FogHorn November 17, 2016 - Caroline Gossart - HMBRotary Exchange Student
Posted by Editor: FDBobko
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The FOGHORN
ROTARY CLUB OF HALF MOON BAY
November 17, 2016
CAROLINE GOSSART - HMB Rotary Exchange Student
"My Journey"
Article by: Joe Brennan
Photos by EJ Dieterle
Caroline appeared in a gossamer shirt in the colors and pattern of the American Flag over her blouse. She proceeded to introduce the Belgian flag and wore it as a cape during her presentation. The Belgian flag is rectangular (as are all national flags but one, Nepal's) comprised of three equal vertical stripes of Black, Yellow & Red, not to be confused with Germany’s of Black, Red & Yellow stripes. The Kingdom of Belguim has a population of 11,250,585 in an area of 30,528 square kilometers yielding a density of 363.2 people per square kilometer. Brussels is the capital city. Three languages are spoken in Belgium; Dutch, French and German.
Her home town is La Louieve or City of the Wolf (Louvieve is female wolf)
The Best of Belgian Food is Chocolate, Fries (think French but don’t say it), Belgian Waffles and Mussels fried in mayo. The fries are cooked twice, precook + cook, that’s why they are the best in the world! Beer too is famous and enjoys a long tradition, each of the many varieties has its own glass to be served in - the slide of the beer glass poster was impressive.
Because Belgium is clean, safe, flat and well managed it has the reputation of being boring…But It Is Not Boring! For example Caroline showed photos of: The Grand Place of Brussels, Ghent, Bruge, Waterloo Lion, the Atommium, Manneken Pis and more. She insists there is a lot of atmosphere. They host the biggest Festival of music in the world and Belgium is home to famous singers and actors such as Stromae and Jean Claude Van Damm .
Carnaval is celebrated in the French area over a period of three days during which they drink beer. She says it is a big deal - their “Pumpkin Festival”!
We watched the video “BELGIUM” which had a tongue in cheek narrative from which we learned that it has a reputation for being the Dullest country on earth, that it was formerly the fourth greatest power in the world and it has the “Most complicated government in the world”. There are three communities, Dutch, French & German, each with their own government and lots of complicated overlap.
The national dish is fries with mayo, the fries are twice coked for goodness. (The question from the floor as to whether the best ones are fried in donkey fat was ignored)
Who AM I?
Father Philippe is an auditor and long time Rotarian. Her mother will become a Rotarian in January as she is currently enrolled in the four month orientation program of Belgian Rotary. Siblings Francois born in 1991, Paula born in 1992, Oliver born in 1997 and youngest Caroline born in 1998. The Gossart family has a tradition of taking a family vacation together every year and who showed photos of their annual line up photos for a few years.
Paddy the dog is the 5th child, he joined the family 7 years ago and they didn’t want to be “dog crazy” putting clothes on the dog…but they are now! He grew immense in just one year in line with his heritage as a Burmese Mountain Dog.
My Passions
Caroline loves DANCING and has danced ballet for years performing in “Prince Igor”. She dances all types of dance; Ballet, Contemporary and a big musical show by Dragon who did Cirque Sole.
She has a tight cadre of fellow dancing buddies. She showed photos of them and a video of her star role in a contemporary dance performance.
She loves to dance Michael Jackson and shows a video of her dancing MJ at the Homecoming Rally at HMB High.
Caroline the SCOUT GIRL (Scout Boy & Both exist too)
This is the coolest thing ever in Belgium not like here in USA…you are a loser if you are not a Scout Girl. They meet we very Saturday afternoon. She has made friends forever with fellow Scout Girls.
She has served as a counselor from age 13 to 16. She has done a lot of volunteering in her and neighboring communities as a Scout Girl and some projects have over lapped with Rotary.
SKIING (often!)
She loves to ski and has had good opportunities to chi here in California and Nevada.
TRAVEL: So many places to travel, so much to see!
She has traveled extensively to NY, Australia, the American SW, Philadelphia, Florence Italy, Africa etc!
My Incredible FRIENDS
Closest are her Dance friends, 8 characters who are active sportswomen and gave her a big surprise 16th Birthday Party
Next are her High School buddies where she attended in another neighborhood, not La Louviere.
From Scout Girls which sh grew out of at 16 but now can return as a counselor and leader. Many strong friendships were formed in the Scout program.
FUTURE
Caroline wants to be a medical doctor specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her plan is to study in Brussels but she has also applied to Stanford and is working with Paul Wrubel on the process.
ROTARY a family thing. Her grandfather and father was/is a Rotarian and her mother, now an empathy nester, will be joining in January after the mandatory six month aprenticeship period.
Her 25 year old brother is the youngest Rotarian in Belgium after his good experience as a Rotary Exchange student member.
Her family hosted an International exchange student every year since she was 8 years old so she now has these Rotary Exchange Student siblings in countries around the world and is thankful to her parents for their Rotary participation!
“And now leaving the best experience of my life until the last: Thanks to all of you!"
She plays a recording of the song “Sweet Caroline” with the words "Sweet Caroline, your time never seemed so good!”, striking a tearful high for her whole amazing and joyous presentation - delivered with poise, compassion, humility, pride and heartfelt honesty - a joy to behold!
November 17, 2016 Meeting Recap
Article by: Mary Rogren
Photos by EJ Dieterle
THIS WEEK AT OUR MEETING
Greeters: Mary Rogren (SOA) and PP Stacy Trevethon
Pledge of Allegiance: Larkin Evans (our guest, John Evans’ wife)
Inspirational Thought: Led by Mary Rogren. Mary noted that her husband has quoted the phrase “make lemonade” (e.g. when life gives you lemons, make lemonade) – many times over the past week+ given recent national events. In checking out the phrase, she noted that the phrase first came up in an obituary for a famous dwarf actor in 1915 --- “He cashed in on is disabilities . . . He picked up the lemons that Fate has sent him and started a lemonade stand.” Many attribute the resurgence of the expression to Dale Carnegie in 1948 in his books ----- but the phrase actually was resurrected in a 1940 edition of The Rotarian --- in a poem entitled “The Optimist”. “Life handed him a lemon, As Life sometimes will do. His friends looked on in pity, Assuming he was throught. They came upon him later, Reclining in the shade . . . in calm contentment, drinking . . A glass of lemonade.”
Guests
Larkin Evans, wife of John Evans. Kathy Wilson, wife of Steve Wilson. Caroline Gossart, our exchange student.
Happy/Not So Happy News
Dianne Bobko was excited to report that she spent the last week at Cape Kennedy with her husband at the opening of the new building for the Astronaut Hall of Fame and gala dinner. The dinner commemorated the 50th anniversary of Gemini XII, the last Gemini mission before the Apollo Program began. She enjoyed listening to Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell who were on the Gemini 12 mission who discussed their mission and their memories.
John Evans raised a toast with a single rose to his wife, Larkin --- soon to be celebrating their wedding anniversary (November 28, 1970.)
EJ Dieterle hoped that he was “missed” – as he missed the last three meetings traveling in Europe.
Bill Johnston shared a (long) story about a case that he has been working on over 20 years to free a man from prison – which happened recently, although his client is very ill and was released to join his family in Arizona. He also recently shared his mother’s 89th birthday.
Announcements
Rusty Reilly-Pond was unable to attend but shared via Liz that Rotary will be able to assist 25 familiess in the Adopt a Family program. Rusty is looking for volunteers to help shop for the families during the next couple weeks.
Liz thanked club members for sponsoring alumni for our alumni event luncheon in December. With the donations, we are able to extend invitations to all on the list.
Liz also announced that April 1, 2017 is the official date for Magic on the Coastside – and she is looking for volunteers.
LIZ's This Week in History:
November 16 is the International Day for Tolerance. On November 16, 1995, UNESCO’s Member States adopted a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance. “Among other things, the Declaration affirms that tolerance is neither indulgence nor indifference. It is respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. Tolerance recognizes the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others. People are naturally diverse; only tolerance can ensure the survival of mixed communities in every region of the globe.”
On November 18, 1883, the American and Canadian railroads began using four continental time zones to end the confusion of dealing with thousands of local times. Before this date, and as late as the 1880’s, most towns in the U.S. had their own local time, generally based on “high noon.” The railroads standardized the time zones to simplify its timetables.
The MARBLE DRAW - no winner this week
and 
COMING EVENTS AND SPEAKERS
DECEMBER
Dec 1 Tamale Making 101 with Rosi Fontana
Dec 6 Board Meeting @ Coastside Senior Center in the Rotary media room. 6-7:30pm
Dec 8 Club Assembly - State of the Club Annual meeting
Dec 15 Alumni Luncheon
Dec 22 Winter Celebration at Odd Fellows Lodge (Main Street)
PHOTO GALLERY
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