Along The Rock26 Juli 2025

New Horizons: Tess Schaefer’s Global Journey with Rotary Youth Exchange

Season 2, Episode 74

In this episode of Along the Rock, we follow the inspiring journey of Tess Schaefer, a Rock Falls native who spent nearly a year living in Denmark through the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. What started as a childhood dream sparked by meeting a former exchange student became a life-changing adventure filled with cultural surprises, personal growth, and unforgettable connections.

Tess shares the challenges of adapting to Danish life—from navigating public transportation and learning a new language to trying unique foods like pickled herring and eel for Christmas breakfast. She also reflects on the deep impact of the exchange on her worldview, her understanding of global perspectives, and her future career in nonprofit veterinary work.

Whether you're curious about cultural exchange, education abroad, or how a small-town student became a global citizen, this episode offers insight, humor, and inspiration.

🎧 Ready to explore the world through Tess’s eyes? Listen now.

#RotaryYouthExchange #CulturalExchange #StudyAbroad #SaukValleyStories #GlobalPerspective #AlongTheRock #RotaryInternational #YouthTravel

🎤 Timestamps & Highlights:

0:43 - Introduction to Tess Schaefer

2:18 - What was It Like Studying Abroad?

3:19 - Preparing to Study Abroad

8:30 - Culture Shock

14:51 - Memorable Moments From Studying Abroad

22:18 - Interested in Studying Abroad of Hosting a Foreign Exchange Student?

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Radar Free Press⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Follow us on all social media platforms below:

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(424)

The Valley’s Best Burger: Inside the Shamrock Pub Community & Secret Recipes | Along the Rock

Hungry for one of the best burgers in the Sauk Valley? 🍔On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long sits down with Stew and Elaine Bruns, owners of Shamrock Pub in Dixon, to talk about what...

9 Juli 22min

How Girl Scouts Troop 935 Created “Adopt a Box” to Support Local Families | Along the Rock

How can a box of Girl Scout cookies help families in need? 🍪💙In this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long sits down with Melissa Morel of Girl Scout Troop 935, Jill Sander-McFalls from the ...

9 Juli 14min

Growing the Future of Agriculture with Whiteside County Farm Bureau | Along the Rock

What does the Whiteside County Farm Bureau actually do? It's much more than farming.On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long sits down with Matt Lillpop, manager of the Whiteside County F...

8 Juli 22min

Inside The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee | Along the Rock

Get ready to laugh, cheer, and maybe even spell your way onto the stage!On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long is joined by Ellen Bentley, Jenna Mingus, and Joel Megill from Woodlawn Ar...

7 Juli 14min

Meet the Yak Yak Sisters! Free Weekly Kayaking Adventures on the Hennepin Canal | Along the Rock

Discover why the Yak Yak Sisters have become one of the Sauk Valley's most welcoming outdoor groups!On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long is joined by Karen Miles and Cyndi Muler to ta...

7 Juli 27min

Sterling's FREE Chalk the Walk 2026! Family Fun, Food Trucks & Summer Events | Along the Rock

On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long sits down with Sterling City Clerk Teri Sathoff to talk about the return of Chalk the Walk, a free family event happening Saturday, July 11, from ...

6 Juli 9min

Cash & Coffee | Why an Emergency Fund Could Be the Most Important Money You Ever Save

How much money should you have saved for an emergency?On this episode of Cash and Coffee, hosts Quinn Stahr and Emily Zimmerman discuss why an emergency fund is one of the most important financial too...

6 Juli 6min

Reagan Run 2026: New Course, 1,000+ Runners & How Your Race Gives Back | Along the Rock

Join host Kierstyn Long as she sits down with Nancy Varga, director of the Reagan Run, to discuss one of Dixon's favorite Fourth of July traditions.Now celebrating its 26th year, the Reagan Run has gr...

2 Juli 22min