PORT ANGELES — Julio Hanania arrived in Port Angeles just days ago, trading the warmth of his hometown in Chile for the misty Olympic Peninsula.
Within his first weekend, he spotted orcas along the Olympic Discovery Trail.
But for Hanania, 17, the real adventure is just beginning.
“I wanted to explore myself by being out of my comfort zone,” he said. “It’s about discovering who I am in another part of the world. What would the Julio I know be like in the United States?”
Hanania is one of thousands of students worldwide participating in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, a global initiative that gives high school students the chance to live abroad for a year. Hosted by local families, students like Hanania don’t just study in another country — they become part of a family, a school and a community.
In Port Angeles, Steve and Sarah Methner are serving as Hanania’s first host family. For them, the exchange program is more than just cultural learning — it’s about connection.
“The Rotary is dedicated to keeping the youth exchange program alive and thriving,” said Steve Methner, a longtime member of the Rotary Club. “It’s an important tool for soft diplomacy. Building relationships in our young people is vital for world peace. These are the kids who go on to become interested in international relations.”
The Methners have seen firsthand how transformative the exchange can be, not only for inbound students like Hanania, but also for American students who choose to study abroad.
“A kid from the U.S. who goes outbound for a year, the personal abilities and capacities they come back with are incredible,” Steve Methner explained. “It’s like they’ve gone to outer space on their own, and now they know they can do that. It’s scary, but once you’ve done it, you realize you absolutely can — and you come back a bigger person.”
For students, the exchange offers an unparalleled opportunity to develop confidence, independence and a deeper understanding of the world. For host families, it’s a chance to share their community while learning from a student who brings their own culture, language and traditions to the dinner table.
Rotary leaders emphasize that the program is not just about the students — it’s also about the network of people they connect with.
Methner and fellow Rotarian Robert Skolknik said students who join Rotary Youth Exchange become part of a global Rotary family. Wherever they travel, they find community, mentorship and a shared commitment to service.
That sense of belonging extends well beyond the exchange year.
“It’s kind of like this built-in credibility and trust,” Methner said. “You can find a Rotary club almost anywhere in the world and immediately be part of that support network — a group of people who are here just to do good in the world.”
The Rotary Youth Exchange program is known as a “gold standard” in international exchange, thanks to its extensive vetting process for both students and host families. Students usually live with two to three families during their stay, ensuring an immersive experience.
But for the program to thrive, community involvement is essential. Rotary is always looking for host families, volunteers and club members to support the exchange.
“We’d love more people in Port Angeles and the surrounding communities to get involved,” Methner said. “Whether that’s hosting a student, joining Rotary or simply spreading the word, it makes a huge difference.”
For Hanania, the year ahead holds countless opportunities: making friends, trying new things and building a life in a new place.
For the Methners and the broader Rotary community, it’s about watching a young person grow while helping to create a more connected, peaceful world.
Families interested in learning more about the program — or students curious about studying abroad — can visit rye5020.org for more information.
________
Reporting intern Allora Walls is a student at Peninsula College. She can be reached by email at allora.walls@peninsuladailynews.com.
