District 5080 is made up of many small to medium-sized communities.   Most exchange students will live in or near towns that have a population of 3,000 to 40,000 people.   Spokane, Washington, the largest city in our district, is the only exception, with a population of about 360,000.

     Some of the most beautiful landscapes in North American are located in our district.  Lakes, rivers, forests, and mountains are never far away.  We enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, with camping, boating, fishing, and skiing all being common forms of recreation.   

     District 5080 experiences four distinct seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.  The climate in our area can vary dramatically from one town to another, depending on elevation and other factors.

   In general, the low elevation areas in the south usually have mild winters and very hot  summers, with temperatures as high as 40 C.  High elevation areas in the north will generally have warm summers but very cold winters, as low as - 30 C.    Winter snowfall varies from a few centimeters in the southwest part of the district to three meters or more in the mountains.   Students from tropical locations will probably do best to buy winter clothing after they arrive here.  See "Things to Bring" for more information. 

    For the most part, the towns in our region are very safe places to live.  Our area certainly does not live up to the violent image of urban North America that is sometimes portrayed in the media.    

   To the casual visitor the Canadian and American sides of our district may seem very similar.  We do, after all, share a common language.  Below the surface, however, there are many language and cultural differences that give our district a special appeal.  Each side is uniquely American or Canadian.

   It is difficult to make generalizations about the people of our area.  On the one hand, there is a general culture that can be recognized as "American" or "Canadian".  But both America and Canada are a mix of many different races, cultures, religions, and political beliefs.  All of these influences have been "melted together" to form our culture.  

  So what exactly is our culture?  Is it a culture of "wide streets, fast food, and shopping malls", as one exchange student said when he first arrived here.? 

   No, not exactly!  There is much more than that!  But we will let you decide for yourself what our culture is all about.  You will come to know us well during the year that you spend here! 

   The day-to-day life of teenagers in most of North America revolves around school.  In some parts of the world school is only the place where students come to learn; social activities and recreation all take place under the sponsorship of other clubs or organizations.

     That is not the case in North America.  Scholastic life, social life, sports life, and special interests are all joined together in activities offered by our schools.  All high schools and secondary schools have teams that compete with other schools in sports such as football, basketball, volleyball, etc.  There are team sports for both boys and girls.  School team sports are very popular spectator events in all of our communities, for adults as well as young people.

     Schools also sponsor special clubs for a diverse range of activities, including things such as drama, dance, music, golf, skiing, computers and community service.

     Schools also sponsor dances on a regular basis.  All schools have an annual Prom (a formal dance) and many other less formal dances through the year.

     Schools may offer also activities that involve travel to other states or provinces.

     All exchange students in our district will go to public schools. Students dress informally; uniforms are not worn.  

    The relationship between teachers and students may also be less formal than other countries.  But students are always expected to be respectful of their teachers.

     High schools and secondary schools in our district offer countless opportunities for students to get involved in almost any activity they have an interest in and to make new friends in the process.

     District 5080 encourages inbound Rotary exchange students to regard their year here as a time to learn or improve their English, and experience a new culture.  They study subjects that are of interest, but for which they can not usually receive school credits in their home county.  This is the preferred approach.  

    Exchange students may find considerable diversity among the families that host them during their year in our district.  Although many families may seem to share a common lifestyle, the day-to-day life inside each family will vary greatly depending upon things such as religion, occupation, economic level, etc.  

     Most families may seem very informal in the way children interact with their parents but children are expected to be respectful.  The rules of behavior in one family may be quite strict while another family will seem lenient by comparison.      

     In the majority of families in our district both the mother and father will be employed outside of the home.   Family life can be very busy.  Individual members of the family may have different schedules.       

     Very few families will have maids or others to assist with housework and all members of the family may be expected to help with the cleaning or other chores.

    There is also very little public transportation in many of the smaller towns in our district, and parents may spend a lot of time driving children to sporting events or other activities.

     As with everything else, leisure activities will vary greatly from family to family.  Some families may take frequent trips, go camping, enjoy boating or other outdoor activities. Other families may have their leisure activities revolve around church or their extended family.

     Shortly after you arrive in our district you will be invited to attend a meeting of your host Rotary Club .  Later, after you have become adjusted to your new surroundings and more comfortable with the English Language,  your club will be interested to have you do a presentation about your home country.  

    During your year in our district you can also expect to participate in other activities that are sponsored by your host club.  

     Rotary is a service organization and most of the clubs in our district have special projects or fund raising events scheduled throughout the year.  Rotary is an active organization  and many important local community projects have been funded and completed by Rotary Clubs.  

     All of these projects are fun activities, they will give you the opportunity to better understand our way of life, and  they will give you the opportunity to meet lots of interesting people.  

    In many ways, your host Rotary Club can open the door to lots of exciting opportunities during your year in North America.  And all you need to do is to get involved!