it's something that we all won't forget.

Christmas in Leiden

2007-12-25T13:29:00.000-08:00

After Schiermonnikoog, I spent Christmas in Leiden with Matt, the other Rotary scholar, and other friends who stayed here for the holidays. We cooked Christmas dinner, and open New Zealander Christmas crackers. We even made our own paper snowflakes to remind us of a "white Christmas." Paul and I later that night went to Christmas Eve Mass.

On Christmas Day, I had Christmas lunch with Matt and his friend Ryan. Although it wasn't the same as being at home, it was good to spend it with friends.

Schiermonnikoog

2007-12-23T12:58:00.000-08:00

It was in August when I arrived to Holland and met my new friends. It's amazing how fast time flies. We all agreed that the time was too short, but definitely glad that the semester and exams were over. To help relax after exams, some friends and I took a trip to one of the northern Dutch islands, Schiermonnikoog. It was truly beautiful, and probably one of the best trips I have taken. The group was truly international including myself from the US, Barbara from Slovenia, Emma from Holland, Paul from New Zealand, and Cem from Turkey.

No cars are allowed on the island so it was very nice and peaceful. We cooked good food, enjoyed good wine, relaxed, and enjoyed each others' company. It was a nice feeling to not have the hustle and bustle of everyday life, or even the fast pace schedule of sightseeing when traveling. This is a place that I will definitely return to in the future.

Sinterklaas

2007-12-05T12:41:00.000-08:00

In the United States, Christmas is the day around the winter holiday that gifts are given. In many cultures in Europe, including Holland, St. Nicholas Day is more a time to give gifts than Christmas. St. Nicholas in Dutch is Sinterklaas.

In Holland, Sinterklaas comes in November. There's a long story about who he is, where he comes from, and who is helpers are. Each story is a little different from the other, but they all include Sinterklaas in a red suit with a white beard. He's slim, not fat. And he doesn't have elves, but zwarte piets.

I also had the chance to run into Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piets; however, I think I'm a little too old to believe that the one I met was the real one ... if there is a real one ...

Fundraiser for Filipino NGO & Rotary

2007-11-29T12:25:00.000-08:00

In the United States, my interests and extra-curricular involvement included volunteering with non-profit organizations and organizing events. Naturally, I wanted to continue this type of involvement in Holland. Emma, my friend from Holland, and I organized a fundraiser to educate indigent Filipino children. Emma is directly involved with this non-governmental organization (NGO) and after she told me about her work, together we planned to help raise money for the children.

The event was a great success. Our friends and colleagues were very open and generous to the cause, and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Matt, another Rotary scholar, and I also took this oppotunity to introduce everyone to Rotary and their educational programs. It was a perfect occasion to talk about the humanitarian work that Rotary does, as well as how it supports young people through their educational scholarships.

Leiden Rotary Club

2007-11-26T12:54:00.000-08:00

Matt, the other Rotary Scholar from St. Paul, and I visited and presented to the Leiden Rotary Club. The Club was very receptive to us and is willing to help us with anything that we may need during our stay in Holland. We will be returning to the club again in January to do another presentation and have lunch with the Rotarian in charge of exchange students. We look forward to more involvement with the club.

Thanksgiving & My Birthday

2007-11-22T13:19:00.000-08:00

For twenty-some years, I have always spent Thanksgiving with my family. For the first time in my life, I missed the turkey and after-Thanksgiving shopping. However, I can't complain ... I am having the time of my life.

Not only was it Thanksgiving, but it was also my birthday. This coincidence only happens every so often, so it was easy for my international friends to celebrate both Thanksgiving and my birthday.

Some of us had a nice Thanksgiving/birthday dinner (but it did not include turkey or ham), and then we met other friends out afterwards. Although it wasn't the traditional American Thanksgiving, I had a good time with everyone. I got gifts from all around the world to help remind me where everyone's from!

The Irish Experience: Dublin, Ireland

2007-11-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

A couple of friends and I visited Dublin, Ireland, to get the true Irish experience. Barbara, from Slovenia, and Dom, who is Croatian but goes to law school in the States, and I, spent several days exploring the city. Dom and I also had a chance to venture out into the suburbs a bit and see the true Irish countryside.

In Dublin, we enjoyed the traditional sites, including Trinity College Dublin, Christ Church, St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Guinness Brewery, Jameson Distillery, Temple Bar, and more. It's true when people say that Guinness tastes so much better in Ireland than in the States. We were in Dublin right before the big Halloween celebrations, so there were many tourists in the city. I now know where Boston gets its feel. Boston is very similar to Dublin - for obvious reasons.

Besides spending time in the city, after Barbara left, Dom and I explored the countryside. No wonder green is the country's color, because everything was green. Surrounded by the sea, the rolling hills create a splendid view from all angles. We were able to see a port city and an Irish castle. The trip off the continent was very interesting, and I hope to return to explore the rest.

Rotary Club Lisse-Bollenstreek

2007-10-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

I visited my host's Rotary Club and got to make a small presentation about myself, my studies, and my ambitions. My host, who is pictured in the center, standing with me the the Club President, is also a lawyer in Holland. When I arrived, her and her son picked me up from the airport and helped me get started in Holland. Also, her son has shown me around and has been great to hang out with as well.

The Lisse-Bollenstreek Club is a fairly decent sized club with about 40 members or so. Lisse is located near Leiden, but is less populated, and would be considered more of a town. I plan to attend the clubs in Leiden with fellow Rotary scholars in the near future.

An Evening with the Prof.

2007-10-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

Succeeding in academia is a two way street. The students learn from the teacher, but the teacher also learns so much from the interactions and developments of their students. From my own teaching experiences - at the secondary level, teaching at IU, and most recently as visiting lecturer of law in Vietnam - I appreciate the interaction between students and their teachers.

Our course enjoyed an evening with one of our professors. A small world it really is, he knows my law professor in the States personally from their meetings in Europe. We enjoyed discussions, both on the academic level, but also on a social level, that helped all of us understand each other and get to know everyone a bit better.

In November, one of my MBA professors will be traveling to Holland, and we plan to meet in Rotterdam. These are all proof of how small this world really is!

EURO Road Trip 07 - Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest

2007-10-15T04:33:00.000-07:00

One thing that I have missed in Europe is driving. Being from the United States, and especially Indiana (where everything is so spread out), driving is a natural daily task. Here in Holland, cycling is a natural daily task. You would be amazed at that the Dutch can do and carry on their bicycles. Just for example, one day, I observed a mother carrying three children on her bicycle! One was in a seat attached to the handle bars, the other behind her, and another standing right in front of her. Well, if you can't picture it, trust me, I had to take second looks.

But with October approaching, many of us wanted to experience some German culture, so we decided to take a road trip to Munich and see what Oktoberfest was all about. After some discussions with other Germans, I discovered that many Germans haven't experienced Oktoberfest. To many, Oktoberfest is mainly for the tourists.

It was an interesting road trip. Since I had the most experience in driving long trips, everyone deferred to me for organizing the excursion. We rented a Mercedes-Benz van, crammed into it, and headed for the German autobahns. It took us around 8 hours to arrive, driving at times 170-180 km/hr with the traffic jams and the breaks.

It's known around the world that on the German Autobahns there is no speed limit. That's only partially correct. In some areas, usually the rural areas, that is correct, there is no speed limit; however, in more urban areas, you would be lucky to drive 120 km/hr. If you are thinking that 170 km/hr is fast, we made plenty of BMWs and Mercedes pass us at upwards to 200 km/hr. The Germans really do know how to build their cars and their highways.

Oktoberfest was a lot of fun. It was basically a big fair that included German beer. All of us who went were from other parts of the world, including the US (myself), Russia, Turkey, New Zealand, Scotland, and Greece. One thing that I have enjoyed is meeting people from all around the world and learning about their culture. What's even more interesting is all of us experiencing something new together.

Besides Oktoberfest, Munich is a beautiful city. Home to BMW, Bayer, Siemens, and other Fortune 500 companies, it's a city lined with historic architecture and history ... and Starbucks! (There's only one Starbucks in Holland - at the airport!) Unfortunately, our stay in Munich was only for a few days, otherwise we would have ventured and explored more. We'll save the rest for another time.

Indiana, Our Indiana ... the Founding Fathers in the Netherlands

2007-10-04T04:17:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I'm proud to be a Hoosier! With three degrees from Indiana University, it's tough not to be proud of your alma mater. As a result, when I arrived to Holland, my first instinct was to see if there was an IU Alumni Chapter established.

There was not a chapter established, so I took on the responsibility and initiative to get one going. From my experience serving on the Board of the Central Indiana Chapter of the IUAA, I was able to organize our first meeting of the Founding Fathers.

Four of us met at Vakzuid, a Bar/Restaurant in Amsterdam located in the Historic Olympic Stadium. Our group consisted of two Dutch, and two Americans (including myself). Although my Hoosier experiences were more recent than some others, it was interesting to hear stories about what the others took away from their time at IU and Indiana. We look forward to building our group and getting more folks involved.

3rd of Oktober - Liberation of Leiden

2007-10-03T05:08:00.000-07:00

Every year, Leiden celebrates a holiday that no other city in Holland celebrates. It's 3rd of Oktober. This holiday is to commemorate the liberation of Leiden from the Spanish in 1574. The holiday includes festivities, traditional cooking, and lots of celebration. Although the traditional dish is Hutsput, some of us decided to enjoy some Ethiopian food instead. Hutsput was saved for another time!

Rotary Nederlands 07-08

2007-09-29T04:04:00.000-07:00

On the 29th of September, all of the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars in Holland and some Rotarians convened in Amersfoort, a smaller city in Holland. There are three scholars at Leiden University, Matt, Nick, and myself, and others are studying in Amsterdam, Groningen, Delft, and other cities and universities around Holland.

The meeting was a great opportunity for all of us to meet. Although we're studying in different parts of the country, Holland isn't very big and the public transportation is amazing, so it's easy for all of us to visit each other.

There are many different countries represented, such as Malaysia, the US, Australia, Japan, and Canada, just to name a few. Together we decided to organize and host a conference for young professionals interested in humanitarian work. We all come from different backgrounds of law, medicine, transportation, and humanitarian volunteerism, so we hope to be able to reach a wide range of interested people. We also hope to use this conference as a way to advertise and inform people of the Ambassadorial Scholarships and other educational programs offered by Rotary.

Hoosiers in Berlin

2007-09-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

After the weekend in Frankfurt, I took a bus to meet fellow Hoosiers in Berlin. Lesley, a former Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, was leading a group of Hoosiers to Germany to look into what Germans were doing with alternative energy sources. Lesley and I know each other not only though Rotary, but we also both participated in the Indiana Food & Agriculture Trade Mission to Taiwan and Vietnam last Fall.

It was a pleasure to see old and meet new faces. But also, to experience Berlin was a whole new adventure. The city holds so much history while it boasts modern architecture.

While in Berlin, I also visited the Berlin Rotary Club. It was held in the infamous Aldon Hotel, and the lunch, from what the Rotarians stated, was one of the best in the city. I had the chance to exchange club flags and experience Rotary outside of the U.S. One revelation that I had was that although English is the international language of business, one can more easily attract business by knowing the others' native language. I look forward to learning more languages as my next long term goal.

First step into Germany ... Frankfurt am Main

2007-09-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

About three years ago, I met Sabrina from Germany. She was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar from Germany and studying at IU Law - Indianapolis. Who knew that meeting her would change my life forever. Not only did I become interested in studying abroad, but I started to become familiar with Rotary International and all of the humanitarian projects that it is involved in.

Naturally, making a trip to visit her and her family was on my list of priorities. This was the beginning of a week long trip in Germany. I took the train from Holland to Frankfurt am Main, the economic capital of Europe, and the home of the European Central Bank. Frankfurt am Main is also known as Frankfurt Mainhatten for its New York City looking skyline. Not many cities in Europe have such a skyline as those in the U.S.

I visited Frankfurt and saw many of the "tall" skyscrapers. We went atop Maintower, the second tallest building in Frankfurt, which is one of the tallest in Europe. It was an amazing 54 floors! The Chase Tower in Indianapolis is 48 floors, and no one would consider that tall at all. But Europe has it historic buildings and deep rooted culture.

After a day in the city, we went out to Rudesheim, a town in the Rhine River Valley. Germany truly is a beautiful country lined with mountains, rivers, and vineyards. It's definitely a contrast to Holland, which is very flat (much like Indiana). Sabrina, her parents, and I walked along the vineyards, enjoyed the grapes, and later went wine tasting. I saw the historic monument commemorating the victory of the Germans against the French in some long historic battle. The view into the valley was beautiful. With the vineyards and wineries, I would compare this part of Germany to California's Napa Valley.

My classmates ... EBL Class of 2008!!

2007-09-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

After one year, my classmates and I are going to know each other extremely well! With only 11 of us in our program ... Masters of Advanced Legal Studies (LL.M. Adv.) in European Business Law ... how can we not. It's a very diverse group with people from all parts of the world ... the US, Germany, Russia, China, Taiwan, South Africa, Turkey, and England.

We see each other not only in class, but outside of class as well. We are participating in the European Law Moot Court Competition so hopefully we'll be traveling and defending our briefs. Throughout my tenure in Europe, you'll see many of these faces.

First trip to Amsterdam

2007-09-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

Being in Leiden and only a half hour away from Amsterdam, I knew that I would be making many trips throughout my stay in Holland. My first true exploration trip included Jaime and her friend, Andy. Jaime and I know each other from back home in Indiana. If you recall, you sometimes see us both in the IUPUI Graduate Studies commercials on TV.

Amsterdam is an amazing city. It's lined with beautiful canals and filled with tourists trying to find the Van Gogh Museum or the Anne Frank House. We did a variety of activities, but definitely didn't get to do it all. It's ok with me, since I have the rest of the year to discover the rest of Amsterdam.

It's a small world ... my trip to Lithuania

2007-08-24T04:29:00.000-07:00

The world, truly, is a very small place, especially with today's technology. As a result, it is evermore important to understand different cultures, ethnicities, and customs, as we all live side by side and we are all effected by each others' actions.

From my years in law school at IU, I had the pleasure to meet many people from different cultures and backgrounds. I worked and tried hard to ensure that their time in Indiana was a pleasant one, as this was the best marketing that the State could have ... personal interaction. It would be these future leaders in their countries that would remember Indiana and its people.

About two years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Adam, who was from Lithuania. He actually ended up to be one of my roommates. A very smart guy, he graduated top of his class in Lithuania and turned down many lucrative offers in Lithuania to come to the US and continue his studies. He had a pleasant time in Indiana, and it was now time for me to sample a bit of his home country.

Adam, who took the New York Bar Exam, and works in Chicago, was taking time off to visit his family in Vilnius, Lithuania. Since I was in Europe, what a perfect meeting point for me to see him as well as experience his home country.

I spent 4 days in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, and had an amazing time. It's a beautiful city with much progress, and at the same time, much remains from the old Soviet times. The land is rolling, not flat like Holland, with forested hills and rivers. The countryside is beautifully lined with old cottages.

I even tried to visit the Rotary club in Vilnius, but unfortunately, the club was not meeting in the summer.

Trakai is an ancient castle. There was a festival going on the same day!

This is the geographic center of Europe!!

It's undergrad all over again!!

2007-08-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

When I was planning to make this trip of a lifetime, I promised myself to get immersed in Dutch life as much as I can. Everyone knows the saying, "When in Rome, ..." Well, when in Holland, do what the Dutch do, so since Dutch students join Student Associations, so did I.

In America, when we think of Student Associations, we think of Tennis Club, Chess Club, Debate Club, etc. Not in Holland. I am now a member of Quintus, a national Student Association of Dutch students and alumni. Yes, a Student Association is equivalent to America's Greek Life.

However, it's not exactly the same. In Holland, the Student Association is co-ed, and then the students divide up into smaller groups. It is the smaller group that acts more like a fraternity or sorority. They throw parties, have specially designed shirts, etc. As you can see, it didn't take me long to figure out how Dutch life really is.

I credit my discovery to the people I have met. My Dutch "buddy" (a/k/a mentor), Marijke (the girl wearing glasses), introduced me to her friend, who was a member of Quintus. After much discussion, I knew I just had to be a member. Below, you can see pictures of my new Dutch friends and fraternity brothers.

Not only have I joined a Dutch Student Association, but living in, literally, a dorm room brings back memories of good ol' IU!! Yes, A DORM ROOM!! Most all of you know, for the past 3 years, I've had the amazing time of living in a house in downtown Indianapolis. I LOVE my home, and going from a 3 bedroom home to just a room is interesting. But as you can see, everything fits ... so far.

Kamerlingh Onnes Gebouw, Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid - Leiden University Faculty of Law

2007-08-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

This is the Faculty of Law where I will be taking classes and spending much of my time. I will be obtaining a Masters of Advanced Legal Studies in European Business Law (LL.M. Adv.). It's sound really fancy, so I am sure they made a mistake admitting me into this program. In fact, the law school at Leiden is considered to be the best law school in the country. Since Harvard or Yale denied my admission, at least I'm attending the number one school somewhere in the world! Just joking ... GO HOOSIERS & GO JAGS!! :)

It's a very modern building with all of the most recent technologies. I am sure I'll enjoy my time in Leiden.

Leiden, Netherlands

2007-08-16T02:15:00.000-07:00

Leiden is an amazing college town. It is the home to Leiden University, the oldest Dutch university. Since my time at Indiana University-Bloomington was so amazing, I chose Leiden for it's location in a small college town. As you can see from the pictures, it is very beautiful, lined with canals and shops along the road and alleyways. People from all over come to Leiden to visit and enjoy its beauty and small town offerings.

Everything is accessible by walking. In these past few days, and for the next year, I have walked more than I ever have. It's great exercise, and actually enjoyable to be among the city's life.

I have discovered the supermarkets, university buildings, and city shops. In these next few posts, you'll get a glimpse of what Leiden looks like.

First Week in Holland

2007-08-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

Although my flight out of O'Hare International Airport was delayed about 2 hours, it didn't at all dampen my arrival to The Netherlands. I arrived a little over 2 hours late, but greeted by my Rotarian host and her son.

Since I am not able to move into my room until next week, I have been able to stay with another Rotarian and his family. Mr. Leo and his wife have been very gracious and generous. They have shown me around Holland, helped me find necessities, and directed me in the right direction on how to do things in Holland. The first night in Holland, we all enjoyed a very delicious Indonesian dinner in Den Haag (The Hague). They live in a suburb of The Hague ... Voorberg. In America, it takes appropriately a half hour to travel from the city centre to the suburbs, depending on the city. In Holland, it's totally different. Everything is very close here. Bicycle is the main form of transportation, and don't complain about gas prices, because gas costs about $7.00/gallon here in The Netherlands.

In America, when you drive for a half hour, you only make it to the other side of town. Here, in a half hour, you have already gone through 5 cities and towns.

I also went down to Leiden, the city where my university is located, and registered with the school and walked around. It's a beautiful city. The city streets are lined with canals and shops, plenty to do, eat and drink.

Yesterday, I spent the day in Noordwijk, a beach town. Meeno, my Rotarian host's son, picked me up and we enjoyed festivities in his hometown. There was a beach party where there was a stage set up and a DJ. There were thousands of people at this beach party, and it was lots of fun. I have been able to meet lots of Dutch people, and all have been very nice.

The first week couldn't have gone any better. I look forward to the rest of the year, and don't forget to make plans to come and visit!!

Rotary Club Presentations

2007-08-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

Before I headed off to Europe, I made several presentations to Rotary Clubs in the surrounding areas to talk about myself, the scholarship, and my future goals. I made presentations at the Crawfordsville, Attica-Williamsport, Indianapolis Sunrise, and Indianapolis Clubs. At the Indianapolis Club meeting, Nate Feltman was the key-note speaker, who is the Secretary of Commerce for the State of Indiana. In the Fall of 2006, I interned at the IEDC where I had the opportunity to travel with the Lt. Governor to develop trade relations between Indiana and Taiwan and Vietnam.

Pre-Departure Rotary Experiences

2007-08-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

I highly encourage all who are interested in studying abroad to look into the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. I have spoken to many qualified friends about the scholarship, but it's tough for people to commit to because of it's long timeline. You should start thinking about the scholarship two years ahead. You apply for the scholarship about one and one half years before your departure, and you know of the outcome about one year in advance.

The reason for this timeline is to allow proper preparation before your departure, but also that you can make presentations to surrounding Rotary Clubs in your area.

As part of my orientation as Ambassadorial Scholar, I attended the Multi-District Outgoing Scholar Orientation, held in Nashville, TN. I traveled down to Nashville, TN with fellow scholar Andrea Wiese. Andrea is going to study in Turkey, and I am definitely going to visit her while I am in Europe. We had a blast on the trip! We made several stops and excursions along the way: Jim Bean Distillery and Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace. I'm an alcoholic :) and Andrea's a history whiz!

We also got together and toured Indiana State Government, and had social gatherings as well.

How Rotary was set to change my life ...

2007-08-11T04:52:00.000-07:00

When I started law school, I never imagined that I would continue my education after I graduated. The stretch to also get an MBA and extend my time at the law school by another year was already postponing my entry into the workforce. It really wasn't postponing work that was attractive, but to obtain the best experience I could before I had to begin those billable hours.

Opportunities always come knocking at the door ... it's the ability to hear them and allow them to come into your life that will permit you to be the best that you can be. About two years ago, I ran into an opportunity of a lifetime. Through my involvement at the law school, I got to know many international students studying at the law school for their LL.M. (Masters of Law). I ended up dating one of them, Sabrina from Germany, who was studying as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. Not only did such a program sound interesting, but I had always wanted to study abroad. Moreover, the Rotarians in Indianapolis recruited me heavily to apply, and I knew this was the opportunity that would change my life. This was the chance to finally experience life in a new and different culture. My studies would propel me to a whole new level of interest ... international business law, and this might just be the ticket to do work in this area. My main interest is to help attract businesses to my great homestate - Indiana - and help Hoosier businesses expand around the world.

As for my permanent work, the law firm that I had been working for for the past two summers was gracious to defer my offer. I will return to Krieg DeVault LLP to practice after my studies in Europe.

I hope that all who follows this blog will find my travels and experiences as interesting as I. I am constantly informing others about Rotary's educational programs and grants as I find that there is no other program similar or comparable to this.