About three years ago, Donna Pedace, a New Mexico Rotarian and district chairwoman for the Group Study Exchange program, was at the airport seeing off a group of young French citizens who had been in the U.S. for a month as part of the program.

One was crying hysterically, not wishing to leave New Mexico and all she had found while on her visit.

"She said everyone had just been so kind," Pedace remembered. Because of all the emotion, the airline allowed Pedace to see the group to the gate, making sure everyone got on the plane (and back to France) successfully. As Pedace waited with the group for the next couple of hours, the leader of this group had something to tell Pedace that she felt she could now say with comfort.

"She told me they had been afraid to come to America. I couldn't believe it," Pedace said, "It wasn't about physical safety. They thought everyone in America was mean. We were not their first choice ... when they found out they were coming to the U.S. they almost canceled."

Pedace explained that all these French visitors had ever known of America was the bad press that portrayed Americans as "hating" the French.

"They were afraid we were all mean. (The leader) told me the people (of France) would not believe the story she was bringing back with them," she said. "Everyone she met here, in our country, in our district, was kind and generous and welcoming. She later brought back six couples to New Mexico. That is why I do this."

The International Exchange of Young Professionals, which takes four young professionals and one Rotarian team leader (one team from the U.S. and another team from a different country) exchange countries for one month every year.

"While they are there, they have the opportunity to share about their profession, but also get to go sightseeing and learn about the culture," Pedace said. "They see (the district they are exchanged to) in a very professional way. It's all about learning to foster goodwill and a better understanding of different cultures."

The professional exchange is the second-oldest program in Rotary and has been around for more than 50 years. Next up, the chosen team will travel to Australia on March 9, 2011, and will be expected to give presentations of their own professional lives to those in the district and take in as much as they can from the Australian experience. They will return to the U.S. April 13. The Rotary Club covers almost all expenses, including airfare and housing for the month that the team resides in the chosen district.

The Rotary Club is now taking applications from any young professionals (non-Rotarians) ages 25-40 with interest in the program.

"All we ask is that they are in recognized professions and have been for at least three years. We're just looking for sharp young professionals who feel that they would benefit," Pedace said. The process includes an application and interview in order to be accepted onto the exchange team.

"We've had everyone from state police to nonprofit workers to bankers, doctors, lawyers and truck farmers," Pedace said. "We can't promise to match people (professionally) exactly, but seeing the differences between our countries is just as important as seeing the similarities."

She said that there have been all sorts of success stories coming from both the U.S. team and exchange team in these situations. There was an Australian who learned of a program which improved community conditions in Bernalillo, and she brought it back to her own community. There was an American from the New Mexico district who exchanged to Germany and learned of new ideas to expand his business. There was a professional from the Philippines who saw the American banking system and wanted to change things in his banking community.

"It goes both ways," Pedace said. "We could be instrumental in helping people understand the world."

Contributing to the better understanding of the world, it seems, is only part of the advantage of this exchange. Pedace explained that partakers in the programs also come back with better public-speaking skills, more self-assurance and more maturity. They are also, while on the trip, "very well taken care of," as they stay with a Rotarian family. "They adopt you in to the family," Pedace said.

Along with this is a chance to see the culture of these countries from the eyes of the local people and people come home with a new awareness of the world around them. "It's a great opportunity," said Pedace.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 16; interviews will take place Sept. 24 and 25.

Applications should to be addressed to Donna Pedace at P.O. Box 933, Abiquiú, N.M., 87510-0933. Pedace can be reached at 505-685-4115 or by e-mail at pedaceabq@aol.com, to answer questions.

"There are no restrictions or guidelines. There are three phases: the professional phase, living with a Rotarian family ... and the cultural opportunities," Pedace said. "You can benefit in many ways. I can promise almost any interested person that they will never find a better deal."

Rebecca Gonzales is a 2010 Capital High graduate. You can reach her at nellybly22@gmail.com.