Saying goodbye is always difficult but there comes a time when we must say  it to someone we love. We say goodbye in many different ways, through ending  relationships, a simple trip to the grocery store, grieving the lost of a  loved one or going on a week long vacation away from people we care about. I  know for a fact that everyone agrees that saying goodbye isn’t always a  pleasant experience but it has to be done. Just as there is a sunrise, there  is a sunset just as my exchange year began and will end. That’s the harsh  reality. My year in Sweden has been one of the most challenging, memorable,  disappointing, educating, upsetting, rewarding, unbelievable, exhilarating,  wonderful, and crucial experiences of my life. Some of the words that I used  probably stunned you but that’s the best way to describe my year abroad. I  had mostly good times but there were times when I wanted to give up but I am  certainly glad that I didn’t. Experiences can either ‘make you’ or ‘break  you’ but I try to let experiences ‘make me’. An exchange year can only ‘make  you’ once you have the right attitude. Through this wonderful program, I got  to explore myself, meet many different types of people and understand them,  and see the world from a different perspective. From the unsurpassed  splendor of Sweden to the sizzling night life of London, to the clapping  sounds of Flamenco in Spain was enough to change one’s biased mind that you  ought to appreciate people for who they are regardless of their nationality,  sex, religion or creed. All people on Earth have a special purpose because  we all make the planet more unique. If we were all alike, the world would be  boring, wouldn’t it? Picture this. A world where every human being was of  the same race, had the same size, wore the same clothes, and resembled each  other in every possible way. Tell me that’s not scary! Think about it, every  culture is special because cultures are like puzzle pieces and when you put  them together, you get a very lovely world scene. Before I left the Bahamas to live in the ‘unknown’ I was so ungrateful and  took everything for granted like many of the youths today. As I said in  previous reports, there is nothing like meeting kind people and hear of  their torturous backgrounds. It’s simply nothing like. That is why programs  like these should be promoted because young individuals need to have  experiences like I had to realize that “The Bahamas/United States isn’t so  bad afterall”. I learned to be grateful and more open-minded. These two  qualities are what we need to make the world a better place including love,  and respect. Sadly, the world is far from that but we can help if we all  pitched in to make a change. I would like to firstly thank God, who is the head of my life. Without His  grace and mercy, I am nothing. I would like to express sincere gratitude to  my parents, Eunice and Donald Mortimer. I love you both so much and I want  to let the world know that I appreciate you both. I will always hold you in  a special place in my heart. A big thank you to all my family and friends  both in the Bahamas and Sweden for your care and concern. Thanks for all the  support. I would like to especially thank the Rotary Clubs of District 6990  as well as the Hudiksvalls RotaryKlubb. Without your organisation and  endless efforts, I would not have had such a remarkably educational  experience. I am really appreciative that you awarded such a beneficial  scholarship to me. Many thanks to Bob White for putting up with my persistence throughout the year about my report links and pictures. Keep up  the good works with our website. I’ll be back to torture you again so beware  (smile). I would also like to thank Roy Joseph and all the others that were  at last year’s orientation for preparing the present outbounds for such an  incredible journey. May the program successfully grow and spread throughout  the world. I will definitely “TAKE ACTION” and remember the Rotary Club as I  approach my future goals. Thanks Districts 6990 and 2330, from the bottom of  my heart. This is my final report for the exchange year 2000-2001. Truly, Angelo Mortimer Sverige