Rotary Exchange student Samir Zogbi talks about life in Argentina

Pictured, from left, are David and Erin Dunbar – Rotary Exchange student Samir Zogbi’s first host family – Zogbi, Marg and Bernie Vandonk – his current host family – and Mark Oliver, the youth services Rotary rep.

By Wendy Lamond

The St. Marys Rotary Club held its last meeting of the year on Monday, Dec. 12, during which members welcomed inbound exchange student Samir Zogbi, who delivered a presentation about his home country, Argentina.

Zogbi started off by thanking Erin and David Dunbar, his current host family. He has been in Canada for three months and plans on staying for seven more. In his time here so far, he has visited Niagara Falls, Kitchener, London and Stratford, as well as Toronto to see a soccer match.

“I thought it was amazing,” Zogbi said of his trip to Niagara Falls. “The size and the power of the water are incredible, and I also really liked the streets around the falls.”

His favourite part of St. Marys is how quiet the town is – and maple syrup!

Zogbi’s presentation started with an introduction of Argentina. He talked about where it is located and shared that it has a population of more than 47 million people. The capital city of Argentina is Buenos Aires and it is known for its diverse culture, beautiful landscapes and fascinating history.

Next, he shared about the traditional cuisine of the country. Asado, which consists of beef, pork, chicken and chorizo, is cooked on an open fire or grill and is a crowd favourite, as is Locro, a hearty stew, and empanadas, baked or fried turnovers. When it comes to culture and traditions, Argentina is known for its vibrant folk music as well as the tango that was founded in Buenos Aires.

Soccer is one of Argentina’s passions with some big-name players like Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona coming from there.

Planning on travelling to Argentina? Zogbi shared a couple of the must-see tourist spots, the first being the Perito Moreno Glacier located in Patagonia and the other being Iguazu Falls, which is one of seven wonders of nature, boasting over 250 waterfalls.

Zogbi proudly showed the crowd a picture of his family, including his parents and his brother, who is planning on visiting and working in the United States. He also shared a picture of his family dog.

The city that Zogbi is from is called Quilmes, where he attends a tech school called EEST No. 7 IMPA.

Outside of school, Zogbi loves to play football (soccer).

The local Rotary members asked Zogbi how he got involved with the Rotary Exchange program. He said youth exchange programs are a tradition in his family and he chose to pursue his own adventure.

After the exchange, Zogbi would like to pursue a career in law. However, while in Canada, he would like to see more of the country and spend some time in the winter skiing and making memories.

St. Marys resident Clair Dunbar has been on an exchange in Denmark for the last three months. She sent an update letter for the club to share after Zogbi’s presentation. She is now with her second host family, is taking Danish lessons, has met all of the inbound Canadians and is enjoying being busy and learning lots.

The Rotary Exchange program is just one of many great initiatives the Rotary Club supports. The club is always looking for new members to join and carry on these important projects. For more information on the club, visit rotarystmarys.ca.